O.K. going out on a limb here.

I have a reason why I don't think Paul Robinson will make it. Apart from Softies reports and a personal dislike due to Robinsons knack of saying the wrong thing and appearing big headed.

And that is looking at the trends from other EPL teams and their youngsters. Granted few 18 to 20 year olds are physically and mentally ready for the EPL, but quite a few get a regular game or are central to their teams performances. We know their names; Owen, Gerard, many of the Leeds boys, the younguns who have come through Manu and WHam Keane and there are others.

Anyway these kids get a regular run out, either as substitutions or starters. Where as Pual Robinson, has appeared for us maybe three times this season. I know of under Gullit against the mackums, and on saturday, not sure if there were other occasions. If the lad had a serious future, I truly believe he would have appeared on a few more occasions than this.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

Answers

His new aerodynamic haircut caused some confusion in the Leazes on Saturday. We thought he was Ketsbaia so everyone was very impressed by his new-found ability to stay relatively vertical for two or three passes, but he also seemed to have lost that edge and ability to beat his man. Imagine my surprise when Steph informed me that I had been watching my favourite reserve team striker. This will give you some indication of the difficulty in seeing who is who from the current back of the Leazes - just try keeping your bairns interested in the family enclosure when it moves there next season!

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

Robbos Games this Season

Aston Villa (H) on 85
Spurs (A) on 73
Sotton (A) on 71 for Maric who had come on for Serrant 13
Wimbledon (H) Started
Mackems (H) Started replaced by Dunc 57
Man Utd (A) on 79
Chelsea (A) on 73
Wednesday (H) on 63, tried to take penalty instead of Shearer  nee fkin chance
Leeds (A) on 43 for injured Ketsy
Sofia (H) on 71, scored with knee 88
Boro (H) on 83
Birmingham (A) on 78
Zurich (A) on 78
Zurich (H) on 83
Roma (A) on 81 (game on 25 Nov  got stroppy and requested trasfer, so not seen until April, although he was injured during this period as well)
Leicester (H) on 68

Used extensively as backup for Ketsbaia and to give Ferguson a break when he was coming back to fitness (I know, I know, were still waiting) and also to replace Maric in the Euro games when he wasnt cutting the mustard. No cause to blow his trumpet; if ever a young, keen, fresh striker was going to make his mark, it would be in the last 15 minutes against tired or beaten sides. I reckon I could have come on and scored against Wednesday and Boro the state they were in  God only knows why he thought he should have got in ahead of Gallacher and Ketsbaia.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

Bugger me Softie, with stats like that your sure to get the anorak of the week prize.

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000

An award I have long coveted and yet been cruelly overlooked for...

-- Anonymous, April 17, 2000