Give Robert A Chance

By Matthew Jones
February 8 2005

John Beresford, a former star at St James' Park, has urged Magpies' boss Graeme Souness to be patient with French winger Laurent Robert, and give him the chance he deserves, to prove that he can turn games with his pace and delivery.

The 29-year-old has so far failed to impress Newcastle's new Scottish manager, but John Beresford believes that Robert deserves a regular place in Souness's squad.

JOHN BERESFORD: "For me, Newcastle have to play using the whole pitch and they played too narrow.

"I think Graeme is playing that way because he feels restricted by the players he has got, but I still believe that Laurent Robert is an asset.

"I know Laurent is not Graeme's type of player, but there are certain games in which he can make a difference.

"I think Graeme thinks with Lee Bowyer, Jermaine Jenas and Kieron Dyer, he can give more protection to his back four, but I think Newcastle have to play with more freedom and more width.

"I know you have to look at what he's got.

"With Nolberto Solano gone, you've got Robert and James Milner, who we've not seen the best of yet. Graeme wants Dyer, Jenas and Bowyer in there and Amdy Faye in front of the back four.

"But I think if you had wingers out there, Shola Ameobi would've had a little bit more space.

"He was struggling. He needs that little bit of space, and I know Alan Shearer loves wingers. He's probably the best in the world at getting on the end of things in the box.

"Stephen Carr will get there and put crosses in, but they will be from the edge of the box rather than the by-line. It's so much easier to defend crosses from full-backs rather than a winger from the by-line."

BERESFORD, SPEAKING ON THE SJP HOME CROWD, ADDED: "One big positive is the crowd if you get them going.

"The first thing Kevin Keegan said in his team talks was 'Get the crowd going', and if Graeme can get the crowd behind his team, then it's half the battle won.

"I think the problems he's coming up against have been here for a while. The current situation is the culmination of so many different problems, and Graeme has to be given more time."