Quotes of the week

"I think it is criminal . . . where are they going, Brazil? I hope they all get bloody diarrhoea."

- Former Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough on Manchester United's decision to withdraw from the FA Cup and play in the World Club Championship. Clough returned to the City Ground yesterday when Forest named a new stand after him.

"Listen, I'm old and I know it. But I'm thankful I'm not old and senile. Because if I was senile I might have been daft enough to do what Bobby has done."

- Clough on Bobby Robson's decision to take the Newcastle job, part one.

"I saw that picture of him pushing the goalposts out on his first day at training at Newcastle. The wind was making his white hair stand on end and he looked like a cross between a mad professor and Worzel Gummidge. Can you imagine him trying to get through to teenage players?"

- Clough on Robson's decision to take the Newcastle job, part two.

"I wouldn't want to be in his shoes at such a time of life - but I wish him all the luck in the world. He'll need it."

- Clough on Robson's decision to take the Newcastle job, part three. "Mark's presence was having a negative effect on us and a positive one on the opposition. I don't know what it was but I had a gut feeling the move wasn't working."

- Ross County manager Neale Cooper gives a very good reason for his decision to offload veteran striker Mark Hateley during the week.

"It was a draw, so in the end we didn't win."

- David Beckham analyses Manchester United's 0-0 draw against Croatia Zagreb in the Champions League.