Me dad's just gone down to get his ST (see other thread) and apparently all the players have been caled in, there's a big meeting going on and strong rumours Robson will resign today.

I know, I know, rumours rumours, but it's all the talk up there right now.

Tell me it ain't so massa...

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

Answers

Well it's first day back training today isn't it? Maybe they're in for a squad meeting. hope so. If BR goes, we start all over again. No decent managers available anyway.

Anyone in Newcastle know what's going on?

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

I've got a real bad feeling about the current situation at SJP.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

If Bobby then we are in really deep shit. Cant think of anything worse really. But I dont think he will.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

They're all training at SJP today, so probably nothing more than the first day back at school with Bobby giving whatever speech he would give in the circs.

I hope it's nothing more sinister thna that. Though would anyone be the least bit surprised if he did resign with all that's going on/not going on/rumoured to be possibly going on?

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

From .COM

New Term Begins

Another season of tragedy, heartbreak and soggy pies commenced today, with the players and press reporting back for duty.

We understand that new signings Robbie Elliott and Craig Bellamy both trained for the first time with their new colleagues, while Marcelino also returned from Spain to show his face. However, there was no sign of alleged signing Paul Murray.

Meanwhile, in an afternoon press conference at Gallowgate, Robson was harsh in his criticism of the local media, especially relating to coverage of Wadsworth's departure on Monday.

Aside from confirming that injury would sideline the likes of Dyer, Shearer and Cort from Intertoto action, he declined to take questions and nothing else was discussed.

I guess it ain't so massa......

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

Heard through the 'grapevine' that BR furious with local media and called conference today to tell them straight. really laid into them and also said he has no issue with the board about this. Seems he felt the way the media slagged off Wadsworth more or less decided it for him, which is why he went.

The whole intereview is on club call phone line for anyone who wants to stump up 60p per minute or whatever!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

Just remember the one big name Manager who is presently unattached and would be a perfect fit with our two major shareholders - and be afraid, very afraid.
A clue? The initials are GG!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

Clarky - GG is also a close personal friend of Alan Oliver!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

Why does that not surprise me?

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGG GGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001

calm down

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Ciara
You missed off an H :-))

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

How I do not like Satan

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Comment on yesterday's press conference by the Shields Gazette:

THERE may still be some 46 days to go before the new Premiership campaign begins - but I fear already Bobby Robson has staked a cast- iron claim for own goal of the season. Inviting the press to St James’s Park yesterday afternoon before proceeding to blame those assembled in front of him for the defection of his Head Coach Mick Wadsworth was both unjustified and inaccurate. Phrases like "killer blow" and "you’ve turned the knife" poured forth from the lips of the former England coach. Robson tried to insist that football journalists - simply by doing their jobs and reporting the facts of Wadsworth’s intended switch to Southampton - had somehow been responsible for him losing his trusty lieutenant. But this happens to be the same Mick Wadsworth quoted as saying: "I have left for purely financial reasons...In terms of money and long- term security, the Southampton offer was just too good to ignore." Hardly the words of a man forced out of the door. Robson continued his broadside with a sarcastic swipe at Saints counterpart Stuart Gray, claiming he’d "manipulated" his coach away from Tyneside. The Newcastle manager seems to feel there should be a national day of mourning on Tyneside for Wadsworth’s exit. Yet thousands of fans who recall his pivotal role in the signings of Fumaca, Lomana LuaLua, Daniel Cordone and Christian Bassedas will beg to differ. To say none have worn the black and white stripes with distinction is a serious understatement. What concerns me most about yesterday’s outburst is the way Robson is increasingly of the standpoint that only his opinion counts for anything - remember his "jerk" condemnation of one season ticket holder who dared question team selection and tactics last season? Adopting a siege mentality from day one of pre-season training is hardly healthy. There may still be 46 days to go before the new season. But it’s one that sees Newcastle face games against the likes of Chelsea, Sunderland, Manchester United and Liverpool before September is over. With that kind of daunting opening and a squad that hardly inspires even the most optimistic Geordie, Robson is going to need every friend he can get. Shooting the messengers is hardly a wise move.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Robson needs a damn good coach now, this could be the making of our season. Faz for me.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Excellent piece.

Something Newcastle have never had is a good siege mentality. Ferguson did/does it at Man U with the everyone against us approach, Arsenal have done it in the past with their 1-0 attitiude, if Robson can turn this into players going out 'to show the bastards' I'd be overjoyed.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

...your bank account, sadly

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Newcastle have never had a good seige mentality? Too true - a yellow streak a mile bleeding wide.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

stuff sieges, i want panache

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Panache? You might get fag ash.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

panache is french for shandy. Say no more...;-)

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

we tried panache and didn't quite get there, i'm happy to give siege a go, when you're winning because of seige you can revert to panache, just to rub it in

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Hopefully we'll manage to develop some panache whilst winning with a siege mentality.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Gibson in the Ronnie tonight is implying that Wadsworth may have been on the point of staying before the Ronnie published an article on Monday citing the majority of fans being happy to say "good riddance" to him.
Bobby says Management are bemused by the fans unfair criticism of Wadsworth. It is perfectly clear to me - if a little obtuse.

Bobby himself is revered here, however things went very badly wrong during last season - partly due to injuries, and partly due to management's intransigence and short-sighted naivety regarding making the couple of signings that could have saved our season, and even enabled us to qualify for the UEFA Cup proper.
In the face of these facts, the fans don't/won't blame Bobby, so they blame his faceless No.2. - "it can't be bobby's fault, so it must be Wadsworth's".

They may be right: they're could very well be wrong - but imo Wadsworth has become the fall guy - for the failures of both Club Management and to a lesser degree, Bobby Robson, for not positively addressing the obvious deficiencies that arose last season.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Clarky, do you think manager/club tried to make any signings during last season to address the deficiencies you cite? Or have the concerted attempts to make signings only started this summer? If the former, then Wadsworth's departure is surely down to our own impatience and unwillingness to accept reality? No shining knight's going to come riding in to save us in a blaze of glory.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Hard to really know what to make of the various pieces re Wadsworth's departure in icNewcastle. I wish I could see and hear Bobby's full, unedited comments without the usual cutting and twisting done by the papers. In one article, it was said the Wadsworth fully expected to be at training on Tuesday, then suddenly left on Monday. Unless the seed was already sown, why would someone up and leave that quickly? Too simplistic a take.

More common seems to be the suggestion that supporters/press opinion drove Wadsworth out. Are supporters of his previous clubs upset that he left them? Maybe he's a fine coach, but has no public relation skills? Not that anyone would likely care if we were winning things. Perhaps he is the fall guy? Then yes, it's sad. Perhaps he realized he needs to get himself set up in a good situation elsewhere because he knows our management future isn't stable and failure to move now could mean he's left out in the cold when Bobby does finally retire? Then he's probably taken a safer option than risking staying here if he couldn't be assured of his future.

I don't even know if I've got a point....just some rambling thoughts. However, I don't agree with Bobby trying to lay all the blame on the press or supporters. I really think there's more to it than MW leaving just because he's not one of the popular kids at school.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Loved the picture of a hurt John Gibson rushing home to wife, after a skinful in the pub, to cry about being misunderstood, his wife comforts him ans says "but John I did exclusively reveal you'd get your comuppance someday"

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

John Gibson has a wife???

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

ciara,
Quite clearly, the fans adverse views were not the driving force in him taking the S'ton job. The impetus obviously came simply from a very good offer from S'ton that offered him substantially more bread and the security of a long-term contract.
For him to turn that offer down he would have needed to be extremely satisfied at the Toon. The offer in itself will have caused him to question his financial position at NUFC and the associated level of security.
Given BR's age it is inevitable there are doubts about the long-term situation, and I doubt the Club could do much about that at this stage.
Of course we don't know, but it's entirely possible that due to BR's prompting the Club may on Monday have offered him improved contractual terms that had caused him to agree to think again about leaving - but that this was then totally undermined by the Ronnie publishing more unkind comments from 'fans' about the guy on Monday pm.
It feels to me as though that is the sort of thing that probably happened.

Peter/Windy,
In answer to your question - no, I don't believe they made strenuous attemtps to strengthen the squad last December-March because several times Shepherd stated categorically that he wouldn't spend the club's money while there were doubts about EU transfer policy. In addition, BR was quoted as bemoaning this dilemma for the club, but accepting the Chairman had to do what he felt he had to do.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Clarky, you don't often defend the board.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

It has been known Dave. ;-{)
I've also been supporting them over allegations that they've sitting on their @rses and not doing enough to strengthen the squad this close season.
I have undoubtedly been one of their strongest critics, but only where I have felt it was deserved.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

I'd think far less of Wadsworth if he really did leave because of opinions published in a paper(particularly one well known for stirring things up with half-baked facts). If he's that thin-skinned he's in the wrong business. My gut feeling is that it was more to do with the uncertainty over his future. He may have just said the Chron article was the last straw. It's an easy, convenient excuse. Not trying to defend the press, or even public opinion, but I think they're being used as a convenient scapegoat, and these kind of outbursts could well backfire on Bobby if this season goes as badly as last.

Unless it's part of the siege mentality plan...which I'm all for if it encourages some fight in the players. ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

What's puzzling me is why, of all the coaches in current employment in even just the prem, did S'ton come in for Wadsworth ? There must be out of work coaches or assistants who would have jumped at the chance.

If it was just that the S'ton manager knew him personally and initially sounded him out, and it escalated from there, fair enough. Otherwise, the whole scenario looks wierd although I still think the poll the chronic ran probably was the final piece of the jigsaw.

I also can't understand why Gibson got huffy enough to feel the need to wangle his way onto a tv news feature, let alone go into print on the matter in the first place.

I'd hang the lot of them, me. :-))

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2001