"My, you're pretty."

- Muhammad Ali's comment when he was introduced to David Beckham at the BBC Sports Awards of the Year last week.

"It wasn't going to be our day, on the night."

- Bryan Robson gets his football cliches muddled after Middlesbrough's League Cup defeat at Tranmere.

"I'm as happy as I can be - but I have been happier."

- Aston Villa's Ugo Ehiogu denying (kind of) that he's fallen out with his manager.

"If I was Maradona - and I say this with respect to West Ham - I would not be playing for the club" "But, with respect, you're not Maradona."

- Harry Redknapp may well have replied on hearing this Paolo di Canio quote last week.