Robson earns bargaining chip

Manager Robson's near-five-year tenure has been thrown into doubt after a bitterly disappointing season.

His bargaining position with Shepherd was significantly strengthened as the Magpies claimed a precious point at Anfield to edge out Aston Villa in the battle for fifth place in the Premiership and a UEFA Cup spot.

But Shepherd sees that as nothing more than a consolation prize after United's failure to secure a place in the Champions League.

The pair met last week to open discussions on where it all went wrong this season and begin planning ahead for next term.

Robson, beset by injuries to key players for much of the campaign, hasn't spent a penny in the transfer market for 14 months since signing winger Darren Ambrose from Ipswich for £1m - his only permanent capture in the meantime has been midfielder Lee Bowyer on a free last summer.

The problem for Shepherd is the £13.5m Robson splashed out a year earlier on £8.5m midfielder Hugo Viana and centre-back Titus Bramble - neither of whom have fulfilled the prophecies that heralded their arrivals - not to mention the £9.5m spent on enigmatic French winger Laurent Robert in the summer of 2001.

But 71-year-old Robson is anxious to add to the depth of his squad and will demand the funds he feels are needed to keep pace with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Saturday's opponents Liverpool, when he meets Shepherd face to face again in the next few days.

Robson, who reacted angrily to the boos of the fans after his side had been held to a draw by relegated Wolves in the final home game of the season, received encouragement from the travelling contingent at Anfield.

They chanted "there's only one Bobby Robson'' as their side established an interval lead through Shola Ameobi's 25th-minute strike.

Robson said: "Our away supporters haven't forgotten what's happened over the last five years, but the criticism is water off a duck's back to me.

"I spoke to the chairman on Thursday but I need to get at him again. I want to keep it hot. We're building together. We had a positive meeting and he understands. The fact that we've got a very good point here and are in Europe will motivate the chairman.

"Chelsea and the rest will all buy this summer. It looks as though Liverpool will have some money coming in, too. They've always invested; that's what they did when Shankly and Paisley were in charge. We have to do the same if we want to compete, within our budget and without putting the club in hock. The chairman won't do that.

"There are one or two players I like and we have a good nucleus. Next season we'll have Jonathan Woodgate and Jermaine Jenas back from injury and we now have Bowyer hitting a bit of form.

"In the last few weeks he's shown us what he was like at Leeds and he hasn't done that all season. He's had lots of injuries and he was banned for 12 matches in Europe.

"But he's been as tough as teak of late. He's done selfless running for us, worked back and forth and tried to get forward. I think he's pleased our supporters.

"Shola is going to be a fantastic player - he's a Nigerian Geordie, if there is such a thing. He's scored three great goals for us here, at Southampton and at home to Chelsea.

"He had a nasty thigh injury to start with and Sami Hyypia stuck his knee right on the same spot. Shola can't walk now. He had to come off before half-time and it was a blow.

"We need to tie him up long-term, but he has two years left on his contract so there's no panic.''

Ameobi showed the coolness lacking in Emile Heskey on his last appearance for Liverpool. Like Robson, Reds boss Gerard Houllier has faced flak over his signings and £11m Heskey - a target for Middlesbrough in January but now tipped to join Birmingham - is one of them.

With Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra ready to inject £65m into Anfield, Houllier is in line for a transfer windfall.

But fierce critic Steve Morgan is still in the wings with a proposed £73m investment, despite being rebuffed by the Anfield board last week, and Houllier's future appears even more precarious than Robson's.

Heskey had already fluffed a chance before Bowyer broke from midfield to set up Ameobi on the left for an angled finish at the Kop End - the 22-year-old striker's tenth goal of the season.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, who was in a class of his own in the second half, delivered an inviting ball for Heskey two minutes after the break, but this time he managed to miscue altogether.

After Jamie Carragher had blocked Ambrose's header on the line following Shearer's superb knockdown, Gerrard whipped in a magnificent ball for Michael Owen - and he showed Heskey how it should be done with a first-time execution into the far corner of Shay Given's net for his 14th goal in 11 games against the Magpies.

Owen's predatory prowess and Gerrard's midfield majesty will carry the hopes of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England at Euro 2004.

Houllier described Gerrard as "awesome'' and the "dangerman'' to France when Houllier's countrymen meet England in Portugal in under a month's time.

"Do you see anyone better than Steve at the moment? Maybe Patrick Vieira,'' said Houllier. "But I give England hope against France because, in defence, England are superior.''

Former England boss Robson said: "I loved Gerrard - and hated him! He's poetry in motion. He has vision and strength and his final ball is great.

"I think I would play him in the middle, but if he plays on the left he won't be wasted. He can play anywhere.

"He'll handle playing against France. I think England will do very well. I wish Woodgate was fit - I think Sven has lost a big player there.''

Manchester United and Arsenal have been linked with the Newcastle defender, but Robson said: "We haven't had a bid and he's got a four-year contract.

"We just need to get his injuries sorted out. He plays 20 games a year and he needs to play 32. As a centre-half, he's equal to Gerrard.''

Result: Liverpool 1 Newcastle United 1.

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