[Archived] Paul Robinson

[American]

He knew who he was selling in Friedel - a player that he held ill-feeling against from their Liverpool days and was dead set on getting rid of from the first day he was in the job.

Paul Ince not only robbed this football club of a true legend and man that should have ended his career here, he also managed to make most of our fans believe it was Brad's fault.

Totally unforgivable.

Spread that lie enough and one day you might think it's true.

He knew he was selling a 38 year old who wanted out before he knew who the manager would be. He knew before he sold him that he had a much younger replacement with a good pedigree.

It's no one's "fault" it was a piece of business that benefited both parties.

[Majiball]

Robinson is a very good keeper and definately worthy of a spot as a premiership keeper. He just needs his defence to do there job and not be babysat.

Goalkeepers have a better overall view than defenders it makes sense that they are part of defensive organisation. Brad was with us a long time, our defence has been pretty consistent player wise as well. If your used/dependent on instruction/organisation from a keeper and have been for sometime then go to none, its quite a shock.

There is also the factor that coaching has been poor the defencive organisation will not be done by Mimms but most Likely the Gooner, lets see what happens now we have few new coaches. Hopefully the new guy can gel them together into a unit, but one of them has to step up and take control.

[philipl]

Brad's bungling at Brum cost us our European place but Ince woulod have been totally clueless in Europe anyway.

Robo has made mistakes for 3- particularly bad one for West Ham's opener.

The fact we have to face is that Brad is going to decline and certainly there is no way he is as good for Villa as he was for us in recent seasons. Would Brad this season have stood up to the sort of pounding Robinson has taken week in week out?- it's an open question so far as I am concerned.

I was horrified to see Brad go but to get a ten years younger Robinson for a net £1m has to be a good deal in anybody's language. For what it is worth, I'd place Robo as the best of a disappointing crop of England keepers at present- see James' blunders in Wolfsburg?

[American]

Brad's bungling at Brum cost us our European place but Ince woulod have been totally clueless in Europe anyway.

Robo has made mistakes for 3- particularly bad one for West Ham's opener.

The fact we have to face is that Brad is going to decline and certainly there is no way he is as good for Villa as he was for us in recent seasons. Would Brad this season have stood up to the sort of pounding Robinson has taken week in week out?- it's an open question so far as I am concerned.

I was horrified to see Brad go but to get a ten years younger Robinson for a net £1m has to be a good deal in anybody's language. For what it is worth, I'd place Robo as the best of a disappointing crop of England keepers at present- see James' blunders in Wolfsburg?

F-me, I'm agreeing with every word Philip says.

Sorry, T4E, you were right!!

[dr_awol]

Brad got a offer that was to good for him to turn down, if we had forced him to stay the relationship between rovers and brad could have turned sour, who would have wanted that after 9 years of excellent service?

Paul Robinson is least of out worries at the moment, he can be a good GK for years to come after all he was an england GK for a while, i think hes just lost Confidence much like mgp, its up to the manager to get him to the top of his game.

[T4E]

Spread that lie enough and one day you might think it's true.

He knew he was selling a 38 year old who wanted out before he knew who the manager would be. He knew before he sold him that he had a much younger replacement with a good pedigree.

It's no one's "fault" it was a piece of business that benefited both parties.

You don't know it's a lie anymore than I know it's true! You totally undermined your post with that opening gambit.

Brad signed a contract 4 months before Ince came in, and said he would end his career here. Ince and him are strongly rumoured to have had bad blood from Liverpool days. Ince came in and immediately started looking for a keeper. Ince even lied on camera and said Friedel was going nowhere and he didn't want to sell him!

You have taken what Lee said about Brad putting in a transfer request the day after Hughes left as gospel. If that is true, why can no-one explain away this story -

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3709839,00.html

"I only know Sam Allardyce and Steve McClaren though playing against them and seeing them out the odd time, but both seem like good guys too - I am not sure who the candidates are, I spoke with John Williams [blackburn chairman] and he assured me they are going to make the appointment quite soon."

Watch the video on the right hand side of the story. You can see Brad saying those exact words, along with "hopefully the appointment willl be a good one". The words of a man who put in a transfer request a week earlier? I don't think so.

I look forward to your explanation.

[The Prof.]

Robbo won't be 1st choice keeper for much longer. For goodness sake we can't wait any longer for him to realise his potential. Allardyce will spot this straight away and he always starts with a sound keeper.

[CrazyIvan]

Robbo won't be 1st choice keeper for much longer. For goodness sake we can't wait any longer for him to realise his potential. Allardyce will spot this straight away and he always starts with a sound keeper.

I'll wait and see if your prediction of Robbo getting dropped ever happens. How long do you give him then? If it does in the next 6 months I'll eat my computer!

[gillibrand]

Maybe Sam will bring the best out of him, he did with some of the out of favour signings at Bolton.

[tcj_jones]

Spread that lie enough and one day you might think it's true.

He knew he was selling a 38 year old who wanted out before he knew who the manager would be. He knew before he sold him that he had a much younger replacement with a good pedigree.

It's no one's "fault" it was a piece of business that benefited both parties.

Rubish, it's just as much a 'lie' as saying that Friedel wanted out.

All I know is that there have been a lot of rumours about 'bust ups' between the two at Lierpool and that Friedel stated upon signing a new contract that he wanted to spend the rest of his career with the club, this after supposedly declining the opportunity to join United when they signed Van Der Sar. Then, Ince is appointed manager and he's gone.

I'd be more inclined to believe that Friedel was sold for personal reasons, though we did come off quite well financially and got Robbo in the mix.

The fact we have to face is that Brad is going to decline and certainly there is no way he is as good for Villa as he was for us in recent seasons. Would Brad this season have stood up to the sort of pounding Robinson has taken week in week out?- it's an open question so far as I am concerned.

Personally, yes, I could see him emulating Robbo's shot stopping this season. However, that is in no way a criticism: he has been sensational at times.

[modes98]

Robbo won't be 1st choice keeper for much longer.

Rubbish. He will be our first choice for a while to come imo. He is in the top half when it comes to prem keepers and has more to offer than we have seen so far.

[Stuart]

You don't know it's a lie anymore than I know it's true! You totally undermined your post with that opening gambit.

Brad signed a contract 4 months before Ince came in, and said he would end his career here. Ince and him are strongly rumoured to have had bad blood from Liverpool days. Ince came in and immediately started looking for a keeper. Ince even lied on camera and said Friedel was going nowhere and he didn't want to sell him!

You have taken what Lee said about Brad putting in a transfer request the day after Hughes left as gospel. If that is true, why can no-one explain away this story -

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3709839,00.html

"I only know Sam Allardyce and Steve McClaren though playing against them and seeing them out the odd time, but both seem like good guys too - I am not sure who the candidates are, I spoke with John Williams [blackburn chairman] and he assured me they are going to make the appointment quite soon."

Watch the video on the right hand side of the story. You can see Brad saying those exact words, along with "hopefully the appointment willl be a good one". The words of a man who put in a transfer request a week earlier? I don't think so.

I look forward to your explanation.

Nothing in there says I'm staying at Rovers. I believe he loves the club and genuinely wanted the best for it. Just because he didn't add 'after I've gone' doesn't mean he wasn't already planning to go. For me these are the words of a consummate professional - which Brad, without question, is.

[JAL]

Brad's bungling at Brum cost us our European place but Ince woulod have been totally clueless in Europe anyway.

Robo has made mistakes for 3- particularly bad one for West Ham's opener.

The fact we have to face is that Brad is going to decline and certainly there is no way he is as good for Villa as he was for us in recent seasons. Would Brad this season have stood up to the sort of pounding Robinson has taken week in week out?- it's an open question so far as I am concerned.

I was horrified to see Brad go but to get a ten years younger Robinson for a net £1m has to be a good deal in anybody's language. For what it is worth, I'd place Robo as the best of a disappointing crop of England keepers at present- see James' blunders in Wolfsburg?

Robinson crumbled under Sunderland pressure from a corner for their equaliser at Ewood not only did he gift the mackems their goal but he was responsible for conceding the corner in the first place which meant two consecutive errors on his part, he failed to do his bit in that game.

How long can he be allowed to continue in this vain surely all eyes must focus on him to begin delivering clean sheets.

[CircoWill]

Robbo is quality and will prove it.

I know the guy and he is just lacking confidence at the moment (as are the rest of the team). He will come good. Trust me.

[T4E]

Nothing in there says I'm staying at Rovers. I believe he loves the club and genuinely wanted the best for it. Just because he didn't add 'after I've gone' doesn't mean he wasn't already planning to go. For me these are the words of a consummate professional - which Brad, without question, is.

You honestly think he had already put in a transfer request when he made those comments?

[Stuart]

You honestly think he had already put in a transfer request when he made those comments?

No idea. But I believe he's capable of it. Certainly he could have already made up his mind about leaving without having told anyone.

Footballers do tell fibs, you know. Rovers examples include Alan (I'm not leaving) Shearer and Craig (I don't have a buy-out clause) Bellamy. I think Brad could lie quite convincingly if necessary, he's a very smart guy. And as I've said, very professional.

[American]

Nothing in there says I'm staying at Rovers. I believe he loves the club and genuinely wanted the best for it. Just because he didn't add 'after I've gone' doesn't mean he wasn't already planning to go. For me these are the words of a consummate professional - which Brad, without question, is.

That pretty much sums up what I was going to say.

Not saying Lee is right, but I don't see him telling lies just to make the manager look better, either. Brad signed a contract, but then had an offer of a higher contract with alleged financial help for his academy. The rumors of him being sold came out before the rumors of us being interested in Robinson.

[T4E]

That pretty much sums up what I was going to say.

Not saying Lee is right, but I don't see him telling lies just to make the manager look better, either. Brad signed a contract, but then had an offer of a higher contract with alleged financial help for his academy. The rumors of him being sold came out before the rumors of us being interested in Robinson.

Depends on who you speak to. Lee doesn't have to have been lying - as I mentioned to someone else I doubt the players at Ewood hand their transfer requests direct to Lee Grooby. He would have been told by someone else. We don't know who originated the story of Brads transfer request the day after Sparky left, but I very much doubt it was Brad.

Ince wanted Brad out, so he sold him. Simple.

[American]

Depends on who you speak to. Lee doesn't have to have been lying - as I mentioned to someone else I doubt the players at Ewood hand their transfer requests direct to Lee Grooby. He would have been told by someone else. We don't know who originated the story of Brads transfer request the day after Sparky left, but I very much doubt it was Brad.

Ince wanted Brad out, so he sold him. Simple.

Brad wanted out, so Ince found a replacement and then gave him his wish. Simple.

Funny that the 2 people most "in the know" (not counting Philip) who have commented on it said that Brad was the one who wanted to go because of the larger contract.

But I'll believe you over Lee and Nicko....

[T4E]

Brad wanted out, so Ince found a replacement and then gave him his wish. Simple.

Funny that the 2 people most "in the know" (not counting Philip) who have commented on it said that Brad was the one who wanted to go because of the larger contract.

But I'll believe you over Lee and Nicko....

That's fricken hilarious.....

Nicko actually said that Brad didn't want to go, but once he knew Ince wanted him out and the Villa deal was on the table he was happy to go. Ince was the catalyst. You quite clearly haven't listened to anything Nicko has said on the matter - almost everything I know on the Brad situation came from him!!!!!!

[American]

That's fricken hilarious.....

Nicko actually said that Brad didn't want to go, but once he knew Ince wanted him out and the Villa deal was on the table he was happy to go. Ince was the catalyst. You quite clearly haven't listened to anything Nicko has said on the matter - almost everything I know on the Brad situation came from him!!!!!!

No, Nicko said that the offer from Villa was too good for Brad to turn down and Ince was willing to let him go once he had his replacement.

[thenodrog]

Robbo is quality and will prove it.

I know the guy and he is just lacking confidence at the moment (as are the rest of the team). He will come good. Trust me.

I dont trust anybody who says 'Trust me'.

[thenodrog]

No, Nicko said that the offer from Villa was too good for Brad to turn down and Ince was willing to let him go once he had his replacement.

You are wrong American. Nicko and much of the press openly refer to the old Liverpool 'issues' twixt Freidel and Ince.... without elaborating of course.

But suppose we end up relegated by a point or two or even worse a slightly inferior goal difference who would argue that Ince's decision to get rid of Freidel was the single most damaging factor?

......... err actually me when I think a bit more about it...... it was the boards fault in appointing the numpty in the first place.

[RevidgeBlue]

Nicko actually said that Brad didn't want to go, but once he knew Ince wanted him out and the Villa deal was on the table he was happy to go. Ince was the catalyst. You quite clearly haven't listened to anything Nicko has said on the matter - almost everything I know on the Brad situation came from him!!!!!!

nuff said.

I wouldn't be highlighting that fact if I were you.

You are wrong American. Nicko and much of the press openly refer to the old Liverpool 'issues' twixt Freidel and Ince.... without elaborating of course.

But suppose we end up relegated by a point or two or even worse a slightly inferior goal difference who would argue that Ince's decision to get rid of Freidel was the single most damaging factor?

There's any number of reasons a lot more important than that why we've struggled.

Selling Bentley and not getting in a replacement.

Dunn/Reid/Grella injured

Nelsen's decline

Playing Ooijer at full back

Don't understand the Robinson bashing at all. We've sold an excellent keeper and brought in a very good one ten years younger. I bet Robinson compares favourably to the Friedel who was at Liverpool as well.

[thenodrog]

nuff said.

I wouldn't be highlighting that fact if I were you.

There's any number of reasons a lot more important than that why we've struggled.

Selling Bentley and not getting in a replacement.

Dunn/Reid/Grella injured

Nelsen's decline

Playing Ooijer at full back

Don't understand the Robinson bashing at all. We've sold an excellent keeper and brought in a very good one ten years younger. I bet Robinson compares favourably to the Friedel who was at Liverpool as well.

All imp factors granted but if the board put that on a poll with Freidel leaving as the 5th option I'm fairly certain which would attract most votes.