"If he doesn't stay on as a player, there'll be something for him. I won't rule out a coaching role or something just to keep him here. He's the top man for all Newcastle fans." Graeme Souness hinting that Alan Shearer will be handed a coaching role when he ends his playing career (November 1 2004)

"If Newcastle had not come in for him, I think we could have had him here." Sam Allardyce revealing how he was close to signing Patrick Kluivert before the Dutchman chose United (November 1 2004)

"We have bacon sandwiches and Bassetts Liquorice All-sorts after games now. I don't know what the liquorice sweets are supposed to do for us but they taste nice." Andy O'Brien on Newcastle's eating habits (November 1 2004)

"We defend as a team, and we win or lose as a team, but the longer we go without keeping clean sheets, the more criticism we are going to receive, and rightly so." Shay Given on conceding two goals against Bolton as United lose 2-1 at the Reebok (November 1 2004)

"I'd love to be able to say that style of football has died out, but they are high up in the league so they will be pleased with how they play because it has proven to be effective."Graeme Souness has a dig at Bolton's style of play (November 1 2004)

"Graeme is knackered because little old Bolton have beaten Newcastle." Sam Allardyce in response to Graeme Souness' comments about the way in which his Bolton side play their football (November 1 2004)

"He is coming to the age where he should have started to put the problems he has had, both on and off the pitch, behind him. He has to ask himself where he is going to go after this football club. This is a proper football club and he will regret it for the rest of his life if he doesn't grasp the chance he has got to succeed here." Graeme Souness on the need for Titus Bramble to improve (November 4 2004)

"It was brilliant and a great feeling. To tell the truth I didn't want to take the armband off as I sat in the dressing room after the game." Jermaine Jenas on Skippering United for the first time in United's 2-0 win over Dinamo Tbilisi in the UEFA Cup at St. James' Park (November 5 2004)

"Every manager is the same, and in the next nine months I'd like three or four players, then we could challenge anyone you care to name." Graeme Souness on his transfer hopes for January (November 5 2004)

"In 35 years as a professional, I’ve never been involved in a game of football like that." Graeme Souness on United's 4-1 defeat at home to Fulham, despite having 27 shots on target (November 8 2004)

"There has been some recent criticism about me in the press lately and that has hurt. I am fully committed to this football club and want to show the manager and the fans that is the case." Kieron Dyer on press speculation that he is unhappy (November 9 2004)

"Eventually I see him as a central, holding midfield player and an orchestrator to boot. But he's got a lot of energy at this moment in time and I don't think that role would do him justice. He could play as an attacking central midfielder." Graeme Souness on Jermaine Jenas (November 10 2004)

"I don't want a showdown - what do I want a showdown for?" Craig Bellamy responding to claims that he and Graeme Souness would have a meeting to discuss his remarks at the Valley (November 10 2004)

"I think if you ask any striker then they want Laurent Robert in the team. He will supply the ammunition. Ask any defender in the team and you might get a different answer. That's being brutally honest." Graeme Souness on Laurent Robert (November 11 2004)

"I have told Paris St Germain to put up or shut up. And after speaking to them, I can tell Laurent Robert that they are saying they are not interested in taking him back to Paris." Freddy Shepherd on PSG's interest in Laurent Robert (November 13 2004)

"Newcastle is a passionate place, and they have a fantastic fan base. The games over the past few years have always been entertaining. We know Newcastle will have a go at us. That is the one great thing about them. They are an attacking team, an entertaining team." Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of Manchester United's visit to St. James' Park (November 13 2004)

"At this football club I've quickly learned that the glass is never half-full, it's always half-empty, and that's something we have to address. We have somehow to get the message across to supporters that we are all in this together." Graeme Souness after Newcastle's 3-1 defeat at home to Man Utd (November 14 2004)

"I always did want to coach the young lads around this age, and I always will. It's the perfect job for me. I'll happily take kids out individually and do what John did. I just love being out there in my shorts in any weather - rain, hail or shine and I couldn't be more pleased that I'm doing the job I love best again with Newcastle United." Peter Beardsley on his return to Newcastle to coach the youngsters (November 17 2004)

"It is all very upsetting. I could not believe what I was hearing. I did not think for one minute that people could still be so ignorant." Jermaine Jenas on the racist chanting During the Span-England match (November 18 2004)

"I am not a man who lives by excuses and I can put my hand on my heart and say that at times football has given me everything I wanted. But now what I want most is to bring success to this football club and I am convinced we are only a cat's whisker away from being a good team." An under fire Graeme Souness speaks out against the critics (November 19 2004)

"Coming into today's game on the back of three defeats I was a bit worried about how some of them would be, but they were fantastic from the first minute." Graeme Souness hails his side's 2-0 away to Crystal Palace (November 21 2004)

"I think he still has a hell of a lot to offer this football club and I will be trying to persuade him between now and the end of the season that he should stay for another year. I think he will make his own mind up. If we are scoring goals and are doing well, he would want to stay and I would love him to stay and get Jackie Milburn's record." Graeme Souness still clinging to the hope that Alan Shearer will not retire as planned (November 22 2004)

"I want to stay at Newcastle although I do not know if I will be here next season. I must do what is best for me. This is my club, but sometimes you have to think about your own career. I believe in the chairman here. He is a good man and I hope he looks after me. I am not being greedy. I believe I deserve more because I was one of the best players in the Newcastle side last season. Now I do not think I am in the top 10 earners at this club. That can't be right. I just want to be paid what I'm worth and where I should be." Olivier Bernard on his contract situation(November 23 2004)

"I know that he's made mistakes and as a result there are witch hunts to get him out of St. James' Park. He's brought some of that upon himself but I don't know a better player at Newcastle." Craig Bell amy pleads with Newcastle fans to give Kieron Dyer another chance (November 23 2004)

"I was in Paris last week and I think he's a very good player." Graeme Souness confirms he has watched Jean-Alain Boumsong (November 24 2004)

"I want to play in the best Newcastle team I can. Even though we bought another forward in the summer to put pressure on me, bringing in Patrick Kluivert was excellent for us all, including me." Craig Bellamy refutes claims that he doesn't get on with Patrick Kluivert (November 25 2004)

"We've won well. We know where we are strong. We've got two young lads who are only going to get better in the wider areas - and they played well." Graeme Souness on Newcastle's 4-0 win in France against Sochaux in the UEF Acup (November 28 2004)