Robertson: Falling in Love with Klopp, Liverpool Glory and Why I Left For Spurs! | Stick to Football Ep 150

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0:37You just pay per session. Grow connects you with thousands of high-quality licensed therapists across the U.S. offering both virtual and in-person sessions nights and weekends. You can search by what matters, like insurance, specialty, identity, or availability. And you can book a therapy session in minutes and begin in as little as two days, not the national 48-day average. See if you could pay as little as$0 for therapy in seconds at growtherapy.com slash start now. That's growtherapy.com slash start now. growtherapy.com slash start now. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.

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2:38What's happening, Gaz? Good, how are you? I'm really good, girl. Really good. See, that would be a nightmare for me before, but I'm in a good place now. When I'm sat here next to a guest, I'm literally like this to them. You're joking. Like, it's quite awkward. Where are we going with Andy first? Where are we going with Andy? Go back to the beginning or are we starting at the end? I think, you know, since we've been talking about younger players, when he got released from Celtic, I think that's a good... I've got to start with his ovation. He's great when Ian interviewed him, wasn't he? He was magnificent.

3:11I'm getting the same out of him now. That was too good. That was too good. He is good, but I like him too far. I wonder if I could just get a lemon juice. Of course you can. That's a nice fella. I've remembered your statement. You used to call him a baby, didn't you? No, but what happened? Truthfully, you called him a baby. Yeah, I know that. But what happened in the game? I think something happened and then he... No, I know. Obviously, something happened. But what happened? I know something happened. We'll have to ask him. He'll know. He'll remember. No, I'm always torn under the bus here, I mean.

3:42I'm being told Andy was complaining to the referee at half-time and you called him a big baby. But it must have been more. No, it was because... You're doing that for your mate this week as well. It's just, you know what? You can't be more. Anyone in Liverpool who wants me to put a T-shirt on, just send it in, honestly. At least it gives you... This is a good friend of mine. Is that for your other mate as well? Yeah, he's another one. Do us a favour, Jamie. I actually... A good friend of mine. Does it say red rum? No. Red run. Red run. The horse. Yeah. Red run. Yeah. He's actually the first lad I ever sang school with.

4:13And here he is. Hi, Andrew. Hello, guys. Hey. How are you? You're all right. How are you, Kate? How are you, Kate? I know what's really awkward, because we've already met out there. I know what I'm saying. I know, but it's like... Don't say it to you. It's just... Don't. We're just trying to recollect... Cheers. He doesn't remember how he... Why he called you a baby. Baby member. No, I was just... Glad you were starting my ass. wow well we had your mate on John in a few weeks so you called him a pub player no I didn't oh no oh no what I would say is it gave it gave my friends up the road a lot of ammunition for that what was what was the actual what was he what did you do it was with move on was it the linesman wasn't it yeah no the linesman was it the linesman supposed to hit you yeah I thought it was wrong though you know to be fair at the time I was doing the commentary in the game what was wrong the Lionsman I thought yeah I do remember it is that what happened the Lionsman what no the Lionsman I just saved him they were arguing and the Lionsman I'll brush you off right but you know what players have to remember sometimes truthfully it's not an apology no matter what I wanted to explain no I know we're in the studio we can have long days can't we it's so long it can be long days and it can be a bit flat and sometimes a player might do something, you're like, but you're just agitated by having a long day.

5:44The first two babies were like the third one. In my defence, so when I said it, right, okay, we get agitated with traffic all the way to the gate. But then none of them are saying anything. I'm looking at them going, you've got to say something. That's why I took the last baby in. They're all staring at me going, fucking say something. Am I right? The timing of the last baby. Yeah. Yeah, because he never said that. And he never said a word. They were up with me going... Silence was killing me. Silence was deafening. If the lines were going to hit you, you would have kicked off. You wouldn't have been happy.

6:18You would have probably hit them.

6:23This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Disney+. When you first went to Liverpool, I was really dubious and sceptical. Oh, I know, eh? The chief scout of Liverpool Phoned my agent And says Jürgen Klopp wants to meet him The moment I walked Through his door Like you just Fall in love with him Trent is a very Very good defender I says I will never get As high a praise as you But I will never get As much criticism as you We didn't care about football Yeah Because you've just lost One of your best mates In the changing room Maybe we're still guilty Of carrying that weight Of last season On our shoulders Mad as five a side pounders Is he?

6:59Ah yeah yeah Quality And it's 11v11 I'm on 97 now Kenny's on 102 Do you just have to sort of like get 101 and then just sort of retire because you can't go past Kenny's I know that's what he says

7:19Andy what was the reception like going back to oh that was amazing was it weird by the way going back in a different shirt just obviously we see you in a Liverpool shirt and that's how we imagine you yeah it was strange it was like because obviously I looked at the fixtures when they first come out and you look at Liverpool away and it was December and I'm thinking I'm quite happy about that I can get my feet under the table with Tottenham and in the cup competition we beat Charlton at home and everyone's running about the changing room going you're going back and I'm like but no it was great do you know what I mean in terms of reception I got off the home fans so yeah look it was it was a long time there and to go back and to you know be in another colour but still get that reception it was nice it was nice how are you settling into London have you moved down there on your own have you gone down with the family no I've moved the family I think we're always better together in my opinion the kids are better with their dad so that was a kind of discussion do we keep them up in Manchester where they're so settled or do we move them down but no we've moved them down and to be fair to them they've done well obviously they miss home they miss their friends but no the kids are robust in London they're in the best yeah exactly the world we took them to what's the Hamley's first they thought Hamley's toy store was a daily occurrence but got over that do they play football the kids oldest one does but he doesn't move much he's more he wants everyone else to do the running he tries to take credit so he had his first school game on played for the school team on Monday actually and he scored so I'm thinking he's Ronaldo again he's good but the two girls don't play yet but I think the youngest the three year old started putting football kits and football boots on.

9:02Oh, really? I'm hopeful for her. I'm hopeful. Brilliant. Going back to school, 15 years of age, are you 15 when you get effectively let go by Celtic for being too small? Is that right? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I turned 15 in the March and then in the summer I got let go. I think it was the May, May, June time. How long have you been there for? I've been there since I was seven. Oh, yeah. So I was in the pre-youth academy, seven to nine, and then I signed when I was nine. So then I was under tens the whole way up to under 15s but the way Scotland I don't know if it works the same down the year but when you go from Scotland it goes under 15s to under 17s so then it's two years kind of mixing together in fairness I was pretty small do you know what I mean like I was slim and everything like that so they made the decision there was a big change at Celtic at that point Tommy Burns had previously just passed away new people had came in and things like that so they kind of wanted to take in a different direction so best thing that happened to me really looking back it seems like you can criticise a club for letting lads but that's the best thing for a player sometimes isn't it people often go on a different journey yeah I look at I look at players that had stayed in you know Celtic and they were maybe still there until they're 20 but did they play any first team appearances and then at 20 they're trying to get their career back on track by going to lesser teams in Scotland and things like that so I was quite happy that mine had kind of started earlier and then I could kind of I was in the public and did they say anything about like when you were leaving because obviously you'd been there a while and you're still slight.

10:29Did they say you have to do anything? You have to get yourself to maybe come back? Did they give you any advice or anything? Like, not overly, because I think there was so much change. So the coaches that were in then didn't really know me. Do you know what I mean? All the kind of people that know me, like Tommy Burns was so good. There was a guy, Tony Taylor, that came over when Tommy was a bit unwell. He was from Canada and, like, he got to know all of us. So then when the people, I think they only came in in March. So, like, to get to know the whole youth academy in that time, they didn't, do you know what I mean?

10:56They didn't really, so it wasn't really more advice. it was just we'll try and help you on the way out we can talk to other clubs and that for you and things like that but not to be fair I kind of looked after myself and that what's the feeling there when you get let go of me have you still got belief that they've got it wrong I can still go and have a big career but you know it's Celtic it's the club in Scotland isn't it was that a massive thing to get over at such a young age at that point I wasn't thinking that I'm going to be a footballer and things like that I just wanted to play with Celtic that was my dream do you know what I mean like I'm a big Celtic fan went had a season ticket was lucky enough to be ball boy for you know a couple of games and things like that so Celtic was you know I mean everything so like when you get let go of that age it's not the nicest it's not nicer feelings in that 15 you know what I mean it's a difficult age as it is so it was difficult but I had people around me that you know kind of did believe I think I've spoke about it before but Manny was one of the big people she I always remember when I came back from Celtic Park after getting let go mum and dad in the car man it was stood at the top of my steps where they carry out she had the takeaway for me my favourite curry and she was she was convincing my mum and dad to be fair she went no he'll make it I don't know why she had so much confidence in me but yeah fair enough that's what a family's key in friends of family just give it a little bit of a boost what position were you then when you were at I know obviously you're 15 but did you have a so I played centre mid yeah I played centre mid at Celtic and then the last couple of months I got moved to left mid and I'd never played winger before so that's when I kind of I kind of knew that maybe I'm getting moved about positions and started playing other people I was thinking it's not great when you're getting moved positions when decisions are getting made so and then I moved to left mid and then fell all the way back we all we all all the full back started in McPherson when you're not good enough just kind of come back to the pitch don't we I went back to centre back and then where was your next step after that Queen's Park was it straight away though was it straight away or was there a gap between Celtic and Queen's Park no no no so over the summer I took a bit of time and then I got a phone call off one of the coaches at Queen's Park because he knew my coach at Celtic they were two good friends and he phoned me but Queen's Park they were in League 2 at the time but they're well renowned in Scotland to have a good youth academy and things like that so when Queen's Park I was thinking my first reaction was do I want to go there do you know what I mean can I not get another SPL club or whatever but to be fair I went a lot it was like 10 minutes round the corner from where I lived the training and I went for the first week and I just fell in love with the training the coaches were amazing the and I just kind of fell in love with it and I was like no like I can get on board here do you know what I mean and I can enjoy it and kind of just enjoy football again in what position have they moved you to left back no I played left mid and left back I kind of was jumping I moved out of centre mid at that point and I kind of moved left mid left back and I was kind of jumping between the two but then we had a discussion at the end of my first season at Queen's Park because they kind of rewrite the story now they say that I was saying I was a left mid and not a left back when it was actually the other way about but I let them have their role I thought you were a left back yeah because I was I've always been better at coming on to the game Gary do you know what I mean I've not got skill I think we can see that now I've played for I don't think I've ever done a trick or a skill I had a bit of pace but I was always better at coming on to the game and I always thought I was better from deep that was always my opinion and how long were you at Queen's Park for?

14:26so I would have done I would have done what four years at Queen's Park so I made my first team debut when I was 18 I remember I got I was on my sixth year holiday in Malia and I got a phone call from the first team manager saying I need you in Largs for pre-season this place in Scotland for like came back hung over as anything to be fair I'd done quite well in the game stayed with the first team that whole season and I'd just done one season in the first team when I was like 18 to 19 and then I moved to Dundee United after that. How much did they pay for you, Dundee United? Nothing, because Queen's Park are amateur.

15:00So it was like, I think they ended up putting like a, they put like a percentage, a sell-on percentage. So Queen's Park got looked after, but they technically didn't have to pay anything. We always ask people what they're earning at this point in their life. So when you're at Queen's Park, it's quite a cheeky thing really. I find it quite fascinating. What are Queen's Park paying you when you're there? So when I was in the first team, I was getting£18 a week because it's amateur so you only get expenses they couldn't pay you wages so because I lived so close I was 10 minutes from Hamden so they had like a perimeter so that was like this perimeter was like£6 a night that perimeter was like£12 a night so like I was two nights a week training one game so it was£6 a night When you're that coach you can't even bluff the expenses can you?

15:44No, no, yeah putting in a fake address but yeah so it was£18 So what else were you doing then in that time? for a morning? Oh, I don't... M &S? Worked in Marks and Spencer's at one point, yeah. To give them a mention. You worked in M &S? I did work in M &S. I was actually put in the women's lingerie section. I bet you were. No, it wasn't what it was made out to be. And then I went to... I worked in Hamden, the, like, hospitality bit. And then I worked in the kit room. I worked in the Scottish kit room. Doing, like, the first team under 21s and things like that for the Scotland first team yeah yeah oh wow how old was you then I'd have been 19 18, 19 yeah so I'd done that between the January and the like the June one and then I was I was in the first team in the March so from doing that 19 years old was it five years later you were Scotland captain were you 24 yeah that's a great story that I was like less than a year from working the kit man to then I was in the team at Dundee United yeah at Dundee United I got my first call up for Scotland in the March for Dundee United and what's your contract to Dundee United when they first sign it you can never get over the fact that Ferguson bullies him and you just ask me for a friend don't worry I'm not going to ask you what you own at Liverpool no worries I think my first contract at Dundee United was like maybe like £300,£350 a week and then but to be fair to Dundee United I played like the first month and they gave me a new contract quite quickly but we were talking about JJ Gabriel last week and the fact this 15-year-old and obviously the money that obviously young players now at Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United, they command and obviously when you see this all your story, £18 a week, that's like, it's incredible really.

17:31Yeah, and like we all had to get, do you know what I mean, like all the players were the same so even like your 25, 30-year-olds, we had like PE teachers, we had policemen, we had, do you know what I mean, we had old people and they were all coming in and their workies out. If we had a midweek game sometimes we'd go games without like seven or eight players because they couldn't get, they couldn't get out of their jobs, If you're a primary school teacher, you can't just leave your job, can you? To go and play for... So sometimes midweek games were a problem and things like that. But yeah, I suppose it gives you a good grounding.

18:01What's that point where you think, I've got something, I've got some belief? Is it at Queen's Park or is it later on when you get to Dundee United? What's the point where you think, actually, I'm OK here, I can live at this level? I think I was quite lucky at Queen's Park because the season I played the first team was the season that Rangers got put down to League Two. so there was a lot of like our games were on telly against Rangers do you know what I mean so there was a lot of coverage for League 2 so I think that helped a lot of people in League 2 like a lot of people in that league moved in the summer because all of a sudden people were watching the games a bit more and in the January I knew there was a couple of teams after me Partick Thistle with Jackie McNamara who ended up being the Dundee United manager so at that point I thought okay I'll maybe make it professional however far I go I don't know but I'll get a chance of being professional and at Dundee United I just loved being I just loved training every day do you know what I mean that was the thing I loved I just loved being able to play football every single day and then everything just kind of fell into place for me I had a really good season at Dundee United and even then were you just getting simple instructions and you just get forward was it as simple as that yeah we had such an exciting team like Dundee United we had a young team I don't know like Ryan Gold was really exciting he went to Sporting Lisbon John Suter was a young centre back we had Stuart Armstrong Gary McKay-Steven so we had like really good young Scottish players that were kind of then making their way.

19:19So we were the kind of team that Jackie McNamara was a young Scottish manager. So everyone was watching us that season and it was just like, we were just loving it, do you know what I mean? And it was simple. It was just like, get yourself forward, do you know what I mean? Try and help out. I had John Rankin, an experienced player that kind of helped me out. He covered it left back and things like that. So no, it was, I loved Dundee United. You've got a tenacity in your game. At what point, who does that come from in your life? Is it your parents? Is it your upbringing? where would that come from?

19:46Yeah I'd say my parents I'd say you know that's where that's where I've been kind of brought up do I mean work hard for everything that you've got that's what they've done they tried to give me and my brother the best life possible without you know I mean we weren't we weren't poor but we definitely weren't do I mean we never they would struggle by to give us as much as we could so I just think I grew up with mum and dad working every single day coming in you know late and things like that and sometimes having to go to grandparents so I think just that hard work and that ethic you know just comes from probably that upbringing and also family round about us.

20:17Do you know what I mean? Yeah. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Disney+.

20:27Therapy's biggest impact doesn't show up in some dramatic breakthrough. It shows up in the smallest moments. You bite your tongue instead of escalating. You put your phone down instead of firing off that text. You say what you actually mean instead of what would hurt someone else the most. Nobody applauds those moments. but they quietly change your life. That's what growing feels like. And that's exactly what Grow Therapy is here for. Grow is therapy that works, covered by insurance. Sessions average$21 with insurance, and some pay as little as$0 depending on their plan. There are no subscriptions, no long-term commitments.

21:04You just pay per session. Grow connects you with thousands of high-quality, licensed therapists across the U.S., offering both virtual and in-person sessions, nights and weekends. You can search by what matters, like insurance, specialty, identity, or availability. And you can book a therapy session in minutes and begin in as little as two days, not the national 48-day average. See if you could pay as little as$0 for therapy in seconds at growtherapy.com slash start now. That's growtherapy.com slash start now. growtherapy.com slash start now. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan.

22:11M-I-D-I dot com. Insurance coverage varies. Check with your plan for coverage. Hi, this is Monica Reinagle of Nutrition Diva. Today's show is sponsored by Nature Raised Farms. Grocery shopping can be a little overwhelming, especially if you're reading labels. And in my opinion, chicken shouldn't be complicated, which is why I appreciate Nature Raised Farms. It's chicken that's just chicken. And their lightly breaded chicken nuggets are free from gluten, dairy and soy. Look for nature-raised farms on your next grocery trip and feel more confident about your choices.

22:48Gary, Max versus 100. Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen versus 100 drivers at Silverstone. Go karts. He's back to his roots. I was at Silverstone yesterday and I heard about this. What do you think? I love things like this. I love Max Verstappen actually. I think he's just, he's got that. I like sports people with attitude and personality that are also brilliant. So obviously, if you've got an attitude and a personality, you've got to be able to carry it off. You like John McEnroe. Yep. When he was young, John McEnroe. And you think about it, everyone was like, he was my mate, wasn't he?

23:22Some hated him, some loved him. But you need people like that in sport. And what do you think of him going up against 100? I went go-karting in the summer. Well, you footballers love it, don't you? I love go-karting. We used to go go-karting together, you know. All of us as a team, that was a team day out. We had to go paintballing or go-karting. Who was the best at go-karting? I don't remember, I think Teddy Sheringham was quite good, you know. Teddy Sheringham used to have a supercar. Yeah, he used to have a fancy car. Roy didn't like it. Oh, yeah. Roy dug him out, didn't he? So he was good at go-karting?

23:54Yeah, he was good. What were you like? I'm good, but not... You know, that extra light, you've got to be a bit of a... I'm not going to say the word, but you've got to be a bit unhinged, haven't you? to go that extra bit of... Yeah, no, so Max versus 100, I think it's a really good one, that. And is it good... Do you like it when they take, like, an elite sportsperson and put them outside their comfort zone? Yeah. Go-karts, slightly different rules, isn't it? You can see he's got to be... He's got to be so much better than all of them, but it's just complicated enough for him all of a sudden to go, hang on.

24:24I think he'll get there, won't he? He must have done it before. They all come through with go-karts, don't they? Oh, sure, I mean... And he's obviously a good driver, isn't he? Yeah, he can drive, can't he? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Who's the best go-car out of the five? Kieran can't drive, so he's out of the equation. You've just got Carragher, haven't you? You've just got this unhinged individual sat here that will just take risks. You must all be, like, will-to-win and stuff, mere mortals. I think Wrighty will be a good driver. He loves cars, he loves bikes, so he loves that type of thing.

24:53I'd go Wrighty or Carragher. Good. Excellent. Well, if you're looking for a sporting event like no other, Disney Plus and ESPN present Max vs. 100, now available to stream on Disney+.

25:10Steve Bruce makes the first call to you or how's that come about? You obviously moved from Dundee United and you go to Hull, which is a big step. Yeah, it was all like, it was all weird. That season was meant, it was 100 miles per hour because in January I nearly left. Well, Everton put a bid in for me in the January. So Roberto Martinez came up and actually watched me for Dundee United. Okay. And they wanted me to be, they wanted to loan me back for the six months and then be back up to Leighton Baines and then try and be the guy that kind of, that was their plan. Why didn't that happen? They didn't bid enough.

25:42I think they bid 750k. Dundee United at that point wanted 1.5 million. The manager was kind of saying, I'm not losing them. And to be fair, it was a good decision for Dundee United because they ended up getting, I think, 2.85 in the summer. So they ended up getting a bit more. and then I knew the Hull scout Stan Tennant came and watched me Stan Stan yeah Stan Tennant my guy he'd came and watched me against Hibs away and he was sat next to my agent and he closed his book after five minutes so my agent I always remember my agent phoned me he was like I don't think Hull's going to be an option and Stan just went I'd just seen enough in five minutes I just got that feeling and then I was still unsure because I was only I suppose maybe similar to you in Ireland like the Premier League is made to be this you know what I mean so I was like only a year pro and I'm like am I ready for this or do I stay at Dundee United and stay in my but then I had 20 minutes with Steve Bruce and I was in the car half an hour later I imagine signed the next day just he convinced me he just straight away he had such a good feeling off him did any other clubs come in at that did Everton come back in at that point I had I think West Brom West Brom had kind of sniffed about and Hull that was it at that point everyone never came back in at that point.

26:57You may remember or may not remember, when you first went to Liverpool, I was really dubious and sceptical. Oh, I know, aye.

27:07I'd watch you at Hull in a couple of games. It's wrong. I mean, Roy mentioned before about sometimes you're sat in a studio on a Sunday and you can get frustrated. I'm usually on the gantry. And I did a couple of games, or I did a game, Hull v Everton. I think you gave a penalty away. Maybe. Or Hull v United. Hull, Liverpool, maybe. Hull, Liverpool. I gave a penalty away, Studge dived. I did two or three games at Hull, and you always remember going over to Hull, and I remember thinking, because you look quite wiry, and you're going forward, and I'm thinking, how's that going to work? I did say that early on, and I've said since that you're one of the players, where you think, who did you get it wrong on?

27:45It's definitely you. How did that Liverpool move come about? How's that happened? Did you feel straight away that you fit in? yeah so I remember in the January I was obviously things weren't really looking good for Hull thankfully we got Marco Silva in to be fair that nearly saved us but at that time I think Burnley and Sunderland came in for me David Moyes came in for me but Sunderland they were rock bottom at that point I know I know and at that point so I was what was I 22, 23 my wife was 22 and we just found out she was pregnant so she was panicking because I was out of contract and she's like we need to you know like we need to look after our future so I'm like just trust me but to be fair then the window shut and I stayed at Hull and I remember meeting my agent and we had Stoke in for me at that point but Stoke were you know remember they were like 7th or 8th under Mark Hughes you know in the European places and I said to my agent I said forget about Liverpool I said I know Liverpool are talking but there's no way Liverpool I'm not like because I probably thought similar to you do you know what I mean I'm not I need to make another step and I think we were in the meeting for about an hour and I think five minutes before the end the chief scout of Liverpool phoned my agent and says Jürgen Klopp wants to meet him so everything we spoke about got ripped up and then I think the next couple of weeks I went over and met Jürgen in his house What was that like meeting sort of Klopp he's obviously a great manager but he's a personality as well do you feel that as soon as you sort of walk in that room because I think a thing with Liverpool's success that is almost forgotten you can say oh they both display they bought that player I always think about Van Dijk and I know Liverpool spent a lot of money on him but I always think the effect of Jürgen Klopp him wanting to play it wasn't like Liverpool where the team at the time were winning lots of trophies Van Dijk came when Liverpool was sort of you know Champions League team but that's always a big thing where I think people forget with Klopp is when he's meeting the players they want to play for him did you get that feeling when you first sort of meet him?

29:45Yeah I suppose like in terms of like me and Virgil it was different I mean Virgil had every club under the sun for him whereas for me if I could make Liverpool happen I was doing everything I could to make Liverpool happen but the moment I walked through his door like you just fall in love with him do you know what I mean? I mean like we sat for two hours maybe two and a half hours and we didn't really speak football we spoke football a little bit you know he famously says he liked everything I was going forward hated everything I went back to me but then we just spoke about life he spoke about his upbringing my upbringing my background his background his family, my family and you just felt as if you came out and you just knew him as a person.

30:26Like a therapy session almost. Yeah, the thing was we started seeing a lot of similarities in terms of he worked three jobs when he was at Mainz because he wasn't getting enough money and he had to work in bars and things like that and I think that's why he then connected with me quite quickly because he's thinking I like him, he's probably not the normal way to become a footballer and just after that now obviously I went to Liverpool and I know all the people that were involved in the decisions they said after that meeting he was like no no he's our left back where was the meeting? and his house I want to know is his house nice yeah it was nice only got to see one living room but it looked nice just one of the living rooms it was plenty and what are your initial impressions you've obviously played at Hull and there's an expectation level you've played at Dundee United there's an expectation level there but you go to Liverpool and you're in a completely different level how long does it take you to feel like you settling at Liverpool because it wasn't a guarantee that you were going to start was it?

31:23No no no but I'd say the first couple of months I went in and I was like I still felt as if I was an opposition do you know what I mean I didn't feel as if I was a Liverpool player I just didn't feel it and it was like I then had to start believing no no no I'm part of this club and you know it's like games help that do you know what I mean Who was the left back there at the time Jay? Alberto Monello Milner played played all season so Millie didn't want to play there anyway I think that was clear but then Alberto started to so the only thing was the Liverpool the Hull to Liverpool move took longer than expected in terms of just the Hull we lost a lot of players at Hull that summer so like the owner was trying to deal with all different and I missed out on going to Asia on pre-season and I thought that's big for me missing that because you know what pre-season is like that's when you get to know everyone that's when you feel comfortable and to be fair Alberto had played like three, four games in pre-season and started showing signs that maybe...

32:20So I'd kind of came in, I didn't quite believe that, you know what I mean, I was a Liverpool player and things like that. So it took me a couple of months. But then when I got the chance, I knew I was ready. Do you know what I mean? When Alberto got injured, I think I played Brighton away and then we had the derby. We drew, I think, when Rooney scored a penalty, we drew one each. But at that point, I knew I was ready to, you know what I mean, to start playing and be the starter. what was it like training wise with Liverpool I think you're probably talking about the step up and probably quality in little sessions that you're doing but was it physically different because you hear people talk about clubs training obviously we only see what happens in the game and it's 100 mile an hour but you can't just switch that on over a Saturday I mean was the training regime physically demanding yeah it was yeah tough the pre-seasons were pre-seasons were really really hard in terms of what we did we'd done triple sessions we did so like sometimes we always like sometimes we'd get like comfortable I always remember we played Napoli in Edinburgh right so obviously like I'm playing in Scotland for Liverpool I'm playing against Nap but like the day before we flew in from France and the day before we'd done triple session because the manager was basically like if you can get through this game with what's in your legs you'll get through anything so we get pumped 3-0 and I'm thinking I've got all my family I'm struggling first 10 minutes I'm leggy and all that that was like a couple of seasons in but it was like he was just testing you do you know what I mean and it was like if you can get through this then when we have three games in a week or we have four games in ten days or whatever it is we'll get through it and I think that's why we ended up being successful because we just outran we overran Was there any injuries in and around that time with that?

33:58I think I missed most of them because the first 18 months he came in I think a lot of people took a bit of time to get used to there was a lot of hamstring injuries but he was like I need to get them ready and to be fair they did do you know what I mean then all the lads got used to it all the lads then became available up injuries but more often than not we had our strongest 11 on the pitch in that time. Could you feel it if you had three games in a week because obviously the press was so aggressive a lot more extra mileage in your legs but could you feel it on the third game or did you get to a point where it was like we're good?

34:30No I personally got to a point where I was just like I'm all good here. The thing was as well was what Klopp was so good at he would just make like a surprise three four changes that would just give us do you know what I mean? like he would bring in an Origi or a Shaqiri or he would freshen up the midfield or he'd bring do you know what I mean he would change maybe Trent or me or whoever and it was just like it just then they four or five lads then kind of carried us through how many times did at times just fresh legs managed to win his games do you know what I mean it's a great place to be when you're a footballer people talk about what do we miss about being fit isn't it yeah great place to be I used to enjoy I know people always say I used to enjoy it I used to enjoy that thing of getting fit.

35:13No, I enjoyed getting fit from the games. I want to love a pre-season, but when you're fit and you've got lads coming in, three or four lads we had at United, when you've got a strong squad and you're all in a good place, that momentum would be good factors. Fabulous, yeah. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Disney+. The Super 6£1 million jackpot is still up for grabs. The jackpot started the season at£1 million and it stays there until someone wins it. it's completely free to play just predict the scores of six football matches get them all right and that one million pounds could be yours 18 plus TNCs apply

35:56This is in the last decade and we've sort of got I feel like maybe there's been a sort of people talk about managing load but the greatest manager I mean him and Pep Guardiol the greatest managers in the last decade in the Premier League he's still got that principle of overworking you. So how does he deal with sport science in terms of, you know, sort scientists now, you talk about managing load, making sure you pull back, making sure you don't push people too fast. But he's almost driving you into the ground, doing triple sessions day before a game and seeing how he can get through it. So you are robust for the three games a week.

36:28Is that still happening now? Or has that basically been changed? Was he the last of his kind, if you like? Yeah, but I think even near the, probably near the end of his tenure, he started not looking into it more, but you know what it's like I think there's always like different generations of footballers and I think it's always like every three, four years you kind of get do you know what I mean and like I just think the way like youth football is now is completely different to what it was ten years ago the way they get looked after so it's like I just think you have to adapt to the players that you've got do you know what I mean because at the end of the day you don't want ten, twelve people in the You played every week Salah played every single week I'm sorry about players like Van Dijk you weren't I know you said that three or four rotations sometimes would happen but you did play every single week all of you lads and you're capable of doing it.

37:11To be fair, Virgin Mo didn't go quite full pellet in training. They both put the handbrake on in training. Maybe me not so much. But yeah, I just think we all felt good in that moment. Do you know what I mean? I think you've just got to go off how you feel. There's lads like that now. I look at, say, like, Sobisla at Liverpool. He's a machine. Dom would train every single day. Do you know what I mean? But other lads might not be able to do that. It's just how your body is. You know, Pep and Klopp, do you reckon? They also go through that. We're there trying to get the best out of all the players and they're getting sports signs.

37:40Do you reckon they needed a break from all that? That they were changing their ways and going, if I can't keep up that heavy metal stuff. Do you reckon it took a soul on the managers, Pep? Why do you think they need a break every few years ago? I need to step back. Because, again, if they're high energy, you can put demands on the players. And you said players are changing. Maybe you can't be doing them three sessions. Maybe that got to them a little bit, do you think? Well, I watched the Guardiola, the Man City, documented you sort of see Pep at the end of it it's just like is he done? yeah but I don't think he was just at the end I suppose he probably liked that throughout his career but apparently and this is the most successful guy who wins every game who wins the trophies and he's just you can imagine Klopp being the same it just doesn't stop the thing is every single day in training he was do you know what I mean he was the one driving it if you'd done something wrong do you know what I mean and that must take its like every day it must take its toll whereas I even think the new kind of managers now they're a lot more level do you know what I mean even like when Slott came in he never went too high he never went too low do you know what I mean it was just I don't like that that much do I like managers and they lose it yeah man yeah but I just think the new type of managers was Klopp what was he like in terms of was he hands on it as like a coach or would he sort of stand back and almost be the manager on the training pitch or was he heavily involved in the press how high the line was pushing up so in terms of preparing for the game he would take everything in terms of probably at the start of the week he would let Pep Linder's take it and then it's not as if he's walking about and he was watching everything and as soon as he didn't like something he would stop the session or if he'd seen something he liked he would shout and scream about it but I think if we had a week to week which was rare to be fair to us but then when it came to tactics and stuff I'll just mention it now fast forwarding a little bit because you just mentioned slot then was there a noticeable drop off in terms of the training, how intense it was I know obviously won the league in the first year, amazing I think he was a little bit unfairly sort of judged or treated probably in the second season was that, because it felt like that watching the team physically I mean was that sort of something in training intensity maybe slightly different not whether it's right or wrong just with it it's different no it was like Arnie was he was into all the stats and do you know what I mean like that's what he was he brought in his own guy Ruben that was always on the iPad and like do you know what I mean like even in training if you'd maybe done too many sprints or whatever then Ruben would be like you know maybe somebody needs to come off it or whatever so they were a lot more clued on to in terms of load load and things like that so like he was definitely like that so it's like training then would be you know see this is what kind of annoyed me from last season from like you know they were like you know they're not training hard enough and that like we trained really hard like some of some of Slott's sessions were like really really difficult do you know what I mean it was just I suppose they were so used to us being all in with Jürgen Klopp whereas Slott's Slott's game was probably a bit different he wanted to be a bit more patient on the ball a bit more where our Liverpool team do you know what I mean like under Klopp it was like get the ball forward react off second balls win the second ball and we'll play in their third and then we'll start do you know what I mean whereas Slott was probably a bit more about build up and trying to move the opposition about but we were we were just as fit do you know what I mean like I mean I stayed fit under Slott as much as I stayed fit under Klopp do you know what I mean it's just it's just different regimes isn't it it's results isn't it it's results the first season when Slott comes in it's like oh it's slightly different he's making the extra pass oh he's looking after the players in terms of we're not getting as many injuries and then next season because you're not winning it's oh it's not as intense enough it's just they're all stands and flaws by results.

41:36How tactical was Jurgen Klopp? Because I just look at the fact that when I used to get my Sky fixtures through, if I got a Liverpool game, I knew it was going to be a hell of a game to watch because of the way in which you played. The style of the play was absolutely incredible. Was there a lot of tactical feedback? I mean, just talk about the full-backs, particularly you and Trent, because it was incredible watching you for a number of years, how you sort of went forward but also got back. Yeah, I always say that tactically, he was really like see his blueprint to win a football game I would take that blueprint if you had to play a game to save your life like that's that's the blueprint I would take but in terms of like opposition and things like that he was always like if we do this they cannot match us so it wasn't like as much of like he would show us say our friends were playing United or whatever it would show us the threats that United could give us and how they can punish us and they're good things but it would be more very much focused on us of if you do this and if you press like this and if you play like this we will win this game do you know what I mean whereas probably slot on the other side was a bit more like more into the opposition of there was a lot more opposition analysts and things like that and then it was like okay this is how we're going to beat that did the players not reject it but did the players sort of feel that because when you've got I had it with England sometimes not with United because I think with United we had very much that Jurgen Klopp type we talk about ourselves more but with England sometimes there were coaches who basically sort of talked more about the opposition than they did about themselves does that inject a little bit of fear and negativity into the dressing room?

43:02No, I wouldn't say so because how Klopp worked is he didn't really have meetings every single day so Klopp had a meeting say the day before the game and it would be like 40 minutes long so we would do opposition, we would do us and we would do set pieces so it would be like 40 minutes long whereas what Slott did was he had a meeting every day but it was only like 10 to 15 minutes long so actually at times you preferred it because it was like alright, I'm only in the you know what it's like being in the meeting rooms for 40 minutes you start getting a bit you just want to stand up so at times but like so it was just different do you know what I mean so I don't think like Slott was far from like it wasn't like I'm focusing so much on the opposition it was more like look they do this this is how we're going to play out from this whereas like Klopp was more like if we play to our blueprint we're going to win this game whereas like Slott would change things whereas we didn't change much under Liverpool like under Klopp we didn't change much it was just like we were the best team and we could beat every team that came in front of us whereas Slott would maybe change who would drop into the back three who would do you know what I mean just little things who would go wide who would do you know what I mean he was more like okay game to game I'm going to change would you even get angry Andy would he get angry in training would he get angry with you at half time in games would he snap at players oh yeah yeah yeah he's a big man isn't he can I imagine him like Luke yeah I always remember there was so I got arrested one game and we were doing set pieces arrested no no no Arrest, sorry, arrest, not arrested.

44:31I never got arrested. And he left him the cell phone. Yeah, exactly, no. So it was just like, we had so many games and I was out and we'd done set pieces. I was the opposition and our balls came in and I've stretched for it. I've just felt like, I've felt my hamstring just ever so slightly. So I've just said to the doc when I've walked in, I was like, doc, I'm not worried about it, but it's a little bit tight. He kept bursting through the ball. I rest you for one game. man like he was raging I'm like oh no so I went for a scan I'm in the scanner for like 20 minutes I'm like please I can show up thankfully he came back clear I showed up to the hotel and I was like I told you it was alright I'd never do that but it wasn't like he would lose it if we weren't doing our job properly do you know what I mean like in terms of trading that if he felt lads were slack he would get after you who would he be tough with I mean I always think with our manager back in there he was tough with certain players who would he be tough with in your team you had a great team obviously I probably fell into that category in terms of he knew I could handle it he knew because I played pretty much every game in that good period he knew that if I went for Robbo then it would be because I was okay with it but to be fair he didn't it wasn't as if he shied away from anyone but he knew he had to manage different players differently if he started screaming at Sadio Mane you know what I mean there could be a big fight and I mean Sadio was an emotional character but no like so he just had to deal with different players differently but like it wasn't too often that he would single you out it was more like he would go for the whole team as a agent like just as a team why did Liverpool sell Mane I mean I'm obviously looking from a distance and to me that front three was absolutely incredible he obviously wanted to leave but was there a way in which you could have kept because your relationship with him and obviously Trent's with Mo Salah was incredible down those sides I'm never really sure it was see that season Cosby were going for all four trophies it was like it was just like the season was done and Sadio was gone do you know what I mean it was all about like obviously you know Sadio had Bayern Munich there I think he maybe wanted to try something new and things like that so but in terms of the club I don't know if they could have really done anything do you know what I mean I'm not sure if they they could have kept him or whatever but I love to play with Sadio Diaz came in didn't he so if you remember in Mane's last season Firmino had gone over the team Mane was playing centre forward yeah Yeah, so Sadio had kind of moved nine and then Lucho was kind of playing left.

46:58He was my favourite player of that team. I absolutely loved that team. No. You know why I love Mane? You know why I love Mane? I love Mane. Because when you think of Klopp's time and you've all come in and made an impact, you come in and then Virgil comes in, Firmino was there beforehand, but he almost felt like he was Jürgen's first big signing in that first summer. I remember him. What he did to Arsenal that first game. Yeah, but that first season, Liverpool got into the Champions, Liverpool, I think, got in on the last day. Was you there then or did you come the year later? No, no, no, because they beat Middlesbrough, didn't they?

47:31I came that summer. They beat Middlesbrough last game of the season, didn't they? So it was almost like, not on his own, but he made sure Liverpool got in there. And the next season, Salah comes and he's got to move position. And, OK, it's a right wing to the left wing, but it's still a bit of a... And he was still amazing. And he was just... You and him on that side, it was just like, oh, my God. I just love it. Remember the goal he scored in Bayern Munich? Yeah. He worked hard off the ball as well, didn't he? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, like we always said that to each other, to be fair. We always said, look, he knew I was going to help him going forward because I would always go on the overlap and help him go inside.

48:02And he was like, don't worry, I'll help you come back. Don't worry, don't worry. Because when you play, at that point, there was very attacking full-backs, do you know what I mean? So when you were playing City, you had Kyle Walker flying at you. Even like Leicester at the time, do you know what I mean? You had like full-backs that kept flying forward at you. And you needed your winger, do you know what I mean? But Sadio would do both. Sadio would do both. I used to think there was something between Mane and Salah. I used to think it was like a competitive streak. Does that exist or not as in terms of both them trying to outdo each other on goals and things like that?

48:31Or were they both? No, they both wanted to be the top goal scorer. I think everyone in their positions wanted to be a drop in. But it was never like... It never spilled over? No, no. What was that game? What was that game, James? Was it early when... I think he could have passed it to him. He didn't. But then did Mane get taken off or something? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Them things are good though, aren't they? Did you and Trent used to have like an assist like competition? I think that's, I think it's good. No, that's the thing. Like it never boiled over where I think like, say if I had that Burnley one, like I'm like, like people were saying like Salah refused it.

49:01But no, he never, he just took the wrong decision. We all make bad decisions, but it was like, they both wanted to be top goal scorers. They wanted to both win the golden boot. They both wanted to jump in. Like that's what you want from your forward players really. Because at that time they were both scoring like 24, 25 goals a season in the Prem. Like, do you know what I mean? we were delighted they were both wanting to do that This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Disney Plus How did the Jurgen Klopp exit happen what was that like in terms of sort of an experience just talk us through that Yeah it was strange I think we got a text the night before saying meeting at half past nine and like you never got one never ever had a meeting at half past nine so I was like right this isn't I'm not sure about that we came in there was a lot of people about, gaffer's agent was in, other people were about and things like that.

49:52And to be fair, it broke on Sky Sports the same time we got told, so that's what the gaffer wanted. So basically he knew that it was coming out. I got the text as well. He's like, it was coming out. It was coming out at half past nine or whatever the time it was, and we were in the meeting room. So when we came out, it was everywhere. I mean, I had texts off like... Nobody knew anything. He'd heard nothing. No, because he wanted to be the one to tell us. But then I'm getting... I remember my wife texts me, why have you not... I'm like, I've just found out. Why have you not told me? I've just found out.

50:27But, yeah, he just said... The missus said, why have you not told me? He just said... The missus always go, why have you done tell them? The missus does it all the time. She says, why don't you tell me so? Well, to be fair, it was quite big news. You should tell them. I could understand that one. No, it was just like, my energies. You know, I mean, I just feel as if this is going to be the end and let's try and finish it positively and we tried our best. Could you see the energy dropping in him? I think you could see it taking his toll on him. You could see it taking his toll on him in terms of he probably wasn't the same person around the training ground, not in a bad way.

51:04He was the most sociable person ever. I always remember when I first walked into the training ground, I was like, he would be sitting and he would sit down at a table and we had big long tables and he'd sit down and just people would filter around. you would have the green keeper you would have you know the kit man you would then have a player and by the time he finishes me the whole table would be full and I think by the end like everyone would still love him and adore him and he'd still have time for everyone but you could see that taking its toll on him do you know what I mean like every single day being being that person being the father figure in the training ground being the energy and I think I think he definitely stepped away at the right time for him how do you ever replace that I mean because obviously what you've just described there having the kit man with the ground staff, with a player, that is quite unique.

51:52How do Liverpool ever replace that sort of what will be? I mean, Liverpool will go on for another 100 years, but just that character and that personality is... I don't think you can replace it, it's just trying to find then something different. Do you know what I mean? It's just trying to find something different. I think that's probably part of the reason why they went for Arnie. He was completely different. Arnie was... All the staff would have loved Arnie, but he just he was more shy he was more like in terms of just like day to day in terms of like staff and stuff so in terms of like say masseurs like they wouldn't get as much Don't mention the masseurs Too many never wrong man Good but what I mean is like you wouldn't get to and they knew that do you know what I mean and it's probably the same other I don't know but like he was unique and I don't know what Pep was like or Sir Alex was like for you guys but he was like it was unique the way he clocked it that international football might be ideal yeah yeah it could be yeah it could be ideal yeah not every single day of course yeah because he'll get like a 10 day camp and then he can reset do you know what I mean and I think I think that's a perfect job for him we see how much Liverpool miss you and Trent Alexander-Arnold now it's obvious for everybody to see we talk about it on a weekly basis you're exceptional both of you for years and we quite often talked about Trent Alexander-Arnold Did you think sometimes the criticism of him was ridiculous considering his levels of performances?

53:18When you look at now the issues Liverpool have got a full back... You were the one doing it. I knew. I don't think my... Mine was never really heavy criticism. It was just a more case of... We say criticism then. We always said he was brilliant. But just part of the defensive... Just get that bit of clear that he has to improve on. What's wrong with that? Yeah, that was the conversation we'd always have. If you just get that bit right... Obviously, England managers have left him out and so he sometimes doesn't play for Real Madrid. what were your thoughts back at the time when you were both playing and absolutely singing and dancing to be fair at full back I think it's just part of football like yous have all been through as well sometimes people just focus on what we can't do instead of like you know you can only talk so highly of people going oh he's amazing at this and that and then sometimes the conversation has to turn to okay what but I always in Trent's best games he was an unbelievable 1v1 defender like I've seen him lock up Mbappe for PSG do you know what I mean like in the Champions League finals he was unbelievable so Trent is a very very good defender now at times at times he maybe makes mistakes we all make mistakes do you know what I mean but it's like it's as if he had this you know stigma around him that he can't defend from a very early age and it's as if he can't shift it but maybe we did compare him to you because you would get to players with real tenacity and aggression I think sometimes Trent wouldn't quite get there in the same way different player obviously completely different on the ball but do you understand what I mean by that maybe it's the way in which maybe you approach your defending that maybe it's where the comments come from yeah but it was also the way we defended was very different in terms of like we spoke about Sadio was very you know Sadio helped me out so I knew I could probably be a bit more aggressive if I missed hopefully Sadio's going to be there the way we played we allowed Mo not to kind of because we didn't want Mo back in our box do you know what I mean so a lot of times Trent was maybe he was waiting on Hendo coming over so that's where sometimes I felt a bit sorry for him but it's also it's very different when you're English to another nationality I think Screw today I mean Both Yeah I always said to Trent I said I will never get as high a praise as you but I will never get as much criticism as you do you know what I mean and that's a way of it just because there's more people in England do you know what I mean Scotland and Ireland there's just more people wanting to comment on you I think what you're saying there you're two of the best full backs the Premier League have ever seen but when we all think of a great full-back we know what we're thinking exactly what you're talking about you get after your winger you're there you're bombing up and down you're doing an overlap that is like two of the best foot the reason I think probably sometimes Trent was maybe praised to the heights that he was and maybe criticised because we've never seen a full-back like that before it's almost like that's not how we all imagine a full-back playing do you understand what I mean it's almost like I remember saying it's like Liverpool having Kevin De Bruyne at right back it was like a midfield player playing it right back but running the game and it's not really how you associate a full back because a full back in our heads the great full backs you talk about Stuart Pearce a lot a lot of it is into your winger on the outside get a crossing get back up and down that wasn't Trent he was running the game from right back it was just different a different personality is he his different personality is kind of yeah but like he's you're right he's one of one do you know what I mean he's very I've never seen run a game like that like when he's on the ball and he dictates the whole times we all play and you don't associate that was you know what I mean like the way he used to switch the player he used to see the passes the assists he got the numbers he got but even like his chance like the amount of chance he's created for Artie so it's probably like that probably then when maybe then on the ball he wasn't as good that maybe then set him up for it because some games he did have where he was poor on the ball and we all have them but for him it was a lot more obvious because then I always said to Trent like if you have a bad game on the ball you then maybe start doing it simple don't you you maybe play the five yard pass or whatever nah Trent would Trent would then try the six yard pass again and at times it paid off for him at times like we've walked off the pitch and I've went that wasn't a good game by Trent but in the eight ninth minute he plays a 70 yard diagram we score a goal from it and it's like that's what separated him from everyone else he didn't care it was like I am going to do what I think is right at all times and I'm never going to lose confidence in it and I wish I had a bit of that.

57:37How was Jürgen with that in terms of how he, how would he be with Trent? You said how he was with you, he was hard with you at times. How would he be with Trent? He was hard with Trent, but he'd certainly, like, he'd put his arm around Trent more. But to be fair, Trent didn't need it. Mentally, Trent is one of the best players I've ever played with. Honestly, like, in terms of, like, his mentality and the way he views the game and also the way, like, he sees the game. it's like what he thinks is right he'll keep doing it and he'll keep doing it and it's so easy as a footballer to lose confidence isn't it and no matter what he'll keep trying it and keep trying it and you've got at times I'm like tip your hat off to that if I'm having a poor game or whatever I go maybe you know what I mean at times I've maybe played it simple or maybe avoided the tough pass not him I must say I interviewed him for the overlap for two or three I spent three longer than that at his house because his mum came at the end and we spent another hour we're talking and I was stunned at his he sometimes it's ignorant as well really of us but his love his love for football his love for football watching every single match knew everything about every player and you sometimes look at him and think because he's so relaxed on the pitch and the way in which he composed himself you think that he just comes naturally to him but he actually his work ethic and his actual understanding of the game was incredible it blew me away to be fair knew more about football in terms of the modern game and unfortunately sometimes you appreciate them all when they've gone isn't it yeah Liverpool this season all right of course oh you're getting deep just touch on that Andy you played with Kirkus last year and he came in obviously as a young defender he's come from Bournemouth you've come from what's the one piece of advice you would give him on and off the pitch in terms of obviously he's struggling just to settle in you settled in straight away what piece of advice would you give him on and off the pitch to make him a success at Liverpool I tried like last season obviously I was quite lucky that I stayed and I tried to help him as much as I can because it's a huge it's a huge jump we all know that from Bournemouth or a hull it's no disrespect to the clubs but going to like one of the biggest clubs in the world is tough and the thing the thing I feel like sorry for him and all the new signs last season it was like it was a tough season they were coming off we'd won the Premier League and then we didn't reach the heights and we all didn't reach the heights but it seemed because we'd spent quite a bit of money they probably got it in the neck more and I think at times like he was getting better and better and you know it's difficult because I had it at Hull as well is where we don't dominate the ball a lot and maybe you get forward three, four times a game whereas when you go to Liverpool you're getting forward ten, twelve times in a game so it's then your decision making your cross and everything like that becomes more of a because Milos is 1v1 defender he's nobody wants to play against him he's an unbelievable defender he's like we're talking about right in your face really aggressive and then it was just I was always speaking to him you know it's just then then when we have the ball and we're maybe having 60-70 % of possession just slow down slow down a little bit and I think he's starting to he's definitely started to do that last season he's starting to do it again this season but now a new manager's came in again and I know he's worked on them before but now everyone's trying to settle in again but he'll be he'll be a right good fullback for Liverpool I've got no doubts about that because he's got the right attitude and I think and like Liverpool fans will they can get on they can get on board they can get on board with him and that's why I thought do you know what he'll be okay he'll be fine and off the pitch it's just I always said it to all the new lads it's like don't get caught up in all the do you know what I mean because there is a lot of noise when you play for Man United or whatever there is a lot of noise social media and all that and sometimes when new players come in they want to see everything that's written about them and I just don't think that can benefit them or benefit any of them do you know what I mean I'm not talking about him in general but I was always like look we'll try and help you and just try and stay in that bubble and you'll get better and better and I think we've seen that of him and Flo and all I mean look at he's like this he's started really well so they'll all be fine for everybody I've got no doubt Andy we talk about you could argue maybe there was probably too much change on in terms of maybe winning the league lots of players come in lots of players go out but obviously you can't forget the situation around Diogo Diota and I know you were really close to him as well I mean we can only speak about something like that on the outside and think it must be so obviously difficult I mean what was that like inside it's difficult to it's difficult to describe or like talk about really because like what we went through it's like it was horrendous do you know what I mean and if I'm say if I'm talking about the new signings the new signings like they're coming into a club that is heartbroken do you know what I mean and they're trying and that's when I felt so sorry for these guys because they had signed and they were signing for big money if I'm talking about football and it took them months to settle in because we were like we didn't care about football yeah I mean that was the truth of it we didn't care about football because you've just lost one of your best mates in the changing room do you know what I mean and I think it takes I think all footballers we all have that edge don't mind I think when you lose that edge sometimes then you can't perform to the best and I think and I think last season we lost the edge I think when I look back on it now I think we lost that maybe determination a little bit and things like that because I know at times we were maybe going you know what's the point you know what I mean like look at what Jottsy's family are going through you know what I mean look at his kids but yeah we were grieving you know what I mean it was our mate at the end of the day he's not a footballer to us he was a team mate he was a friend he was a and everything so yeah for us it was it was incredibly difficult like I mean the week before he died I was at his wedding so So from going from, I mean, like, that's one of the most difficult things you'll ever go through.

1:03:33You know what I mean? Seeing him on the happiest day of his life and then the next week you're seeing his family, like, torn apart. Did you get to, like, grieve, do you think, like, with your teammates and stuff? Or was it like, I've just got to go back to being a footballer and the pressure that's on you to perform? Or did you feel like you could speak to each other? No, like, we spoke a lot. The manager was really good, to be fair. like our pre-season was barely anything because you know to be fair Arnie was like if you don't want to train you don't train do you know what I mean like that was the like if you're like say one day you come in and you're struggling or whatever that was his attitude of the pre-season and but we set up like we had like a psychologist that worked in the club anyway or I don't know what his official title would be but Lee and he kind of set up little groups and it would just be like you know if you want to grab a coffee and come round and talk and things like that.

1:04:25So we've done that quite a few times and I think that helped. But yeah, it was, you know, it was incredibly difficult for us, but then we always just couldn't help feel sorry for his family as well, his wife and, do you know what I mean, like at the end of the day. I mean, their life got flipped completely upside down. Ours, you know, we were heartbroken and everything like that. But for them, daily, it must be, you know, so difficult even now. So, yeah, but, you know, we managed to get through it together, I think. And we always just said, look, we'll always remember them and everything like that.

1:04:55But, yeah, you know, I mean, like we had to play football at the end of the day. We didn't have a choice in that. And, yeah, we tried to do it as best we could. And that's why last season was so tough. Andy, hearing you speak there, Obviously, I think most people often refer to it as maybe an issue as to why Liverpool weren't quite themselves last season, but I don't think anyone, I've never heard a player from Liverpool around that time speak like that about the absolute impact that it will have done in terms of you didn't feel like playing football, you maybe weren't training some days. Does that make it even more...

1:05:28Because last season, Liverpool were treated harshly in terms of how they performed, and obviously the manager loses his job. should that have been a bigger factor in the decision in respect of the manager? Because obviously you've done a brilliant job the year before you think about the impact that that's had on you, that loss should that have been factored in do you think towards the end of the season in terms of the general all round, accumulating new players obviously what's happened to you, the trauma that you're all going through would that have been something that you think could have been looked at in respect of Arneslott staying on?

1:06:01It's a difficult one, at the end of the day football is based on results and we didn't get enough results and that was the fact. These are extreme circumstances. No, no. These are such extreme circumstances. How have you just described that and the emotion you've just described? Well, if you go back to the summer before, we have the biggest parade in Liverpool's history, right? We're on the open-top bus. We're going through the city centre and I think over a million people had come out and seen us. The next day, we all shake each other's hands. We all go off to the summer. The next time we see everyone is at the airport heading over to Porto for these funerals.

1:06:32That's the next time I see all my teammates so from going from the highest of highs in terms of being on a parade with the Premier League trophy and you're parading around thousands and thousands of fans to then seeing staff and players the way we were like that it's not normal do you mean it's not normal of what we we went through so I think could it have been factored in yeah maybe it could have but then when the season goes on and things like that we know that we then have to do better and we need to win games and things like that and I get why then there was a lot of frustration around the way we were playing, the results that we were getting and things.

1:07:08I can understand it. But what I would say is that in the time at the start, the manager was really good and he helped us a lot.

1:07:24He understood the situation in terms of pre-season, in terms of not pushing us too hard, not trying to cause too competitiveness or whatever because just in case somebody was struggling that day or whatever. We then were starting slow, but we then go and win the first five games and everyone thinks Liverpool are going to win the league again. Do you know what I mean? We won the first five games, but we were probably covering over the cracks at that point and then after the international break, the cracks came. But how you ended, I can remember myself saying, you saying, all of us saying, oh Liverpool look like they've lost their edge, they look like they've lost their speed, they're playing slower that would be the result of a pre-season maybe that wasn't normal that would be the result of players to be fair not quite feeling like they want to play football anymore when I look back now to be fair it all makes sense we probably at the end thought ok maybe it's the right decision to sack on the slot but when you look back now and think about what you went through and how you trained you're players that have lived at the edge you're champions we know you train hard we know you're professional so when there is a drop off and something like that's happened.

1:08:30Yeah, just think back now and think that maybe it was all so obvious really. It was staring us in the face and we didn't quite see it as much. And that's why you probably have so much, like, I suppose sympathy in a football term to all the new signings. Because I think they came in to a team that was, like, we were elite in everything that we'd done for years and maybe we couldn't be that because of what had happened, do you know what I mean? And then they then started getting quite a lot of criticism and things like that. And that's why I think these lads will be absolutely fine at Liverpool.

1:08:58I would treat this season as their first season. That's the way I would do it. Do you know what I mean? I would now go, OK, this is Kerkis' first proper season, this is Florian Wertz, this is Alex Izak's first season and let's see how they get on. Do you know what I mean? And then at the end of the season, if they're not up to it or whatever, then I would treat this as their first proper season. Could you, I mean, obviously you trained with Izak, Eketike, Frimpong, Kerkis, Verts. you're fully of the opinion that they will be exceptional at Liverpool because we've given Florian Virts a bit of a hard time in the last few weeks So I'm saying we go, I don't sorry we

1:09:41I think it's right that we ask questions in terms of about you can see he's talented, you know that if he gets the, my problem with him sometimes is that he goes too deep and he doesn't get to be fair into the areas of the pitch where I think he can cause the most damage but when you see him what do you see when you look at Florian Verts or he's acting these types of players? Yeah just like with Florian I just see like a really special footballer but I know he's got to prove he can do it in the Premier League because how many there's so many special footballers that have came to the Premier League and sometimes have not done it Has the pace of the game shocked him and the physicality do you think a little bit?

1:10:14No because the thing is Gary is in terms of his like running stats he was always one of the highest in terms of distance covered so in terms of he works hard in the gym to be fair Flo in terms of since the minute he walked in to now there'll be a big difference in terms of his physicality so I think Flo's right up for the physicality it's just he just needs it to at times last season he would put a ball on a sixpence for somebody and they wouldn't score I saw that I saw that he needs people to score the thing is he needs people to score and because we maybe you know obviously you know Mo had his worst season in terms of goals you know we didn't Cody probably didn't score as many goals as he could have done on the left Isaac was injured a lot wasn't up front Hugo done pretty well to be fair to him but he could easily maybe ended up with 10-12 assists last season you probably don't do you know what I mean now he'll know he needs more he's really hungry do you know what I mean as a player he wants to be the best and he wants to and that's why I think he'll be because he's got the attitude and he's got the mentality to go and do it he just needs things to start and sometimes as playmakers you need things to drop for you do you know what I mean how many times did Kevin De Bruyne put an unbelievable cross in and somebody misses it and you go or he makes a five yard pass and somebody bangs it in from 40 yards that's what me and Trent always used to joke about he always used to say some of my assists were five yard passes do you know what I mean but it's still an assist at the end of the day added to my numbers do you know what I mean but yeah I think that's why I'm confident he'll be absolutely fine he had that back heel one didn't he when you were talking about Mo he probably would have been one of the best assists the back heel of Chelsea where Mo goes through doesn't he on that side that was early on as well wasn't it yeah and that's the thing sometimes you just need one to click and then it's just they all come do you know what I mean is it the connections well like because he might be playing things and thinking well you should be there like does that take a bit of time because you've all trained with players and it just click instantly but some you're like you should have been there or I think you just mentioned Mo there and I just want to go back to something of last season where I was really critical of Mo when he came out and obviously I had to go with the manager for not playing but you've obviously got a great relationship you group of players that started big club won everything, did that and we all have different views on because sometimes a star player is treated differently and he was the superstar of the team could you understand where he's come from because he's that big or how did it affect the dressing room?

1:12:41To be fair to Mo Mo was always the changing room first now I know when he comes out and makes the comments do you know what I mean like obviously the change room read it and it's then used for the next but in terms of the change room it was always like no no I'll do the best for these players Mo never came away from that and but I always find it I always find it difficult because like Mo was our star man and he always and he always was even when we were our best Mo was Mo was always our best and it's like then when things start to go wrong I don't I think he felt as if he was maybe he was the one getting all the you know maybe getting all the blame and then he would get taken out and things like that and I don't think you can have a player like that on the bench I think it's probably similar to Ronaldo when he went back to Man United you can't have a player like that on the bench because they're so iconic and the thing is some people come to the stadium just to see Mo Salah some people came to the stadium just to see Ronaldo it's like then it's just a conversation every single game why is he not starting oh he is starting why is he not and it would just and I felt that do you know what I mean that got to Mo because Mo was like in terms of in the change room it was still unbelievable in terms of driving people forward trying to make the new lads understand what it was like to play for Liverpool how hard you had to work and yeah I just like but Mo he knew he wasn't producing the numbers that he was and I think that was more the frustration but yeah obviously then what happens happens and Mo ends up announcing he's leaving and things like that but I don't think what he did will tarnish what he achieved at that club he's up there with the greatest players to ever play with the club and the send off he got and everything like that was well deserved and every relationship he had at the club is still intact as well do you know what I mean and I think that was the most important thing for him When did you realise you were going to leave Liverpool and how big a wrench was that for you?

1:14:36I'd say probably January time I nearly left in January I didn't want to leave but Tottenham came in for me obviously they were in banging trouble at that point but I just didn't feel it was never in my plan to leave in January I had six months left and I think I had the World Cup and things like that so I was more I need to just kind of look to that so I think the January time it started becoming real that I was going to leave and that's when I kind of came to peace with it really So basically Tottenham came in in January and then you just kept that conversation open did other clubs come in or was it always just going to be Tottenham was it a slam dunk yeah it was always Tottenham as long as they as long as they stayed up do you know what I mean at that point it was like I don't think I didn't quite want to go to the championship with Tottenham so that was the thing like I ended up then getting invested in you know what I mean like Tottenham game I was like watching Tottenham do you know what I mean like checking results we've never gone down no I know no I know like I especially when De Zerbe came in I was fully confident but yeah as long as they stayed up it was going to be Tottenham They showed their interest first and they really wanted me and I was happy with how much they wanted me really joining.

1:15:53You've lived in an environment of absolute excellence under Jurgen Klopp and Arneslot. You've won titles, you've won Champions League. You've seen absolutely everything from here. You've gone into that Tottenham dressing room. I know you've only been there for a short time. I'm sure you're trying to influence that with your leadership and it's been a tough start. What is the difference that you can see from where you've been and where you are now and how do you comment on that? Yeah, it's just more, I look at Tottenham as if, probably maybe just before I came in, they're now starting this journey.

1:16:23They've had a couple of really tough seasons in terms of finishing where they've finished in the league and things like that. They've now, to be fair, had a go in the market in terms of they've went and spent a bit of money. but I do believe now Tottenham are now starting a journey now I don't know how far that journey can go nobody does but the determination in that group is like you can see last season the players or the everyone the whole you can see last season hurt them a lot and maybe maybe we're still guilty of carrying that weight of last season on our shoulders do you know what I mean and that's I suppose the message of the manager first and foremost and also I suppose that kind of falls on me the new players of no no like we need to forget like we need to now try and you know get Tottenham back to where we believe they belong and it's maybe sometimes you still and the fans are still carrying it as well and you don't blame them do you know what I mean they've been through such a tough time and things like that but it's you just see certain moments like even like you know the Liverpool game there we play so well in moments and then you get a goal and it's like you get a goal against you and it's like and then we go back to 2-1 and all of a sudden it's chest and out and everyone's wanting the ball and it's like we need that all the time even if you go 1-0 down or it's 0-0 late on and things like Everton when we played Everton we dominated pretty much the whole game but we started getting panicked near the end we started rushing things bad decisions Do you see that as your in some ways when I'm thinking what you're saying that's almost it feels like that's one of the reasons why you've probably been brought into the club great player what you've achieved it's more almost a mentality do you see that as almost like a responsibility for yourself to almost change what you're talking about because of what Tottenham have been through and the experiences that you've had yeah of course and that's what the manager wants from probably all these new signings really do you know what I mean it's quite rare that you make 10 new signings so we've had a lot of change this summer but he wants all of us to be the ones that help drive us forward because he thinks that we don't have the baggage of finishing 17-2 seasons in a row and he's right so it's like bit by bit we're getting better and better I think the last couple of weeks have been positive without getting probably the results the Forest draw was you know fair result I think we should have beat Everton and we could be sitting here on more points do you know what I mean but Newcastle for 60 minutes we were it was an even game the goal then like I'm talking about we conceded everyone the whole stadium is and it's just trying to we just need I think we need the first win and once we get the first win I think we'll be I think we'll we'll be a really good decision What's said to you on the way in when you go into Tottenham so you're You're at Liverpool, you're obviously being offered a contract at Tottenham obviously to become an experienced player, but what is the ambition?

1:19:10I think Tottenham fans often ask, what is the ambition? What is said to you on the way in about where the club is going and where it wants to be? Well, I don't think we had that conversation in terms of the people higher up, but the manager. Who did you speak? I'd spoke directly to the manager. To Roberto? Yeah, yeah. We had a couple of video calls over the summer. he's super ambitious I think he can tell that as a manager he wants to be able to win trophies he wants to be competing and things like that and he knows it will take time but he also knows that we need to start showing it sooner rather than later so he believes he believes in the squad and I believe in if you look at our squad even when I'm looking at the team we played against Liverpool in the cup and then you look at the bench do you know what I mean in every position you've got so much quality and you've got so much good players, it's just we all need to show it as one.

1:20:03Do you know what I mean? Instead of maybe a bit of individual quality or whatever. I think we just need a little bit of luck and we need a little bit more of, OK, forget about the past and we need to move forward. And I do think as the season goes and goes and goes, we'll get better and better. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Disney+.

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1:22:21Right. We've got some community questions, Andy. OK. Should defenders celebrate tackles? Have you ever celebrated tackles? I don't think I have. I see you doing it. I don't think I have, no. I don't know. You probably want to... It's your job, isn't it? It's a rowing court. Yeah, exactly, yeah. No, but I can get why people maybe get caught up. I don't mind it, Carl. Yeah. I don't mind it, to be honest. Because you all lot do it all the time. we're doing great tackle if you can find any moment in a game where you can get that kind of energy just do it, the people make too much of that it's fine who's the toughest opponent you've ever faced?

1:23:00Messi I'd say that's the new camp in the semi-final I think you're alright with Messi maybe in the second leg, not the first leg I love that I've got a picture of that hand you must have a picture I've got to say no in your living room yeah exactly yeah but the first leg in the Nou Camp was the difference wow what's your dream five a side from current or former teammates well I would have Alisson and goals Virgil at the back midfielders for five a sides I'd probably go Thiago Alcantara and probably go James Madison actually and then up top yeah I just think Madden's five a side is he oh yeah quality and then 11 v 11 sorry

1:23:55you'll like that and then up top I'd go more Bobby Firmino Bobby Firmino I missed a question from before actually I used to get frightened to death when you pushed up that far particularly under Jurgen Klopp it used to frighten me to death did you ever think like what's going on behind me there I used to think because we would never have pushed up ever at any point the bravery of the back line with Liverpool was incredible obviously Alisson would be out was there ever a point where you thought this worries me this with the players I'm playing against probably now I would no but not back then I just think we just committed to it and we knew that we would always be kind of first to turn and Virgil was rapid Joe Gomez was rapid me and Trent had a better pace about it so I think and we had Alisson that would he would be flying out anyway he'd be coming out quite quick so we just trusted it Best atmosphere you've ever played in?

1:24:51Away atmosphere? Any I mean the Liverpool-Barcelona game at home was pretty special but away I hated playing Galatasaray last season Galatasaray away it was horrible like they just they just they just whistled the whole game you come away from the game we're so ahead like honestly sorry for jumping in because we haven't really touched on that game have we? you know the Barcelona I mean what was because there was a few players out it wasn't like Liverpool's team at the time I mean there's a big thing made about Jürgen's team swap before that game wasn't it so the I remember that we trained the morning and obviously the night before the night before Vincent Kompany puts the 40 yarder in against Leicester so we realistically knew that Monday night the league was gone because I think they played can't remember who they had I think they had Brighton away the last the last game and we played Wolves so we realistically knew it's done it's going to be difficult to win the league because they were a point ahead and he just asked us how he was feeling after last night and he said not very good and things like that he says okay but tonight he says nobody gives us a chance any normal person wouldn't give us a chance but because you're sitting in front of me I give you every chance in the world and I'm telling you this will be one of the most special nights of your life and the changing room before the game is the loudest change room I've ever been in it was just like laser focus everyone was ready to and we didn't know it's easy to talk about now because we won 4-0 do you know what I mean it's like but we felt something special could happen and it got off to the best possible start you know you get the early gold and the fans start kind of believing a little bit going okay maybe and then obviously just we made a really good team crumble effectively do you know what I mean like even like everyone says Trent the corner taken quickly it's genius it is genius 100 % it's genius but in a semi-final when it's 3-3 with 10 minutes to go half their team aren't even looking at the ball do you know what I mean but I just think the whole crowd the whole atmosphere and everything that we done on the pitch we forced that do you know what I mean I remember there was something I think Jagen Klopp tells the story I'm sure it's you was it you at half time when you said oh it's only pain or it's only yeah so me and Jordan Henderson both my uncle was in his knee so he got the doctor to give him an injection so I was like inject it he's like I'm like Doc you've just injected him I'm like it's only pain and then I think one of the I think the doc and the gaffer was stood next to me and he went like what happens if Messi runs at you the first two minutes of the second half and I went I just put the till over my head and I went yeah go on make the change because like I don't know I can't it was like such a strange injury it was like there was like bleeding like underneath the bone and it was just like I went for the scan the next day so obviously that night after we'd won I stayed up the whole night didn't sleep a wink because I was like I'm out of the Champions League final the pain I had I was in like a boot and everything like that I was like I'm out of the Champions League final I went for a scan ended up I think I ended up getting an injection or something like that and I ended up playing on the Sunday I shouldn't have played on the Sunday but then we had two weeks like we had a two week break for the finals I had enough time to get there but yeah that was half time was tough but it was the greatest substitution they ever made on it when Aldum came on in the rest of history What do you want to do in new attire?

1:28:10Are you starting to think about that now in terms of planning, coaching, punditry, business? What are you doing already? Honestly, I don't know. You've not seen my idea right now? I change my mind all the time. I've not done my coaching badges. It's probably something I'll do. Do you want to go into the other side of football? What's that? Sporting director. Maybe. Or do you want to be a player? Honestly, I don't. No instinct at all to think? No, honestly, no. I just feel as if, like, I mean, I'll probably be here 10 years probably being a manager, but I just think, you know, as a footballer, you spend so much time away from your family and things like that, and I don't want to, do you know what I mean?

1:28:53I would rather have weekends with my kids and things like that. So, like, for me, if you have to ask me now, I wouldn't, because coaches now, they do, eight to late, do you know what I mean? Steve Bruce was usually the first person out the door at all. Do you know what I mean? I'll get another job. he did change his ways I'll back you up Steve don't worry we'll end that bit Scotland the new Scotland manager all excitement for that yeah met him for dinner last week and look it'll be different it'll be different obviously we had an incredible time under Steve I actually watched McGinn sat here and he says that I'd have been more ruthless with Steve honestly me and Steve We've had a really emotional chat, you know, a couple of days when we were still waiting to get put out.

1:29:42And yeah, we both agreed. It was a tough week, that wasn't it? It was a horrendous week, horrendous week, aye. But like, we then had time to think and all of us were thinking about certain things. Do you know what I mean? And, you know, we just, I mean, McGafford discussed, I always remember it, like we were both quite emotional and we discussed, he never mentioned he was leaving at this point, but he's like, we need to change. And just like little things, I mean, we need to change the belief in tournaments because we're now good at qualifying for tournaments, but in the tournaments we don't show the team that we are and we need to get over that and I thought maybe he might bring in a new coach or maybe change his way or change his formation but then the next day we had a meeting at half past seven at night I remember that was when we were officially out and we had a meeting at half past seven at night and he pulled me in at like five o 'clock and he went my time's up he pulled me in and one of the staff members and all the lads were like can we not just cancel this meeting because they were all like we just want to get off I was like lads just come to the meet and to be fair he spoke and yeah it was really nice actually we all just stood up and he got a standard of ovation off all staff all players and everyone and it's what he deserves because he was unbelievable but the new manager's now in and it'll be different it'll be you know what I mean probably a bit different football and a different approach and things like that but it's exciting do you know what I mean it's exciting and hopefully we're as successful if not more than what we did with Steve only Kennell Glees has got more Scotland caps than you are you going to get there what are you on I'm on 97 now 97 Kenny's on 102 so I seen him last night do you just have to sort of like get 101 and then just sort of retire because you can't go past Kenny I know that's what that's what he says he always says you'll be my friend until you overtake me to be fair he always says he always says now he says oh well yous have got millions more named Nations League what was that he's got an excuse I think he might bring up ratios to years games played and all that to maybe still be on top but yeah look that's obviously something that's been on my radar for a while now I think when you get to 80 odd caps and things like that you start to look up because when you get to that point at Scotland there's quite a big gap so I think I took over Darren Fletcher I think it was at 80 and then you you've got Jim Layton at 92 or 91 and then you've got Kenny at 102.

1:32:09So it's like you're waiting. Whereas like see at the 60s, 70s, you're taking somebody over every day. Like every game you play, you're like, okay, I've took over. Someday. Whereas these have been a bit of a, like the Darren Fletcher to Jim Layton was just like, I'm like, oh, come on. Checking the caps. I'm like on 88. I'm like, come on. So what are you putting on them friendly games? That was the thing because the manager, even the warm-up game against Curacao before the World Cup and obviously the Premier League had only finished on the Sunday and we played the following Saturday and he was like look you can come in the Friday night but you'll miss it I was like nope I'll see you Wednesday I'll see you Wednesday so I ended up getting my cap Nice man Andy can I ask you something about we had John McGinn on you've come on and we speak on this show every few weeks and we talk about where the game's going and you know players are different and that but you almost seem like a throwback that's what it feels like and I think that's why players like yourself and John McGinn I'm sure there's lots of other players out there are so popular with the man on the street or the supporter in the stand I mean you're just being yourself but do you feel I'm not asking you to criticise players and you know everyone's generation is different you said before every three or four years things change but you're aware of how sort of you come across how relatable you are to the man you're a hero to Liverpool fans I'm sure that would be the same with Tottenham fans going back to Dundee United because of just the nature of who you are I think what I've I think what I've always tried to do and I know John has definitely done it as well is we've never whether we were at Queen's Park and St Middon or whether we're at Aston Villa and Tottenham now I think we've just always tried to stay the same person do you know what I mean and I would I would always like to say like the person that I went to school with would go Andy's Andy do you know what I mean I don't think fame or football or money or whatever should change it so I think I've always tried to do that off the pitch in terms of do you know what I mean just try and be the person that I have been on the pitch I think I've always tried to play like a fan would want to play because at the end of the day like I love I love football do you know what I mean like I love watching football I love playing football do you know what I mean I love watching my mates you know play the games and stuff like that so it's like I've never lost I'm a football fan at the end of the day so I think that's probably why I had such a good relationship with the Liverpool fans because I think they seen somebody was like I always when people met me in the street they always went if I was ever good enough to play with Liverpool but I'd want to play like you do you know what I mean and I think that was it's just always what I tried to do but I'd have done the same at Queen's Park do you know what I mean because I'm just thinking now I think you're the only Liverpool player I've ever messaged when I've left remember I messaged you a couple of years ago yeah I don't know you that well do I really what did you message him for sign shirt people always think because you've played for Liverpool or any club that you know the players now or you have this and you don't you don't go to the club I was it was a game against I think we played Fulham I was out drinking I was in an Irish bar in town I know and probably because I'd had a couple of drinks but only because I know the type of you got sent off didn't you I was going to say when you said Fulham I'm thinking I got sent off was it Slott yeah yeah first season Slott so we're going for the league we're Arsenal and I'm in this Irish pub and the scores are coming and someone's just text Andy Rob because it wasn't live on the town there was a clear clear clear clear and I not that I know you but just the way I think you are I thought he's going to be absolutely devastated I don't think you give a penalty when you get sent off no penalty no penalty I think it was a fault for the goal but no penalty he was pissed at the time and I was just thinking how I'd feel probably because I had a couple of babies you know what I mean and then I sent you a message on social media and then you know up in the morning and you go oh fucking hell

1:36:06it wasn't I did reply I did reply but I was like I always remember that game because it was like my mates from up in Glasgow like my same schoolmates and I've known them since I was three four they always come to like one game a season try and get two but they've got kids and all that now so they come to one game a season and that was the game 17 minutes I'm in the dressing room I've got that so I've walked in I've not seen them in months so I've walked in the box I had and I'm thinking like how'd I act here I've just been sent off but we drew and we got a draw and I'm thinking and one of my mates just burst out laughing I was like I was like probably called me a baby then sometimes you need that though don't you in them no that's what you mean like you need the people that can there's nothing worse than if you walk in the box and everyone's like you know what I mean like it was perfect because my mates were there and they all just burst out laughing so then we ended up going out that night probably as well so we were suspended for three games so Andy, absolutely brilliant to have you on Thank you very much Thank you Thank you so much

1:37:14This has been a Global Andy Overlap production

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