2010 Football / Soccer World Cup - South Africa information dedicated to England and all football fans worldwide

Ron Atkinson quotes

'Someone in the England team will have to grab the ball by the horns.'

'For me their biggest threat is when they get into the attacking part of the field.'

'If you score against the Italians you deserve a goal'

'When Scholes gets it [tackling] wrong, they come in so late that they arrive yesterday'

'You can see the ball go past them, or the man, but you'll never see both man and ball go past at the same time. So if the ball goes past, the man won't, or if the man goes past they'll take the ball.'

'van Nistelrooy, predating as usual...'

He dribbles a lot and the opposition don't like it - you can see it all over their faces

I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat.

'Liverpool will think ‘we could have won this 2-2.’'

'Lee Dixon will be up against two South American left-handers tonight.'

'Think of a number between 10 and 11'

'You don't want to be giving away free kicks in the penalty area'

'How are they defensively, attacking-wise?'

'The ball goes down the keeper's throat where it hits him on the knees to say the least'

'He had acres of time there'

'That’s not the type of header you want to see your defender make, with his hand'

'We haven't had a strategic free kick all night. No one's knocked over attackers ad lib'

'He could have done a lot better there, but full marks to the lad.'

"That boy throws a ball further than I go on holiday"
-On Dave Challinor of Tranmere.

'[Phil Neville] was treading on dangerous water there...'

"The keeper should have saved that one but he did"

"The Spaniards have been reduced to aiming aimless balls into the box"

'Jari Litmanen should be made compulsory'

'Scholes is very influential for England at international level.'

'At international level, giving the ball away doesn’t work too often.'

'They've certainly grown, the Japanese. I mean grown in stature, playing-wise.'

'He sliced the ball when he had it on a plate.'

'You half fancied that to go in as it was rising and dipping at the same time.'

'They must go for it now as they have nothing to lose but the match.'

'Woodcock would have scored, but his shot was too perfect.'

"If Glenn Hoddle said one word to his team at half time, it was concentration and focus"

'They've picked their heads up off the ground, and they now have a lot to carry on their shoulders.'

"Carlton Palmer can trap the ball further than I can kick it"

"Ryan Giggs is running long up the backside"

"I would not say David Ginola is the best left winger in the Premiership, but there are none better"

"The Bulgarian players are tried and trusted. Well, I'm not sure they can be trusted"

"I tell you what, if the Cameroons get a goal back here they're literally gonna catch on fire"

"Well, Clive, it's all about the two M's. Movement and positioning"

Suker - first touch like a camel"

"Chelsea look like they've got a couple more gears left in the locker"

"Now Manchester United are 2-1 down on aggregate, they are in a better position than when they started the game at 1-1"