"Robert had an excellent game. We will talk about the goal, but I thought he contributed in every other way today. I am very happy with him at the moment. We have a love-hate relationship. He loves me and I love him, and then we want to bash each other up, so long may it continue if he scores goals like that. I think that is the first game today that I cannot criticise Laurent Robert for any part of his game. We deserved to win as well." Graeme Souness on Laurent Robert and Newcastle's 1-0 win over Liverpool at St. James' Park (March 5 2005)

"In terms of his abilities at dead-ball situations, Laurent is up there with all the top players around today. He is up there with anyone you would care to name. That is four goals he has got from set-pieces now and I don't think even David Beckham scores many more than that in a season. Off the top of my head, I don't think Zidane does either." Graeme Souness on Laurent Robert (March 7 2005)

"I think we have got a great chance of winning the Uefa Cup this season, I really do. We got to the semi-finals last year and I can see no reason why we can't go one better this time. Our aim is to win the competition and I think it's a realistic aim." Lee Bowyer on the UEFA Cup (March 8 2005)

"I said before the game I wanted to go home in a position where we could finish the job off at our place, and we did that." Graeme Souness on United's 3-1 win away to Olympiakos in the UEFA Cup (March 10 2005)

"YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED. THIS WAS THE BIGGEST CRIME I HAVE EVER SEEN. I HOPE OUR TEAM WILL NOT PLAY IN THE SECOND GAME. THIS WAS A VERY DIRTY DEFEAT. THE SPANISH REFEREE IS A CRIMINAL. OLYMPIAKOS - ALWAYS THE BEST IN OUR HEART." An angry Olympiakos fan on Newcastle-Online's forum after United's 3-1 win in Athens (March 10 2005)

"I came to Newcastle with the same hunger: to win a trophy. I only have two medals: one from the Confederations Cup with France and one from the French Academy League. I think now, this season, the opportunity is good for me, for Alan, and for everybody else." Laurent Robert hoping for silverware (March 12 2005)

"I am absolutely delighted to be in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Two months ago, we would not have won that game, but there was a dogged determination about us today individually and collectively not to be beaten, not to concede anything." Graeme Souness on reaching the FA Cup Semi-Final after beating Spurs 1-0 at St. James' Park (March 13 2005)

"We haven't won anything yet, and people have to remember that. We're in the semi-final of the FA Cup and we could reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup this week, but we haven't achieved anything yet." Alan Shearer on reaching the FA Cup Semi (March 13 2005)

"It's not the draw we wanted, but it won't have been the draw Manchester United wanted either. But there's no reason why we cannot beat them. We won't be frightened of them." Freddy Shepherd on drawing Manchester United in the FA Cup Semi-Final (March 14 2005)

"It's a tough draw, but we have beaten Chelsea and we can do the same to Manchester United. I'm not disappointed with the draw, in the FA cup you have to take what you get." Alan Shearer on drawing Manchester United in the FA Cup Semi-Final (March 14 2005)

"I think it's fair to say I'm playing better football now and I'm much happier. I have to thank the manager for that - for giving me the chance - and I just hope I have repaid him. I think I'm playing better football now than perhaps at any time since I joined Newcastle, it certainly feels that way. I certainly feel as if I'm contributing more to the team, both in attack and defence. The manager has made me think a lot about my game and I feel as though I'm improving." Laurent Robert on Graeme Souness (March 16 2005)

"It was a dream come true. I thought I had a sneaky chance of getting on if we went a couple of goals in front and when we did the manager said 'you're going on'. It happened all in a minute. I've played at right-back a few times. I'd play anywhere for this club. As a boy coming through the ranks you'll play anywhere." Peter Ramage on making his debut in the 4-0 win over Olympiakos at St. James' Park (March 17 2005)

"They are a good team, but we made them look very ordinary. I must say I was nervous before the game. We had a good lead from the first leg, but I didn't expect it to be as easy as it was in the end. I thought this could have been a banana skin for us had we not approached it properly." Graeme Souness on Newcastle's 4-0 win over Olympiakos (March 17 2005)

"The chairman said if we won every game after coming back from Dubai we could go out there again, and he has been true to his word. We felt at the time that the trip had been very beneficial for us and this has proved to be the case." Graeme Souness reveals Newcastle will be going back to Dubai (March 17 2005)

"We look forward to welcoming our old friends from Sporting back to Newcastle. We have a good relationship with them having played them a couple of times already this season, and it's a tie we'll look forward to." Freddy Shepherd on drawing Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Cup Quarter-Final (March 18 2005)

"I can understand why people would look at Shay and be interested. But there's no chance of him leaving. Playing like that - like he has for the last 10 years - there's no chance. I didn't need the last eight games to tell me he's one of the best in the country. You'll never do anything in football if you don't have a top goalkeeper. And, given his age and experience, I wouldn't swap Shay for anybody." Graeme Souness on speculation linking Shay Given with a move away (March 21 2005)

"We are aware of the rumours surrounding Shay but the simple fact is that he's not for sale to Manchester United or any other club. I am no fool. I know where these rumours are coming from but Graeme Souness and I are determined Shay will be a part of the future of this club. Given is one of the top keepers in The Premiership but we will do what is required to make sure he remains a Newcastle player. He is not for sale. End of story." Freddy Shepherd on press speculation linking Shay Given with a move away (March 21 2005)

"As far as I am concerned it is all just speculation. I want to stay at Newcastle and win things. I came here to win things and the way we are going forward at the moment and still involved in the FA Cup and UEFA Cup this is our best chance of picking up a trophy for some time." Shay Given on the press speculation (March 21 2005)

"I think we'd look at increasing the size. But our problem is that we've got a victorian building behind the east stand which is very difficult. I think we'd have to go over the Gallowgate and go over a road but everything is possible at Newcastle." Freddy Shepherd on St. James' Park (March 31 2005)