Very few of us have any idea whatsoever of what life is like living in a goldfish bowl, except, of course, for those of us who are goldfish.

It’s the only way we can lose, irrespective of the result.

In international football you have 10 games a season, with players from different clubs. There’s no time for proper coaching; they’re just recovering from playing on the Saturday.

In football, time and space are the same thing.

Shearer could be at 100 per cent fitness, but not peak fitness.

The biggest thing I’ve found since I left the game – and I’m glad I chose to leave rather than being sacked – is that so many people are in football for the wrong reasons....

To be really happy, we must throw our hearts over the bar and hope that our bodies will follow.

Football needs its roots, it needs its connection with the supporters. But those in charge seem to think they can do without them.

I have to choose my words carefully because I don’t want to sound like one of those who goes on about how things were better in my day.

You go to Holland, France, Germany, every community, the tiniest village, they have magnificent, pristine sports facilities.

In club football you have your players and staff with you all the time, preparing for two games a week, you know them inside out, you have a discipline over them.