If the Ronnie and Freddie Shepherd are to be believed(yeah, I know), the players know nothing about. Oh hee.

Newcastle United are feeling the heat in La Manga - and it's nothing to do with the 75-degree temperature in Spain.

For the United boss is still furious over the way his team capitulated against Charlton at The Valley on Sunday.

Since they arrived in Spain, Robson has continued to read the riot act - and he is packing his players off to their rooms at 7pm.

This was revealed today by chairman Freddie Shepherd, who was as furious as Robson at United's performance on Sunday.

Robson, of course, blasted United as soon as his players reached their dressing room at The Valley and there has been no escape in Spain.

What still rankles with Robson is the fact that it is accepted that United have better players than Charlton but on the day it was clear which side had the bigger will to win.

Speaking for the first time since United's pathetic performance against Charlton, Shepherd told me from Spain today: "Bobby has continued to read the riot act since we arrived here.

"And make no mistake about it - this is no holiday for the players. It's been work, work, work for them and Bobby has got them running their socks off.

"I've hardly seen them because they are out training most of the time and then Bobby has insisted that the players go straight to their rooms after they have had their dinner."

Obviously those United players who like golf - and there are not that many - will be still allowed to play after taking their clubs all the way to Spain.

Like Robson, Shepherd has every right to be annoyed. For all but Shola Ameobi and Aaron Hughes of the 14 United players on duty at The Valley were bought in and cost Shepherd and his board £33 million.

This does not include another £25 million worth of talent sitting in the stands in Alan Shearer, Carl Cort and Alain Goma.

And United have given their players some of the most lucrative contracts in the game.

Added the chairman: "The players have got to realise that performances like this are not acceptable and I think they do.

"It was embarrassing and I felt sorry for our fans, especially those who had travelled all the way to South London.

"We don't play again until a week on Saturday and the players know that they owe our fans in a big way."

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

Answers

ABITW PT2

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

Just for clarification can you post on this BBS with a mobile phone because that's the only reason I can think for such cryptic bollocks as ABITW PT2

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

It wasn't meant to be that cryptic...but seeing as it's been pointed out that way I'll leave it. :-)

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

What was it meant to be then? Come on LR you rarely hold back when something needs to be said!;-)

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

Are they playing for sympathy votes now, or what? Strikes me, they should just shut their gobs, get on with some serious graft, and show us what they can really do next Saturday.
Otherwise, we could be in for some bother - a great many people are seething, and the mood is potentially ugly.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

The answer is in the title of the thread.

The post btw, has NOTHING to do with Kia Ora's thread....just the title:-)

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

I don't want to hear another word from them until after the Man City match. If they come back saying "I'm knackered and I can tell you that was no holiday", I'll go mental.

They have got themselves in that situation so they can get themselves out of it, they owe the fans and it is up to Robson to drill this into them, otherwise he might as well give up.

When Charlton got stuffed 5-0 by West Ham, they sorted it out and are now 6-7 matches unbeaten. Curbishley even had a row with his players after they beat us because he wanted to do fitness assessments on the players and they didn't want to do it.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

In case DeB is still pulling his hair out - 'All in all its just another brick in the wall' is what LR's reference is to. At least he didn't try and replicate the sound of a helicopter...

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

The whole thing leaves me comfortably numb.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

Does anybody here remember the Greek Warren Bart-on?

Remember how he said,

That we would meet again,

Some sunny day.

Niko! Niko!

What has become of you?

Does anybody else in here feel the way I do?

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

If you've got a video of the match look at LKD as he's kicking off for the 2nd half - the look on his face is one who has just got out of the biggest b*ll*cking ever.

I was so annoyed after Sunday I didn't go online until today. Bobby has to make them suffer. Perhaps out there is better because the warmth will cause less chances of pulled muscles among our pretty boys.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

With appologies:

We don't need no Man United. We don't need no Liverpool. No Charlt'n Athletic in the Premier. FIFA, leave those rules alone. Hey, FIFA, leave those rules alone! All you're after's just another Toff with a Wad. All they're after's just another Toff with a Wad. We don't need no local derbys. We don't need no Smoggie games. No Mackem B@st@rds in the Premier. Peyter, leave bananas alone. Hey, Peyter, leave bananas alone! All in all he's just another pr!ck with a ball. All in all you're just another pr!ck with a ball. We don't need no Leeds United. We don't need no GB Aitch. No racial hatred in the Premier. (Subjoodsay), leave that kid alone. Hey, ****er, leave the kid alone! All in all it's just another kick in the balls. All in all it's just another kick in the balls.

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

Brilliant - from the immortal pen of S.C.Reacher, no doubt?

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

Not shoo'ar aboot the "immortal" bit. Nice thought tho' - especially at my age!

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2001

Quite right Screacher, it was a typo. He meant to type "immoral"

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

Is that the Baron Knights calling you Screach?

Very good :-)

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001

Ah, the barren nights Bobby. Don't remind me. Oh, The Barron Knights? Well, I have to confess I did go and see them once. Who were they?

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2001