"They are both French lads and I've told them they don't have to communicate in English on the field," said Robson. "I don't care. I just want them to sort out their partnership and get it right.

"I've said to them 'if one of you wants something done then say in French 'I'll take him and you take the other guy and we'll stick together.'

"It's easier - and then the opposition don't know what's going on anyway.

"They did it in the second half against Southampton and we were much better for it.

"Distin did well after the interval when he was much higher up the field on their wide right player. He'd laid off a bit in the first-half and so had Robert.

"Sylvain is quick but he has to learn the position. He's not a left-back, he's a left-sided central defender.

"He got caught a bit out of position early on against Southampton and allowed their player to turn on the ball and stick it behind him. He also didn't get round on cover a couple of times but after the interval he was much tighter.

"Distin did much better at stopping their service and consequently was in a position to get forward.

"He showed that right at the beginning of the half when he got down to the byeline and got the ball over for Craig Bellamy to hit a post."

Sounds good as long as we don't play other teams with French players...

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Answers

...like Arsenal,Possibly. ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

No probs - Cockney French is much different to Geordie French so they won't understand wor lads anyway.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Im a bit worried about playing Distin at fullback. Elliot has had his dodgy moments, but Distin is no full back. Still, what do I know? I thought Bellamy was a shocking buy...

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

shame on you tucka

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Yeah Tucka, you're the only one. We all thought he was an absolute bargain at 6 million!!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

I must admit, although I wasn't too chuffed at Bellamy's signing at the time, I was prepared to give him a chance, unlike a few on here who called him every name under the sun before he'd even played a single game.

Everybody has been proved wrong though, thankfully.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002