Graeme Souness Quotations

The other pleasing points are that we've got through and won a tie 5-1 when we've played, first after only two weeks, and then after only 17 days of training.

We want more of the same from our back four tomorrow. We know that if we can keep Portsmouth out we have the players who can score goals at the other end,

We'll see what happens over the next six months but I certainly wouldn't close any doors.

We'll see what happens over the next six months, but I certainly wouldn't close any doors. It would have to come from him, but if he's still playing like he has in recent weeks, he has an enormous part to play. I said last year that I do not see a player on the training ground who is ready to pack in and there's nothing that's happened since which suggests that has changed. It's like everything - if you're enjoying it, why stop?

When you raise both feet off the ground in a tackle these days, you are facing trouble. I think, especially away from home, when you lift your feet and launch yourself at someone you are risking everything. That's the game today.

We won, that was the most important thing,

The only important thing is that anyone who supports this club gets behind the team,

Scott went to see a specialist in London and it was felt he may have a damaged cartilage so it was best to have the operation done sooner rather than later. It's another blow for the club and the player, but these are the cards we have been dealt, and we have to stick together and get on with things. It's a shame for Scott because he has been our best player this season and to lose him is a blow for everyone concerned.

My intention is to have a word with the chairman and extend Lee's contract until the end of this season,

No one benefits other than a few quid in the coffers of the respective FA. It's just so outrageous that in the modern game this can happen. You'd be far better just having a get-together for a bit of bonding.

If we can keep them all fit and on the pitch then we can be a match for anybody.

I'd like to see it again because I don't think that Bowyer was the only one who deserved a red card. The television says it wasn't a red card, but when you leave your feet and launch yourself, I think you risk everything.

Ideally I would like a month's break, then I would possibly have them all back. Two weeks is fine by me,

I am delighted with him. I think he is, and will be a terrific player for this club for a long time to come given his age.

I believe there was a bust-up but it wasn't with me.

I am saddened at the way things have worked out. I wish the club, the players and the supporters good fortune and success going forward.

I am sorry he didn't see his long term future with us,

I love derby games and on the whole they have been kind to me, ... although I was not going to tempt fate by saying so beforehand.

I feel this summer we've signed some top-class footballers for Newcastle United to add to some great players we already have at this club,

I firmly believe we have a cracking dressing room now where nothing is off-limits in terms of what we discuss and what we can say to each other, and it is taken the correct way.

Given the history of hamstrings here we're not going to take a risk if we felt it was going to damage it further.

I don't think we'll be the only club who are monitoring Michael's situation at Real Madrid.

I don't think I've done anything wrong. I know that I've brought some very good players to this football club and I know that we've been desperately unlucky in terms of injuries, but I'm sticking at it.

Fortunately for England, he will be fine. By about Wednesday or Thursday, he should be okay.

God forbid if anything was to happen to Alan Shearer. If it did we'd be in terrible trouble. I don't think anybody needs me to tell them how disastrous that would be.

He would be a tremendous acquisition for us. He can play on the left and could do a job out wide for us if we wanted. He can also operate as a forward.

He will have his operation tomorrow and he will be out for three months.

He will bring us a bit of width if we choose to play him wide on the left. He will give us that little bit of class that we have been missing in that area and is someone who can supply and score goals.

He will be out for up to three more months. We were hoping to get away with it but it didn't happen. Our worst fears are that he will be out for 12 weeks; he will need an operation.

He has a track record of scoring goals and I'm sure he would here if he chose to join us. We've played three games and tonight is the worst we've played so far.

He has an incredible scoring record in Holland. People have said he is a young Alan Shearer.

He is contracted to Real Madrid and it won't be him that makes that decision. No player can make that decision,

He'll get goals here, ... I am absolutely delighted. He was our first choice. And we've got him. We've bought an upfront, honest guy who is also a top class player. The dressing room at Newcastle United will be even stronger. We have really done the business today.

He could get through to the end of the season without needing an operation or it could get that painful he would need the operation next week.

Kieron says he feels better now than at any time and that's encouraging. He has been extremely determined and shown strength of character, considering all the stories about him. It must have been, and is, a worrying time for him until he gets games under his belt. He deserves credit.

I think it's a bit harsh on him but the chairman is a big boy,

It certainly wasn't confrontational, we went for a cup of coffee and discussed general things about the playing side.

I think we can only benefit. The world of football does not feel he was a failure in Madrid, but I know the animal we're dealing with and he still feels he's got a point to prove.

It is a situation where no-one knows how long it will last for,

It is a proper one - he said he felt it was like a knife.

Our supporters have to understand that there is a player in there waiting to come out ? and he came out today,

Stephen has had an operation. We could have him back in three weeks, but in the worst case, who knows?

Stephen Carr had a hernia operation and then damaged the stomach muscle on the other side. He felt a general aching in that area and was unable to continue.

Let me make something perfectly clear, there is no chance of me resigning.

Liverpool were magnificent and we were poor in the first half. They had some outstanding performers, especially in central midfield, and while we hoped for a reaction from their recent travels, there wasn't one.

Michael Owen is one of the best goal-getters around today, ... It would be a fantastic signing for Newcastle if we were to manage it, but we have not done it yet.

Michael is desperate to go but with hamstrings we have to be extra cautious.

We are badly lacking pace in the team at present. Kieron will give us that.

We had a lot of the ball but did nothing with it. I think we got everything the players could give tonight.

We had a lot of possession and we created bugger all with it.

We've missed Michael when he has been out injured and he was the difference today.

We have had a week where we have tried to sign a couple of quality players and it has not happened but we have still a bit of time left in the transfer window,

We had our chances but didn't take them. We don't have enough goal-getters in our team,

We are not going to risk Michael for the game at Grimsby but we fully expect him to be back in action for the league game at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday,

To say I am suicidal about the current state of affairs is not far off the mark,

We have shown an interest in him; we have made an inquiry. He has the most incredible scoring record in Dutch football. Many people have described him as a young Alan Shearer, but whether that's true or not I don't know.

When you have got a name like that, it's a massive burden to carry around with you, but I am told he is a good player, so we'll have to wait and see.

We've got the international break coming up, though, so hopefully all but Luque will be ready after that. I'll look forward to that because as a manager you want to have tough decisions to make. The team has been picking itself this season but with a fully fit squad then I'll be confident we can push up the table and get to an area in the table where we want to be.

We know all about Michael's situation - he is a target. But we also have other targets,

We're hoping we can get him through to November. We have the international break coming up, and that is two weeks, so there is a window there which would be a possibility. Given his track record, and given the way he plays football, I would imagine he would be out for about three weeks.

Up until the second goal went in - which was offside - there was nothing in the game,

We had to give Michael Owen and Scott Parker fitness tests this morning.

This was the first game since last November where I've had decisions to make about who to leave out. The team has picked itself up until this day,

We tried to get Wayne in on loan before the transfer window closed because it's an area we felt we needed to strengthen,

Towards the end of last season, Titus was outstanding for us and I have been very happy with Jean-Alain as well.

We are still pursuing, we are still active in certain areas. These people we are after are people who were on the list I gave to the chairman a long time ago.

We are still pursuing, we are still active in certain areas,

Craig's not in the squad tomorrow and I'd like to talk about the game we've got tomorrow,

I understand that on Monday, our final offer was rejected, so I think that one is finished, unfortunately. We have made a fantastic offer for the player and really, there is a limit on how much you can spend on one player.

The whole thing is killing me. We have a very good team but I've never seen it play.

I've said that we need to improve our play in the final third and if Luque comes in then he'll help us to do that.

It would be nice if Alan was to get the record. I hope he scores the winner.

The thing that impressed everyone when he came on the scene as a 17-year-old was he already spoke like a man,

Sometimes you have to play in a position that you may feel is not your best.

Ramage was feeling his calf on one leg and his Achilles on the other leg. He had a difficult 45 minutes and that's unfortunately where they got their breakthrough from.

So what happens when they come back with recommendations, do you think we're going to listen to them? I'm not going to say any more on the matter.

This is a mighty football club with a tremendous tradition and the most important thing is that we come out of this stronger and better and we are more ready for the challenge than we ever have been in my time at the club.

This is a mighty blow. It is an absolute disaster for Michael Owen and an absolute disaster for the club.

There was no dispute about Alan Shearer's goals today and I'm delighted for him.

There were a couple of fine goals from Michael Owen and Alan Shearer gets one as well - but there are no surprises there,

There's a lady who operates and she must do something different because she gets them back very quickly.

It was felt he may have a damaged cartilage so it was best to have the operation done sooner rather than later.

It was evident, even before I came to the club, that one day very soon they were going to have to come up with a lot of money and a very special player that was going to replace Alan,

I tried to get into his ribs and head and said 'this is your football club, if you really love it you have got to stay another year at least'.

It's no secret who his first and second choice are,

It's no secret what area we feel we need to improve in,

It looks like Kieron Dyer will be ready for Saturday, though the others aren't ready yet,

It's been a nice, normal quiet week; it's been life at Newcastle United. But we've got to put it behind us. The important thing is to try and get a result.

The next game cannot come quickly enough for us, ... It is a big game. It is time to roll our sleeves up. We need to have a real go and make sure in the next game we come out throwing punches.

The next game cannot come quickly enough for us,

It's a mighty blow. It's an absolute disaster for him and an absolute disaster for the club. It's a dark day for us.

Shay has had one x-ray already but there is a great deal of swelling.

I'm not going to dwell on it, but I think that, in most walks of life, that would be the case,

I hope you've all enjoyed your breakfast. My relationship with the chairman is fine for my part; you'd have to speak to him about how he sees it but, for me, it's not changed since I first walked through the door. He most definitely had a point yesterday but while I think you should always remain positive and focused in this business it would be wrong of me to ignore the dangers we face. I can count to 20.

I'm absolutely delighted. He was our first choice. The supporters will love him.

I'm a big boy and I've been around the block a few times,

I haven't seen it clearly, but I don't think he was the only one who should have seen red.

I have to say there's a great deal of criticism flying about,

In everybody's eyes, although he was not a failure at Madrid, I think deep down, given his personality, he will feel as though he failed in Madrid,

It has been most interesting, both on the pitch and off the pitch,