"All I can tell you is that I'm unaware of anything that's been written about me or anything that's been said about me and until I find out the situation it would be inappropriate to comment on that. I wish to address the whole situation with the chairman face to face then issue what we have to issue. I need a dialogue with the chairman." Sir Bobby Robson when asked by a reporter what he made of Freddy Shepherd's comments alluding that he would have to realize that he had just had one year left in the job (August 1 2004)

"I've seen Emile umpteen times and on many occasions he’s looked the nearest thing we've had to a young Alan Shearer." Steve Bruce comparing his new signing to Alan Shearer (August 1 2004)

"I think we played some very good football especially in the first half and probably could have scored one or two more goals, but in the second half the pace dropped which was to be expected as there was no way we could have kept that up for ninety minutes." Alan Shearer after Newcastle's 4-2 win over Rangers at St. James' Park in a pre-season friendly (August 1 2004)

"I wasn't allowing him to stay on the pitch and let unclean mouths chant filthy things at him." Sir Bobby Robson commenting on the "Shearer is a w@nka" chants from Rangers fans (August 1 2004)

"Overall I felt we were sluggish and jaded. Our crosses from both wings were poor, and with Shearer and Shola and then Shola and Kluivert in the middle we didn't get the service into them." Sir Bobby Robson on Newcastle's 1-0 pre-season defeat to Sporting Lisbon at St. James' Park (August 1 2004)

"It felt good and the reception for a player here, and I could say this a thousand times, is the best." Patrick Kluivert on making his debut in the United shirt, coming on as a second half sub in the pre-season game at home to Sporting Lisbon (August 1 2004)

"The Rangers fans didn't say anything that doesn't go on across the board. For Sir Bobby to insult the fans who made his club's tournament is a disgrace" Talking head and former Rangers player Derek Johnstone talking about Sir Bobby Robson's comments regarding Rangers' fans chants about Alan Shearer (August 2 2004)

"Jonathan has done a lot of work and a lot of power training but he is not sprinting yet and that is the acid test. We will be careful with him because once we get him back into the team we don't want to lose him again." Sir Bobby Robson on Jonathan Woodgate's fitness (August 2 2004)

"If it means playing for this club then I'd play anywhere." Michael Chopra on Patrick Kluivert's arrival (August 2 2004)

"I don't like it when one or two of my players come into the dressing room after a result like that and say 'well played lads'." Sir Bobby Robson upset that a few of his players had congratulated themselves after their final pre-season match against Celtic, despite losing the game 2-1 (August 5 2004)

"Whatever happens in the next few months I will give it everything I've got to make Newcastle United successful - just as I have since I came here in 1999. Obviously I am disappointed at the club's decision not to keep me on, but even so I will work as diligently as I always have. For what it's worth, I don't agree with the club's decision not to renew my contract but football is all about opinion and I know you have to respect other people's opinion." A disappointed Sir Bobby Robson talking about the Chairman's comments that the club would not renew his contract, that he had just one year left in the job (August 5 2004)

"He has an offer for two seasons with us and his arrival is by no means impossible." Pedro Villaroel, president of Spanish side Levante, taking about his desire to sign Alan Shearer (August 5 2004)

"I have been in football a long time and I have never known anything like it. This could not have come at a worst time and we could not have been hit at a worse place." Sir Bobby Robson on the outbreak of Conjunctivitis that hit his United squad and preparations for the new season (August 5 2004)

"Charles N'Zogbia must remain with this club." An unhappy Le Havre spokesman after United snapped up their 18 year-old youngster (August 6 2004)

"I don't know of any player who is happy to be brought off, whether it be a friendly or an FA Cup tie and I'm not different from the rest of them. And if you are happy at being brought off you should not be a professional footballer." An angry Alan Shearer when asked why he wasn't happy being subbed towards the end the Celtic match (August 6 2004)

"Alan didn't say any choice words to me when he came off at Celtic." Sir Bobby Robson playing down Alan Shearer's unhappiness at being subbed towards the end of the Celtic match (August 6 2004)

"Martin was on the phone to me to ask about the situation with Shearer. He wanted to know if we would let him go. I told Martin I would mention it to my chairman but said I thought he had no chance of landing Alan. I thought it was a big enough story to tell my chairman about but he said to forget it. He wasn't for selling Alan and I felt the same way. So it never got past first base." Sir Bobby Robson revealing he had a phone call from Celtic manager Martin O'Neill asking about the availability of Alan Shearer (August 7 2004)

"The interest in Alan Shearer was not generated by us in the first place, it was generated by the other side - by the player and his agent." Celtic's Chairman Brian Quinn claiming Alan Shearer approached the Scottish side and not the they who approached him (August 8 2004)

"If we get a bad reaction this weekend involving more players, we will have to see what happens regarding the Middlesbrough game." Sir Bobby Robson talking about the possibility of Newcastle's opening day fixture away to Middlesbrough being postponed due to the Conjunctivitis outbreak (August 8 2004)

"These reports are absolutely rubbish. There has been no fighting, no bust-ups and the club is in good shape. And it's right and proper that, as captain, that I come out and say these things after what has been written and said. I can tell the fans that every single Newcastle United player is pulling in the same direction and we are completely focused." Alan Shearer playing down speculation that all is not right in the United camp (August 9 2004)

"I am very happy to have signed the new contract and am looking forward immensely to the new season. We have a good squad here at St. James' Park and hope to have a successful season both domestically and in Europe." An ecstatic Aaron Hughes on signing a new and improved 2 year contract extension (August 12 2004)

"It wasn't a difficult decision leaving Tottenham, it's not as if I am going downhill, I am going to a massive club with massive potential and it is a great opportunity for me." New signing Stephen Carr on his move to United from Spurs (August 12 2004)

"I have not played my last match for Newcastle. I want to recapture my best form with Sporting and then I will return to St. James' Park with a point to prove." Hugo Viana on his loan move back to Sporting Lisbon (August 12 2004)

"We're disappointed because we had the game won twice and we've thrown it away at the end." Sir Bobby Robson speaking after United's 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season (August 15 2004)

"Jonathan will be out for another two to three weeks. We're waiting for a second opinion from the German specialist." Sir Bobby Robson claiming Jonathan Woodgate was just a few weeks away from returning from injury (August 16 2004)

"My refusal to play in the position the manager asked me was wrong. I sincerely regret the whole incident." A statement issued on behalf of Kieron Dyer following his refusal to play on the right flank against Middlesbrough (August 19th 2004)

"I phoned Bobby Robson a couple of weeks ago. But I was told by Bobby that there was no deal to be done, so that was as far as it went." Graeme Souness on his attempt to sign Alan Shearer (August 19 2004)

"Not at all." Sir Bobby Robson when asked if he wants Jonathan Woodgate to be sold (August 19 2004)

"To be honest, Kieron was asked to apologise by Newcastle United Football Club." Freddy Shepherd revealing Kieron Dyer had to be coaxed into making an apology for refusing to play wide right against Middlesbrough (August 19 2004)

"We did not want Jonathan to leave Newcastle United, but you have to look at it from both sides. Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world - that's a fact." Freddy Shepherd on Jonathan Woodgate's sale to Real Madrid (August 20 2004)

"I want to stay and I hope the Chairman wants me to stay. I love Newcastle. I've been playing with Newcastle since I come England, and this is where I learnt English. It would be a big shame to leave Newcastle." Olivier Bernard hoping his contract situation gets sorted out sooner rather than later (August 21 2004)

"I'm gutted to leave Newcastle. I am going away and I'm disappointed because I am leaving Newcastle before I could show the fans what I can really do. I spoke to the chairman and I told him to keep a hold of that number six shirt because I might be back one day." Jonathan Woodgate on his move to Real Madrid (August 21 2004)

"We didn't go into the Woodgate transfer without a long-term plan. All will be revealed soon." Freddy Shepherd (August 22 2004)

"It's a disappointing start for us, but we have the chance to put things right on Wednesday when we have a home game against Norwich." Sir Bobby Robson on losing 1-0 to Spurs at St. James' Park (August 22 2004)

"All I can do is literally confirm that an offer for £20 million has been made to Everton by Newcastle United Football Club. I understand that the offer has been rejected but I also understand the chairman has still left the offer on the table and, beyond that, there's not much more I can say." Sir Bobby Robson confirms United have put in a bid for Wayne Rooney (August 24 2004)

"I don't know if it's true that the club have made a bid for Rooney or not, but if he does join Newcastle I think one of the four current attackers will be forced to leave." Shola Ameobi speaking about the bid to sign Wayne Rooney (August 25 2004)

"We are naturally disappointed because we should have not allowed a two-goal lead to disappear. That should not have happened, but we were still the better side and we still should have won the game." Sir Bobby Robson speaking after his side's 2-2 draw with Norwich at St. James' Park - having been 2-0 ahead (August 25 2004)

"I think it would be great if we signed Wayne Rooney. He will be a fantastic asset and a great investment for this football club. "It would be a great coup for the city and for the club if we can attract him here." Alan Shearer on Newcastle's bid for Wayne Rooney (August 26 2004)

"I love playing for Newcastle and I love everything about the club, but if Wayne Rooney comes, I will have to review my position because I am not sitting on the bench anywhere." Craig Bellamy unhappy that United are being linked with Wayne Rooney (August 26th 2004)

"What Craig Bellamy should do is just honour his contract, all right? That is what he should do. At the moment, he is doing too much talking. What does he want to do? Does he want to be the manager or does he want to be the player? " Sir Bobby Robson on Craig Bellamy's Wayne Rooney comments (August 26 2004)

"Every Newcastle United supporter knows just how committed I am to the club. "I absolutely love playing here and there is no way I am going to ask for a transfer, whether Wayne Rooney comes or not." Craig Bellamy plays down his Wayne Rooney comments (August 27 2004)

"This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I feel the time is now right for me to move forward with my career." Wayne Rooney hands in a transfer request (August 27 2004)

"We are still waiting to hear from our friends at Everton to see what is happening." Freddy Shepherd on the Wayne Rooney bid (August 27 2004)

"It seems to me that other managers can rest centre forwards but if I rest Alan Shearer it's all wrong. I have that fight on my hands, and I'll keep fighting." Sir Bobby Robson talking about his decision to drop Alan Shearer for the Villa match, which United lost 4-2 (August 29 2004)

"I am massively disappointed not to be able to finish the job I came here to do. I have immensely enjoyed my time here as manager, and I wish the club all the best of success in the future. At the present moment, I have absolutely nothing to say except to thank the Geordie fans for their tremendous enthusiasm, loyalty and support." A shocked and upset Sir Bobby Robson after being sacked (August 30 2004)

"It is better that we have tried and failed than not to have tried at all." Freddy Shepherd on losing out to Man Utd for the signature of Wayne Rooney (August 30 2004)

"It was a tough decision to part company with Bobby, one of the toughest I've had to make. We thank Bobby for the job he did in his five years at the club, but we have to look forward now. The search begins now for a new manager." Freddy Shepherd on Sir Bobby Robson's sackin (August 31 2004)