Last week, once again, saw sporting fans everywhere being treated, as we had a host of high quality events keeping us entertained.  With so much to discuss, it is perhaps better to let the sporting heroes themselves sum up their week, in their own words, as only they can.  We shall start with one of our own, a certain Mr. Roy Keane…

“I wouldn’t trust some of these people to walk my dog.”

Roy Keane showing his love of the ever insightful TV pundit.

“They must be pretty desperate if they are scraping the barrel for me.”

Rory Delap on the state of Ireland’s Olympic team after it was suggested he could represent Ireland in the javelin in 2012.

“Adams was a Gunner
He’ll never be a scummer
Redknapp did a runner
We’re the Adams family.
Do-do-do-do (clap clap)…”

Pompey fans show their support for new manager Tony Adams.

“I don’t actually like people. I’m a loner and if I had my way I’d just walk my dogs every day, never talk to anyone and then die.”

Tony Adams giving some love back to the people.

“I don’t think the rumours have affected my players. When I reported to meet the team I think they were more disappointed than anyone I hadn’t resigned.”

Roy Keane highlights his teams’ joy that last weeks rumours of him walking away, were indeed just rumours.

“What’s the big deal? The manager has not picked him - he has not picked lots of players. I am amazed by the publicity he seems to be getting. My God.”

Roy Keane, again, this time commenting on the much publicised omission of Andy Reid from the Ireland squad.

“At 9.25 it was past his bedtime”

Arsene Wenger explaining why he substituted Jack Wilshire after Arsenal’s young guns again put on an impressive display in the Carling Cup.

“If you can’t pass the ball properly, a bowl of pasta ain’t going to make that much difference.”

Harry Redknap telling it how it is.

“We will put in a report. I don’t talk to referees. It’s like complaining to your mother-in-law about your wife - it doesn’t get you too far”

Ulster coach, Matt Williams, after his teams defeat by Harlequins.

I shall leave you with my favourite and a fine example of remorse…

“I should have punched him harder.”

No, its not Roy Jones Jr. after his fight with Joe Calzaghe, it is in fact a certain Eric Cantona commenting on his incident at Crystal Palace a few years back.  Classic.

It’s widely accepted that ‘football is a funny aul game’ and although this notion can be attributed to many circumstances, none are perhaps as interesting as ‘New Manager Syndrome’…

We all know the story by now, results are getting bad, fans are getting angry, players heads are dropping and it’s all one mans fault - the manager.  Be this true or not, sacking the manager historically does have its merits, even if they are short lived.  There is really no solid reason (bar players trying to impress their new boss) why a new manager should improve a team so drastically, especially if he is merely inheriting the same set of players as his predecessor, yet results have shown this to be the case.  It is a mystical force that possesses unparalled qualities that can be even more powerful than the ‘ex-player returning to his old club and scoring syndrome’, another illness which has haunted the Premiership over the years.

As ever, the Premier League has given us some fine examples of NMS this season, with the appointment of Harry Redknap at Tottenham being the latest example.  Victories over Liverpool and Bolton as well as an epic 4-4 draw with Arsenal would indicate that the revival is well under way since Redknap’s arrival but a quick look at Tottenham’s past highlights that for some teams, NMS is easily cured…

The 93/94 season saw Ossie Ardiles become manager, only to be sacked the following season and replaced by Gerry Francis, who in turn is then replaced in the 97/98 season by Christain Gross.  Another season without a trophy saw George Graham’s appointment, which brought with it the League Cup, only for Graham to then be replaced the following April by Glenn Hoddle.  Hoddle actually managed a few seasons before being replaced by Jacques Santini in 04/05, only for him to quit after 13 matches.  Martin Jol then takes over for a few seasons and is then replaced by Juande Ramos in 07/08, where they win the League Cup and a new legacy is forecast (and in the process Martin Jol’s new team also get a dose of NMS, but thats beside the point) , with talk of them even breaking into the top 4.  Spurs then get off to the worst start in Premier League history and Ramos is sacked, being replaced by Harry Redknap, who has started well but only time will tell how long this will last. 

Tottenham’s case may be an exaggerated one, but with players like David Bentley stating that they ‘feel like superman’ after Spurs last game, maybe this case of NMS will be here to stay - after all, history has shown that superman is rarely wrong.

Another team hoping for an extended case of NMS is Newcastle, who after two wins and two draws in their last five games (including a fine victory over Aston Villa), are starting to produce form that could see them challenge for a European place as opposed to a relegation spot come May.  Blackburn are also showing some symptoms of NMS, but will probably be hoping that the winter might see the illness spread a bit, especially to their home form.

Teams can take some solace, however, from the likes of Sunderland a few years back, whose dose of NMS saw them recover from last to first and then onto safety in the Premiership, but then they did have the rarest strain of NMS, a new manger who himself is new to management, and quite a severe case at that in the shape of Roy Keane.

No team wants it, as it generally means you are in dire straights, but one thing is for sure, if you do catch it, make sure you stop drinking fluids and get very little rest, because just like the chicken pocks, once it goes, it’s very rare someone catches it again…