1.Do you miss playing football
professionally?. (insideFC)
Not the actual physical playing. When
your skills are dropping through age it is time to hang the boots & gloves
up! I really miss the sense of humour in and around the game which is very
sarcastic and black in nature. I also miss the pressure of performing and the
feeling of satisfaction of being part of success. (MW)
2. You've been at some great clubs
what was the best club?. (insideFC)
Norwich City was a great time in
my life, professionally and personally, no superstars but some very talented
players who were happy with each other’s company on & off the pitch. Fulham
F.C was also an enjoyable club, living in London and being part of a club that
rose from the 3rd division to the premier league was fantastic. The
team spirit at Fulham in the first couple of years was tremendous. (MW)
3. Do you think Goalkeepers are
undervalued?. (insideFC)
Yes- but it is the nature of the job!
Goalscorers are manager’s and coaches’ favourites as they are perceived to win
games – but having a good keeper is imperitive. No team has won anything (Cups,
Championships) without a good keeper. (MW)
4. The game has changed since you
played what differences to see know as opposed to when you played?. (insideFC)
Balls-they move much more in the air, and it must be a nightmare for
modern keepers to assess the trajectory of the ball. Defenders also mark deeper
off set pieces, so more deflections and less time to make decisions on coming
for crosses or not! (MW)
5. Who was the best player you played
with and against?. (insideFC)
Cantona was special, Mark Hughes was a
class act, Goalkeeping wise Neville Southall was the best in the world by a
country mile in my eyes. I had a soft spot for skilful and creative players,
who could pass well, so Ian Crook would be on my list, & one of the most
under-rated players I ever played with was Ian Culverhouse who is now at Aston
Villa as assistant manager, both should have played for England. (MW)
6. What is your best
football story?. (insideFC)
Many but
unfortunately all are off the pitch - & involve other people who I don’t
want to embarrass!! (MW)
7. You played with
Sydney FC coach Ian Crook what was he like as a player?. (insideFC)
Very educated, knowledgeable as a player and one of
the best strikers and passers of a ball you would ever see. He was genuinely a
class act. (MW)
8. How do you think
Crooky will go as manager at Sydney FC?. (insideFC)
I would imagine he would be a good coach, managing is a different skill
set altogether, it depends if the club have a long term plan, or just want
success quickly! I doubt if he will have much time to build a club, so will
need to get results, and this is the modern problem, he will have to manage the
expection of the club and not just the players-big job! I would suggest he
would do a good job, as he is experienced and has valuable contacts in Europe
which may come in handy….. (MW)
9. What's the worst
goalkeeping blunder you made?. (insideFC)
Many! Let a 30
yard free kick go straight through my hands, it could be classed as a SHOCKER!! (MW)
10. You lived in Oz
for while was the A- league ever an option?. (inisdeFC)
No not really – although it is a regret that I never played outside the
UK, I would have loved the chance to. (MW)
11. What do you think
of the A - league and how is it perceived in the UK?. (insideFC)
I think the recent signings have made the poms sit
up and take it seriously, we need more coverage, and I think then it will be
talked about more as a good league. When you think of the ozzies that have made
massive contributions to the premier league, it should be a furtile scouting
area for all our clubs. Once that happens I think they drop the visa issues to
come and play, you could see an explosion of ozzies playing here. (MW)
12. You are now
studying at University , were there any programs at the clubs you were at that
helped you think about your career post football?. (insideFC)
No you played and that was it on the education and
planning for a future career front (MW)
13. Do you think there should be?. (insideFC)
I think there are a lot of things that have
changed for the better. But as I am aiming to become a sports psychologist – I
would say psychology obviously! But I think lifestyle training and planning for
a career after retirement is a vital area that needs developing. (MW)
14. Ryan Giggs
has Stated his pride of being Welsh and even if he was eligable to play for
England he would had chosen Wales anyway, with a talented squad why do you
think Wales arnt more competitive on the world stage?. (insideFC)
I think we have always had very good individual players’ but
never great teams. We seem to change managers too often, and have to realise we
are not great & it will take time to build for the future. We again have
the makings of a side, but rely on Bale and Ramsey too much, so they try and do
too much, and we then loose shape & give away goals! I think it is going to
be a long long time before we qualify for a major competition!. (MW)
Special Thanks to Mark Walton.
Damien Coope.
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