Alan Smith - Newcastle Captain.

Black Magic wrote:

Honourable C*nt wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Mate, it was obvious he preferred the Engilsh players, apart from Olivier Bernard he packed all of the foreigners on the bench.

If you watch footage of him at Newcastle you'll see his technique and skill more then compensated for his physical short comings.

I think Bash would agree with me on this one.

Which foreigners were on the bench that should've been starting? Robert started, Solano started, and like you said there was Bernard.

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

In hindsight it wasn't the best move for him, he just wasn't good enough to get in the team at the time and wasn't mentally strong enough to keep it going when not playing.

Your argument doesn't hold up when Jenas makes the starting line up.

off topic, but what do the Portugese posters make of this?

Roundup 2-Romanian club to hire 11 Portuguese players

LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Soccer news in brief from around the world:

* Romanian club Pandurii Targu Jiu plans are signing a new coach and 11 players from Portugal in a desperate bid to stay in the first division. "Joaquim Teixeira agreed a two-and-a-half year deal and his main task is to avoid relegation," Pandurii Targu Jiu president Marin Condescu told reporters.

Condescu said Teixeira's compatriots would be hired by Jan. 7, when the new squad will begin training for the re-start of the Romanian season in late February following a winter break.

Teixeira, Pandurii's third boss this season, was on the coaching staff with Porto from 1996-98 and the Portugal national side from 2000-02. Pandurii, who are second from bottom, put nine players on the transfer list earlier this month.

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

In hindsight it wasn't the best move for him, he just wasn't good enough to get in the team at the time and wasn't mentally strong enough to keep it going when not playing.

He was clearly more than good enough for Newcastle, no offense, but he wasn't and isn't suited for the EPL.

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

In hindsight it wasn't the best move for him, he just wasn't good enough to get in the team at the time and wasn't mentally strong enough to keep it going when not playing.

Your argument doesn't hold up when Jenas makes the starting line up.

Jenas suited our system better, so yes it does hold up. Viana was never a 4-4-2 player. When Dyer or Speed were injured Jenas was the next best option.

I for one am someone who doesn't rate Jenas...but when he can actually be bothered he is a half decent player, who can produce a moment of magic. I'm sure most Newcastle fans preferred the Bobby Robson era to the current one.

I can't agree with this xenophobic argument though - Robson managed in Holland, Spain and Portugal... and still has good things to say about Portugal.

He was the one who wanted Viana in the first place, I just don't think he knew what to do with him when he got him.

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

I don't know if Hugo would've been one of the best midfielders in the world, but the guy had a lot of talent back then for sure. Senile dog did not know how to use his talents, much the same way the current imbecile in charge is destroying N'Zogbia's career, crushing the lad's confidence.

Never ever trust your talent to the current crop (the last 15 years or so) of English coaches. Sure there are a couple of exceptions in Dirty Harry and Curbs (these two can coach a little), but the vast majority of English coaches are dumbasses.

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Honourable C*nt wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Mate, it was obvious he preferred the Engilsh players, apart from Olivier Bernard he packed all of the foreigners on the bench.

If you watch footage of him at Newcastle you'll see his technique and skill more then compensated for his physical short comings.

I think Bash would agree with me on this one.

Which foreigners were on the bench that should've been starting? Robert started, Solano started, and like you said there was Bernard.

Robert was shithouse, could only take a set piece.

Marcelinho should have started, also the Argentine Bassedas. Even Dabizas deserved more of a chance.

Luso wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

In hindsight it wasn't the best move for him, he just wasn't good enough to get in the team at the time and wasn't mentally strong enough to keep it going when not playing.

He was clearly more than good enough for Newcastle, no offense, but he wasn't and isn't suited for the EPL.

In time he would've been good enough, but Newcastle weren't a team he was just going to walk into, we were top 4. He just wasn't motivated or determined enough to adapt to the league and our system.

TheCrazy58 wrote:off topic, but what do the Portugese posters make of this?

Roundup 2-Romanian club to hire 11 Portuguese players

LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Soccer news in brief from around the world:

* Romanian club Pandurii Targu Jiu plans are signing a new coach and 11 players from Portugal in a desperate bid to stay in the first division. "Joaquim Teixeira agreed a two-and-a-half year deal and his main task is to avoid relegation," Pandurii Targu Jiu president Marin Condescu told reporters.

Condescu said Teixeira's compatriots would be hired by Jan. 7, when the new squad will begin training for the re-start of the Romanian season in late February following a winter break.

Teixeira, Pandurii's third boss this season, was on the coaching staff with Porto from 1996-98 and the Portugal national side from 2000-02. Pandurii, who are second from bottom, put nine players on the transfer list earlier this month.

A bunch of our players have been going there lately. There's some club that plays 6 Portuguese guys in it's line-up already.

No big name players mind you, but some decent guys from small clubs have gone there I think. Boavista's keeper left them for Steau a couple seasons back... did well at first and they loved him, then things went to $h!t and they tried putting all the blame on him.

Luso wrote:I can't agree with this xenophobic argument though - Robson managed in Holland, Spain and Portugal... and still has good things to say about Portugal.

He was the one who wanted Viana in the first place, I just don't think he knew what to do with him when he got him.

He was Xenophobic in the sense that he wanted to see the English talent prosper more than the foreign players.

Black Magic wrote:

Luso wrote:I can't agree with this xenophobic argument though - Robson managed in Holland, Spain and Portugal... and still has good things to say about Portugal.

He was the one who wanted Viana in the first place, I just don't think he knew what to do with him when he got him.

He was Xenophobic in the sense that he wanted to see the English talent prosper more than the foreign players.

A bit different to Wenger then...

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Honourable C*nt wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Mate, it was obvious he preferred the Engilsh players, apart from Olivier Bernard he packed all of the foreigners on the bench.

If you watch footage of him at Newcastle you'll see his technique and skill more then compensated for his physical short comings.

I think Bash would agree with me on this one.

Which foreigners were on the bench that should've been starting? Robert started, Solano started, and like you said there was Bernard.

Robert was shithouse, could only take a set piece.

Marcelinho should have started, also the Argentine Bassedas. Even Dabizas deserved more of a chance.

What???

Marcelino spent about 4 months off with a broken finger, he was a dickhead and a crock. Dabizas was a starter, he played something like 200 games for us, and Bassedas was just wasn't good enough. We weren't a Cr@p team, not just anyone could be a starter.

Scott Parker wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Luso wrote:I can't agree with this xenophobic argument though - Robson managed in Holland, Spain and Portugal... and still has good things to say about Portugal.

He was the one who wanted Viana in the first place, I just don't think he knew what to do with him when he got him.

He was Xenophobic in the sense that he wanted to see the English talent prosper more than the foreign players.

A bit different to Wenger then...

Wenger honestly doesn't care where a player comes from, what benefit is it to him to have a Togolese player in the team?

Black Magic wrote:

Scott Parker wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Luso wrote:I can't agree with this xenophobic argument though - Robson managed in Holland, Spain and Portugal... and still has good things to say about Portugal.

He was the one who wanted Viana in the first place, I just don't think he knew what to do with him when he got him.

He was Xenophobic in the sense that he wanted to see the English talent prosper more than the foreign players.

A bit different to Wenger then...

Wenger honestly doesn't care where a player comes from, what benefit is it to him to have a Togolese player in the team?

He obviously does...players like Sidwell, Pennant and Bentley were never given a fair chance...

Merry Krimbo wrote:
In time he would've been good enough, but Newcastle weren't a team he was just going to walk into, we were top 4. He just wasn't motivated or determined enough to adapt to the league and our system.

Some days eh Kimbo! Newcastle could actually put two passes together with ease. It's too bad senile couldn't man-manage. It was obvious he'd lost the plot when he sold Nobby (in his peak) for 1 million pounds. It was all doom and gloom for the Magpyes after that.

Nobby made everyone look better, Newcastle had one of the best midfields in the EPL, but it was garbage as soon as Nobby was sold by the senile dog. That was the beginning of the end for Newcastle. Senile fool!

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Honourable C*nt wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Mate, it was obvious he preferred the Engilsh players, apart from Olivier Bernard he packed all of the foreigners on the bench.

If you watch footage of him at Newcastle you'll see his technique and skill more then compensated for his physical short comings.

I think Bash would agree with me on this one.

Which foreigners were on the bench that should've been starting? Robert started, Solano started, and like you said there was Bernard.

Robert was shithouse, could only take a set piece.

Marcelinho should have started, also the Argentine Bassedas. Even Dabizas deserved more of a chance.

What???

Marcelino spent about 4 months off with a broken finger, he was a dickhead and a crock. Dabizas was a starter, he played something like 200 games for us, and Bassedas was just wasn't good enough. We weren't a Cr@p team, not just anyone could be a starter.

What more did Robert provide?

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

In hindsight it wasn't the best move for him, he just wasn't good enough to get in the team at the time and wasn't mentally strong enough to keep it going when not playing.

He was clearly more than good enough for Newcastle, no offense, but he wasn't and isn't suited for the EPL.

In time he would've been good enough, but Newcastle weren't a team he was just going to walk into, we were top 4. He just wasn't motivated or determined enough to adapt to the league and our system.

Ok, you were doing much better at the time, but that doesn't mean Viana didn't have a skill level above most of the players at Newcastle.

I won't say he was the most skilled because I can't remember the entire squad, but watching Viana play for Newcaslte it was plane to see he had the best vision at the club and a range of passing no one else was coming close to.

Changing leagues implies IMO some initial down time to adapt to new settings... Ronaldo didn't walk into Man Utd but that didn't mean he wasn't among the most skilled... same goes for Viana.

Overall, the setting wasn't right for him. You may not think that lifestyle, language, culture, food etc. are a factor (or you may) but they definitly are - Viana was taking over hams and Portuguese sausage as he couldn't take English food. Basically, he had no support structure in England.

Black Magic wrote:

Luso wrote:I can't agree with this xenophobic argument though - Robson managed in Holland, Spain and Portugal... and still has good things to say about Portugal.

He was the one who wanted Viana in the first place, I just don't think he knew what to do with him when he got him.

He was Xenophobic in the sense that he wanted to see the English talent prosper more than the foreign players.

Ok, I understand what you're saying and I think there's something to it. I'm not sure it was solely down to seeing the English players succeed, although there was a clear intent to keep an English influence at the club, but it was probably easier for him to play struggling British players than struggling foreigners - this is true everywhere I think, including Portugal (domestic vs. foreign).

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Honourable C*nt wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Mate, it was obvious he preferred the Engilsh players, apart from Olivier Bernard he packed all of the foreigners on the bench.

If you watch footage of him at Newcastle you'll see his technique and skill more then compensated for his physical short comings.

I think Bash would agree with me on this one.

Which foreigners were on the bench that should've been starting? Robert started, Solano started, and like you said there was Bernard.

Robert was shithouse, could only take a set piece.

Marcelinho should have started, also the Argentine Bassedas. Even Dabizas deserved more of a chance.

What???

Marcelino spent about 4 months off with a broken finger, he was a dickhead and a crock. Dabizas was a starter, he played something like 200 games for us, and Bassedas was just wasn't good enough. We weren't a Cr@p team, not just anyone could be a starter.

What more did Robert provide?

He got 23 assists and 8 goals in the league alone in his first season, they weren't all just from set pieces. He could take on his fullback with a quick turn of pace and get in a great cross, he was a great passer, some of his goals came from counter attacks and some out of nowhere - like the volley and the other screamer against Spurs(both from about 25-30 yards) i'm sure TS remembers. Then there was his bizarre 360 back heel flip thing against Fulham*.

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Svb-jVWIQ

Here's another great non set piece goal he scored against Arsenal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiOSj1U_0Kg

To say Robert is shithouse is just mental.

f@ck you Kimbo! what! you wanna make us cry of nostalgia with them old footage of Solano's dishing all kinds of balls making everyone famous. Newcastle were awesome then. Fucking senile fool had to f@ck up something so good. f@ck him!

Scott Parker wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Scott Parker wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Luso wrote:I can't agree with this xenophobic argument though - Robson managed in Holland, Spain and Portugal... and still has good things to say about Portugal.

He was the one who wanted Viana in the first place, I just don't think he knew what to do with him when he got him.

He was Xenophobic in the sense that he wanted to see the English talent prosper more than the foreign players.

A bit different to Wenger then...

Wenger honestly doesn't care where a player comes from, what benefit is it to him to have a Togolese player in the team?

He obviously does...players like Sidwell, Pennant and Bentley were never given a fair chance...

Sidwell: Wasn't good enough, wasn't even a starter at Brentford and you think he would take Vieira and Petit's place? Still though, Wenger kept him and Beveren took him on loan. He wasn't even good enough to get a game there!

Pennant: Wenger liked Pennant's game, he even got a couple of starts for us, he scored a hattrick against Southampton one game. The problem was his of-field antics, in the end we had enough and released him. Why would Wenger release a player he bought as a 15yo trainee for £2m pounds (British record signing for a trainee) and then release him if he wasn't misbehaving?

Bently: The arrogant twat wanted a starting spot ahead of Freddie and Bobby. In the end he left on his own looking for a starting spot. Had he have been patient he would be starting for Arsenal this Saturday against the Toffees.

What other player did Wenger "unfairly" treat?

Luso wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

In hindsight it wasn't the best move for him, he just wasn't good enough to get in the team at the time and wasn't mentally strong enough to keep it going when not playing.

He was clearly more than good enough for Newcastle, no offense, but he wasn't and isn't suited for the EPL.

In time he would've been good enough, but Newcastle weren't a team he was just going to walk into, we were top 4. He just wasn't motivated or determined enough to adapt to the league and our system.

Ok, you were doing much better at the time, but that doesn't mean Viana didn't have a skill level above most of the players at Newcastle.

I won't say he was the most skilled because I can't remember the entire squad, but watching Viana play for Newcaslte it was plane to see he had the best vision at the club and a range of passing no one else was coming close to.

Changing leagues implies IMO some initial down time to adapt to new settings... Ronaldo didn't walk into Man Utd but that didn't mean he wasn't among the most skilled... same goes for Viana.

Overall, the setting wasn't right for him. You may not think that lifestyle, language, culture, food etc. are a factor (or you may) but they definitly are - Viana was taking over hams and Portuguese sausage as he couldn't take English food. Basically, he had no support structure in England.

Really that is down to him, i don't see why Newcastle should take the whole blame for his failure. He refused to adapt. I remember one game, i think against Marseille in the UEFA cup semi final, he actually ducked out of a header and they went and scored - the guy didn't want to head the ball, that's how unphysical(if there is such a word) he was.

In any case, Newcastle has been a disaster zone for a while now, making horrible dessions on who to let go and who to bring in.

With the size of the club, the passion behind the supporters and the money available to them, Newcastle should be playing for the leauge...and if that's too much they should at least be the most successfull club outside the top 4.

They desperately need to get some stability at the club and stop making these questionable decisions. I thought Shearer was one of the problems at the club and he may very well still be one.

Things have been bad for them for some time now, so I see no reason why Sam shouldn't get a real chance to turn things around.

Get rid of Owen, a player they never shoudl've gone after in the frist place. Newcastle need to drop the 'big club' label, despite the fact they do have a big following, and be more humble in their approach.

Benny McCarthy would've been a great buy for them and I think they could've landed both Jorge Andrade and Aldo Duscher.

Puro wrote:f@ck you Kimbo! what! you wanna make us cry of nostalgia with them old footage of Solano's dishing all kinds of balls making everyone famous. Newcastle were awesome then. Fucking senile fool had to f@ck up something so good. f@ck him!

Fucking senile fool built that team, it would never have happened without him. When he took over we were sliding towards relegation. I can't say they same about any of the players, not even Shearer.

And btw, Robson MADE Solano, if it wasn't for Bobby Nobby could still be playing at right back in South America.

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Honourable C*nt wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Mate, it was obvious he preferred the Engilsh players, apart from Olivier Bernard he packed all of the foreigners on the bench.

If you watch footage of him at Newcastle you'll see his technique and skill more then compensated for his physical short comings.

I think Bash would agree with me on this one.

Which foreigners were on the bench that should've been starting? Robert started, Solano started, and like you said there was Bernard.

Robert was shithouse, could only take a set piece.

Marcelinho should have started, also the Argentine Bassedas. Even Dabizas deserved more of a chance.

What???

Marcelino spent about 4 months off with a broken finger, he was a dickhead and a crock. Dabizas was a starter, he played something like 200 games for us, and Bassedas was just wasn't good enough. We weren't a Cr@p team, not just anyone could be a starter.

What more did Robert provide?

He got 23 assists and 8 goals in the league alone in his first season, they weren't all just from set pieces. He could take on his fullback with a quick turn of pace and get in a great cross, he was a great passer, some of his goals came from counter attacks and some out of nowhere - like the volley and the other screamer against Spurs(both from about 25-30 yards) i'm sure TS remembers. Then there was his bizarre 360 back heel flip thing against Fulham*.

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Svb-jVWIQ

Here's another great non set piece goal he scored against Arsenal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiOSj1U_0Kg

To say Robert is shithouse is just mental.

Poor man's David Beckham. He had a great cross on him. I remember games where he would toch the ball twice and he would end up with two assists. I'm sure Shearer loved him.

robson was a great manager, you'd be stupid to dispute that. Probably the only English manager who could have beaten Cameroon in Italia 90'

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Luso wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

In hindsight it wasn't the best move for him, he just wasn't good enough to get in the team at the time and wasn't mentally strong enough to keep it going when not playing.

He was clearly more than good enough for Newcastle, no offense, but he wasn't and isn't suited for the EPL.

In time he would've been good enough, but Newcastle weren't a team he was just going to walk into, we were top 4. He just wasn't motivated or determined enough to adapt to the league and our system.

Ok, you were doing much better at the time, but that doesn't mean Viana didn't have a skill level above most of the players at Newcastle.

I won't say he was the most skilled because I can't remember the entire squad, but watching Viana play for Newcaslte it was plane to see he had the best vision at the club and a range of passing no one else was coming close to.

Changing leagues implies IMO some initial down time to adapt to new settings... Ronaldo didn't walk into Man Utd but that didn't mean he wasn't among the most skilled... same goes for Viana.

Overall, the setting wasn't right for him. You may not think that lifestyle, language, culture, food etc. are a factor (or you may) but they definitly are - Viana was taking over hams and Portuguese sausage as he couldn't take English food. Basically, he had no support structure in England.

Really that is down to him, i don't see why Newcastle should take the whole blame for his failure. He refused to adapt. I remember one game, i think against Marseille in the UEFA cup semi final, he actually ducked out of a header and they went and scored - the guy didn't want to head the ball, that's how unphysical(if there is such a word) he was.

I'm not blaiming Newcastle, I'm simply saying it was never going to be a good move.

Viana was never the player for Newcastle he was at Sporting, before he left or after he came back on loan.

At Sporting he worked hard and was noticebly more physical when he came back and even scored a header or two for us - just to match your point.

Hugo Viana showed good things at Newcastle, there is the footage to prove it, the conditions within the club and off-field simply weren't right for him. Viana was played out of position and never given the chance to be the player he could've been...that's down to Robson.

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

Honourable C*nt wrote:

Black Magic wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Black Magic wrote:It's all Bobby Robson's fault, if he had given Viana a chance, Newcastle would have the best Midfielder in the world right now.

Was it Robson or Souness' fault?

Robson, the Xenophobic bastard.

The same xenophobic bastard who worked in Holland & Spain ?

Viana was simply too Slow and not tough enough for the Prem. The same would've happened to him in Serie & Germany.

The Prem isn't ready for no.10's who you can build the team around, we've only just started accepting the quarterbacks.

Mate, it was obvious he preferred the Engilsh players, apart from Olivier Bernard he packed all of the foreigners on the bench.

If you watch footage of him at Newcastle you'll see his technique and skill more then compensated for his physical short comings.

I think Bash would agree with me on this one.

Which foreigners were on the bench that should've been starting? Robert started, Solano started, and like you said there was Bernard.

Robert was shithouse, could only take a set piece.

Marcelinho should have started, also the Argentine Bassedas. Even Dabizas deserved more of a chance.

What???

Marcelino spent about 4 months off with a broken finger, he was a dickhead and a crock. Dabizas was a starter, he played something like 200 games for us, and Bassedas was just wasn't good enough. We weren't a Cr@p team, not just anyone could be a starter.

What more did Robert provide?

He got 23 assists and 8 goals in the league alone in his first season, they weren't all just from set pieces. He could take on his fullback with a quick turn of pace and get in a great cross, he was a great passer, some of his goals came from counter attacks and some out of nowhere - like the volley and the other screamer against Spurs(both from about 25-30 yards) i'm sure TS remembers. Then there was his bizarre 360 back heel flip thing against Fulham*.

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Svb-jVWIQ

Here's another great non set piece goal he scored against Arsenal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiOSj1U_0Kg

To say Robert is shithouse is just mental.

Poor man's David Beckham. He had a great cross on him. I remember games where he would toch the ball twice and he would end up with two assists. I'm sure Shearer loved him.

He was more talented than Beckham IMO, but didn't have the same strong mentality. He was a bit of a mentalist. You must rate Beckham highly to call him a rich mans Robert - a man that got 23 assists and 8 goals in 1 season.