Robinson article with quotes

[yanno]

Robinson savours moment but may still have to leave in summer

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2260000,00.html

Paul Robinson's long-term future at Tottenham Hotspur remains in considerable doubt despite the England international playing his part in winning the club's first trophy in nine years with the manager, Juande Ramos, still intent upon recruiting a new goalkeeper at the end of the campaign.

Ramos gave Robinson his first start in six weeks in the Uefa Cup tie against Slavia Prague at White Hart Lane last Thursday and the 28-year-old retained his place for Sunday's success in the League Cup final against Chelsea, a game attended by the England manager, Fabio Capello
Robinson's display at Wembley was understandably rusty, the goalkeeper appearing vulnerable at times to crosses and exposed by Didier Drogba's first-half free-kick, though his fine save from Salomon Kalou late on helped to confirm Spurs' victory.

That set up a rousing end to a difficult period for Robinson on and off the pitch with his four-week-old son, Jack, having spent time in hospital during the build-up to the game suffering from bronchiolitis. "That put things into perspective for me and helped my performances," said Robinson. "I'm absolutely delighted. I'm not going to stand here and say it's been an easy season because everybody knows it's been a rough time for me. But to go through the bad times makes me appreciate the win even more.

"You never imagine as a professional you are going to be left out of the team. But when I was left out this [the final] was my target and where I wanted to be. I got my head down, worked very, very hard and tried to get my place back in the team. It was my target to get back in the team for this game. And, fortunately for me, I got one game before the final to get a feel for it again and here we are."

Yet, despite restoring Robinson to the first team, Ramos has earmarked strengthening the goalkeeping position as a priority at the end of the season. Interest is retained in the Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who is contracted to the Dutch club until 2010, as well as the Italy Under-21 international Emiliano Viviano at the Serie B club Brescia. The Tottenham sporting director, Damien Comolli, has also sent scouts to watch the Espanyol goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, though initial reports have been less than favourable.

Regardless, Ramos' clear intent will have serious ramifications for Robinson. "I've got four years left on my contract and I'm absolutely delighted to be here," said the former Leeds goalkeeper. "I've never ever said anything other than that. The manager doesn't see the goalkeeper as a different position, he sees you as part of his team.

"If a striker is not scoring goals, he'll take him out. If the goalkeeper is not doing his job, he'll take him out. I don't think it's after one bad game but after a poor run of form the manager is entitled to do what he wants to do. That's the way it's been. It was difficult for me to accept at first but that is the way it is and I'm delighted to get a winners' medal."

 

[yanno]

For me, the Robbo quotes are the most interesting aspect. Despite the rumours that he clashed angrily with Ramos when he was first dropped, he does seem to have respect for Ramos now.

My sense is that Robbo has till the end of the season to prove through his performances that he deserves to be our Number One.

Whilst SC's own Archibald&Crooks believes the decision has already been made...

 

[Juande]

I am not so sure Robinson will leave, i have a feeling he will bring in another keeper to replace cerny but i have a feeling Robinson will stay and fight for his place IMO

 

[weststandvoice]

I am not so sure Robinson will leave, i have a feeling he will bring in another keeper to replace cerny but i have a feeling Robinson will stay and fight for his place IMO

That makes most sense, all this Robbo is off business doesn't stack up. He's still better than loads of other keepers. Amelia is coming so I think they'll have to fight it out. I think Amelia will win.

 

[themanwhofellasleep]

I think we definitely need another keeper. Robinson was a liability for much of the season. From a personal perspective, I think he's a lovely guy and I was pleased for him when he played in the final, but he's done very little to prove that he's over his loss of form. In the final he showed both the good sides of his game (smart saves) and the poor sides (bad positioning for Drogba goal and flapped at a couple of late crosses. Fortunately the ref blew for fouls that I couldn't see). He has the rest of the season to show he's worth keeping.

 

[Evolution]

Maarten Stekelenburg ----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DyrzJBTm0g&feature=related

He don't look to bad at all in fairness. The very last part of this video where he comes and claims the cross most appealed to me :razz:

I love Robbo and all that but I really want to see a commanding keeper between the sticks next season. One that comes confidentaly for crosses aswell as being a solid shot stopper. He should also be able to help out his defenders when the opposition are 6 yards out instead of just standing there shouting "AWAY"...."AWAY!!!!" rooted to the spot.

 

[DC_Boy]

we deffo need a new and top class keeper if we are to have a good chance of top 4 next season - Robbo's done ok lately - but I still can't believe how bad he was for Drogba's goal - ~I mean what was he doing?????????????????????

 

[SpurSince57]

Guessing that Drogba would try to chip over the wall and contriving to unsight himself, I'd say.

How bad was Cech for our second goal?

 

[Juande]

Guessing that Drogba would try to chip over the wall and contriving to unsight himself, I'd say.

How bad was Cech for our second goal?



Still would not mind having him, especially at the age he is aswell.

 

[DC_Boy]

Guessing that Drogba would try to chip over the wall and contriving to unsight himself, I'd say.

exactly 57 - it was an appalling gamble to take and made him look ridiculous -and yes Cech was bad on our second -

Robbo is good but not good enough if we are to have a realistic chance of top 4

 

[Shanks]

To be fair, Robbo wrong footed himself, but it wasn't a mistake, a well placed free kick, good goal.

|Cech was a much worse mistake.

Saying that though, I would like a top goalkeeper to come and join the club and put pressure on Robbo, I feel that one reason we have seen a slight dip in form is that there was no permanent goalkeeper who would push for that number 1 spot.
More competition for places, so I fully expect to see at least one goalkeeper brought in, but Robbo to stay put as well.

 

[DC_Boy]

To be fair, Robbo wrong footed himself, but it wasn't a mistake, a well placed free kick, good goal.

|Cech was a much worse mistake.

Saying that though, I would like a top goalkeeper to come and join the club and put pressure on Robbo, I feel that one reason we have seen a slight dip in form is that there was no permanent goalkeeper who would push for that number 1 spot.
More competition for places, so I fully expect to see at least one goalkeeper brought in, but Robbo to stay put as well.

hi shanks It's all about opinions - but I'd say Robbo's was a terrible mistake - in many ways worse than some/most of Robbo's famous howlers - he had a wall to set and a position to take and got it horribly wrong

actually I don't think Cech's error was as bad as Robbo's but if most people think it was I wouldn't argue the point

In the end we won - but for sure had we lost 1-0 as we could easily have done (undeservedly but that'd be nothing new) Robbo would have been crucified for that goal - and TBH I think it would have been kinder to end his spurs career straight after (barring injuries etc to Cerny)

he is a good keeper - but we need better, though like you I'm happy for robbo to stay and fight for his place -

 

[Shanks]

Yeah it is opinion I guess.
I was shocked to see him routed there, but the wall covered one side of his goal, you would expect Robbo to cover his left side.
As Drogba hit the ball, I think its jenas who jumps, RObbo just shifts to his right because of this and is wrong footed... not that bad a mistake in my eyes.
And I belive he certainly made up for it in extra time!

Now Cech's was an aweful mistake, something we have seen a few times this season by a keeper who is regarded as the worlds best...

 

[DC_Boy]

yep Shanks - Robbo did redeem himself during the course of the game - but on another day (and indeed in most games as they don't go to extra time) that mistake would have hurt big-time

obviously we'll see how thre rest of the season goes - but I'll be surprised if we don't get a new keeper in the summer

 

[SpurSince57]

Well, he has a minimum of fourteen games in which to prove himself, because unless he has a couple of total disasters (and I mean Villa-scale total disasters, not the odd cock-up here and there that every keeper, however good, will make) or gets injured I don't see Juande giving Cerny another run in the side, let alone alternating them.

We can improve on him, but as I've said on other threads finding a top-class goalie is maybe the most difficult job of all, and Ferguson's travails in signing a capable replacement for Schmeichel are evidence of that—six seasons with a succession of duffers. It's also worth pointing out that having these bozos between the sticks didn't stop United winning three league titles and an FA Cup, because they were protected by a very strong defence.

I don't think that Cerny will have his contract renewed, and suspect that Alnwick may not be considered good enough. In which case we certainly need to keep Robbo happy in case our new summer signing turns out to be another Fabien Barthez or (God help us!) Massimo Talbi.

 

[DC_Boy]

yep 57 -as I say by all means keep Robbo - and as you say he'll get his chance till the end of the season - let's hope it all goes well - but I still reckon we'll be getting in another keeper come the summer

 

[Shanks]

You see, I'm firmyl with SS57 on this, are we actually going to find a better keeper who will come to us..

Hell if Man Utd have struggled to get a decent keeper in years, then we are certainly going to struggle.

There are no error free keepers, Cech has proved that with some seriously terrible mistakes this year. So has Van Der Saar and who knows what keeper is going to play for Arsenal.
But how do these teams counter the frailties of their keepers?#
By making sure they have as good a defense in front of them as possible and Ramos has certainly shown that tactic, by recruiting 3 very good defenders in the Jan transfer window.

It is of no co-incidence that Ramos knows most of our goals were being leaked because of our inability to defend, from midfield, to set pieces... we can blame Robbo as much as we want for all the long range goals, the wall set ups, the set peices...

But its a team failure not an individual one (bar one mistake I can recall where he dropped the ball unchallenged)...

Ramos has demonstrated that in his transfers, Robbo's confidence was knocked and he has rested him, made him work hard, get his fitness back and I certainly feel that in the next 14 games, we are going to see a better keeper.

But, we will most certainly sign a new keeper in the summer, whether the new keeper will replace Robbo remains to be seen, but I doubt it just yet.

 

[Black]

If u saw the free kick u would see that keane jumped in his way at the last moment if keane stayed were he was i dont think drogba would have scored

 

[Evolution]

If u saw the free kick u would see that keane jumped in his way at the last moment if keane stayed were he was i dont think drogba would have scored

Thats very true but the wall was covering the area where Robo was side stepping too and the goal went into the corner Robbo SHOULD have been guarding. Robo's error end of the day. If Drogba bent it over the wall and curled it in...fair enough but to go in the keepers end like that with Roboo doing the side shuffle the wrong way.....not good Eek

 

[EmperorKabir]

that ajax dude.... he holds on to a shockingly low amount of balls which in the premiership would be picked up by a very class and sharp striker and straight back in the net after chance number 2.

The reason robbo has messed up is precisely because just like tha ajax keeper, he doesn't hold on to the ball when he should have, but just hits it away. Difference is that in Holland, you can get away with it.