Bobby Robson one of my favorite coach's but he fail dealing with Hugo Viana, I don't think he ever saw him play before he sign him to a contract, if he needed a wing player he shoulded went after Ronaldo or Quaresma, he always played the kid out of position, lately not even 10 minutes, not even in uniform, like he was getting rid of him, and know with all the injuries he doesn't want to let him go, the damage my be done already.
Viana angry after Newcastle block Sporting loan Click to enlarge photo LISBON (AFP) - Newcastle United's Portuguese midfielder Hugo Viana has blasted the club's manager, Sir Bobby Robson, for refusing his request to be loaned back to Sporting Lisbon for the rest of the season. "Bobby Robson was not fair to me, I deserved more respect," the 20-year-old player told Portuguese sports daily A Bola. Viana, who joined the Magpies for 8.5 million pounds (15 million dollars) from Sporting in July 2002, is keen to return to Portugal in order to boost his chances of earning a place in his country's squad for the Euro 2004 finals. The European Young Player of the Year has had little time on the pitch since joining the English Premiership side, having played for roughly 100 minutes this season in occasional appearances as a substitute. "I would have liked the coach to have been more sincere with me, he was not honest," said Viana. "The opportunities Robson promised me never arrived." Viana added he had agreed to take a 60 percent salary cut in order to return to Sporting, and was on the verge of signing a loan agreement with the Portuguese side but Robson scuttled the move at the last minute. But Robson, who has coached Portuguese giants Sporting and FC Porto in the past, told the paper Newcastle has too many injured players at the moment and the team could not afford to lose Viana as well. "I need Hugo, I have six players out of commission and if I let him go it would be seven. I need him here," said Robson, adding he had spent hours with Viana on Tuesday to explain the reasons for his decision. The 70-year-old Newscastle coach added he sympathised with Viana's dream of being part of the Portuguese national team and would give the player more time on the pitch in the new year. "I invested millions of pounds in Hugo. I will not give up, he will appear in force. I hope he will be strong and also does not give up." Robson added he was even planning on speaking to Luiz Felipe Scolari in order to persude Portugal's World Cup-winning coach that Viana deserves a spot on the Portuguese national team. "One of these days I will call Scolari and I will talk to him about Hugo Viana. I will tell him to call him up for the next few matches of the national squad because he deserves it." As hosts, Portugal automatically qualify for the Euro 2004 finals, which will take place from June 12 to July 4. The Portuguese side is scheduled to play five more times before the start of the championship in friendly matches intended to prepare for the event. Three of those matches have already been scheduled - England on February 18, Italy on March 31 and Sweden on April 28.
Stubborn Robson says it's no-go Hugo By Rob Stewart NEWCASTLE, England, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Newcastle manager Bobby Robson is refusing to allow Portuguese midfielder Hugo Viana to return to Sporting Lisbon on loan and will not review the decision until the end of next month at the earliest. The 20-year-old Viana joined the English premier league club in July 2002 for 8.5 million pounds ($15 million) but has been unable to force his way into the first team on a regular basis, a situation that could damage his chances of representing Portugal at Euro 2004. "I know he would like to go on loan but I'm staying firm in keeping all the quality players here at the club for what is ahead of us this season," Robson told reporters. "We will review the situation at the end of January but he does not have a cat in hell's chance of leaving before then. "At the moment, Hugo Viana, subject to my decision alone, supported by the chairman, is staying here. "In principle I don't see that situation changing. Who knows what might happen here in the next four or five months in terms of further injuries we may incur? "We have six players injured at the moment and I cannot let Hugo go. Supposing we were still in the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup in April and we were still fighting for fourth in the Premiership. What good is Hugo to us then if he is in Portugal? "I'm trying to get him to understand that. He sees himself and that's all he can see. He doesn't see the wider picture. I'm fully aware that he's frustrated and the boy's a fantastic player." Robson confirmed that officials from Sporting Lisbon had been in touch with Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd who had delegated the matter to the St James's Park manager. Viana's cause has not been helped by a hip injury that has sidelined fellow midfielder Lee Bowyer and Robson said he could require surgery that would keep him out of action for three months. Updated on Wednesday, Dec 24, 2003 8:54 am EST
This is BS. Newcastle has scored one goal in the last two games (against Charlton and Leicester), and Hugo hasn't seen the pitch in either game. It is pretty clear that the team needs an offensive spark, so I don't understand why Robson won't play Hugo.
Bobby Robson can sometimes be a pussay,he didn't let Solano play important WC Qualifiers for Peru.So this is not something new.
I don't get it either.... ...the club is loaded in the midfield, so until someone is unloaded, Viana should be loaned out. Perhaps things will change when the transfer window officially opens.
...either that, or give Viana a good run in the midfield and get some cover for him defensively, since it is not his strong suit. I just don't understand why Robson continues to play someone like Jenas, and never allows Hugo a string of games to get acclimated to the league. A game here and 10 minutes there are not going to help the kid.
Good point. Ferguson lets the young players make their mistakes, because he realizes that he is going to get some flashes from these young players. No, Hugo will not completely dominate a midfield like a Viera, but he will most definitely come up with that pass or two each game the completely breaks down a defense.