(and before the Makems start, there isn't a cardiac/zimmer frame joke we haven't already heard).

It just seems that Bobby keeps going off on one at the moment - he bawled reporters out over Wadsworth, has gone ape over Dyer, has told the media that the Nobby passport stuff is "all f...g lies" and now slags Nobby off in public. I mean, he has a right to be pissed off with the press but he is out of order in slagging off Nobby to the press. Shall we all club together to buy him some Valium?

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

Answers

Thank you Ms Pot ;-)

I suspect a lot is down to frustration - frustration in not being given the funds to do what he wants (or maybe not?), frustration in being turned down by a number of his targets, frustration in not being able to play his first choice eleven (or anywhere near) since he arrived and frustration that some of his stars are not available or playing up to their potential frequently enough. Or maybe its just "frustration". What about Viagra instead of Valium (what's the betting Ronnie picks Viagra up as Toon's new transfer target??)

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

It's first teamers not stiffs we need Screach...

I agree it was entirely out of order to slag Nobby off to the press. He seemed to imply he wants rid of him so he's done nothing for Nobby's value with this outburst.

Nobby wants to play for his country. I'd have thought Robson, more than almost anyone else, would be able to respect that.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

If Bobby really negotiated a new contract with Solano, with higher wages for him (because ??) with either an explicit or implicit understanding that he would not be trying to play for us while recovering from jet lag, then I fully understand him losing the plot.

I am 100% sure if Solano hadn't got the contract he wanted he'd have found an agent willing to talk to the press, that seems to be the arena for talking these days.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

Yes Jonno, but if a gentleman's agreement was reached when they were discussing contracts, YBR's p!$$ed-offness is understandable. Tho I agree about slagging him off in public. Not the first time mind.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

A gentleman's agreement to flout FIFA rules? I think we should just live with the fact that he's South American. I'll bet Robson wouldn't dream of asking a potential England player to curtail his international career.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

Yeah maybe, but England internationals don't coincide with Newcastle's games so it doesn't pose a problem. Bobby's problem is that Solano will return the day before the Chelsea game, adding the problem of jet lag to Nobby's already poor away record.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

Jonno - it is perfectly within Nobby's rights to tall the Peruvan FA that he no longer wishes to play for Peru. I think that is what YBR had expected after the contract negotiations. Remember, YBR is a man of is word, and if somebody reneges on his own word, the YBR will look upon that very poorly indeed.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 2001

At the end:

1) KK unwell - stress
2) KD unwell - realisation that he couldn't cope
3) RG manic - a man promoted above his station

That's just the last three in the last ten years. OO, JS, WMcF are three others close to taking wobblers. Bob's better than most and more experienced than all, he'll be alright.
It's proven to be a difficult job to do over the years, God knows I've seen a few arseholes try and fail. What Bob needs is a simple change of luck: Shearer to come back; Cort to come good; Dyer to be a match winner; Bassedas to repay the patience shown him; Robert to be inspirational; LuaLua, Gavilan, Bellemy, Bernard, Caldwell*2 to become valuable squad men.
I’d be a lot happier if Bob would get himself a top class established coach/assistant manager. I’d be happier still if a Sports Shrink and all of that mental strength, focus on the now, Psyco bollox were employed along side a professional individual fitness programme.
I expect us to struggle early in the season due to a number of difficult games and the weakness of our squad at the moment. And through this time I fully expect Bob to look his age – he is very old – but, I’m confident that in two month’s time or so we will get much, much better.

God bless you Bob.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Also the handling of the West Ham/Sinclair situation with Roeder was very unprofessional.....

the man is likeable (and has been able in his time) but he's past it and many fear for his health at a time of his life when he should be putting his feet up.....

the job will kill him......

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

The thing is, Bobby has managed England and Barcelona and I'm sure he thought that NUFC would be a doddle in comparison. He was wrong - the club gets massive amounts of media attention and, in terms of in juries etc, more than its fair share of bad luck: a lethal combination. As Heednhands says, he's due a change in luck and hopefully he'll get it.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Also the handling of the West Ham/Sinclair situation with Roeder was very unprofessional.....

Be fair, yes you would expect more professionalism from WHU but Roeder is learning the ropes. (The leak came from West Ham)

Could not agree more with H-in-H that a Sports Shrink would be an excellent addition to the staff.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

I Thought that Roeder and WHU handles it very well and that it was your manager and your management that handled it appallingly badly and were very naive.... after all it was BR and NUFC that got the bad publicity.... never saw Roeder burst a blood vessel and Sinclair is still at WHU....

strange views Jonno....

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Roly,

How did our management handle it badly?? Bobby put in an offer for Sinclair and it was rejected. Should have been end of story. However someone at West Ham leaks the bid to the press. Roeder, the arse that he is, assumes it was Newcastle that leaked the news and flys off the handle accusing the toon of trying to unsettle the player. Bobby retailates saying that the leak wasnt from us and that he would never operate like that!!

Agree Newcastle came out of it looking the worse but that is not the managements fault, it was West Ham and especially Roeder that acted like morons. Unfortunately mud sticks!!

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Roly, you might dislike Newcastle but do you seriously think that YBR would make that leak? You're a bitter and twisted man if you do....

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

I guess that we'll have to agree to disagree on our resoective determination of the facts.....

but I thought WHU were very professional in telling BR that Sinclair was not for sale and the BR sent a fax in (and NUFC leaked that bid to the press not WHU).

funny how the smell wasfts in from SJP.... you want to smell with your nose sometimes not your eyes or ears....

anyway.... Bobby is past it and the job will kill him he is surrounded by incompetents, nincompoops and with your fickle supporter base as per the Rob Lee testimonial attendance... your support is on the wane.... Dougy promises £100M and coughs up a fraction.... and you "lose" your CEO...

all the idiocy at SJP is now starting to affect BR and he doesn't need it IMHO.....

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

We'll see this season then shall we if Bobby is past it. Sunderland will struggle this season IMHO

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Roly - your knowledge of NUFC is scary. However, the Ronnie have admitted that they got the story from West Ham.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Roly - Don't talk about fickle: your lot don't come out in any better light, truth to tell. I suggest you look at our breaking the Intertoto attendance record twice this summer rather than at Rob Lee's testimonial which was, in terms of price, a spectacular own goal and he got frankly what he deserved (and I was there).

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

I see The Don is set to leave SAFC to go to WHam.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Divvent be daft man, he died 6 months ago, we even had a State Funeral for him.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Solano told BR that he wasn't going to play again for Peru then changed his mind, that is what the fuss is about. BR never asked Nobby to curtail his international career, it was understood that it was already finished.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Roly

As far as losing a CEO, didn't you lose a Finance Director around the time we originally found him, is his loss to a football club that serious, I just know you will be able to answer this one !!!

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

he is a good finance guy.... it was a shame he left... pity you didnt look after him...

:OP

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001