I found this in the message board on LR's website - quite interesting:

Auteur: toonlad (---.cableinet.co.uk) Date: 25-04-02 15:57 Graeme, you said you're a fan of NUFC, well go on their site and slag him off, not his own fans forum. And you say he's lazy and doesn't defend..SO WHAT. I'd sooner have a lazy Robert who scores 9 goals and 15 assists, than a hard-working Duff who scored about 6 and only 8 assists. Look at this overall contribution. Without Robert, there'd be no Intertoto Cup, never mind the Champions League. CHELSEA AWAY. without Robert contribution.0-1, Robert free-kick sets up Acuna for the equaliser.1-1 turn 0pts into 1pt. SUNDERLAND HOME. without Robert contribution.0-1, Robert throughball for Bellamy.1-1 turns 0pts into 1pt. BORO AWAY. without Robert contribution.0-1, Robert wins penalty, sets up Shearer and Dabizas, and scores himself. 4-1 turns 0pts into 3pts. MAN U HOME. without Robert contribution.2-3, Robert goal and assist for Dabizas. 4-3 turns 0pts into 3pts. DERBY HOME. without Robert contribution.0-0, Robert wins penalty. 1-0 turns 1pt into 3pts. AR5ENAL AWAY. without Robert contribution.1-1, Robert wins penalty and scores. 3-1 turns 1pt into 3pts SUNDERLAND AWAY. without Robert contribution.0-0, Robert free-kick for Dabizas to head home. 1-0 turns 1pt into 3pts. IPSWICH HOME. without Robert contribution.0-2, Robert free-kick and assist for Shearer. 2-2 turns 0pts into 1pt. ASTON VILLA AWAY. without Robert contribution.0-1, Robert shot hits post for Shearer rebound. 1-1 turns 0pts into 1pt. DERBY AWAY. without Robert contribution.2-2, Robert free-kick. 3-2 turns 1pt into 3pts. BLACKBURN AWAY. without Robert contribution.1-2, Robert throughball for Shearer. 2-2 turns 0pts into 1pt. Altogether, that is NINETEEN POINTS as a direct result of a Robert goal or assist. Before we get the, 'but he should work harder' shouts...so what! His job is to score and make goals. You don't ask a centre-back to press forward everytime we attack. It's the critics and the boo-boys who are going to drive one of the most talented players we have away from the club, and I can tell you what, if he DOES go, and we do sign an Overmars, a Duff, etc. I bet you any money he doesn't score or make as many as Robert has...but as long as he 'works hard' and 'plays for the team' it doesn't matter if he score 2 or 3 and makes only a handful of chances.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2002

Answers

I think we all know that (well most of us anyway), but we also know he can do a lot better.

It's infuriating at times because he contributes so much, yet so little at the same time. I definitely don't want to see him leave though, he is vital to us especially if we want to actually win any games in the Champions' League.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2002

a few weaknesses in the argument the main being the assumption that if he hadn't been there then nobody would have been there, or nothing would have happened. Doing the same sort of analysis on Bernard'd contribution as a sub would be interesting (it wouldn't be you know what I mean).

I think his positive contribution far outweighs his negatives.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2002

The odd free kick is enough for me, and read 'odd' any way you like.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2002

Either way it's better than having Bassedas on left wing.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2002