Having released former Irish youth international Ronnie O'Brien from his contract at Middlesborough earlier this season, telling him he wasn't good enough to make it at the club, Bryan Robson was asked for his comments on the player's five-year deal with Juventus last week.

"I wish him well and hope he proves me wrong but. . ." But? "But I don't think O'Brien is good enough. People jump to the ceiling because he has gone to Juventus, but he hasn't done anything yet. If kids are good enough I like them, if not I have no time for them. This reminds me of when I released Chris Freestone. He said he would see me when he was scoring goals for AC Milan - but he's not even scoring at Northampton Town." What a lovely, generous man.