It's been a while since I've posted anything due to a combination of Toon-related depression and off-season apathy, but after a couple of weeks in the Dordogne and another in Zurich my spirits are up. Without BBS access I've been following the Laurent Robert transfer story in L'Equipe, the French daily sports newspaper. They are usually on the ball, and have given no indication that Robert has turned us down. On his website he gives regular inteviews, which are presumably his views.

So far he has had this to say:

July 6

Q: Your agent has a meeting today with the president of Newcastle United. Is this a serious proposition?

LR: I don't know. I haven't talked to my agent for a couple of days. If it is a serious offer from Newcastle I will have to meet with the directors. I'm not going to leave PSG just for the sake of leaving.

Q: The three big English clubs at the moment are Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Is it a good idea to go to a club that isn't in the forefront of the English game one year before the World Cup?

LR: I wouldn't be worried about going to a club like Newcastle. As long as I play well I will be noticed. And besides, don't exagerate, Newcastle are not a small club.

Q: There are high-profile French players who have gone overseas before and hardly been seen since!

LR: Not those sold for 10 million pounds!

I'll post his later interviews soon.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Answers

APpeared July 9

Q: Is there any further news regarding Newcastle?

LR: The talks on Friday went very well. At the moment we're waiting to see the actual proposition from Newcastle. My agent indicated my wishes, so we're waiting for their response.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

Crikey - things have got bad. We're talking to LR now ;-)

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

The third interview was on July 13

Q: Has the transfer to Newcastle been abandoned?

LR: No, things are still ongoing. It is still possible that I will sign for them this season. Sorry, but I can't say anymore at the moment.

So, at least according to Robert, any transfer to Newcastle is far from dead. And as both parties were involved in matches over the week-end, things probably stand as they did last Friday.

It seems that he is happy to go, provided personal terms can be agreed. And as far as his ability is concerned, he scored 14 goals from the left side of midfield last year in a very mediocre team (asmittedly in a mediocre championship too). I think he'd fit in well as a player, although I can't give him a character reference. I might email him at to tell him how much he'd be idolised if he came and showed his worth.

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001

It's Beer O'Clock now, at least in France, so I'll look forward to collecting everyone's French-Friendly messages to pass on to the LR imposter tomorrow.

A bientôt

-- Anonymous, July 16, 2001