Apparently Bobby is happy with his coaching staff, this from Ananova:

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson came out with all guns blazing after facing a barrage of criticism as his side's season ebbs away.

United go into the Premiership clash with Arsenal lying in the lower half of the league table and with the injuries which have hampered their progress all year threatening to further damage their chances of a morale-boosting finish.

The Magpies have taken some flak from their own fans in recent weeks after indifferent performances have left many calling for a huge summer investment to return the club to the status it enjoyed at the peak of the Kevin Keegan era.

Robson has had to put up with his own fair share of stick too, along with his coaching staff, but his passionate defence suggested that his commitment to a brighter future at St James' Park remains as strong as it was the day in September 1999 when he walked through the doors to begin a survival fight.

"I think I've worked a miracle here," he said. "When I came here, this club was sinking, this club was in the First Division.

"Make no mistake, it was in the First Division and I did a hell of a job last year because I was experienced and I was tough and I sorted the problems out.

"This year, we thought we would have done better. At one stage, we were top, then we went to fifth, then we went to sixth and then Alan Shearer goes, Kieron Dyer goes, Carl Cort's not fit and Nicos Dabizas isn't fit.

"If we had Shearer and Dyer and Robert Lee in the team, would we be much better off? Of course we would - we'd be a third better off, 33 per cent better off.

"We know next year with those players back in - and I'm including Robert Lee because in my opinion, he's still got a very good year left in him - we'll do better.

"We know to do better than we have done this year and better than we did last year, we just need to improve our situation, and the chairman is fully aware of that because we've discussed it at senior level.

"We're not saying anything to anybody, we're just going to try to go ahead and do our business."

Robson was particularly angry with the criticism of his coaching staff, headed by Mick Wadsworth, and launched his own broadside.

"I'm protecting my staff because I see them every day," he said. "I've been on football fields all over the world. I've been at Barcelona, I've been at Porto, I've been at PSV Eindhoven and I've seen coaches work.

"I know what I've got. Do you think I would have out there a coach who wasn't good enough, who was sub-standard to this club? He'd be out, so I'm happy.

"I know what I've got under me, so I don't accept any sugar coming from people who don't. My coaching staff is equal to anything in this country and I'm happy with it and I'll stand up for them."

See this story on the web at http://www.ananova.com/sport/story/sm_292749.html

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

Answers

Up you go

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

Anybody for a game of marbles? I've just found some, and sadly, I think I know who lost them.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

Believe it or not, those were my thoughts exactly.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

Frankly, this needed saying, and I for one am happy Bobby's come out and said it. He knows where the buck stops.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

They all seem like lovely human beings, but the results on the pitch aren't doing them any favors as far as coaching reputation. Agree it's unfair to lay all the blame on the coaching staff as there are a number of problems at the club all contributing to put us in this mess. But they still(and this includes Bobby) have to expect to take some of the flak.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

And the injuries are purely the players fault as well. Some of them, well one or two of them anyway were even tackling opposition players, surely not he way to stay injury free.

As for Robert Lee having another year in him, well I think it was 1998. I'd like to believe he's our McAllister just can't see him being that, I mean he'd have to cross the half way line, and what if he had to play against the likes of Paul Ince every week ?

Glad to see he didn't mention the strength that we have at right back.

Marbles, gave them away to Elgin

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

really you can only work with what you're given and our staff haven't been given much to work with now have they? The major factor here is that we have had sub-standard players out there, and if that's a reflection on Robson - so be it. Then in the final analysis we have probably spent less than any other club since the beginning of the season on new player, and it's showed.

The major question I have is about the overall fitness level of the club. The lack of fitness is an indicator as to why we've had so many injuries this season.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

It was much stronger than it reads. They showed the press conference on the local news tonight - very heated. He seemed to be attacking Alan Oliver and quetioning his right to consider himslef to have the local club at heart.

Said that the people who talk about selling Barton, Lee, Shearer and Speed have no sense of loyalty and should be ashamed of themselves as these are the guys who saved us alast season. Said he was particularly scandalised by demands that Shearer be sold as he is currently recovering from two operations.

Powerful stuff and full of passion. Sadly, that's all we've seen of it all season. It's not last season now. It's a full 12 months on and there has been a serious decline - not in league position, oddly, but in all round fitness, effort and teamwork. Don't buy the "We were in the 1st Division" crap either. No shocks in losing away at Southampton and Spurs. Lost to the ref against Villa on opening day. Got caught out by Wimbledon for the umpteenth time. Local derbies don't follow the rules, especially under 6 inches of water.

5 games do not a season make, but 36 are near as damn it.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

I think this has been discussed at length on previous threads, the players must shoulder some responsibility, but so should the coaching/training staff and manager. Yes, some of the players are sh*te, and some are also long in the tooth. So be it. But have we really seen the best from the available players? Not by half, in my opinion. Too many "oh well, we did our best and lets clap for the fans" when it was obvious to a blind man they didn't give their best. That's what coaching staff and managers are supposed to do, bring out the best in the players we have, week in, week out. At the end of the day, if we aren't good enough, then so be it. I for one saw too much apathy, not enough in positive tactics. Those lads were not enjoying their jobs at all. So how do they turn it around? Sell them all and fire the coaches ( a North American trait, hockey, baseball etc)or should we take a hard look at the coaching/mentoring systems we have. I read Stephs training ground reports. Dunno what else the lads do, but I remember playing Sunday League back home and I think we trained harder and had more fun than this lot. Perhaps I am wrong, only time will tell. Yes Bobby, take a look at the big picture. It's not what we have, it's what we don't have that hurts the club. That being team spirit, more than a little skill, lots of effort and a whole bunch of Pride and Commitment, all round, from the chairman to the ball boys.

Lets try and take it up a notch for the last two matches. No excuses please, lets end the season with our heads high. Nothing to lose, lot's of confidence to be gained.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

I'm with you Pete - passion has been lacking for a while - I used to welcome losing an early goal coz it just spurred the lads on.

At Anfield the other week we got stuck in after half-time and matched if not bettered them - if the defensive french git had picked Fowler instead of Owen we may have got something out of it - he was awesome.

The team were rewarded by a deserved ovation from the fans - if they'd played like that all season Europe would be a given. They have 2 x 90 minutes to show the home supporters the same attitude.

It'll sell season tickets on its own without any expensive buys. We have a big squad and quite a few internationals so they haven't any excuse. How can they expect to get big wages and transfers if they haven't got the attitude. How we got any dosh for Dumas and Maric I'll never know.

Stick with YBR - today was his KK esque outburst - time will tell if he's right or nt - but he's the best about at the moment.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001

The Mirror "version" today. Note the two mentions of "furious" in the intro:

FANS ARE KNIFING ME IN THE BACK. IF THEY DON'T WANT ME HERE, WHAT IS THE POINT OF STAYING? SAYS BOBBY ROBSON

FURIOUS Bobby Robson has launched a furious attack on his critics and admitted: "The knives are out for me."

The 68-year-old Newcastle boss has been wounded by a growing wave of discontent on Tyneside after a poor season and he is determined to beat off a campaign being waged by a section of fans who have complained that he is past it.

He was moved to ask: "If they don't want me here, what is the point of staying?"

In an emotional outburst Robson blasted back: "I've worked a miracle here and I will battle on and see it through.

"We are getting criticised for everything at the moment. There are knives going in my back and arrows flying around my head. But I don't think some people have any idea what we have had to do to keep the ship solvent. The greater the troubles, the greater my passion and determination will be."

Robson has been stung by accusations that he is "deadwood" and should go - along with several star players. The former England boss added: "I've got jerks telling me to get rid of Alan Shearer, Warren Barton, Rob Lee and Gary Speed. Jerks who don't know what they are talking about.

"Without those players last season we would have been relegated. What loyalty is that? They have saved this club."

The majority of Newcastle fans are still right behind the veteran boss, believing he is the only manager who can lead them through a rocky period.

But in an unprecedented appeal for loyalty to the usually unswerving St James's faithful, Robson added: "I hope most fans are backing me because if not, what would be the point of sticking around?

"People say 'Get rid of me'. But I took over a sinking ship. It was going straight down to the First Division. Can people not see that we are turning it around, cleaning it up. We need time and honesty and loyalty."

Newcastle are set for another mid-table Premiership finish after a season ruined by injuries to Shearer, Kieron Dyer, Carl Cort and Nikos Dabizas. Robson has been starved of cash by the Newcastle board and is now suffering a backlash from a section of fans angry at the lack of progress in his first full year in charge. But he added: "Yes, we haven't done as well as I'd hoped this season.

"No-one feels it more than I do. This is my area and my people and I'm trying to represent them on the football field.

"We have not produced the season they deserve. But I've been in football for 50 years, do you think I don't know that? Let's just remember we could have been in Manchester City's position and relegated. We all know we have got out of jail."

Many fans have been disillusioned by United's buying policy and believe that players have shown a lack of passion.

Robson blasted: "When the players lose they are just as angry as the public. The fans don't see it but I do.

"They come in and shout and throw their shirts down in disappointment.

"We have been accused of bad buys. Was Kevin Gallagher a bad buy at pounds 500,000? Or Clarence Acuna for pounds 1million? Would you sell on Carl Cort now for pounds 7million? No, you'd laugh at the price.

"Ring up a Premiership manager now and ask to buy a midfielder and a striker that can cut it in the Premiership and say you've only got pounds 1.5million to spend. They'd laugh. But that's what I've had to do.

"I will have had to get rid of - and I mean get rid of - 31 players in my time here by the end of the season. What other manager has had to do that in just two years?"

And Robson has leapt to the defence of his coaches Mick Wadsworth and John Carver, who have had to shoulder much of the blame for the club's poor performances this year.

"I'm not having it - they are the equals of any in the country," said Robson.

Robson goes head-to-head with FA Cup losers Arsenal tonight desperate to put a smile back on supporters' faces.

He added: "We've got to finish on a high, show them we can battle and give it a go. That's what the fans want to see."

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Fighting talk! Good on yer Burb, but please turn these fine words into action - well, apart from those stating the ship is solvent. I suspect most of this is truly from the heart - but some of it aimed at his bosses.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

I reckon that Bobby did the right thing there, it's easy to criticise as we all do. But that's football. If he didn't defend himself then it would stagnate and fester. The fans pay the money that pays the wages, Bobby is paid to organise it. I can't think of another manager who could deal with it, so i'll shut up and support him 100%

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

make that 98%

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

....at this rate, you'll be waving your white hankie by dinner time ;-)

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

ho ho, if it was Barca he would have been out before he had breathe, but then again he would have his pick of world class players. Still, it hasnīt exactly won Barca much has it?

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

are you going tonight stu?

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Fuck him....don't give him any money, he's proven he can't spend it wisely!

If we give him cash to spend in the summer then in a years time we'll have another new manager in who's lamenting the fact that his predecessors overspent....

Ignore me i'm just a grumpy old bas*ard....I am however seriously worried about YBR's ability to use cash wisely....

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Gav, if i read him right heīs been operating with no real money. Yes he bought Bassedas and Cort with real cash, i wouldn't say Cort has been a bad buy. I think he could do the biz given a full season. Bassedas, he's showing signs he could do it. I think his broken foot coupled with a change in environment has done it for him. But i know what you're saying. Which manager in the prem has really spent well though? Wenger? yes, but he couldnīt fail with that cash could he? Ferguson? loads of dosh, but...not all have been great have they? Taibi, need i say more? Gregory? erm Angel... Houllier? with millions to spend plus Owen and Fowler its not going to be hard is it? ...Fredgaard, shall i go on? but i see what youre saying

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

So the financial troubles are still there and won't get any better. I'm not expecting a purchase over Ģ5 million this summer and there won't be many of them. Mid-lower table next year with a hope in a cup competition.

But I don't think some people have any idea what we have had to do to keep the ship solvent. The greater the troubles, the greater my passion and determination will be."

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Sadly, I'm not. I had back-2-back meetings today and tomorrow in Lahndaan so gave my ticket to my cuz. Then late yesterday, the b@st@rds cancelled today's meeting :-( but I couldn't get a flight organised from N'cl to H'row so reluctantly have to miss it (there was even a tick going spare I could get). Still, if I'm not there, we're bound to win ;-)

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

But I don't think some people have any idea what we have had to do to keep the ship solvent.

That says a whole lot. Goes right back to the PR disaster of NUFC. We don't have any idea what's going on. We all know there isn't tons of money waiting to be spent, but then you've got Doug Hall spouting out about having 100mil. Which is it?!

Time for the club to be honest with everyone. If things are bad, say they're bad. And then put forth a plan to move ahead. Surely with all Bobby's experience he could be a huge help...if they'd let him.

No wonder players are confused and losing heart. I have a feeling this all looks worse from the inside. :-/

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

He's right until we get the numbers down its impossible to bring anybody else in - thats what Gullit did wrong - he realised we were short of class and signed extra players - but that left us with a major wage bill that YBR has been trying to trim ever since.

The back of the Liverpool program was a revelation - our squad is 1/3 larger than theirs but full of average players - theirs has a full complement of proven internationals.

I reckon a squad pick for who's left on day 1 of next season would be interesting.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

"they're the players who saved this club"

they're also the players [lee excepeted], albeit under a different manager, who put the club in the situation where they could be relegated.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001