An observation...
Have you stopped sniggering like a little school kid yet? OK! I have
a theory regarding Bramble, I believe our often maligned centre-half
would excel in Italy's Serie A or Spain's La Liga (stop it...) and
why he may never ever fully become the top-class Premiership defender
that performances like yesterday, where he was the best player on
the pitch by some distance, suggest he can be. Lets look at his two
very good but very contrasting performances over the weekend against
Rangers and then Sporting Lisbon. [More
+]
Bobby Blasted For "Scandalous" Comments!
After branding the Rangers fans chanting of "Shearer is a w@nka"
as "filthy" at the weekend, Sir Bobby has come in for some
stinging criticism from former Rangers legend Derek Johnstone for
his "scandalous" comments.
Johnstone
said:
"For someone of Sir Bobby Robson's
standing to make those comments is scandalous.
"He has
gone down in my estimations after what he said. The Rangers fans made
that tournament at the weekend. They also paid £40 a ticket and ploughed
a right few quid into Newcastle as a club and a city.
"Alan was putting it about and kicked Boumsong, and the Rangers fans
gave him abuse for that - nothing more and Sir Bobby should watch
the the tape back and see why his player got pelters.
"The Rangers fans didn't say anything that doesn't go on across the
board. For Sir Bobby to insult the fans who made his club's tournament
is a disgrace."
Scandalous is way over the top, as were Bobby's comments. To be fair
to Bobby however, he never called Rangers fans filthy, he said their
chanting was and for a man of the old school if you like of course
they would have come across as such, even if he's heard it all before.
Rangers fans overall did themselves proud and the ones I met in and
around St. James' Park, before, during and after the match seemed
a canny bunch - I'm sure they took Bobby's comments as an old fashioned
gentleman's way of saying he didn't like them. Just as I'm sure Shearer
took the chants as a compliment. Johnstone of course is now a columnist,
nuff' said!
Gerk!
Woodgate On The Mend
The Chronicle have revealed that Jonathan Woodgate, who had another
injury scare last week, is ready to return to training within the
next dew days. And when asked whether the £9.5m man had a 50/50 chance
of making the Middlesbrough game on the 14th Bobby replied: "No,
they are better than that."
Woodgate had to have a second scan last week after pulling up in training
and Bobby had this to say: "It showed nothing serious, although
there was a bit of blood which suggests a small disturbance.
"Jonathan has done a lot of work and a lot of power training
but he is not sprinting yet and that is the acid test."
"We will be careful with him because once we get him back
into the team we don't want to lose him again."
United's other casualties now read like this:
Shay Given
Steven Taylor
Andy O'Brien
Darren Ambrose
Jermaine Jenas
Laurent Robert
And with Patrick Kluivert and Nicky Butt nowhere near to full fitness,
Shola Ameobi's back problem, James' Milner's blisters, and Craig Bellamy's
dodgy knees our luck on the injury and fitness front just about sums
up our club. Nothing is ever plain sailing. Fingers crossed folks
XX
Bernard Quit Threat - Really?
Various sources today are reporting that Olivier Bernard has once
again issued a warning to the club over a new contract however they
seem to be the same quotes, only rehashed, that were doing the rounds
a few weeks back so I wouldn't be too alarmed.
Having said that the club need to pull their finger out and give the
man a new contract, we've struggled to find a decent right-back, trying
to find a decent left-back will almost be impossible, especially at
a good price. Hopefully this will all be sorted soon.
Chopra For The Right-Wing?
United's Michael Chopra has revealed he is willing to adapt to a new
position to save his Newcastle career. With Big Al, Kluivert, Bellamy
& Shola all in front of him for a place up front the 20 year old's
future at the Toon looks bleak but having come on in the two Newcastle
Gateshead Cup games out wide on the right the Gosforth born striker
believes he can do a job there.
Speaking to Nufc.co.uk
Chopra said:
"I think Patrick Kluivert's arrival
has pushed me down the pecking order in terms of playing up front,
because he joins Alan, Bellers and Shola in the first four choices.
"But if it means playing for this club then I'd play anywhere,
and I have enjoyed playing on the right in the two games over the
weekend.
"It's not a position that's new to me as I've
played there a few times for England, and if it meant getting in the
team then I'd have to consider it.
"I wouldn't have
any worries about adapting, and with a bit of work on my crossing
and taking people on I'd be confident of doing well."
That's what I like to hear, players willing to play anywhere just
to get a game - good on the lad. Although he was limited to only 20
minutes or so and didn't see much of the ball over the weekend he
did make one telling contribution, setting up Dyer's goal in the 4-2
win over Rangers with a peach of a cross. Could he play on the right-wing?
With Ambrose, Brittain and Dyer still to fully convince he has a chance. |
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