Alan Curbishley Quotations

We've allowed him to go out on loan because he needs to play some first-team football,

We're better than we showed today. A lot of that's down to Chelsea. Not only are they great going forward but they work so hard.

We have said to all the teams down the bottom we have done our hardest.

We were tough tonight though, I don't want to make out we weren't. We battled and scrapped, but we also switched off, and that undid all the good work, and cost us two points, and that's why I'm frustrated.

There is a long way to go but the players are confident and are passing the ball around and that was a big game for us today.

I don't think it's that difficult to administer. I'm sure a sensible solution can be found.

The club continued to make significant player decisions without involving me. In the end, such a breach of trust and confidence meant that I had no option but to leave.

I'm sure if the punishment fits the crime, or is more severe, you're going to start stamping out a lot of things that are going on in football.

Luke defends well and he gets forward too,

Last year when he came to us, he wanted someone who would believe in him and give him a run in the side. When you play for the top clubs if you have a couple of bad games you are in danger for your place.

Let's enjoy it, especially to win it here. Winning as well made it a fantastic day.

Now we have the cup game ahead to look forward to and keep our season going.

Richard Murray must have some names on his shelf.

If we get a result on Saturday and pick something up from our game in hand against Newcastle, it can still change our season.

I have got no time for him getting himself sent off, especially at that stage of the game.

I have been here 15 years and we have never had a decent run in this competition,

He's come in and, along with some other young players, has been a breath of fresh air at this club.

He hasn't been right since he signed in January. So we'll shut him down and make sure he gets himself fit for next season.

He has looked quite sharp in training, although everybody has to be fair. The players in recent weeks have given me everything to turn things around ? and that's something that wouldn't go amiss against Chelsea.

He has come here to gain experience, and nothing can happen until December anyway. I believe Gary Neville has played in the reserves this week, so I am sure he will be back soon, and someone else will go over the other side.

He is a local ref and perhaps it is something we have to look at. He is not far from us and perhaps when they come into games refereeing their local teams, it is a bit difficult for them.

He is a local ref and perhaps it is something we have to look at.

When I put the three subs on we really went for it and they played a big part in the victory but great credit to Orient they took us all the way and we just managed to creep through.

We are getting a few clean sheets now and that is the only way we could have turned it around really. Only results will determine whether we really have turned it round but the Premiership is so tough. You have to be up for it every game.

He's decided to concentrate on his club football. I'm pleased with the decision.

Kevin has had a disruptive time with injuries in recent times, and it will do him a world of good to get a month of first-team football. Hopefully he will come back to us nice and sharp.

It is something which Chelsea have to cope with - they have to cope with it in the Premiership, and they will have to cope with it in the Champions League because teams are going to give them that respect,

It is something which Chelsea have to cope with,

I think we needed it. In the first half we looked very nervous, very edgy. But we got the goal on the break. Confidence is a big thing in football. This run we've had has been hard to take.

Our recent record in the League Cup is appalling.

It has been a deliberate decision on my part to forget completing talks for now.

It is easy for other clubs to talk about their money. The manager has them organized and disciplined. They prepare and they work hard.

I would like to do a bit more if I can, so let's see. I want to strengthen as much as I can.

We played ever so well but Danny has been the best midfielder in the country by a mile since the season began; he should not be discounted by England.

We have all been embroiled in it and if they are getting nearer to a selection then great because it needs to be sorted out.

We've lost our way in recent weeks, the hard work wasn't there but we're getting back to that now. Hopefully we're on our way to turning it round.

Timing is everything, and we will have to wait and see what happens in the future. You look at it, but you have got to be offered it.

There has not really been a lot going on for Stephan, he has not had many saves to make. I want to have a look at him. He is a young keeper and is gaining valuable experience. When Dean comes back he will be sitting on the bench, he has not done that before.

The player wanted to come to us and we are very pleased to welcome him.

When you play the top four away, you need your goalkeeper to get 11 out of 10 and that's what Thomas did for us. He made some great saves and showed a bit of composure and gave us belief that we could pick something up here.

We moved in straight away, and although he was publicly linked with other clubs, we were always confident we would sign Danny.

There was a chance of a real upset today and other teams have done it to us before. But we were determined and finished the game off.

The situation we find ourselves in, this is a game we can't get beat in and have to win, and if we can do that, then it will give everybody a lift.

Sometimes it just needs one transfer and then others follow on like dominoes.

Spector popped his shoulder out - he went straight to hospital.

As far as I'm concerned Darren has just got to keep in Eriksson's face. I don't mean by scoring every week or getting to 20 goals, he just has to perform well and try to improve his game. There are going to be games when he isn't going to score so he has to contribute more in other ways. If he can do that it is only going to enhance his position.

Arsenal paid a lot of money for him a few years ago but he found it difficult to claim a first-team place because of the competition at Arsenal.

The way we are set up means we can really do damage to teams.

They are exceptional. They've posed loads of questions for everyone in the Premiership, and it's up to the big teams to respond.

They are exceptional, ... They've posed loads of questions for everyone in the Premiership, and it's up to the big teams to respond.

There may be players wanting to leave, and obviously I have a surplus in the forward area, so this window is the perfect opportunity for that to happen.

It's a big blow for us but a bigger blow for him. I just hope it isn't that serious.

For a variety of reasons they haven't been playing regularly so it's time to see if they can get a loan move and get back in the swing of things.

It looks as if we are turning it round after that dreadful run, although we're not out of the woods yet.

Danny is a player we have been tracking for some time, but he only became available last week,

Danny didn't always do that well last season but he needed someone to believe in him. We kept faith and he's now really fit and determined.

Darren made one and scored one but it is a learning curve. He has got to think about how to get into games when things are not going so well.

Then we got the bonus of the goals, which gave us something to hold on to and in the second half we were not under that much pressure.

It was a bit of a nervy scrap, but our home form in the league has picked up. We've had quite a few clean sheets. That's the only way you can turn it round.

It was a great night for us and a great achievement. Who knows what will happen in the next round. It was a night for the fans, but I would swap it for a home win in the league.

They did great for their club, ... and I hope now they can go on to better things in the league.

Once they have got preliminary discussions out of the way they will narrow it down because they want to do it before the World Cup.

Once again we ended up chasing the game - but their first goal infuriated me. Their second goal was a great run and finish - but from our point of view, you can't let players go past four defenders like that. The two goals we conceded were avoidable.

Not only have we got the result but we've played ever so well, that was a great performance,

I left some of the boys out completely to have a rest,

If you look at the amount of games we have drawn then it's about average, but they've just all come at the same time. The clean sheets have helped us back on track. Now that we've tightened up I want us to get back to being more fruitful in front of goal and start scoring some more.

Claus had one year remaining on his contract and made it clear that he didn't wish to renew his deal as he felt that he needed a new challenge.

He's their player and they'll take care of the operation. We'll have to see what happens after he's had the surgery.

Hopefully we will get back to playing some of our football once the confidence returns.

(Chelsea) is powerful, disciplined, well-organized and they have got so many match-winners. If you don't make a mistake like we did for the first goal, they have so much quality that can change a game on its head which is difficult for everybody else.

I'd love to have Luke back before the end of the season so he can force his way into that squad, but he's looking at three to four weeks out.