Holloway backs 'cheeky' Barton

Ian Holloway is one of the best-loved figures in English football.

Never short of an opinion on anything, the Plymouth manager is a ray of sunshine in a game awash with egos and accusations.

Here he gives us a rundown on some of the burning issues of the week, along with news of the quickest way to get to Plymouth from Bristol.

JOEY BARTON DROPPING HIS SHORTS

" It was a bit cheeky wasn't it? But I don't think it was that bad. It would have been worse if he'd turned round and dropped the front of his shorts instead.

I don't think there's anything wrong with a couple of butt cheeks personally. I think he's a funny lad and he was having a joke. I don't think he meant to offend anybody. If anybody's offended by seeing a backside, get real.

Maybe they're just jealous that he's got a real nice tight one, with no cellulite or anything. I thought his bum cheeks looked very pert. If anybody's offended by that they ought to go and see the doctor. "

STUART PEARCE AND HIS CUDDLY HORSE

" Us managers do all sorts of quirky things. When Gerry Francis was in charge at QPR he always used to wear a big zip-up waterproof top - even in the summer - because he believed it helped us to win!

I've seen some crazy things and I suppose they're going to change Stuart's nickname from Psycho to Crazy Horse now!

You're only as good as your last game - sometimes not even as good as that - and you need some things to help you believe sometimes.

I wish him all the best. I think he's an absolutely fantastic bloke, top geezer, and if he wants to carry a little horse on the side of the pitch, I don't care! "

MICHAEL BALLACK SHOCKED AT HOUSE PRICES IN LONDON

" I don't know how some of these people tick. I don't really want to know what he's earning - it's obscene.

It's so far removed from the real world and I think that's wrong with the game of football at the moment.

I think I could manage to buy a house on £130,000 a week and a damn sight more besides. With a month's wage packet you could probably buy a whole street down here in Plymouth. "

HOW TO GET FANS IN FROM BRISTOL

" I want to try and spread the support with my Bristol connection. Rovers are in the bottom division so why can't I try and convert some of them into Argyle fans?

We're in the West Country so it's not that far away. Only two and a half hours away in a slow car, an hour and a half in a fast one - or 10 minutes in a rocket!

As long as you aimed it right, you'd be down here really quickly. Don't land it on the pitch, though, because you'd ruin it! "

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Ian Holloway - Guardian profile
Plymouth Argyle
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