There's more on this subject on the IC Newcastle web site.

Right we've spent the money on the stadium, lets make some improvements to the all round playing matters.

By the same token United can hardly attract the cream of world football while their training facilities lag behind the likes of Middlesbrough and the point is not lost on the Newcastle coach.

Having "hacked" away for the last two days, an unrepentant Robson's parting shot upon leaving St James's yesterday was aimed at the groundsman.

"I told him to get the pitch ready for Middlesbrough or else," he added. "But it's not really his problem.

"The board is aware of the fact that we've been left behind in terms of our training facilities and particularly when it comes to a large indoor venue. For most of this week the pitches at Chester-le-Street have been frozen solid at 9am and that's why we've been forced to head back to St James's.

"When there is ice and snow on the surface it's impossible to train safely and effectively.

"We just don't have any decent grass to train on and no suitable indoor facility."

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2001

Answers

It can't be good for the player's morale to turn up at the training ground only to be told to travle back to the stadium to train there.

Too much messing around. Find a bit of land, get the planning permission, build a massive shed, put in some heaters and a sprung astoturf pitch. One end of shed to have offices, media facilities on the mezzanine floor, fitness facilities below.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2001

Why do the words Fred, Carno and Army come to mind. It is a bliddy disgrace. What's the excuse this time Freddy? Waiting for the Budget to see if there are any changes in land legislation? FFS just get it sorted.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2001

The article that DB refers to was in the Journal this morning. It says that when Gary Speed moved here three years ago, he bought his home near the promised new training complex at Woolsington.

It goes on to say " more often than not in the last month BR has turned up at the Riverside at 9am to find the training pitches frozen, under snow, or both. Therefore it is no coincidence that minor injuries have been on the increase, recovery times likewise.
Bobby Robson is fuming, his players are fed up. So, whatever has happened to Woolsington? The Journal understands that following a series of high level meetings this week there will finally be some good news on the training facilities front. It is understood the mooted Woolington complex is still part of the Club's short-term plans, although perhaps not on the grand scale many initially predicted."

"FS and his Board have had their ears burnt by BR while the chill wind has been blowing around Tyneside in recent weeks, and their response has finally been positive. No doubt the ground staff at SJP are breathing a huge sigh of relief too after the United Manager revealed - in the last few days I've been forced to hack up the SJP pitch. We've had to train at SJP this week, and if the surface has suffered then that's just too bad. The Board knows my problem and they can hardly complain."

I'm just fed up bitching and moaning about this lot - but you simply have to depair at their lack of foresight, and an inability to be proactive on any key issues until their hand is forced. You can't help but despair, and feel sorry for Bobby Robson for the total lack of professionalism of his bosses.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2001

I'm not joking when I say Freddie Shepherd was on Centuary radio the other week and blamed badgers on the site near Ponteland for the dalay.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2001

You sure he wasn't talking about beavers, Rik?

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2001