(He has a cold and sore throat by the way)

1) Newcastle beat the title holders and scored four goals. What a m atch!

Yes. I almost didn't play as I woke up on Saturday with tonsilitis but I played anyway because you don't want to miss a match against the Champions. Winning 4-3 was magnifique.

2) You nonetheless had a great game, causing all sorts of trouble to the Man Utd defence?

I played OK but I was having trouble breathing at times. In any event, even though things went well for us, Man Utd were very good. They weren't lucky in front of goal but they were impressive nonetheless.

3) What was Bobby Robson's advice before the game?

To play our football and not give up til the final whistle. We had some players missing and some people who don't normally play gave their all. We played some good football but there were still some long balls.

4) You are developing into a great attacking side..

It's true but we can concede just as easily and I really hope that Distin's arrival will stabilise the defence. We need to learn how to beat teams 1-0 because if the goals dry up, we will lose. In terms of attack, Shearer brings so much to the side with his experience while Craig Bellamy's pace gives us an advantage. You have to praise Rob Lee, too, and generally, he starts attacks.

5)How do you explain the defensive problems?

As I've said before, we are a very young team and the defencve lacks experience. They need to get tougher. I don't say that to criticise but as a "good of the team" point.

6) Do you think Newcastle are on course for good things?

We have started well but apparently Newcastle always start well and go down hill after December. I'm hoping this year things get better. Why not try for a top three finish?

7) How are you feeling after four games?

Physically, I feel fine but I think I need to bring more to the team and to do that I need to get to know my team-mates' games better.

8) Do you have any targets for goals?

I always try to beat my own record and I'll try to beat the 16 I scored last year.

9) Have you been in traing today?

The club doctor sent me home. I've got to go now as I feel too ill and I can hardly talk.

2)

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Answers

If that's how good he is when he's ill....

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

He obviously doesn't know much about our last few season where we didn't start well at all. ;-) He's right about us going downhill after Christmas. Hopefully that will change this year as well.

I'm beginning to have a real dilemma deciding whether the name on my next shirt will be Robert or Shearer. :-)

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Ciara, I'd wait until Febuary before I stuck a Frenchmans name on your shirt.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

He did disappear for a while, but I'll let him off if he was ill.

I love him saying that the defence needs to improve so we can win 1- 0, just wonderful to have a player who understands that it can be good and bad and we still have to get results.

Clealy doesn't like long balls !! Although I suppose he thinks it's okay to shoot from riducluous distances at free kicks.

But best of all ..... he doesn't thing he's doing enough yet

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

You know - I reckon Laurent Robert's weekly thoughts on his web-site are the nearest thing to "real communication" that we've ever had from SJP.

Something to discuss within the FLC Macbeth?

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Perhaps Robert should be groomed as our new manager. Or Director of Public Relations. ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

I thought there were times when he was in acres of space waiting for the pass that never came. Particularly in the second half, however if he was ill maybe that was why his team mates didn't use him as much as in the first half

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Clarky, some Toon fans have asked Sportifsonline to do an English language section on his site and they are thinking about it. Incidentally, we are getting some fans among the PSG/LOLO lovers. Also, I gather that Lolo has a young brother (17) who is developing into a top notch player. One for Alan Irvine et al to look out for?

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Didn't take long for the treatment room curse to spring up, did it? Next week read how Lolo requires head replacement op, and out for 6 months

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Alta Vista trans. almost as entertainig as the match, as per. Have emboldened my favourite bit for your pleasure...

Newcastle made fall Manchester United four goals with three with St James Park. The meeting held all its promises. What a match! (Laurent has evil to speak). C.était a match of madness but j.ai failed not to be present on the ground. When I awoke Saturday, I suffered d.une angina. Very difficult C.était but when you have the possibility of playing a match vis-a-vis with such a team, you do not wish the louper. Then to gain 4 to 3, c.était really splendid. In spite of your angina, you put fire in the defense of Manchester with a goal, several shootings which worried Fabien Barthez, of the overflows, of the centers. C.était of the large Laurent Robert. True C.est that I m.en left well but at a given time, enormously j.avais evil to breathe. Encumbered enough J.étais. In any case, even if that passed well for us, we played vis-a-vis in large Manchester. They n.ont have much success in front of the goals but they were impressive. Which were the instructions of Bobby Robson before the meeting? C.était to play our football and to fight jusqu.à the last second, nothing to release. L.équipe did not n.était complete and the players who are not on the ground d.habitude gave the maximum. One played well balloon even if times one found the play with l.anglaise, with long balloons in front. You lay out d.une in any case attacks frightening. You passed four goals the week behind to Middlesbrough, four others this weekend vis-a-vis with the hot favorite of the championship. Does D.où come the danger to Newcastle? The problem, c.est that l.on can mark has n.importe which moment and to take goals of the same manner. One took some not badly since the beginning of the season and j.espère that l.arrivée of Sylvain (Distin) will stabilize defense. There is much success in front of the goals but the day when that goes s.arrêter, one is likely to encounter big problems. Is needed qu.on learns how to gain matches 1 to 0. Concerning l.attaque, the danger comes from Shearer. It brings enormously with its experiment. As with Bellamy one can make the difference with our burst of speed, Shearer receives many centers. Then, one should not forget l.importance of Robert Lee in the medium of ground. It makes well circulate the balloon and c.est of its feet which generally leave the attacks. How do you explain these problems in defense? Like I you l.ai already known as, Newcastle is composed of young players, one misses d.expérience in defense. Already, to stop taking goals, would be needed qu.ils are more malicious. I do not criticize them but c.est for the good of the collective which I say that. You are aujourd.hui in the fourth place of the championship at three points of Leeds with a match of delay. Do you believe that Newcastle has the breadth to mix with the race with the title? It appears that Newcastle always begins very well its beginnings from season and qu.il cracks in December. This year, j.espère qu.on will not know this problem and that l.on will manage to hold over one complete season. Why not play a place in the three first? Which personal assessment do you draw after four days? In l.ensemble, it is positive. I smell myself well physically and I miss just better a knowledge of the set of my fellow-members to bring a little bit more to l.équipe. Do you have an objective concerning the number of goals? Every year, j.essaie to beat my record. J.en put sixteen the last season with the PSG and j.espère to still better do with Newcastle. With this angina, were you present at l.entraînement this morning? J.y went and the doctor m.a immediately put at rest. I returned to the house and I rest. And one will see tomorrow how I feel. D.ailleurs, I will stop there. I am sorry but j.ai too badly. I cannot speak any more. So long.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Whatever gets him through the night. ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

"I smell myself well physically"

Hmm, maybe that's why he had a cold?

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Am i the only one here to feel this is a double-edged sword staring us right in the face here??

Great - communication. when we win and he's happy and he's playing well. When the going gets tough?

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

Possibly Min, but fortunately so far the going hasn't really got tough yet. When it comes to Christmas time I suspect that you will get your question answered.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

I really hope his angina clears up.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

min,

When things go to sh*te - as they surely will - I want real communication from the Club more than ever.

Unfortunately, all we get are platitudes, at best. And why? Cos they don't give one nano- second per season to figuring out what their fans/customers want/need - they don't give a toss.

The Club's Chief Executive told me to my face 12 months ago now that sorting out their web-site was a personal priority of his, but that I shouldn't expect to see any major improvement for perhaps 4-6 months. The reality is that everything, and anything, is more important to them.

[/rant]

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2001

Clarky

I was told that the web site was being relaunched in September so either 12 days to go, or 377 days to go.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2001

....... if it's OK with you Macbeth, I won't hold my breath. ;o{)

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2001

To be honest, I don't really use the official site. Most official sites have to offer an official opinion - they can't start slating players who played badly and speculate on who we should sign next.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2001