Robbos’ Form Can Win England Place Back

Rovers manager Sam Allardyce believes an England recall for Paul Robinson is achievable, but only if Paul can produce the form to keep us in the Premier League.

Robbo has been on a good run of form recently with a string of clean sheets (5 in 9) so it was a small suprise that he wasn’t in the ‘Capello 3’ keepers that were selected for his squad.

However, Allardyce believes that if Robinson focuses on his league form and keeps Blackburn in the league then an England call should follow.

Allardyce, speaking to the L.E.T said – “I can`t be too certain about what Robbo`s best really was because I never saw him on a regular basis but I do know you don`t play 41 or so games for England and play on a regular basis at Tottenham without being a very good goalkeeper.

“Paul kept David James out for a long time before, so he should be thinking he should be getting his place back as soon as he can. But his focus should be Blackburn for me and the more he helps us get out of trouble, the England thing looks after itself.

“We are not breeding too many young goalkeepers who are playing top level football at the moment. Joe Hart at Manchester City, Scott Carson and Ben Foster are the only ones and David James can`t go on forever.”

Robinson had a nightmare last few motnsh at Spurs and the move to Ewood at the time was considered a ‘relief’ by Robinson himself.
But Big Sam feels he has reacted well.

Sam continued, “For the first time in his life, things turned the other way and instead of nipping it in the bud things were allowed to continue by whoever was with him at that particular time.

“From my point of view and Bobby Mimms` view it is about eradicating those bad memories and making sure he comes out at the end of that as a better goalkeeper and we feel we can help him do that.

“When you have had it as good as Robbo for so long, it is about helping him when it goes wrong. For a young lad to play in goal at the top level for so many years I wonder did he get as much help as he should have got from the people who work him.

“Confidence is more apparent to goalkeepers than it is centre forwards. Centre forwards only miss chances, goalkeepers make mistakes and it costs you goals.

“It is far more destructive mentally for a goalkeeper than it is a centre forward. They are brought up to become able to cope better than centre forwards – not quite as temperamental. They have to be strong mentally because of the position they play in life.”