Robson on his bike for a lead Diamonds role
STUART Robson’s first match as new captain of Newcastle BTS Diamonds is at Byker tomorrow (6.30) against champions Sheffield Tigers - and the Sunderland-born racer will wear the No.5 race-jacket instead of No.2.
The switch comes about as a result of regular No.5 Tero Aarnio picking up a hand injury in Sweden on Tuesday.
His scheduled races will be shared out under the rider replacement regulation and it is easier to do that covering the No.2 position.
Robson was appointed captain earlier this week after Ludvig Lindgren stepped down to concentrate on his racing, particularly his away form - which he admits has been well below par.
The hugely-popular Robson made his Newcastle debut 25 years ago at the age of 16, going on to enjoy a successful career with topflight clubs like Coventry.
In addition to racing for the Diamonds in the SGB Championship, Robbo is also a member of the Rye House team in the SGB Premiership.
The Diamonds defeated Sheffield 53-37 in a Championship Shield clash at Byker two months ago - but Newcastle co-promoter George English is expecting a closer contest this time.
He said: “Fairly recently, the Tigers were bottom of the table and did not like it, so they have had a bit of a re-shuffle and axed two of their early-season side.
“They have brought in a new American Broc Nicol and a young hotshot from the SGB National League Georgie Wood, who has been scoring loads of points for fun by all accounts for Eastbourne.
“However, after our great performance in beating Edinburgh last Sunday, I believe we can see off Sheffield too.” YOU can almost hear His Master’s Voice booming in the ear of Rafa Benitez.
Ronaldo? Too old. Messi? Too small. Kramaric? Who? Uncle Tom Cobleigh? Too dear.
So who do United get as their goalscoring Messiah to smash the club records set by England superstars Alan Shearer and Michael Owen way back in the mists of time?
The rumour mill has gone into overdrive. Never mind the cash restrictions, the World Cup sideshow, the managerial uncertainty.
The Geordies like nothing better than a vibrant discussion and rampant speculation as to who is coming and who should arrive.
So what have we? Among the welter of names being put forward this week was Daniel Sturridge, set to be offered to a desperate Benitez.
Heaven forbid, I say. For me, Sturridge is like two other Liverpool legends who arrived here – past his sell-by date. Ian Rush and John Barnes were magnificent players but on their Zimmer frames by the time they joined the Mags in the late nineties. With Sturridge it is a little different. Injuries have ruined him more than the passing years but the bottom line is the same. Don’t touch. That is not taking into account the fact that he snubbed Benitez in January to join Alan Pardew at West Bromwich instead. I thought that was a lucky escape at the time. Pardew got a lot out of Sturridge didn’t he? Permanently on the sick list, the sack rapidly came for Pards followed by Albion’s relegation. A lot of people in football are blinded by the big names and apparently choose to ignore their days of pomp and pageant are well behind them.
We have had it with Rush and Barnes and, aye, our record signing Owen too, who by the time he came here was not the young whippersnapper of Liverpool who destroyed Argentina as a teenager but a player who had lost a crucial yard in pace to savage injury.
Everyone from Salomon Rondon and Jordan Ayew through Tammy Abraham to Anthony Limbombe and Nicolai Jorgensen have been on their way, it would appear.
We await not with patience but with growing trepidation. Something simply has to be done.
What heightens concern is the fact the transfer window closes early this year, before the start of the new PL season. We are being squeezed and it does not feel good. Another puzzling ‘deal’ thrown up was an alleged £18m bid for Paris St Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. It is the talk of France but I don’t know why. If Benitez is to be allowed to smash United’s transfer record this summer, it must be for a striker and not a goalkeeper when he has just secured the permanent recruitment of Martin Dubravka for a giveaway £4m. Dubravka was gold dust during the second half of the season and only signed because he was assured of being No 1. To buy a second goalkeeper at £18m when Mike Ashley is keeping money so tight makes about as much sense as betting on Sunderland to win the FA Cup. John Gibson