Yes, I do like to be in control. I do like everything to be laid out, to know what I'm doing. I'm very impatient. I like things done yesterday, which is probably a fault of mine. I like things to be neat and tidy and organised. I say what I want and show what I want and I keep things private.

It does not bother me that some say I'm dull and boring because the people that do know me will tell you a different story. It is very difficult to be open with people you don't know. There is nothing I can do about the fact that the real me does not get across and it is probably difficult to know the real me.

Sometimes going in for a hard tackle generates a louder cheer than a great pass.

One accusation you can't throw at me is that I've always done my best.

I always practise penalties, but what people don't understand is that you can never recreate that pressure situation that you're under.

If people are going to write bad things about me because it makes news, I can brush it aside because I've had this for 10 years. I'm big enough and strong enough to cope with it. It's what comes with being Alan Shearer.

There was a big possibility that I would have had to leave Newcastle had Ruud Gullit stayed as manager.