Facts: We go through managers like most clubs go through meat pies. We have the worst training facilities in the country. We have one of the poorest youth systems in the country. We have an unwieldy and largely crap squad. We are injury prone. We have a massive crowd with certain expectations and the memory of the Keegan years in our collective minds. We are skint. Crucially, we have no infrastructure and crap media relations. This is what Bobby has been working against. I know that many people on here are still on Bobby's side and that people who aren't happy with him are entitled to their opinion but I was delighted to sing "Robson Wonderland" at Anfield and I really hope we get one going tonight.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Answers

See my posting on your other thread Dougal. I'm going to write the man a letter of support.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

I still love him as well Dougs but I want to know what he's doing! i'm sick of platitudes and excuses and i'm also worried about the shit he's bought.....

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

PLayers have been lamented in the past months for not putting in the effort and many people are willing to sacrifice a bit of quality for a bit of guts.

In the past few days one thing has struck me about Robson's signings. They all have the attitude to succeed.

Cort, Bassedas, Acuna and Gallacher too name four all apply themsleves in the right way. The way Cort and Bassedas have comeback from bad injuries and worked hard to succeed is a good sign for me.

Robson has praised Bassedas as the leading light in his eyes in terms of application and determination. Cort has shown that he is a determined bugger and will succeed in my view.

But they have also shown us this season that they have the quality to succeed. When Robson is given the money he needs to make additions to the first team which he thinks will improve the team and not just signing squad players, which I firmly believe he has had to do, I think we will see an all round better return.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

By the way, I wasn't trying to be self-righteous there. It's just the awful letter of personal abuse he gets in the local papers and things people say on Three Legends and stuff... I mean, constructive criticism is one thing but abusing a decent man is another.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Using my last company's form then if it was time for his annual appraisal then Bobby Robson's would be along the lines of :

1. Business Orientation: Has understood the financial limitations of the company at the moment and has helped improve this area. (Met all expectations)

2. Job Knowledge: Has shown a deep knowledge of football (Met all expectations)

3. Planning of work : has been too optimistic in assessment of timescales, although a resourcing issues may have adversely impacted this area (Failed to meet expectations)

4. Quality of decisions: has had only limited success in choices of personal brought in, has let players play when injured (failed to meet expectations)

5. Problem solving : has let problem of left hand side of the team be unresolved for whole season (failed to meet expectations)

6. Leadership: has tried hard to motivate staff but has not always produced desired effect, with some staff leaving (met most expectations)

7. Teamworking: has generally been seen as part of the team although has had some disagreements with his superiors. (met most expectations)

8. Flexibilty: has shown great felixibility to work in often difficult circumstances (exceeded expectations)

9. Innovation/creativity : the team has not shown any particularly innovative ideas, disappointing in this area, although again this may be impacted by financial constraints (failed to meet expectations)

10 Persuasiveness: very skileld in this area (exceeded expectations)

11 Development of staff: younged member of staff have been intriduced but difficult to assess whether this was by design or because of circumstances. Has also pushed staff to play when injured and reducing their long term effectiveness. (failed to meet expectations)

Overall rating : met most expectations League rating 11th/12th which is average

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

what was your score Ian mate?

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

before they made me redundant ?

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001