I'm just concentrating on my own game; it was nice to score but as long as the team is winning; we're just taking one game at a time; and of course a special mention to Arsene Wenger's uncanny knack 'missing see the incident'. Sure you did Arsene.
Some analysts of the game even opt out when asked the big questions. Heck the BBC seems to have to Gary Lineker briefed before every Saturday night airing, preferring to have a little love-in rather than a heated debate.
So isn't it just a breath of fresh air to read Tony Cascarino's column in the Times. Coming off the back of his highly-acclaimed autobiography 'Full-Time', the former-football come professional poker player was approached by Keith Blackmore to write a few articles. And boy did he not disappoint.
His thoughts on former international team-mate David O'Leary was the breath of fresh air the football world needed: "He's two-faced; the type of bloke who says 'top man' to your face and then slags you off behind your back." One imagines Mr Lineker's mouth dropping onto the MOTD table. Whilst Glenn Hoddle received similar criticism. "When Glenn tried to be funny, it time to pass 'round the laughing gas because he was probably the unfunniest man I have ever known. He was also completely besotted with himself. If he was an ice-cream, he would have licked himself." Suddenly anyone with a connection with Cascarino was fearfully watching their back. Blackmore rubbed his hands with glee, and handed him a weekly column. But as I spoke to the former-frontman, he's insists it's not a case of being controversial just for the sake of it; he's just being honest.
"I've always tried to be as honest as I can without getting personal, unless it's someone I really don't like!" he said. "I think there are far too many pundits who will say one thing whilst down the pub, but say another when on air. It can backfire on you sometimes but when you're asked to give an opinion I think it's too easy to defend defend defend. If someone isn't playing well, how can you defend them? I never had a problem with people criticising me because I was my harshest critic. If someone like Eamon Dunphy said I wasn't up to it or wasn't playing very well, I wouldn't have had a problem with that. I wouldn't get involved. Instead I'd try and prove them wrong when I crossed the white line, and let my football do the talking.
"I think everyone thinks it's different as well. Everyone who reads it says it's a bit different, which is what I try to do. I analyse things the way I want to and I've enjoyed it. I think sometimes I'm too controversial to be invited on certain shows, which has hindered me, but so be it. It's much better than having to watch Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer all nodding in agreement and saying the same thing."
Media work was something Cascarino had never planned on doing - "I just fell into it" - but back in the early 80's the same could be said for professional football. Working on a building site and playing Sunday football for
Cascarino done enough to persuade Peacock to invite him down for a trial at the Kent club, but openly admits that it was more his gangly frame rather than skill levels which helped earn him his first pro contract.
"The thing is I wasn't really particularly good!" he admits. "I was so raw as a kid; I was your typical bundling centre-forward that would stick his head in everywhere, lose his teeth and not really care too much about it. I think I had a huge advantage because I was so big, and I played in an era where big players were pretty much the fashion. As a kid though, I was mediocre really. I played in the same Sunday team as Andy Townsend, who was far better than me. And yet I made pro before him.
"I went down to
"I didn't really think I was going to get in, so I was just said I'll give it my best shot. And then the first cross that came in, I attacked it and ended up putting Steve Bruce into the goal! He got up and was moaning, saying I was daft, but the assistant manager loved it. I ended playing quite well, but I think it was my aggressive style that he really liked. He asked me afterwards how much I was earning on the building site. I told him 100 quid, and he said if I give you that and an 18-month contract will you come and try and make it as a professional. I said fair enough, I'll give it a go, and two weeks later I was making my debut in the first team."