SA Footy

Just been announced that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his fight against cancer...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8177945.stm

RIP Sir Bobby...I might dislike the game but it was an honour and a privilege to have briefly known you and your family during your time at Ipswich when one of your sons and my brother were school mates.

Regards
JAS

i didnt even know he had cancer. RIP

Bulldog wrote:i didnt even know he had cancer. RIP

Likewise. A true giant of the game. RIP Sir.

Very very sad news, like the rest of you I am also in a shock as I didn't realise the battle he was going through. A true legend and character of the game. R.I.P.

He had been battling for a long time. I think he had "beaten" cancer 5 times, but that's the shitty thing about cancer, few are ever really cured.

He lloked very frail last week when they honoured him at St James'. He came out in a whell chair and I mentioned to my son how weak he was looking.

Did a decent job at Ipswich and a decent job for England. His time at Toon, iirc, they finished 4th, 5th, and 6th. What they wouldn't give for that now.

One of the true gents of the game, composed, no rants or bullshit, and from the sympathies expressed by the likes of Fergie, someone who always had time to offer encouragement to others.

RIP, the game is poorer without Bobby.

Did you know that during his 13 year stint in charge of Ipswich, he only bought 16 players. He was a firm believer in a clubs youth policy and with the success he had in the late 70's, early 80's at Ipswich, ha had a strong argument for being right.

Which is probably around 4 less than Hughes has done at City this year.

he proved he was great to me when he took newcastle to the champions league a few years ago when he was there, great manager and had a real football heart, will be surely missed by many

He was a fantastic manager and he will be sadley missed, managed some big clubs, Barcelona, Newcastle and PSV and also managed some smaller teams like Ipswich and did well with most of them. RIP Sir Bobby.

Thought I'd already put something in here (must have dreamt it), but RIP to the great man, the game is poorer for his loss.

You lads have said everything perfectly already so I won't add any further.

Constance_Perm wrote:Thought I'd already put something in here (must have dreamt it), but RIP to the great man, the game is poorer for his loss.

You lads have said everything perfectly already so I won't add any further.

Thing is, Robson wasn't that successful in the UK as a manager. He did win the UEFA Cup with ipswich, and got Newcastle into the Champs League but didn't win a title. I think he was more successful with PSV.

His real quality was as a person. Very dignified and his statesman like qualities are probably what he will be best remembered for.

Just one final note from me.

for those who might not know, Jose Mourniho started his footballing career as an interpreter for Bobby Robson when he was manager of Sporting Lisbon then Porto. Mourinho followed Robson to Barca and the rest is history.

Here's Mourinho's tribute.

Mourinho was taken under Robson's wing while he was coaching Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona, where the Portuguese initially acted as an interpreter.
The Inter Milan boss revealed the heartache Robson's illness had caused him.
He said: 'I hadn't spoken to him in the last two months because it was hard for me. It was me who found it hard because I didn't want to think that he was dying, that wasn't the image that I wanted to keep with me forever of Bobby Robson, that wasn't the voice I wanted to hear.
'I wanted to and I will keep with me always the Bobby Robson of every day, a person who had extraordinary passion for life and for football, with an extraordinary enthusiasm.

there will be a minutes applause at all the grounds on Saturday, as a mark of celebration for Robsons life

johntheclaret wrote:

Constance_Perm wrote:Thought I'd already put something in here (must have dreamt it), but RIP to the great man, the game is poorer for his loss.

You lads have said everything perfectly already so I won't add any further.

Thing is, Robson wasn't that successful in the UK as a manager. He did win the UEFA Cup with ipswich, and got Newcastle into the Champs League but didn't win a title. I think he was more successful with PSV.

His real quality was as a person. Very dignified and his statesman like qualities are probably what he will be best remembered for.

That was pretty much what I was referring to Johnnyboy, I wasn't aware of him having a huge record in terms of titles, but the nature and spirit of the bloke I don't think could be questioned