Roberts determined to win over critics (From Swindon Advertiser)
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SWINDON TOWN: Roberts determined to win over critics
6:00am Wednesday 19th December 2012 in STFC News By Sam Morshead
Gary Roberts, right, in action
“I’VE got half a season to put things right, to prove to myself and prove to the manager that I’m good enough to play for the team.”
Gary Roberts’ honest and blunt assessment of his sticky start to life in a Swindon Town shirt showed he understands that he has not lived up to expectations in Wiltshire, but he is determined to win the fans over in the coming months.
The winger arrived at the County Ground following his release from Huddersfield over the summer as one of manager Paolo Di Canio’s marquee signings.
He had been tormenting full-backs and goalkeepers at League One level for years, and came to the Robins with the pedigree and experience Di Canio craved as he looked to build a squad capable of challenging for back-to-back promotions.
A fine pre-season followed, and Roberts looked in good nick going into the start of the campaign. However, a torn calf derailed his preparations, a month was spent on the sidelines and since his return he has struggled for form.
Evidently talented, the 28-year-old is clearly frustrated that he has not exhibited his true abilities to the Swindon supporters. But he was open and up front about how he plans to change people’s perceptions of him in 2013.
“I think I’m my own biggest critic and I know I’ve been below-par personally,” he said.
“To see I’m out the side, I think, is deserved because I don’t think I’ve done enough to stay in the team and get in the team.
“I haven’t scored enough goals, I haven’t played well consistently, I’ve had decent little spells in games but that’s it.
“Probably the last five games - I don’t know whether it’s confidence or niggles with injuries but you can’t make excuses - I’m bitterly disappointed. But you get your head down, you get on the training ground and try to get back to basics because you don’t become a bad player overnight.
“I try to tell myself that but hopefully the tide will turn and I can put in some good performances for the club and try to show why the manager brought me here and win some fans over.
“I don’t like making excuses. I should be fit enough but I’m just more disappointed after the work we put in in Italy. The work was really hard and it was the fittest I’d had myself for a good few years, and to go into the season after a good pre-season to get a torn calf four days before the season knocked me for six.
“Getting back fit and re-tearing it made me play catch-up. Now it’s not about fitness, I’m as fit as I can be, it’s just about form. I think I’m a little bit low on confidence at the minute and you’re not really looking for the ball as much as you would.
“It’s weird with a footballer. Confidence is a big thing. But I’m big enough and strong enough and old enough and experienced now to just get my head down and try to put things right.
“I’ve got half a season to put things right to prove to myself and prove to the manager that I’m good enough to play for the team.”
Improving his form is one thing, but Roberts will have to force his way past either Raffa De Vita or Matt Ritchie, both of whom are in fine fettle, to break into the first team.
And he realises that will not be an easy task.
He said: “At the minute I can’t do much, Raffa and Matty are playing really well and I’m more than happy for the pair of them. From a selfish point of view you have to be better than them and at the minute it’s not happening so they deserve the shirt.
“If you get that 20-minute spell you’ve got to try to get on and try to make a difference. I came on against Doncaster and missed a chance which I haven’t slept much since thinking about.
“They’re chances when you’re confident you put away without thinking twice.
“I don’t read too much into websites because that can really beat you up but you can sense it as a footballer. I’m a fan myself, I support Everton, so you know when fans are happy with you. Fans can be won over as quickly as you lose them so a couple of good performances and a couple of goals would be nice.”
Comments(32)
Stilloyal
says...
7:03am Wed 19 Dec 12
I just hope he can find that form again but meanwhile Raffa is de man !
Redhouse Red
says...
7:48am Wed 19 Dec 12
No contest
old town robin
says...
8:12am Wed 19 Dec 12
Stilloyal wrote:My thoughts also Loyal, he's never reproduced that kind of form he did against Palace after returning from injury. I had occassion to speak with him after the Sheffield Utd game, seems a decent lad and I said to him then he seemed a bit low on confidence and he agreed.
Robbo was brilliant against Palace in pre season and I thoughr he'd be one of our main men.
I just hope he can find that form again but meanwhile Raffa is de man !
A good article for him to express his thoughts to the fans, he will get some game time over Christmas, lets get behind him and hopefully we will see tsome of that pre-season form that we know he is capable of.. I'm sure he is looking forward to playing against his fellow scousers on friday, but agree with others raffa will get the nod to start.
London Red
says...
8:13am Wed 19 Dec 12
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As PdC said earlier in the campaign "He's no Gary Roberts" which shows how highly rates him - so is not going to boot him out a few months later
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However, as the player himself has said he has not delivered yet and needs to start to
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If he even gets to 70% of the player he was at Udders we will have a gem!
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Raffa deserves to be in there so is - but when Roberts comes on here an unusal thought - why not cheer instead of moan to see if that gives him the little boost to kick on!
chrystovski
says...
8:23am Wed 19 Dec 12
Away at Shrewsbury earlier this season he came on at ht for Raf and was so influential in everything positive we did at a time when Raf and Ritchie were well below par. It just goes to show you how quickly things can change in Football.
If he comes on\starts Friday a little boost from the crowd could be what he needs to kick start his career at the CG. I'm sure that will help a bit more then the few morons shouting "you're a waste of money roberts!" at him v Donny.
Stilloyal
says...
8:41am Wed 19 Dec 12
You can't get your form by sitting in the stands.
the don69
says...
9:06am Wed 19 Dec 12
Highworth red
says...
9:40am Wed 19 Dec 12
hertz
says...
10:23am Wed 19 Dec 12
mallorca
says...
10:24am Wed 19 Dec 12
So I just think he will come good soon however more worrying is the lack of goals from our strikers or to be blunt the ones they keep missing.Still sooner or later all will come right I keep looking at our away results and considering we got promoted Pdc and his squad are doing jst fine so starting Friday TOWN do it go on a decent run
COME ON YOU REDS
SAPFanSTFC
says...
10:45am Wed 19 Dec 12
---.
Notts Co results are posted on the last 'Results' thread on the 14th Dec - use 'Predictions League' in the Search field as this is all working again now.
-
League tables as at that time to follow shortly.
Lordjim13
says...
11:22am Wed 19 Dec 12
hertz wrote:I completely agree.
Listen to yourselves ,"Give him a cheer" we struggle to cheer when playing well , not a chance if a player is below par . I know we can't help it , moan is what Swindonians do best , its also one of the reasons our home form has been so bad in 2012 , the 500 to 800 travelling fans really do make a difference away from home but alas all the moaning and mumblings at home games really does have a negative impact on a players form . So Friday lets try it , lets try to cheer and lets try to give them a Christmas lift , you never know it might even make you feel better too :0) COYR
Good honest quotes from Roberst, hope he can come good.
TheDukeOfBanbury
says...
12:07pm Wed 19 Dec 12
I have seen glimpses just needs the confidence and the support.
Swindon1984
says...
12:42pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Highworth red wrote:Spot on.
When he does get his confidence back, it will be like having a brand new player. Like he says himself, you don't become a bad player overnight. Good point earlier about having no reserve team as players need games to keep match fit and gain confidence.
Penhill54
says...
12:45pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Penhill54
says...
12:48pm Wed 19 Dec 12
London Red
says...
12:55pm Wed 19 Dec 12
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Now how is Roberts playing against some 17 year old kids once a month going to improve his confidence or form?
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Now if the reserve leagues were totally restructured to see local sides play each other it might be a worthwhile exercise
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This could see Reading and Southampton still join as the Premiership have adopted a U21 league - so surely these have players over 21 outside the first team who would want games
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Us, Oxford, Bristol C, Bristol R, Yeovil, Cheltenham, Exeter,Torquay, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Southampton, Portsmouth and Reading could form the South West League (Maybe one could go to South East to make it even numbers?)
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Brighton, Gillingham, Wycombe, Colchester and Southend could join the London sides in a South East League
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Then the North and Midlands could split themselves up too
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12 sides could then play fornightly to give regular games and if actually using pros instead of kids would make it worthwhile
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Obviously not all youths should be banned as they need games and experience but it should be mainly pros with a few kids rather than the reverse which was the reality
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So for us it would see the likes of Loius Thompson and Oakley play alongside our pros - currently it could be:
.
Bedwell
Murden (Y) Troy Oakley (Y) Bessone
Thompson (Y) Navarro Miller
Roberts
Colins Storey
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(Y) being youth teamer
Davidsyrett
says...
1:22pm Wed 19 Dec 12
I wonder how much it will take to test the clubs resolve?
£5 Million?
madterrier
says...
1:54pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Davidsyrett wrote:Jordan Rhodes went for £8m, and to another Championship club. I would have thought that Burnley would therefore have set their marker at least at that figure.
"Burnley have said that striker Charlie Austin won't be sold in the January window"
I wonder how much it will take to test the clubs resolve?
£5 Million?
robstfc
says...
4:34pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Regarding Roberts I agree with a lot of the above, he is a good player, just needs to show it consistently for the town. He really needs to start earning his £10K per week.... (fact)
TheDukeOfBanbury
says...
4:46pm Wed 19 Dec 12
robstfc wrote:Ha ha £10k per week you are having a laugh.
We need the cash from the Audtin sale if we are to improve our team in Jan. The Chairman has already stated there is no money for players in the Jan window unless someone is sold / moves on.
Regarding Roberts I agree with a lot of the above, he is a good player, just needs to show it consistently for the town. He really needs to start earning his £10K per week.... (fact)
Is that you Lovesey
says...
4:58pm Wed 19 Dec 12
TheDukeOfBanbury wrote:10k per week FACT, Oxford are also in the premier league Fact, about as true....
robstfc wrote: We need the cash from the Audtin sale if we are to improve our team in Jan. The Chairman has already stated there is no money for players in the Jan window unless someone is sold / moves on. Regarding Roberts I agree with a lot of the above, he is a good player, just needs to show it consistently for the town. He really needs to start earning his £10K per week.... (fact)Ha ha £10k per week you are having a laugh.
Ollie Reed's Parky dance!
says...
6:39pm Wed 19 Dec 12
TheDukeOfBanbury wrote:Its true. Ritchie is also on £10 k per week and has been for over a year. The madness of a footballers wage I know
robstfc wrote:Ha ha £10k per week you are having a laugh.
We need the cash from the Audtin sale if we are to improve our team in Jan. The Chairman has already stated there is no money for players in the Jan window unless someone is sold / moves on.
Regarding Roberts I agree with a lot of the above, he is a good player, just needs to show it consistently for the town. He really needs to start earning his £10K per week.... (fact)
TheDukeOfBanbury
says...
7:00pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Ollie Reed's Parky dance! wrote:I will let you work out the sums and with the income and financial rulings and you may come to the conclusion that we would be in financial meltdown. Where some of you dream those numbers in lower league football I will never know.
TheDukeOfBanbury wrote:Its true. Ritchie is also on £10 k per week and has been for over a year. The madness of a footballers wage I know
robstfc wrote:Ha ha £10k per week you are having a laugh.
We need the cash from the Audtin sale if we are to improve our team in Jan. The Chairman has already stated there is no money for players in the Jan window unless someone is sold / moves on.
Regarding Roberts I agree with a lot of the above, he is a good player, just needs to show it consistently for the town. He really needs to start earning his £10K per week.... (fact)
tally38
says...
7:05pm Wed 19 Dec 12
sya well done to player ,give them a pat on the back... do wonders for there confidence
TheDukeOfBanbury
says...
7:08pm Wed 19 Dec 12
I believe in father Christmas again and he is coming to my house wearing an Oxford kit..... :)
robstfc
says...
7:53pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Do you think they would come to Swindon from championship clubs for a few grand..... Think again.... This unfortunately is football now...
Paolo in one of his rants a few weeks ago (when he said he would get them in after the fa cup defeat on the Sunday at 7.30) said himself why shouldn't the players work hard when they are earning 6 & 8 grand a week, when the chap next door gets £900 quid a week... This is his words...
People on this forum make me sick.... Taking the **** because you don't agree with a posters comments.
the don69
says...
8:33pm Wed 19 Dec 12
robstfc wrote:Sorry rob I can't believe our board would pay about 25% of the playing budget on two players!if they did (and I don't believe they did)then their fools simple,that's just how football clubs end up going bust!now if we get to the championship that's when a team has to start paying higher wages,if we want to compete for the better players!!!!!!!
I shouldn't have expected any more..... Roberts is on £10k a week fact.... Believe it or not I don't give a monkeys...... Another summer signing from a championship club is on the same.... I let you work it out.
Do you think they would come to Swindon from championship clubs for a few grand..... Think again.... This unfortunately is football now...
Paolo in one of his rants a few weeks ago (when he said he would get them in after the fa cup defeat on the Sunday at 7.30) said himself why shouldn't the players work hard when they are earning 6 & 8 grand a week, when the chap next door gets £900 quid a week... This is his words...
People on this forum make me sick.... Taking the **** because you don't agree with a posters comments.
London Red
says...
9:31pm Wed 19 Dec 12
.
He actually said 8, 10 or 12k a MONTH - that is "only" 2-3k a week!
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Note the "" as that is sill a massive wage - as in fact your averse Joe 900 a week - that is only 47k a year - only double the average wage and then some!
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So lets not start stating FACTS when they are in fact B*llsh1t!
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Also Roberts came from L1 not the Championship!
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Another simple fact screwed up!!!!
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Now that is a FACT!
London Red
says...
9:46pm Wed 19 Dec 12
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Still it is easily within top 10% so would not be the wage PdC was quoting!!!!
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He was talking about the everyday common folk who the government are trying to lift out of paying tax fullstop!
Stilloyal
says...
9:40am Thu 20 Dec 12
However L/R I disagree with you once again on a reserve league. Even if they only play once / twice a month then playing is better than sitting in the stands.
And YES if Robbo can get his confidence up by skinning a 17 y/o in a reserve game then I have no problem with that.
Ollie Reed's Parky dance! says...
6:52am Wed 19 Dec 12