I was saddened to hear of this great player s passing.
Born in notts so I well remember how important he was in Brian Cloughs team.
I've posted this vid because it shows Robbo at his best ,scoring and crossing the ball with both feet accurately...a true two footed player. Not the quickest..and I do think ,watching this vid ,....why talented players like for example Jack Grealish never worked and worked on their weaker foot ....it can be done and professional players have enough time to put that practice in ,imo....
Robertson crossed the ball from the dead ball line with his left foot to set up francis European cup final winning goal,then the very next season,cut inside Manny Katlz,the best right back in the world....to score from distance with his right foot....to win the European cup again,how instrumental was Robbo,the two footed footballing genius.Cherki the bar is set high ..for how a true two footed player can impact games ..at the highest level.
The 1st major trophy won by Clough and Taylor at forest was the league cup...took Liverpool to a replay at old Trafford and when Phil Thompson brought down John o hare....inside ( ?) the area......lots of controversy .....it was John Robertson who stepped up to despatch the winning goal with his right foot past a Ray Clemence,at the time one of the best keepers in the world.
Liverpool were not happy..Forest won the League Cup..
3 months earlier,Forest had gone to old Trafford in early December..and smashed Utd 4nil on their own pitch, a result which made every team in the country sit up and take notice that the team who has come up from the 2nd div,promoted with wolves who were champions,.....meant business.
Forest went on to win the 1st div championship,an outstanding achievement...they were 2nd div nobodies 18 months prior.
Robertson scored in the 4 nil win,with his left foot ,giving the not very good utd keeper at the time no chance....he belted it past him before the sad keeper could move.
I played a lot of Sunday morning football in notts at (left midfield) in my earlier years and towards the end of my ' career' I turned out at John Players sports pitch in Aspley notts...at right midfield...the ball went out for a throw in,as I went to fetch it..I looked up and there was Robbo,hugging the left touchline on a neighbouring pitch...he'd stepped down to amateur footy after his professional career was over.....can I officially say I ' shared ' the same football pitch as the Great John Robertson;)
Fantastic player. No full back could work him out as he could dribble with either foot and used to almost casually walk/ stroll with the ball to fool full backs into making a challenge.....he'd then quick as flash be past them ...I never quite worked out how a seemingly slow moving overweight player could move that quick when he wanted to.
RIP Robbo.
