Glenn Hoddle Quotations

I started the 1998 World Cup with Teddy Sheringham up front but always planned for Michael Owen to face Colombia in our final group game because they defended square and a quick striker would be able to exploit the space behind them.

You and I have been physically given two hands and two legs and half-decent brains. Some people have not been born like that for a reason. The karma is working from another lifetime.

As England manager I always felt we needed an extra man in midfield to retain the ball, but that was more as an attacking ploy to help create opportunities. It came from my experience playing international football in a 4-4-2 and spending half my time chasing the ball.

At this moment in time I did not say them things.

My saddest decision in football was leaving Paul Gascoigne out of the 1998 World Cup finals. But he wasn't fit enough and once that decision is made, as a manager and a group of players, you forget about who isn't there and focus on the job.

I have been here before as a spirit - this is just my physical body, it is just an overcoat. And at death, you will take the overcoat off.

I run an academy in Spain for young footballers who are released by their clubs and who, in my opinion, deserve a second chance. It is a rewarding job for me, but one that also reveals many of the faults in the English game.

No manager in the world gets good results all the time and you know there's people always ready to have a snipe. In fact I'm my own biggest critic, I really am. Because my own standards are so high, I criticise myself behind the scenes more than perhaps I should, according to people who know me well.

It was my proudest moment as a manager when England drew 0-0 with Italy in Rome to qualify for the World Cup finals. Fifteen years later, the stakes are equally high for both countries as they go head-to-head for a semi-final place at the European Championship.

Only 38 per cent of players in the Premier League are English; that is a damning statistic. Soon, the England manager will have to go scouting for players in the Championship - and when I say 'soon' I mean the next four or five years, perhaps even for the next World Cup.

The old adage that you shouldn't change a winning team doesn't apply in modern international football because managers have to study the opposition and pick players who exploit their weaknesses.

I have a number of alternatives, and each one gives me something different.

I often felt as a player in a 4-4-2, you end up being outnumbered in midfield and chasing the ball, so as a manager I liked wingbacks to push forward; it gives the midfield player on the ball three or four options.

If people feel 4-4-2 is the way forward in international football, they'll have to wait until I'm out of a job.

Nobody criticised me when we qualified for the World Cup when I decided that the best shape for us going forward was three men at the back and stretching the pitch width-wise, which gives you options.

We are looking to bring someone in on a short-term loan. But that's unlikely to happen before the weekend. At this level a lot of balls have got to fall into the right places for you to get a player you want short term,

We didn't create as many chances. Some games this season we've had 28 shots at goal, but I don't think that was the case today.

We're going to talk to Spurs and hope they'll let him stay to the season. They might do that with a 24-hour recall in case they get injuries.

We did not deserve more than a point with the way we performed. It's disappointing in a sense that it was a chance to gain some points on people. Preston drew and it would have been a nice advantage for us to get the three points but quite frankly we didn't deserve it.

Lee's shown no adverse reaction after two days' training. But, although Jackie Mac's had three and a bit reserve games, when someone's been out as long as he has, you can run the risk of bringing them back a little bit too quick. We're going to have to wait a little longer.

Personally, (I think) they could - but if you pushed me I think Brazil will win. There's a good chance we'll have a good World Cup.

One of the conditions was that Paul Gascoigne became team manager. This was unacceptable.

I have got to get somebody who's going to score goals. But we haven't got a lot of money and that means it's not easy.

But when they're all in the same area and same position it's difficult and that's the reason why we're looking to do something.

He won't be allowed to play against us for Plymouth next week, but it would certainly be nice if he went and got the winner against Preston this weekend.

When he opened up and went to shoot for goal, the hip injury was causing him a lot of pain,

He's had to go back to Spain now so it's not great preparation for the weekend, as he's only due back to train with us on Saturday.

Jody has played in a practice match and has improved,

It is a great idea to have the competition played over the two grounds as this place is unique. There are no two stadiums in the world so close to each other. The trip to Scotland is a wonderful change of scenery and I hope we can provide plenty of entertainment.

I watched him off the ball quite a lot and some of the positions he was picking up,

I will be prepared to wait until the last minute to see if Michael will be fit,

Other than Sheffield United (whose bid Miller effectively rejected), we've not had a phone call from any club about Kenny.

Paul's just doing some running, but he hasn't kicked any balls yet, so he's still a few weeks off,

Stefan made a fantastic save in the first half and has put in solid performances since he came into the team.

Spurs made it clear when we first asked for an extension they wanted Tom to go back, but we will be conversing with them in the next week or so to see if it's the same. I don't know at this stage whether there's a chance of keeping him until the end of the season, but it's something we'll have to talk about.

Looking at it, it's going to be very sore. It was a deep cut so we'll just have to make sure he gets whatever treatment he needs for it to heal up, but Tuesday is very quick around the corner.

It doesn't matter if he plays against Brazil or anyone else. When he plays, other players score and find space because defenders are on him, it's always good to have a player like that.

I'm hurt inside, that's where the pressure comes. It's very hurtful to see that we're not getting the results we can achieve and I know that we can achieve.

We now have to plan an assault on trying to win promotion. It's a big challenge but one I feel everyone here can achieve,

Michael has got a 12-inch gash in his knee which has been stitched up,

Unfortunately the injury he suffered is a bit more serious than we first thought,

We are looking at the Premiership so players have got to fancy dropping down to the Championship and getting first team football rather than playing in the reserves.

We won't start the postmortem on the season while there's still games to be played. We did enough to win on Saturday, but it didn't happen for us.

We need to get Carl out on loan. He has a lot of talent, he just needs a bit of experience.

We have to draw a line under the game. We have got 16 games to go and we have to concentrate on what was always our main ambition this season, getting promoted.

We wish Paul all the best. He has been a good servant during two spells and we hope he finds a club soon.

I've spoken to Jackie and there is nothing in it. Jackie has just bought a house down here and he has no problems with the club.

That performance came from out of the blue. We've got to pick ourselves up and show a lot of character, and that's a big challenge.

This is a game which can be won or lost in the tunnel. Because to win a football match you have to have a belief in yourself it can be done.

The young lad Convey has good acceleration, good pace, and looks as though he's got a real will to improve. He made some excellent runs into the penalty area and has good energy levels. He's somebody that caught my eye.

There were no promises. Without Premiership football they couldn't really talk about the longer term,

It's a good point in the context of the 90 minutes,

It's going to be a massive challenge but I wouldn't have taken it on if I didn't think it was possible.

It's putting pressure on ourselves to say we have a chance of promotion but it's realistic pressure and I don't mind that. The players have to take that on board and relish it.

Darren will be out for at least three weeks which is bad news for us,

That is our position, even though you are staggered, amazed and astounded.

They've got the free choice to support us how they want to support us. They're frustrated, like everyone else in the club.

The last thing we wanted to do against United was concede an early goal. But, if we had got to halftime just one goal down, it could have been a real cup tie. The second goal was a poor one to concede and killed us off really.

I'm feeling the hurt more than the pressure,

If you have got talent like Rooney you can play anywhere. He's proved that again today.

If you look at every team to win the World Cup they have an extra-special player who can lift the team. We had Bobby Charlton in 1966. A player who can lift us to another level.

In every World Cup there's always a player who comes from nowhere before every tournament - normally someone who gets in that you don't expect - and that happens all the time with England.

Tim Sherwood has come in, done very well and given us another string to the bow in a different type of way.

He is a goal scorer, not a natural born one - not yet. That takes time.

Paul Scholes was the jewel in the crown, the first name on the teamsheet and unquestionably one of the finest England players of the age. He flourished at once in the international arena, which didn't surprise me given his fabulous all-round attributes. He had almost everything - talent, intelligence, courage. His only blemish, which he never really shook off, was his tackling. There was always the chance of that red mist coming down. Overall, though, Paul was a wonderful player and he's a lovely lad, a credit to his club and to himself.

The FA Cup is still domestically the best cup in the world.

When a player gets to 30, so does his body

I think in international football you have to be able to handle the ball.

If anyone is found guilty, I will step on them.

Football's all about 90 minutes

He was a player that hasn't had to use his legs even when he was nineteen years of age because his first two yards were in his head.

The karma is working from another lifetime.

International football is one clog further up the football ladder

There was nothing wrong with the performance, apart from throwing away the game.

If there is any bad feeling I hope it's against me and not my players - I may put my tin helmet on without them seeing!

Your chest is different to your head.

You can never compare two players that are different, they're never going to be the same.

United will break caution to the wind

It was a titanic effort.

Chelsea are playing with much more refreshing ness

Arsenal haven't won anything for three years, so they're used to success

I didn't say them things that I said.

75% of what happens to Paul Gascoigne in his life is fiction..

You have to look at things that happened in your life and ask why. It comes around.

There's not much who would have hit him [Fabio Capello] in the eye and made him put his hat on.

Everton are now hitting the ropes running.

Michael Owen could be Sir Alex's best ever buy, even though he didn't buy him

This is a great opportunity for him and a good stepping stone to get him back to his best.

The end of the season's come at the wrong time for both.