--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ken Bates is a football cretin." description: "\"Ken Bates is a football cretin.\" — Martin O'Neill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/martin-o-neill-9898_football_ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin-2575218_2575218.jpg" --- # Ken Bates is a football cretin. ![“Ken Bates is a football cretin.” quote by Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/martin-o-neill-9898_football_ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin-2575218_2575218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/martin-o-neill-9898_football_ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin-2575218_2575218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/martin-o-neill-9898_football_ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin-2575218_2575218.jpg) > “Ken Bates is a football cretin.” [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A harsh personal attack on a football manager, reflecting intense rivalry or frustration. **In simple terms:** Strong criticism of a football manager. Key Takeaway Avoid personal attacks; focus on constructive criticism. Themes sports conflict personal attacks Mood aggressive disappointed critical Type personal controversial When to use this quote - team meetings - media interviews - fan discussions Key Concepts rivalry emotions public discourse Questions to Reflect On - Is criticism necessary for improvement? - How can disagreements be expressed respectfully? A Different Perspective Such insults can damage reputations and relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bates-605821/) [Bates Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bates-football-1728036/) [Cretin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cretin-1728037/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Cretin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-cretin-1728034/) [Ken Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ken-bates-1728035/) ## Related quotes > [David James is a cretin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-di-canio/david-james-is-a-cretin/) [Paolo Di Canio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-di-canio/) > [“A cretin can kill you just as efficiently as a genius, and usually a whole lot quicker because a cretin has no conscience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-van-lustbader/a-cretin-can-kill-you-just-as-efficiently-as-a-genius-and-usually-a/) [Eric Van Lustbader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-van-lustbader/) > [The copyeditor I drew was a brachycephalic, web-footed cretin who should have been in an institution learning how to make brooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/the-copyeditor-i-drew-was-a-brachycephalic-web-footed-cretin-who/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [“Pastor Bates was a careful reader of theology, literature and history. He delighted especially in Gibbon's woeful treatment of Christians in The Decline and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-m-morris/pastor-bates-was-a-careful-reader-of-theology-literature-and-history/) [Scott M. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-m-morris/) > [There is an audition floating around somewhere that I did for 'Bates Motel.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothee-chalamet/there-is-an-audition-floating-around-somewhere-that-i-did-for-bates/) [Timothee Chalamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothee-chalamet/) > [“But if you ask me, it's a waste of time. Norman Bates is no murderer." The word emerged, just like any other word, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bloch/but-if-you-ask-me-it-s-a-waste-of-time-norman-bates-is-no-murderer/) [Robert Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bloch/) > [I love 'Bates Motel.' I'm a huge Vera Farmiga fan, and I'm a huge Freddie Highmore fan. In fact, that entire principal casting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/i-love-bates-motel-i-m-a-huge-vera-farmiga-fan-and-i-m-a-huge-freddie/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [“But now, Mr. Bates didn't scream or try to get the truck's license plate, nor did Mrs. Bates, who had once wept when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/but-now-mr-bates-didn-t-scream-or-try-to-get-the-truck-s-license/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [“I had no idea what I was getting into with Brayelle Bates. I didn’t know about such things when I was nine. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/i-had-no-idea-what-i-was-getting-into-with-brayelle-bates-i-didn-t/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“Gee, I'm sorry I didn't hear you in all this rain. Go ahead in, please." Anthony Perkin's Norman Bates Talking To Janet Leigh's Marion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hitchcock/gee-i-m-sorry-i-didn-t-hear-you-in-all-this-rain-go-ahead-in-please/) [Alfred Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hitchcock/) > [Kenny Bates is a legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhas/kenny-bates-is-a-legend/) [Prabhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhas/) > [“Norman Bates will never die...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bloch/norman-bates-will-never-die/) [Robert Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bloch/) > [I'm about as normal as Norman Bates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-m-about-as-normal-as-norman-bates/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [“Miss Bates…had never boasted either beauty or cleverness. Her youth had passed without distinction, and her middle of life was devoted to the care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/miss-bates-had-never-boasted-either-beauty-or-cleverness-her-youth/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“We all go a little mad sometimes. (Norman Bates)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stefano/we-all-go-a-little-mad-sometimes-norman-bates/) [Joseph Stefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stefano/) ## More by Martin O'Neill > [I've missed out on a European Cup final because I was injured three weeks beforehand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-ve-missed-out-on-a-european-cup-final-because-i-was-injured-three/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [As a player, it took me a long time to get over defeats, and as a manager I get moody and irritable. My wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/as-a-player-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-get-over-defeats-and-as-a/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [Roy Keane can talk eloquently about the game. I was hoping he would take the Sunderland job when he was last in the frame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/roy-keane-can-talk-eloquently-about-the-game-i-was-hoping-he-would/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is one of the major rivalries in world football let alone European football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/the-rivalry-between-celtic-and-rangers-is-one-of-the-major-rivalries/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I have to tell you I can count on the fingers of one hand when I got verbally abused on the streets of Glasgow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-have-to-tell-you-i-can-count-on-the-fingers-of-one-hand-when-i-got/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I don't think I have ever in my managerial time really given my valuation its proper consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-don-t-think-i-have-ever-in-my-managerial-time-really-given-my/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [If Brian Clough, who had the ego the size of 15 houses, had the humility to go for an interview for the England job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/if-brian-clough-who-had-the-ego-the-size-of-15-houses-had-the/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [A manager's tenure at club level is very short and gets shorter as the time goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/a-manager-s-tenure-at-club-level-is-very-short-and-gets-shorter-as/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My mother was an O'Kane from Swatragh in County Derry. My father had a Donegal background. I came into the world when they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-mother-was-an-o-kane-from-swatragh-in-county-derry-my-father-had-a/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [It would make me laugh, make me smile, if some manager came in and said he had a five-year plan for a football club.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/it-would-make-me-laugh-make-me-smile-if-some-manager-came-in-and-said/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I felt that we couldn't win the game. It was absolutely shocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-felt-that-we-couldn-t-win-the-game-it-was-absolutely-shocking/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My youth coach told me he'd got these two great 15-year-olds. I told him I don't want to know, because by the time they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-youth-coach-told-me-he-d-got-these-two-great-15-year-olds-i-told/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I would love to tell you I had the worst childhood you could ever imagine but believe it or not it was idyllic. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-would-love-to-tell-you-i-had-the-worst-childhood-you-could-ever/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [I think Ashley Young is world class, Id put him in a bracket with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/i-think-ashley-young-is-world-class-id-put-him-in-a-bracket-with/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) > [My wife, who hated every place she'd been to in her life, absolutely loved it in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/my-wife-who-hated-every-place-she-d-been-to-in-her-life-absolutely/) [Martin O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) [Explore all 69 Martin O'Neill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ken Bates is a football cretin.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin O'Neill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/martin-o-neill-9898_football_ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin-2575218_2575218.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/martin-o-neill-9898_football_ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin-2575218_2575218.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/110/martin-o-neill-9898_football_ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin-2575218_2575218.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ken Bates is a football cretin.” — Martin O'Neill", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin O'Neill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-neill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ken Bates is a football cretin.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-neill/ken-bates-is-a-football-cretin/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```