Excuses from season 2000/01

Thanks to the Manhattan CSC for these gems.


"I am very disappointed, but with all due respect,
even with a full squad we have had difficulty at
Tannadice in the past. - Dick Advocaat boldy shoulders the blame for the Hun Scottish cup exit.. kind of.

"You can't go through a whole season with six or seven
players out and expect to do well. Nobody can win
everything in football all the time. We have done it
and now it is somebody else's turn."  - Now that he
has he feels the need to unburden himself further and
accept more blame

"Sometimes in football you get periods when everything just goes against you." - and even more.

"It's impossible to withstand losing 12 players, and
in that list six who are first-team regulars." -  His
desire to confess knows no bounds

"I was a bit unlucky with my red card but also a bit
stupid...Jamie Buchan was dribbling and he slipped
past Craig Moore and Barry Ferguson. I tried to help
them but the player just touched the ball away and I
kicked him on the shins by accident." - Bert Konterman follows his boss's lead and takes full responsibility for his red card.

"Rangers might have had 11 players sent off this
season - but they are miles away from being a dirty
team. In fact, if you look through the list of
sendings off this season, then they´ve all been for
stupid tackles or retaliation - not for really
sticking it on someone." - Derek Johnstone redefines
the meaning of the term "dirty team".

"If the Rangers players had started games in a more
determined fashion and made a few tackles, instead of
doing the daft things when things are going against
them, then maybe they would not be in the bother they are in." - After putting the Hun red card total down to their form of tackling. Johnstone advises earlier tackling to avoid red cards later in the game.
Presumably cutting down on the time wasted waiting to be sent off.

"That is part of my responsibility. I don't hide
myself - it's part of my job. We know what we have to do and the players know that as well. Wednesday night they have the chance to show that." - In between admitting blame and taking full responsibility for the team's failings, Dickie issues a pep talk to the troops. They proceeded to lose 2-0 at home against Dundee.

"I admit it is an ambition to play in Italy or Spain.
I'm aware of Roma's interest and I've always liked the football played in those countries, and who knows what the future holds," he said. At the moment Roma are the best team in Italy and the Italian League is probably one of the best in the world, but I am very happy at Leeds. I am happy where I am. We're just starting to get some momentum going and I'm hoping there are better things to come for us here. I'm also just looking for stability. I only came to Leeds at the
start of this season and I looked at my move as a
long-term one."  - Mark Viduka issues his leaving
speech to Leeds supporters.

Sportscene - Stilian can you tell Neil anything
interesting about your country? Petrov :- Theres 4
Irish pubs!!
Sportscene :- And Neil, can you tell Stan sosmething
about your country??? Lennon :- Theres hundreds of
Irish pubs! - The amazing interviewing technique of
Chic Young.

"I expected to win prizes at Rangers but it has been a terrible year, not only for the players but for the
fans too. But this isn't the toughest time of my
career. I've had four or five periods like this." -
Fernando Ricksen reassures nervous Huns.

"There is no need for the rebuilding of this team. If
everybody is fit we have a very strong squad. " - Dick
Advocaat failing to grasp the purpose of a strong
squad.

'It would be great if something were to happen. Ive
always dreamed of playing in Italy and Roma are the
best in that country." - Mark Viduka renews his
commitment to Leeds United.

"He trained yesterday and he has a problem with his
leg already, but he is part of the squad." - Advocaat
announces that Fernandez has adapted well to life at
Rangers.

"Yes, I'm thinking about buying him. We agree about
the number of zeros, it's the decimal point that is
the problem." - Hearts boss Craig Levein on the thorny issue of the Jambo Larsson bid.


THERE'S ONLY 1 TEAM IN GLASGOW - hibs fans vs huns (only 850 away fans aka huns at the match)