Interesting article in today's Observer sport Monthly which interviews numerous French players in the PL. Can't reproduce the whole article but here are a few points:

He felt that BR's training methods were boring and lacked tactical work which cost them games.

BR never took responsibility for anything and blames the players, expecially the foreigners.

Criticies the club for not having an oesteopath ( I agree here)

Had a big bust up after the Man City game With BR as he felt crticised. Argued back to Bobby in fornt of the English players who were suprised as they (Englsih players) don't argue.

Implies BR doesn't treat his players equally.

Pretty inflammatory stuff actually which no doubt will be picked up by the tabloids. I feel Goma may have a point about the team suffering due to a lack of an individualised fitness programme. There may also be something in his assertion that BR's training sessions are boring. However, given Bobby's worldwide experience of working with foreign players I think Goma is being a bit paranoid in saying he always blames the foreigners. Maybe they didn't work the hardest.

I suspect that Goma like many French players is used to a particulary French way of running a football team. Perhaps this is why he enjoys it at Fulham under Tigana and why other French players eg Domi have struggled with Bobby's very English style of management. Overall most French players in the PL have struggled unless they are at Arsenal with a French manager.

Doesn't bode well for Robert does it?

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

Answers

There is defintely a French mentality that makes them believe they are right and everyone else is wrong.

His point about the foreigners is simply a non-starter. Domi, Goma, Maric, Andersson. Not exactly what you'd call model footballers.

It is complete and utter sour grapes, as Fulham are quite frankly doing worse than I thought they would and we are sitting up there in the top 4.

Robert should end up alright once his injury is cleared.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

I agree. I don't want to seem like a xenophobe but what is the link between these set of moaners from the Premiership, past and present.

Le Boeuf Anelka Petit Domi Goma Henry

All are French and at various times have moaned about their clubs, the English game and training methods in this country.

There are other French players who do not moan in quite the same way though, Viera, Dacourt, Desailly etc. However none of them are 'model pros' by any stretch of the imagination.

I expect Bobby to be a little bit cross about this from Goma.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

So what is costing them games at Fulham, then? Since it's not tactics, it's obviously the fact that they are a team full of injury- prone knackers like Goma.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

I have asked for some opinions about Goma from the PSG lot but I know they referred to him as a "grosse merde" in the summer. Will let you know what they think of him.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

The verbal meanderings of Alain Goma - a poorly motivated, overly- compensated, oft-injured, anally-retentive, French toss-pot - have no significance whatsoever.

Frankly, he isn't worthy of wiping Bobby Robson's derrier.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

He asked for it:

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

He's got a point about Bobby never taking responsibility though - even after the Spurs debacle he refused to accept he'd got it wrong when it was plain for all to see that he had.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

Furthermore, YBR must have struggled in Holland, Portugal and Spain with his anti-foreigner stance. That'll account for why he filled PSV, Porto, Barca etc with so many English imports...

I agree, Al, re Bobby and not taking criticism well.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

But don't we always call out for a loud mouthed organiser in the back line, someone like Schmeichel who'll shout at everyone whether he's right or wrong?

It's a bit of a catch 22 situation. If Bobby admits he's wrong some players might think they are better than the manager. If he maintains he's right then he retains the authority over the players. Deep down he knows that the formation was wrong otherwise it would have reappeared.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

He's really lit up the Premiership since he joined Fulham hasn't he?

Even if you just compare his 'progress' to ours since he left, i know who i'm more inclined to listen to....

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

I just wonder how much Mick Wadsworth had to do with our 'boring' training regime? Since he's left, I can't recall anyone complaining. Indeed several players seem to be quite happy and put some of our recent success down to things they'd practiced in training. The buck still stops with Bobby, and he seemed to think Wadsworth was the dogs' bits, so this could be another instance of YBR not wanting to admit to a mistake. Still, as long as things are working now, I'm not terribly bothered about what happened in the past. :-)

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002

There's an ex pro working at our place. I talked to him a while back about one of Wadsworth(less)s sessions. His comment was it was direct out of the FA Coaching manual which is a bag of merde.

He'd been on a FA COaching course and they'd brough in Don Howe for a session - he changed everything round - FA GUys went ballistic but the players realised it was correct. I'm with blaming Wadsworth.

-- Anonymous, January 06, 2002