Big thanks to David for agreeing to do an interview with us!
First question I have to ask is, why do you think Liverpool have had a poor start, and where do you think they’ll finish this season?
I think there is a number of issues that are different from last year, firstly there has been an almighty change from last season in terms of losing Luis, he was key to the team’s confidence. With him in the team you could beat anyone and that was the belief. Also his work rate was immense which also had a positive impact on the others around him. The other problem is we have signed a lot of new players which was of course necessary to challenge on multiple fronts. They will need a little time to gel and get up to speed. I can see us in the top four this season as I think it will be tougher than last season as the teams around us strengthened and because we lost Luis.
Who do you think is going to be Liverpool’s key player this season?
I think two players will be key this season: Simon Mignolet and Raheem Sterling. I think Raheem is developing fast into a special player, he could be a true world class player. I don’t say this often! And Simon will be key also for obvious reasons, if he can become more commanding and vocal it will help the back four. He is a tremendous shot stopper but now needs even more consistency!
When did you first get into football?
I first got into football on my council estate in Merseyside. My house was in the perfect position in a close and at the front was the garage/bin shed that could be used for a goal and it had kerbs in front of it at different angles to practices 1/2s give and goes and also to perfect my touch. In a funny way I was fortunate to grow up on the notorious council run Ford Estate in Merseyside. I’d have been nothing without that and my family! It helped me become a tough mentally strong individual (I had no choice).
You’ve played at Anfield during your Liverpool career. How did it feel when you were walking out to the pitch for the first time? What was running through your mind?
The first time I came out onto the pitch to start for the first team is a moment I will never forget. It was an electric atmosphere and to hear the YNWA anthem and to actually stand in front of the Kop with the fans roaring your name is a very fulfilling moment and very daunting. All of a sudden the place becomes huge, very huge, at the same time you are filled with self doubt because you look around and you’re playing with and against players who 3 years before you where collecting their stickers for your Panini sticker album. It’s a very surreal experience, but I knew deep down I deserved to be there. My hard work and support of my family had paid off. At the very moment, when the ref blows his whistle, your dreams have become reality and life has finally become interesting!!!
How was the training regime when you were at Liverpool? Was it different to the other clubs you were at?
The training routine at Anfield was simply genius. There is a phrase Ronnie Moran used to say daily: “It’s a simple game complicated by the players”. And that was it in a nutshell, the philosophy of Liverpool Football Club. You kept it simple and you worked hard, yes of course you need talent but you had these fundamentals instilled from when you were very young. I actually thought every club was like this. I couldn’t have assumed more wrong!!!
At other clubs there was not that same understanding or trust in each other’s ability and also to an extent their wasn’t that belief or knowledge to succeed. I did take this for granted at Liverpool, it was a culture shock when I left.
Dr Peters has recently got a lot of credit for his excellent work, and you’ve worked with him before. How good is/was he?
Yes, I did have some sessions with Dr Steve Peters and found him to be very intriguing and helpful. I can see his positive influence on the club from the outside now, through the players and managers interviews I can see how positive and focused they are. I can see how Brendan is creating a mental fortress at Anfield for other teams to appreciate the magnitude of the place before they even kick a ball. Steve Peters has had an amazing impact with Liverpool and the players which is very evident!
A famous incident in 2000 saw you headbutt a Leeds player during a game, how did the manager go about things?
I was involved in an incident for the reserves against Leeds United, it involved David Hopkin. I was on fire in that game trying to impress the attending Gerard Houllier. At the time knowing the first team had a few injuries there was a chance I could be called into the team, that was until David Hopkin decided to whack me off the ball about 10 seconds to late I spun 3 times in the air and landed face down in the mud. I was angry and embarrassed, I sprinted up to him and have him 2,3,4 maybe 5 smacks, 10 at the most, and was sent off for violent conduct, deservedly so but I felt that guy could have ended my career before it began. But Gerard thought I was a thug and punished me with a ban of 2/3 with the academy kids, I went from being on fire in that game to being freezing cold in Siberia!
Injuries hit you hard during your career, what was going through your mind mentally whilst recovering?
My career was ended by horrific knee problems as I was at my peak. I was flying at the time, had just got in the England squad. I scored 7 goals that season and had nearly a dozen assists to boot. I felt I was finally maturing and achieving my true potential. I was buzzing, people were finally seeing the player I knew I could be but it was short lived and after the operations no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t recapture my form. My pace had dropped, my fitness levels had dropped because I couldn’t push my body to hard. I did however adapt my game to basic play the way your facing stuff and I still had the vision to spot the passes but what made ME was how dynamic and creative I was and I knew in my heart it had GONE.
Again, thank you so much David for a lovely interview. Good luck for the future!
Follow David here – @77Thomo
Max
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