1. You play Leicester on Saturday. After the victory against Leeds last weekend, what will be your state of mind for this game?

We really have to be as hard working against Leicester as we were against Leeds. They are currently at the bottom of the table but we mustn't let that affect us. It will be a very difficult game and, in our current position, everyone is watching out for us. We have to stay on our game and we must take the points.

2. Is it important that Newcastle gets a run of results?

Absolutely. There's no gap at the top really and we have to take points from every match. Then we'll see where we are at the end of the season.

3. Leicester play a typically British physical game, don't they?

That doesn't worry me. We've already beaten them at home and we know that if we concentrate, we should be OK.

4. Does the physicality of the English game still shock you?

Mo, I've got used to it. It's how the game is played here and it's up to the referee to decide if something is serious or not. I've already forgotten Mill's behaviour and I'm just thinking about the next game.

5. Is it the same in training?

(Laughs). Yes.

6. It is claimed that referees in England are biased towards foreigners. Have to you felt this ?

Not at all. I've had no problems with English referees. They do their job, I do mine and that's it, end of story.

7.What did the manager focus on in training?

This morning, we had a session on attack against defence, then we practised crossing and shooting. It lasted for about two hours. We should be ready to face the Leicester defence on Saturday.

8. How are you feeling physically?

My back is fine and I've hjad no reaction in training. Everything is fine.

9. There's a young player by the name of Dyer who is unknown in France who is nonetheless important to Newcastle.

He's an English international who has just come back from injury. He's the marathon runner of the team, getting everywhere and getting into position. He's small and not particularly stingy (costaud = stingy. I think Lolo means that he isn't that defensive by central midfielder standards). He's very hard working, though. He's going to bring us a huge amount in the second part of the season, both in attack and in defence.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Answers

Well, he seems up for it on Saturday - excellent. Nice words about Dyer,too.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Thanks Dougal. I thought costaud meant well-built, stocky?

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

I hope the shooting practice pays off! We need to start working on that goal difference. ;-))

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Pete, most of my "familiar French" comes from the Centre-Midi region which is where I spent most of my time in France (the rest being in Paris) and I assumed that Lolo's French would be fairly southerly. Costaud in that area of France often means niggardly or stingy. However, you may be right with the technical translation. Doesn't really make any difference here, though, as he says that whatever defects Dyer has, he makes up with hard work.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

PS. I suppose it's a bit of a cheek assuming that because he has a house in Montpellier that he has a crap southern dialect ;o). Presumptuous, moi?

Ciara, practising our defending might help in that regard ;0). I hope Akinbye doesn't score!

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Good point re our defending.

Anyway, arent' the Reunion Islands somewhere in a southerly direction too? ;-)))

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

PPS. What pleased me was that he isn't joining the Henry, Viera, Petit, Leboeuf clan in whining about persecution by referees!

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Aye, and I'm glad he's not complaining about the 'physicality' either. Ta Dougal.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

Dyer is unknown in France. Are they living on the same planet or just wearing blinkers as to what's happening in the world. If Spain and Italy Know who Dyer is surely France here things as well.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Andy - in most respects France is indeed on a different planet!

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

One of the things about France is that the national team is always more important than clubs so unless it happens in the international context, they are not aware of it. Secondly, they only really cover the exploits of Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool, so they are quite ignorant of what goes on elsewhere.

In fairness, how many of us knew much about Laurent Robert? Clubs in Spain, Italy and Germany were all after him, though.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

>they only really cover the exploits of Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool, so they are quite ignorant of what goes on elsewhere.

That's true. But I have never seen ManU, Arsenal or Liverpool shirts in Paris and still have spotted 3 Newcastle shirts during one month there. So there's dougal and...? ;-)

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Jussi

Are you sure that those "Newcastle" shirts were not Juve?

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Dyer is relatively unkown in France. If he hadn't come on as sub and set up Michael Owen's goal at the Stade de France he would be completely unkown!

In France, the national team is THE focus, which in my opinion is often why the French international players overseas don't always provide good value over a season. They save themselves for the games for France. IMO the performances of Zidane for Juventus before Euro 2000 and during it for France were miles apart.

The daily sports newspaper, L'Equipe, has plenty of info on other european leagues, but with a focus on the current French players. So Lolo hardly gets a mention!

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

I've also seen Mag tops in France, during an enforced stay at Tours. The lads was French, btw

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

I've also seen Mag tops in France, during an enforced stay at Tours. The lad was French, btw

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

No need to keep going on about it bobby :))

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Tried to stop the 1st posting...too late, as usual. Did I tell you about a Mag top I saw in -[oooff!, ow, ouch!]

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

The Juventus and Toon top have something in common? The over-all pattern? The stripes are nothing like for one thing. 8)

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002