Heard him on the radio yesterday taliing about the game on Saturday. All fairly boring but what he did confirm was that everyone in the family was distraught that Newcastle had let him go and that, when Gullit was here, he went to Liverpool and was offered a contract there, Houllier wanting him to play in the centre of defence with Hyppia. Steve wanted to stay here and said "no". Also, there was a suggestion on the same programme that the lads did not particularly like Mick Wadsworth.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Answers

I have a feeling that many of the squad will look at Wadsworth and think, "Who's he, what's he ever done ON a football pitch?"

I imagine Wadsworth will probably rule in the manner of, "I'm Bobby's head coach so you lot will fecking listen to what I've got to say, no matter what it sounds like"

I may be wrong of course.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

It's difficult but our game was much better last season when we had Steve Clark.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Should there be consideration for bringing in an Assistant Manager for Robson. Obviously Wadsworth is head man when Robson's not around and from the sound of things it isn't working.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Dunno but something cleraly isn't gelling. Having said that, this little blip has been threatening for ages...I mean, we've had a first team on the treatment table all season..

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

I'm surprised Gullit wanted to let him go, he seemed to rate Howie, indeed, he kept going on how Howie's game improved after his visit to Lillishall(sp)

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

".....our game was much better last season when we had Steve Clark.

Dougal, I don't wish to sound unkind, but that's something akin to the Germans saying "our Army was better when we had Hitler!"

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

DB,

Do you think a coach needs to have been a good player in order to be a good coach? I'm very impressed by the manager/coach of Troyes, who on a budget of Carl Cort has got the team of no names to 6th in the French 1st Division. I know it's not the same strength as the Premier League, but he's got a team that play as a team, with an obvious team spirit, that have beaten teams like Bordeaux, Lyon, Monaco, and PSG (5-3). I don't think there's much doubt that his players think he's great. IMO the attitude of English players to managers/coaches/physios who have played at the top is one of the reasons the game is struggling.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

I mean have NOT played at the top level.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

There is no reason why coaches can't be good when they've been bad players. Alex Ferguson was no great player and look at what he does.

As you rightly point out it's the attitude of the players.

-- Anonymous, February 28, 2001