Paul Robinson tells Albion: It's time to stand up and be counted
Mar 13 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post
It is time for the West Bromwich Albion players to stand up and be counted, defender Paul Robinson has stated.
The combative left-back has issued a rallying call to his team-mates to start showing the battling qualities he believes are required to turn around their failing fortunes and overturn a six-point gap to safety.
Robinson is a veteran of the Great Escape campaign of 2006 and believes this current squad needs to show the same qualities if they are to repeat the feat. And he isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers in the dressing room to get the desired results.
“I would like to see a bit more passion and commitment,” said Robinson. “I think we have lacked that. I am not afraid to say it. It shouldn’t bother me to say it.
“I think a few more players should stand up and come out and say it themselves, that they should be more committed to the club and they should be fighting for the cause a bit more.
“The supporters deserve more and as players we deserve more out of each other.
“There are a few out there who need to wear the shirt with a little bit more pride and passion, and commit themselves to this club a bit more.
“We shouldn’t be in this position and we know we shouldn’t.
“You can only say what you can. They can either take it to help them or they can take it as a criticism, but at the end of the day you are only trying to help your team-mates and if they take it in the wrong way then that’s their problem.
“I have worked hard. I am 30 now and I have achieved a lot of things in my career. I have come this far and I don’t want to let it go now.
“This is what I have worked so hard to get to and I have tried my hardest to help this club go forward as much as it can.”
Robinson’s outspoken viewpoint is the first time anyone within the Albion camp has questioned the side’s ability to show the desired battling qualities to go with their obvious attacking capabilities, but he has spoken out to get a response ahead of the crucial run-in to the season.
Robinson was visibly hurt when Albion were relegated two seasons ago and he doesn’t want to experience the same heartache again this year.
“When things are not going right and you are losing week in, week out, it hurts,” he said.
“It hurt last time we were relegated because I know there was a bunch of players in there who worked their socks off but there was another bunch of players who didn’t, and I don’t want that to happen again.
“As a group of players we have to sort that out and start producing.
“It has to be on the pitch and it has to be about results, and how to take this club forward.”
One team-mate who will respond is James Morrison, who has made his own declaration of intent. The Scotland midfielder said it was crunch time for everyone at the club.
“I think the results of our next three games – West Ham United away and Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City at home – will go a long way to determining which way our season goes,” he said.
“Everyone needs to know how big and important these games are – and I’m sure the fans will get right behind us.”
