LAURENT ROBERT HAS APOLOGISED to his team-mates for criticising Newcastle United’s standard of football this season. That interesting fact was revealed by Graeme Souness yesterday evening, although the manager did not mention when the France winger’s sorrow was expressed. Perhaps that is just as well; it is a sure thing that they were not uttered in the home dressing-room of the Millennium Stadium after the final whistle.

Perhaps Robert, who will be disciplined by Souness and Freddy Shepherd, the chairman today, is mulling over the wisdom of his regret. In the past two matches, Newcastle have conceded eight goals, they have lost four of their past five fixtures and while sympathy can be mustered over a desperate list of injuries and suspensions, supporters have been left with the same ache in their bellies too many times before. This was less a humiliation than the flashback of a recurring nightmare.

As the manager pointed out, with Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer banned, Titus Bramble and Aaron Hughes unfit and others required to play while limping, “it was always going to be difficult for us”, but there were also elements that veered towards the unacceptable. Fans rose early and spent money to reach Cardiff, where they roared until their throats bled and this was not adequate recompense.

Patrick Kluivert earns £67,000 a week to be a wholly ineffectual substitute. Nicky Butt — the only Newcastle player to strop straight down the tunnel without applauding the club’s impressive travelling representatives — has disappeared. Celestine Babayaro may have been hampered by a strained hamstring, but his performance disgraced the black-and-white shirt.

Souness has a huge amount of work to do. In the short term, he must prevent a tumultuous season that hinted at glory five days ago from submerging in acrimony and slipping into anarchy. Helpfully, they face more of this torture next weekend, when they visit Old Trafford, prefaced by a queasy-looking fixture away to Norwich City. Crystal Palace, Everton, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Fulham complete their campaign.

Afterwards, there can only be a revolution. Souness has identified a need for “four, five, or six new players,” but a more salient point is that, at present, St James’ Park is not an arena that encourages talent. Amid the ceaseless controversy, the team either soar with confidence or stumble into the abyss, with no respite in between. It is no way for a team to prosper.

“We have got seven hard games left, but somehow we have to regroup,” Souness said. “I don’t think this is a psychological one. If you’re winning you don’t feel tiredness and at times we looked a tired team. Somehow, we’ve got to find the energy and togetherness for Wednesday night. There is a long way to go until our season is gone.” It feels as though a struggle beckons.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson took the helm at Manchester United in 1986, Newcastle have employed eight managers; he described them as “an unusual club”, which is unquestionable. “They are like us,” he said. “I go back to when I arrived at United, when they hadn’t won anything but still had the biggest attendances, which only comes through deep-rooted loyalty. Newcastle fans will go into work on Monday and feel absolutely terrible, because sometimes their passion is so great it can make them sick.”

At least it is a familiar pain. As Wayne Rooney caused havoc, Ruud van Nistelrooy re-emerged as a menacing centre forward and Paul Scholes scampered merrily, Newcastle froze. “I can’t be critical of my players,” Souness said, “because they’ve been beaten up physically and mentally this week.” Others will be less kind. Robbie Williams was a fellow resident in the team hotel on Saturday night: Let Me Entertain You , this was not.

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