Article on Bobby Robson

[PaulB]

From todays' guardian

couldn't agrre more, disgrace the way we was hauled in front of that clown Joe Duffy...

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/02/15/sir_bobby_deserves_better_than.html

[shakermaker1982]

just read that, the last poster from Scotland was bang on the money.

[as_i_say]

can someone copy and paste please-cant access link from work

[RogerMilla]

scotland lad correct , cut our losses and get rid of stan now

[Collyontour]

can someone copy and paste please-cant access link from work

Sir Bobby deserves better than being involved in this Irish farce
Sir Bobby Robson should be enjoying a well earned retirement rather than being caught in the middle of Ireland's struggles, says Alan Ruddock.
The GuardianFebruary 15, 2007 01:10 AM
For 75 minutes last week, one man faced an almost non-stop barrage of criticism from angry fans on national radio. The manager, they said, was useless and had to be fired; the team were spineless, pathetic and were the laughing stock of Europe. The blazers, too, copped plenty of blame as fans demanded the head of the Football Association's chief executive.

Sir Bobby Robson took it all, never losing his cool and never failing in his support for the hapless Steve Staunton, the manager who had guided the Republic of Ireland to a lucky 2-1 win over the might of San Marino in a Euro 2008 qualifier the previous evening.

For those who missed the game, Staunton's team of Premiership and Championship players couldn't find the net during a tedious first half, managed to grab a one-nil lead just after the break and then tried to hang on grimly for victory.

With five minutes of the game to go San Marino scored a rare goal in international football - a comical effort that almost rivalled Paul Robinson's sweet connection against Croatia. Four and a half minutes into stoppage time, Stephen Ireland scrambled home an unlikely winner and the recriminations began.

The Republic's fans, renowned for their good humour and unflinching support, booed their team off the field. A few months earlier the boos had rung out in Cyprus when Staunton's men had contrived to lose 5-2 in an even more shambolic display, while in between the team recovered some pride to draw at home with the Czech Republic.

Sir Bobby, who should be enjoying a well earned and comfortable retirement, is caught in the middle of it all. Presumably he just couldn't say no when the Football Association of Ireland came calling last year and asked him to be their "international consultant" - the wizened greybeard to Staunton's youthful promise. His role has never been defined: he offers, he says, advice on selection and tactics, occasionally calls Staunton during a match on his mobile phone, and is rolled on to the airwaves to take the flak when the national team is in disgrace and its manager is hiding from the public.

It is a grim endgame for a man who has graced football with his enthusiasm, charm and no little expertise. Two decent World Cup campaigns with England, a glorious spell at Ipswich, significant success in Holland, Portugal and Spain and then a loyal rebuilding at Newcastle. Betrayed there by his players, Sir Bobby could have stepped into the twilight, watching from the stands and swapping stories with former players who actually valued his input.

Instead, he chose Ireland. Perhaps he was swayed by Jack Charlton's fabled success, perhaps by the knowledge that offers of work would be thin on the ground for a man in his 70s, no matter how impressive his past. But from the start it was a doomed mission.

John Delaney, the chief executive of the FAI, had promised Ireland's fans a "world-class" manager after refusing to renew the contract of Brian Kerr, the home-grown previous incumbent who failed to qualify for the last World Cup. As soon as the Staunton/Robson ticket was announced, Irish fans felt they had been conned. Staunton had been a committed and popular player, but had no managerial experience. Sir Bobby, in his ill-defined role as a consultant, was a cloak to hide the FAI's failure to deliver on its promise. Disorganised, naive and purposeless, the Republic have slipped down the rankings, 46th in the world as of yesterday.

Staunton's crop of players may be humdrum, but he still has a reasonable array of Premiership talent at his disposal - Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Shay Given, Steve Finnan, Richard Dunne - and some younger prospects in Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and Stephen Ireland. Not world-beaters by any stretch, but properly organised and motivated, a squad that should be capable of hammering minnows and providing awkward opposition for the best teams.

Yet they flounder, and Sir Bobby has to defend the indefensible. Next up in March - at Croke Park and in front of 74,000 restless fans - come Wales and Slovakia in quick succession. Anything less than six points from these games and the qualifying campaign will be over and the wonderful stadium will reverberate with boos.

Defeat will spell the end for the "world-class" Staunton - even though a number of senior players have apparently threatened to retire if he is sacked - and it will be a dismal curtain call for Sir Bobby. As he huddled in the stands at St James' Park last Saturday, cheered by Newcastle's win over Liverpool, he must have wondered what he had ever done to deserve the role of Irish fall-guy. Blame undimmed enthusiasm for a game he has served so well, blame unbridled optimism, but don't blame Sir Bobby for the failings of Staunton and his employers at the FAI.

England's capacity for optimism gives neighbours a reason to smile

England's capacity for optimism, no matter the sport, is always a source of great amusement to its neighbours. Its footballers are built up before each World Cup, its rugby players are put back on their pedestal after beating Scotland and now its cricketers, after one of the most emotionally bruising tours of Australia, are being talked up as serious World Cup contenders.

Three successive wins over Australia represent a mighty achievement for a team that could have been forgiven - almost - if it had limped out of the series, but potential world champions? John Jameson had it right in yesterday's Guardian when he suggested 20-1 as a value punt on the team's chances.

England's coach Duncan Fletcher has no idea whether his team is near its best or a year off. The combination of players used in the past 18 months - 39 in 40 one-day internationals - is an indication of his disarray, but luck and injury has delivered a squad that he would not have picked three months ago. There is real talent in the side, and impressive spirit, but it is still in the making. The attack is unpredictable, the top order insecure, the tail timid and the fielding, though improving, short of the sustained excellence required to win a World Cup. For the moment West Indies, not England, represent the best value to challenge Australia's dominance.

Rugby authorities must give players a rest

Rugby union's troubles with professionalism are nothing new but the latest squabbling over England's players is a symptom of a far deeper problem. The clubs are playing hardball with the RFU (and the Scots are suffering collateral damage) but responsibility rests squarely with rugby headquarters.

It is obvious that England's starting XV should rest this weekend - and most clubs will rest them - but it is a nonsense that there should even be a row. Rugby's problems stem from the failure to draw up a realistic calendar for the northern hemisphere season, one that allows the Six Nations to co-exist with the premier club competitions - Premiership, Heineken Cup, French championship and Magners League.

The incompetence and arrogance of the RFU and its French counterpart have placed the Heineken Cup in jeopardy while players suffer from unrelenting demands on their bodies. The unions want control of the game and television revenues and the French and English clubs are not prepared to cede it. And why should they? They have invested while their national unions have dithered. The season needs a proper structure, balancing the demands of international and club rugby, securing the Heineken Cup's future and rest for the players.

Refs not to blame

As the pressure builds towards the end of the season, Phil Dowd and his fellow referees should prepare for plenty more abuse. Paul Jewell, the Wigan Athletic manager, claims Dowd could have cost his side £50m by failing to award a penalty at Arsenal and allowing a marginally offside goal to stand. As an excuse for relegation - if that happens - this will not wash. Wigan's 25 points and 27 goals (against 43 conceded) from 26 games tell the real story. He may have been denied three points on Sunday, but every club bouncing along the bottom has their own hard luck story and 37 matches in which to rewrite the script.

[as_i_say]

thanks for that. a sentiment shared by the majority of fans i'd imagine. an absolute disgrace.

[BobbySands]

Is it just me or is anyone else getting tired of this "poor Sir Bobby" nonsense. That clown is as culpable as anyone else in this farce.

Staunton Out

[eirebhoy]

We don't actually know how much of a say he has though. For example, from listening to one of his interviews last week I'm almost certain he wanted to play Hunt instead of Kilbane. Stan went with Kilbane.

[Jamjar]

Is it just me or is anyone else getting tired of this "poor Sir Bobby" nonsense. That clown is as culpable as anyone else in this farce.

Staunton Out

I tend to agree with you. Either he is 'advising' Staunton in which case he is part of the problem or he isn't, in which case why have him there. Also, wasn't Delaney meant to be meeting him to give him the boot after he got sick ? What happened, did Bobby convince him he was well enough to continue ? Having said that, as the manager Staunton should be the one who is facing the media, as he is, ultimately, the one who is responsible.

[geysir]

We don't actually know how much of a say he has though. For example, from listening to one of his interviews last week I'm almost certain he wanted to play Hunt instead of Kilbane. Stan went with Kilbane.
Could well be, that was my first impression.
That Q about Hunt kicked in around 17mins.
feed://rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_liveline.xml
He was impressed by Hunt in training.
Hard to be definite about Bobby´s hesitation and carefull use of words on that question because Duffy was badgering him repeatedly, what is your role? what is your role? does your job have any meaning?
Later on in the interview around 37.20 mins he sounds a lot more sure.
If you had had your way would Stokes and Hunt have been on earlier?
"No, not at all, no "
plus
"Robbie is our best striker by far, he is the most experienced".
The "by far" bit was interesting.

[citizenerased]

disgrace puttin bobby on the air, delaney and stan are cowardly baaastards...