72+ EFL Awards special

18:25Frank Lampard:Yeah, obviously, it's been a tough year for us personally. But, yeah, look, we've had moments where we've been really good and we've worked hard to try and find that consistency. we had a good little run and now we're on the we've had a few tough games but we're going to try and get back to where we were and take it into next season brilliant well thanks very much for joining us just to confirm we've got the EFL young player team of the season and the league one

18:51Aaron Paul:player of the season massive congrats triple award with us some young man that is Dom congratulations now what we want to do is sort of like a bat on relay we've got another gentleman over here Sonny come round for us. What you want to do is go. Dom, just pass the baton over to Sonny. He's enjoying us now. Are you done? Aye, well done, mate. That's a solid... Do you know what? The connection on that. All right, there we go. Wait a minute. Oh, no. The connection on that one, though. You get that... You know, it's great. What we're doing right now, just awards are just flowing. Yeah, it's what we love.

19:26We're getting all the winners. Sonny Bradley, thank you very much for joining us. Outstanding season for you and for Lincoln City. Tell us all about it. You're standing here. You've been promoted. What's the feeling been like? And how's the party going? Well, first of all, we've just witnessed a robbery. The cameraman was there. Go on, expand. Honestly, right, we was looking at the camera. I was thinking, wherever the cameraman's going, that's who's going to win it. And I've seen the, I'm talking about myself here. I've seen the cameraman come around and he was pointing at Jack Moylan. And I'm looking at Jack going, I think you've won it I think you've won it and next minute you said Dom's name and it was like ah he hasn't won it but nah look going back to us we've been like prolific all season now you know it's 26 games which is incredible which is incredible I mean for someone who's played in the EFL I mean yeah yeah over half a season unbeaten yeah it's ridiculous you know what league one's like yeah difficult like you can go to Stevenage away you can have a tear up you go to Bolton away Cardiff away and you're getting a run around you don't see the ball for 70 % of the time so for us to achieve what we've achieved so far is brilliant like I've said we've still got three games to go I mentioned that on stage and I don't think many people got it, I was talking about a record of Luton, 28 games of beating League 1, I mentioned there might have been some good players in it, it was a reference to myself I don't think many people got it but yeah look we've had a fantastic season so far and the manager rightly so gets his award which we fully expected but yeah look two more things to do go on Sonny

21:02Aaron Paul:awards are great awards are great but genuinely I think Football League fans right now will sit there and go man Sonny Bradley's back what an animal you are on the pitch it genuinely fills me with joy to look at you guys because you're like the dad's army of the Football League you've got that blend of experience you've got some young players in there as well but to see you happy and playing football again and being that animal of a centre-half is what makes a lot of people happy. I know it makes me happy as well. Yeah, yeah. No, no, look, I appreciate that. And I think there's a lot of people in Lincoln who probably feel the same way.

21:38And look, 18 months ago, I was at a derby team in League One and we had our relative success. We had our promotion, which we expected. But I didn't play as many games as I wanted to. And yeah, I think a few people doubted me. And I came into this season thinking, look, I believe I'm the best centre-half in the league. Every time I go out there, I'm going to show it. And when you've got that mentality, you have to go out there and prove it. And, you know, so far, I think I've done that this season. Just in terms of coming back to maybe not an individual winning the player of the year. Do you think that actually is a testament to what a team effort it's been for Lincoln City?

22:10And the fact that the level of performance over the whole squad's been so high for so much of the season. And maybe one or two of those individual performances have gone under the radar a little bit. Oh, 100%. I mean, when we saw, when we seen who got nominated and who was coming here tonight, I couldn't believe Adam Reach, weren't you? I couldn't believe, let's just say, Colin McRandall's our centre midfielder. He'll probably go on and get player of the year at Lincoln. And he's not here today. And like you say, that's testament to what we are as a group, who we are as a team. And yeah, look, we're here sort of representing them as well.

22:42And so is the manager. And them boys will be delighted for us still.

22:45Aaron Paul:What does it mean for you, though, to be a championship player once again? Because let me tell you, I see that person stood right there. Look at his smile on her face. Yeah, yeah. No, look how proud of... I know, that's what it is about. You know, who she is right now. Yeah, yeah. And man, when you think of the absolute rollercoaster, I remember when you had Injury at Luton. Yeah, yeah. Like, you weren't you. This is the Sonny Bradley that's back, man. It's great. You're an icon, pal. Yeah, yeah, I'm back. I'm back. But I'm also 35 in September. So, listen. All right, let's see how far I can push you.

23:14I've got five promotions so far. I've done it. League 2, League 1, Championship. And who knows next season. I mean, I feel like people are not laughing at Lincoln a little bit, but you see how Lincoln might be playing Tottenham and all this. and respectfully, I hope people come up against us and underestimate us because knowing what we do is one thing. Trying to beat us, as you know, as football, is somewhat completely different. So, look, next season for a lot of championship clubs, I think Sinselbank will prove to be a difficult place to go. Well, I think absolutely next year, some people are going to get a surprise when they rock up.

23:47Come get it. At Lincoln City, it's going to be a tough, tough game. But honestly, it's great to see you with a smile on your face. The amount of minutes, games that you've churned out. one for the experienced boys absolutely so well done you were where's chairman taking you vegas oh yeah so all right 10 guys got it done 10 we were on a call we were on it i don't know if he told you but he came on one of the shows recently and we did ask him and it's one of those things people probably don't see when you are the captain or one of the senior players that's the most important negotiation so i'm glad he's got it over the line oh he's got it over the line

24:19Aaron Paul:oh he's got enjoy yourself can we just can we just can we just bring your missus in sonny's getting a Vegas for the boys has he got a visa from you he has yeah what's it like seeing a smile on his face now it's amazing it's been the best season so he's come home happy every day which is good for us he has he has it's what we love to see Sonny congratulations once again thank you so much the brilliant Sonny Bradley with us on 72 plus the home of the AFL from 5 Live Sport that's what it's about it's about family it's about football it's about love it's about passion man and you know what as i think i was up at friday and frank lampard was incredibly emotional after the game you can see the smiles beaming and sometimes i think it goes under the radar the pressure that's involved at top level football you know and sometimes you get into those ruts when you're not enjoying it and that's when a lot of the times you're seeing these dips in forms and you know what michael scabal has done with that group of players has been An absolutely phenomenal, well-deserved, great, great story.

25:22Aaron Paul:He's talking about 35 years old. Joe, he could go until he's 40, man. I just think that if you have had a setback in your career with an injury, and I'm looking at someone like a Byron Webster, someone who's 39, 40, he's about to call time on his career, you can still do it in the right team, in the right set, with the right manager that will make sure you're looked after properly. That's exactly the point. And understanding the strengths. because I think so many people look at age as a weakness, whereas actually that experience, what he's done for the players around him and having those other players, Tendai Derikwa with him, he's spoken about Conor McGrandall's, you know, they're so important with that youth, that enthusiasm to have that little bit of a blend.

26:01And clearly Michael Skobala's got the absolute best out of Sonny Bradley. And it's been a brilliant, brilliant story.

26:08Aaron Paul:We're on the hunt for faces. I'll tell you what the most difficult part of the EFL Awards is. We've got two here. I've just seen two. Come on. in we come we're only we're only dealing with winners tonight so how are we how are we very pleased to say we have been joined by two of Millwall's very very finest obviously a lot of work to be done still between now and the end of the season but a massive congratulations Femi Aziz Tristan Kramer both in the team of the year for the championship how you feeling Femi oh you

26:37Frank Lampard:know I'm buzzing you know it's been a journey to get here and obviously to be in the room with all of these legends of the game and obviously these amazing players is humbling for sure. And Tristan, talk us through your season so far. Still a little bit of work to do as I've spoken about before, but we had a conversation recently maybe felt as though could be going away, but you're right in the mix back for that top two spot now. How are you feeling? Yeah, obviously I've been enjoying every minute so far. I mean, these trophies are a bit like a cherry on the top because it's always good to have like something for us.

27:10Frank Lampard:But I mean, it's been a season, like a lot of up and down. But like we say, like three weeks ago when I see you, so like, yeah, we all go away. We stay up there. And with three games to go, we're still up there. So there's so much to play for now. And yeah, we're looking for it. Just before we get into the next question, we're just having a look. I mean, there could be a shout for the next James Bond. I mean,

27:31Aaron Paul:he's a very handsome man. Tuxedo. Femi, you are as well, man. But look at him. Look at him. He's probably got a little bit of height that I haven't quite got. Femi, you're probably a little bit better than me on that front, but absolutely looking a million dollars, isn't he? I love it. He could do anything he wants, this boy. Femi, Millwall Football Club, they've always had people that like to excite, players that like to excite. They haven't had many of them in individual teams, but you certainly have brought so much excitement this year. What's it like playing under Alex Neil? What's it like being the star boy of that team?

28:02Aaron Paul:What's it like playing at the Den?

28:05Frank Lampard:Playing at the Den is an experience, for sure. I think everyone who's played there will know when you've got the 20 ,000, 23 ,000 people shouting Mill. Does it take a bit of getting used to when you first go to the football club in terms of the expectation and the demand at Millwall football? Yeah, I guess. You know, when you go to Millwall, there's always expectation to obviously work your hardest and I guess put 110 % in for the badge at all times. But I think Millwall is a family club and they've taken it to me and Tristan as well really well. And it's a pleasure to play in front of them.

28:37Aaron Paul:use the word family there and that's a really interesting word to use because people say it's a family club and they look at the work that the club does in the community and blah blah blah blah but it's actually a family if if you are on site they will look after you like their family they'll protect you like their family and i it's it's a strange thing because there's a book by michael calvin called family i urge anyone who signs that football club to read that book it will teach you about what that club means to the people. And the fans get what they get. But man, if they back you, if they love you, there's nothing like it.

29:09Aaron Paul:A club like no other.

29:11Frank Lampard:Exactly. You know, they say that and they say it for a reason. You know, stepping out on the pitch, even the game on Saturday, you know, you could feel the presence. You could feel the energy and the urging of the fans. They really get behind you. And it's a privilege to play there. And like I said, I try to put 110 % in every time I play there. And yeah. And Trishan, again, maybe some fans getting carried away. One man I know who wouldn't be is Alex Neal. How big a job has he got just in terms of, you know, keeping everybody in the right frame of mind? What's his messaging at this time of the season?

29:45Just to make sure that you give yourselves the best chance. Because I look at the fixtures and the running. I can say I'm not in that football club. I feel like you can go and get seven to nine points, which I think would put you in the mix come the end of the season.

29:56Frank Lampard:To be fair, just tell us to enjoy it. That's what he said before the last game as well, to enjoy it because you never know when the opportunity will come. If you come back again one day, you never know. That doesn't come often, so enjoy the moment. Basically, when we lose, don't get too low, but when we win, don't get too high as well. I think that's what we did along the season. We never went too high, even when we were in the top two. Never went too low when we lost a few games in the bounce. and yeah obviously that's what he did and I want to say yeah he's been a massive part of where we are now because I think since he joined last year in January and I think it's only Coventry who won more game than us so yeah he did an amazing job since he joined

30:40Aaron Paul:Tristan, London is my town I love it, how have you taken to life in South East London because it's an interesting place

30:47Frank Lampard:I like London to be fair not London, South East London Yeah, I think, yeah, I like it, yeah. They're very proud of themselves as well, so I like it. Have you tried Jelly Deals yet? I was going to say, we went on a bit of a shoot. We didn't quite get the Jelly Deals. Luckily, they were sold out because I was not looking forward to eating them. No, man. I don't know about you. It's a no from Femi. It's a no from me. It's a no from me. Tristan, to be fair, he was going to try, but we did the Paya Mash, didn't we? We did the Paya Mash, yeah. But I don't know why it's not, so I would have tried it.

31:19Aaron Paul:Do you know the Millwall songs? Which one? Do you know the Millwall songs? Which one? Do you know the monks chant? Can you sing it? No, you don't need to sing it. I can sing it. It's just the noise. The noise. Do you know the noise? Go on, do it. Come on. Which one are you talking about? I mean... No, I know this one. I just want to finish off with one. Because obviously this right side connection, I know you can play and you have played centre half, but you two down that right side. So one each. What's the best thing about playing with Femi Aziz?

31:48Frank Lampard:One thing. It's quality. Quality? Yeah. Best thing about playing with Tristan Prama? He's just an unreal defender. And what's the worst thing? He overtakes me too much sometimes. Tristan, the worst thing about playing with Prama? Sometimes he won track back to the game. Typical! This is like the winger's union mate! I did enjoy playing with him on the right side, we did a good job. Obviously, free games to go, so keep pushing.

32:15Aaron Paul:I was glad you could ask him about if he knows the word to let them all come down to the den. but you know

32:20Frank Lampard:yeah yeah obviously

32:21Aaron Paul:it's a good song yeah

32:21Frank Lampard:yeah yeah that's the song we go when we walk into the picture

32:24Aaron Paul:yeah

32:25Frank Lampard:big tune no yeah big tune yeah love it

32:27Aaron Paul:do you want to give it a go the camera's there come on Tristan I'll sing it I'll start you it's too late for that

32:33Frank Lampard:Tristan

32:34Aaron Paul:let him come let him come let him come down to the den right on that note there you go cut you can say cut down there cut down there yeah cut down there Tristan Kramer you're absolutely a legend hey Femi Aziz, what a man. What a man. What a pair of star boys. Absolute legend. Thank you. Two quality additions to the Millwall squad. And do you know what? A real signal of where this football club is going. Again, people talk about it and they say, oh, look, Millwall popped up out of nowhere. No. Steve Gallen, James Berylson. James, obviously, with the emotional connection of wanting to, you know, push his father's legacy.

33:13Aaron Paul:Steve with the foresight to go, right, this is how we're going to trade players. And you pop up with them. They're bargains. And look, whether they get there or not, they will sell them the big dough. And in this climate, when you see clubs like Leicester hemorrhaging money, that's massive. Yeah, absolutely. You know, massive shout to the recruitment team. But it's also about giving them an environment to go in and thrive. And Femi definitely has done that. And obviously, Tristan's been a revelation.

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34:4672 plus. The EFL Podcast with Aaron Paul and Joby McAnuff.

34:52Aaron Paul:Do you smell goals? I smell goals. I smell goals. There's goals everywhere, mate. Goals everywhere. Who's joined us, Jobes? Aaron Drinan. Are we going Drinan or Drinan? Because I never know with this. I hear one and I hear another. So now we're going to get it from the horse's mouth. Drinan. Drinan. Right, there we go. Here he is. How are we? Good, mate, yourself? Yeah, very well. Congratulations, firstly. Appreciate it. Nice one. Mate, there's some good forwards out there. Yeah. You've been miles ahead and you're absolutely fantastic. It's great to have you with us. Firstly, your thoughts on the award and receiving that, receiving the adulation of your peers and your colleagues.

35:27Nerve-wracking walking up there, to be honest. Harder than going out on a Saturday afternoon. It's crazy, isn't it? Ten times harder. Ten times harder. But, yeah, not really pleased. It's been a really good year. Won it against some good players. So, yeah, not really happy. And in terms of between now and the end of the season, There's a lot to play for. What's the feel? What's the mood? What's the aim now between now and the end of the season? Currently probably a bit disappointed with the lead we threw away at the weekend. We've probably left ourselves in a difficult spot, which now we're probably looking at the playoffs, but it's not guaranteed yet.

36:04Aaron Paul:Hey, there's nothing like winning at Wembley. So they say. So they say. So, yeah, listen, we've played the two teams below us. So, yeah, we'll crack on and hopefully we can crack on in the playoffs, yeah. Aaron, last one from us. Ian Holloway, I mean, what's it like to work for him? It feels like he's got his mojo back. Absolutely crazy. As I said on stage, there's a different story every day. Probably some I can't go into detail, but no, he's been brilliant with me. He's shown me a lot of confidence. And, yeah, can't hang coming off. Congratulations again, the brilliant Aaron. Appreciate it. Nice one.

36:37Aaron Paul:Thank you. My word, that is a sweaty past. Apologies. I'm not even going to shake Frank Lampard. I tell you what, do you want to pass the bat on to the Coventry City boss, Frank Lampard? Frank, I'll spudge you because it was a very sweaty palm, that. Congratulations. What a weekend for yourself. What a season it's been for yourself. Coventry City isn't even a season. It's 18, 20 months and a culmination of hard work. But the biggest thing I got from listening to you on Friday night, which genuinely was one of the most emotional interviews I've ever heard, is the fact you said you've fallen in love.

37:11Aaron Paul:and that's such a big thing. Congratulations.

37:14Frank Lampard:No, well, thank you. I've got emotional in the moment for sure. I think sometimes when you work so hard for something and this is not everyone, all the managers down here are working hard for a lot of stuff, but when you manage to achieve it, you think about the players that you work with and I've got a really good group of players. They're great lads. When you think about our fan base and what they've gone through and it kind of dawned on me that's what it was. Very proud and I think I can say that now, but that turned me on the night. It got me emotional. I think I just about held it together.

37:42Aaron Paul:Has it been more than a football job? Because again, you talk about what the fans have been through, 25 years of real desolation, but it feels like your group, and yes, we have to credit Mark Robbins like you rightfully did, but your group has really united this club and fused it together again?

37:58Frank Lampard:Yeah, I don't think it's more, I mean, when you go into a job, on my part, you need stability and you need probably clear lines of communication. I speak to the owner, me and Doug have got a really good relationship, Dean Austin, who's head of recruitment, does so many things for me. We've got a great line. So things are quite easy at the football club in that sense. So that's been really good and really clean. The rest is the work. The rest is the work on the training ground with the players, and I've got a really good group of players. So I don't want to make it feel like we've done a miracle and changed the world, but I know we've worked very hard, and the boys have delivered on the pitch.

38:30Frank Lampard:So very, very happy with that. Frank, obviously, I was up there on Friday, and it was great. You talk about the emotion. It's so important because even someone who's achieved what you have at the very highest level, I don't think sometimes people quite get what it takes to get to where you guys are this season and the sacrifices you have to make and whether that's the family side of things, tough decisions you have to make throughout the season. So again, I think it's really important that people do see that. And I think that just emphasises the drive that is within you. And I can imagine the players because there's a humility as well.

39:04You know, and I think as a player, having someone of your profile walk in there and actually have the humility to come in and say, listen, I want to go again, boys. You know, that must be so powerful for them. How much do you think you've been energised by them, that they've been energised for you? Because you speak so highly about that drive within the group.

39:21Frank Lampard:Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I'm lucky. My mum taught me humility and that's in me. So I would always be like that. My football career would always hold credibility. I get that. but at the same time when you work with players that last five minutes you have to work and work well and communicate well with players, especially modern day players because they expect clear instruction but clear support and clear ideas so I try and do that and the rest of it really is me trying to do that and then when you get to the point where you need good players you need good lads, you need good groups You say that Frank and I'm not saying it wasn't a good group but this isn't a story of a manager going in and going to a chairman right I need 10 new players because we're in 17.

40:05You've improved that group, you've got them to a level they hadn't been before so that is coaching that is management getting more out of a group of players that was there already so for me that's a massive tick.

40:17Frank Lampard:Thank you for saying that because that's what I believe we have done and I know because I work with Joe and Chris specifically who work with me, Joe's an amazing coach tactical analysis everything and hands-on with the players. Chris is the same. We do have good background and sometimes I never want to shout it from the rooftops because hopefully your work gives that and maybe we're in a moment where I can say thanks for asking the question on that point. But we've worked hard and I think the proudest thing I am is that this sounds like a great story and it's like oh yeah, we just cheered the players on to go and have success this year.

40:51Frank Lampard:We didn't. We worked really hard on the training pitch and the moment we came in for pre-season and the style that the boys have done it in has been like we've drawn the last three games and we're a bit underwhelmed because we didn't score we're 0-0 0-0 1-1 but these boys have absolutely dominated a lot of games this year with a personality and a way of playing that's been exciting for the fans exciting makes me happy to watch and I guess that's the juice that you get out of this job every day is to try and work and see it on the pitch every weekend

41:18Aaron Paul:Have you enjoyed it Frank? It's a marathon the championship but are you enjoying this?

41:24Frank Lampard:No I am because when you win more games you enjoy it It's really simple because every defeat hits you probably like two times more than the wins hit you in a positive way, if you know what I mean, because you hate losing football games. I've been lucky, we've been lucky that we win a lot of games. It gives you confidence as a manager and what you're trying to deliver and what you're trying to do all the time. And the relationship with the players is better because I was a player. After a defeat, it's hard. What's the manager going to say? Is it going to be negative or whatever? When you're winning games, the message is positive and you go, OK, we've done great.

41:54Frank Lampard:Can we do better? and we've got on that role, kept working, kept in the right direction and we've done something quite special.

42:00Aaron Paul:Last one from us, I know there's a title on the line, whether it is to be and it probably will be or whether it's not, that city's waiting for one hell of a party, isn't it?

42:08Frank Lampard:No, it certainly is but I don't want any sort of anticlimactic feel to it. I want us to go and take it and we know what it is now. We know what it is, we need to win a game of football. We've got three difficult games as every game is but the boys know what it is and we have to go for it.

42:21Aaron Paul:Frank, it's been a joy watching your team. Good luck in the Premier League. Thank you. Thank you so much. Nice to be here. Cheers.

42:26Frank Lampard:Cheers, Jack. Thanks very much.

42:28Aaron Paul:Frank Lampard, Coventry City boss manager of the season, probably title winner, promotion winner. Incredible. It's been some job, hasn't it, from Super Frank. And I mean, genuinely, they've been a joy to watch, Jobes. They have. I just want to have a word about him. Someone who, in this line of work, you know, with so much going on, but always so generous with his time, You know, he takes the time to come and speak to people. And, you know, I talk about the word humble because you can be the best player in the world. But that doesn't always translate to management or coaching. And players see through that.

43:08Yes, you might have won a Champions League, but are you going to get the best of me now that I'm the one on the pitch trying to go and achieve my dreams? And clearly he's managed to strike that balance brilliantly. And they've just been by far and away the best team in the championship.

43:21Aaron Paul:Super Frank Lampard there with us on Five Live 72+. Hopefully going to be chatting some more. Should we grab Omar? Omar, could we grab a word for Five Live if possible, please? Omar Shawami of Bromley. How are you doing? How are you, big man? I'm good. Thank you. How are you? Congratulations. Thank you very much. Promoted. What was last night at Broomfields like? It was good. It was a good evening. It was a good evening. Only good. Is that all you're giving us? It was a great evening. Enjoying it with the fans. Yeah, it was good. Very good. What's the spirit of this group been about? I think the spirit of the group is what we're about.

43:59Aaron Paul:The team that we have, the staff that we have, the chairman, we're one big unit. And I think that shows in how we play, the results that we've got. And I think any team or manager building any team, that's I think one of the main things that you should focus on. For me personally, is team morale and the players that you get and how they want. have you managed to start looking ahead yet I know the season not even finished but to go up and test yourself and play against some of League One's finest next year must be licking your lips at that possibility listen I'm very excited very excited I've played professional football in League Two now for 10 years I think 11 years never played in League One so I'm excited for the challenge the players that are in League One see how we do yeah fantastic there you go that's it thank you very much.

44:49Aaron Paul:Painless my man. Thank you. Really appreciate it. Look after yourself. Appreciate it. The brilliant O.R. Shawami. Thank you very much. All the best. Jobs man I mean it must be scary for you standing next year. Mate when that ball's coming in the box I'm telling you now I am not marking him that's all I say because he's a big lad. Holy mackerel. Holy mackerel he's a big man. We've got Michael Skabala coming out. Hello how you doing? Lincoln City boss Michael Skabala look at that. Here we go. Hang on hang on. Get your trophy on. Yeah put that down.

45:13Frank Lampard:You got the hardware with you. Hello how you doing? You okay? Very well. Good nice to meet you.

45:17Aaron Paul:Michael Skabala Lincoln City Firsty, congratulations. What an achievement from your side. Are we allowed to call you Scoobs? Because everyone seems to. And I feel like we don't really know each other that way.

45:28Frank Lampard:Yeah, no, that's what all the, well, not the lads, they call me Gaffer, but most of my friends and other coaches know me as Scoobs over the years. So, yes, you can call me Scoobs, that's fine.

45:35Aaron Paul:Talk to me about this group. Talk to me about this season and the way you've built this team that feels like an old Volvo, you know.

45:44Frank Lampard:I drive a Volvo. Hey, do you know what?

45:46Aaron Paul:thinking man's car to thinking person's car but it feels like one because you've got everything there the characteristics and people might say yeah a bit old there isn't it but no it still runs it still runs beautifully as well and it gets the job done yeah i think like some people

46:02Frank Lampard:have called it machine like you know there's been a well well-oiled machine that just every week are they the people that have been run over by that yeah yeah yeah we've run over now i think it's um but you're right like um loads of hard work loads of mentality lots of um really hard work on the grass some good leaders that we brought into the club that you've seen tonight and sunny ricci tendai de rikwa you know unbelievable players um and then a group of players that have a desire to to keep working and getting better every day and then when you couple that with some great coaches and staff behind the scenes and and probably a really understanding club and board knowing its level and alignment throughout it and i know it might sound a bit corny but it's so important to have that structure i know it's important it's absolutely true but and we're sitting here now manager of the season for league one thoroughly deserved promotion already guaranteed did you even dare to dream with with all the alignment and everyone on the same page that you could go and do what you did to this extent this season um i think there's a belief that you can go and get promoted i think to dream the way we've done it is unbelievable you know i I think that you'll never dream.

47:10Frank Lampard:I think there's a belief that we could get in the playoffs. You know, a couple of seasons ago, we went 16 unbeaten and people said you couldn't beat that unbeaten record. So you always have to have a belief that you can maybe, you know, do well, outperform, get in the playoffs. But the way we've done it in terms of, you know, I think, is it 25, 26 now that we've been unbeaten, 20 wins in that? You can't dream of that. And credit to the players because they have to have the mentality to go again Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday. It's such a difficult division.

47:35Aaron Paul:and I think what garner even more respect and you've got infinite amounts of it already is the fact that you've done it organically and you've done it on a budget where football has been absolutely ransacked by cash and you look at League One the budgets and what people are being paid and people talking about needing a reset you guys have proved it can be done

47:56Frank Lampard:yeah I think so it's you know you've got to give credit to Jez George the recruitment department because you know looking for those you know Adam Reach for example who's been what a player Adam Reaches and you know you might think he would not be able to perform at this level but we brought him in in the summer and he's still hungry to keep doing well like the other lads but what a player so you know and then my job is if you like to put the group together and make them work as a unit and a machine on the pitch but it's all it's it's all incumbent of all the hard work. Michael obviously being in this line of work I know how intense it can be.

48:30I know there's always the next thing to focus on and worry about. Have you allowed yourself any time just to take stock of what you have achieved yet or is it a matter of, well, we've got a massive challenge next season, we need to crack on with that?

48:44Frank Lampard:Well, not yet. We've had a moment of enjoyment after Reading that you would have seen, which was great. And then we've got back down to business because the lads want to go the next thing and the next thing is to try and get an extra point and get the title done. You know, we're so close to that. And again, you say, would you dream of winning it no we wouldn't have so we want to try and get that job done we've got a record that the lads want to hit which is i think 29 unbeaten which will be the historical record in league one with we're now three away from that and then when that finishes i think we'll have a little bit of a breathing a celebration but you're right then football starts again doesn't it and yeah a rest and then we go again how do you attack the championship again

49:18Aaron Paul:talk about money talk about cash potentially tottenham hotspur away next season that's a song Wolves Burnley anyone who doesn't come up it's gonna be hard do you just look at it and go hey

49:33Frank Lampard:let's go and have some fun yeah I think we know I always think about this like my job is to play in a way that allows the team to perform and find a way that can make this group of players perform at the level we're playing at you know I had to learn a lot about League One it's a tough league it's a physical league I'm gonna have to learn very quickly and how we need to play but in some ways we just need to be us because you know when you're going in such a good in-beaten run we think at home is such a great place a hard place to come so we're quite excited by teams having to come to you know the central bank and and try and take points off us so and the other thing is you know the work effort we run hard you know i don't think there's any any substitution for running hard and and this team's got that in abundance hey you've had the roof painted now

50:15Aaron Paul:people aren't gonna like come in there down they need to give it a second coat though that's what it does need a bit of a second coat but it's more than just promotion it's looking at the infrastructure, the improvements to the ground. You didn't have a training ground, well Lincoln City didn't have a training ground ten years ago. Mad, absolutely madness and I remember when things changed I think it was Lewis Montsma was the first signing of the year when it was like right Lincoln City are going in a different direction and a lot of people had to leave the club and they were angry. Believe me I got DMs but it's all been vindicated and you look at Clive Nature's had to make some hard decisions.

50:51Aaron Paul:He's made them. But, man, Lincoln City are going to the championship. You know what? I think the best thing I can take from this, and actually I talk about Lincoln City as a model, people might think the lack of budget comparative to some other teams is a weakness, but I'd look at it the other way and say, that's been your strength. And I go back to my time at Reading, probably similarly at the time, mid-table-ish, in terms of budget-wise, but we all knew that as players. we all knew where we were and we knew that we were going to have to go above and beyond some of the other clubs that probably were paying a lot more money and maybe some so-called better players and that we really did use that and I just feel that's what you've done to drive you on this season

51:32Frank Lampard:we can use that as fuel because any player doesn't want to be undermined by a certain thing and when players, the information is so much out there, I think I'd use it as a driving fuel we've used it as a driving fuel to say why not, why not, who can put a ceiling on this group of players it's not for me to do that it's not for the other clubs to do that let's just be ourselves and see what happens and so after this conversation can we call you scoops now oh god now i'll let you do that he's so cool are you gaffer or are you gaffer that's good right it should always be gaffer tomorrow no no no no always gaffer in my book 100 and gaffer well done congratulations michael thank you what a season win the league now what

52:11Aaron Paul:a season michael scabala the brilliant michael scabala uh on 72 plus the home of the efl from five live sport what's the best car you've ever owned jokes oh funny story actually i've got in a little bit if it's not funny you're getting no no i was very kind of you know steady eddie as probably people would expect i was at watford and uh i decided to go and get a porsche and uh i remember driving in one day and ad boothroyd who wasn't really one for flash things sort of comes on who's got that new blooming Porsche out there so I've sort of do I own up to this one or not and in the end I've had to yeah it's my engaffer fair to say I didn't play an awful lot of football after that really that was kind of I think from his point of view maybe me thinking I've gone a little bit above my station so went to Reading got rid of the Porsche and we kicked on from there now a player who will be letting go of from the EFL this summer is Championship Team of the Season midfielder.

53:10Aaron Paul:It's Coventry's Matt Grimes. What are we saying? We're letting him go with our blessing, is that what you're saying? Mate, he's done his shit. He's more than done his shit. He's done his shit. He's covered mileage. We talked about Michael Scobala being an old vulva. You're knackered, mate. You're Fiesta. You're done. The lads are going to love it when they say that. I know. It's been an incredible season. It's been brilliant. And yeah, it's a season now next year we're looking forward to. so. And ask what it's like going from a dressing room at Swansea where there's a lot of things going on off the field and there's a lot of you know pondering as to what the direction of the club is and maybe can we regain the identity of once upon a time to a club at Coventry where it's like right this is what we're doing this is the plan this is where we're going you're a key part of it what's it like?

53:56Yeah well that's what sold me on Coventry to be honest I've said in interviews before that it was the ambition of the club the the direction the owner wanted to take it in obviously the gaffer so yeah it's been it's been a it's been a long journey um for Coventry but I'm just so pleased I could be a part of getting them to the Premier League you touched on the gaffer there we had Frank on earlier and again I think we've all been around the game long enough these players that have had unbelievable careers at the top top level it doesn't always translate over to I think when they first come in you have that bit of oh it's a Frank Lampard or but what makes him so good as a coach, as a manager, to get the best out of you and obviously the rest of the group that clearly he has done?

54:36Yeah, well, first and foremost, he's an unbelievable manager. He's incredible. Him, Jonah and Joe work so well together. Their level of detail is excellent. But he's just such a good person as well. When he talks before a game, you want to run through brick walls for him and you just want to do so well for them and obviously the influence he has on the group and how he is around us day to day. He's a serial winner, so he's not letting us off the hook. We're just getting promoted. He wants the title. So, yeah, we're looking obviously just to get that done now as soon as we can. Well, obviously, title's first priority, but then obviously after that it's all about the Premier League.

55:17Aaron Paul:No, it's not. It's about the holiday. Where are you going? He's not switched off yet. He was wondering whether he was going to come and do this because he needs to get back up to get traded in tomorrow. I think that's one of our sort of features we should do on the show at the end of the season. Find out anyone who's won promotion or done something. Find out where they're going. Right, so you can stalk them and try and do more interviews. So I can just lurk with a microphone in between the sun. I'm sure the lads are like that. Just to understand where people want to go. Well, I think Dubai's kind of been written off this year.

55:50That's obviously where most would go in the summer.

55:54Aaron Paul:A lot of Cubs feeling Vegas at the moment. Yeah, that has been the shout. But like I say, we want to win the title first and then we'll think about that kind of stuff. OK, now back to the football. Go on. Forget the holiday stuff. It's been a long wait to get back, test yourself at the very highest level. How much are you looking forward to do that in what is very much your team? Because it can be difficult sometimes where you're not a mainstay, but actually knowing that you're going to be going up there you're going to be playing and you've got an opportunity to go and test yourself where we all want to be sometimes you feel like you might not get there i missed a few boats along the way so just that from from your own personal perspective and just the excitement of going to play against some of these players in these stadiums yeah well i've said for many many years that i've always wanted to crack it i felt like not that i deserved to crack it but i i wanted to test myself at that level i had a little i had a small taste of it when i was 19 when i first moved to Swansea but I want a good a good go at it and and to see like where my level compares to to those boys at the top so um so yeah like I say it's been a journey it's been it's been one that I've uh I've really enjoyed so yeah I need to uh hopefully uh give a good account myself in the program next year.

57:09Aaron Paul:Where are you most looking forward to playing next year? I've actually not given it too much thought the thing I'm actually really looking forward to first is fixture release state yeah that's that's obviously going to be um a big one this year to see who we got when uh first game of the season also be massive so um yeah i'm looking forward to that first matt grimes you are a winner congratulations really appreciate you uh you're speaking to us on 72 plus enjoy the promotion celebrations hopefully there'll be a title but there should be a title but i mean come on um and let me know when you put the holiday so me and joe I'll get a shout.

57:44Aaron Paul:Joe can get his bikini line done. I'll get a shout. Brilliant. Thank you very much, mate. Cheers, mate. Cheers. Clinton Morrison back with us. Oh, wow. Probably to cap off this edition of 72 plus. The home of the NFL from Firefly Sports. And it's been a lovely evening, Jobes, here. Down at the Grosvenor part of Lane. Do you know what my favourite bit is, though? Watching Clinton Morrison fan himself with the programme. He's still going now. He's over. Clinton, what's going on with your cooling system? It's hot in eggies. Is that why, though? Because I'm going to let everyone into a little secret.

58:11Obviously, all of our listeners will hear Clinton all over BBC Five Live and everywhere else that he pops up. He's a man who seemed to find a way to work eight days a week. So anyway, for someone who does talk as much as him in a good way. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's all love. We have a job to do tonight when we're handing out awards and we've literally got a piece of card that tells us exactly what to say and how to say it. I've never seen anyone get so nervous about reading a sentence, but I don't know what it is, Clint. It was the nominees. Because I was exactly the same. See, you're nervous.

58:40get up there and it's like I could you know what I can do the radio speak in front of millions I can do it on the TV speaking for the million yeah I know is I'm you I'm not used to this man you're a good presenter you and Joby I'm bang average but I'm coming to you one day but no what I'm gonna say is you get nervous that's the most nervous I've ever been I can score goals I can talk on TV but I'm nervous and I'm still hot now and Aaron decided he went to take a video of me as well. The best bit

59:08Aaron Paul:of the night was filming Clinton for a minute and he sat there and he's got his back to what's actually going on and they're giving out an award and someone's giving a speech and he's sat there and he's just nodding along and I'm like I'm listening you're not even looking it's TV not radio back to play eyes in the back of your head you should know that I tell you what in terms of back to play and not just saying it because he's here one of the best centre forwards to be able to just round the corner bang backs in holds it up brings me back into play you know you're talking about me there yeah yeah because that's how we played literally very good winger assisted me with loads of goals and scored loads of goals well funny enough I put up a picture of us three and I said look how many goals will we get and I've just and Katie is messaging and I've just put it on 30 goals and assists the season from you I reckon yeah and I love that Doug King the Coventry owner just walking past there legend Doug oh if you want to try can we try and grab Doug King for an interview with Clinton Morrison how are you Doug congratulations congratulations Congratulations.

1:00:04Aaron Paul:Doug King, the Coventry City owner. Good to know you again. I've seen and speaking to you on a very regular basis. Congratulations. What a weekend, Doug. Yeah, what a weekend. Ended tonight, didn't it? EFL Awards. Frank rightly recognised for a great year. Amazing achievement. Get out there with no parachute. Now we've just got to win the title and go on with it. You've had to make some really tough decisions over your time. and a lot of people and social media is a funny place because a lot of people have been very vocal about those decisions and I'm not saying you're going to sit there and go yeah you know I feel vindicated or you know I'm vindicated for making them but right now you must be so proud of what you have been through as well as the football club yeah yeah I think so I mean I was looking back at um 18 months ago when we did the Mike Robbins sort of change and I think it is fair to say that 99.9 % didn't like that and Mark Roberts did an amazing job I'm not taking that away we just felt things weren't quite working and we had to make a change at that moment to to take us maybe to where we wanted to go and I guess here we are and we've made the right call and we didn't know that would happen but it had to be made because things weren't working.

1:01:15Doug on that note I suppose that is a part of your job that is probably the toughest having to make those decisions and I think sometimes fans don't quite understand you're going through the same emotions and thought process everybody else because of what he'd done for the for the football club but like you say fully vindicated I spoke to you on the night spoke to you actually on Saturday morning as well and to have that moment with the fans because a lot of what you do is behind the scenes and sometimes people might not understand the rationale behind things but for you to be able to share that with the Coventry City fans how important was that for you you know it was uh I think the fans um they didn't enjoy that decision at all I explained it I think after I explained it they sort of went okay I understand what went went on we'll see and they've seen and they thought and they've seen what's gone on at Coventry and uh you know the ground being purchased what we've done to the infrastructure how we built this amazing squad to get where we've got to so actually when I go to the ground their fans are amazing to me and they really are they come in they think wow I can't believe what you did you know we're incredible so I feel that from there obviously on the pitch with the fellas I wasn't expecting that I mean it was their moment obviously came down to talk to you guys and then it all got a bit silly but it must be nice for you to share that I mean these moments again I've been fortunate enough to have a couple of promotions and you know they're few and far between unless you are a Manchester City or you know one of those top top clubs so actually the fact you were out there with them you were on the pitch I know you weren't too happy with your celebration you've been what you've been working on that yeah that was a poor one i i'm not looking at that again i hear it's like a meme or something which is horrible to have to be repeated in my uh in my eyes but um look i'm the fact you know the players we talk i mean i do talk to players quite a lot you know we do contract stuff and transfer stuff and contract discussions and how and what i'm thinking and i try and be open to them i don't want to look there's a fine line between an owner, let's say, and a head coach.

1:03:17And I don't want to overstep because that's a very difficult job. And if it's blurred, I don't want to get in that way. But I think they understand the transparency is important. They know they've got a line to me. They can talk to me. They call me Doug. They don't call me whatever they call me. They know I own the club, right? But it doesn't matter. We're together and we're trying to do the best we can do to get it done. And I think they probably appreciate that. So it was lovely in a way that I wasn't expecting. and it felt quite intimate and quite special.

1:03:46Aaron Paul:Doug, what was harder? Was it harder pushing the football side? And obviously, we talk about Mark Robbins and look at the job he'd done at the football club. Incredible. It felt like it not stalled, but you wanted to kick on to the next level and you made that decision. Was it harder pushing the football side or the actual bringing everyone together side, making Coventry a happy place again side? I think Coventry was a pretty happy place in a way because they'd had the attritional period where they were all together against, you know, us against the world feel. I wanted to change that feeling that, look, we don't always have to fight.

1:04:23We just have to be better. We have to get better people in and we have to do a better job and better players and we need to sort of forget all this, you know, fighting against everybody. There is a bit of that commentary. Things are going to go wrong, isn't going to work. I feel that in the city and I feel I want to change that a bit. come on here we are we've done it now where we going next that mentality is what I'm trying to change and I think we're getting there with that now they're sort of realizing they don't have to always think about the bad times and how bad they went everywhere and it was rubbish forget it it's done it's over it's now it's over draw a line we go again Mr.

1:04:59Chairman I'm gonna call you Mr. Chairman because I believe I know but I always respect my chairmen's like that and obviously you've done a brilliant job I was at Coventry many years ago for two seasons so I've seen the clubs suffer a lot what I want to say is the players take all the credit and Frank takes the credit I'm going to give you big credit because at a time a pivotal time during the season you back the manager so congratulations I think you've done a brilliant job I appreciate that the Clinton Morrison seal of approval I was actually going to say having

1:05:24Aaron Paul:bought the CBS when are we going to see the Clinton Morrison stand I wasn't that good I wasn't that good no they can have the done stand if you do can you make sure his middle name's included It's got anything to do with it probably in about 20 seconds. He knows me too well. As long as it's a Clinton Hubert Morrison stand. Doug, congratulations. Enjoy the Premier League. Enjoy the Premier League. Hopefully catch you for a party very, very soon. Coventry City owner Doug King with us on Five Live 72+. The Clinton Morrison end. I'd love that. Just give me a statue. Don't give me a statue. What would you take?

1:05:59Aaron Paul:What would you take? The Clinton Morrison suite? Clinton Morrison kiosk? No kiosk. I've got them at Palace. I want a statue at Colt. It's funny you say that. I had a friend of mine in at Leighton Orient the other day. And he got players. He got stands. They got statues. He sent me a picture. And it was basically a pillar in the players lounge stroke bar. But that's good though, man. Me with my face on a pillar, basically. But that's good. That's the extent of my... You're on a stairwell. On a stairwell. You're on a stairwell as well. So I've got stairwell, pillar. Still working towards the statue.

1:06:28What do you want?

1:06:29Aaron Paul:Joby's Prime Mash? No, but I think that's good. What about your statue at AFC? because you're a legend there. So you tell me anyway. Which means so I tell you. I don't ever tell you that. You tell me every day when we text. No, we don't text every day. We don't. I'm going to tell the people. We don't text every day. I don't tell you I'm a legend anyway. He'll be owning it one day. Don't worry. He'll be owning the club, innit? He's going to get a consortium together. Of course he is. And he's going to be running AFC Wimbledon. You heard it here first. I hope he makes me the manager then. Jovi McEnough will be contributing to that consortium, no doubt, with the absolute wealth he's amassed during his media career.

1:06:58Spent it all on a Porsche, mate.

1:07:01Aaron Paul:There you go. From the EFL Awards, it's been nothing but a joy. Hasn't it, Jobes? Brilliant night, as it always is. Let's say great spirits. We've had managers. We've had owners. We've had players. Literally everyone from the whole EFL world. And we have a special guest with us tonight. Clinton Morrison, everybody. But you know what I like to say? And everyone's listening. You lot do a brilliant job. Because sometimes I joke around and I be deadly serious. I listen all the time. that's a double Clinton Morrison seal of approval yeah this is me being deadly serious I can be a joker but I'm serious I think you lot do a brilliant job and I said the people behind the scenes keep up the good work we love it lots of love that is it for this episode of the Football Daily Podcast make sure you head over to BBC Sound search Football Daily hit subscribe get every single episode the moment it lands that's for us here on 72 Plus the home of the EFL from 5 Live Sport from the Grosvenor House we'll catch you next time

1:07:57Frank Lampard:Five Live Sports. BBC Women's Football Weekly. The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. Dame Serena Vigman, welcome to the... Are we including Dame in your title now? You know how much an honour that is. And it's remarkable team! And it's remarkable women! They want to play in a way that they can show their skills, so that's what we're trying to do. Win the World Cup. It's a dream. Listen. With the BBC Sounds app. Thank you.