"I didn't really want to leave and, the way it has happened, I have found it very difficult because I do love the club and I am not ashamed to say that." Craig Bellamy on his loan move to Celtic (February 1 2005)

"I'm gutted to leave Newcastle, but the coach said to me that I would not play if Celestine Babayaro was fit, so I really had no choice." Olivier Bernard on his move to Southampton (February 1 2005)

"The chap that's just gone has scored 9.3 goals a season in his time in senior football - half of those weren't even in the top flight. That's not good enough for a striker at a club like this. We need to have two strikers who are near 20 goals on a regular basis." Graeme Souness on Craig Bellamy's departure (February 2 2005)

"Shola's never been given a run here, but I believe he is capable of getting somewhere near the 20 goals mark for the season." Graeme Souness on Shola Ameobi (February 2 2005)

"We would be out there for four or five days, but I can assure supporters it's not a jolly-up. We'd be out there training every day. It would also be a bit of bonding, but a lot of hard work in a different environment." Graeme Souness on United's trip to Dubai (February 3 2005)

"I've never come across so much hatred and unrest over one person - what I've learned about him has astonished me. I have no axe to grind with Craig Bellamy, but in the six days I've been here what I've heard means I don't want to meet the guy. You cannot have one player thinking he can run a football club. Some of the things said by Craig, not just last week, but throughout his whole period at this club have been disgraceful." Terry McDermott on Craig Bellamy (February 3 2005)

"It would be a huge disappointment not to qualify, considering we started off the season hoping to get into the Champions League again." Shay Given aiming for Europe (February 4 2005)

"I don't think we can rule out anything. I accept that it's very important for a club like this to be involved in Europe for all the reasons we've discussed. We'd have to look and consider every possibility. I don't know how the chairman views it. Graeme Souness on the possibility of entering the InterToto Cup (February 5 2005)

"I can deal with it, I've got the easier job standing on the touchline. They are the ones who have the hard job going out there and trying to perform under pressure but that's the price on the ticket at Newcastle United and you have to deal with it." Graeme Souness on the boo boys (February 7 2005)

"My partner wants to return home and that means I will not go abroad again as a footballer. I will stay at home and that implies that my career will be over. I have had tremendous experiences." Ronny Johnsen retires from the game (February 8 2005)

"The aim for Steven Taylor is to get him a game at centre-half. The centre of defence is a vital area for us - I have explained my thinking on that in the past - and I would imagine you will see Steven play at centre-half at some time this season." Graeme Souness on Steven Taylor (February 8 2005)

"We are all well aware that Hugo is having a good season in Portugal and Graeme is keen to have another look at him. He will approach the situation with an open mind and with no pre-conceived ideas. Hugo Viana is a very talented player and we paid a lot of money to bring him to Newcastle. We would be foolish not to have a look at him again before a decision is made." Freddy Shepherd on Hugo Viana (February 9 2005)

"I know Laurent is not Graeme's type of player, but there are certain games in which he can make a difference." John Beresford on Laurent Robert (February 9 2005)

"I play against Alan Shearer in training. He talks me through the game, helps me out and gets a few kicks and elbows in as well, which is good and what I need if I want to toughen myself up." Steven Taylor on Alan Shearer (February 10 2005)

"It's just doing my head in. We should be talking about the football and not about other things. We are a football club. You don't hear stories like that coming out of Arsenal or Manchester United or even Chelsea - they are totally football stories. We must stop the bad press and try to focus totally on success on the pitch." Shay Given on all the bad press (February 13 2005)

"Osasuna did come in for Kluivert before the transfer window closed but we did not want to let him go." Graeme Souness reveals he turned down an offer for Patrick Kluivert in the January transfer window (February 15 2005)

"I made the most of my time at Newcastle but I think most people would agree it's better for everyone if I move on. "I have spoken to Sporting and they will do everything in their power to keep me." Hugo Viana reveals he does not want to come back to Newcastle (February 17 2005)

"I heard yesterday, like everyone else, that Osasuna had had a bid for me rejected in the January transfer window. I didn't know anything about it, but I'm glad that Newcastle rejected the offer. I believe it shows the management still have faith in me, and anyway I would not have wanted to leave Newcastle. If the club had told me about this offer I would have told them I didn't want to go. It's as simple as that." Patrick Kluivert states he doesn't want to leave Newcastle (February 17 2005)

"I spoke to Souness after Thursday's 2-1 win in Heerenveen and told him I didn't understand his tactical decisions. Why use three forwards on that pitch? There was no width. We have three great forwards but for them to be able to fully express themselves they need the right service. The goals have dried up but I'm not in the team to help because Souness says I don't get back to defend. We were losing in Holland but when I came on as a sub I made a real difference. But I'm being left out of the team and things are getting too hot for me." Laurent Robert on Souness' tactics during United's 2-1 win away to SC Heerenveen (February 20 2005)

"There is no set of supporters in the country who deserve success more than those of Newcastle. I Know what they are feeling after half a century without a trophy. I am first and foremost a Newcastle fan and our present League position hurts like hell. I've gone my entire adult life never having seen Newcastle win a trophy and I'm passionate about changing that." Freddy Shepherd on United's season (February 20 2005)

"We had to get rid of Sir Bobby because we would have been relegated. There was nothing more certain than that. It was a big decision and one that we did not take lightly because it was one of the biggest we have ever had. We had taken 2 points out of 12 and could not stand back and watch Newcastle slide out of the Premiership. We were going down make no mistake about it." Douglas Hall on Sir Bobby Robson's sacking (February 20 2005)

"I have never heard the crowd like that for a while. When the players hear it like that it gives the whole team a lot of confidence." Alan Shearer on the support from the stands during Newcastle's 1-0 win over Chelsea at St. James' Park in the FA Cup (February 22 2005)

"I admire Graeme Souness and I think he's doing a good job. It's always flattering to be linked with any club and especially one of Newcastle's standing but I'm happy here. I'm not thinking about the end of this season." Michael Owen on speculation linking him with a move to Newcastle (February 23 2005)

"It is true that Newcastle approached the manager about Nobby, but we rejected the interest out of hand and made it clear to Graeme Souness that it wasn't going to happen. I suppose it's not surprising they wanted him back, anyone who has seen Nobby in action for Villa will know we pulled-off a real coup when we signed him last year." Aston Villa Chairman Doug Ellis confirms United did try to re-sign Nolberto Solano during the January transfer window (February 24 2005)

"I was surprised when I heard what Mr Souness had said during Tuesday's radio interview because I wasn't aware Newcastle tried to buy me back. It is good to know that Mr Souness likes the way I play and it would be easy for me to make the move back the North-East. It is just unfortunate I had to leave in the first place. But I am settled at Villa now and the manager has told me he is trying to build a talented and exciting squad here." Nolberto Solano on a rumoured move back to Newcastle (February 24 2005)

"I was very sad when Newcastle said I could go, it was always my dream to make it at the club and play for the first team and although I didn't really have many opportunities, I felt I was making good progress. I really enjoyed my time there and hope the club can be successful again, the fans deserve it." United academy player Lewis Guy on his move to Doncaster (February 25 2005)

"The new manager has been very good for me. He played me when there were a lot of people who didn't want me to be played. I'll always be grateful to him for that. Another manager could have come in and wanted to win the fans over. It would have been easy not to pick me." Kieron Dyer on Graeme Souness (February 27 2005)

"I'm not a troublemaker. But I am an experienced player, and I want what is best for this club. I would certainly never criticise Newcastle. I've been here four years and I love it. My family's happy here. The chairman has always been behind me and the fans are just fantastic, the best in England. It would be so good to reward them with a trophy this season and we are still in two cup competitions." Laurent Robert on his United future (February 27 2005)

"We have to talk at the end of the season, but it's simple. If everything's okay, then I will sign for two more years, and at the moment that's what I want to do. I want to achieve something important with Newcastle. That's why I came here. I didn't come here to play around. Patrick Kluivert hopes to sign on for 2 more years (February 27 2005)