Titus Bramble: "I've never played under anyone like him and I've played for some of the best managers around.
"Steve Bruce, Roberto Martinez and Sir Bobby Robson. He thinks he knows everything, but he has got a lot to learn.
"He's got a long, long way to go before he gets anywhere near as good as Sir Bobby Robson. He's a young manager trying to stamp his mark on things, but he's making some big mistakes.
"He's targeted the easy players, the ones who are leaving anyway, trying to show he's the boss.
"I was fined for not going to a weights session. Everyone else at the club thought it was ridiculous, but he's trying to be tough.
"He comes out in the media and hammers players and he hasn't said a word to them.
"He's a good coach on the training pitch.
"Everything is so detailed. He's one of the best I've played for in that respect, but his man management skills need a lot of work.
"I never got any impression he was racist. From what I saw of him, he doesn't care about a player's colour or creed.
"Obviously, we were aware of the fascism thing, and the pictures of him doing the salute in Italy, but I've always refused to prejudge anyone and he never gave any indication he held those sorts of views."