Bobby Robson RIP - A true legend

Bobby Robson has passed away this morning after losing his battle with cancer. For me Sir Bobby Robson was a true legend of the game. These days the word legend is banded around a lot but very few actually deserve the accolade, Bobby Robson is one of those that truly deserve it.

I'm far too young to remember Robson as a player and I wasn't born when he famously guided Ipswich to European success but he was in charge of England the year I first fell in love with football. It was the 1986 world cup in Mexico and although England were knocked out by a Maradonna inspired Argentina (with a little help from the "hand of God") the performances of the England team instilled some pride back in our football. My lasting memory of Sir Booby will be the World Cup Italia 90. I was 10 at the time and by then an avid football fan. Often regarded as one of the best World Cups, Sir Bobby’s England team inspired a generation of football fans with the attacking flair of fellow Geordies Waddle and Gazza and the goals of Lineker. Few will forget the emotional semi final against the Germans and the passion and spirit the England team played with only to get knocked out on penalties.

Sir Bobby Robson is arguably our greatest ever football export, managing the great Barcelona, where he harnessed the young, original Ronaldo's amazing talent as well as being responsible for giving us Jose Murinho. He also managed Sporting Lisbon, Porto and PSV, how many English coaches or players have had that much influence on football across Europe?

His homecoming to Newcastle in 1999 was an emotional one and he did a fantastic job guiding them to Champions League spots in 2002 and 2003 and it is no surprise that since Freddy "fat idiot" Shepherd decided not to renew his contract Bobby’s beloved home town club have struggled and now find themselves in The Championship.

I am not usually moved by the passing away of famous people but Sir Bobby was a one off and a true legend. A gentleman and a scholar of the beautiful game he will be sadly missed.

Sir Bobby Robson's roll of honour

As a player:

1950-1956 Fulham
1956-1962 West Brom
1962-1967 Fulham
1958-1962 England (20 caps)
1967-1968 Vancouver Royals (player-manager)

As a manager:

1965-1966 Oxford University
1968 Fulham
1969-1982 Ipswich
1982-1990 England
1990-1992 PSV Eindhoven
1992-1993 Sporting Lisbon
1994-1996 FC Porto
1996-1998 Barcelona
1998-1999 PSV Eindhoven
1999-2004 Newcastle

Trophies won:
1973 Texaco Cup (Ipswich)
1978 FA Cup (Ipswich)
1981 Uefa Cup (Ipswich)
1991 & 1992 Dutch league (PSV)
1994 Portuguese Cup (Porto)
1995 & 1996 Portuguese league (Porto)
1997 European Cup Winners' Cup (Barcelona)
1997 Spanish Cup (Barcelona)

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Classic post match analysis

One contender I missed off the list for ESPN pundit is Ian Holloway, metaphorically speaking one of the best..... check out his after match analysis of his QPR teams ugly win

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ESPN new sports channel due to launch

As an avid arm chair football fan I have been waiting for news on how and where ESPN will be showing the 46 live Premiership games it won the rights to after Setanta's collapse.

ESPN have announced their new sports channel will go to air on 3rd August and is currently available to Sky Sports subscribers for £9 a month, 3 quid cheaper than it was for Setanta. I was a Setanta subscriber and although it is pretty expensive I would spend that and more down the pub watching football and on a cold Monday night I'd rather be at home.

There was more than just the live English Premiership games on Setanta, there was the Scottish Premiership, also available on the new ESPN sports channel, as well as a couple of football panel shows. As a dedicated arm chair pundit i enjoy these programmes and Football Matters on a Monday night was pretty entertaining especially with Graham Poll, seen on the left letting people know how much the decision was wrong by, as a panelist.

Live football on the TV is showbiz these days, and your choice of ex players to comment and commentate on the games is crucial to the success of these shows. Sky have got their regulars with the legendary Andy Gray upfront, with the young Rednkapp supporting and rotating line up of Gullit, Hoddle and Sourness, sorry Souness. The BBC have the steady line up of Hansan and Lawrenson who is turning more and more into a bitter old man as each season goes on, with granny's favourite Lineker as the anchor, but what to expect from ESPN?

Well so far ESPN have swooped to sign BBC stalwart Ray Stubbs with a lucrative new contract and promises of the captain of the commentary team, whether Ray will be allowed to bring in his own right hand man is yet to be seen. ESPN already have an established team who present to 100's of millions of people each week across football mad Asia. Steve McMahon is one of the ex player panelists for their Asia programme but will the name Steve and the scouse link make them wary of people confusing him with Steve McMannaman?

Who would you like to see on the ESPN sports team?

Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne

What a legend! Surely he will keep the people interested and the producers on their toes although an ill fated appearance on ITV during the World Cup in 2002 could put EPSN big wigs off

Stan Collymore

Moral citizen Stan is already in the game on BBC Radio 5 Live and has an on screen presence, allegations of woman beating and dogging have not put off the BBC making Collymore a front runner

Alan Shearer

With the Toon still in turmoil and no contract on the table for Big Al' he might well think he should have stayed on the telly. An undoubted great player, and Premier League legend with goals galore could there be an opening for an ESPN Andy Gray. Step up big Al?

Sven Goran Erikson

The charismatic Sven could be the ideal panelist the new Des Lynam maybe? He could say he is using the time to scout potential players for Notts County while get paid for being on the panel the ideal job and he can even pay his assistant Tord Grip to do all the work.


Big Ron Atkinson

Big Ron was a much loved commentator on ITV Champions League games bring words like lollipop and other pearls of wisdom until he was fired in disgrace from ITV after off air racist comments. He would definitely bring personality to the live football but can ESPN take a risk with Ron?

Leave a comment, who would you like to see on the ESPN team? Which so called pundit annoys you the most?

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Surprise signing of Sven

Yes, Sven is back in England, the suave Swede has returned to our shores after failing to guide the "golden generation" of England footballers past a quarter final and a mediocre spell at mega rich Man City.

The well travelled ladies man, seen on the left pondering whether to play two upfront, was given the boot from Mecxico and is now at Notts County. For me this ranks as the surprise signing of the season so far.

I wasn't really surprised at Owen joining Man United, disappointed but not surprised, Fergie is a shrewd operator and Owen will get goals but what can Sven bring to the oldest football club in the world?

Languishing in the bottom tier of English football, Notts County were recently bought by the strangely named Munto Finance, which sounds like the Spanish word for an ugly woman to me. Their plan; to get Notts County to the Championship in 5 years and then kick on into the promised land of the Premier League. It's an ambitious plan but quite a romantic one, guiding the oldest football club in the world back to the top flight would be a great achievement and quite a story. The question is can it be done and can it be done the right way?

Sven is more used to dealing with top class players, who like him, are on a lot of money, how he will deal with the players, some scraping around the lower leagues to earn a living and how the players and management react to him will be a key factor in the success of this project. Sven is Director of Football, so I expect him to use his name and contacts globally to bring in players who will be playing a league or two below their level but the lower leagues are tough places and team spirit and togetherness, something that seemed to be lacking for England under Sven is the only way any team can get promoted and I doubt Sven can influence that.

Can Sven get Notts County to the Premiership or is he just there for they money?

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Football is back on the TV

Well sort of. It's pre season and if like me you have been missing your weekly fix of football then the pre season games are just the thing to ease you back into next season. And as part of the start to my new season I've started this blog dedicated to all things football but particularly football on the TV.

So whats on?

Sky start their pre season football with the Wembley Cup this week, making the monthly subscription worth while. Friday see 'Arry's Spurs take on the European Champions Barcelona I wouldn't expect any new signings on show but it promises to be an attacking affair and although a friendly I would expect pretty strong lines up so it promises to be an entertaining game and one worth catching at home or at the pub, kick off is 7:45pm.

If you were a Setanta subscriber then you can still get Liverpool FC TV and Arsenal TV for free on the same channels they were on before Setanta went bust. Both these channels are showing pre-season friendlies as are Chelsea TV and MUTV but why you would want to pay extra for those channels I'm not sure??

For now though it's just a case of looking forward to the feast of live football on the TV next season, Sky have already announced their fixtures to be shown live up until November but it remains to be seen what games will be shown by ESPN. What we do know is the channel will be available on Sky and ESPN are talking to Virgin, BT and Freesat on how much they can sell and likely charge for the games. More on that this weekend.

Keep an eye on the live games to be shown on TV as and when they get announced at my main site http://www.footballonthetv.co.uk/ but be sure to check back here for thoughts, info and commentary on the commentary throughout the upcoming 2009/2010 season.

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