This debate started when Gullit resigned and was prompted by Jim Smith's autobiography saying that, in his view, the club was unmanageable. The number of managers we have been through, suggests that we are difficult to manage, and let's face it, Keegan aged by about 15 years What do youse lot think? managing us and Gullit went eye-spinningly mad. Now we have a manager who has managed Englands and Barcelone throwing a wobbly. Are we really that impatient? Decades without a trophy and 50000 per game suggests that we aren't. We are very vocal in our frustration but, then, so are most football fans. What is so worrying is that this all makes it hugely difficult to attract players as we look unstable. It's all such a bloody soap opera at the Toon. One drama after another.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Answers

I don't think we are by any means unmanageable. What Keegan started took on such a momentum that it would have to slow at one point. The lack of a proper youth set up hindered Dalglish and Gullit and they tried to keep that momentum going.

Not many managers would have succeeded in that scenario and if someone did they would have to spend a few years doing so. No-one has been given that length of time.

Robson is frustrated because he is behind in where he thought we ought to be. Due to the injuries and lack of transfer funds. He thinks he has done a great job and some fans thinks he is not performing.

Beneath it all Robson is the one making this a true football club once again. The combination of a good youth set up, good facilities and the right blend of players in the first team will be achieved by Robson if he is allowed to get on with it and gets the backing of the board, which I think he has.

Whoever takes over from Robson will inherit infintely better set ups than the previous three managers for a variety of different reasons. Robson appears the only one that is trying to get things right on all fronts and I for one applaud him for it.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

seconded

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001