3-1 down, 4-3 up...Bobby Robson's interview in full

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Five Live:

Q: "An extraordinary game, an extraordinary week for Newcastle?"

Sir Bobby: "Well, couldn't be bettered I guess. I mean, we've played three games and in every game we have been behind, so we've come back from deficit into a winning position. And to do it at Arsenal on Tuesday, then again today at Leeds, two clubs and teams where winning is going to be very difficult, in fact getting a draw is difficult, but to pick up six points, or indeed nine over a week, has been sensational for us."

Q: "You're 3-1 down, not quite mid-way through the second half, but not far off it, where does that added steel come from now Bobby for your team to come back from 3-1 down to win 4-3?"

Sir Bobby: "Well, just working hard together on the training pitch, getting to know each other, making players realise what constitutes a winning team, how to work from a behind position when you're losing and still believe you can win. We've got great motivation in the team, to be honest, and we have personal ambition by all the players. We have a great work ethic, we have quality - there isn't any doubt about that - we've now cut out simple, sort of personal mistakes, which has benefited from us (sic), although we did fall asleep here this afternoon, because after going into the lead we all thought we'd won the match, and it was still in the first half, and three defenders fell asleep, and within a minute it's in the back of the net and it's 1-1. But we recovered well, we kept attacking - that's the belief in the team, that we can score goals. And then Lauren Robert wide on the left, Solano on the right, and Bellamy's pace and Shearer's leadership, plus a good back-up of support out of midfield, we can score goals. We have scored goals. We've scored nine goals this week, and two (matches) have been away from home."

Q: "So is Shearer's leadership crucial in all this? The players, a lot of them, look to him when things aren't going well, and with his experience he can carry them through - or help them through?"

Sir Bobby: "Yeah, for sure, he's a wonderful personality Alan. He's home, he's a Geordie playing in a Newcastle United strip, he does offer leadership qualities, he's a quality player anyway, so he leads by example in terms of what he can do on the pitch. But we have other good characters: Robert Lee hasn't played today and he's of a similar nature, but Gary Speed is alongside Alan Shearer, you know, and we've got some really good players and some good honest material to work with."

Q: "I believe Dabs has broken his nose after the incident with Mark Viduka?"

Sir Bobby: "That was the first one, yeah, and then he sustained a very nasty thigh and leg injury on another clash, which was rather violent, and that's obviously put him out, I would have thought, for our next match, maybe our next two matches. But that happens, and in spite of losing Dabs, on a crucial element (sic), we've gone on and won a match."

Q: "Is your job as much now, with the supporters, almost, who will be listening to this, not to get too over-excited - you've got a big game with Boro on Boxing Day, is your message to them: 'We've had a great week, but there's still a long way to go?'"

Sir Bobby: "Ahh, nobody wins anything in December, and we have Middlesbrough to come, it's a Derby, they haven't played today, so they'll be a little bit fresher than us, mebbe, on Wednesday. I think the answer is: 'Keep your trap shut, keep your feet on the ground, beaver away, and do the best you can.'"

Q: "One final thing. This time last week, we spoke, you said you were going to play 4-4-4 at Highbury to get rid of your London hoodoo, and it worked - the ref didn't notice."

Sir Bobby: "That's right. We've done it again today. We're very clever."

Q: "Thank you very much Bobby. A very Happy Christmas to you all."

Sir Bobby: "OK, thank you."

No. Thank YOU Bobby! Happy Christmas everyone.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Answers

Give that man a knighthood!

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

David O'F*ck, on the other hand, is whining that Bobby cited Mark Viduka's "tackle" on Dabizas as a sending off offence. What a big, fat, hairy surprise that this charlatan didn't see anything wrong with the challenge. He was a dirty sh*te in a dirty Arsenal side and has engendered the same spitefulness in his "babies". Small wonder he sees nothing wrong with a malicious, late challenge which sees one of our players stretchered off and can also see no link between the way he encourages his charges to behave on the pich with how they conduct themselves off it. Question: how much has it cost Leeds to assemble a side that has lost to us 3 times on the bounce?

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

Yep, O'Leary gracious as ever:

I cannot believe Bobby, he is still going on about it and I think he might still be going on about it on the coach home.

He is out of order for what he has said. Mark is a footballing centre-forward and it was a stupid forward's challenge. I don't think he meant what happened.

I have seen Bobby defend Alan Shearer for similar things over the last few seasons so I'm quite surprised with Bobby on this one.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001


How long before Bobby loses his voice completely?

Can you imagine the conversation when he gets home to Wor Lass?

"Good day at work Bob?" "Well, where do you want me to start, pet...?"

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001


I can't believe the amount of Gooners still moaning about Tuesdays match on 5 live and on other shows. Ridiculous.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001


They can moan all they like...

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

They can moan all they like.

O'Leary was a tw@t before the game yesterday and has done nothing to suggest otherwise with comments like that. Him and Wenger have disgraced the game by sticking up for players recently.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001


Why don't we just by-pass the knighthood and have him cannonised? Er, unless you have to be dead for that honour, in which case, a knighthood will be very nice, thank you.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

I think the one you're after Screach is 'canonised'. 'Cannonised' is when you get shot into orbit from a bliddy great gun.

So Bobby should be canonised, we've been cannonised. :-))

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001


We could at least start documentation of his miracles for the canonisation process. CAn't remember how many miracles you need, 3 maybe?

1) Walks on water
2) Saved us from relegation with a rag-tag team
3) Actually got money for Maric
4) Beat Arsenal away in LONDON and put us TOP OF THE LEAGUE
5) Beat Leeds away to keep us TOTL.

Any more?

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001



O' Dreary was in the papers on Saturday morning whining about the coverage his thugs have had, and saying something to the effect that he hoped Bin Laden would be caught soon so that the press attention might be diverted elsewhere.

The man is a first rate twat for making such disgusting and distasteful remarks. He's an apologist for his thugs on and off the pitch and, for my money, has just leapt ahead of his predecessor at Leeds as the most obnoxious twat in football.



-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001

1. His genuine unbridled natural love for the beautiful game.

2. His determination to succeed, not for himself,for his ain folk.

3.His integrity and honesty in a profession sorely needing more.

-- Anonymous, December 22, 2001


Oops. You saying I made a balls up Pit B?

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

He raised Rob Lee from the grave.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

Ceefax version of Boxing Day's Daily Mail:

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson has revealed that he has no plans to retire from the game at the moment. "I haven't made up my mind about when I will finish but I still see myself here this time next year," he said.

"When I'm asked how long I intend to stay, my answer is simple - I'll pack it in when I wake up and don't want to come into work.

"I'm certainly not in that position at the moment," the 68-year-old told the rag.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001



Hardly a staggering exclusive, as wor Bob has summit like 16 months left on his contract...which will take him up to the age of 70.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

It was my understanding that Bobby was on a rolling 12-month contract i.e. every day he has another 12 months left unless he or the club decide to change things.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

in the full piece he says he won't retire until he's had enough, he'll look at again this time next year but doesn't feel then woudl be the right time either (I guess that's cos of us doing so well inthe 2nd phase of the CL ?), rest of Mail article is with Beardsley saying how great it is to be youth team coach with Robson around

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

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