Unfair agreement

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I don't agree with Robson's attitude about Acuna ending his international career as soon as he signed for us. Acuna will benefit from international competition and whilst I appreciate that he is needed here, it is unfair to expect him to forget about playing for his country.

We're not going to sign many top class players with this sort of attitude being plastered all over the papers.

"When Clarence signed for Newcastle he also signed a document to the effect that he was giving up international football," said Robson. "I am simply tying him to that. "We pay him a lot of money to do a job for us and the Chilean football authorities pay him nothing. "However, there is also the issue of travelling to the other side of the world when we have an important game at Bradford coming up."

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Answers

This is going to cheer him up no end isn't it? Injury crisis in midfield?

Bobby Robson has blocked Clarence Acuna's bid to kickstart his international career after it emerged the South American signed a document committing himself to club football on his arrival from Chile earlier this season.

The Newcastle midfielder was desperate to play a part against Nolberto Solano's Peru in a vital World Cup qualifier on March 27 and had agreed, in principle, to end his self-imposed exile from the national team.

A meeting with the Chilean coach earlier this month was enough to persuade Acuna he could still contribute to his country's bid to make the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea.

However, the document he signed at the same time as his contract provides written proof that he requires United's permission to add to his 55 caps.

"I have told Clarence that from my point of view he is not going to play in that match," confirmed Robson as he revealed he was powerless to persuade Solano to follow suit.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


I seem to remember when we signed him this clause was mentioned. Mostly everybody then said that Bobby had pulled off a masterstroke as we were a bit peeved with Nobby going away all the time. Amazing how our attitudes have changed now that we are in the middle of a losing streak AM ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

I would never think it was fair to curtail someone's international career.

IMHO I can't agree with Robson over his wishes for Solano to tell his country to chuff off either. We have to expect these things and I expect Robson's signings in the summer won't have these problems.

Nothing wrong with buying foreigners but they must be availableto play and taking that argument it is better to sign EU players whose international calendar fits in with that of the British teams.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


I take it Boby has a fake passport sorted to apease the work permit problems this clause will create.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

can't we decalre the whole of tyneside an independent republic - along the lines of monaco without the sovereign head of state? That would sort out any passport problems - we could just change the law to suit worselves.

Greggs could have: "By appointment to the people" and a flash new crest above the logo....

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001



Yeah - and we could pass a law to "Protect the Stottie" making sure that no foreign (eg French) bread is sold in Geordieland. ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

The stottie will figure prominently on the crest with the motto "Stottius Powerus".

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

If Acuna willingly signed the said Agreement then BR is quite within his rights, given the present situation, to insist on Acuna abiding by it.

Bobby was rather out of order in his handling of Solano, but his position was perfectly understandable.
We complain when our Manager is uncommunicative (a la TSM), and still complain when he opens his heart on issues like this.
The bottom line here, is that despite expressing his reservations about Solano disappearing at this particular time, he has been allowed to go. So, what's the big deal?

Looking to the future, Bobby has to be rather more realistic. It is unreasonable to expect players not to represent their nation when selected. If that causes major problems with S/American players, then the solution is simple - don't sign them. We really can't expect to have it both ways.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001


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