Robbo: Sven's lost the plot

Listen to Robbo rant!

By Derek 'Robbo' Robson The Tees Mouth

Will these boys have the last laugh?

Well Sven's gone a little potty if you ask me. Four forwards - a crock, a half-crock, a gentle giant and a schoolboy.

When the 23 little kids came on stage with each squad member's name on their backs, I half expected Theo Walcott to be one of them.

But who knows? None of us ordinary mortals have seen the lad play, although they say he goes through a defence quicker than a meal at the Marriott goes through Michael Carrick. So we will wait and see.

Of the others, I can't for a moment see why Owen Hargreaves or Jermaine Jenas have got anywhere near the squad.

Wright-Phillips is dead unlucky, and should be on the reserves list. Downing is a brilliant selection, of course and Lennon is fair enough.

I'd have been tempted to put a big lunk in there too, like Dean Ashton. Good luck to you Sven, although it's painfully obvious you're relying entirely on our midfield to get the goals.

Let's hope Gerrard, Cole and Lampard aren't too knackered, eh?

---

Tottenham Trotspur

Spurs' chances went down the pan

I'm sure one of the tabloids'll come up with this pun (they have, ed) but what a time to get butterflies the size of bats in your belly. Poor Spurs! And I thought Man City were on a bad run.

Yes I feel sorry for them, but that's the end of it. The idea that the FA could have possibly postponed the game is a joke. If your players are poorly you put out the best team available or, as Boro found out in 1997, you lose three points.

It's not fair, but that's botulism. I know why Spurs fans are bleating but it's bad luck. Still the Uefa cup's a brilliant competition I assure you.

By the by, there's a couple of things it brings to light. Why do a bunch of super-rich young men need to be cosseted in a hotel the night before a football match that's in the same town? Are they too thick to find their way to a team bus on a Saturday morning?

And secondly, why on earth should a team be competing in the so-called Champions League when it's not won diddly-squat for blinking eons?

This whole Champions League bandwagon is just a money-making extravaganza for the G14 clubs.

The sooner we get back to the League winners - i.e. champions - playing each other in a straight knock-out, the better. (Yes, we'll just wait for the Boro to win the Uefa Cup first.)

---

Highbury Highs

Farewell to the court of King Henry

There's no doubting that Highbury Stadium will be missed. I loved going there. Brady, Bergkamp, Adams, Vieira, Wrighty, Jennings, and the mighty Thierry 'please God don't go to chelsea' Henry.

But before we get all misty-eyed in a typically Norf Larndon way, let's not forget the dark side: Peter Storey (ouch!), Frank Mclintock (oof!), Robert Pires (tumble!), John Hartson (thud!).... I could go on.

Still, it's hard to be cynical when Monsieur Wonderful collars a hat-trick on the day they closed the door on the marble halls forever.

Last time I was there it was to see my team get larrupped 7-nowt. And whatever you say about the Gooners, the time of 1-0 to the Arsa-null has long since passed.

Have Your Say: Do you agree with Robbo?