Neil Warnock: What I've Learnt This Week

1. Keegan's return makes no sense at all. And I think it is absolutely fantastic...

What a fantastic thing Kevin Keegan's return is for football. Someone like him and his philosophy should always be welcomed. I think Newcastle is probably the only club that would even have attempted it because the fans there are unique, it is almost as if they run the club. The appointment doesn't bear common sense, given the time he's been out of the game, but Newcastle isn't about common sense. I think it is fantastic, whatever happens you will get value for money watching them. And if it all goes pear-shaped it is the fans' fault. Then you'll get the directors ringing up 6-0-6 and complaining about the fans' duff decision.

I've come across Kevin a few times. I remember playing his Fulham team when they were starting to move through the divisions. He's been fortunate in that he's generally gone to clubs who are willing to spend – I don't think he'd be any good here at Palace for example – but he deserves it because of his philosophy. He is brave enough to attack teams. He never thinks, 'I'll defend for a point.' To judge from some games I've seen recently the Premier League needs him.

He'll need some back-up on the coaching side and I think Chris Coleman would be ideal. He's only been away a few months, he's played under Kevin, and he's a nice guy too.

2. Hairspray has got right up my nose

The Warnocks are on a health kick. The girls – my wife Sharon and daughter Amy – are doing "family yoga" while William and I went to judo. I'll admit William is the one who does the exercise. Amy's also started dance classes, which brought back memories of the TV programme Fame. The downside is every morning, at 10 past seven, we have the music from Hairspray coming on in her bedroom, acting as an alarm clock for the whole house as she goes through her routines. When I looked into William's room the other morning he had a pillow over his head. I've told him we'll bide our time and get them back at the right moment.

3. Wolves win well worth a wine stop

We got a great result at Wolves last weekend, winning 3-0, and as I settled back on the bus for the long journey home I thought "I'd really like a glass of wine". So I said to the driver, "Pull up at the first place I can get a bottle of red."

Within a few miles he said, "There's a Tesco Metro, will that do gaffer?" It did. I turned to Matty Lawrence, our centre-half, and said, "Anybody want a lager?" He replied, "Yes please, gaffer." I told them I was paying but anyone that wanted a drink had to get off the coach and fetch it themselves. Ten players followed me.

We got a trolley and trooped around putting in wine for the staff, lagers for most of the players, soft drinks and Crunchies for the young lads, our 16- and 17-year-olds. It took me back to Sunday League days.

There were Wolves fans asking for our autographs and when we got to the checkout desk the cashier said, "Can I have a photo with you, I never thought I'd ever meet you." I said, "See, I'm not as bad as you've heard." I said to the lads, "I've not done that since I was at Notts County, 20 years ago."

It did feel good, but I can't imagine that many teams will be seen pulling up at Tesco's for a drink.

4. Should have let the train take the strain

We had a horrendous journey up there. The traffic was jammed on the M1, then Birmingham was snowbound. We did a mile in two hours in Birmingham and the whole journey took about seven hours. I'm going to have a look at getting the trains.

At Sheffield we struck up a great relationship with Midland Mainline, the service was fantastic, so I'll see what the routes are to our next few away games.

5. FA Cup – they're Havant a laugh

The FA Cup has its knockers but Havant & Waterlooville showed what it is all about. I was sitting watching Manchester City and West Ham on BBC and thinking, "Why, oh, why have they not got Havant on, on a muddy pitch against a Football League team who play good football and always score goals?"

Maybe it wasn't posh enough for the BBC. I watched 20 minutes and turned over to Sky. It was more exciting watching the pundits like Paul Merson jumping around.

I was delighted for Havant. I've used their pitch to train on before matches at Portsmouth. They might lose by double figures at Anfield but it won't matter. They've got to their cup final and got the money. It should be enough to keep them going for years. I remember when we were at Burton Albion our FA Cup run to play Leicester was a lifesaver.

6. Bristol shipshape and back on march

We're at home to Bristol City today, a club who are back on the march again. It should be a cracking game. Gary Johnson's teams always play good football. They've been the team of the Championship so far. They bring a few too so we should get our best crowd of the season.

I remember them getting decent crowds when I played there, but they've not had much to cheer. There was a time, about 30 years ago, when they got into the top flight but then they gave the players 10-year contracts and it went horribly wrong. It is good for the youngsters of Bristol to have a new era of players to follow. Gary deserves his success, he's come up the hard way. And I'm not just saying that because I want to keep in with him as Bristol City will be a local team when I retire to Cornwall and I'll want plenty of invites.