Nicky Butt & Kevin Nolan On De Zerbi To Tottenham?! Salah Leaving & Incredible Andy Carroll Story!

35:38The people who are there for you to support, that support system to say it's going to be okay, all that type of stuff. You know, I was still up in Newcastle. You know, he's like ringing me, and you're trying to be the best. But yeah, and they're the bits what obviously people won't see and the fans won't see because they think, oh, well, he's 30, but it's the pressure of a 35 million pound. He's the most expensive British player at this time. You know, and as I said, no matter how much he knew that what he was doing for the next stage of his career is probably the best thing, you're still looking at it.

36:13Because even when I was going up to Newcastle, Harry Speeds rang me in the car. God bless the soul, Speeds, I was one of my best mates in football. And he's gone, what are you doing? Because obviously he did all what was going on there, what Biltie was saying about it. What are you doing? And I was going, I have to get out of Bolton. I was going to say, were you in a relegation? You're going into a team that's a possible relegation. But we were, Bolton was in probably a similar situation, you know what I mean? We weren't too far off, but Bolton, we were much better set. I didn't realise I was walking into a squad, which I was thinking like, bloody, we've got Butty, you've got Mo, you've got Vuduka, you've got Duffer.

36:51You know what I'm thinking? Like, we can get all that clicking. We can go again, you know what I mean? We get through this year and then we can go again. As you said, Joe Kinnear was the manager. That was like a thing where you're thinking, but yeah I don't think he was doing anything except but just be the front man you know the front one so yeah it's hard for them moments but I remember and I was in the car and I went but I need to do it now just to get away because in that moment Gary Megson's second in command had said to my agent he needs to get out of the football club because we played Blackbeam Rovers we were 1-0 up and they scored in the last minute and I've gone in and absolutely lost it the dressing room saying like we can't do that that should that should be a one nil all that type of stuff you know in no uncertain terms and and then gary didn't say anything mega mega didn't say anything and he just said right come on just get on the bus and that's when he thought that but i'd been like sort of gary's assistant for the first six months he'd come in yeah so i found it really difficult when i heard that i was like hang on a minute what do you mean to the lad who was telling me and I was like what do you mean and anyway it happened the way it happened but look I don't regret it don't regret it because they rang me back in the summer and said would you come back and I said no I've got unfinished business here and I really I love my time up there just them first four or five months were tough and like you say like you know it's the championship but when you're winning games week in week out and getting the promotion and what have you what a feeling yeah it was great it was great You know, everything, even though you think, well, it might be my last season, but what a way to go out.

38:28Paddy McGuinness:Yeah, I won a lot, luckily, in my career. And I wouldn't put, apart from obviously the treble year, I wouldn't put anything above getting promotion. Yeah. Only because of what it meant to the football club going down. You know, if I had just come in and got promotion, it might not have meant as much, but I seen the club go, really go down, and then come back up. And it was a great way for me to call it a day and retire. Right, everyone. That Prize Guy's back this week with another couple of draws for you. You can enter to win tickets for Arsenal versus Sporting Lisbon or Liverpool versus PSG. Just head over to their website and enter thatsthepriiseguy.co.uk.

39:12Before we get into our top 10 list, as this one is about Liverpool versus PSG tickets, what did you lads think about Salah leaving? The announcement.

39:22Paddy McGuinness:It's strange, mate, if I'm honest with you. I think he's obviously an all-time great at Liverpool one of the all-time Premier Leagues I would say top 10 but he's I think he's let himself down a little bit I don't think Liverpool fans will see that because obviously they've got there but from an outsider looking in he's argued for a contract for pretty much six months putting a few fireworks out there when it comes to after-match interviews about him getting his contract started and the club have obviously done that they agreed the fee which I imagine is a hell of a lot of money and then what, eight months later he's asking to leave.

39:55Paddy McGuinness:So I find it a bit bizarre. Yeah, his numbers are incredible. We can never take that away from him, but I think it's just all a bit bittersweet now. I think the time, what they should have said is, you know what, won the league last year, you've done brilliantly for us. They had obviously the contact and negotiations with him, Trent and Van Virgil. So I think Virgil was a key one for them in this next coming years to be able to sustain. I mean, I thought Trent, they should have threw him a bit more at Trent, if I'm honest, because of his numbers he does and what he does for Liverpool. I was always one where I thought Salah would be the one who left and not Trent.

40:32So I was very surprised. But yeah, I'm a bit with Nicky. I'm a bit disappointed in how it's all just unravelled in the last couple of weeks. It's a shame, isn't it? Because even as a neutral, you can look and go, like you said, leave on the right terms, legend the... He's a god day, isn't he?

40:47Paddy McGuinness:He's like an amazing player, phenomenal footballer. He'll never lose that. He's never going to lose it, no. I don't know why I just didn't get to the end of the season and do it in the end of the season when everyone's on hold and it's not as big of a news now I don't even do it's just last game of the season because it doesn't look like they're going to be in for a title run if there's anything going but now the scrutiny's now going to be on or what's he going to do is Arnes Slott going to play him so you've brought all that on now because he's not going to be here next year does Arnes Slott not put him in the team and start integrating so yeah Where do you think he ranks among the Premier League greats?

41:18He's the 4th highest goals in the Premier League joint seven highest assists he'll move into six

41:26Paddy McGuinness:just above Bergkamp with two more I think fundamentally for me he could play in any team in the Premier League history and be a standout player however if you look at it he's won one league two sorry two sorry but you can't then put him at the top end so the top end I think he'd be in top ten but I think he'd be in that ninth or tenth for me about you yeah I sort of agree with Butty yeah you know I think and for me like I'm a bit biased because all my top players are probably all midfielders and everything else and then if you're looking at people in Mo's Salah's position then I'd go to my era and I'd be a bit more biased towards that era when when right if you look at Mo's a phenomenal player he's won two Premier Leagues Ryan's 13 Premier Leagues and I know people will think Man United connection mate it's not about that you look at Scholes 11 you look at Lampard's 5 4 or 5 Terry Gerrard I'd put Gerrard above him yeah yeah me too me too well his 4 or 5 Scholes in the Premier he's 191 the assist 93 and the reason I'm saying that is because I've got a little quiz for you love a quiz he absolutely loves a quiz this guy loves a quiz no lie to you this is top 10 Premier League goal scorers of all time but not including English players okay so all foreign players got the answers here I've give you one already Salah's number one with 191 Henri he's third Van Nistelrooy sold on 175 Henri Van Nistelrooy not on there no nope oh he's only there so I've give you it for Swan Salah 191 and Alco he's 8th on the list 125

43:24Bergkamp I was just going to say him Bergkamp not on there

43:32Hasselbank yeah he'll be there

43:34Paddy McGuinness:Leeds and Chelsea yeah he's 5th 127 Jimmy will be there Duncan Big Dunk no non-English You're looking at 100 plus, aren't you, really? 100 plus goals. They're all 100 plus. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So 10 years. Well, Giggs, he must have been, he's on more than 100 now. No, well, he's Welsh, isn't he? He's not English. You said English. No, I didn't. I said non-English. All right. Fucking hell. Well, he is non-English. He is non-English. No, no, sorry, I said non-English. I said. Oh, yeah. Fucking hell. Fucking hell. I'm getting real to me. you're right hey hey do apologise do apologise fucking hell do apologise you're absolutely right you're absolutely right he's not on it anywho you've got you've got one two er the floor at the minute Carnu er not on there fucking hell are the Bayern on there no Aguero Aguero will be on there yeah he's second 184 get him straight away it's ridiculous how many you forget so quickly would Yorkie be there?

44:53Dwight York? yeah 123 I was going to say play with him he's 9th Solskjaer? no surprise that I thought he'd be on there 1 I thought Van Nistelro

45:06Paddy McGuinness:would definitely be on there 1 go on you have to get some clues hold on a minute right Spurs Klinsman no not that far ago oh Robbie Keane's on there yeah 1, 2, 6 he wasn't who I was looking at there he's just above Robbie Keane Robbie Keane's 7 this lad's 6 Berbertoff no not that long ago Defoe or the English turning to Paddy here Not that long ago he played there Oh Sean Yes 127 I loved him So they've not said 4 and they've not said 10 So 4 and 10 Midfielders or forwards? Forwards Alright Both Yeah Both played for United Both played for United Oh god he has hasn't he number 10 I forgot about that Yeah he has Fucking hell Fucking hell When did number 10 play for United?

46:08Mourinho I think Mourinho?

46:11Paddy McGuinness:Mourinho and Solskjaer. Do you want me to give... Oh! Fuck it out. Van Persie. Yes. 144. The last one, though, is 10th with 121. And he played the same era? That's that era, yeah. And Chelsea. Yep. Oh, Lukaku. Yep. There you go, 121. That was good fun, lads. For you at home, remember to get yourself over to that prizeguy.co.uk for your chance to win tickets to either Arsenal versus Sporting or Liverpool. Get in the game with the college-branded Venmo debit card. Wreck your team with every tap and earn up to 5 % cash back with Venmo Stash, a new rewards program from Venmo. No monthly fee, no minimum balance.

46:59Just school pride and spending power. Get in the game and sign up for the Venmo debit card at venmo.com slash college card. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. Select schools available. Venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at venmo.me slash stash terms. Max$100 cash back per month. Protein is now at Starbucks, and it's never tasted so good. You can add protein cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha. Try it today at Starbucks.

47:31My day kicks off with a refreshing Celsius energy drink, then straight to the gym. Pre-K pick-up, back home to meal prep. Time for my fire station shift. One more Celsius, got to keep the lights on. When the three alarm hits, I'm ready. Celsius. Live, fit, go. Grab a cold, refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate now at Celsius.com. This is PSG.

47:58Paddy McGuinness:When Kevin was coming up, I got asked about Kev. I did, yeah. I said, what do you think? I went, no brainer, just go and get him. because I played against him and you get a feel for people you play against 90 % of the time you're right the odd time you're not right about someone he got it wrong yeah but literally I said no I was thinking I was getting I was way past my anywhere near my best we had a few other younger players and I was my feeling to the mysure and the owners were like we're getting too old out that age and it was getting too separated and we needed to link it all up and at 26 27 you're still the ref was young well you are young but in football terms you're reasonably young but you're experienced enough to know how to take people on and when I played against Kev I had bad times playing against Kev he was really tough to play against he was a really good player but literally when you play against someone you get a feel for someone they know they're not in our bed they know they're not mad arse they're not moaning at the referee you leave a late one on them they just tap you on the back they'll give you one back it's not rolling around and he was perfect for Newcastle at the time I didn't know him personally but I knew of him and I knew the character and I was right, yeah.

49:07Paddy McGuinness:It's like you say. He took me out a few too many times. Actually, let me just put this straight. He took me out a few too many times. He showed me the way in Newcastle because even when I couldn't go out, he took me best mate. Is Quincy around? I was like, yeah, Quincy will be about me. Give him a shout at him and Quincy become best mate. He went on my way. Quincy was like, I was rang him and I went, I'm on the podcast with Buddy. He was like, oh, wait, what a time that was. he said if I went out with Kevin Olman I was out with Nicky but he said in the end I didn't even have to go out with any of them I'd just walk in and they'd be like Quinty we had to ask him to get the bars what was it called or is it the big market we didn't know that was a no-go really yeah was that like mega lively place I don't think I've do you know weirdly I don't think I've had a night out in Newcastle I love my town in Newcastle and people people are a bit all over with me some of them like me some of them don't and it was all around the fucking stupid bullshit line that got fed to certain press we played the semi-final in my United against Newcastle at Cardiff FA Cup semi-final and I was playing for Newcastle and I knew they were my best mates like from 11 so Scorsi, Riot, Nev they're not just teammates I'm mates with Kev but we are more teammates I grew up with these lads from 11 so they're more like brothers and I'm still I still see them anyway I purposely would not look at them in the line-up walking out wouldn't look at them because I thought I don't want to even acknowledge them I'm going right through the first chance I get I'm going right through one of them I had a bad game we all had a bad game that game we weren't great we all had bad no one played well I didn't say anything I didn't shake anyone's hand when I walked off the pitch no one's hand as I'm walking off I get to the touchline and Slalic comes over to me and he could see I was I was raging because I wanted to beat Man United I just left I wanted to beat them 5-0 and he put his arm around me and just said because he knew I was shit I had a bad game he trapped me on the line and said see you soon I went no problem they put a picture of me Slalic with my arm around me walking off the Cardiff Arne Park make it out that I weren't asked and then they said that I got on the so I was at the time my ex-wife was having our second child and after the game I went to Manchester because she was expecting and it was all pre-arranged we won lost drawn whatever it was pre-arranged which it is I know where that's been I then flew back with the lads to Newcastle because they didn't want to just drive from there flew back to Newcastle then got a car right back to Manchester to go and see my birth of my second child put it in a paper that I flew back with the Man United team on the Man United plane which was the biggest load of bullshit and I can't remember what the reporter's name was but the next game I was raging we used to travel fly everywhere because it was so far away was there any social media there?

51:48Paddy McGuinness:no not really so I got on the plane at the time we used to rent a plane and we used to get they used to walk on the bus the what do you call it the reporters and I remember looking at him he walked on I just went to him next time you fucking tell lies about me like that I'm going to fucking absolutely come I'll find everything out about you I don't care what it costs me I'll find everything out about you and I'll ruin you because I don't mind someone saying something that's true so that's where all that's come from so whether they like me or they're not at Newcastle not a lot I can do about it I loved my time at Newcastle I did I thought they were a great city great people massive football club that I've got great fans it's just I had a really good time it weren't great on the pitch at the time but the lifestyle I loved it I really liked it it is wrong with the press and it was stuff like football my job anything but you know it's a money making thing for them so them putting stuff like that for you is going to my only mistake with that is I wish I'd have come out and said something but what I did I don't need a bit bravado a bit younger I don't need to tell them anything I should have come out I said something oh the club should have come out I said that's false reporting I know if that would have been Sir Alex in a pre-match press conference the next game it'd have gone he flew back on the plane with us so let's stop talking shit that's what happened the manager at the time didn't do that which I wish they would have I wish I would have said so because I did lose a lot of faith with the Newcastle fans then because they thought that was true picture me picture me like walking off with him around me me flying back it's like he don't even hate Newcastle he's my United person and also as well with social media you know where things get called out if it's bullshit or not back then weirdly you know where I grew up in my house it was like you had some mirror on table and what you read in there was like given wasn't it you know what I mean although I was I was shit on it in the game I was fucking terrible I can't be honest you played for them still didn't you no but it is it's like and as you say but we all would have been like that and as you said you wouldn't have then gone out and gone hang on a minute I didn't do that because you don't feel like you have to explain yourself because it's not true yeah exactly but what you are saying you're going to the one who's the person and it's the reporter and I remember when we were at Newcastle I banned reporters when I was like sort of being I think I was the vice captain to you in the end it was you and Smudge but I was playing and I was captain and Smudging him weren't so I sort of become like one of them and we banned him we banned him because he gave Jeremy a zero yeah that was generous that day yeah but no but your local reporter can't do that yeah you know what I mean and it was wrong and then what you had to do is you had to make sure that they give you a little bit of respect and that's what we've done and I think that's where it all started coming from because then they realised that we were all together.

54:34Paddy McGuinness:Don't forget the guy's name I'd love to find out but it sums him up as a shithouse. The next game he played Blackburn I got a 10 out of 10. Best performance he's ever seen and it wasn't. It was like 7 or 8. It was just like fucking idiots. And he did report whatever he wanted to report at them times and thought he could get away with it. Now as you say you can just open them up right away because you've got X, you've got TikTok, you've got Instagram so you can just say this is a load of blood. you know what I mean let's talk about West Ham pal I can't believe I've not said anything about Bolton yet but we're going to say it's best or last I like that by the way all this bullshit about Bolton how he loves Bolton ask him where he lives you still live in Bolton do you still live in Bolton do you still live in Bolton you are allowed to look at the world Cheshire Pressbury you don't see him backing Bolton too often do you he's short after all the players you know the reason why he doesn't get because I think he went to the Manchester United games more than the bottom This is absolutely Scurrilous I'm getting these fucking journalists back on the floor YouTube band I like the sound of these journalists The Bolton guy Lives in Pressbury in a mansion Oh look in the golf course You do alright for yourself It's about opening up the world Having a loop round Family still 40 minutes away I'm still up in the north of England Not moved down to London I was born in Manchester living Manchester all my life oh that is fucking that would be something to do with tax that some sort of reduction if you're still in your house you were brought up or something like that right now one of the things with West Ham you were given the captaincy by a big Sam I'm trying I was trying to think on the way in of managers who have players that they just if they move they bring that player with them and I couldn't think of any do you That connection you had with Big Sam, obviously he trusts you, he knows you're a great player.

56:33Was it a no-brainer when he contacted you? Yeah, so it was quite strange because, obviously, I was talking about the Newcastle days and how good they were and coming up to it. I think we'd come back into the Premier League and I'd scored 12 goals that season in the Premier League and I missed the last three games as well because I was going for an ankle up. But I'd shook hands with Derek Lambias on another deal to extend my deal for another two years. in round about the January, February. Obviously, we're doing well. I was doing well scoring goals and everything else. You know, for my field, a good output of 12 goals is, you know, good.

57:12Well, it's excellent now. And it wasn't then because Steven Gerrard was scoring 18. Scholesy was scoring 18. Lampard was scoring 20-odd. You know what I mean? At that time, Joe Cole was scoring 10s. You know, we were always in and around them. But, you know, you had all them lads who were just, like, phenomenal and doing it. but you get lads now who scored an eight and they're going, what a great season he's had and everything else and outputs. Anyway, yeah, so I get a phone call when I'm on my way to my operation. I'll never forget it. I'll never forget it. I was going for my op in London with the physio and it was like, their deal's off the table.

57:45I was like, right, okay. Where's that come from? Anyway, they just didn't want to invest again another two years just in case because then obviously when they're sort of putting it a new investment yeah you know it doesn't it's another two years of worth of money anyway i was like okay right okay i don't know where that puts me anyway anyway so get me ankle done go away and i'm in dubai i was with harps and his missus with my missus gets on really well with with with arpo and his missus so and their kids and everything else and i get a phone call and it's like we're and obviously we just read that Sam had gone into West Ham.

58:24And he didn't take me to Newcastle as much as everyone thinks either. He didn't take me to Newcastle. I followed him after it. So I think he would have if he could, but I think when he went there, he was told, don't bother coming for him. So anyway, we... He said, would you go to West Ham? And obviously they'd just been relegated. I'd just come back up previously with Newcastle. I'd had the disappointment at what I thought was taking the piss out of me, you know, after me being now the captain and everything else. you know, Pards had just come in and I quite liked and enjoyed working with Pards he was a good fellow and I liked him and I had loads of conversations and it sort of went from and I don't regret it but I was a bit naughty to say you know but I needed to get out then, I knew once I had an opportunity to then go and work with Sam again Yeah, that matched both ways though if they're not honest and open with you then that opens the door for you That's what I said to Pards, I said look if you had an opportunity now to go somewhere where they want you to want you for a longer more longer period of time I said like I need to do it because I'm not gonna come and be the Kevin Nolan what you've just had for the last eight months yeah you know I'm not gonna be that guy like because yeah cuz cuz they've let me down yeah you know if they hadn't shook me on and we were talking then there was no talks if they were the shook they shook me hand and said like the deal will be coming and then all of a sudden it's not when we get into that you know when you're going to an operation too and you're on your ankle it's my third operation on the ankle I was like alright okay so it was all and I remember I just I was on the phone and I went yeah and I got off the phone not realising that I had to speak to Hayley at this moment in time she's just now she's just now settled in Newcastle she's got a mate now they go out they have all the play they do all that these are things you don't think about they're now you know you know buzzing buddies they're getting on really well me and Arps we go out on a Sunday have meals and you know Sunday roasts around the corners and everything else she's now finding her feet in Newcastle and I've gone yeah I'm going to West Ham she's like you're not I'm like I am and we're now having this domestic at the pool in Dubai and Arpo's now taking our kids and the missus they're clearing off and they're like feeling awkward and he's like and then I've come over and I'm like he's like do you want to be yes I do so we're sitting there at Beardy and he went look you've got to go he said as much as I'd say I'd love you to stay and everything else you've got to go because it's a good opportunity you're back with Big Sam and everything else and I know Newcastle's a big club West Ham great history big club it's not even that it's where you want

1:01:05Paddy McGuinness:for me it would be subsimilar it's where you wanted if you really wanted Newcastle you wouldn't have moved we're all human beings at the end of the day you would not have moved I think as human beings we all like an arm around the shoulder and you want to feel wanted it don't yeah and that's what I said like leaving Bolton I was told that you know the assistant said he needs to get out the club we need to get him out the club but he didn't think I'd be able to get me out that quick because we played on the 30th of January and by the 31st I was a Newcastle player on the last day of the season sorry the transfer window and that's how quick it can move in football but again Newcastle wanted me Bolton didn't at that time he didn't soon realise in that four months then all of a sudden you get a phone call or i'd love you to come back hold on a minute yeah you know stick to what you thought four months ago and like yeah you see what you wrote so whatever the saying is and and the thing is i just thought no i can't do that i've got i've got unfinished business here at newcastle i need to make sure that i do what i know should be done yeah and and as i said them two years one of the great two years getting promoted and then just making it look so easy and scoring 12 goals in front of the Newcastle fans and everything yourself and they were all every game they were up for they were up for and we had some great wins in that we had the 5-1 against Sunderland we had the 6-1 against Aston Villa so it is so to take all that away so quickly it was like it was hard to do but I knew it was for the next chapter and I knew I was going into someone where they trust you, as you said.

1:02:45When you talk about Andy Carroll before about, you know, going home, you've not got your family there, you're not settled and what have you. Just what you're saying about being on holiday in Dubai and having to say to your missus, we're going to West Ham and she's settled. How much of a thing is that like with your other halves, you know, with football? Because obviously, you know, no one really thinks about kids in school. Do you know what I mean? and I think psychologically if you've got a little bit of upset at home I don't mean anything bad but like you know we're moving

1:03:17Paddy McGuinness:kids are I only did it once and what I did because when I went to Newcastle we was playing in Europe so it was away Friday night away Thursday night it was away three nights a week basically by the time you get back home so I bought a house this side of Newcastle I think goal where most of the players were was all Darius Hall I went to Wynyard which is about an hour this side so my message was up and down she was for kept the house in Hale so she was fine so I never really had that issue at all really but I can imagine it it must be tough for them because it's not it took my missus it took my missus three months four months to find that house yeah right so I was living in a hotel for the first well till the end of the season then we found one just at the end of the season then we obviously we got relegated and everything then you get it all done like we settled we settled a bit but yeah and then I'm saying now we're going to the other end of the country but it's easier for the lads because you're in train every day bit of banter then you have a game of golf and then you have a few beers the women just they're at home that's what I'm saying yeah none of the mates are around and everything else and when you're coming home tonight and there's like little niggles and stuff it like plays on you what's up what's that what's what my penis what are you looking at what are you looking at what are you fucking doing Paddy's getting a semi on we're talking about Bolton's next Bolton's next Bolton's next you're getting a semi on here you can feel it can't you you can fucking feel it can't you well Luke we can Forget about the smaller teams, Newcastle and West Ham.

1:04:42Let's get on to the big guns now. Do you want to go for a pee? Are you all right? Yeah, okay, yeah. I'm all right. The mighty Bolton Wanderers. Now, we were talking before about Big Sam and him joking with the press and that reputation sticks about long ball and everything else. But what kind of things, when you were there, you were talking about, he gave that team talk and he was saying about European football and everything else. How did he implement that over time What did you see as a footballer? Were you going, bloody hell, this is quite good. Never seen anything like this being brought into the game.

1:05:15Well, it's just all the nutrition side of it, everything else. They come up with what they named as the Premier League run, so how much distance. So we had all the distances of all the teams and everything else in the pre-season and everything else. So if you completed this run, you knew that you were ready. And I think that first year we got up with, I think we come up with these mini leagues as well, what we've done. And it was just all these little bits which you buy into. And if you have 15 points after 10 games in the Premier League, it gives you a 76 % chance of staying in the league that year.

1:05:54So everybody who goes, oh, yeah, you can walk your way into the team. He didn't. He had the philosophy. No, let's catch everybody when they call. Let's go for everybody. Let's get all them points on the board. get them up and then it helps you and it keeps you high so even if you go into that run got that 15 points and I remember I think we were in the top six or something like that and it took us I don't know how long I think it was after Christmas maybe January, February and we'd only just got down into the bottom five if you like because of that start if you know what I mean because we'd get a point and then we might lose two then we'd win and then we might lose and you're just then accumulating points to try and get to the 40 point mark which was the market at that time yeah I think we ended up sending West Ham down on 41 points we were we got 42 or they had 42 with 43 so we said we said it was just all them little bits off the field which he set your targets individual targets and brought a lot of the pros on stuff come in then at that moment in time which we used a lot and a lot of big meetings where he brought in a lot of outside like you know professional people and it wasn't anything to do with football sometimes it's about experience like basketball coaches who've managed Michael Jordan yeah you know and listening to him and how they worked and how elite athletes work and all that type of stuff so cryotherapy chambers all that type of stuff like no one had one we were the first one in the country to have them you know we were we were like we were like probably lab rats to be fair because he was just going yeah throw it in and let's see what they like see if they enjoy it yeah you know what i mean then he brought in like a nutritionist who said that we should have steak for for breakfast so like in the end they were sending i've got my missus making a steak in the house for breakfast you know what i mean before because you should have it two hours before so that'll be able to and then it helps and all that type of stuff i remember being in pre-season in italy as well and i was like i think at the time I was 92 kilos I was benching sorry I was squatting like 140 kilos Jesus at 22 and I was like I felt unbelievable like sprint all the things what he was doing I just bought into because I was a young lad thinking yeah go on see if that works for me see if that works for me if it didn't I'd sort of come back off it and then you find your way don't you when I look at where they are now to back then because you almost become sort of you just think oh we're a Premier League team you know you never think about going down you're always like there are thereabouts it's just amazing when someone like Sam leaves and then you just see that slow decline and it just changing I think that's what it was and he'll probably tell you himself better but from where and I remember that I remember we'd just trained and it was an icy day so we couldn't get on the pitches so we'd gone to the JJB trained on the four days there when you used to do that because we didn't have an inside area then.

1:08:51So we went over there and on the way back, he's like gone, knobby jumping car with me. And all the lads are like, oh, here he is, here he is, gaffer son and all that. You can't imagine, can't you know, all the lads battering me. So I've got in and like that and then he's, I'm like, yeah, gaffer son. I'm thinking, shit, am I in trouble here? I don't know, what have I done? They're trained all right. They know everything goes, it goes through your head when the gaffer says. Where's my sound went out? he can't have known I was out on Saturday he hasn't got known in Liverpool but yeah and then he he said to me like look I'm leaving and I was like and knowing you feel yourself it's like I felt myself like welling up and I was like what?

1:09:37I said like why what's happened he was like we've come we've hit the the top now and we're not going to because they're not going to give me the next bit. I remember what we were saying about that money when he was talking about European football and what have you. I'm not talking about it. At that time, devil's advocate,

1:09:55Paddy McGuinness:away from the Bolton side. With the players that he brought in, he obviously had been given money because some of them like Kocha and Elke or Campo, they must have brought some... They must have had some fun, I think, Kocha, Kocha, we brought him for eight and a half million. Iddy was a three. Kocha was a three. Yorker was a three. You should look at the name. Who's the one out of there? Hero. I always remember when Cantona come and it's very when you around certain people you get used to the players that are like gobs if you like but I remember when he walked in everyone went yeah he's not only the unbelievable on pitch he's got the presence which one out of all the bowling so Yorley was the first one yeah Yorley was the first one woke up winner woke up I was going to say and I remember him walking into because obviously you've got all the glamour of the Reebok it was all brand new then so the gaffer used to take them there while I'm there over the fridge oh yeah we can't get into the training ground later so we'll get everything sorted we'll take you over there tomorrow once you've signed once you've signed they're done and he'll tell you more about that and I always remember you're already coming in and you're looking at him a World Cup winner European Cup winner I think he was from Inter and looking at him and he's like that and he's like let's go and you're like ooh so he's a good character yeah so he was proper he was just proper and then obviously JJ and Nando was probably the biggest one though yeah I remember him walking in when he come into the dressing room and he was just he was he was class everything about him he looked the part he looked like you don't play for Real Madrid that long and Spain you know when he walks into the room obviously I'm a tall lad and 6 '4 he felt like he was taller than me he probably isn't he's probably about the same height but he felt like he was taller than me he felt like he was just he was there you know what I mean like it was just and he spoke just eloquently he was just lovely the way he was his demeanour his manner you could see he was a winner everything and like he come in and I think he struggled with the pace and everything else but a bit like Ivan and then he just went I don't know what I don't want to do and he just sat in that position there and I think we finished 6th or 7th that year with him do you when you're with players like that where they've played what they've won and they come in like you said they have that aura like you were saying about Cantona when do you do your first training session is everyone like right let's see see what they're about do you know what I mean no I don't think with people like him no no bro but do you no I don't mean like as in like are they any good I mean going fucking hell let's see yeah and I think it was like obviously he played the game at his own pace and it always felt like he always had plenty of time you know they talk about when you played against San United like you could never get the ball off them you know what I mean so you had to bide your time and wait and one minute they'd be there and you look and then the next minute they're there and you're like you're dizzy and that's what it felt like we felt like we were having players of their calibre to come and help us to be better and get to the next level what he was wanting so when we got to January and we were in the top four which we were the majority of times and we were obviously punching way above our weight he's wanting that extra 10 million and that's 10 million in them days you know what I mean the top clubs were paying 18s, 20s I think how much did you buy Verón for at that time?

1:13:1828 million so the first year we went into the Prem Verón had gone in there as a 28 million pound player Sam's asking for two other four or five million pound players to come and help us to get us through because we get to February and that squad just needed that little bit more of a little bit more How did he do it?

1:13:38Paddy McGuinness:How did he get them in? Do you know with Sam? and I mean you'd never say something bad about Sam McBowland because what he did at Football Cup was phenomenal but you think see where they are now do you think it was all Sam Allardyce's way which worked for you guys and Sam but the minute Sam was going to walk out of that building is it sell for anybody else to go in or was it also Yeah I think it was I think it was and that's why it was surprising because I think that's why they gave it to Sammy Lee because it was like a correction and that's what I was saying a bit earlier you know it was very surprising and that's where we thought that it would just be sort of smooth transition, keep it going.

1:14:13Obviously, instill a few different more ideas and whatever you want. Do you think that's a bit of... Yeah, but it's like what you said about it doesn't matter because when you're following someone like Sam, like Sir Alex at United, all these managers, it's still...

1:14:26Paddy McGuinness:The reason what we're getting at is I'm going back to the start of this conversation with Tottenham. They've got to set up how Tottenham want themselves, not how they see the Zerbs. Tottenham have got a chance now, but he did, to do what... Reset and do what they want to do. Yeah, do what they want to do. It would be like a Brighton on a bigger scale. Yeah, exactly, yeah. When you were saying a minute ago about how far Bolton have fell from Premier League to where they are now, I am always looking at it going, is it because they give Sam too much leeway with what he was setting up and what is it?

1:14:52Paddy McGuinness:So when Sam leaves, it doesn't work for anybody else. So he needs to give him too much power. Yeah, and I think that's, you know, you've got to be careful with that with football clubs and I'm going back to where Tottenham are, is that the fundamentals of a football club's got to be right for whoever they pick. They'd rather select certain coach that will come in on, mind you, of the bigger picture. there might be only three that will fit that football club but you're saying it was set so with Sammy going in after Big Sam do you think he's changed stuff just to say well I'm the manager now not Sam so he had to do a little bit of that I think you've got to do that you've got to show that you're the manager now and I'm not just following what Sam but I think it was probably too much too soon and that's what it was and then obviously then recruitment comes into it can you be the one who then goes and gets the next year or when everything else and I just don't think that was done right and everything else in the summer.

1:15:39So we were, listen, Sammy, I love him, respect him. What a coach he was. You had him with England. Great coach. Absolutely. Gentleman of a bloke. Gentleman. Love him. I've ever seen him and he's like, he does a little bit of mentoring for me now with the LMA and everything else. I've got a few of them I speak to. But yeah, like looking back, I just feel like that he could have just sort of said, look, yeah, well, let it roll on because it was in January, February, I think, when he was appointed because Sam left during the season. we ended up sort of scraping over the line getting into Europe and probably if I'm honest it probably would have been better if we weren't in Europe for him to be able to establish and put his philosophy on it How long did he get?

1:16:19He didn't get long didn't get long no but we were in a bit of a pickle when it happened and everything and we'd done well to stay up with that year Just from your point of view with that you look at say Gary Cahill where other clubs are sniffing around when they're doing well and what have you and you think, oh, he's not going to be here for long. Did you ever get a sense of that when you were playing for Bolton, especially when you were doing well, when other players are doing well? Are you always thinking they're not going to stick around or is it because you're doing well, they will stick around?

1:16:54Yeah, that's it. And I think there was plenty of times where there'd be a little bit of someone ringing up or would you be interested in going there? would you be and I was just like nah I was fully invested and just wanted to keep going keep being you know keep the the ride going really yeah you know and I felt part of that and wanting to that and it's mad because obviously as much as then when I look back as much as I thought I knew a lot of it and I knew a lot and I had it all figured out some of some of it I was very vulnerable towards it you know what I mean I'm a bit like you're a bit naive there you know what I mean to think that like Bolton we're going to keep doing and doing it again under the circumstances because lads Buttie's just said they you know did they give Sam no Sam battered above our weight massively by using a lot of his resources and his money by putting it all into the back room and everything else and all that other bits what we were talking about earlier you know what I mean he'd use a lot of money onto that to help the 15 what we had if you like or the 14 lads and then then all the other lads will come with it but they'll all be good lads and good characters and I think that's where you build it on and I think that's that was the sad thing is that we just couldn't keep it couldn't keep it going and I think all it needed was a little bit of investment or outside investment to help him come and go to the next step and that's where it was where we was Think about the dynamics

1:18:20Paddy McGuinness:of the club as well they've obviously got two of the big Manchester clubs right next door so it's difficult but you look at the fundamentals of the football club when Kev was there the stadium was an unbelievable stadium you know the facilities it looked prime to put any big investor to go in because Manchester is big enough to have more than two big clubs I know Bolton is not Manchester but it is in general I think it's with that I think it's just it's the tone because I think when they look at a club like Bolton and what's around it you're right the ground was amazing when they moved in I was like fucking hell we've got fucking hotel rooms looking onto the pitch it's like fantastic but they look at the area and what they can get out financially and there's no two ways about it even though Bolton's right at the side of Manchester Manchester hands down wins when it comes to if you look at a Wigan in their heyday they've got they've always got the rugby shadow on them they've got the rugby league there like there's 50 yeah but they have like a Jack Walker kind of come in because he loves them so much so basically with Bolton you think that's their problem with Bolton was Blackburn took all the kind of demographic it's just mad to me how it didn't take off but if you're going to take off it's going to take off when you were all playing yeah that's what I'm saying that's what I'm saying that extra investment but I weren't too sure if they wanted to get that investment but you look at the football club now they're going to be struggling to get an investor to take it back to that level again I'm thinking they had their opportunity then that was you're saying they were in European places they were getting £40 ,000 every single week they got a big lovely stadium that's when the investors should have come along and gone we're going to take it to the next level and that's why Sam's left ultimately wasn't he but also I'm not going to tell the story exactly because I don't want to misquote Sam but he told me a story once about what's it called Eddie Davis yeah Davis and money and European football and not getting the money and he told me the reason why when he found out and I even as a fan I go fucking hell it's heartbreaking you basically let your team down because there was expecting you and Peter Keter put a few to the fucking hell you fucked off the press break mean feet I'm going press break see you later see you later yeah fucking where they went he took a fucking lock ball he was going in a brand new Beamer but you know when you look at that like just let's just talk about some of those players who were there I used to think like fucking hell where did they put them in Bolton like where they were living where were they living and what did they do quite a few so quite a few were in lost off what's it called the the road down towards into Charlie New Road a lot of them were in Worsley and then like a couple then went into Manchester yeah like Nico obviously in Elker uh he was phenomenal like great lad oh yeah whatever anyone else says about I don't care and he always comes across as he's moody they call them the La Sulk and everything but brilliant lad always there with someone you wouldn't take into battle and a fantastic footballer what a striker and we got him for 8.5 million by the way from Turkey unbelievable and no one else believed in him and Sam brought him in and the club backed him in that moment and that's what I was saying the next January was when we needed the next little bit to help with that because we had Stelios we had Ian we had Dufy Stelios so me speedo Campo yeah what were they who were the sort of all those lads who come in who like you say go fucking hell I can't believe he's signing because I heard like Rivaldo were close Pep Pep was in the Reebok and then ended up going to Qatar bloody hell we thought we were like thinking that Pep's coming in because obviously but we were used to it then because with that with that Hernando with that obviously Ivan Yuri JJ you know what I mean and then you We were adding them top-notch internationals, quality players who come in and make you better.

1:22:27And then we were surrounding them with good lads, if you know what I mean, and everything else. Myself and Speedo and Stelios. Stelios ends up being a European winner. Juicy Ascaline, he's probably not in the top end of the goalkeepers, but he was very, very close to getting there. He was a top, top-end goalkeeper. But he probably wasn't your Schmeichel or your Siemens and all them type of stuff. But he wasn't far off that. And what were they like as lads to be around? Yeah, brilliant. Ricky Gardner, you know, Ricky was one of the best. Oh, my God, yeah. Obviously still speaks to Ricky now. As he said, like, there, you know, with his mates, I was with Ricky since he was, because he'd come over as an 18, you know, I think from after the Reggae Boys and then, what was it, the 98 World Cup.

1:23:15And he's obviously only 16, 17, I think, when he played in the role he was maybe 18. and I was a youngster too. So me and Michael Ricketts were like thick as teeth then. But even when you look at someone... That's a good daughter, Michael Ricketts. Yeah. Did you? Did you?

1:23:28Paddy McGuinness:He was in Yarm. Sorry, Wynyard. Wynyard, yeah, when he was at Mothersburg. It's when you look at those players, like what I loved about, I remember when I first met JJ because the player he was and how loved he is at Bolton as well. But I just remember thinking, oh thank god he's a lovely bloke do you know because you can go you meet him and you're like oh fucking hell what a letdown but he was just one of them and I've met him a few times now sure the same birthday as well which is always a treat for me I quite like that but yeah you go fucking hell he's a lovely fella as well but that was a big thing again something which obviously what the gaffer put in and Fordy had put in when we'd speak when we'd speak to players they'd have to have a good character yeah you know they'd have to be a good lad yeah if you heard that he was a bit of a dick and he was like he'd been problems and problematic for managers and everything else and players and everything else then he was sort of just nah he's not for us and you move him on yeah oh happy happy times right I've got to we're coming to the end pal unfortunately a few questions for you hardest teammate on the pitch or you're going Jesus Christ he's nails this guy

1:24:57you want it the side of you

1:25:02well there's a there's a few in that Bolton side and we yeah but like Bruno and Gotti as well he was tough as tough as anything Speedo was a machine in a way and then in that Bolton side anyway in our Newcastle side there's not many people who wouldn't have gone to Warwood in that team because we had some big characters in that team when we got promoted and then even in the champ Andy's probably the one who stands out Andy Carroll he's a monster and now in everything else I think for me I know he's my mate and everything else but and we were close but when you're just seeing him going up and like coming over people you knew that bang and I've seen him have a scrap too so like we should get Andy Carroll on

1:25:59Paddy McGuinness:it's working now busy man busy boy now busy lad now isn't he yeah he'll come on don't worry about that we need to get him on now I like to think I know the answer to this but who knows best striker you ever played with I'd probably say Nicholas Anilka yeah I mean look I love playing with Kev like he was brilliant you know top notch Kev moved out to the right then didn't he and actually made a bit of a name for himself as a bit of a winger when Niko come in but yeah he was he just he was top level like them boys at United and everything else you could see and that's why we ended up doubling our money and he ended up going to Chelsea and he won trophies with them and scored, you know, top goal scorer.

1:26:46But as I said, top lad and top striker. Funny, every player who's played with him you hear him talk about all say the same thing about him. You know what I mean? It's unfortunate how the press portrayed him. Again, it's just a bit of what you were saying earlier on, wasn't it? You know, someone called him Le Sulk and all of a sudden that just stuck with him for years and years and because he didn't come out and say anything about it everyone just thought oh yeah, he's a bit of a wronger in the dressing room. Same with you, really. he was another great lad when I spoke to him I just can't get over like the way and it was the worst moment I think I had because I loved Juffie and when and I don't know how Dezue didn't want to well he did want to kill him oh the spitting thing when he's the spitting yeah yeah and I remember Ian being outside go and get him outside and I was like I'll go and ask him Ian but you can't come in the bathroom so but and I said he won't come out I said he's not going to come out mate and he was like well I can't I was like I know but you're not coming in anyway what was that it was just the idea the idea of having a spat on the pitch and then he actually spat on him and I was like whoa whoa what's going on here and I said to Gioffi I'd rather you smack him in the mouth and then I'll back you up and I'll run after him you know what I mean if he's running after you because obviously Ireland was a massive lad he was a big boy big centre-half did he know when you said that because it is true that when you'd soon be punched in the mouth and spat on that and he's gone no because Gioffi gets into that way like one of them he's in that moment where he's I don't care I'll go out and I'm going Jiffy go on get mad don't be stupid like in that moment I don't mind but just hit him hit him off the pitch or whatever anyway he got away with it didn't he and I just can't believe the fans sank all after him LN Schiff will spit on you that's what he used to sing but yeah I mean look he was again that's the one thing which I always you know it always upset me a bad Giffy because he done that and I did like him and I had a lot of time for him and I know he has a lot of spats with a lot of ex-pros but I can't say he was a bad lad he was good for that Bolton team he was good in the dressing room and he was good fun but he had the worst dress centre in the world well you say worst dress centre I remember he pulled up once and I think it was like a fucking orange Lamborghini or he'd have like one of them chrome ones

1:29:05imagine that in Bolton I thought I would do I would have a red Sierra he didn't like to be noticed don't worry about that best teammate on a night out one sitting in front yeah he's a good one this name does come up I'm telling you now he's a very I mean I know I've had a night out with him I'm telling you now we used to have some brilliant nights in Newcastle and they were the best nights I think they were really good they were really good I loved it I had a night out for the retails and top top it was yeah I had a night out with him years ago but he's one of them for me brilliant brilliant fun fantastic night out lad and then a certain point of the night comes and you look at him and he's glazed and I go right that's that now fucking pun's over everyone he's fucking gone he's like hey fucking gone and then you go oh no that's it everyone out there's a song that always comes on and it always reminds me I've got a feeling

1:30:03Paddy McGuinness:I've got a feeling so me and Murph he used to get bolted with physio I was ended up being up I went on loan I come back I got a flat in Newcastle I sold a house because I thought I weren't going back I had a flat and Murph's like his missus worked with me I said just come live with me Murph because you know you're spending a lot of money on on rent you can stay at me he's a great lad Murph and he ended up coming to Hong Kong anyway so if we had no game he'd put the I don't know what it was camera was from thing on your app put it on and he'd be sat there Murph watching TV tonight's gonna be and he'd go oh no oh no and we'll be going we'll be going so every time I speak to him now I'll just put that on the finger he goes like oh it's nice but he doesn't drink nothing now man he was unbelievable he was a great drinker as well but yeah he was but they were all nice and he was a big night out wasn't he and he are yeah yeah he's always always good yeah but to be fair that Newcastle squad we used to be out regularly all together and that's including Coluccini Gutierrez Enrique so we brought them all and they were all great lads all good lads but Cameradi just helped and it was just like we'd go and go again we was at United winning all them things we won we went out every Wednesday night we had no game because you have to have that and not everyone's best mates but everyone's going to be together so the big thing is Keeney and Schmeichel not mates but when it got into a football pitch if anyone went Peter Keeney's there or vice versa so you've got to build that galvanise that team spirit whether you're in League One or you're in the pinnacle of the Premier League in Champions League you've got to have that commandery you've got to have that kind of love for each other and not like I say not everyone's going to go for dinner with each other with missus and stuff but you've got to be together when it comes to a night out absolutely well unfortunately pal I've come to the end of the podcast far too soon for me we've only just scratched the surface with Bolton but it is what it is thanks so much for coming in cheers Kep and good luck with everything in the future pal I hope that's not it for management now for you no no I'm sure it won't be I'm really looking forward to what's in the future but listen I'm enjoying doing these little bits now and seeing old mates and everything else and getting to know new ones I loved it and again I'm going to get the name of that aftershave before you go that's a bit of me that thanks for watching the little fella will be back next Monday won't he well we say that he's probably on the table We'll never miss schools in the corner eating a fucking Turkish delight.

1:32:35You can get us on all the usual podcasts wherever you watch it, YouTube, Spotify, Apple TV. Take care.

1:32:46We'll be right back.