Robson seems to have singled out Dyer because no-one else seems to have played for England recently. Solano seems to come in for a bit of personal abuse as well. They were all as bad as each other and to single out certain individuals is wrong IMHO.

From Teamtalk:

Newcastle's players are reeling today from the most savage criticism they have ever received from a manager. United boss Bobby Robson ripped into his men with unprecedented fury following their woeful collapse in the 2-0 defeat at Charlton yesterday. Robson admitted he has never been so angry with one of his teams in almost 40 years of football management. "Pathetic", "abysmal" and "dreadful" were his kinder descriptions of a performance which disgraced the club. But he admitted that what he said behind closed doors to his players went far further, with the likes of Nolberto Solano and Kieron Dyer accused of attempting to live on their reputations. "This is just about the angriest I've ever been with one of my teams," raged Robson. "I am supposed to be working with professionals but after this performance you wouldn't know it. "Reputations and names do not count for anything but my players don't seem to understand that. Too many of them were wondering around with the attitude that 'I've got a certain number on my back and I've played for England." "They should have been eager and hungry for the win and given it everything that they've got. "Our fans have travelled from every corner of the country and what have we given them? Absolutely nothing - and it stinks." Robson also admitted that many more displays like he offered yesterday will place further question marks against Solano's future. He was hauled off at The Valley as punishment for pulling out of a tackle in the build-up to Charlton's second goal and with the controversy surrounding his Greek passport and his new contract negotiations both unresolved, it remains to been what will become of the Peruvian international.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Answers

I must admit that a number of times I saw a ball near Dyer go amiss and he'd just give a dirty look and saunter back....made me as angry as hell....

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Maybe Robson is coming round to the suggestion that Dyer and Solano can't play in the same team, especially away from home. Robson says of Ginola that you have to compensate for him because of the harm he can do to teams, but compensating for Solano and Dyer in away matches is too much.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

Very difficult to argue with anything Robson has said.

The only issue is about making it public. I'd guess Robson has said it all before in private and still there is no response, so he's been forced to go for public humiliation.

I argued long and hard that we had to keep Dyer when everyone on here was doubting it before Xmas. My argument was that come the team improvement he'd be the icing on the cake. The counter argument was that he didn't pull his weight (sic) and we needed fighters in the side.

I'm struggling to justify him after yesterday. If someone phoned me up to day and offered Carrick in exchange I'd take it.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001

MacB, I think the club was so badly humiliated yesterday that Bobby had no option than to point the finger at the players. In truth, one thing we hated about TSM was that when we played like a bunch of knackas, he'd be there saying "Oh, I can't fault the lads' commitment". At least YBR isn't insulting us with any of that crap..

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2001