Ok, as no one else has mentioned it(I think)what's this online poll that is showing the majority of supporters think it's time for Bobby Robson to step down.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

Answers

Power to the People!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

But he's already left and that Steve gadgy from Newton Heath's taken the job.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

I think Gibson should have persuaded Venners to stay.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

If YBR gets Robert and Zenden I think someone should cook up a large humble pie for the BBS :-) I'll take a small slice...no crust please

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

aye Bobby......bollox yer ungrateful bunch we could have had Souness man!!!!!

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

speak for yourself Bobby Boy... I have, and there are more people too, always kept the faith that YBR knows what he wants....

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

You are referring to the vocal minority :-) I think there have been more pessimistice postings about signings than positive ones by a large margin.

My own faith has wavered, given the prospect of Paul Murray, and last year's flops. But I await the proof that YBR still has the magic.

The pie is still in the oven

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

I expect the pessimists are working on the principle that actual results are inversely proportional to the levels of expectation before the start of the season.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

Naaah, I'm still behind YBR, though have begun to reluctantly admit he's not perfect.

Bobby, can I have your unwanted crust? And a bit of whipped cream for my pie, please. :-)

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

One criterion -- an important one -- for judging the calibre of a manager is to assess the people he chooses to work with him. How then should we judge Bobbie Robson in terms of the coaches and players he has brought into the club?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

'B' - can do better

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

I have always figured YBR knows exactly what he is doing. It's a jigsaw puzzle for him, some big bits, LOTS of small bits and some a bit rough around the edges. Like I said before, lets see how it turns out before we slag the man off.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

But Pete, he's hammering some bits in where they clearly don't belong and rather than trying to build the stunning picture on the box from the 1400 high quality pieces enclosed, he keeps going off to the toy chest and getting learning to count pieces with pegs on the middle and dropping them into gaps where they look plain silly: obviously pieces from an inferior type of puzzle which have no place in a jigsaw of the type we are supposedly trying to build.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

Sometimes it looks as though the picture on the box has been lost. And obviously several of the pieces look very much the worse for wear.

Keegan would have just gone out and bought a ready made and framed picture. TSM would have bought a saw and made a jig saw out Of Keegan's picture, lost some of the pieces and replaced them with pieces from the wrong puzzle entirely. RG would then carefully sort the resultant mess into different boxes and sit back expecting the puzzle to put itself together.

Clearly if Keegan had bought TWO pictures the problems would never have arisen.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

I don't want Bobby out, no way.

Stability is the key to success and there is no way in hell you get either of them by chopping and changing managers.

I'm prepared to back every one of his signings unless they do something drastically wrong or are clearly not up to the job come January. Possibly before that if they are complete no-hopers.

If you do make some humble pie, I'd have a piece anyway as I'm feeling hungry :) BTW, would anyone be able to make enough to go round?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

I would hate to see Bobbie go unless it was his decision at his own timing. However, it seems to me that he has an impossible job unless he has the right type of support. In my business career I often came across a company performing well despite having a bad ceo, simply because he had good people working for him. I never found the opposite. A good performance with a good ceo and inadequate people reporting to him. Bobbie has taken umbrage at the criticism levied at his former no 2. Well if he was that good, it certainly did not show on the pitch and if his recommendations regarding player intake were so marvellous the supporters did not see it that way.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2001

I hear you guys, I really do. But when Bobby Robson took over, his first job was to keep us in the Premiere, which he did. His second job was to consolidate us as a Premiere team, open to conjecture? Yes, half way isn't great, but better than the other nine. All I am saying is let's see what he does on step three, and no, I don't think we will win the league this coming year, or the next or the next. But let's see what Bobby builds before we castrate him and throw him to the dogs. Thats all.

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

Would you let a 67/68 year old invest 30+ million and then leave it to Shearer?

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

That would depend entirely on who the 68 year old was (his age is an irrelevance if he's good enough) and how good Shearer will be as a manager.

I'm concerned that Shearer is being selected on the strength of his name and his standing with the Geordie people rather than on any perceived coaching/management ability. Of course, we may be lucky and it just might be that Shearer has the necessary abilities. I can't think of anyone in a better position to judge than YBR so he should be assessing the situation and recommending whether or not the appointment of Al in this role would be a good move.

Robson has been an excellent manager throughout his career. I can't imagine he has suddenly 'lost it' so I have to suppose that last year was down to bad luck on injuries plus the fact that some of his signings didn't come good soon enough.

I sincerely hope that YBR can demonstrate his talent again during this coming season and that he is able to chose the time of his own departure. (In an ideal world he will chose to go aged 80 with a string of Premiership titles to his name). I also hope that the board is ruthless enough to deny him that choice, should improvement not be forthcoming although I'd be very sad to see Robson fail. It seems to me that the main charge which can be leveled at our much maligned board is that they have (unlike so many of their predecessors) given too much backing to the team manager in recent years, continuing to back TSM in particular, long after his inability was clear.

Robson is one of the most respected figures in the game. It would be the stuff of legend if, as his swansong in the game he has graced for so long, he was able to bring a title to Newcastle for the first time since before even he was born. Wishful thinking but - hey, what else have we got just now?

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

I reckon it's a bad idea running polls like this. Sure, it's useful to know, but with results like that, the atmosphere in the ground is going to be awful. If these fans aren't prepared to back Bobby in a poll then what is the point of turning up at all?

-- Anonymous, July 07, 2001

It seems to me that the majority of fans still have great respect for BR's ability, believing he has effected aminor miracle in keeping us in the PL despite that fact that has worked to date with his hands effectively tied behind his back. He has definitely not had the full financial backing of the Board in the way TSM & TDO had - most probably because the cupboard has been bare.

Despite this almost universal popular support, Bobby's credibility seems to run dry when it comes to his choice as his replacement. Does anyone seriously believe that Bobby would recommend Alan Shearer if he didn't believe he had the skills necessary to do the job? Does Bobby's opinion count for nothing in the face of our own uninformed prejudices?

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

As the arrival of Shearer the player has hearalded the fall from grace for United, why should he as manager (& his one dimesional view on football) be any different. I also note that you thought some of the Keegan old boys I suggested to be involved in the set up would be a waste of time as they were not qualified coaches.

As cloughie said, medals and achievements are O-levels.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Clarky, why is the belief that Alan Shearer may not be a Godlike manager necessarily an uninformed prejudice? Since he's never managed anything other than his bank account, we can't possibly know whether he'll be a good manager either. Do we know that Bobby has made a recommendation as to the next manager? Bobby is an ardent believer in the UEFA badges and in doing coaching in your spare time (he coached Oxford University's team) which Shearer has shown no appetite for. I seem to remember the stories about him basically being told that, when he'd finished playing, he would be brought into management emerging when he signed a new contract UNDER RUUD GULLIT. IMHO, bearing in mind how unstable our club is, the next manager should be experienced and should under no circumstances be a novice. To my mind, that is like getting a medical student to perform heart surgery. This is not a criticism of Shearer.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

I agree Dougal and I like your analogy. We should not get a novice manager. However, history proves you wrong! The most successful time that most of us can remember at this club was under the managership of a novice manager. Ideally, YBR would go on for another 3-5 years. Jonno suggested another 12 until he's 80 - YBR that is, not Jonno, thoi it's hard to tll at times ;-)

During that time, YBR's replacement would work with him as 2nd in command. Perhaps the resignation of MW has come just a tad too early? See, I knew it was his fault. If only MW had stayed for another couple of years, Shearer would have been ready to step down from his playing duties and movein under YBR.

It all depends on how long YBR continues. He certainly still seems to have the enthusiasm and passion to do it. Physically, he's not in bad shape (certainly better than you, me and the aformentioned Jonno!) and if he can see his plan taking shape, with backing from the board, I see no reason (other than health) why he should not continue for a number more years. An good, experienced 1st team coach would help in the meantime - once perhaps who doesn't have aspirations for managing the first team??

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

I have never, ever recommended, or proposed, Alan Shearer as our next Manager. I have mixed views on it actually - principally because I don't know the man well enough.

I believe Bobby Robson has recommended him for the position - but can't recall now where I read this. However, assuming he has indeed recommended him, I'm prepared to accept it is for very sound reasons - reasons based on a close working knowledge of his potential management skills - rather than simply dismissing Bobby's considered proposal as a large pile of bollox based on a complete lack of understanding of the facts!

Finally, IMO the uncertainty regarding Bobby's position is increasingly hurting us, and this situation needs to positively addressed now. Because of this I'll say again - IF the decision has been taken that AS will ultimately replace Bobby then AS should be appointed Asst. Manager now to remove this damaging uncertainty.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Clarky, finding our next manager is the club's No 1 priority, I agree. I also think it's a great idea that our senior players should become involved in coaching as the boot room approach to management and coaching appears to make for stable clubs. Screach - You should know that history proves nowt; it merely provides a topic for debate :) Keegan was our most successful manager (although had he been more mature and experienced, he wouldn't have gone loopy the way he did) in recent times but Dalglish and Gullit were relative novices and they were both crap. The point I'm making is that you can't predict how a new manager will get on, whereas you can safely assume that in Martin O'Neill's, Alan Curbishley's or George Burley's hands, your club will be at least safe.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

How did Ipswich know their Club would be in safe hands when htey appointed Burley? It's called judgement.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Ipswich weren't a premiership side with the attendant pressures and Burley wasn't as high profile as Shearer. He was given time. Shearer won't get that at NUFC.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

He will if he does the business.
Burley took Ipswich into either 3 or 4 consecutive play-offs - they would have been crazy to sack him.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

It isn't judgment, Clarky: it was a risk and they've been prepared to give him time to get things right. How many times did he fail to get them promoted through the playoffs. Newcastle as a club and set of supporters haven't ANY patience. Ipswich is a significantly smaller club with a great youth policy and a determination to back their managers - even YBR has commented on that. I don't think you can really compare Ipswich, a stable, well-managed, small club, with our unwieldy mess.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Big IF there, Clarky.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

ps. Clarky, fundamentally, I don't know why Shearer is being touted for the job. He has no better credentials than Warren Barton but I don't see anyone touting him for the job. So why Shearer? I sincerely hope that this isn't just sentimentality and that someone has really sat down and put some thought into it. I would hate the Gallowgate to be shouting "Shearer out" at a legend and that would happen - I am told that Wor Jackie got booed at the end of his playing career.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

dougal,

Shearer isn't being 'touted' for the job. We were told - unless I'm totally imagining this - that Bobby Robson has recommended that AS be groomed as his successor. Of course, the outcome of such a succession plan can never be guaranteed.
As I understand it, this is one of the things that BR was requested by the Board to advise them on when he was hired.
That means Bobby will have taken his time to assess the potential 'internal' candidates - including AS, RL & WB. If he had concluded there were no adequate internal candidates he would/should have recommended bringing in an adequate external candidate onto his staff, probably either as his No2 or Head Coach. It seems he consciously decided that AS had the potential to be groomed as his successor.
I have to say I don't see too many signs of a development programme being implemented, but being charitable it's possible AS's injury and his recuperation needs may have affected such a programme.

Newcastle as a club and set of supporters haven't ANY patience.......... I don't think you can really compare Ipswich, a stable, well-managed, small club, with our unwieldy mess".

Assessing management potential in footy as in business is indeed judgement - it certainly isn't science!
Don't you believe the Toon Army has been unbelievably patient over the past 4 years? I have always felt Toon supporters could indeed be patient if they could see the foundations were being carefully laid, and we were heading in the right direction - but your latter statement explains where the real problems lie.
I see no earthly reason not to compare us with Ipswich, and to aspire to the careful, consistent management approach they have demonstrated. Sadly, I don't know where it's going to come from, or when.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Clarky, no, I don't think we have any patience at all: I heard someone in the paper shop today who got their ST last year saying they weren't renewing because the football was crap. That's how patient we are with new managers. We have had three managers in 5 years..that's how patient we are. Yes, we've had great attendances in this period but two managers have left amidst great bitterness and the club is virtually on its knees from trying quick fixes.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Clarky, I absolutely agree with you that people would accept that it was a long job if we were making top notch progress with the Academy. I must say, though, we are building a very young team, which gives me great hope.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Dougal,
I still believe the real problem is that the fans cannot see signs of concerted progress, and there is no shared vision.
Since KK left we have lurched from crisis to crisis - on and off the field, and the supporters have gradually descended into a thickening gloom.

There were high hopes after his first season miracle, that BR could set in place a pattern of gradual development aimed at long-term success. However, last season the train came off the rails - big time - and the consequence is that people now feel BR's tenure is at risk at a time when we have a squad of players in need of substantial improvement, we are financially strapped, and no star players will join us.

All of this implies further crisis and ever-deepening gloom. Other than defending their dismal record, and making ludicrous barrow-boy boasts about how much money they are going to spend, and of all the players they have tried too sign, our major shareholders are doing nothing to create an atmosphere of calm resolve, of being in control of events, and of working to design the future. A future that is to be built on a mini-squad of talented young players already at the Club, of ensuring a conveyor belt of new talent from the soon-to-be-available Youth Academy, and of working to put in place a top-class management/coaching infrastructure that will ensure a smooth transition from the highly-experienced Bobby Robson, building on the firm foundations being established by him to prepare for real, sustainable success for the Club for a period of twenty years or more.

THAT is the sort of thing the Board should be saying to cut throught the gloom and despondency, working vigorously to dispell uncertainty, getting out and about to talk to fans and to articulate their vision and to build supporters allegiance and confidence in a bright future. THAT is what management is all about.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

The last time we took a scientific view we got TSM. Who backed against him? The winner of two champ medals managing two clubs, a great player with a reputation of grinding out results, the equation great player * proven manager ^ medals won = horrendeous cock up.

I'd prefer an ex keegan player who never fails to identify quality players on ITV whilst he gets Gabby Yoreth all excited. Barry is our man.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

Clarky, How can there be reports of progress? The team has fallen behind (IMHO) the Gullit years. Gullit at least had a style of play that he wanted to adhere to & that did not involve the guaranteed presence of Shearer & Lee. He was basing the team around Hughes, Howey, Speed, Dyer and Solano. Now we have little more obvious direction than TSM days.

Whilst we have secured a training facility yet all the local media can report is the hard done by pub team who played on the pitch before NUFC moved in, not mentioning the idiotic objections the city council have come up with against the clubs plans.

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001

All bringing it back down to the disaster that is NUFC PR. So many people can see some very simple and cheap solutions to start bringing some real credibility back tot he club, yet the club continue to act as if it only needs to exist for the world to fall at it's feet. I think supporters are more than willing to be patient if we feel the club has a real plan in place and is implementing it.

Perhaps someone could send a loud alarm clock and a one of those self-starting coffee makers to the executive offices?

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2001