Written in 2011. I wish he'd have been true to his word and followed Marty up here:- http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/john-robertson-if-martin-oneill-calls-1087402 A COFFEE shop in the Nottingham suburb of West Bridgford is where it all happens now for John Robertson. He spends many mornings there doing a crossword or reading the latest Michael Connelly book. Every Wednesday afternoon he spends time with former colleagues putting football to rights. Twice a week heâll wander down for a game of tennis, his favourite sport apart from football. The former Celtic assistant boss is enjoying life. Since he resigned from Aston Villa 15 months ago he hasnât been involved in the game. The most stress he feels is having to get in his second serve to win a set of tennis against Garry Birtles or Liam OâKane. But all of that could change in one phone call. And heâs waiting for it. Martin OâNeill is out of the game just now but it wonât be long before heâs back involved. OâNeill will want Robertson by his side again â just as he did at Grantham, Wycombe, Leicester, Celtic and Villa. Robertson told MailSport: âIâm enjoying my days, although I donât think Iâve quite yet retired. âIâll never say never about getting back into football. âMartin has plenty to offer and should be the first phone call made by any chairman if a job comes up. âAnd if he wants me to join him then Iâd do it. Iâd never let Martin down.â With Harry Redknappâs chances of succeeding Fabio Capello as England boss next summer uncertain, OâNeill is being heavily quoted and has admirers in the English FA. Would proud Scotsman Robertson be able to assist the Auld Enemy? He said: âI couldnât get involved in that one. I just donât think I could do that. âBut Martin should be mentioned for that job, he deserves to be in that bracket. He should be among the top three candidates for any job.â Robertson is currently promoting his autobiography Super Tramp. It is an outstanding read. It charts his feelings during the tragically short life of his daughter Jessica, who was born with cerebral palsy in 1983 and died aged just 13. Robertson also lost his brother Hughie and his sister-in-law Isobel in a car crash. Their daughter Jillian survived the accident. John had given the Vauxhall Viva car involved in the crash to his brother â and for that he carried guilt. But happier times took place on the football field and he won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest in 1979 and 1980 (pictured below). He scored the winner in the 1980 final against Hamburg in Madrid. And 12 months earlier he supplied the cross with his magical left foot for Trevor Francis to score against Malmo in Munich. From there he progressed to management as OâNeillâs No.2 and they enjoyed great success with Leicester and Celtic. He said: âIâve been so lucky to have had such a life out of the game. Itâs been amazing. âWhen I was a wee boy I just wanted to play football. Iâm so proud to have scored the winning goal against England for Scotland in 1981 at Wembley. âWe won a penalty when Steve Archibald was brought down. âI screamed for a penalty. Then I s*** myself when I remembered I had to take it. âFrancis was playing for England and was my Forest team-mate. âHe told England keeper Joe Corrigan Iâd put it to his right and Joe thought Iâd change my mind. âI had to stick to what I knew and Trevor was right â I hit the ball as hard as I could down my left. Joe dived to his left. âI was climbing the fence at Wembley to celebrate in the crowd. âI knew I had to score it â if I didnât I wouldnât have been allowed back up the road again. I won more than I ever imagined â two European Cups and the like. âThen to get to Celtic was incredible. I was a wee bit unsure about going to work at Parkhead. I was brought up a Rangers fan. But people couldnât have been nicer to me. âIt was the best years of my life in football. Celtic are an institution and have wonderful fans.â Celtic often crops up in the conversation at the Wednesday Club in Nottingham as he meets with John OâHare, Seamus McDonagh, Liam OâKane, Ian Storrie-Moore and Steve Walford for a moan and a groan for two or three hours. Tennis is also never far from dominating the chat. Robertson said: âI love reading thrillers. Iâm in the middle of The Drop just now, 204 pages in. âMichael Connelly is terrific. I do like his Harry Bosch stuff. âHarlan Coben, Linwood Barclay and Mark Billingham â great writers, great suspense in their books. âBetween books and crosswords, my days are filled. âI also enjoy tennis. Iâve only started playing in the past five or six years. âI have so much respect for this golden era of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. All incredible sportsmen. âThe older I get the more I realise whatâs in your head is as important as natural ability. âI play every week against OâKane and he is better than me because he wins the bigger points. âNow, I used to take penalty kicks for a living when my job depended on it â and I could score. âBut in a quiet game of tennis I get more nervous when it comes to a set point or match point than I did taking a penalty. âI blow it at tennis. I canât understand it. My head will blow when it gets to advantage. âI hope Murray wins a Grand Slam title, especially Wimbledon. Heâs holding the hopes of the whole of Britain. âIâm not trying to be Dan Maskell, but he is playing at an unbelievable standard and heâs been on fire in the past two months. We should be thankful to have him.â
It's a shame but it doesn't look like he's gona come now. Maybe it's time for Marty to look for an alternative option!
If Robertson came in now and an upturn followed soon after it would make MON look a little bit stupid. I'm on the fence with MON but if it did happen, may as well get rid of MON and make Robertson manager.
Funny you should say that mate I know just the bloke he has been out of work since he was smuggled into this country and probably could do just as good job as oneil .......dj smile
Safe in the place of your face as you see ecstasy THAT IS FACKING ME!!! The players would be hyped right up lol!
