Football: That was the weekend that was

NOISES OFF...

When I was little he was top man and 10 years on he still is."

Coventry's Darren Huck-erby on his ex-Newcastle team-mate Peter Beardsley.

"I've never done that before. The third goal was special for me, but then all goals are beautiful."

Marco Negri, Rangers' Italian striker, after scoring all five goals against Dundee United.

"After Everton, they are the best club for me. I really care about them so I will keep that shirt from big Johnny."

Slaven Bilic, who swapped shirts with West Ham striker John Hartson, despite being the target for abuse from fans of his former club.

"In the past there has been a lot made of his errors. But I had no hesitation in bringing Dave here to Forest. He never made an error all afternoon, which didn't surprise me one bit."

Dave Bassett, after watching 38-year-old Dave Beasant give a faultless performance as stand-in goalkeeper for the First Division leaders.

"He's starting to pick up a bit of English on the training ground. The first word he learned was `wanker'."

Steve Coppell on Crystal Palace's Italian acquisition, Attilio Lombardo.

MISTAKEN

IDENTITY

Brian Little

Gene Pitney

These are troubled times for the Aston Villa manager, puzzling over why the first three games of the season have all ended in defeat. If some impatient Villa fans had their way, he'd be only 24 hours from the exit doors, perhaps looking to revive his former career as a crooner.

Missing person

Paul McGregor

Nottingham Forest

Two seasons ago, he scored the goal that put Forest into the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup. Now, having spent much of last season struggling to overcome a hernia and cartilage trouble, the 22-year-old is resigned to watching Forest's First Division promotion challenge from the stands. McGregor damaged cruciate ligaments in a pre-season match which was to have confirmed his fitness, breaking down 10 minutes from the end. It is a huge blow for the player, who would have filled Steve Stone's right midfield position last season had he been fit.

Watch out for...

Bryan Hughes

Birmingham City

The 21-year-old midfield player so impressed Trevor Francis with his part in Wrexham's 3-1 defeat of Birmingham in last season's FA Cup that he was prompted to sign him, paying pounds 800,000 to add him to the St Andrew's payroll. After a steady start, Hughes is beginning to show his qualities in the First Division.

Rumours...

fact and fiction from the Sunday papers

After the collapse of his proposed move to Barcelona, Steve McManaman could still be lured to the Continent. The News of the World reckons Juventus are preparing a pounds 13m bid for the Liverpool star, although their claim to exclusive knowledge of this Italian interest is undermined by the Mirror, who also carry the story and throw Milan into the ring also as potential buyers... According to the People, Barcelona switched their interest from McManaman to Manchester United's David Beckham, but had an offer of pounds 16m turned down... United's Ronny Johnsen is demanding a 200 per cent pay rise, according to the Express, who say the Norwegian is less than happy after learning that newly arrived compatriot Henning Berg was lured to Old Trafford for pounds 15,000 a week, three times Johnsen's paltry remuneration... The Mirror believes that Liverpool can make pounds 4.5m by selling Jason McAteer to Monaco, somewhat more than Leeds are expecting for Tomas Brolin if he agrees terms with Real Zaragoza, as reported in the News of the World... Leeds are desperate to offload the Swede, which is how Nottingham Forest feel about the Italian Andrea Silenzi, for whom they paid pounds 1.8m but will now accept a mere pounds 250,000, according to Mirror sources.

THE ELEVEN

Eleven players aged 32 or over who played in the Premiership on Saturday

Gary Pallister (Man Utd) 32

Steve Walsh (Leicester) 32

David Seaman (Arsenal) 33

Ian Wright (Arsenal) 33

Kevin Richardson (Coventry) 34

Steve Bould (Arsenal) 34

Stuart Pearce (Newcastle) 35

Ian Rush (Newcastle) 35

Peter Beardsley (Bolton) 36

Steve Ogrizovic (Coventry) 39

Neville Southall (Everton) 40

Family tree

Even from his prominent position on the Leeds United coaching staff, the former Elland Road icon Eddie Gray has been unable to convince his manager, George Graham, of the qualities of his nephew, Andy, who will be 20 in November.

The young midfield player, who bears a physical resemblance to dazzling winger Eddie, seemed destined for great things after the Coca-Cola Cup final two years ago, when he was the one Leeds player to emerge from an abject display against Aston Villa with any credit.

However, since Graham took over the reins at Elland Road from Howard Wilkinson, the youngster has been increasingly marginalised, much to the disappointment of Leeds supporters keen to see the Gray line continued. Eddie (1965-83) and his brother, Frank (1972-84) - Andy's father - are still remembered with much affection by older Leeds fans.

Former full-back or midfield player Frank now coaches in the Middle East, while Eddie's son, Stuart, 24, is attempting to establish his own career with Celtic.

Good boys

THE PREMIERSHIP'S

LEADING SCORERS

Gianluca Vialli

(Chelsea)

Nathan Blake

(Bolton)

Dion Dublin

(Coventry)

Chris Sutton

(Blackburn)

Ian Wright

(Arsenal)

4

3

3

3

and bad boys

THE SEASON'S RED AND YELLOW CARDS

1 Crystal Palace

Three cautions in three games for David Tuttle

2 Coventry

Three yellows in as many games for John Williams

3 Sheff Wed

Second booking of season for Peter Atherton

4 Arsenal

Three more cautions at Southampton

10

0

8

0

PREMIERSHIP TEAM OF THE WEEK

David James

LIVERPOOL

Steve Watson

NEWCASTLE

Chris Perry

WIMBLEDON

Alessandro Pistone

NEWCASTLE

Dean Gordon

CRYSTAL PALACE

Marc Overmars

ARSENAL

Paul Ince

LIVERPOOL

Attilio Lombardo

CRYSTAL PALACE

Dennis Bergkamp

ARSENAL

Jose Dominguez

TOTTENHAM

Martin Dahlin

BLACKBURN