Quotes from Alan Pardew

I'm the football manager. I make all the football decisions that evolve around the game that's being played on a Saturday.

I'm the football manager of Newcastle, which is owned by Mike Ashley.

Crystal Palace were my first club and one I hold dear to my heart.

As a manager you're going to have some bad times, some really bad times. If you're going to walk away, then in my view you do not have the make-up to be a manager or a leader of men.

I look at Rafa Benitez in his time at Liverpool, he had difficult periods and the same goes for Brendan Rodgers in the same job now. These difficult periods come and you have to accept that. I did as well as I could at Newcastle.

I've never bet in a casino; it's just not something I do.

If you're in the middle of a field, surrounded by armies, left right and centre, you can't just say: 'I've had enough now, sorry.'

For managers like me what is our dream? Is it what I did with Newcastle when we finished fifth? Or what Roy Hodgson did in taking Fulham to the Europa League final?

I've been a manager in the Premier League for many years and you do become conservative when you're in that bottom section. There's so much stress, because it is so important and there's so much scrutiny.

I did almost take a job in China because I thought it might be good for me to go abroad and experience what I think the best coaches in the Premier League have had. It helps you learn. You have to evolve.

If I'm going to work in Holland I would like to have more of a chance to do something in the league, because a Europa League place might be slightly easier to target than in England.

Does it help Dutch teams in the Champions League because they don't have to be at it in the league? I think it does. I experienced the disparity.

The technical director's role is very important - not just on contracts, not just on signing players and seeing through the philosophy but also in taking a bit of weight off the manager.

Americans are analytical in their sports, which are very stop-start, so the numbers tend to add up. That's why Moneyball works for baseball. It doesn't work so well for football because it's a fluid game.

It (Arsenal) is an English club but not an English success. It's probably a greater reflection of youngsters from France and elsewhere in Europe.

The only gambling I do is on a Saturday afternoon when I might put on two wingers or two strikers.

It's almost like he has Dr. Who's Tardis because he always turns up on time. (on Teddy Sheringham)

I didn't listen to half of the criticism I received. I just didn't let it enter my brain.

The pleasure of winning at this football club matches nothing I've ever experienced before. But if you're going to get those ultimate highs, you're going to get the ultimate lows.

I look at Rafa Benitez in his time at Liverpool, he had difficult periods and the same goes for Brendan Rodgers in the same job now. These difficult periods come and you have to accept that.

I always ask two questions when we are closing in on a deal: What currency are we dealing in and how many people are expecting to get paid as part of this transfer?

I remember the chief executive at Southampton after Nicola Cortese thanking me for the platform I left them. That recognition is always nice. That's like winning a trophy for me.

A player's mentality is very important. The five or 10 per cent where they're not focused because of wanting to go somewhere is enough for them to haul off their quality. It impacts on everything. So, as a board and manager, you have to make a decision.

The AZ captain Teun Koopmeiners, a left-footed centre back who can sit in midfield, is probably the best player in Holland in defensive areas.