There was some good news for Newcastle United fans yesterday. The great Sir Bobby Robson was involved in training with the Newcastle squad and coaches at Benton yesterday.
Robson, who is now 74, had been invited to the training ground by manager Sam Allardyce, and he went around and talked privately to both the players and coaches.
Bobby Robson while at Newcastle – a young James Milner in the background
Bobby Robson is a huge favorite of ours, and he has many qualities of a fine manager. But one of his biggest talents is his motivational qualities. Who will ever forget the 8-0 trouncing we gave Sheffield Wednesday in 1999, in Bobby’s first home game in charge of the Tyneside club, when Alan Shearer, another Newcastle legend, scored 5 goals.
Allardyce talked yesterday about the Sacriston, County Durham born former England manager:
“Sir Bobby Robson is never anything other than encouraging. “Bobby is not so well at the moment but it was good to have the opportunity to speak with him.â€
“He has been around the training ground for a few chats.†“A lot of people have worked here for a long time, so they know him and were really pleased to see him.”
Having Bobby Robson around can only be good news because he’ll let both players and coaches know exactly what the fans, like himself, expect of them. And of course as Sam says, Bobby is always upbeat, about everything. It appears that Bobby has already given Big Sam some advice during his first season in charge of Bolton. Allardyce went on:
“He said it was important to have a positive attitude and not to let it affect the confidence of the team.”
“That’s more or less what he was saying today.
“He told me it’s not an easy club to manage – but a great club if you get it right.”
Knowing Bobby’s personality a bit we’re sure he would have called Sam to give him some support, given all the pressure that’s been heaped on him – that’s the way of the man. The first thing though is to get Bobby back to better health.
But after that, why can’t Newcastle offer him some kind of position, so that he can join in the training, which he always loves to do. Not sure we’re saying assistant manager here, but having Bobby Robson associated with Newcastle United in some capacity, has to be a positive move.
What do you think? Let us know. Comments are very welcome.
19 comments so far
Bill f
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:00 AM
Comment #1Well good for Sam, that is a real (and nice) positive gesture. What would be really good now is to see the team go and beat Blackburn this weekend.
Perhaps Sir Bob is the Wizard that someone suggested we need.
If we do win I will be very happy to give him a pair of socks. 🙂
George
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Comment #2Yes it was a nice gesture to allow Bobby Robson on the training ground, however, this could also indicate that Sam Allerdyce is not up to the job.
There is no disgrace in admitting you are not quite up to a job and this to me is what is happening here. Sama managerial skills are being brought into question. So where now?
Toon Chicken
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Comment #3FFS man – not this again. We had 37 million comments posted on BSA’s future (or lack of it) at NUFC the other night. Can we not just get behind him and the team and lend them some support – like what supporters are supposed to!
Bobby is a legend but the poor bloke is in not state to be taking training every day. I think it’s time he put his feet up and took a well-earned rest from it all.
We love you Bobby! Toon Toon!
adaaaam
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Comment #4good shout on finding a position in the club for sir bobby, nowt wrong with a bit of nowse like, i reckon him an BS would compliment eachother quite nicely as a managerial pair
adam
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Comment #5sir bobby is a legend. he came to training and he should stay there. big sam should be the one going.
get well soon bobby
Bill f
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Comment #6I have to say if Sam was big enough to take advice from Sir Dob then it raises him a notch in my estimation. I hope he was told some simple facts.
Now Listen Sam, Zoggy is great down the left side and young Milner is good down the right.
Bloody hell My lord I see what youre getting at what about the rest of the side?
Hadrian
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Comment #7why havent we given bobby some sort of role at the club yet?
i think i speak for the majority in saying i was annoyed and frustrated by freddy sheperd treatment of him .
we always talk about giving managers time to build a squad , bobby had that time then freddy ended it , not the toon fans .
maybe bobby had word in sam’s ear and told him the football looked like shite? hope so !
iain
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Comment #8be positive – was there a hidden message there for sam ?
is bobby telling sam to attack ? rather than play for draws ?
Hadrian
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Comment #9ohhh , forgot to say .sam’s a very very smart man associating himself with bobby publicly for toon fans .
it’s a very good look indeed .
Graham
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Comment #10Well, well, allardyce isn’t as tactically unaware as i had him down for over the past few weeks.
A very good PR move getting (in my opinion, a scaled down version of god) Bobby in for the day. i only hope that sam listened and learned from whatever was said…
God
Nov 29, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Comment #11Why thank you Graham it’s a great honour to be compared to Sir Bobby.
Glenn
Nov 29, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Comment #12YES SIR BOBBY IS THE MAN, ALL THE BEST SIR BOBBY, GET WELL SOON BUDDY!!
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GIVE HIM A DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL POSITION, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAYBE TO HAVE FIRST CONTACT (POSSIBLE SIGNINGS) ALONG WITH SHEARER (OR ON HIS OWN) TO GET PLAYERS ATTENTION ON THE THINGS NEWCASTLE AS A TEAM AND A CITY ARE ABOUT BEFORE A PLAYER SIGNS!!!
HOWAY THE LADS AND SIR BOBBY!!!!
Dave
Nov 29, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Comment #13Toon Chicken,
I agree. I think it was 38 million posts though 🙂
Stamford Toon
Nov 29, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Comment #14Sir Bobby was the best and good on you Sam for having a chat with him. After all the flack that has been levelled at BS recently he will have needed to hear the positives from Bobby. I agree with Toon Chicken it is time the fans got behing BS and the team. The level of support at SJP has been pathetic with fans booeing and sitting on their hands………..’the best supporters in the land’ ? No way, its the supporters who have lost it, not the team and BS they are still trying!!
Brandon Lee, Malaysia
Nov 29, 2007 at 3:05 PM
Comment #15bring in mourinho…sorry big sam..your brand is not good enough for us…
Ross
Nov 29, 2007 at 4:46 PM
Comment #16bring in mourinho?
aye, why stop there. lets just go and grab ronaldinho, kaka, messi, fabregas and a few others while we’re down the market too.
Jay
Nov 29, 2007 at 5:52 PM
Comment #17Brandon lee……..Jog on…….learn something about football before you make stupid half arsed comments like that!!!!! weener!!
Leo
Nov 29, 2007 at 6:52 PM
Comment #18brillient!!!! cracking, i am soo glad we have sir bobby back where he belongs
Leo
Nov 29, 2007 at 6:53 PM
Comment #19brandon lee jog on as jay advises