The 33-year-old Scottish international joins Vancouver on a three year deal. During his introductory press conference, he stressed his respect for the league and his new teammates
VANCOUVER – Barry Robson is in town.The Vancouver Whitecaps' latest signing, who becomes the club’s third-ever designated player after current star Eric Hassli and the since-jettisoned Mustapha Jarju, met the Vancouver media for the first time on Monday at BC Place.
“It wasn’t a big decision at all,” Robson told reporters of the decision to join the Whitecaps. “It’s something that really excited me. I don’t know what it was, but as soon as I heard it was in the pipeline I was really excited.”
The 33-year-old Scottish international joins the Vancouver club from English Championship side Middlesbrough, where he scored seven goals in 36 matches this past season.
The former Celtic player is eligible for his first match against the Colorado Rapids on July 4 on the road, but isn’t expecting to walk into the starting lineup right away.
“I respect my teammates wherever I go,” Robson said. “I’m going to need to go and work hard to get into the side. I know that – I’m not stupid. There are some really good terrific young footballers here. It’s going to be hard but I’m looking forward to working with them.
“They can make me better and hopefully I can make them better.”
Robson’s contract is a three-year deal, and said the move came at the right time for him as he feels the league is a growing venture he’d like to be a part of.
“I think it’s a good product,” Robson said. “I think the product is getting better. It’s different to what I’m used to – it’s hard to explain the way it is in England or Scotland. It’s a bit different. It can be a bit slower here, but I think it’s unbelievably athletic, the players, when I look at them.
“It’s something I’m looking forward to. It’s been hard for me to see as many games as I would like, but I’ll see them pretty quickly in two weeks’ time when I’m involved with them.”
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Despite his calibre – the midfielder has played in final 16 of the Champions League against the likes of Barcelona – he assured reporters he didn’t join the Whitecaps just for a final paycheque.
“I like to think I give 110 percent,” Robson said. “That’s what I’ve built my life and career on. Those are principles you need to have in football. I’m not going to be brilliant every game, you’re not going to stand out every game but I can give you 110 percent and that’s all you can expect from any player.
“That’s what I’ve always built myself on and that’s what the players I’ve played with have expected. That’s what I expect from myself and I’m sure that what the coaches and managers and every single supporter expects. As long as you’re doing that, if you’re playing well, great, if not, as long as you’re giving everything there’s not much you can do.”
