Robert has given his apparently weekly interview on his website. He said something along the lines of:

Newcastle's first game in the league was a draw at Chelsea on Sunday. What are your first impressions of English football? They are very good. I was pleasantly surprised because I expected lots of long balls and that wasn't the case at all. The two teams played good football that was very interesting. Afterwards, I can't draw any conclusions on English football since it was my first match. But based on the first 90 minutes, I found it positive.

Without the big error of your keeper, Newcastle could have started out with the three points for a victory. Did you have any regrets after the match? Absolutely not, as Newcastle hadn't won in London for three years. Chelsea is one of the big teams in the championship and we were missing lots of players. Therefore in the changing rooms everyone was satisfied by the draw.

How do you think Newcastle played during the game? Very well. A goal was conceded quickly but we showed that the team had the mental resources to react against one of the best teams in the championship. As we were able to equalise, that means that we have the fortitude to be successful this season.

With the current team, do you think that you can compete towards the top of the championship? Definitely. In any event, as I chose to come here, it is up to me to get us up at the top of the table. We started well at Chelsea and we will try to continue the impetus.

As far as you are concerned, you played a full match and you were the origin of the Magpies' goal. I imagine that you are satisfied after this first match in the Premier League? Yes, I enjoyed my performance. (Editor's note: Actual translation of "I gave myself pleasure during the game" has been modified.) The manager trusts me to take the corners, the free-kicks and for the moment, everything is really going very, very well. I am very happy to have chosen Newcastle.

Roger Lemerre announced the French team to play Chile on the 1st of September 1. After your very good match on Sunday, did you hope to be selected? I didn't know that I wasn't retained in the team. I've just learnt that. It's normal as I have just started the season. Roger Lemerre has made his choices and I respect them entirely. I will continue to work with Newcastle and I will do everything to be called up for the next match at the beginning of October (6) against Algeria.

This evening, Newcastle faces Troyes for the second leg of the Intertoto Cup, but you are not qualified to play. Will you be there in the stands? Yes, I will support my team-mates. This match will not be easy because it is always difficult to beat Troyes. They are a solid team and it will be necessary to be wary of counter-attacks. But I hope that we'll qualify, so we'll be able to play in the UEFA Cup.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Answers

A possible useful source of information?

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

I like his attitude about him having to get us up the table....cos that's what it'll take!! ;))

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

He seems fairly keen. If only we could sign a bit of steel for the centre of the midfield we'd be laughing.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

What I think is good about this is that it is not said for effect in an English newspaper. In the past, foreign players (Ravenelli springs to mind) have been nice as pie to English journalist then gone back to their own countries and sh*t on their club. Sounds like a good bloke to me ... for a Frenchman that is!!

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

what's the address of his official site?

on the same subject - do any of our other current players have and update their own site?

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

It's www.laurent-robert.com, but it's all in French.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Oh yes, that reminds me, good luck in your "European Final" tonight! ha ha aha ha ahaha aha aha ha aha ah!

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Thanks. I'm sure you really are glad that you didn't enter it!

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

It's alright kiwi, just see how many of the bottom dwellers come out tomorrow after we win tonight and fulham gives their shower a good tonkin.

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Havent you learnt not to make bent predictions?

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

not sure what you mean, care to enlighten me?

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

"I gave myself pleasure during the game"

Maybe that's why he came off smiling at half time?

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Goes along with earlier talk of the midfield 'holding their own'.

Mine's the light summer jacket...

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

LOL ciara, with Robert holding his own, Bobby had no need to pull him off mid way through the second half :)

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001

Ciara, I've noticed you're really getting into the innuendo* these days - a couple of classics on the Troyes match thread!

I don't suppose Macbeth has a 'command' which could sift through your 1000's of postings to extract the "Ciara cerebrations"?

*Not an American trait?

;7)

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2001