1. What happened in yesterday's game against West Ham?

They deserved the points. We didn't even turm up. We were too soft. We let them harry us and get confident to try things. It worked for them.

2. Unlike in the other games, you didn't create many chances...

What do you expect? I never got the ball. The midfield never got the ball so you can imagine what it was like for the forwards..

3. So what did you do in the game?

I had a free kick blocked and put one cross in. I didn't do much but neither did anyone else.

4. The defence continues to have difficultiies..

Yes. Any team can let in a goal but you have to make some sort of effort - you can't just let the opposition's forwards roam around quietly in the 20 yard box. We have to play Leicester on Wednesday and I hope things turn out better. Distin will hopefully play although we don't know the team yet.

5. Distin isn't going to solve things single-handedly..

True, but with his build, he can certainly give us a hand.

6. Presumably Bobby Robson is trying to sort the defence out?

I don't know - he talks too fast (laughs). This morning, he gave the defence a bit of grief because he thinks it's amazing that a supposedly weaker team got the better of us so easily.

7. Are you worried?

Well, it's better to lose at West Ham than lose our next two games and you win some, you lose some. I really hope we win on Wednesday because that would move us up the table.

8. Will you play on Wednesday?

I think so....I have a problem with my ankle that got worse on the really hard turf yesterday but it should be better by Wednesday.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Answers

Oh, and the French squad for the friendly in Australia or Algeria or wherever is announced on Thursday morning...

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Th one you can be sure of is that Robert will be required to play on until his ankle is just a soggy stump on the end of his leg!

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Im not just saying this on the basis of yesterday, but does anyone else think Robert is as lazy as Ginola? I havent seen any matches 1st hand, just the Sky games vs Chelsea/Sland/WHam but he seems to make little effort to get up and down the pitch- only seems to come to life when he is given the ball. I know its the teams job to get it to him but...... Top class otherwise of course.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Spud, I think I've seen Robert do more defending this season so far than Daveeed in his entire career - not that that says a lot I agree ;-)

My bigger worries are his ability to get yellow cards and his apparent -ve comments about others but not himself. Early days - if he can minimise those two traits and maximise his attacking flair, we'll be on to a winner.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Oh dear he's not happy is he? He hardly had the game of his life did he? I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt given his ankle situation and recovry from a cold.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Whatever Robert can be accused of, laziness isn't one of them: he wants to be in the Frnace Squad for the World Cup and will work his arse off this season.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

Good to hear he's working reasonably hard- didnt get that impression from the live matches/highlights. As for Nobby.... :-)

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

"I don't know - he talks too fast (laughs)."

Haha good one!

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2001

So he's been with us for how long? 6 weeks? So far a virus and a dodgy ankle...

Next week: Lolo talks about his knee replacement op!

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

The Journal reports this morning that Robert is doubtful for the Leicester game with a heel injury. He apparently had this injury when he signed for us, and has been having treatment for it ever since!

He found it very painful on what was apparently a very hard surface on Sunday, and is now doubtful for Wendesday night. He could well be rested with Sunday's game in mind.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

A bad leg and a virus are still marginally more convincing than a septic (I'm sceptic) finger. Non?

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Aye, but does it not have a touch of the Carl Cort syndrome? I dunno - I see chronic injury problems in every new signing...Distin probably has a dodgy left lung, and Elliott will go down with a permanent head strain

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Elliott will go down with a permanent head strain

He'd better pack in playing and become a season ticket holder in that case. :-))

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

Here we go. According to The Ronnie Robbie Elliott 'slightly damaged' knee ligaments on Sunday. However, "it is hoped he will still be able to play on Wednesday night......"

...... when no doubt he will damage them properly and be out for 3-4 months. Do we ever learn anything?

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001

I get the impression that Robert thinks we are bound for a top five position. When he founds out we are not that team what will he do?

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2001