"You
have to remember that Augustin (Delgado) was virtually up against their youth
team. I have never seen so much acne on a football pitch."
Gordon Strachan
"I
would have him (Smith) there for England ahead of Emile Heskey because, with
respect, I could score more goals than him at age 56!"
1970s England striker Allan Clarke
Reporter to
Newcastle's Shola Ameobi: 'Do you have a nickname?'
Ameobi: 'No, not really'
Reporter: 'So what does Bobby Robson call you?'
Ameobi:
'Carl Cort.'
Sheffield
United boss Neil Warnock, when asked what he would do if he was manager of city
rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
'I
would buy some bad players, get the sack and then retire to Cornwall'
'I would not be
bothered if we lost every gamelong as we won the league.' -
Mark Viduka (Leeds)
'If you don't believe you can win, there is
no point in getting out of bed at the end of the day.' -
Neville Southall (ex-Everton)
'We lost because we didn't win.' -
Ronaldo (Brazil)
'I've had 14 bookings this season - 8 of
which were my fault, but 7 of which were disputable.'
- Paul Gascoigne (Everton)
'I've never wanted to leave. I'm here for the
rest of my life, and hopefully after that as well.' -
Alan Shearer (Newcastle)
'I'd like to play for an Italian club, like
Barcelona.' - Mark Draper
'You've got to believe that you're going to
win, and I believe we'll win the World Cup until the final whistle blows and
we're knocked out.' - Peter Shilton
(ex-England)
'I faxed a transfer request to the club at
the beginning of the week, but let me state that I don't want to leave
Leicester.'
- Stan Collymore
'I was watching the Blackburn game on TV on
Sunday when it flashed on the screen that George (Ndah) had scored in the first
minute at Birmingham. My first reaction was to ring him up. Then I remembered he
was out there playing.' - Ade Akinbiyi
(Leicester)
'Without being too harsh on David Beckham, he
cost us the match.' - Ian Wright
(ex-Arsenal)
'It was a big relief off my shoulder.' -
Paul Gascoigne (Everton)
'I'm as happy as I can be - but I have been
happier.'
- Ugo Ehiogu ('Boro)
'It took a lot of bottle for Tony (Adams) to
own up.' - Ian Wright
(ex-Arsenal)
'Leeds is a great club and it's been my home
for years, even though I live in Middlesbrough.'
- Jonathan Woodgate (Leeds)
'I can see the carrot at the end of the
tunnel.' - Stuart Pearce (West Ham)
'I took a whack on my left ankle, but
something told me it was my right.' - Lee
Hendrie (Villa)
'I couldn't settle in Italy - it was like
living in a foreign country.'
- Ian Rush (ex-Liverpool)
Interviewer: 'Would it be fair to
describe you as a volatile player?'
David Beckham: 'Well, I can play in the centre on the right and
occasionally on the left side.' (Man U)
'If you're 0-0 down, there's no-one better to get you back on terms than Ian
Wright.' - Robbie Earle (ex-Wimbledon)
'Germany are a very difficult team to
play...they had 11 internationals out there today.' -
Steve Lomas
'I always used to put my right boot on first,
and then obviously my right sock.' -
Barry Venison (ex-Liverpool)
'I definitely want Brooklyn to be christened,
but I don't know into what religion yet.' -
David Beckham (Man U)
'The Brazilians were South America, and the
Ukranians will be more European.' - Phil
Neville (Man U)
'All that remains is for a few dots and
commas to be crossed.' -
Mitchell Thomas (ex-Spurs)
'Alex Ferguson is the best manager I've ever
had at this level. Well, he's the only manager I've actually had at this level.
But he's the best manager I've ever had.'
- David Beckham (Man U)
'The opening ceremony was good, although I
missed it.'
- Graeme Le Saux (Chelsea)
'One accusation you can't throw at me is that
I've always done my best.' - Alan Shearer
(Newcastle)
'I'd rather play in front of a full house
than an empty crowd.' -
Johnny Giles
'Sometimes in football you have to score
goals.'
- Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
'My parents have been there for me, ever
since I was about 7.' -
David Beckham (Man U)
'I was surprised, but I always say nothing
surprises me in football.' -
Les Ferdinand (Spurs)
'It was like the ref had a brand new yellow
card and wanted to see if it worked.' - Richard
Rufus
'There's no in between - you're either good
or bad. We were in between.' -
Gary Lineker (ex-Spurs)
"My father
was a footballer - he only ate peas because they were round."
Fabricio
Coloccini.
"I'll
be happy with a draw but if Germany surprise me I'll be happy" Franz
Beckenbaur before Germany's shock 5-1 defeat to England that would have
pleased him.
"Who is
he?" Stefan Effenberg about Steven Gerrard before Gerrard
scored the winner against Germany in their 5-1 win.
"Taking
a point off a team who are in the UEFA Cup is no mean feat" Chas
Arthurs, a Charlton 'fan' in Sport First after their 1-1 draw with.... Derby.
The following
are from Finish commentators, courtesy of Jamie.
'And to take
the free kick it's Hasheminassab, the team's player...'
(So it wasn't the physio after all?)
'Newcastle are beating Man Utd like a rotten rooster...' - Juha Taivainen
(Huh?)
'Repka heads the ball... but he can't, so he gets a leg in between.'
'Kanouté is brought down in the penalty area, and the crowd demand a free
kick... they even demand a penalty...'
'Stockport usually play at Edgeley Park, but this time they've come to Maine
Road, because, um, this is an away game...'