James Collins | Andy Carroll Hit Me Harder Than Anything I've Ever Felt

James Collins this week gentlemen the perfect career for me I'm a big fan I think we've had a few of these this this series but like boys done good you know just normal lads who done well enjoyed themsel yeah he had the old school didn't he the like playing on a Saturday going straight out Saturday all day Sunday and then he got the D and all at the end best best of everything best of both World under Alise M give us a club then go on let's have them Cardiff Newport count it did he with Newport sure from Newport he was born in Newport Newport arms I'm telling you they play for Newport one point West Ham Villa IP switch for a couple of games maybe couple of games back the back end yeah sit in it he's one he's one manager I wish I'd have played for Big Sam big Sam more people we get on it's just positivity and positivity and piss UPS peas all the peas for Big Sam should we get him in let's get him in once again thanks everybody who signed up to the patreon if you've not already who we have last week Scotty Malone and Alex PS we need to get him on at some point because his sounds hilarious there a bits at the end yeah TR Captain yeah you got been managed by Frank Lampard spy Spy G that then playoff games there's a lot of good stuff the controversy at Derby as well with the crash and oh [ __ ] off um sign up get it on your tell couple of quit a month two extra episodes and just supports was doing these ones thanks everybody who signed up the links in the description get yourself involved start with that or I mean where do we start with that dress code I think we well I'll address the two camera second because this is the second episode in the tracksuit forgot Me jeans Odd Socks always Odd Socks but honking or Hawkers train got me got me comfies on for the Journey 4our Drive wouldn't it might as well be in pajamas what material is it the trackit teddy be that's the word I was looking for dinner Only Way is Essex we going to football no we won't get on a football Jimmy messaged Jimmy Walker saying ask him about Dubai and your pink Speedos Jesus Christ yeah actually we we going so Dubai that was some trip that that was Alan pju I not long just come to West Ham from Cardiff I was still 21 and it was classed as one of them training warm weather training sessions but it you know trips but it wasn't it was full long piss up I don't think we even took any balls or boots it was one of them so we got there anyway and pods sort of the only thing pods did that day was wake up in the morning have us all down sort of for breakfast to check everyone was all right and sober but during the day we were literally going down the beach playing two touch and drinking bottles of Corona and this one day I decided to buy a pair of pink Speedos and put them on and stroll down to the pitch being a premier league player and just play two touch in a really tight pair of pink Speedos just just just for a bit no tan I'm just trying to picture up I was I was sort of running from umbrella to Bar just to stay out in the sun i' never been Dubai obviously before and it was yeah it was a lot of moving from Umbrellas to to the bar basically but yeah that was some trip so we had a great Squad at the time though like young Lads but we had Teddy in the dressing room as well so it was just a phenomenal trip is this a a public beach or yeah public beach I think we stayed in Abu abuabu Abu Dhabi maybe up that way so he was out of it a little bit few but like we were doing forfeits it was like if you lost two touch you had to Sprint up the beach and like tackle someone who was just walking along the shore and stuff like that it was just it was just a mad trip if you got some if you got some running involved then it is actually a warm with a TR yeah I suppose you could class it as that probably about 15 bottles of Corona in at the time though so it probably wasn't helping but yeah it's great and like I said great Lads Jimmy Walker it's just just fun time to be to be involved we've had a few Lads on from that changing room haven't we have you just they all they almost must talk about good that was 2005 when I came to yeah that sort of early days cuz like I said cuz we had [ __ ] Roka andon ferand myself Danny gab on signed we were all young Lads enjoying ourselves but playing good football got to The Cup Final that year as well so it was just we that trip it was it was quite heavy on the booze we came back and we played Chelsea at Stanford bridge and I scored I scored after about I think it was early five six minutes scored like front front post header they got a man sent off and we're thinking right this this has worked this trip do you know what I mean got the lads together bit a band they were going to beat Chelsea they had a man sent off we lost 4-1 we all blew up after about 60 Minutes absolutely hanging out of our asses you didn't wear the speed or no no under your shorts no I should have might might have made a difference then I played against you when you were at you first came in at Cardiff yeah I mean I had a bad mullet didn't I yeah but I think you might have topped it I think I've I've asked it's only people like yourself who remember that I've asked got there's not a lot of photographic evidence of that you go with the straighteners on the back straighteners on the back yeah I used to shave The Fringe off grow all aside and the back shave the sides off and The Fringe off and I actually went to a point of dying the tips of the mullet blond out the hor did you have a mullet as well it was all a agage back then it was blond tips as well I think there's about four or five of us in the same team I it yeah there was a lot of about and you look back and you think oh yeah but I used to wear my shorts really low pull my shorts down really low as well and my socks over my knees thinking I was some sort of player I think at the time but um yeah horrendous and like I said Thank God there's no there's not too much can't imagine that went down too well in Newport no no in Newport it must have been one of one of a kind with my brother had it as well so I was I was safe with him but yeah I did get a few funny looks walking around I was young what was I I got in at C if I was 16 17 18 moved to West Ham when I was 20 so yeah some some bad choices early on I'd say I didn't he was Ginger as well do you know what I mean I wasn't going to say that I was thinking it but I wasn't going to say can't say it I mean I mean growing up in Newport with ginger a is hard enough anyway you know Newport yourself so you had to be pretty tough and then just to top it off with a [ __ ] outrageous haircut was a bit stupid is it oh have you always gone by Ginge from pretty much yeah pretty much from from the off everyone calls me Ginge if anyone calls me James I think I'm in trouble like literally my mom actually told me off I say everyone calls me J my mom and dad obviously don't or didn't my dad pass away blessing but um yeah my wife everyone all my mates yeah my wife calls me Ginge unless his James with me yeah which is quite often three which is quite often yeah so uh it's just I mean makes sense didn't it I didn't realize used to be a striker I used to play up front I did yeah I I sort of fluted early days I fluted back and forth Center forward Center off and uh certainly yts days at Cardiff Colin Pasco would you remember that name yeah he was my YT manager and he used to play I used to score a few goals in the in the youth team and then uh Alan CK came in with Bobby Gold when Sam Sam um Sam hang got all the money at Cardiff and that's when I got into the first team I actually made my debut for Cardiff first team against Northampton I think it was and I scored Center forward on my debut up front with Leo Fortune West P me and me and him up top and then yeah played center forward for a bit and then Cori and Bobby left the club and uh Lenny laws come in and and could tell I wasn't a center forward sort of started moving me back a little bit in Center mid and then ended up Center off were you disappointed with that at that time no not really I knew I won the center forward I knew I won the center forward I mean I'd love to play more money they they get all the money then they they sent it forward so um n the good ones do the good ones you always look at me when you say [ __ ] I refering to his both but yeah no Center off was was always cuz I loved I loved that side of the game and I think it's probably the same as you boys playing in those lower leagues when I was young I learned you know how to play basically you know getting elbowed tackled and playing in you know preseason friendlies at way muff and places like that I learned a lot in 's early days so I loved that side of the game I always loved a big tackle sort of getting me elbows up protecting myself and and blocking shots and and being a proper Defender so it was it was a perfect perfect position for me what happened that wouth that was a that's a that was one of my biggest learning curves I think I I played center forward way my preseason you know what they're like we didn't really not not fancy it but you know what it's like when you go to those games they're tough is they they're tough games to go to so I was playing Center forward 10 minutes in first goal kick couple of old boys playing for whou you know bit know what they were doing and I was running in the channel and I could see the center half thinking I'm not having this so first ball goes up goal kick all I hear from behind is Killer's ball so the center half of way must nicknames killer and I'm thinking oh here we go and he's elbowed me back of the Ed wiped me out woke up after the game at some point and gone out gone out cold is that the point where you thought I think R i' yeah I'd rather be doing that to people exactly so that was that was learning I had another one we used to play in the faw Premier Cup when I was at uh at Cardiff you'd play like Mera and and teams like that up in the valleys and used to get an absolute hiding playing Center forward CU I was quite Lively you know Young the Chanel and they just take you out so I think going forward into my rest of my career I learned a lot in those early days as in like toughen up basic a young lad yeah exactly were you one of those that used to get a kick out of a good smash or loved it loved it love getting caught I know 73 against you love it don't you I love it love it I love a big Lov the big tackle a block used to love a block you know block a shot like celebrate like a goal no not so much I don't I don't like all that pford celebrates when he saves and all that then you know I mean it's your job it's what you do mate um I've seen Defenders do it celebrating and it's like n but yeah every everything about it loved it loved uh 50/50 an albow used to love getting cut you know that like bit of put a thing for you like put it into it I've got cut yeah a little bit maybe Luke young tells a good story I I was at Villa and I think it was Grant halt we was playing Norwich and I of them I'm back pedaling back stick crosses up I know I'm going to win the Eda but Grant's cominging in this side so if I flick it I know he's doing me so I've won the Eda he's done me kep me headed I'm on the floor and I can see blood I'm thinking yeah like this got up tried to run around with a bit of blood looked at Yi and he's G no you got to go you got to go off here so this I don't know this footage I run off the side of Villa Park over the thing into the dressing room the doctor goes yeah you we I went what's the crack you went well we can't just Vaseline it's the cut was too big and I went n just stick some Vaseline on with we deal with it after the game and young he was like I went I want to play so he put Vaseline on it one of those stupid bandages on come running back out of Villa Park over the over the advertising boards to a to a I loved it but younger used to hammer me but he I shouldn't have played that one I come off and I think I had 12 stitches but I put Vaseline on it in a bandage and and played on was a concussion thing not a big thing back then no was even a bad that was knocked out I don't think so it was get on with it horrible getting the Vaseline out in it that's the B you know when you've a little bit and you scraping it out well then did you get the blood sweeping through the the bandage yeah not not quite tery butcher but it still still I still look the part in my head anyway yeah that's a mentality in itself though is it going up for an Eder thinking if I flick it on he's going to smash me and we get a free kick you know you know when they're coming didn't it you must have had them yourselves boys you know all end most of the time yeah yeah you had a you had a act do big dunk got one off big dunk once as well Jesus Christ not the I think me and Richard dun were playing or I might have been at West Ham and I couldn't win a head against dunk couldn't win a goal kick you know the straight headers that I used to love doing and that was sort of my game I couldn't win one against dunk so I thought you know what I'm just going to nut the back of his head when the ball comes up from a goal kick just nut the back of a head see what happens he's either going to get he's but I think it's D Ferguson here so what am I thinking so I've nutted the back of him I've gone down cut out and I've looked around and big dunks just carrying on running around as normal so that that that's what that didn't go to plan but yeah all that the tackles the the elbows the cuts the blocking a shots absolutely loved it how many red cards not too many I don't think for the way I played five or six maybe maybe not even that many deserve them all yeah all straight Reds yeah yeah you sound proud of that no not not overly there was one against angalo Watford uh towards the end of my well when saavan bich was manager of West Ham and we were losing two n i was shocking that day and you know what it's like boys in a game when you're shocking you think ah lose your head a bit and I did a terrible tackle on him on the halfway line and just walked off I think I was off the pitch when I when I got the red card but just just stupid just cuz I frustrated I I played that day yeah would you get the you know if somebody caught you ay would you like think [ __ ] you [ __ ] or you think fair play no fair play yeah yeah yeah always Shake G after the game yeah always always Shake gun it's I mean it's all part of it is it that's what and I think that going back to it in my days at Cardiff that was always it you'd have a shake hands way enough away and the boys would be having a paint that's what it is you know you give it out you got to take it and you I suppose not all the grudge nah not really not really so who did we have who had a kill list Steve W Steve Walsh kill yeah it's a bit strong is it he even used to take hits for other players really so if if they' done somebody and they weren't you know willing to get back I think there might been a couple times say like someone smashed no maybe like the season before and he had said oh he he had remembered it and I'd think right I'll get him for you do you know what I mean but not yeah yeah not get him as in injur him or anything like that like going for a big tackle or something and and yeah a little bit was it him that laid the wrong one out he laid the wrong player out and the V just come in and say what you doing it wasn't even him that brilliant same C but different player different player Ian he an easy mistake to make how long into your Cardiff stint was at you started getting linked with a move or when did you know know that you're going to be leav in I I think it was when Lenny Lawrence come in because he played me the most me me and Danny Gabon obviously I moved to West H with Dan who was my who was my best mate so I think as soon as we sort of started playing CU I was young center after where I played I think was quite attractive and um yeah pretty much straight away there was links um clubs being spoke back Wigan I remember at the time Sheffield United those sort of clubs and then towards the end of the year it was I think it was 2004 when West Ham were in the championship Jermain defo and that team that came down and me and gabs played Park against them and did really well there and then we played him at ninan Park and did really well and beat him 4-1 there against Jermaine defo and then after that game that's when it sort of sort of snowball really and then we came in that summer and it was Dave Jones who was manager said you two not going anywhere basically trying to get more money I suppose and then within two days of him saying that to us West Ham and made a bid so it was quite it was quite short really at Cardiff because I didn't play a lot and then I played 35 games the One season and then then it sort of started big move in it at 20 yeah it was massive and it was and I was lucky though cuz gabs was with me cuz I there's no doubt about it you know you speak to people like I I I love playing football and I I had enjoyed my life as well you know I like to be here and and was doing that so to move to London maybe without gabs you know when you live in a hotel for a bit it it could have gone the other way because of the way I sort of was living my life a little bit off the pitch as well I was I was I was working hard and playing hard and and training hard and playing well but I was I had a group of mates in Newport that you know playing too hard uh field sometimes maybe sometimes I look back and think maybe sometimes I shouldn't have been doing what I was doing but then I made sure in training that I'd I'd train hard and and I'd play hard so I sort of Justified it in my own headed really that I could go and have a beer on a Saturday night I suppose so yeah I don't think having a beer on satday night is no out of the way I mean no it certainly wasn't at the time at the time it wasn't so you s it was like the reward wasn't it if you played well you go out and have a cutle beers and I was obviously living in Newport I had a great you know my brother's my best mate and a great lad so sort of maybe did it a little bit too much at times but then yeah moving to London with gabs there it sort of settled down and then got to West Ham and realized [ __ ] this is a this is a [ __ ] massive club and and and it's the best thing that ever happened to me Essex a better night out than Newport oh I reckon [ __ ] Bas a better night know go down better Newport it's a tough old time like you mentioned it is a tough old town but it was a it was a great place to grow up in really was like the where I played my local football down in p l it was a tough tough area but like a real a real Community feel to it you know everyone knew each other and looked out for each other and it was it was a great place to grow up but Essex compared to Newport is a different story was it new bar new bar I've been in there once one of me one of my best mates I was in there every Saturday for about seven years I reckon and sometimes not on a Saturday depending when the next game was all day Sundays Super Sunday in there so yeah new bar I think I I moved to uh I moved to London lived in the wam Abby Mar at the old swallow Hotel on the M25 there for about 6 months with gabs then I brought a place in a place called Repton Park in chigwell and within two days I think of buying the house the new bar opened and that was that was the office yeah no great days great days met some of my best mates in those early days living L and chigwell that sort of way amazing time good squad as well W it great for social good manager for it as well good manager par he he you know there's no doubt about like you said you've had people on from that time we did really well got to The Cup Final finished eighth or ninth in the league that year but we were having hell of a time off the pitch as in but in at the right times and and P sort of knew we were doing that and but great Squad to be involved in I mean I know he's chocolate but is he a good chocolate pju a lovable one yeah he was brilliant like I say everyone calls him chocolate there's no doubt he he was having himself a little bit but you know he was doing really well as a manager he was young he was still young himself at the time and doing really well FA Cup Final as I mentioned and just yeah doing really well and and enjoying himself but great like a proper coach though is it proper yeah really good like no disrespect to the boys I mentioned at Cardiff Lenny Lawrence and those boys it was the first time I'd seen a manager proper on the grass coaching doing like defensive sessions and stuff like that and and he was brilliant I think if you ask anyone in that Squad at the time they' all say the same were you and Gabon put straight in then when when you signed uh gabs won Hammer the year first year so we came and there was a lot of talk that they they liked me more than gabs CU I was probably a bit younger and and that but gabs played All That season I think I picked up injuries probably moved to London anding enjoyed myself a little bit too much running from Newar to 19 195 D hamstring uh but yeah I got it picked up a few and didn't play a lot the first year but gabs played and got ham of the year and I don't think I've never really looked I'd be fascinated to know how many times me and gabs actually played together at West Ham I don't think it was that many cuz Anton was doing really well Anton Ferdinand so gabs and Anton played and then gabs picked up a few injuries and then I played with Anton so we sort of missed each other a little bit at at uh at West Ham in the early days but um yeah it was a great T 3.6 million for two Center offs just going to ask that unbelievable bad business is it unbelievable and gab's had a sell on I think to West Brom so I don't know how much I don't know how much West bom or how much they put on gabs and how much they put on me for for the sellon do you know what I mean so I mean it's NE never heard of it before two Center halfs going from a club to another club best mates as well grew up together and for cheap seemed well it didn't seem cheap at the time it was like I could couldn't believe we were going for for that sort of money you know but um unbelievable to go on and I don't think it's been done since I don't think it'll ever be done again two Center halfs good dressing room to step into in terms of being welcomed by absolutely unbelievable couldn't you know when you go to clubs it's it's nerve-wracking I was young I was 20 21 so it was moving to London and it was it was nerve-wracking but the play the people we had in there they were all all young Matty Evon who's now one of my best mates uh gabs was obviously there with me Anton Nigel Marlon uh I mean the list goes on but then you had teddy as well who was a bit older Teddy Sharon was in there Maly Makai were the older boys sort of like keeping check on us all all our young all us young ones so it was perfect and the manager and the staff at uh at Chadwell Heath it was just it reminded me where we were training the old chadw of Newport is in that working class sort of like gritty area where I've just felt so comfortable and and loved it who's showing you the town who's first arm round come on I'll show the town probably Ted yeah he loved the night Ted still does still does I still see him still play with him now and then you go on golf trips with Ted now and you're thinking you know he's getting on a bit now Ted but he's have his golf and he's like got an early tea time the next day 7:00 you're thinking all right maybe we won't go too hard Ted's out first out every golf CH loves loves it did and he wins the golf cuz he's that he's I don't know if he's like plant feeding tipping the beers away night or what but he's H he wins a golf every time and all so in that first season how long do you think I'm good enough for this what do you think that's right away or I don't think I've ever thought that mate honestly it's it's a mad it's mad thing to say I I still to this day classed myself very lucky to where I got to in my career because there's no doubt about I won the best footballer in the world but I I I don't know I I I I I still find it strange and a bit bizarre that I played so long in the Premier League I I don't know why that's something maybe I think about but um and I think maybe that's the way I played because every game I played I felt lucky to be to be doing it like seeing some of the players I played with miles miles and miles above me as you know as a footballer and I and I sort of done know right it played in the Prem league for probably 16 years and and and it's and still find it very very strange I think that's because you would get cut and do yeah may maybe to challenge other people maybe won't maybe maybe my upbringing and and sort of the person I am do you know what I mean I like I said I was I was living quite a normal life outside of the pitch and just loved every game felt lucky felt fortunate to be playing for West Ham and and Cardiff and the teams I played for so probably that's where the way I played and and gave me all and that's why certainly West Ham fans the relationship I had with the West Ham fans is unbelievable because I think they saw quite a lot of themselves that sort of working class grittiness love the tackle in themselves so I think that's why it went so well for me at West Ham and why I was there so long how goed were you with the the Cup Final situation because you did you play in the semi and got of the match yeah I was talking about to Matty Evon about this yesterday I played I played in the leadup to it and done really well played in the semi done well so me and Anton no me and gabs were playing Center half and Anton was playing right back played the semi-final and and it and it was all good and then I can't really remember the lead up to the to The Cup Final if I'm honest but just knew I wasn't playing and he played lios scalone who was a lone signing at the time as well which was which was more disappointing he played in right back and then he played Anton and gab Center half so I was gutted obviously it was in Cardiff I must have had 40 people there you know he pull you I I want to say no but I can't really remember I think I must have been that angry and frustrated that I wasn't playing I can't remember this the actual time of it but I think he probably would have paed knowing him at the time did you know you was it you did you knew you weren't playing by the shape and stuff before you know when the the build Yeah you sort of knowing a build didn't um yeah probably he probably done his team shape a couple of days before and you can see as players you know kind of you can sort of tell which is which is frustrating but yeah and being the FA Cup you know when we were youngsters the FA Cup was everything was it do you know what I mean watching the watching the team bus come in in the morning the suit as well get a place of you and ultimately cost us the game really I am gonna say it I am gonna say it and then the [ __ ] was all over me Telly when he won the World Cup with with Argentina so I'm like ah just brings it all back but yeah you know the little going back to that all he's got to do is let it run out for a goal kick do you remember the goal yeah throws it didn't he to scalone uh Caro I think throws it to him I might this is how I remember it and he's in the right back spot and he's cleared up the pitch cross has come in Ed J scores but if you look I think if you look back Caris thr in him but they've pressed him as well to be fair because it's last minute of the FA Cup Final I think he can let it run out for a goal kick and then it's a goal kick ban game over and he shanked it in the pitch well I think it was Bobby zamor speaking about he's still got a lot to do Gerard and it yeah he's only hit it I think he said in his book He's only hit it because he's he had cramp he was that tired yeah they were all going down with cramp and I remember being sat on a bench Matty Evon had come off and I sat on the bench and it f to 90 minutes just before jard scored and I went to Matty Evington we've I think we've won the FA Cup shouldn't have said it I I think I said we're going to be in faces on 195 with an FA Cup winners medal what a [ __ ] and then bang go go I know so yeah it's you know it's it's it's a great memory obviously play be involved in an FA Cup final but and and such a game it's probably one of the best FA Cup finals we'll see you know us going two up and and the goals that were scored but fuming not to be playing everybody say out to this Argentinian don't think he did no not he the Argentina manager now I know he the Argentina manager is he won he want to walk up that's what I was saying every time I see him I was like oh it brings it brings 2006 but again I don't think I think it was one of them where everyone just sat there gutted but knowing that you know like you said there was a lot to do Gerard's banged it in from probably 35 yards there's a lot to do but you have a night planned as well yeah everyone asked me about I can't remember anything after I knew I had I had I can actually remember one thing I had a horse at the time and I was flying to Dublin a couple of days later to watch it run so I think I was I went to Dublin still in my FA Cup Final track soon just that fuming probably got on the beers and and and away we went we would have there would have been a night on back in London but it just after you lose it the way especially the way we did it just all sort of pitted out did the hos win yeah chion takes J that's a good story we we we were all involved we were all probably gambling a little bit of the time betting horses Clive Clark was there who was uh he was at sunnd Irish boy great lad clarky and he uh he knew fuzzy stack he was a horse trainer so because we all like to punt and all that we we all we all put five grand in each for a horse me Teddy there was six of us me Teddy mattye Carl Fletcher Danny Gabon I think clarky the six of us and fuzzy the the trainer had a bit as well so we were in for five grand and brought a horse called Hammer's Boy Called It Hammer's boy all at West Ham good horse done really well sold it for 70 grand 75 grand maybe took our five grand back each left in what was left 30 40 Grand and brought another one didn't not didn't know what to call it and Teddy was the only player with a kid at the time it was Charlie sharing him so we called it my boy Charlie Teddy sort of named it this horse come out first race bang bang and it's an airplane it's like went on to win we still had it it went on to win group two group three Kieran Fallon run it so we were away in Austria and we got a phone call off the trainer saying people want to buy the horse so like oh right well you know we're having a bit of fun with it so it turns out it was the Irish and and um the boys in Dubai wanted it so we like what we what are you talking clarky and and fuzzy what sort of D you talking and be like it's it's big so we were in for nothing from Hammer's boy we sold it for 1.4 million Kel expecting that Charlie bye boy Charlie honestly it a great horse and yeah we got rid of it better I mean it don't always happen like that like I love me I guaranteeing they come out the first race at the co and it was gone we thought this is this is an horse this and we sold it yeah and they put it straight to stud I think or R it a couple times and yours end it up in Dubai and yours Hing lasagna in iand no as in a training equine Center in Scotland somewhere retir enjy retir just for some little girls choing about on it like that yeah that was uh that was a a mad one mad time was Rio Corker Captain yeah 19 unbelievable himself though I heard that when he went to Bon Lively Lively good good good though good Captain for someone so young ni was great great lad as well um good Captain like demanded stuff off people and and trained really hard good Captain but he was he he knew he was he knew he was the he knew was the boy yeah living in London 19 captain of West Ham you he would mind me say he would he he wouldn't mind me saying he was he was having himself a little bit at the time Noble always looked a great Captain just just a great lad great lad great I play with no play yeah he did yeah in the early days yeah just for someone so young I think when I got in a dress dressing room noes must have been 17 maybe but just Lively Lively in a way just ban was he was in with a ban he was all dead on his shoulders you and I think again going up where he did the the the the up the yeah the upbring in the ad sort of working class and loved the club obviously was West Ham fan just great great lad to be around great for the dress room and and when he did eventually get into the team just a phenomenal player didn't give the ball away in training never see him give the ball away unbelievable player and and a great lad and one of me one of my best mates did he ever have chance to leave permanent I don't I don't think it ever came out but I think he spoke about it since I think he was Clos to going to Everton maybe at one point I I I don't think he's ever mentioned it but I I'm sure I've had a conversation with him where Everton were it was close to going to Everton but then whatever happened I think they went down maybe and and he was playing and and he went on to to be that his whole career but it would have been a shame if he left cuz he's with noes everyone talks about him as a captain no one and players talk no one will ever see what he does for the club as well like he was going to days off he'd be going to community centers in East London and in like sort of count in town where he was farm and promoting the club and when players came in he'd be helping them look for ours his areas to live like like the captain should but doing it not because he was tall because he wanted to he wanted to help the club and and just stuff that he was he the relationship he had with managers was always good he was the goto as players and he he always you know looked out for the players but got on with the manager so he was just a great great player for one and just a great lad and a great Captain cical football him you go busy bastard I mean I'm sure got he got called out a few times but like that though you you could never say he was busy because he was one he was one of the lads like Po he wouldn't be one of them when you go [ __ ] shut up you're busy CT he was never one of them because he was always sort of had your back a little bit could cuz he was on I saw him on the pitch after they won the final the EUR ban final he must have been thinking played 20 years nothing yeah but he looked happier than link but he was well he was in tear well I got on the pitch I was I was pissed that day in the crowd as well and I and c and Cole and Joe Cole were doing uh BT I think and I got down to the front and Coley two Cole see me and said he he's all got me on so I ended up on the pitch I ended up there's a I got a nice video or picture of me and noes cuddling on the pitch did you get your kit on as well old JT you look I'm behind them and they lifting the trophy but noes you can see it in his face he was like just buzzing like no doubt he probably would have been a bit like [ __ ] that could have been me but just buzzing for the boys buzzing for the club and that's just the Testament to him really you could tell it was real happiness in him and and and and rightly so because he's a big part of where that club is now no's getting new be occasionally yeah not often radically so the big the big H is in the new bar or the main state would have been me Roy car at the time uh gabs Matty Evington Teddy who else Anton used to pop up now and then but the main stay was probably me Teddy Matty gabs Roy car probably kept the new bar open for for for the early days to be honest no we didn't that was Ram it was rammed it was Carnage it was people coming down from all over the country that go to the new bar and obviously I was close with Adam so obviously getting the fire exit rer back I was at Doncaster and we organized a Christmas D it was like it was when TI first started tell now it's not my cup of it's not my I can tell you now it's cup of tea now I I drink in the Cricket Club here in stford like sit in the bar pint of worry or pint of Guinness or something just chill at the bar but those days it was it was the Gaff it was the place to be and then you had 195 and faces within five yards which were the nightclubs and it was just is this pre social media as well pre social media get honestly just Carnage no one no one filming you cuz I like people know I I smoked a lot of my career so I was I'd be up there having a pint smoking just and then make making sure you come into training training hard and playing hard and then doing the same the next week never no managers anybody pull you up on it uh no I don't think so they must have known must have known you know what I mean I was out and about and must have known but um I generally didn't feel like it was affecting me at the time that's it if you're still working hard I think I think even now I think today today you can still get away with it if well they're all on the now is they yeah you know what I mean if I got my a pack of [ __ ] out in the dress room nowadays everyone would be like what are you doing but the snoo is the snoo is fine clearly on a wait when you stop at the services like lad's going in for the cofs and you're [ __ ] B Yeah well yeah I've had a [ __ ] in some funny places let me tell you you know on on buses and that but no it wasn't it wasn't major it was now and then when i' have a beer or whatever so yeah but just a great time great time football was going well and and and and the nights out were good as well did you want to leave when I went to Villa no desperately didn't want to leave my wife's from L my wife's from and we we were married and that and loving it just still loving being in the area loving the club and um it was when Edgar Magnuson got the club I think the the banks crashed and out and he lost all his lost all his D and I started the season really well I think that was 2008 maybe was it 2008 2009 must have been 2009 cuz I did my knee 2007 2009 and and yeah OT sort of money went and um Stoke came in Stoke made a bid and and West Ham accepted it and I went up and Tony pus is a Newport boy so I think Tony thought he'd had me but I didn't fancy it going up there I didn't fancy it s reges was me Agent at the time drove up there with s and was chatting to him he's like look you've got to speak to TP so went up did the chat and all that and um I actually I think I said the I don't fancy it you know go and I came back to West Ham praying that it had been that was it it would it sort of the move had the move had gone and then came back in two days later Villa came in and it was a completely different story they were flying at the time the team they had were unbelievable good move for me it looked you know the players they had there and it was a good move for the club they basically needed the 5 million quid West Ham did at the time was it this after sorry uh Jun was this after the Great Escape season yeah 2007 was Great Escape so might have been the year after that Jan frankola was manager at the time so yeah Villa came in bid I think it was 5 mil and went up spoke to the wife and and you know what made it a bit easy as well Matty Evon had gone to stoke at the time and was living in Birmingham so I thought right could live in Birmingham my wife and matti's wife Stephan Sam my wife Samantha and matti's wife Steph are close so that sort of worked when up spoke to Martin O'Neal loved him from the minute I started talking to him just different but loved him and yeah came about good move for me good move for the club what was it about stalk we were talking about way down like You' be the perfect Tony P's player I know yeah it seemed perfect you the way they played at the time I think you been at St big hoofy was the year that went up oh sorry no I left the year before then oh was it yeah so been like big hoofy Ryan shus Matty uh I think Crouch crouchy might have been there Stevie sidw I so that it looked perfect it would have like I know the boys it would have been perfect the were great Matty was there Tony would have been great to work for I just didn't want to leave West Ham loved it in London and that said no to him and came back down and hoping like I said hoping the move had gone but Villa came in and you know you're talking top chance of getting in the top four with the team they had at the time and Martin as the manager and it worked for West Ham and it worked for me and loved me time at Villa really did really did did they say in the Press we need to sell him don't think so don't think I don't think it ever came out that they like they might not desperately a needed to sell me do you know what I mean I could have stayed possibly but it was just thinking of your relationship with the West Dam fans were like [ __ ] this jumping [ __ ] no not at all it wasn't that at all I was I was devastated to go I remember being at home speaking to my wife absolutely devastated before I knew the size of villa and and the players and and knowing Martin I was gutted proper proper gutted to be leaving and but then when I got there and you walk past the European Cup but and and you go to Villa Park you realize the size of that club and what they were doing with the team they had the the squad they had and Martin managing it it was it was a different cup of tea and then went there and had have probably played my best football I'd say in my career the first year at Villa and Martin on' playing alongside Richard Dunn who was hell of a fell hell of a fell got on straight away with big dunny played similar and enjoyed similar things off the he lik to drink as well we could we could we could iron a point out between us that's he came back because I remember when he was at City he he I played against him in the reserves and he was he just looked like a shift though no but he it was too he was always a big lad but he was gone looked like he was on a slippery slot but he came back stiff he just at Villa he was big he was our first year at Villa I think he conceded 18 goals or something like that he was he was big he's probably eight kilo 110 kilo playing big Dy but shifted quick and I I learned the most of him he was he was a great player great lad got on great with him and just our first meeting me and Danny we signed on the Thursday deadline day on the Thursday like the January and we're playing Birmingham in the derby on the Sunday so our first sort of meeting with Martin is the Saturday night in the hotel in Birmingham and we hadn't seen Martin really he signed us and then I don't know if you no this Martin wouldn't be about training too much Wally Wally used to take it five size off your go you'd be on by like 12 o00 there wasn't any tactical nouse really with Martin but when he spoke lined his team up he was brilliant so the first meeting is the Saturday night before we play Birmingham on a Sunday he's done his little chat watched the video and he's gone after the meeting right any questions so big dunny's put his hand up and going yeah sorry boss um me and ginger obviously new what we doing on set plays are we doing are we man marking are we are we zone or what do we do Martin O'Neal went well what we'll do is I signed you two big [ __ ] to head it so you two stand in the middle of the box and [ __ ] head it and that was it and that that was the that was that was the Remake back down yeah cheers boss so me and dny used to stand on the six yard yeah on just in the six yard box not marking anyone and just [ __ ] head everything we conceded one goal from a corner how simple is it but [ __ ] genius it's mad that he didn't offer that information you would to ask I tell you what we'll do it was s light up he probably walked out them two CS don't know what they're doing yeah so Martin would be like you wouldn't see him like I said while he'd take the train he'd be five aside he he'd walk it's Brian kff like I know this from Ted now Brian kff he'd be 2:00 on a Saturday he'd come in the dress room with his piece of paper and if it was the same team as last week he'd go same team same Subs walk out or if he was the team that was a change he would name the team but with the change and then walk out and just let the boys sort of good manage sort of go and do it do you know what I mean that that's how I remember there might have been a little bit where he came in and done a bit if we were playing a big big game or something like that but it was just so simple and perfect for me and dunny as a player and probably maybe not so much everyone in the squad James Miller was in the squad would probably would have liked to have ch trained a little bit harder but if you've done well for Martin he looked after you unbelievable he made you feel the best player in the world and could do anything but then if you [ __ ] up and weren't great he would [ __ ] Hammer you and make you feel about that big any examples of that with other players or yourself not not so much myself no because me and he so basically me and dny would play on a Saturday do or would all play do really well he would sometimes give us off if we had won till the Wednesday or the Thursday so me and Danny being the boys who were living in the in the baly at the time we're thinking what if we crack this today we win and we were winning most of the games we we'd be off till Wednesday or Thursday so we could have our beer or whatever if Denny wanted to go back to dubling or we'd go to Dublin together or whatever so we made sure com a Saturday we were on it because we wanted to do the same the next week and that was the same as as as all the squad maybe J the only one I remember James Milner busy come great lad unbelievable lad didn't drink but was always out Greg Gardner was there as well didn't drink but always out and and involved in the bander but Millie I think one day said to Martin O'Neal boss I think we need to train AR Martin O'Neal's answer was there's a [ __ ] treadmill in the gym James I'm not here to make you fit unbelievable man there's a treadmill in the gym get on that if you don't think you're fit enough do you know if if these Lads doing coaching courses now on how not to be a manager everything you've just spoken about there would be in it it don't do set pieces don't turn up don't just do all cluffy but for certain players like I can only name me and dunny and Stuart dowy I knew liked his time under Martin it worked it worked for certain players there's no doubt we could have maybe done a bit more but we were we finished fifth in the league League Cup Final that year FA Cup semi-final it was just unbelievable imagine turn up for a game knowing that if you get a result you're off till yeah Thursday class Mills would a bit like that Gary Mills obviously player on Brian Club wi Saturday there's a good chance you've got at least Monday off yeah so we' yeah we'd play Saturday said we'd won I remember beating Hull maybe at home 51 the one day and he Ashley Young and gabag Bon at the time were like his his golden kids so we'd sit in the dressing we'd war and he'd say right boys have Sunday Monday off we'll see you Tuesday and then you'd get Yi and Gabby to shout we'll see you on Wednesday see you Wednesday then Mar come go right okay you're right you see you Wednesday say it say say it you like that and your turn this week yeah you get the extra day off it was just it was just unbelievable unbeli I just but so have you lost are you in yeah so if you lost and and and say but that's it on the other end say you lost he'd have you in 6 o00 Sunday morning watching the full game do you know what I mean so as soon as you as soon as you didn't perform or you thought he thought you were taking the piss he'd bring you down to earth [ __ ] like that so you made sure you were on it pretty much getting straight from the nightclub aren't you for SE Yeah Yeah you mentioned uh big dunk and HT before but is there any players that you used to hear playing against and it on the flip side anyone that used to think I've got your number yeah I say it all the time time that I used to hate playing against Drogba DJ Drogba was the best center forward I think I played against who gave me the toughest time and it was I used to like that I used to like the bigger one because I have a bit of a battle with him but there's no doubt in my head I think if you ask a lot of players of my sort of age who were playing around then Center halfs ask him about the toughest opponent I think they' all say did jba from around that time 2005 6 seven eight and what was it CU you say you like the battle what was it he just had everything he was he was probably playing one up front before anyone else at Chelsea him on his own with like maybe a couple either side of him he could shift he was quick he'd run the channel he' hold it up he could edit he didn't mind a tackle he could finish and like you say bit old school but you try and give him a little kick and he'd like it and you go the other way and he'd give you one back he'd also die like go down like a suck of spers as well could dive in on him because he he Dive In My Eyes he pretty much had everything at that time like and I was quite lucky I played against most of them HRI all sheir I got I played against at Uptown Park I remember Michael Owen all the all the bigin but the the one that you you know not a sleepless night but you think like the Friday night in the hotel [ __ ] me I got did tomorrow and they always around that time they always seem to beat us 4-1 as well I remember every game was 4-1 or and it was he was just a handful you knew you knew it was going to be tough and was it what about on the flip side the one you think you know the ones that's top rated that you think I'd want mind been against you I didn't play against him that much but when I was a bit old I played against Harry Kane quite a lot and always done right West Ham were doing really well against Tottenham by the time we beat him a few times in in the league sort of when would that have been 2017 18 put maybe around there always felt like I done right against Harry uh Suarez used to kick [ __ ] out of Suarez did he not like it I hated it remember going to anfield we drew nil nil the game probably the best game I ever played for West Ham and I can see what he loved a nutmeg didn't he and I thought you know what I'm not just going to sit off year and let him take the piss out of me so I just thought every time he gets it not smash him but I'm just going to steam into him and early on you can see like I got tight to him like from behind a couple of times early on left a bit on him down the back of the car forever and just see didn't fancy it so I always done right against him because I us just to [ __ ] smash him you you could tell there's a picture of him like I'm I'm trying to clear the ball and there a picture of him like that he's just thinking who the [ __ ] is this gy shouldn't like Tech I don't think I actually got the ball that game and passed it to a West H player I just concentrated on him all game he must have be thinking who the [ __ ] Matty has used this in this past week to perfection in the French Capital been to Paris for his uh a romantic break with with his beautiful young lady yeah but he's still dreaming about leads United oh watching leads in L lose lose lose you still lose lose lose lose all is bothered about you don't give a [ __ ] about monaa he not bothered about get up that shitty tower all he wants to do is watch Leeds battle for promotion and he did in Paris all thanks to the sponsors for this week's show nordvpn one of our favorites oh I if you don't know what the VPN service is like youve just explain mat and Paris you maybe you're abroad you want to watch something over here what you do is you bounce your location from wherever you are back to England or whever you need to be whichever show you he was in Paris bounce his location back to lead it say always on the copper leads Maring on together hey hey no no noad lead and English Pig security settings as well didn't have to worry about that in in Francy no nobody's nobody's AC into your passwords your bank details everything that you don't want any nasty hackers getting their mcky hands on keeps them under lock and key M should he paid €24 for a fr in Su so they might not been with [ __ ] acing into enough about Paris John have we got an offer have we got an offer with the under the cost exclusive special offer get a 30-day money back guarantee and a hefty Hefty discount by visiting nordvpn.com or just follow the link in the description and you get a heavy heavy discount was that double heavy double double heavy double double heavy we've got to uh jump back to that Great Escape year cuz OB yeah if we don't mention I know yeah we spoke to Bobby about it and he was saying how it kind of relaxed in training up to that that period of the the was it nine games nine games seven nine yeah nine 10 games probably nine games after the Tottenham defeat at Upton Park we lost last minute and I think I can only say this now I think a lot of people and around the club thought we were gone I think we were on 20 points in March or something what are you thinking personally I don't think I ever actually thought we were down I I don't think you do as a player I you always think you can go on a run you know if you're down there like that three wins on the bouns you know you nine times out of 10 you're out of it so I don't think we ever did it we had Lucas we had Lucas Neil as our captain at the time who was brilliant he he he never let anyone really think we were down and I don't think we did as a squad we were doing he'd be putting on meetings you know like motivational meetings and stuff like that I'm not sure that helped us well it would have helped us stay up but it did anything but we just got a we had a good squad and we got a really really lucky result a away at Blackburn to start it which got one win and then I think we were playing maybe Balon or ever the next week so yeah just sort of all sort of snowball from that Blackburn win I think we had a got I think Bobby scored TZ is on the line is it his legs it's not over the line it's not a goal TZ is offside there's all sorts wrong with it they gave the goal and then we got dubious penalty and hung on and one two1 away at Blackburn and that just started it you know what it's like when you get a bit of momentum and then we went on beat Bon the next game maybe or Everton and it just went from there it it it's probably the time in my career I I played my best football I I mentioned the year at Aston Villa that first year under Martin I played well those last G Nine games I think that's when I played my best football when the chips were down and it really meant so you had to hang on to a game you're one nil up and you had to block shots and and head stuff that was definitely my best football and that 20 end of 2007 season I think we kept five clean sheets out of nine couldn't keep one all season we kept five clean sheets in nine games went to the Emirates kept a clean sheet which was a did Bobby talk about that game Emirates that year we went there 111 n they had 38 shots on goal and we had one 11 one nil you got like Yosi benun was our star man clearing balls off the line it was just one of them days and yeah just Blackburn one and then got another win clean sheet and it just just snowballed into Ultra Trafford last game of the season which was unbelievable cuz a lot of people the Press certainly thought we were down but as a group of players I don't think we ever thought we were down it's more looking at them fixtures I know Bolton ever a winnable games but you're thinking Arsenal the play man to play I think that's easy to get we had yeah who else did we but during that nine games we went to Sheffield United and lost 3-0 I think which again is a bit of a setback thinking because they were down there as well we were terrible on the day as well thinking right we we're back in it but then we went somewhere the next week W again and then it came to Old Trafford last game of the season best best sort of West Ham fans asked me it it shouldn't be associated with one of the best times at West H because we almost got relegated but how it ended and the Run we went on is probably my best best time at West Ham yeah and I again loved it loved all that having to having to keep a clean sheet having to make blocks tackles and dig people out and and and really backs against the wall absolutely [ __ ] loved it that those last nine games so you you always say John you shouldn't celebrate staying on well no fourth bottom should you you know what though we did we [ __ ] did well they had won the league man united had won the league so they were having their trophy stuff and all that on the pitch and wearing the dressing room and I don't know if it was gigsy I went up to but I asked him for a couple of bottles of champagne I I swear to God I think we had a bottle of Champions or two BS of champion just stayed up by the skin of our team the Old Trafford staff supped to be thinking [ __ ] out who's who's won the league here West won the league we were the music was up the [ __ ] champagne was going but it was all sort of relief relief you know if if a club goes down to that size these people getting sacked these people losing their jobs not the players but people at the training ground and we were that close with the staff and and and it was that sort of club that we felt responsible for it so the relief and and knowing people have are going to keep their jobs and and people we loved and liked kit men people who worked in the kitchen you know Shirley was the the chef and Tim and that it was just pure relief that everyone could now relax and and we're still in the Premier League but we didn't half celebrate I I went out for three days well my family were in my family were in the crowd at Old Trafford my wife was up there and my mom my brothers and they were all coming back to London but we flew there and they drove up so we' done all our bits at the ground and I got on the plane back I had been in the new bar for about 6 hours in me tracksuit by the time all my family got back to so I'm absolutely R by the time they've got back and so oh we celebrated Jesus did we celebrate did you have any did you have you heard of TZ and Masher arrived didn't have a clue must have thought what the honestly are these really going to [ __ ] help us some of the boys said they knew them as players I I hadn't heard I hadn't heard of them I going to be honest yeah I I had heard I wasn't watching [ __ ] in that sort of football so yeah South American football so I didn't know him I remember being at Upton Park didn't hear nothing about it and Sky Sports News were about and Alan paru walked up the tunnel at Upton park with them both like that with West Ham shirts on Teddy possibly would have known and God Jesus Christ these two are players but it was just mental we didn't know nobody nobody had a clue it was happening was there a moment in training or anything when you fought we've got a couple here he's a bad trainer Carlos didn't try a [ __ ] leg didn't even didn't even do his boots up didn't even do his boots up in training Carlos just didn't really speak didn't speak English so he had he had this [ __ ] stupid interpreter with him everywhere he went didn't try a leg in training whereas Masano [ __ ] worked his bollocks off worked and and wasn't playing didn't get in the team because Hayden Mullins was doing so well it sounds mad to say you know cier going on to do what he done but Hayden kept him out the team at West Ham there's no doubt about it but he TR he was a brilliant trainer and you could see didn't see a lot of Carlos like I said in training but mashiro was unbelievable unbelievable player great lad got involved with the banter and that and embraced it all and Carlos is to be fair and just Carlos St is talking on the pitch not early on struggled a bit early on didn't score a goal for a long time and then when he did start unbelievable I think my first thing when Carlos gets in the dressing room think he's going to [ __ ] SLE to Nick a bir in you've got your work you have to put some decent click on to him Teddy nobody struggle for a bird in the um yeah he he come out I think Caron Cole tells a good story about him he actually lost Carl L on a night out in a nightclub took him out first night and Coy tells a story better than me but he he was meant to be looking after him because he didn't have his interpreter with him and and and he didn't speak English so left up to [ __ ] C and Cole somehow who didn't even know what he was doing himself half the time so he took him out to a club in London and meant to be and [ __ ] disappeared Carlos was gone didn't know didn't know where he was until like how he got home or anything till the next day in training [ __ ] brilliant can't speak a word at Queen Ben Brazil or Argentina AR [ __ ] you know what that mean was it um bubbles the man that used to bubs yeah yeah how do you know about bubs I've just heard you talking about yeah so Bubsy was basically uh this is I I met him through Kevin noan Andy cow heed to just dri every just a normal cabie worked for work for our mate Lee who had a firm uh in East London but he' he'd pick you up anywhere anytime he should drive us all about and there you want to about to Dubai story you I knew this was coming so I used to use him that much and it was just you'd get pissed or you'd be out and you'd phone bubs he'd come pick you up wherever you are be half hour he come pick you up knew where you live didn't have to didn't have to tell him where he was going so we went on one of Sam's Famous Dubai trips and I got rotten and I'm just wandering about can't get home and I found bubs to come and pick me [Laughter] up hours he went Ginger stupid cany you and [ __ ] do oh [ __ ] you know so it's just automatic us that much couldn't get on couldn't get a c bubs could you come and get me [ __ ] do buy C he can oh don't honestly he's pick me up he's take me to the races take me to CH them wait around pick us up take us everywhere that was that was F Kev and Andy he used to take them everywhere and then sort of jumped on that I forgot they were there second time weren't they Kevin Andy yeah this I've got got one of which is on Twitter so it could be nonsense and we get done a few times but is it something with Kyle Reid and TZ car Reed and TZ what is it like a fight or something I've got the Anaconda story he's got a big one more done he oh is that what it is now about car all um are we doing this yeah Kyle Reed has the biggest [ __ ] you've ever seen in your life ever seen ever [ __ ] seen ever seen and I I I don't think he will mind me saying this it's not a bad slur is it honestly it's phenomenal would it have fitted in the pink no chance [ __ ] no have wrapped it around his legs a couple of times to get him on but uh yeah that's it's so I don't know the Carlos story but it's along those lines of Ky had a shock thought he were back in the jungle in is yeah like going back to Kevin Andy as well had some great times with them too great they were best mates at the time on a and just good good lads that's the second time I was at West Ham another great dressing him Kevin Andy brilliant I dropped Kevin an hotel in Cyprus I think and him and about 40 of his family oh he loves it loud yeah family we used to drink I used to go and meet his him and his his dad and his mom and his brother and his family used to come down for the West Ham home games and we'd go to a pub R the back of epin where he used to live and it'd be [ __ ] 50 scouters in there it'd be [ __ ] Carnage but great fun loved it Andy have you heard me and Andy cow story no a Bel at this we were away on mentioned Kevin Andy being best mates we were away in Germany on preseason tour with Sam so we worked hard you know what preseason like work hard the first week last night he might might give you a night out so he gave us a night out in this [ __ ] [ __ ] hole of a village in Germany somewhere but we found this bar that was looked half decent so any cut a long story short we're in this bar pissed got a bit Lively and Kevin Andy started having a fight not a fight an argument about something so I've s sort of got in the middle of not in the middle of it they were never going to fight cuz they were really close but they were really arguing I've got in the middle and gone [ __ ] leave it out boys Jesus Christ everyone's pissed but Andy's gone you can see his eyes are gone like he wants to [ __ ] chin someone so me being silly bollocks has gone [ __ ] it I'll have a go I'm not sure if Andy will tell the same story because I was pissed but noes was definitely there so I've swung for Andy missed him by about a [ __ ] foot pissed swung for him he has gone clock and it me on the cheek ear I've never I've it been it a couple times never been it so hard in all my life didn't didn't knock me out but I took a knee I said take I took a I took the night C nose is in the middle of us going what the [ __ ] is going on it's just it's pandemonium in this calf now and I'm on my knees going [ __ ] you know what's going on and that that was a preseason tour so I've ended up nothing come we ended up me being me him being him stood up had a pun shook hands [ __ ] nonsense got on with it good shot good shot yeah [ __ ] don't get hit by Andy cow he is one [ __ ] strong Geer let me tell you and next morning anyway my cheeks out here Andy's like don't know what's happened to Andy but we've gone down Sam's heard something's gone on so we're like [ __ ] you know Big Sam's got us down in all of us the whole Squad sat down he's gone what the [ __ ] gone on last last night blahy blah whoever was involved stay in this gym whoever wasn't involved leaved leave so I've stayed there NOS have stayed there Kev stayed there andy wasn't in there for whatever reason he might have been with the physios or whatever few of us stayed five of us stayed anyway and he's fuming to what in front of all the your disgrace fuming in front of all the lads this is what happens when I let you go out so me Kev noes maybe one of us stayed Matty Taylor Maybe stayed and we think oh we're in for it here we're getting fined and all that all the squad leave the door closes behind him big S goes ah you buggers what you not been up to absolutely [ __ ] loved him he's got what the [ __ ] have you done me cheeks out Big Andy [ __ ] you get he was [ __ ] he was loving it but then obviously had to do something and and I think we got fined in the end or something but no funny funny time we could obviously see that there was no ill feeling you yeah ended up having a couple more point with Andy and having a laugh it was just one of them things [ __ ] serves me right for [ __ ] swinging at him I think you brought it on exactly don't I don't make your M it'd be interesting to see Andy story on that CU I've never never heard it from him to be did you did you first here about West Ham's interest in bringing you back did you I'm assuming you jumped yeah oh God yeah um well like I mentioned it did it didn't go too well the last I had a bit of trouble at Villa with jard julier me and dny uh which you know didn't didn't end too great and then Paul Lambert came in and it was s i could sort of tell at Villa it wasn't it was sort of coming to an end there and um noes for me I was away I think I was in Chicago I was my wife thinks I was on a golf course but I think I was I was in Chicago on preseason tour when I got the initial phone call and uh yeah noes follow me and said big Sam want you back and I thought he was on a wind up thought he was taking a piss because he knew you know I was I was still pretty much commuting from London to to Villa when I was when I was at Villa anyway like a lot of boys do now you know boys at Stoke were doing the same so I thought it was on a wind up came back from uh I think in yeah Chicago with Villa and then it was a Sunday morning I think Paul Lambert but I had done it I'd sort of done the deal because I knew it was coming i' had done the deal that all the money was sorted and all that and did you speak with Sam spoke with Sam briefly on the phone I hadn't been down cuz just to confirm it was just to confirm it wasn't a wind up yeah of course and he said yeah and I I knew people at the club were phoning me he definitely wants to spoke to Kev Nolan so came back to the training came back to B Mo he at Villa Paul Lambert pulled me in on a Sunday or Monday morning and said we've accepted a bid from West Ham um take your time make your decision you know I have a couple of days there's no rush you know it wasn't anywhere near a window or anything take your time you know have your have your time speak to your family come back to me Wednesday or Thursday let us know what you want to do go speak to them but I'd done it I'd done the deal so I walked out walked to the bootroom picked up a pair pair of boots walked back in his office knocked the door shook his hand and walked out straight back to London trained trained with West Ham the next day cuz I had done the deal he was like take your time I want to be like once you watch TI thinking oh don't happen that quick no yeah it was it was it was done yeah so I literally walked out said my goodbyes to everyone at body Moore e really picked up a you know like a bag of boots and me pads my back in shut Paul Lambert's hand in over the M the you J were you did he not like the way you were your Lads were yeah it didn't go great on the J you know um he brought in his own like we had Martin where we were we were doing really well and and Martin left I believe because he didn't get money to sign Dar and bent along those lines they sold Millie or Yi on one of the boys and he wanted the money to sign benty didn't happen he left the football club and then Gerard came in and they gave him the money to buy bendy so it was a bit like everyone was a bit like [ __ ] really like Martin we love Martin and all that and it didn't go great just it's hard to say like didn't really enjoy the training and he brought a fitness coach in that that that didn't really get on with me and dny part of it the massive change I imagine between Martin was that relationship you had possibly that and also Jo obviously the manager he was with what he done with Liverpool and all that and and we didn't really we had a lot of changes in the squad as well we had a lot of young Lads and it just just didn't work it didn't work and and it all came to a head we were we had gone away to a champanes or something like that and did uh for a team bonding to watch some Champions League football and we were all drinking the club come out and said that the staff weren't drinking they were the whole everyone the players were watching the Champions League the staff were there and drinking and it and it and it wasn't going well I think we were in the bottom three or four at the time maybe or or close to the bottom and it started as a discussion with and dunny and and and the group of Staff generally as players trying to improve stuff basically and and and and bang our ads together where we could do better but it's sort of like escalated into into an argument like quite a bad argument where stuff was said from the staff towards me and dny and the other players and what we said to them and it just got really really messy to the point where over a line over over a line in terms of yeah yeah certainly both sides from from us as players I'm sure D say and them as staff as well and it it all sort of came it got that bad that we got suspended from from the club got fined two weeks wages PFA were involved so that sort of didn't go well and and and and we got quite a lot of bad press from that and we did we did me and Donny probably did act out of order a little bit at some points but it started off in the right in coming from the right place and um it didn't go down down well with the West Ham uh the The Villa fans obviously and it got really really messy to a point where I think they actually tried to get sacked it got really bad under under jarard and then sort of got sorted out over a long period of time like I said got fined a lot two weeks wages two weeks suspended like as much as they could possibly do so it sort of stem from there really and then yeah the next season uh Paul Lambert come in and it was it was time to go so yeah that that in I'm not proud of that bit that that the time under jard to be honest I didn't really didn't hand on himself greatly and I think dony had say the same but the club as well also didn't themselves as well not the club the staff at the club at the time it just got really really bad it's his own fault for organizing a team bonding watching the champions league and I I think if they certain members of the staff it was all in a big meeting in the end and the staff were there some were saying they weren't drinking and they were and and it was just it got a bit silly you know what I mean and like I said it ended with us ended with us suspended and I think a four week fine in the end yeah I'm guessing the fans have only hearing one side of the story you're having to go at the club yeah and and I'd say this generally from my heart we was we sat down in that initial time where we thought it was a team bonding thing so you do sort of sort stuff out on team bonding ni didn't so we were talking about maybe a bit of training we could have done better or stuff we didn't like and it started like that and something was said maybe about the way me and dny had been playing or something like that or or or along those lines and it just turned into a into a full-blown argument and it got it got pretty pretty tasty you didn't test the water initially when he came in did you like G right see Monday Lads of Wednesday W no there was none of that there was none of that it was it was back to yeah no days off running laps old school laps of the training ground and all that which you know it happens managers change football clubs as a player you've got to adapt to different managers but it sort of Chang yeah exactly it just didn't sort of didn't work and and I'm gotted about it because it it it was it wasn't great though those it probably lasted a month from the argument to the all the PFA and being suspended it was it was a horrible horrible time so it was sounds like the West Ham move came and it was a fresh start for you it was I came back better player as well there's no doubt about it I I came back having played with dny for a long time and learning a lot of him it was just perfect so have my house in London feel like coming home like that You' spoke about West Ham and it sounds mad to say cuz you know there's been players at clubs a lot longer than I was at West H the first time but it felt like home it really did the way the club were to me the way the fans were to me the the feelings I had towards the club loved it it it was and it's not often that happens you don't you don't see a player have a great time and a great relationship with a club and leave and have the chance to come back as well a better player it it just don't happen so I was lucky in that sense as well and again lucky to come into such a good dressing room Kevin Nolan man uh Captain Sam as the manager it was just perfect I love playing for Sam I loved him because he gets a bit of stick don't he he does he gets too much stick for my liking um he was given a job at West Ham he signed players to get him in the Premier League and keep him in the Premier League he did it he did it quite comfortably for a number of years and he was just not so not so simplistic as Martin O'Neal but just made things so easy for you so simple certainly is a center half head it kick it give it to the good players what I mean it sounds mad but that's that's sort of what it was and another one where if you worked for Sam he was good to you and looked after you and his all his staff at the time W he DS was there it was just just a great time I think stee talked about his trips didn't he Dubai trips is he about the Dubai TRS he loved it there didn't he at Villa West Ham West Ham yeah yeah like Stewie was a big part of it Stewie was was massively underrated at West time he was great players stey and loved his time now and um yeah Sam's Dubai trips I think they they're renowned in football no boots taken or no boots taken no balls no balls just does he tell the club that is a um I would presume I presume maybe the balls did go in the boots but they W Used often they weren't used often basically the club can't with the success that he's always had but yeah after it he's always had them trips when he do he do those trips I remember going into one of them trips I had scored against Norwich at Upton Park we weren't in a great spot and we went on one one of Sam's trips and come back and one five on the bounds I mean you know there's quite a lot to be said for that it wouldn't happen nowadays Jesus Christ no chance but at the time it it was perfect well they have any like trouble no never nothing because we felt lucky to be doing it you know what I mean you made as a group of players Kev obviously being Captain noes with a big voice as well but myself you just made sure that made sure that nothing happened cuz you want would known his Bolton what kin Sam had an unbelievable relationship argued a lot see them see them proper argue but unbelievable did you us to like watching them go at it yeah wife job Kev have a go and he say a few bits and Sam attempted to [ __ ] off and shut up and Kev go okay and just that was it he say his bit to a point and then as soon as Sam lost it went shut the [ __ ] up Kev he would be quiet I Kev say that you argue but soon as she said shut up oh yeah no problem okay no problem boss yeah it was that sort of relationship but yeah those trips they worked a treat they worked a treat I think there was there was a point where he would even he'd say to say a few of the boys in squads like the under the thumb used to say with the misses he'd say I'll write you a letter for the misses say we're going on a I just thinking say we're going on a uh say we're going on a training camp and all that tell you miss it's a training camp yeah cuz you got no going saying it's a it's a dolly your way to the airport just going and buying some new outfits Le leave them there [ __ ] it let us have one there's there's one I think it was Sam's last trip last trip so the last night of the trip it was always you've had your fun we're going to have a drink but we're going to be all together all the staff all the players in the hotel we're stay in it and we'll all drink together have a crack have a laugh so I think it was Sam's last trip we were all drinking around Sam and he can hold Court like no one when he's got like his element he is [ __ ] unbelievable at it so he's having a beer telling story he hammering people body bar so he's gone right everyone's got to be on the bus 9:00 in the morning if you're late whoever's late all of you one person's late all of you together are paying the staff's bill for the week so we're thinking [ __ ] hell everyone's got to be on that bus for so we're that morning hanging we're all getting each other up don't be late don't be late we got to pay Sam's Bell so thinking what everyone's everyone's here there's no Sam this particular we had good we had a good go there's no boss and it's it's not like him so we're all starting oh [ __ ] Gaff is late by by bar so all of a sudden you see like the sliding doors of the old open Sam comes out with his glasses on pulling his suitcase little bit worse for we but he looks like he's got the raving up we're thinking there something happening here so he gets on the bus sits down gets the microphone from on the bus you know the old microphone and goes what a [ __ ] trip that was boys see next year we thinking he's got the just over what a trip that was lad and then he went back and won five on the banks unbelievable did you notice a change throughout your career like Lads getting not more profession well probably more professional yeah yeah definitely from the foreign Lads coming in who probably maybe didn't drink as much yeah definitely towards definitely towards the end later days but still it's still come out we still had nights out and that and the boys had come out but it was just different do you know what I mean than than us boys I suppose obviously for the better cuz you know you probably can't do we certainly can't do that nowadays but I feel a bit if I'm honest bit sorry for modern day footballers who can't who yeah who can't enjoy that side of it you know you're a young lad earning good though and they can't really social media obviously as well and stuff like that but they can't really enjoy it so refreshing W it seeing greish absolutely for a week don't you love it brilant I think it's was he Lively in yeah he was he was young he was young he was 16 around the first team when I was at Villa at the time but you could see then unbelievable player but I'd love it I love the fact that he's enjoying himself yeah he's he's working hard he's playing really well or doing his stuff on the pitch but he's enjoying himself and he's such a lovely fellow and I don't think you'll ever see anyone speak bad about him or you know no doubt his managers if they thought he was doing it too much and he wasn't performing they'd come down on him but let him let the boy do what he wants to do I'm pleased cuz I think the Press kind of have embraced it you know when he was doing slaughtered initially they weren't and then I think they've won well when they won the treble I mean if you can't go and do that then and enjoy yourself as a young lad just gone to City his first was it his first year when he won a treble or second year maybe second second yeah I mean it makes him a bit more real doesn't it do you know you know what I mean not so much like a robot going out enjoying himself I think it's brilliant to see he didn't start the season though did he no it's probably still on the pit bubbles do some miles if you won the trouble oh Jesus he's done some miles already I think he blew a couple of cars up was Payette as infuriating as he was brilliant as in infuriating just if he didn't fancy it you know you knew he had the ability because there was a spell when he was unplayable W he but he was uh Dey was one of them players that you'd pretty much let him do what he wanted he he was that good that we could we knew if we were solid behind it he'd win us the game and some games he'd be off it and you'd think well you've got to take that now and then but he was that good he was a player at West I never thought I'd see a player like him at West Ham he he's the best player I played with there for sure he was just some of the stuff he was doing in training he also had we didn't see we did see a lot of but not to the level I thought he was going to get to is um Manu lanzini he was like Nick the them two together in training nutmegging people and and doing stuff like that he was Dimitri was unbelievable unbelievable his free kicks the way he used to play the game phenomenal player did he go on strike at some point yeah towards the end it got a bit messy for him well for the club as well and I look back at that and feel a bit sorry savan bich was manager I think Demi went away got in the FR uh France squad for the 2016 it must have been Euros where we went with Wales and done really well well and I think he came back different player I don't know if he' been touted or he' had a word or something or something had gone on but he came back different and uh it looked like he was moving on and he he refused to play for West Ham he put He he wasn't training I don't think and wasn't coming in too much and he refused to play which was a shame because he was such a good lad as well before that and he just stopped talking to people a little bit made it really hard for slavin he had to go in the press and say like I've got a real problem which was tough and when it came out me and no was chatting thinking [ __ ] me is that good he could be going [ __ ] Madrid or somewhere and then you not understand it but you could see that people do that to move didn't there and then you think he could go anywhere it seemed like he could have gone anywhere Barcelona and he went to [ __ ] Mars yeah so then you're thinking is there something else has something else gone on so yeah he was a great player good lad at the time but it did go bad at the end and and and he didn't handle himself great to be fair did he tarnish he uh reputation with the fans and that yeah for sure for sure I think they still call him a snake now don't they still I do q& a and bits and Bobs like that at pods and people ask me and they they still don't like him which is a shame because he could have been he's like I think you look at like West Ham they've always had like a Deano or poet Yosi benayun you know like the Maverick sort of and they were like Dano was obviously a legend he could have been one of them if he had gone to Madrid fair enough you're going on Bigger Better Club but if you just stayed at West Ham for another couple years you could have been an absolute Ledger club and yeah the fans Still Still forgiven won't forgive him no they won't this is a genuine question who's more chocolate of the ref not be just be a piss take the rest of it who's more chocolate Coleman or pju paru for sure Chris Coleman M I'm not having him as chocolate at all nah are you yeah nah maybe he's a tor's chocolate we're trying to [ __ ] get no get him on Dairy Milk no cookie n lint he's a he's a Swansea boy cookie he's not he's not chocolate at all I say Gooding boy though maybe good he's a big lump and all jeal jealous hor thing that jealousy it's a [ __ ] horrible thing he's um he's great lad cookie [ __ ] great lad um like I said goodlooking big old lamp got got the presence about him maybe that's what you're taking us think so yeah's got bigger shoulders than you that's what it is he is he is top top door cookie had some I I caught the back end of cookie when I got into the whales Squad I think he was still about but he had you know broken his leg at the time and and was struggling with that and then obviously manager 2015 16 that sort of time he was he was brilliant unbelievable talk about that you Rose man I could talk about it all day because we've had some of the older boys on the um John artson Norm talking about the Wales trips being a bit more of a jolly and some of the lads not taking it too serious well it was it was when I first started it was there's no doubt about it you know hars and and and Norma bang on it was it was sometimes you didn't know where you were training or or and like kit it wasn't kit and stuff maybe not so much when I was there but you hear stories on the older boys it was it was bad for a long long time but we always had good players you know we had gigsy I rush you know Mark Hughes big big players but it never really worked for whatever reason and um I think the boys are right you we knew going into camps in the early days it sounds bad to say we weren't qualifying for tournaments so the games were a bit like not irrelevant you're playing for your country and it's amazing but we knew we weren't going to qualify so Norman and hearts of right it probably become a bit of a meet up with the boys when did it change Gary speed yeah Gary speed great great man good coach great coach got good coaches in with him changed the way we act changed it from being a jolly up if you like changed it to part where we're qualifying changed the way we traveled the the way we dressed the way we went to games and just changed everything and it and without Speedo coming in at that time I don't think we would have got to where we got to in 2016 there's no doubt about it he was he was hell of a man you nothing but good good stuff from like Lads that we've had on at Bolton young Lads coming through everyone yeah just the way he was as a player as a player as as the way he carried himself he just had just such an awe about him the advice he'd give you the way he spoke to people the way he you know was on the training pitch it was just an absolute pleasure and like I said the way we've gone on from then is is unbelievable you know we had G Bale helps you know best not bad is no best player in the world at the time most expensive player in the world Aaron Ramsey arguably one of the best players in the midfielders in the world at the time but all started from a real base that Speedo sort of created you speak to did you speak to Gareth when he was thinking of retiring like B yeah uh little bit yeah speak to him speak to him now and then yeah I'm done I I think he knew I don't know but I think he knew he's he couldn't play how he we all knew he played yeah the real pace and the skill and all that and he go out on a high go out when he did I mean the the lack of respect he gets at Real Madrid is absolutely mindblowing in it I mean he won five Champions Leagues is it five or four five I think yeah copad Del three times La Liga I mean he was unbelievable scored arguably the best goal ever in a Champions League final but when they show the Champions League goals they don't show gaz's overhead kick it's it's mad what he how he went on the stick he was getting sometimes to go on and and do that five Champions is is unbelievable and then when he's doing all that and he'd come back to Wales and it'd be G from Cardiff he's the most downto Earth normal fell I don't know if any of you ever met him played against him when he was [ __ ] when he was left back uh just unbelievable just such a great great man and and fortunate we when he signed for Madrid we I think we met with Wales not long after and he's that normal he went fancy Hernando boys like we met at Ricardo if in the hotel and we like [ __ ] hell guys you're all over the news you just gone to Real Madrid for like 90 million can't just go to Nando down the road in C can you surely he's G yeah we'd be all right so we've gone to Nando anyway two minutes later someone's got winner it Twitter [ __ ] all over Twitter there's 10,000 people outside dando he thinks he he's that down to earth and that normal billiant and he's he's got a set he's got I don't know I don't know the number but he's got a real close group of friends back in Cardiff that he takes away on golf trips and and does his thing and he's and he's enjoying himself I mean why wouldn't you can you remember when he because he just all of a sudden I don't know if it was over a summer he turned in turned from a boy to an absolute specimen didn't he yeah yeah he just looked a different animal yeah just I think just being out there playing around the players he was the expectation grew on him obviously to become this player and he's just he works so hard he's like even training his free kicks and the way he does he's just I've played with good players really good players and they're there and then you play with someone like Gaz and they are just well CL different different mentality different way of training different way of carrying themselves and he deserves everything he get because he's such honestly his family and him such such good people I think I know the answer to this I don't think he will have done but did he get frustrated with playing with players who weren't as good as him that's I play with bellaz car different we used to wind the [ __ ] out of bell [ __ ] it doesn't take Craig BBY doesn't take a lot of winding up though does he let's be honest [ __ ] little angry [ __ ] um no never come across like that NE never never he um he loved playing for Wales he loved and and really wanted to do well and and and and make things happen for Wales so he never every player in that whale Squad up their game around Gaz he made every player better there's no doubt about it so I don't think there was any frustration no ever disappointment in playing with some of the players he did he just made us all better he raised our levels to a level to get to the 2016 semi-final from absolutely nowhere did you talk about them early years like we said we we nor and and John arson but that 2016 Squad it just seemed like this real national pride come together all of a sudden it look just look like you're having a ball but really proud and really really enjoying playing for your country that's exactly what it was those nine weeks in France are the best nine weeks I've ever had it was literally playing for your country best thing in the world with your best mates with a group of lads who are all great Lads doing really well no one fancied us at all to do to do anything really you know everyone was talking about England we were in England's group and we just went under the radar done our own thing trained really hard unbelievable coach from cookie and aen and uh kit was there at the time as well like real playing against like Russia the real tactical right if we do this we'll win the game and and and every game it did and just slipped under the radar and ended up in a semi-final like that F we won again for [ __ ] [ __ ] set up B I think we're going to win the [ __ ] well that's the [ __ ] that's the [ __ ] problem I didn't play I didn't play at all that tournament until we got to the semi-final Ben Davis got suspended Aaron R got suspended I [ __ ] played and we lost the semi-final so if benander got if benander got suspended we probably would have won it but um I think what heightened that was how bad England were doing as well and how just completely different one I've said this a lot as well playing for Wales you are under the radar compared to England there's no doubt about it as in you're not spoken about as much and blood blah and we got to we've eventually got to this tournament and we done really well so we it sounds bad to say we were not enjoying but we weren't asked about England they were they were getting Pals and all that and we were just concentrating on ourselves and some of the results I mean that that Belgium we beat Belgium 3-1 in the quarters I think I mean it's unbelievable how how we've we were quietly confident in ourselves that we could do well but we I don't think we ever thought we' we'd get to the semi-final as much as we had a great team I mean that goal hell car who scored in against Belgium it's [ __ ] unbelievable unbeliev exactly same as that have C in the six Bo did you mean to do it though when car's done it I'm like [ __ ] off man canit a bigger game than St light but [ __ ] off I was with Brian Flynn at the weekend and he told us about um when he first spoke the Robson CaRu I think it was Glenn little he he'd gone to Ren to speak to gun about cuz he's well in with a wheel setup about sorting you know about the time when the the redeveloping everything and getting a plant together and Glenn Little's gone go speak to him over there he goes to whels every year on his holidays and it was Robson CaRu so flynny was like he's obviously Joker but I'll go and ask anywhere and it turned out that his grandma was yeah Welsh or something like that is n had a sandwich in Brien services all way we've had a few of them over the years um yeah just the team spirit and the bonding was unbelievable I just remember in the changing rooms lley go was he doing that dance yeah well that comes down to cookie as well like we were having beers after the games in the dressing room I'm not sure how many teams would have been doing that or certainly like back of the hotel it wasn't but they say like the Russia game he won that cookie would' be calling in like a crat of beers for the boys and we'd be we' enjoying it do you know what I mean like we've done this we're going to enjoy it but then when we're back on it we're on it and and like just brilliant if it could play one game again in your career what would you go for that's a great question that one game was my question by the way that's your question just D it off the notes I'm more on the can you remember your best night out the football that's the problem now I I can't remember them I can't remember a lot of the football I probably headed it too much to be honest um there's a couple it'd be that 2016 semi-final actually played all right in the game but obviously do better in that I think it would probably be my last game for West Ham uh at the at the new stadium because of the way I left West Ham I was there so long and had such a good relationship I didn't really definitely know that was my last game so I didn't do anything to say thank you to people or appreciate the crowd and and and and the day that much cuz I wasn't sure if it was my last game so for that reason probably the last game for West Ham Everton were you a bit nervous when they did move stadiums not nervous it was strange it was it was weird you know you you still ask any West Ham fan now is it's people are still finding it strange you know epton Park was such a iconic sort of intimidating venue that moving anytime would have been tough but you know I can say this now looking back it's the right move for the club you know we're every every football fan wants their Club to progress and get bigger and do better things we couldn't have done that at Upton Park we wouldn't be we wouldn't have won you know the conference League last year if we had to move to to London Stadium there's no doubt about it for the revenue it's created the money we can play pay players the the you know the the facilities we've got there so it was strange at the time and like I said the old school West Ham fans are still finding exchange but I think for a club moving forward that to happen did it affect the atmosphere yeah when you moved I say all it was weird anyway but that first year we were at the London Stadium the football was [ __ ] awful so if you're a fan and you're going to a place you don't really want to be going and the football sh you're going to have the double ump in you so I think if the football have been better that first year and we had performed a bit better I think it would have been easier for everyone but there's no doubt the size of the place the atmosphere was you know we took we were selling out Upton Park 36 38,000 fans every week and then you go to a 58,000 seater Stadium you know the the the difference is going to be noticeable so it was manager then slavin slavin bich great guy great great man slav looks like leges a [ __ ] slavin loves a [ __ ] on the I don't think they got that bad yeah but um no I loved it he dressing rooms toilets sneaking out he everywhere all his staff chuffing for fun they were what would be the most intimidating ground to play at or an away player nin and park back in the day or Upton Park if they're both [ __ ] bouncing CU n and park were horrible yeah it was tough there oh geez what a question both tough I thanks for that man I've never before good question it's only a good question to me though ask anybody else um I'd have to say Upton Park that chicken run on the far side if you were even as a home player as well though like at card if like they'd give you stick they'd give the away fans a away team awful stick and and you occasionally but Upton Park as a West Ham player if you weren't performing you got pelters which I agree with to be fair if you're not performing you're not playing well you deserve it but you see players you know hide from the ball if they're playing bad ups and part there's no doubt about it and and for the away team you all played up but and the tunnel down the bottom when you were stood in there and it was really bouncing outside you could see the away team [ __ ] [ __ ] themselves all old thing saying like you was one nil up before you went out but you were if it was bouncing at Upton Park [ __ ] you know good luck what were you when you retired 35 35 I left West Ham 2018 and I went up to IPS which I didn't do anything for the first bit of the season because I still wanted it still gutted to have left West Ham and the way it ended so I didn't really do a lot I kept myself fit in that and I thought I had a chance of still playing in the Prem still thought I had something to offer and and didn't and uh and signed for rip switch for six months did you think there was there was going to be another contract there an extension yeah I did at West Ham yeah yeah I did I I really did um was it Mo he it was his first time it was the gaffer's first time so he was out of contract that summer as well it was all a bit of a bit of a mixup so it was getting spoken about a little bit but I couldn't go to the gaffa and say what's happening in me contract because he would go Ginge I don't know cuz I haven't got one so I couldn't really speak to anyone and it ended not in the way I wanted it to really or would like to it of like I said I would like to have said Thank you to a lot of people didn't really get that chance to to do it all I think I've heard since that Pelini knew he had had the job before before uh you know that summer before he was actually official like I was gone or maybe early on in the season and apparently he was at the a game against Liverpool at anfield and we had lost 3-1 I think and I had a shocker and I had had a shocker that day really played bad and I think he had made his mind up then Pelini had said to the owners right these are the players I want these are the ones I don't want and I must have been on the ones he didn't want and it and it never came so maybe if IID had a chance to speak to Pelini and and and if he had spoken to players maybe about what just a bad game yeah one one bad game yeah which yeah like I said I I thought I had something to offer the club definitely especially a new manager coming in with the obviously going to be new signings and stuff but it wasn't to be you know is what it is that's football I suppose you know what it's like as soon as you're done yeah you're sort of you're done and yeah off your go so I struggled with it a bit as well just the way it ended as in really felt gutted for a long long time um and and that's probably why I didn't go out straight into another club took a bit of time out with with my family kept himself fit and then and then went to went to whip switch suppose it softens the blow a little bit like was just talking about the relationship you have with a club now yeah yeah definitely and and and still to this day which is which is unbelievable like even you know people talk about I should have had a testimonial and stuff like that I'm not sure I was I don't think it happens anymore test they were massive back in the day it doesn't really happened but the fans have been absolutely unbelievable unbelievable still to this day you know get St get stopped more and notice more now I'm not playing than I did when I was playing to be honest but I became a fan of West Ham a a West Ham fan playing for West Ham yeah so I think again that sort of brings me together with the fans if you and I was out and about as well I'd be I'd be in a pub speaking to fans and after a game I used to I went in the bowan pub after a game once do you know what I mean that the actual West Ham Pub on Green Street just went in there in me track suit for a couple of points after a game chatting to fans so enjoyed your career I did my brother always says to me I had the perfect career at the perfect time yeah cuz in early days you know there's no doubt I like to Pint and and live my life away from football don't know right caught caught the money the back you know the money when it first started coming in but really enjoyed it you think you could start out now as an 18 year old and do it all again no I don't think I'd get through I don't think I'd get anywhere near the game I played and the way I played wouldn't get to the Premier League nowadays I I I don't believe that's my that's my own opinion which is a shame because I still believe being a proper Defender should always be in football as in I don't I don't get nowadays in football why everyone all all Defenders think they're [ __ ] players all of a sudden the goalkeepers in it stop the ball why the [ __ ] are they doing the the goal kicks now where they pass it inside the six yard box you're in goal for a [ __ ] reason you can't use your feet so why would you start playing onws with your goalkeeper and all that I I don't get it I know football's moved on everyone wants to see the beautiful game but I don't think I could play there's no doubt about I could play could get a Diagon and play when I needed to but I think the defender and the out andout Defender I was I don't think I'd get near the Premier League if I was to start now I've seen them at Center half taking the goal kick passing it one yard to the keeper and then running off making it I'm like whates you sent it off cuz you're not the best on the ball well they weren't they're probably a bit better now and your goalkeeper shouldn't have the ball at his feet they and all they do they stand on the edge of the sixy Box pass it to the center half get closed down pass it back to the keeper and he [ __ ] pings it up the just why not just do the old one [ __ ] K squeeze them up play off whatever happened to that [ __ ] show you got the three worst players with the ball at their feet trying to do a [ __ ] a little keep ball in the six yard box makes no [ __ ] sense can we call you ging or is it a bit faming it's going great there looking awful cheers a brilliant are you going to address the elephant in the room get out the way early what's up John what track suit to be fair you're not you're not far Vala covered in C like an old Vala track to W it used to be black yeah now charcoal I mean we SM about at the beginning I forgot my jeans didn't I so but I had no option we did two this to that that day as well we did obviously James Collins and Tim Sherwood I mean I think Ginge found it funny but I thing is ging came like dress smart well whatever I see you dress a bit like that you can see it yeah 78 country country chic rugby top yeah I see a tweet jacket every time we get somebody on that's played with Jimmy I'll just message him and I always know if it's going to be a good episode by Jimmy's Jimmy Walkers Jimmy Walker obviously he was at West Ham with him and he just put enjoy yourself is that it yeah great that was it and I think speak about in the thing about his swim short or some speed off but yeah Jimmy's always a good gauge guge I mean I've been in some pickles in my time but I've never phed a taxi to the wrong [Laughter] country what was he called the D bubbles bubbles bubbles time for me bubbles he's from Wales L bubbles it suits a cotney accent he's obviously a Londoner bubbles ready for R was going to be uh probably about 14 hours mate get a I said I said in the intro big fan like you know just boying good yeah like he's just a regular and and can imagine if you're playing for West Ham doing well and you're in that Essex scene you could quite easily be clean up tur well turn into a bit of a knob you know if you're in the the essic scene and get caught up in it got better than that he's still he's still a Welsh he's still a valley boy a he yeah he owns it as well don't he he doesn't I tell you we do need on Bubble imagine bubbles are stories [ __ ] hell anybody anybody in touch with bubbles thing is Bubbles will be a great lad he'll be sworn to secrecy yeah yeah he he could make his sell fortune bubbles you know just selling a little story here and one there but you can get him on the after dinner scene oh bubbles oh [ __ ] not a problem turn a turn you can just tell the story without saying the name I took this one L on one night Andy Caroll as well yeah Brave man and the more we he about Villa as well just that those managing techniques oh na Martin O'Neal it's just strange one is he O'Neal he did so well at Villa and Lester yeah but that period where it's just not even any tactics just turn out yeah but the I mean obviously be released in a few weeks the Steven waru won was there as well and he's got more tales on the pair of the man do you know what very strange yeah Steven Wars coming up and I know when we put it out there was a few we got a few of the Zeds and whatnot from he's you know he's on sky and he doing the the ref watch is it Su Smith and obviously he has to he has to play the game play the game there but brilliant episode one of my favorites I I think it's the best of this series that we've done so far yeah a not James and everybody else that's been on ever I to watch ref watch sry be like oh what's going be like but is honestly his episode is incredible if you're watching in Scotland we're in Glasgow this weekend MH this Sunday is it yeah yeah we are this Sunday and Kal if you're Saturday night Glasgow Sunday night by the way I did an have dinner in Scotland last week they just [ __ ] love it all they want to do is get rat ass I can't believe what you said about the you know the tables of 10 there just bottles of spirits in the middle so on the T on the table Whiskey on the table of 10 there's two bottles of wine a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of VRA on every table just out yourself I've I've took her the one on my table obviously I'm working I don't drink V craft Cher one home I don't blame you sneaked in me but me jacket right hle walking out with a bottle of AA [ __ ] him luck this weekend to Chris by the way yeah all the best mate 26.3 miles yeah ining [ __ ] need it it be right be right we've heard for last month great you've come with a blister a't you yeah I got a blister today I went for a little trout yesterday I thought you were having the week off you've got to be tapering now Chris I just did Four Mile yesterday I struggle with that God bless you God bless you I just want to go there's every chance there's every chance we could be looking for a new uh a new H I just want to see you finish the line next to Mr Blobby and a hot dog fours a hot dog got beat by a boiler ien you better off doing it fany dressing you've got half of a you yeah but good luck all the best way I'm I genuinely cannot wait to where's gone we were speaking about remember the brown Le Brothers when one of them line me and him we going to hop over the fence with a trolley see you home like to see him from casualty went through AA neck bra I what you going to have to do your breakfast what bagel bagel plenty of carbs yeah bit of protein if you this this is everybody's different I know that but stay away from them gels do you think You' be [ __ ] yourself all the way around I'm telling you do you ever find that there be a few loose loose poos pumps oh Chris I shouldn't have told you that should pumps the last thing you want to do is knocking Bing Dy du out we F but yeah we get on and can't wait for to well thanks everyone for listening and thanks to everybody who I always say top and bottom thanks to all the patreons who help us keep making the links in the description all those extra episodes and who we got next week on patreon do we know y Elvis Elvis we' resurrected Elvis Eric Nixon yeah which is another belting episode and there's a lot more farting content on the Friday Club if you if you like farting Friday Club everybody seems to be really enjoying it yeah so AUD only on audio Spotify and apple um but we've got that extra half an hour 40 minutes every week that's has nothing to do with football really hard hitting I'm changing people's lives once again sorting relationships out people struggling with flatulence we're giving them some tips um sex tips a lot of sex tips going on lot of sex tips each week so yeah if you if you want to get involved with that if you struggling with anything you can in touch on that front right we'll see you next week J little Pip