1. You had another great victory at Saint James' Park on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Leeds. How was the game for you?

Bearing in mind that I was coming back from injury, I was quite happy with the way I played. But I was particularly happy that I felt no reaction in my hip. I put in one or two good crosses but I was fairly closely marked. I took a knock or two and I've still got the marks. You may have seen my split lip on the television on Saturday (laughs).

2. It's true that they didn't make life easy for you.

No, it was beyond the pale. However, it's not serious. I haven't broken anything and we got three points.

3. Alan Smith of Leeds opened the scoring right at the start of the match..

Yes, conceding a goal like that right at the beginning is bizarre and put us under pressure..we had to wake up fast. We managed to equalise just before half time which was perfect for morale.

4. What about the second half?

We stuck with 4-4-2 and carried on attacking, creating loads of chances.

5. What must you do to improve?

I think we had a great game on Saturday and, for once, we played as ell on the left as we did on the right. We have to carry on like that. We need to carry on being good in front of goal, too, although Bellamy did scuff a one on one with the goalie. We need to maintain our aggression and, all things being equal, we can go far.

6. The French press aren't paying Newcastle much attention despite their great season.

It's true and I said as much to a newspaper which had published awful things about me the other week. If they can't find anything to say about me, they make it up, and furthermore, they are p****d off that that Newcastle is equal on points at the top of the table with Man Utd. So, I put them right. In any case, we largely deserve our place in the table.

7. What are you up to today?

I've just come back from training. I had my lunch there and I'm now in the car with my son who I've just picked up from school. We are going home. Goodbye.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Answers

I always get the disturbing impression that he THINKS he played better than he actually did. I'd be much happier if occasionally he would say that he had a shite match but the rest of the team made up for it....

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Thanks Dougs :-) What's the French for 'scuff'?

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Well, he said "louper" which is s lightly slangy way of saying "miss".

Nick, there aren't too many great players who are modest. Veron has been having a mare at Man Utd and is getting slagged off by all but he hasn't apologised about it. Besides which, he didn't have a bad game all told.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Robert played pretty well for me.

His dodgy attitude is taking far too big a preference over his actual performance in some people's eyes.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Ta dougal, much appreciated.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

I think that's a very good point Paul. Toon fans are incredibly serious about 'committment', and his occasional tendency to "go walkabout" can cloud our view of his overall contribution.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Exactly Clarky.

What is the point of running your arse off for a lost cause if when your big chance comes 10 minutes later you are knackered?

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

I realised how well he had played when I watched it on TV. I missed alot of what he did at the actual match. I think he's doing OK.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

The last time I recall this particular controversy raging was with a centre forward called Malcolm McDonald who wasn't seeing eye-to-eye with then Toon Manager, Gordon Lee. At times, Supermac was also accused of being a lazy so-and-so, who wouldn't chase back and tackle.

I recall him arguing that he needed to conserve his energy so that he could break for the long balls we used to hit over the top for him to chase using his blistering pace.

I have a feeling Mirandinha may also have used a similar argument.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

I use that excuse all the time. Fortunately, it never comes over the top for me so the little energy I have can be put into walking back up the hill from the pub.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Watching the video of the match last night I saw him lose the ball and then chase the leeds player 20 - 30 yards to put a tackle in.

Has he been told to track back? He may have been told not to come deeper than the penalty box.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

Yeah - I noticed that at the game Gus. Had me sh!tt!ng mesel as I was convinced he'd give away a penalty if he continued.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002

On Lolo:

I too think he has been encouraged not to track back too much, and rather to stay alert in case of a breakaway. His 'dodgy' attitude seems more like normal French professional grandeur to me. Some of us here have been way too hard on him. Without all the goals, assists and penalties he has been involved in, I do not think we would have climbed quite as high we now have.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

It's very difficult to second-guess the instructions that managers have given. We have all at some point moaned about Nobby coming inside too often - maybe Bobby has asked him to, to help vary attacks and help out in the middle. Equally, in Gullit's season, we weren't happy with Shearer standing stock still just outside the penalty area for entire stretches at a time although Gullit had in fact told him that he couldn't create his own chances and should therefore patrol the penalty areas to be on the end of chances.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

I found myself having to defend his contribution when he came on v's Arse after winning a pen and scoring a goal, ridiculous really but some people make their minds up and refuse to re-assess.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

fantastic player. he wasn't flinching against leeds even after a forearm smash from mills

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Tony, I'm sure that's because, before he even kicked a ball, people thought he was Ginola Mark 2 and they see every mistake or poor game as evidence that they were right.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

True enough Lynda but this kids even gives blood for the cause(c:

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

There really are some grade A tossers with season tickets at SJP.

It's a sad fact but the only good reason for them being there is to pay the wages of the likes of Robert.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

The bloke who sits near steph gives robert a good shouting at every game , I think against leeds he showed some class he is not afraid of taking a man on , something which solano could do with reintroducing into his game.

KB

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

because Dyer/Robert/Bellamy/Solano are so mobile they don't need to take people on as often as would be the case with more static sides, we haven't needed Robert to do this yet, if/when it returns to his game we will be scary to try and stop, and if teams do stop us, we can always chuck the clown on

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

I know a lot of people on here abuse Marcelino but I refuse to join in. However macbeth, I do not think playing him wide left and expecting him to take on players will work!

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

sorry I spell clown with two Ls, two Us, and two As

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

I saw a video clip of Solano playing for Peru: he took on about 6 players, beating them all before smashing a goal into the corner of the net. He can do it for sure, but it may be a lack of confidence that prevents him taking people on at Newcastle.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

yeah, but then Solano's not up against psycho's like Mills when he plays for Peru is he?!

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

no he's up against pedro "the animal" gonzalez

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Solano's lack of pace wouldn't show anywhere other than the PL.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002