View from our legends | Leeds – Paul Robinson special
Leeds United vs Tottenham Hotspur – a fixture that certainly resonates with Paul Robinson.
Our legendary former goalkeeper came through the youth ranks at Elland Road and broke into a Leeds team fighting for Premier League titles and the Champions League – they reached the semi-finals in 2001, losing out to Valencia.
Robbo played 119 times for the Whites before switching to Lilywhite in the summer of 2004. One of the most popular players to pull on our shirt in the Premier League era, he was soon number one at Spurs and for England, where he played at the 2006 World Cup, eventually earning 41 caps.
Robbo made 175 appearances for us, winning the League Cup in 2008 before moving to Blackburn, where he enjoyed seven years and finally Burnley, where he retired in 2017.
Now a pundit across numerous media outlets, including covering England for BBC Radio Five Live, we spoke to Robbo earlier this week ahead of his two former teams meeting again…
First up, tell us about your Leeds team of the early 2000s…
Robbo: “When you look at the players who were there at that time, the likes of Robbie Fowler, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Alan Smith, Lee Bowyer, Olivier Dacourt, Harry Kewell, Jonathan Woodgate... it was a team that was able to compete at the top of the Premier League and at Europe's top table as well. It's just a shame about the decline (Leeds were relegated in 2003/04) and how quickly it was, because the building blocks were put in place and the players were there to be successful for a long period of time.”
Fast-forward to joining us in 2004, and people might not realise that it took you just three months to become England’s number one – as fans at the Lane always sang to you!
Robbo: “This game always brings back special memories, because without Leeds United, I wouldn't have had the career I had, and then I had my best footballing years at Tottenham and the happiest time of my career there. Leeds was a rollercoaster, but I owe everything to Leeds United. To go to Tottenham was such a huge move for me at such a young age. I think a lot of people thought that I was going to be number two behind Kasey Keller, but I actually started the season as number one and very quickly established myself in the England side.”
You had an unbelievable connection with our fans…
Robbo: “You soon get to understand what the football club's all about. The minute you walk through those gates at White Hart Lane, you play your first game and you can see the passion of the supporters. This should ring true with every club, but the minimum requirement is maximum effort. I celebrated goals the way that the fans celebrated goals. I wanted my team to be successful. I wanted my team to be the best, and when we scored a goal, I celebrated the same as the fans. When we conceded a goal, I felt exactly the same as the fans. You soon understand what it means to the fan base and Spurs and Leeds... a great example of two sets of supporters who will support their club through thick and thin.”
Bringing it around to Saturday – what are your thoughts on Leeds at the moment?
Robbo: “Daniel Farke has changed the public perception of him as a Premier League manager. He’s done fantastically well. He changed to the three at the back formation against Manchester City last season, it's a formation that's worked for them since and the club have backed him. They had a very solid window in the summer, signing players that suited the system he plays. They’ve very quickly become an established Premier League team. What I will say is they draw too many games at the moment. They've had no win in the last five games, one win in the last nine in all competitions. They're struggling in front of goal a little, they’re not a high scoring team, but what Daniel Farke’s done with that team, he's made them resilient, made them hard to beat.”
How do you think it will play out on Saturday?
Robbo: “I don't think it’s only the last three or four games that are an indication of the way that Tottenham have played. I said from very early on this season that it was only a matter of time before it clicks and when that first win came, there would be a snowball effect. It just felt confidence was an issue and now you see the victory against Coventry, the away win against Chelsea was fantastic, then the home win against Crystal Palace, you can see the belief in the team. I was at Bournemouth last weekend (Leeds lost 2-0) and Leeds started the game very well but then fell off and allowed Bournemouth back into it. At home, they're a different proposition, because Elland Road is exactly as it always is – the noise levels will be phenomenal for this game and it’s a very, very difficult place to go. So, Tottenham are in form and confident, Leeds back at Elland Road – it’ a tough one to call.”