1. You inflicted a 4-1 defeat on Ipswich on Tuesday in the Worthington Cup. It was obviously a party at Saint James' on Tuesday?

Yes, it went fantastically well. Bobby Robson really wanted us to win the game as, at the very least, he wants us to win a Cup this season. We played really well and here we are in the Quarter Finals. We don't yet know who we are playing next in the competition but at this stage, we have only one goal - to go to the Final and win.

2. You were 4-0 up at half time. You couldn't have dreamt of a better start to the game.

It's true, we were very serious about it. We pushed them up and pressed hard and created a lot of space to play in. We won the Derby match with a first half goal and then scored four in the first forty minutes against Ipswich. I feel that some of our problems have been solved. We now need to carry this on against Charlton on Saturday and once more against Ipswich next week so we stay in a good position in the league.

3. You got the first goal. What happened?

Solano got the ball in the middle of the park and I shoutedc for the ball from quite deep. He passed the ball, and I took off on my own, outpacing the defender and confusing the keeper. The ball went between his legs and he couldn't really do anything.

4. Did you get any more chances?

Not many. I had a bad hip and I had difficulty shooting. I still got the ball a lot and, on the whole, I don't think I did too badly.

5. You were worried about your hip on Monday. How are you feeling now?

It's still bad but despite the pain, the manager wanted me on the pitch. He was counting on me and I don't think I let him down. As for Saturday, I should be OK, even if I only play for an hour..I shouldn't lose my place.

6. Have you been in training?

No, I'm in Montpellier and return to training tomorrow. The boss gave us two days off so I'll train tomorrow and see how I feel.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Answers

Alta Vista: You inflicted a heavy defeat with Ipswich, 4 to 1, out of Cut of the League. C.était a true festival with St-James Park Tuesday evening!

Yes, that s.est super last good. Bobby Robson wanted the victory parce qu.il absolutely wishes qu.on gains at least a Cut this year. One played very well and here us are now in quarterfinals. For the moment, we do not know who we will meet but when you arrive at this stage of the competition, you n.as qu.un only goal. C.est d.aller finally and to gain. At the half-time, you led 4 to 0. You could not dream d.une more beautiful starts match. True C.est qu.on was very serious. They were pressed very high and that created us spaces. One gained on our premises the last weekend vis-a-vis in Derby while marking in first half, one put four of them Tuesday evening in the first forty minutes and I think qu.aujourd.hui, our problems are partly regulated. Afterwards, it is necessary to confirm as of Saturday with Charlton and again vis-a-vis Ipswich the next week. One will do everything to gain these two well matches to be with the classification. C.est you who opened the score at the 18th minute. Can you reconsider your goal? Solano recovers the balloon in the medium of ground. I ask for the in-depth balloon, it makes me the master key and I leave all alone. I take to speed my defender and d.une crossed striking, I mislead the guard. The balloon passed to him between the legs and it n.a nothing been able to make. Did you have d.autres occasions? Not too. J.avais very badly with the hip and j.avais really difficulties to strike. On the other hand, j.ai recovered not badly of balloons. In l.ensemble, I find that I m.en left well. Precisely, you had some concerns Monday concerning your hip and you nevertheless held your place. Aujourd.hui, do you still feel something? Yes, j.ai always badly. In spite of the pain, l.entrainor wanted that I am on the ground. He counted on me and j.ai given the maximum. With regard to the match of Saturday vis-a-vis in Charlton, I should be able to hold my place. I perhaps will play qu.une hour but I do not think of being fixed price. Could you t.entraîner this morning? In fact, I am in Montpellier since yesterday. L.entrainor gave us two days of rest and I begin again l.entraînement tomorrow morning. I will make care and one will see like I reacted

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

I liked Dan's better, to tell the truth. Got to be said, he puts Goma and Marcelino into perspective.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Glad to see BR continuing his policy of playing injured players. (Why why why?)

BTW Dougal - go to the Charlton game, since when has lack of cash meant missing a match! Buy your shopping on your Visa card - it works for me!

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

That is ridiculous! How the hell can BR keep playing him if he's a) inured and b) clearly not capable of kicking the ball past the first defender! I despair

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

I find it heartening that Lolo plays in these conditions but it's frankly absurd that we are risking a 10 million Pound player in any single game: it's just not worth it. The other thing is that the player gets unfair criticism.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Lynda, I know what you mean. My mother saw my credit card bill about a year ago and it was like, "NUFC - £60; NUFC £52; NUFC £74; GNER £77; NUFC £30; GNER £77". She claims that people spend less on their mortgages than I do on NUFC which made me feel a bit guilty.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

I'm not sure Robert does get unfair criticism. Having read what he has to say I will blame BR for his performance on Tuesday. We were comparing his attempted crosses to a 6yr old kid trying to kick a fool weight footy... he says himself he had dificulty "shooting". He should not have been on the pitch.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Yes, but it's a much safer obsession than say....drug addiction. At least that's the argument I always used with my mother. She had to agree with that one. ;-))

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

"fool weight"????? I think I meant "full..."

damn this Cotes de Rhone Villages

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

I can't even look at my own credit card bills these days, never mind my Mother seeing them. it's true though Dougal, it all adds up to a horrifying amount. When you add up tickets, travel and food and drink it is frightening. When we played in Europe even worse!

Still as Ciara says - better than drug addiction but probably more damaging to your mental health in the long term.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001

Geordie, he has had two viruses, a bereavement, a slight ankle injury and this knock on the hip. He hasn't missed a game. This is indicative of a good attitude in my book. I think we've seen him fully fit in one game, the game against Boro, in which it looked like we had a divinity in our midst. I'm happy to accept Wenger's statement that a French player takes 6 months to get into the English game and be staggered that we have had so much so soon. He shouldn't have played in several games this season but that's YBR, not Lolo.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2001