What has Laurent Robert ever done for us?

Game	Scorer	Nature of goal/assist
Chelsea A	Acuna	Spilled free Kick
Sunderland H	Bellamy	Chip
Middlesbrough A	Shearer	Penalty
Middlesbrough A	Dabizas	Cross
Middlesbrough A	Robert	Close range
Middlesbrough A	Shearer	Diagonal pass
Brentford H	Bellamy	Pass
Man United H	Robert	Free Kick
Man United H	Dabizas	Rebounding shot
Barnsley A	Bellamy	Cross
Bolton A	Robert	Free Kick
Bolton A	Shearer	Cross
Everton A	Acuna	Pass
Derby H	Shearer	Penalty
Ipswich H	Robert	10 yarder
Charlton A	Speed	Half cleared cross
Arsenal A	Shearer	Penalty
Arsenal A	Robert	One on one
Tottenham A	Acuna	Free Kick
Southampton H	Robert	Free Kick from 36 yards
Sunderland A	Dabizas	Free kick
Arsenal H	Robert	10 yarder

So there you have it. No less than 22 of the 69 goals scored by NUFC in the competitions he's been registered for (no Inter Toto for LR) have been either scored or set up by our useless, gutless, lazy, waste of money, shite French winger. That's nigh on a third of them. Not bad for one player, eh? 25 crap games indeed!

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Answers

And he gave us the viaduct.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Good maths Softie, but does not change the fact that to the hard-core anti-Robertians he still epitomises all things French: idleness, homosexuality and Disneyland.

Now I'll just sit and wait for the first h-c anti-Robertian to post a rant that appreciates your maths and does not revert to any of these epitomes. Luckily, there seems to be very little need for one this morning. Long may that continue!

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Well there's lies and damn lies......yes Jonno, and roads, and a few assists, but apart from that what has he ever done for us?

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

On the basis that Cloughie said it only takes a second to score a goal well that's less than half a bliddy minute he's played for us this season. Pah!

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Another excellent factual presentation Softie.

It actually tells the whole story, demonstrating that his contribution has gradually tailed off as the season has progressed.

For me, his quality is incontrovertible, but for some reason his level of contribution has diminished.

In the recent PL games against Arsenal and Liverpool, Robert has looked detached and uninvolved in the game - like an extra on a film- set. Yesterday he was fully involved in the game, part of it, and his performance was immeasurably better.

I would like to think the reported dressing room confrontation between Robert and his team-mates has finally cleared the air, that there has been a meeting of minds, and that at last he is part of the team again.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

I would concur with you Clarky re the dressing room 'airing of views'. Sometimes clearing the air can have a cathartic effect, hopefully he will continue to prove.

I actually don't think Robert has been a BAD player, it has just been his lack of effort at times and general lack of all round committment that has been frustrating. He was however, tremendous yesterday and I hope that all the encouragement he got from the team and the supporters showed him what he has been missing.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Robert is very very good footballer and by no stretch of the imagination can he be called a bad player. He has played badly in some games as all players do from time to time. Internal politics, team problems can all contribute to this.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

......and I suspect have done in this case, True.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Or look at it this way: out of 69 goals scored, he DIDN'T set up 47 of them. Shite.

Now my pedantic bit - his goal yesterday looked about 20 yards out to me :)

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Indeed it was Paul, delighted to credit him with a harder shot :-) Did you know that he has already scored as many goals as Ginola did for us in 2 seasons?

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Agree with Paul....Robert didn't ahve anything to do with 47 goals. Obviously sh*te. Not fit to sweep the floors at Disneyland much less set foot on the hallowed ground. We should sell him asap. :-)

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Nice Softie!

Also nice to see that he scored with his right foot, and it was a very placed and pretty hard. Nice to see he's not one legged.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Nice to see Shearer celebrating with him yesterday.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

good work soft

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Robert was massive last night. He's had a couple of poor games but we've waited years for a player like him, let's not drive him away.

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2002

Softie - is it possible to analyse it a bit further? Of the goals that LR has scored or assisted in, how many were in games that we'd have lost of he hadn't contributed? Not so many ethinks.

Now, I don't want to get on his back, but I do think you're being a bit selective. If he had contributed in a more balanced way (as Clarky hinted) it would be interesting to see how we might have done in clse games that we didn't win.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

Amen to that, Dave l.F.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

These are just the solid, no argument, provable contributions, it's not like I've included the 30 or 40 chances and half chances he's created that have ended up in the back of the stand or been ignored.

I ask you now, was that sublime layoff to Gary Speed at Anfield with the keeper and defenders all going the wrong way not an absolute peach of an opportunity? Whose bliddy fault was that?

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

Thing is, Screach, how many games have any of our players scored on our had assists that we haven't won? Just wondering, like, since you're being so pernickety.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

Nah - not pernickety pet. But I have to believe that if you showed those stats as they are presented to YBR or AS (or the rest of the squad) they'd put a different slant on it. Make no mistake, I think Robert is a class act, but very much like Solano until recently, IMHO he hasn't made a regular enough contribution with his undoubted skills. Let's hope a season under his belt brings out the best in him (tho a bit earlier would be fantastic!)

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

Robert is a class act, coming to terms with the PL and Geordie expectations. Hopefully, after this showing and the response he got, he'll know the standards he has to live up to and he'll make it.

BTW Minnesota did you know that in The Hustler Stefan Gierasch played a character called Preacher? Hmmm - reminds me too much of L'apostrophe. I see Softie got a mention too - Michael Constantine .... Big John! Scary eh?

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

Hey - it was directed by Bobby Robson too! - Oh no, Robert Rossen, Sorry (Apologies for hijacking your thread Softie). :o))

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

Very few fans would object to LR taking even a full season to "adjust to the style and physical demands of the PL" - what they won't accept - and quite understandably imo - is a plain lack of effort.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

I was hoping that Robert's Arse performance was in response to the aftermath of L'pool where he was CRAP, unquestionable talent - dubious commitment.

If L'pool was down to "settling in" how come he has been marvelous in other games?

Mind you despite playing a blinder his efforts weren't unanimously appreciated with calls of "French Poof" echoeing from various quarters around me.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

Unfortunately Tony that's a reflex action for many at SJP. However, it's also one that would rapidly die in their intolerant throats with a few more performances and defensive headers a la Saturday evening.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

This business of wingers in France not having to defend is bollox: he came to us with warnings from PSG supporters that he is prone to leaving "un trou defensif" but, at the time, having had no attacking play for about a season, we couldn't have given a toss and just wanted someone who would attack.

Of course, we've (quite rightly)adjusted our expectations and requirements.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

There are some quotes on icDP today from Bobby and Dabizas basically saying they are aware the Lolo has a habit of losing concentration and drifting through matches, but they (Bobby and the players) are always talking to Lolo trying to teach him that he needs to be part of the team, which sometimes includes defensive duties although his main duty is to help the attack. They praised his play on Saturday, and Bobby made a point of saying he hopes the crowd will back Robert and not boo him. Also that folks shouldn't judge him until next season.

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002

I noticed Dabizas stole the "Robert Pires took a season to adjust" argument off this BBS as well :)

-- Anonymous, March 11, 2002