1) Newcastle beat Middlesbrough 4-1. You scored once, set up two goals and won the penalty...a busy game, then?

It's true, it went well, but half way through the first half, we were in trouble. We don't know each other that well yet and the team hasn't fully gelled so I didn't get the ball much. With one of the two real touches I got in the first half, I earned the penalty that Alan Shearer converted. At half time, in the ressing room, Bobby Robson told the team to get the ball to me more and after that, I got the ball more and showed what I can do.

2) What happened for your goal?

The defender tried to pass the ball to the keeper but I had him under pressure and he miskicked so I was one on one with the keeper. I dribbled round him and scored.

3) What about Alan Shearer's return?

It's a good thing without a doubt. He immediately worries defenders and if I can put in good crosses, we'll score a lot of goals. I think that with Alan, me and Craig Bellamy, we can do a lot of damage.

4) You were Man of the Match. What has the English media been saying about you?

It's amazing. They were talking about me as soon as I arrived but now I see myself everywhere. The papers gave me 9 out of 10 after Saturday.

5) What about Newcastle's ambitions for this season?

Well, we've made some good buys in the summer and Sylvain Distin is going to sign this afternoon. In any event, I came here to get into the top three and I'm going to do all I can to take us as high up the table as possible. We had a good game on Saturday but we have to keep working. We have some big games coming up and we can't be caught napping. On Wednesday, we play Second Division Brentford in the Worthington Cup, and we play Manchester United at home on Saturday. We really must try to win these home games.

6) Will you play on Wednesday?

Yes, normally I'd expect to play. I think Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi will play, too. In general, it should be the same team as played on Saturday.

7) You must be excited about playing Man Utd?

Oh yes and I really want to be on my best form for playing them but I'll talk about that later in the week. Bye.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Answers

Laurent, Laurent Robert..everyone knows his name.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Where did you get this from Dougal?

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

His site: he does an interview twice weekly.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

In French?

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Yep.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Oh.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

The Distin deal finally seems to materialise.....exciting!

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

Just to add to the above quotes, another from icDeadPeople:

"And while I do not speak a lot of English, I knew they were chanting my name.

"It was all very emotional and fantastic for me to hear. That's why I threw my shirt to our fans." Gotta love the guy.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001

oops....scuse the formatting...just sitting here watching the highlights show and they're showing our goals...

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2001