Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

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Robert's website seems to cause more trouble than it's worth. I suppose this is pure speculation by the Sun : Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

English football 6/4/02

Chelsea are preparing a shock £10 million move for Newcastle United winger Laurent Robert. The French ace is high on Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri's wanted list - particularly with Dutch winger Boudewijn Zenden expected to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Robert only moved to Newcastle at the start of the season for £9.5 million from Paris Saint Germain.

But despite winning over the Geordie support, The Sun reports that Robert has fallen out with teammates over his recent public outbursts following defeat against Liverpool and last week's lacklustre draw at Aston Villa.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Answers

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

lol

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

To be honest, I wouldn't be totally surprised if Robert left in the Summer as I don't get the feeling he is entirely happy here.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong as he is a fantastic talent and should be far better equipped for the PL next season.

However, if I'm right one concern the above story raises is the possibility of us swapping LR for Zenden!

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002


Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

If Robert's off I'd much prefer us to go for Damien Duff who's anything but.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

I too wouldn't be surprised if he left, but the facts speak for themselves, he has had a major part to play in at least 30 of our goals this season, something which we'd massively miss.

I suppose Bernard could come in short term wise, but if we get in the CL, I don't think he's good enough yet.

I hope he isn't being tapped up by Chelsea. If this is the case he could end up doing his best to get Chelsea in the CL.

I really hope he stays here though, he is easily the most technically gifted player at the club. We've got loads with a bit of skill and quite a few with a good shot on them, but not one that possesses both qualities. Add to that he's a left winger and he's a rare breed, we should really try to hang onto him.

If we could swap him for Jesper Gronkjaer however, then it may sound a bit better. From speaking to some Chelsea fans I know, they said if he hadn't been injured for most of the season they would be challenging for the title as he adds so much to the team.

From what I've seen of him, he is a quality player.

However, I want Robert to stay. I wouldn't say he's won over all the fans yet as there are a fair few who detest him because he's French and a bit lazy at times, but personally he is one of our players of the season, certainly when you look back at the first few months - where would we be now if he wasn't in our team?

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002


Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

Paul - both Zenden and Gronkjaer are injury prone, which is one reason why I don't want either of 'em. The other major reason is that LR is simply a better player.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002


Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

I agree Clarky, ideally we want to see Robert stay.

However, if he does leave, we could do a lot worse than Gronkjaer - he's had a major injury and seems to be over it.

Zenden is very injury prone and keeps getting little niggling injuries, and I don't think he's as good.

I really hope this story is a load of bollocks.

How has he "fallen out with his teammates"? If we believed the papers he never actually "fell in" with his teammates, which makes what they are suggesting quite impossible.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002


Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

Where do Chelsea get the money from? This time last year they were apparently unable to service their debt interest payments. If they don't make the CL they must be struggling I should have thought.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

If we keep our fourth position I cant see Robert leaving, at least not to Chelsea. If a really big club wanted then it would be different. I think we will have this conversation next year also, then he will be perfectly adjusted to the Premier Leugue and will be a top player in it. Like Pires is today maybe. Then it will be hard to keep him here if we havent won the league or something. Or the Champions league =)

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

i think its a cynical ploy to unsettle us into the CL run in.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

You missed out the word "another" in your posting swifty. Talk about a pipe dream.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002


Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

I wouldn't be too upset to see him leave. Especially if we made a profit on him. I would be much more gutted if someone like Solano or Bellamy left.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

But Robert has nearly broke into double figures in terms of goals and has set up a bucket load as well.

I bet if he goes he'll be remembered for one that couldn't be arsed and did nowt, rather than someone who made the difficult things look easy and set our season off on the right track.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002


Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

To add fuel to the fire, The Ronnie reckons Robert is walking into a rollicking from BR. They report:

Newcastle United winger Laurent Robert will return from a bit of French leave today - and into a blast from Bobby Robson. The United boss was far from happy about reports of Robert criticising the rest of the United team after Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.

And Robson told me today: "I will be talking to the player about all that."

One of the first things Robson did when he took over from Ruud Gullit was to rebuild the team spirit that had been shattered by the Dutchman, and Robson has been so successful that United's team spirit is second to none and the last thing that he wants is for Robert to rock the boat. Particularly so in view of the fact United bend over backwards to let Robert return home to France at every opportunity.

The French winger claimed on his own website that the rest of the United team did not give him the ball enough on Tuesday and that the defence were to blame for the Villa goal.

Robson insisted: "Robert has been back home in France this week because he wanted a second opinion on a bit of groin trouble. He had this before the Everton game and he wanted to go to Paris straight afterwards. I told him this wasn't possible because we had a match at Aston Villa on Tuesday night. So he went off on Wednesday because we gave the first team a couple of days off and it wasn't a problem.

"He flew back in yesterday and he will train with the rest of the players today and again tomorrow before our match with Fulham on Monday."

Chelsea are keeping an eye on the Robert situation with a view to making a summer transfer bid.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002


Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

If he does leave in the summer, isn't 10Mil a bit too little? I mean with the goals and assists he has garnered so far, I can't see BR or Fred willing to talk for anything less than 15Mil.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

£10m will be all we'll get unfortunately (if it's true)

He would be unhappy so we'd be willing to let him go. This would be a major factor when the other clubs come asking about him, as they wouldn't want to pay too much in case he didn't settle there.

Personally, I think we should keep him, he's a true flair player, and one that we would find VERY useful if we qualify for the Champions League. However, I remember reading some rough quotes from him saying he might consider his options if we don't qualify.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002



Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

He has at least 3 years left on his contract. If he wanted to leave I don't see any reason why we would sell him cheaply. His value has certainly increased, and I would expect us to get at least £12m, and possibly as much as £15m.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

More press sh*t stirring, IMO.

And Robson told me today: "I will be talking to the player about all that."

Talking to the player does not equal a rollicking. We've long suspected that Robert's candid interviews were eventually going to get him into trouble. And so it has. He hasn't really said anything that hasn't been true to some degree, at least in his opinion. The press are now picking up on it to stir things up. The press stir things up, and other players start wondering if Lolo really is saying mean things behind their backs. Bobby needs to nip this in the bud now, and it seems that is exactly what he is going to do by talking to him.

The French winger claimed on his own website that the rest of the United team did not give him the ball enough on Tuesday and that the defence were to blame for the Villa goal.

He always claims he doesn't get enough of the ball, this is nothing new. And hasn't Bobby blamed the defence for letting in goals, as well? Hardly inflammatory stuff, just a case of not being careful about where and when to express opinions.

Chelsea are keeping an eye on the Robert situation with a view to making a summer transfer bid.

And they're probably keeping an eye on other players, and other teams are keeping an eye on our players, and we're keeping an eye on players we'd like to acquire. Not enough evidence to convince me Robert wants away or that we're thinking of selling.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2002


Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

If he's so unhappy here how come he's spent a couple of evenings at KP watching the bairns? Seemed happy enough when I spoke to him (altho' very briefly in limited French!).

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

£20Mil to English clubs, 15 abroad. That's my view anyway.

-- Anonymous, April 07, 2002

Response to Chelsea target £10M Newcastle ace Robert

Robert must stay, it's as simple as that. He is quality.

-- Anonymous, April 08, 2002

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