Sir Bobby Robson is 74 years old. He has spent longer than he cares to remember over the past two decades fighting serious illnesses. After surgery to remove a brain tumour last year, he suffered a reaction and lost the feeling in his left side. Earlier this year, he revealed that he was battling cancer for a fifth time. Yet nothing, it seems, can douse the fires that burn inside him, nothing can dampen the spirit and enthusiasm for which he is renownedRobson moves gingerly these days. His fierce pride demands that he does so unassisted. But when he took his seat at the Grand Hotel in Malahide yesterday, his presence captivated the room. There is nothing inhibited about his conversation and, as always, he engaged with those sparkling eyes and characteristic foibles. He banged bottles of sparkling water about the table to reinforce tactical points and Damien Duff was referred to variously as Damon and Damien Dunne. Sven-Goran Eriksson was name-checked as "Swen".
Robson was here to impart a message. And he did so with typical gusto. Steve Staunton, the Republic of Ireland manager whom Robson assists as an "international consultant", has to be given time and breathing space. Staunton may be a manager with no previous experience but he is learning fast in an unforgiving environment. Supporters appear to have concluded that he is not the man to carry a young squad into the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, but Robson begs to differ. Staunton was appointed last January amid talk of a four-year plan. That plan must be allowed to run its course.
"Stan's had two years in the job and he needs another two years, another campaign," said the former England manager. "He needs a bit of support. He needs a bit of guidance, a bit of help and some understanding. He needs some fairness and some reason. I said to John Delaney [the chief executive of the FAI] as I'm saying here now, 'Let him get on with the job. You've given him the job, you've thought about it before you've given it him, let him get on with it'.
"We have got solid players, we have got a good nucleus and now we've got to find some little square pegs for square holes. Look at [Kevin] Doyle, he should improve. He needs two years in the Premiership or more. Stevie Coppell [his manager at Reading] will tell you about that. You need time at international level. I remember my first game for England, I never saw the ball but two years later, I dominated the ball. These young players do need time."
The Irish play Cyprus at Croke Park tomorrow night, with hopes of Euro 2008 qualification all but extinguished. Only if the Czech Republic lose their final three ties will a glimmer of light appear, and the Cyprus game will stir uncomfortable memories. The Republic lost 5-2 in Nicosia this time last year, a result that is considered the worst in Irish football history. Staunton's team narrowly avoided topping that in February, when Stephen Ireland's 95th-minute goal squeaked a 2-1 win in San Marino. But Robson insisted yesterday that the qualifying campaign had been, predominantly, positive.
"We've played 10 games and there were only two where we were poorish," he said. "And against Germany and the Czechs, the difference has been minute. Two draws at home and two 1-0 defeats away. I went to watch England play Germany at Wembley [in August] and when we played Germany on Saturday [and drew 0-0], we played better than England did, I'm telling you. And if Andy Reid played for Argentina and played like he did on Saturday, we'd be drooling about the boy.
"The question now is 'Can we play like that again over our final two matches and in the next campaign?' We have to insist from the players that they are more consistent and not afraid."
Robson will endure another three sessions of chemotherapy in the coming weeks but, having missed the trip to Slovakia and the Czech Republic last month, he is determined to "see out" the campaign in Cardiff against Wales on November 17. He will then discuss his future involvement with Staunton and Delaney.
"It's good to be back among football people," he said. "It's a pleasure to be here. I've been on chemotherapy and that seems to be working a little bit. I'm fighting, I'm all right, I'm OK."
Robson is an example. He might be expected to step down at the end of the campaign but he will not accept Staunton following suit.
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