Shay Given on almost SIGNING for Man Utd, his NEAR-FATAL injury and when Scholesy FOUGHT with Sir Alex

1 Dec 2025 · 1 h 9 min · 25 chapters

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In short

Shay Given (former Premier League goalkeeper) discusses the mental pressure of goalkeeping, modern keepers’ ball-playing demands, booing and crowd stick, penalty-taking psychology, and behind-the-scenes stories from his career (including almost signing for Man United, near-fatal injury, and Ruud van Nistelrooy/Sir Alex moments).

Guest backgrounds

Shay Given is a goalkeeper with 451 Premier League appearances and two-time PFA Team of the Year; he played for clubs including Newcastle United and Manchester City. The other host/guest is Nicky (footballer/pundit) and they reference teammates/coaches like Peter Schmeichel, Steve Harper, David Seaman, and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Key claims

Goalkeepers should not be expected to perform certain left-foot “clip down the line” actions; booing during matches is harmful; modern “play out” tactics are unrealistic for many lower-league teams; penalty success often comes from committing early based on keeper psychology; managers like Sir Alex and Ruud used intense, sometimes personal, hair-dryer-style standards.

Notable examples

Honey made via bees regurgitating nectar; Shay’s Man United trial as a kid; Ruud telling Shay he wouldn’t play the FA Cup final; keeper booing after Tottenham’s Vicario mistake; Shay’s near-fatal injury and his “almost signed” Man United story; penalty anecdotes involving David Seaman and Rooney’s tendencies.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

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Honey's Unique Creation

0:00 to 0:26

A light-hearted discussion about how honey is made and the reactions it evokes.

“Working hard can take its toll, but your relief doesn't have to.”

Honey's Unique Creation

0:33 to 1:01

A light-hearted discussion about how honey is made and the reactions it evokes.

“Whether it's the 19th inning, the 12th quarter, or the 5th and a half shift, overtime isn't going anywhere, which is why Duluth builds hard-working gear for folks who work their butts off.”

Honey's Unique Creation

1:40 to 3:05

A light-hearted discussion about how honey is made and the reactions it evokes.

“Now this might, if you're listening or watching this, this might put you off, honey, so I do apologise.”

The Role of Goalkeepers

3:05 to 4:30

Shay Given shares insights on the importance of goalkeepers in a football team.

“Bumblebee goes to a flower, gets the pollen, and when it's flying back with the pollen, it puts it in its mouth, chews it up, swallows it, gets to the beehive, spews it up into the mouth of a wooker bee.”

Challenges and Mindsets of Goalkeepers

4:30 to 7:00

Exploring the mindset required for goalkeepers and the competition they face.

Shay Given's Early Career and Choices

7:00 to 9:30

Shay discusses his early career decisions, including trial experiences at Celtic and Man Utd.

Modern Goalkeeping Trends

9:30 to 13:30

Discussion on how goalkeeping has evolved, including playing out from the back.

“Going off, I think, you don't need this wrong call for it.”

Coaching and Expectations for Goalkeepers

13:30 to 14:00

Shay reflects on coaching expectations and the pressures goalkeepers face in modern football.

Goalkeeping Insights: Handling Penalties and Mistakes

14:00 to 21:00

Learn key goalkeeping strategies for handling penalties and decision-making during games.

“And that one of the change rooms in penalty.”

The Importance of Recovery and Rest

21:00 to 21:26

Discover the significance of recovery products in athlete performance.

“They always have that little extra something, and maybe you've got it too.”
Show all 25 chapters

The Importance of Recovery and Rest

21:30 to 22:02

Discover the significance of recovery products in athlete performance.

“Now give your body what it needs tonight.”

Managerial Decisions: Ruud Gullit and the FA Cup Final

23:24 to 28:00

Unpack the complexities of managerial decisions and their impacts on player dynamics.

“he made his decision but I was just raging I think we had a little upset a few yeah Shira as well that was a funny one with Shira and Ferguson you playing that game?”

Managerial Tactics and Player Reactions

28:00 to 30:59

Explore the dynamics of player-manager relationships and reactions to criticism.

“So we're sat there and the manager ordered a bottle of wine from the waitress and he's put like an English stroke French accent, Italian accent on it.”

Fan Reactions and Keeper Experiences

31:00 to 33:31

Discuss the pressure goalkeepers face from fans and personal experiences of being booed.

“If you remember, when I went, I went on loan for a bit, didn't I, from Newcastle, and then came back.”

Shay Given's Transfer to Manchester City

33:32 to 36:42

Learn about Shay Given's transition from Newcastle to Manchester City and the challenges of moving clubs.

“It was mad because I think the previous one, Rubinho signed and every single window there was like the best pick of the Premier League was popping into town, obviously Tevez signed, your nemesis.”

The Impact of Performance Pressure

36:43 to 42:00

Delve into the pressures of performing as a goalkeeper in high-stakes matches.

“It is, but when you, when you, when it came through that faction, you knew you were going to play in for City.”

Reflecting on Football Moments

42:00 to 42:31

The hosts share anecdotes about memorable moments in football.

“I'm like, oh, I'll just get out of the back of the net.”

Reflecting on Football Moments

43:00 to 43:19

The hosts share anecdotes about memorable moments in football.

“That's the energy State Farm brings to insurance.”

Tales of Footballers and Their Quirks

44:19 to 48:21

The conversation shifts to funny and quirky stories about football players.

“Yeah, he's come down the side, yeah, didn't he?”

Shay Given's Near-Fatal Injury Experience

48:21 to 55:34

Shay Given shares the harrowing details of his serious injury on the field.

“We got a train back from London at half nine.”

Lessons from Legendary Managers

55:34 to 56:00

Reflections on the coaching styles of various renowned football managers.

“Remember something with, I don't know, not on the inside, but remember when Ericsson signed for United because of his heart?”

Reflections on Managers: Kenny Dalglish and Bobby Robson

56:00 to 58:50

Shay Given shares insights about his experiences with notable football managers, emphasizing their unique qualities and influences.

“I'm not sure about this, so don't call me on it, but he must have signed some sort of waiver around the fact that this could happen again.”

Memorable Incidents with Teammates

58:50 to 1:02:10

Shay recounts captivating stories from his time as a player, including infamous fights and humorous moments with teammates.

“But the second time he'd come back, he was brilliant in me.”

Current State of Irish Football

1:02:10 to 1:04:40

Shay reflects on the recent performance of the Irish national football team and the excitement surrounding their qualification efforts.

“So I was doing that to him, I'd love it.”

Top Goalkeepers of All Time

1:04:40 to 1:08:10

Shay Given discusses his top three goalkeepers, highlighting their achievements and impact on the game.

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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

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0:48And the new ultra-tough no-quit utility shirt is equipped with cooling and wicking tech to keep you comfortable. Give no quits. Shop at a Duluth store near you or at DuluthTrading.com. When you think like an athlete, setbacks don't stop you. But mindset alone doesn't get you moving again. That's where Icy Hot steps in. Ice works fast. Heat makes it last. So when the rest of the world settles because of a setback, Icy Hot accelerates your comeback with fast-acting, powerful pain relief. Icy Hot. You're so back. It was the worst mistake he's ever done He got annihilated Sir Alex brought me over and I came down to the church It was a Celtic, a man you know Went in the shower and we're all in the shower And the shade is going boom Welcome to the good, the bad and the football We are 12 podcasts in And at last, finally We have got the most important player in any football team the number one position goalkeeper 451 Premier League appearances two time PFA team of the year Shay Given how are you my mate see the union see the goalkeeper's union good to see you you alright what honestly last night I was so excited last night I was like a kid in a sweet shop I've got in I've beat these two in it's the first time I've been in early by the way preps keep preps keep buddy So many questions to ask you, but before we get into it, I learned something over the weekend again, and I like to test Nicky's general knowledge is up there, but do you know how honey's made?

2:36Oh, here we go. Something to do with bees, isn't it? Wasn't ready for this latter. It's a question, aren't it? No, no, go on. How's it made? Yeah, we know bees, but how? How does a bee make honey? Now this might, if you're listening or watching this, this might put you off, honey, so I do apologise. It's vomit, isn't it? He's got it. He's got it.

2:57Nicky:I mean, that's just kill you, aren't it? Hey, but I tell you what, he wouldn't have known that unless I said, I'm not giving you a clue. Did you know it? I knew it. No, it's from back here. It's fruit and drink. It's got a soul. What it does is drink. You see a lovely bumblebee. Bumblebee goes to a flower, gets the pollen, and when it's flying back with the pollen, it puts it in its mouth, chews it up, swallows it, gets to the beehive, spews it up into the mouth of a wooker bee. the wakabee swallows a spew it's still about honey here it goes into the thing then spews it up twice that's your honey and we all put it all over our stung oh that's lovely I know I know not me sick David Beckham actually makes it doesn't he he's got his own does he he's got his own B-I-V and all that stuff I bet he doesn't know that D-B is it called D-B he won't know that I had a slice of toast of honey this morning keep trying Riff he might get me out one of these oh no Bex is probably using the honeycomb to make candles for his room candles for his room do you know what amazes me about when you're a goalkeeper and this is where I had a newfound respect when I started doing it if these lads score a goal everyone's banging on about it all week you pull off a save to keep your team in the game you get a bit of a well done that's it forgotten about it's a nice height for the goalkeeper no keepers have stopped doing that keepers have stopped celebrating on the show well yeah if you make a worldy like it's it's okay i think deep down but when you when you're in a squad and you play with i was looking to play with shay for a good few years at newcastle and obviously had great keepers at united when you're in a squad and you know you got a good goalkeeper it's the most best feeling in the planet we saw with shay or with schmeichel or any top keeper when they're going through one-on-one it's very rare you think they're going to save this but with him and particularly with Pete I always felt they're not going to score obviously most times they did because it's really difficult 1v1 going through a top class forward or a midfielder but when you've got someone behind you that's dominant and can pull off saves like these lads can do it gives you the freedom to go and play football and think well I'm a midfielder my position was a defensive midfielder stopping people scoring goals if you like but I knew if someone went past me didn't always work that was a joke I knew if people went past me they didn't got the defenders but if they went past the defender he's still got an unbelievable goalkeeper in goal and yeah I think the goalkeeper's body for me is the calmness if you're walking out you guys are walking out and you know like for example Peter Schmeichel's behind you it's like today I don't know if they worry about that position but if you've got someone who's like a 3 out of 10 one week and an 8 or 9 the next week you're going what's this guy going to bring to the group this week you know so did you did that work the other way around when you'd go out if you're kind of key defenders if you like who were always in front of you your reliables if one were injured or a couple were injured did you always go out there and think it's going to be hard work today I think ideally you want a consistent backline and of course the defensive midfielder is really important in front of that but you're just sort of I think as a goalkeeper you're just testing yourself against the opposition as much as anything you'd like to settle back for wouldn't you do you know with that Shay obviously when we played in midfield you go up against you're playing you're thinking I've got to know who do you look at the obvious question is the answer is the centre forward but if you've got to let a player go in the box late like scores you would do or the lamp I would do who would be your focus on don't remind me of your school coming into the box later we'll get on to the attrick later I don't think he's ever saved one of my shots oh I see him one on the way out once I think oh famous thing isn't it is a keeper's union a keeper's club and I always see it when you're all together you know the four or five of you nowadays is even more with the warm up keepers and what have you but when you're in that environment obviously you was always predominant number one if ever you get dropped from that environment do you think selfishly I hope you have a shitter today no seriously it's a serious question because we talk about it he's one of my best mates and like we obviously we went to and fro with his positions and he was playing for me and vice versa I would think I want us to win today but I don't particularly want Scorset to play brilliant because he's taking my did you ever think that or is it something like a total different mindset you're talking about mindsets from goalkeepers well it's difficult because you know the position is a difficult position but you don't want him to have a worldie because you know next week you're going to be sitting on the bench you know do you know what I mean but at the same time you're playing for the club you want the club to win and all that kind of stuff so it's not a just throw one in just throw in we had a funny one remember Steve Harper obviously in Newcastle so obviously we were one and two for a good few years and if a trialist or something would come to the football club me and Harper would have a chat before and he goes right then just sort this guy so we'd be like we'd be bending it you know like normally the keepers normally the keepers you've been there like warming up just nice we're latched on high low I think I actually broke I think I broke someone's wrist once and then the goal coach Terry Gann or whatever I have to go gee it wasn't great him was he wasn't up not sure about him we've seen another one off was he always a keeper sure no I was actually centre forward when I was a kid I was a top goal scorer from my school so people say every goalkeeper is a frustrated striker trying to get out my dad was a goalkeeper so I don't know what his metaphor was like it's a really specialised position and there's only one goalkeeper so I think if you really sort of specialise in that position you've got a chance of doing something and from the north west of Ireland and Donegal from the country to watch the Premier League was just amazing but to say they think you'd play there I think it was a big long shot it's more like a dreaming advert to come to even get spotted to be honest so yeah just my dad must have seen something in me as a goalkeeper more than a centre forward perhaps You was at a club sorry about that you was at a club in Ireland and you went to Celtic but you didn't actually play for Celtic No I was on the bench a few times I didn't play left when I was 18 But I was training with these guys You won't remember this will you I was on trial at Man United as a kid Really?

8:51At the cliff yeah I didn't remember it then but I remember it now As an outfield player? No as a goalkeeper Oh right I thought you were still So Sir Alex brought me over And I came down to the charge between Celtic and Man United And I chose Celtic because of Peter Schmeichel As you mentioned before And then Paki Bonner was coming to the end if he's grey. But I remember training the cliff with these guys and I remember someone pointing him out, Scolzi actually. What age are you, 51? 51, yeah. So I'm 50 in a few months. Send the presents to you, the podcast and all that. But when I went to the cliff, you know when you walked into the cliff, the training ground and all the balls were lined out on the left and I was sort of standing in the reception waiting for someone to bring me through or something.

9:29And Peter Schmeichel's going past and all these guys. And then somebody pointed out him and he goes, he's unreal this guy, when he see him play football he was only like don't you stand up he's small and looked like him I was like him the same size I was just a bit him with a Turkish gelat surely not so I chose Celtic basically because you know Paki Bonner was at 33 34 Schmeichel just and he's prime my dad was saying the best chance of getting into the first team would be at Celtic before Man United so he's got an experience as well speaking of goalkeepers and getting you this would be interesting to see your opinion on this and Donna Rummers I think the technical term for it is shit-hosery he's kind of gone down giving it oh which is give pep time to get the team together I remember it happened years ago when I was at Oldham and then five games I did Lincoln away they used to do it the Cowley brothers but our goalie coach used to I think he knew him and he was warning me about it all the time but there's nothing you do about it something needs to change it it goes down it happens all the time now it's been happening

10:37Nicky:when we started playing Europe we're just naive to it and I think it's part of the game and I think people get carried away with it and for me it's look if the other if the Leeds were up or needs to do it they'd do it it's just what happens in front I think we need to stop it I think it's wrong but it's bending in the rules or whatever you want to call it because cheating and if it does happen the last thing that should be allowed Pep shouldn't be allowed to bring the whole team in and get in the tactical board you know what I mean they should all stay in their positions that's exactly what happened and the whole team's coming in.

11:06Nicky:Going off, I think, you don't need this wrong call for it. But would that be a conscious thing before they get, is it like a break glass in emergency plan? You go, Luke, if we are on our arse, one of you fearing injury so we can get you together. Well, it's not a lot of we say it every week, honestly. It's the goalkeeper specifically because the goalkeeper can't lead the pitch. You know what I mean? So the outfield player just... You'll see the manager as well, shout out, keep it down. Yeah, yeah. Really? One of the subs will tell him or something, one of the subs will warm him. Honestly, that's mind-blowing to me, that.

11:34It's been going off for years, yeah.

11:36Nicky:How do you think football's changed with the goalkeepers compared to when you played? Obviously, they're all becoming a lot better with their feet, a lot more technical. I mean, an example, the Tottenham guys get loads of stick from the game of the day. I think it's a bit harsh because he's actually ended up in his left-back position and he's trying to clip one down the line with his left foot. Now, a goalkeeper, in my opinion, shouldn't be expected to clip a ball down the line with his left foot, particularly when he's right-footed. He should do it then, should he? But what I'm saying is the players should know going back there that most of the players except probably three or four of the goalkeepers are incapable of doing that and it's really great on me that everyone expects him so he's been abused hasn't he?

12:14Nicky:He got abused for that goal and he's been blamed for it but to go and I still believe to go into the left side of the channel to be able to click the ball on the outline and expect to do that as a goalkeeper I think that's a bit harsh for me I think a lot of goalkeepers in modern league are asked to play but at the same time I think that is the Vicario one at the weekend was a bit of a strange one because I think Scholes he's got to agree with Scholes in a sense he was in right in the left back position as you said the goal's wide gaping open and he was lots of bodies and stuff around him so what do you do just kick it out of play I think at that stage you're thinking I'm in no man's land here this goes wrong it could go pear shaped which it did but if the goalkeeper's central of the goal and he's trying to play into the six or play to the full back and it's quite comfortable then I don't mind that but at the same time if he does kick it out of play at the weekend Thomas Frank goes what are you doing I want you to clip it down we've worked on this all week whatever so some of the goals are blamed for how they're coached the keepers you know but you're the person in the position you're the ones going to have to get the abuse from the Tottenham fans after that when did it all come in that show do you think the keepers having to play it just became football I think Pep has probably transformed the game so much but the mad thing about it is not everyone's in Ederson Ederson for me is probably the best goalkeeper in world football ever has been but then you go down to the bottom half of the Premier League or the Championship or even League One and they're trying to play three mudpats and playing out in the back we see it in League 2 actually Solford they're trying to play it and you're looking going if you can do that you won't be playing in League 2 you'll be in the Championship or the Premier League two centre-halves splitting and stuff and sometimes with respect to the keeper which I was a position and the centre-halves are probably the worst on the ball in the whole team they should be so they're getting most of the ball which is madness yeah I think it probably did come from Spain didn't it with Pep I remember Gaz saying when Gaz went off to Villarreal Valencia yeah the keepers trained with the team for the first 20-25 minutes of the game just actually with the football so they didn't learn how to handle the football obviously it's now become a little bit obsessed If the manager is expecting things what you just said about Thomas Frank then would he then after the game not tear a strip off him because he's going I'm glad you've tried that or would he be saying I think that incident was a goalkeeping mistake I really do because he was a no man's land down this position I don't think Tottenham last week would have coached if you get the ball in the left back position I want you to do this I think at that stage when there's no options and you're on your weaker foot or whatever it is you just play out of play and get back in the position you know what I mean when I used to watch games and I'd see a goalkeeper dive on a penalty sort of before the he'd actually the player had actually committed to which side they'd put it on it used to drive me mad that and then with doing training with David Seaman who said to me Luke just pick a side and go he used to say literally just as he's about to strike it just go and it's amazing how many penalties I've saved with that and I used to I've saved penalties I've saved penalties that's one of one of games I have saved I'm telling you I have saved I have saved I have saved I have saved I have saved Go back and watch it get HMRC on it HMRC I've probably saved four over the time.

15:26And that one of the change rooms in penalty. Woody Allison. This is their best penalty takers. It was not the answers. No, no, it's their five against our five. But I'm telling you, when he told me in a training session and I saved two penalties straight away, just in a training session, so it wasn't for anything. And I couldn't believe how much advantage that gives you. And I get it now. What, picking one side and diving? Yeah, because normally I used to think, No, no, normally you'd wait. Normally you'd wait. I'd wait as a person who's played out and think, I'll just see which way it goes and try and get it.

16:03But actually you've no chance if they put power on it, but you have got a chance if you go before it leaves the boot. Yeah, it can't. This is what the shit I have to put up. They don't get it. They don't get it. You rock it, so. They don't get it. Keeper's classroom here. But it's true. I think if you just go that split second before. I think Shale Tire if it's true. I think you have to with the power

16:24Nicky:and stuff 12 yards that's all I need that's all I need wait for the keepers to move first yeah well that's the tricky part what do you not want from a penalty taker what do you mean what don't I want what do you mean not to score well yeah but where would would you want it down low would you want it high or what you don't want what you don't want I think power low or high you're struggling to be honest set 12 yards out unless you go before he kicks it I'm telling you Shira was the best at penalties Shira with the power and then like Canson now wait till the keeper moves yeah I wanted to chase after him down the highbury you chased after him I was thinking about it head was coming off that on reach hit me once yeah that's disgraceful but Al was good actually Shira was good because every Friday before a game me and him would go on the goal and he would take I don't know like five penalties like two on my right two on my left and I would go early probably still wouldn't see them because of the power he puts on them but it gave me a bit of confidence he could probably tell you where they were going yeah the last couple because that would give him confidence as well he'd tell me I'm going to your right and I would go early still couldn't save it yeah and if it's top bins you've kind of no chance anyway then he'd give me a couple that wouldn't tell me and still wouldn't save them penalties wasn't for me penalties not for everybody I think if it goes top bins either side with power it is what it is you just that the one for me is being chipped that is the one the other thing as well is analysing penalties you know goalie coaches and managers so we went to Old Trafford all in the bottles we went to Old Trafford once and Rooney's last three penalties was to the keeper's keeper's right and like the manager the goalie coach has shown me I says well he's going to change a bit like a game of cards you know poker game isn't it he's going to change it at some point he's going to change at some point I don't care go to your right today at Old Trafford and they always get a penalty you mob always get a penalty at Old Trafford nailed on that's where we were practising the day before Rooney's going to go to your right go to your right and of course in my head psychology I'm saying the manager said the goalie coach they've shown me I can nearly not not go to my right now yeah go to my right Rooney rolls it to my left and I'm like fuming remember Pete so if you're like you're defending a shot and the keeper if you went and pressed the shot like you naturally would do as a defender or a midfielder or a player you go and press the keeper if you went and did that it absolutely bollocked you he wanted to see the clear shot coming from the edge of the box so if you went and tried to put your foot out like that he'd go absolutely nuts because as I learnt as I got older and watched more football a lot of the shots go through legs they get vicaragued off heels and then the keeper hates that and like I said about the training if you get a clear shot with top keepers like Shea or Pete or whoever it might be nine times out of ten they're going to save it you know a clear true strike with no one in front of them you're going to save it I know sometimes Michael used to do what you liked as well was you know like free kicks around the end of the book 25 yards no wall so he's actually in the psychology going to that you're not going to score a pass and you think about it as well on the wall Pete was a lunatic he was there fucking lunatic he all keeps a lunatic I'm the most sensible goalkeeper you know yeah you probably you and Edwin you and Edwin he's not he's disagreeing he's he fought yeah Champions League I think Bobby Robson was the manager of the time I know sometimes you build a wall and I can't remember what player it was they whipped it over top corner and I've done that there and like you know sometimes you just kind of clap Bobby Robson was hey son what are you doing I'm 72 I can do that I don't want you I want you to go and I was like gee never thought of that Bobby next time I'll give it a go but it is that thing when you're in the next where you go it's so easy when you're watching it isn't it but when it's just in the ice game over it's a bloody nightmare which of your big moves was the one that's really you know cemented you as where you wanted to be to was it the Newcastle move was it the Blackburn was it the the City one was obviously a big one probably Newcastle was the move for me 21 like moved to Newcastle at 21 Kenny Douglas gave me the number one jersey they just finished second in the Premier League like it was a big it's only 21 though yeah and it was a big statement for Kenny to go basically there you go it's up to you now because previously I'd been out in loan a couple of times at Blackburn before that did he sign you for Blackburn as well yeah it's all a lot to Kenny so much respect for Kenny so he brought me to Newcastle he was the manager and you know obviously Cernicek was there his lot was there Harper was there so there's a big competition for the position Pav was brilliant wasn't he?

20:49Yeah Pav was brilliant such an open man and then to get that opportunity to play in the Premier League at a big club like Newcastle as well and I think probably finished second behind you a lot they didn't have a few seasons didn't they but yeah it was a big big moment for me Somewhere out there is a Chevy truck and the person who drives it well that's a Chevy person you probably know one your buddy your sister ones who always show up They're the first to rise, the last to leave. They always have that little extra something, and maybe you've got it too. Chevrolet, together let's drive. Visit chevy.com slash trucks to explore the lineup.

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22:15No. Just him, now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with power boost ingredients inside? No, just Duracell. Remember, goats only trust goats because they're built different. And Messi only trusts Duracell. Speaking of Sir Kenny bringing you in, so you cement yourself as the number one and then Rude Hullick comes in, 99 FA Cup final benches you. like behind the scenes and you know you talk about what you want to talk about on here it's dead relaxed but what's what happens when did you speak to Rude and go like how have you made that decision the man thinking about it he didn't even tell me himself Terry again I remember Terry the goalkeeping coach on the Thursday I think before the FA Cup final he pulled me in training that morning and he goes you're not playing Saturday I was like what he goes Rude Rude says I says why he says oh it's something to do with your kicking or something blah blah was me kicking and I played the thing is I played every game up to the final as well so that made it even more difficult you know anyway my head was absolutely gone at that point so there was no point in going in and speaking to him because he made his mind up he made his decision but I was just raging I think we had a little upset a few yeah Shira as well that was a funny one with Shira and Ferguson you playing that game?

23:32no for you not to play in that final it was ridiculous yeah I was raging did you use clearly a bit of cable did you play a lot of the fans can and with the fans going like, why is he not playing? Well, I don't know. I don't remember. It was all a bit of a blur back then, but I mean, again, going back to Steve Harper, you know, he played and I was very supportive of him the 24 hours, 48 hours after that, you know, because he was supportive of me every time I played. Like, we had a really good friendship and I really wanted him to do well, you know, but I was just angry that the way, and not even to tell me that was even more like, what's the word?

24:01The FA Cup. Shit house. Shit house. Yeah. I found a new word today.

24:05Nicky:The FA Cup's a big one as well, isn't it? It's a massive one. especially playing all the games like you did and you get to the end and not playing us it's not even fair on Steve Harper really is it he's not played a game played a couple of games of thinking yeah because that makes it awkward between the keepers doesn't it because you wouldn't it's just human nature you go fucking hell I'm obviously a better keeper than him I've played all season like why has that happened it's not Harper's fault at all but it feels like with yourself and Shearer Rude Hulley I kind of think watching it as a fan and watching him going in it just seemed to me like it was like well I'm Ruud Hullet so that's that that kind of chip on the shoulder is being a great player Shear and Ferguson got dropped for the North East Derby at home they got beat and Al was in 8 o 'clock or something on Monday morning waiting at Ruud's office and Duncan was already waiting for him imagine that for a welcome committee on a Monday morning let's get off Monday to a good start Duncan Ferguson Alan Shear's outside your office didn't Ruud get us that way Ruud didn't make it to the office himself no yeah I was going to say Did he get sacked after that game?

25:08Well I think it was the Monday morning but he didn't go into the training ground Was he a kind of manager then with decisions like where he said he never told you which is mind blowing to me Was he because you know when you talk about when I speak to some of the ex England lads when they talk about Capello he wasn't very much like a speaking to the players kind of manager we're all done through number two and all the rest of it Was Rude like that? Was it very little interaction? I think Rude struggled to transfer obviously he was an unbelievable player wasn't he? One of the best Dutch players of all time, probably Ruudhullard and I think he felt everyone was at that level that he was at and obviously we weren't, I remember doing a training session once and I think it was the right back was clipping into the midfielder and the midfielder would switch play out to the left winger to get a crossing and I can't remember who the midfielder was but he kept shanking at a play and this and that, step aside right and so I can't remember who was in the right side.

26:01He would have found the player but I think he stepped in and he goes sink it into me and I can't remember who it was it was maybe Nobby Solano dinked it into him and he's literally chested it and pinged it out you know before he even hits the ground onto the left winger's chest and he goes do it like this and like lads are going do you know what I mean it was more about me sort of than actually coaching the team but I obviously was a great player but I just don't think management was for him Paddy do you think that's a little bit like we were talking on last podcast and I agree what you two were saying about it's interesting how Roy Keane were never sort of thought about as the United manager do you think people like Rude and people like Roy who have been top top players that's the difficult thing about being a manager being frustrated watching people going why can't you do that yeah I think it would be with them them types of characters because they have high standards don't they and when obviously when you're seeing players in the championship and maybe even lower than that they would get frustrated of course they would yeah and going back to probably Roy because we've all played with Roy it's in like you know like the New York and the Fergie guys was like the hair dryer treatment and the way he speaks to players and stuff People say you can't speak to the players, you can't give players a ballgame anymore because they go under.

27:10I never quite understood that but you guys must have seen a few hair dryer treatments in the day. Oh just a bit. Did you get one or two yourselves? I might have had one. Funny enough I had one at Newcastle. Did you? Yeah, given was you playing the game? I can't remember. It was 4-3. I can't remember. It was 3-0 down. Was that the thing we could have sent off was it? Yeah. Was it? I'm not sure who gave Alice I remember 3-0 down at half time when Subba came on at half time I think we got it back to 3-2 and I gave the ball away in the middle of the pitch and Sherry went up the other end and scored the manager went oh he went mad at me did you know when that happened you go I'm fucked when I go back in no not really and see when he's giving you the hair dry do you ever like do you ever pull your own little hair dry and switch it back to midfield or is that not it I was usually very very quiet and just took it but this time I didn't for some reason was you playing Nick?

28:01and he was just he was going mad at me give it all the way in the fucking middle of the pitch I just kept saying bollocks so every he's I said bollocks you knew was that winding him up even though I think that was getting him going yeah that's not ideal I'm thinking Monday morning that's me

28:20Nicky:it's hard it's hard you know what I'm saying but you just got to keep quiet but I'm going to say I had loads of bollocks we all did but when that happens in midfield and you give the ball away I still think you've got six players behind you and the keeper maybe five players and the keeper you're thinking well they've let someone go right through and score you're going to get the ball away sometime but he would go mad he used to say to us all the time do not do a square pass in midfield remember don't ever do a square pass in midfield square pass he used to hate that you could try and he wouldn't pass it forward you used to do a square pass in midfield and you'd get the ball away he would absolutely annihilate it I was at Derby with Wayne as a coach for a year and he used to say Fergie would come in and pick on for example Wayne and then Wayne would lose his head but it would be a reaction for the other players would he use that a bit as well he'd pick his players he'd pick his players all the time even before the game you reckon he's got somebody the best one the best one I've ever seen was Dwight York when he first signed he didn't really know the manager so he didn't know his character so we grew up so we knew it was Monaco away or something wasn't it Fiorentina away night before So the manager loves his wine.

29:32Nicky:So we're sat there and the manager ordered a bottle of wine from the waitress and he's put like an English stroke French accent, Italian accent on it. Italian accent, yeah. And he tries to do a little bit of, you know, signiority, all that kind of stuff. And the gaff, the yorkie's gone, gaff is trying to speak Italian. Gaff, no gaff. The gaff, gaff's trying to speak Italian. That was a gaff. So all the lads, right, know the manager's personality. Yeah. He doesn't yet. He's only just got to a club. we've all gone oh no we'll act to him everyone's just done well Yorkie's got that big smile and you can see the gaffer going red and I'm thinking you better play fucking well tomorrow you better play well to be all he had a shitter but he got annihilated and dragged off and said you better fucking play well and it went mad at him and it was the worst mistake he'd ever done so these things you do with the manager's thing you didn't do but he had such a mad mistake did Yorkie take it well because Yorkie seems like a real easy going kind of one of them He had no choice.

30:29You have no choice.

30:30Nicky:But with Jorke, it was a quick learning curve for him. Quick learning curve. There was only one winner, wasn't there? I'd have liked to have seen him doing that, but in like an Italian accent as well, just to rub it in even more. I spoke in a God-Italian accent. Going back just to a little bit about keepers, when you look at the Tottenham game, which you spoke about there, when you see Vicario being booed, how do you feel about that? Yeah I feel for him actually And I think Thomas Frank Was really good after the match He was really strong And he said I don't mind the players And himself getting booed After the game But while the game's ongoing You know It's I don't like that And I agree with him Because You know yourself You've made a mistake You've got enough gun off Between your ears at that point You don't need Every time you touch the ball As your own fans To be on your case And it's not a nice feeling It's a lonely position Paddy As you probably know yourself And I have to agree With Thomas Frank You know Sort of Vent your frustrations after the game perhaps not during the game because it's a difficult one the keepers are right there aren't they you can't get away from the crowd as a midfielder you can just run into the middle at pitch stay there for a bit but you are right there so every time the ball goes out you get in the ball for a goal you're doing this and you weigh in the home fans as well buddy did you ever get I think I probably went through a spell at Newcastle at one point where I was getting a bit of stick you know I made a few mistakes and you can hear the moans and groans and sometimes I always say but you know if you say give a pass away or make a mistake and it's human nature you go oh but like when 50 ,000 people are doing it sounds do you know what I mean so yeah I've had it and it's not a nice feeling because you're doing your best and mistakes the thing is you said he gave a pass away in midfield you've got six guys behind you to rescue we give a mistake in goals there's only like there's only a perfectly good net behind you that's going to bail you out but also as well you've got that thing like what Nicky said about that you know sometimes you're in the nets and you're going what about these fucking lads in front what about that mistake there that's allowed him through to put it in the back of the net that's what fans are like I remember doing the same at Newcastle.

32:27Nicky:If you remember, when I went, I went on loan for a bit, didn't I, from Newcastle, and then came back. It was a pre-season game. Where did you go on loan? Birmingham. Okay, yeah. I come back pre-season, and the fans didn't like me. And literally, we played against, who did Dergo Fulham play for? Villarreal. Villarreal, yeah. Villarreal. So I was on the bench. It was a pre-season game, and I've come on after about 20 minutes, half an hour. We all got time slots. It was a pre-season game. I got booed on. True story. I got booed on by 55 ,000 people.

33:01Nicky:I scored two, got headers. I got man of the match, but they brought me off because you had time slots. Like I said, I got booed on, scored two goals, got man of the match, and I got booed off. I must have been the only player to get booed on and off. Two goals. And two goals and man of the match for you. When you're walking off and they're booing after you've got man of the match and scored two goals, are you not going? No, I refuse. Remember, you used to have to go upstairs and receive you. I refused to go up. I said, I'm not going up, not going up. So I had a bad relationship with Newcastle fans probably for about nine months, but then it turned around, it was good.

33:32Just talking about when you sign for City, as a player, when you're signing for a club who's just had a big takeover and you hear all the stuff in the press and it's impossible not to hear about the money that's going about and everything else and you hear about some of the players that they're looking at bringing in, I think it was Karkar and John Terry sort of around the time. Were they muted to you? Possibly, yeah. It was mad because I think the previous one, Rubinho signed and every single window there was like the best pick of the Premier League was popping into town, obviously Tevez signed, your nemesis.

34:07That banner was, I know these two won't like it, but Welcome to Manchester was quite a cool advertising campaign. What was it like during that period? It felt like every time a window comes, the door opens and we just weren't sure who was coming in, Adebayor, Santa Cruz. there was just... He brought you back here. But it was amazing for me, Newcastle were really struggling at that time and not the Newcastle had joined, I'll tell you, 21, we finished second, then the seasons before I left, there was a relegation fight every year and the previous owner that was there, he wanted to just keep the club afloat and it wasn't ambitious and all that.

34:45And then Man City come call and you think, as you said, it was big news around the world and they could have picked any goalkeeper in world football and he wanted me so i was like this is this is incredible you know did did mark use personally phone your first when you heard about that how did it how does it all work yeah you're not allowed to do that no that's illegal that's an illegal approach that really yeah but i know it's illegal but fucking hell it always goes on it always goes on did that ring you i was so young back then you know i was you know i was doing my old thing. I was still playing right back then, so I was like...

35:18It was funny, I had a lawyer at the time look after me, but I was in a hotel, Manchester, the lawyer, actually waiting for the green light of Newcastle. I think I'd done the medical, but it was back then, it was 2009, I think, waiting on the fax, the famous fax machine. The fax, yeah. And you just look at this machine in the hotel room. Do you know what I mean? It was on deadline day as well. It wasn't like there was loads of time to spare. Was that the start of the season? No, it was in January, so I think it was the 1st of February or something. and I think it was six and a half or seven or something why does it always go that late if they want you why is it oh why is it waiting on that fax to come through well I was just trying to get probably squeeze the last money out of it and there was one thing I said this before but when I left Newcastle I had a 10 % sell on fee so 10 % or six or seven million is a hefty fee and Mike Ashley at the time he said to me he says unless you sign this transfer request because if you sign a transfer request you give up that 10 % and you're not going anywhere type thing.

36:14Anyway, so the clock was ticking, didn't sign it. Anyway, deadline day, I was left back in the corner because I wanted the move to go through and then at that point signed it and okayed it. But the other side, it was I gave up that large sum of money, but also that same day he left the press in the Evening Chronicle in Newcastle. After he asked for a transfer request, there was nothing we could do to keep him. So it would be 12 years at the club and it sort of finished that way. I was frustrated and angry the way it all sort of finished. But people would say

36:41Nicky:was my choice to leave which it was but i just think it could have been dealt with better you know i was good when shay left drinking partner is me no miscellaneous partner

37:02i think he wasn't in the squad one weekend and he got the physio to wrap his hand up for Friday night or something oh god that is no no I actually did

37:12Nicky:do a what's it called Benick's fracture I don't know what it was when your phone drops down scarred there scarred fork a Guinness fracture yeah but you were like Keith Lemon on the Friday night he went out for a few pints and he wasn't in the squad the next day but he got the physio to make it look like walking around like Keith Lemon make it work walking around like Keith Lemon I had a kez on I had a bird on it I've pissed me, Sam. It is, but when you, when you, when it came through that faction, you knew you were going to play in for City. Now, my memory's a bit foggy at that time. It weren't Dave Seaman who went number one, though.

37:51No, it was Joe Hart. Oh, was it Joe Hart? Yeah, yeah. So then it was a bit bad for Joe because he then, he got obviously binned at the weekend or whatever, or benched at the weekend. And it was, he was doing actually well as well. So, and then in the summer, he got sent to Birmingham, I'm actually on loan for a season but yeah we played Middlesbrough in the first game for City and again like I was a bit nervous I was 33 and you think oh you've been around the block which I had been but you're joining a new football club a big club big news you know everyone's talking about them we played Middlesbrough at the 12, 30 it was on Sky and all that kind of stuff you know the early game and stuff what's going through your mind in the morning you get up and you're like you know you're new number one you know you're going to be playing it's a good signing on for you like are you thinking right just make that first save or the first pass or what are you thinking?

38:39Again, obviously Joe was doing well so again, you're going into a football club and they're going, well, that's going to close the door on him. Why do they need to sign him? Sort of some people were saying that perhaps. But for me personally, it was like I need to try and impress a new set of fans. Obviously Newcastle fans knew me inside out. But these, I know the City fans would have seen me playing and obviously the home games when Newcastle were there. But in my head, it was I've got to impress these fans and luckily enough, the first day I got man of the match against the middle.

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39:02Nicky:I was going to say, I watched the game, you were brilliant first game. And it was just like, you know, it's the perfect start. You know, you hear some goalkeeper, I don't know, I remember Taibbi, I remember Man United. Christ, I forgot about him. Do you remember? I forgot about him. He was a good keeper in Italy. Poor Massimo. What a lovely lad. It was a matletizzi, that shot. He bubbled up, yeah. What a nice... I remember his debut at Liverpool. He was unbelievable. He gave a goal away, but he was unbelievable. Man in a match, his first game. I think he only played four times. But he went for a big fee, didn't he?

39:29He signed for a big money, didn't he? Four and a half million or something. at the time which was big but you just want to get off to a good start don't you he made that massive mistake didn't he against Southampton went through his legs but he'd made a few more and I actually think his family came over for his first game and he got left out I don't think he ever played I think he might have played once again when a keeper makes a mistake like that where you were talking about the air dry treatment and everything else do managers give you the same stick or is it down to the goalkeeping court watch.

40:03It's a bit of both, I think it depends on the manager I think. I remember playing Chelsea once away, I was on fire pre-season, everything was going great. Five minutes into the game, Chelsea were the champions from the season before so there the first game was filmed live on Sky again and you know millions around the world and I think it was Zendin had a shot from the age of the box and it was straight at me and in my head I was like I was going to do the distribution before I'd even caught it and I went down to pick it up and I was about to go and I literally went straight clean through my legs after five minutes live on Sky TV like the worst the worst feeling ever like you know but the psychology of it all and I had to sort of keep myself in the game we managed to get a draw somewhere at the end you know the lads obviously pulled me out of the out of trouble but again it's the psychology of the goalkeeper you've got 85 minutes to stay in the zone it must be awful I never thought about that you see some you're there you'll be like can't the crowd be angry every time the ball comes up especially Chelsea you know they're like in the shed then they were proper abusing me it was always funny when you see outfield players got into the goal you've seen I think Harry Kane John O'Shea real who was the best outfield player you saw going next during training probably Niall Quinn Niall Quinn big lad yeah big lad as well filled the goal but he used to do training for Ireland he used to do penalty shootout but he would go in the goal he would take money like tenner or something wagers like if you score like three penalties he gives you tenner and he saves one was he decent Was he decent?

41:28Yeah, he was good, yeah. Yeah. Really good. It's funny, how did he go on getting down? Because he's a big lad, was he... Who, couldn't he? Yeah. I don't know, he just gambled and went early. See what I mean? See what I mean? Have you known this 20 years ago? What a keeper you would have been. Do you know what's driving me mad? We're talking here because the stick I get off these two, I saved two shots in soccer aid when I first started going in the nets off two HMRC might be able to help me out I can't remember who it was two top top top players it weren't Figo I forget but I just remember again the respect hitting me hand and me fucking hand bending over that way and I was giving it the big no fucking hell thank god it weren't me right hand but the power So a bit like Tevez, I'd see the ball there and it was like he had no backlifting.

42:27I'm like, oh, I'll just get out of the back of the net. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18 plus. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. You know those friends who support your preference for podcasts over music on road trips?

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44:19Yeah, he kind of went down, didn't he? Yeah, he's come down the side, yeah, didn't he? When he took the chest, it was a quick free kick from Fernandes, and I thought, oh, he's not scoring from there. He's supposed to just dink it back into the middle of the box for something to come on. I actually thought he went in the post. I think he's gone down a wee bit early, perhaps, and it's gone past him there. He's got that gap there. It's a brilliant finish from him. Oh, he's not scoring. No, he shouldn't. Fernandes then went above a certain player for assists, all-time assists. at United who's that player I don't know Nicky Buck I don't know who it is

44:52Nicky:it won't be scored because he always shot I don't know who it is it might be scored I heard it as a fact but I don't really want to it probably is but it weren't a lot that's one of my funny ones I remember the World Cup as well about Pele about you about code what's that I don't know that you had that have you best player at the World Cup something like that who said that Pele my mate we spoke about it didn't we didn't we I don't remember that how could you forget I'd have that fucking tattooed on my chest. I have. It's on his arse. Oh, what a treat that is. His line was brilliant after what he said after.

45:29Nicky:What was that? They got me and Scorsi mixed up, I think. That's brilliant. That's bullshit. But yeah, like, speaking of that, the power that leaves these, you know, the pro players' boots, who's the person you've been up against with the hardest strike like that where you've gone fucking hell? Probably two. I would say Shearer and Balotelli if you remember Mario Balotelli who used to shoot in practice I'm not even joking I couldn't see the ball it was like an absolute exorcist missile going past you like you know I never guessed that he would just laugh I've seen a few goals I thought crazy like just didn't do it very often did he no he was just he was talented he was off his head is he what's happened with Balotelli is he now back playing or is he is he just chucked in or what yeah I don't know but he was I mean, he was a bit of a wasted talent in a sense because he was a brilliant player, but just sort of never grew up, you know, and I was just always messing.

46:23I felt the jolt in, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah. But there was talent in there, like, you know, and I think that's why I mean Mancini had a few followers because you knew there was more to get out of him. I remember one, you know, when you were at City and you hear stories and what have you, there was one story in the press where he got pulled up for something by the police out one night in Manchester. Every night? Yeah, they were such, and if something went on, and he had like 10 grand cash on him, a bit like Carragher, and the police officer said, why have you got 10 ,000 pounds in your pocket? And he went, because I am rich.

46:59I was like, fucking brilliant. You can't say a fairer than that. There was one with a firework as well. Yeah, in the bathroom, yeah. Yeah, he did some ones, yeah, yeah. It was a person who's rented a house to a football in the past. I'm not having that. No? No, not having that. Would the deposit not cover that? I'm not going to say who the player was, but I remember getting a call and one day saying, your house is too hot, right? Something's wrong in your house. And I turned up at the house and I opened the door. It was like fucking Equatorial Africa. The heat hit me. I'm like, fuck me, this is hot.

47:35And I'm going, what's he done here? And I walked around and I went to the radiator and turned it off. and I went you've got all your radiators on and he went oh I thought fuck me this is what we're up against who was it can't tell you can't tell you he played for Bolton wasn't a cotcher was it a cotcher no I wouldn't have even said out to a cotcher he could have burnt the fucking house down I'd have been like these things happen JJ it's a little mistake you know it doesn't matter we move on but I was like I remember ringing his agent up going, how the fuck do you go on with him? He doesn't know how to turn the radiator off.

48:17And that was that. But the name will never be mentioned.

48:21Nicky:Is that what this c*** did in a day? It's even stronger. This c*** did you a favour. We got a train back from London at half nine. This is good. Quarter to ten. Nighttime. Nighttime. Together. I fall asleep. I wake up at Pickingtony Station on the hour of the train. he's fucking got off at stop and left me off the fucking train still asleep on his own my phone's there my bag's there he was getting off the train where the fucking train stopped yeah that's a fair point he was waking up every five minutes you go like this and go see mate I'm going to go that's what I do you might think you're sleeping I don't want to wake you up no no you're not going on an hour dry train you're not going on an hour dry five minutes it's not going to get fucking ten minutes seven seven that's a seven seven minutes extra you wouldn't have got just doesn't fill me with any kind of happiness asking you this but the gentleman to the right of you scored an hat-trick past you in a game I don't remember that no I'm not even joking when was it?

49:21I think the score in the end was 6-2 oh I've got a funny story about that actually now I do remember the scoreline it's the worst it's the worst scoreline I've had most of a conceded do you remember do you remember you remember the hat-trick yeah I don't remember actually generally I don't remember his highest goal scored six to it once again but now you've said we actually went down one now you've said the scoreline right and now it's brought back a bit of a story for me and I remember clearly now because that week leading up to the to the game obviously Van Nisterey was your main danger man wasn't he so all week Bobby Robson leading up to the game was we're going to do man to man on Van Nisterey so Jonathan Woodgate was our best defender and he says wherever he goes Van Nisterey you go from after literally ten minutes Fergie's gone literally wherever Van Jonathan Wood gets right there and he's our so Van Nistel I think he's just told Van Nistel he goes standing nearly in the left wing and Jonathan Wood gets standing next to him this character next to me straight through the middle wide open scores a heartbreak but the mad thing after you know managers go the thing he says we lost 60 obviously everyone's like bloody disaster nightmare whatever you did and we were at home by the way and Bobby Robson goes hey but what did Van Nistel do he done nothing he was still in his head thinking well he didn't do nothing I kept him quiet but this character here got a hat trick so so six six goals past year yeah it's not good Paddy it's not good how do you how long does it take you to get over something like that as a pro goalkeeper I can't remember I genuinely can't remember the goals I'm just trying to remember the goals I remember mine yeah you couldn't have saved any of mine right that fills me that's alright I can't remember the other ones no I think as a goalkeeper you've got to control the control but it's like so if I've chucked a couple in it's like a bit more difficult to get over but if the six goals have gone in and you've no chance with them can't remember them then it's a little bit easier to get over but there have been games where you know I've conceded and been poor and disappointed and them games are much more difficult to get over you know yeah does it speaking of goalkeepers unions when you see a fellow professional keeper have a game like that where you know there's a bobble it goes over your foot goes in or it goes for your legs or whatever these things happen do you ever get in touch with each other and go like you know like even in a even in a fun way like go head up kind of thing what's wrong with that the goalkeeper's union he's got a money too he's got he's fucking like a little cheeky Christmas elf isn't he he's on his shelf he's Christmas elf on his shelf don't have a go at my size you fucker that's fucking bullying that's bullying that's sizes are you mates when you're keepers they go fucking hell probably more if you're in the same at the same club I think a few times I reached out to the goalkeepers and people who have for me van de Sire and a few others Peter Cech when I punctured my bowel it was a really bad injury and they reached out to me wishing me well Peter Cech was the same with his head as well

52:26Nicky:I remember going back to that shade injury it was horrendous no one knew how serious it was it was it Mal Harewood yeah so he's come out as keepers do really bravely and you know you're thinking oh straight away this guy's going to Shane Shane's a tough lad and literally he goes down he's all stops doesn't he go off and I've come in and I've gone you alright Shane he's gone yeah he's on the medical bed in the middle at training rooms and he's gone yeah I said Jesus I thought I thought he was gone and then and we're all laughing going so did you come off there was a three or four minutes ago I think we were leaving 2-1 or something it was a 50-50 and obviously just took me it went right into him right obviously in the stomach and it stood No, no, I think that his defence, I think he was going in with his studs and I had the ball and he pulled out, so he pulled his studs with his knees smashed into me.

53:09The specialist said it was like a car crash, he said it was more like a car crash with a steering wheel, he smashed into the steering wheel. But the funny thing is, not funny, he was actually joking about it, going, I thought

53:19Nicky:it would have gone then, he'll tell you the story better than me, but obviously the bleed inside is clogged up, but when he went in the shower and we were all in the shower and Shader's going boom Hits the floor Obviously the bleed Start again It's like acid Pouring out of your stomach So like as if Did you pass it Or was it just agony No I passed out On the bed Like got me on the bed Eventually So what happened though The ambulance The lot come in The problem is The ambulance had left The ground said it was alright The doctor said it was ok The ambulance had left In West Hamming Upton Park The old stadium And couldn't get back With the bleed In 40 minutes I mean it was selfish We nearly missed our train Going home But the mad thing is We were flat My thing is we were flying back and he said had it leaked on the plane the party could have been over.

54:02Nicky:You was in hospital for a good few days? A week. I was in hospital for a week literally. I woke up, we played football and the guys wanted to open you up and have a look and wake up the next morning in the hospital with tubes coming out everywhere. Did the club doctor know exactly what it was when he collapsed? No one knew because it's obviously internal bleeding. My god, thank christ. I was going to go down and see him because he was there for like a week, weren't you? But them first-class rail travel, it's cost a lot of money, I thought. If he goes, he goes. If he goes, he goes. And I agree.

54:32Nicky:I'll show me face it. It must have been tough because as we know, footballers are slumming it. So when you wake up, tubes everywhere, it's dramatic. Are you thinking, that's it, career over? No, I never ever thought of that, to be honest. How old were you then? I don't know. Probably mid-20s or something, I can't remember, to be honest. I don't even know what year it was. You would have been 30, because when I went to Newcastle, you would have been 31. Yeah, no, I had to get an ambulance type taxi in bed, they'd take me back up to Newcastle a week later and stuff, because every time you sneeze or anything, it was just so bad.

55:07But you said it before about goalkeepers being crazy and stuff, and people always ask me, because it's such a serious injury, the next time you had to dive at someone's feet, were you a bit tentative? I was like, no. It was just the ball's there and he's getting it and literally the switch in your head whenever me across it was just no I'm straight in again and if I have to get stitched up again and puncture my bowel again I'll come back again but that was that was the mindset that's what used to make me yeah when you look at what Scolzi said about Czech with the like he had I used to think that watching him play was that do you think that had been his decision to carry on wearing that or would a medical person say you've got to keep that off I think that was a medical thing as well as well

55:48Nicky:also I think the club's medical were made him within his contract I'd imagine he'd have to wear that. Remember something with, I don't know, not on the inside, but remember when Ericsson signed for United because of his heart? I think he had to sign, I'm not sure about this, so don't call me on it, but he must have signed some sort of waiver around the fact that this could happen again. Otherwise, imagine the insurance on that to mature a player who's had that done and then going to go and play for a football club on X amount of money with a three or four year contract. That's a massive take. When I look at some of the managers you played under this year, you've got Doglish, Bobby Robson Sue Ness Kevin Keegan Mancini can you tell us a little bit about sort of you know them as managers and anything that springs to mind well Kenny obviously we spoke about already about what I owed for Kenny bringing me to Blackburn as a kid and then bringing me to Newcastle and giving me that jersey and I think one of the best advice that Kenny ever gave me actually was you know if you have a bad game or make mistakes always never go too hard but if you have a brilliant game as well don't think you're the best goalkeeper in the world so it's kind of like just keep a level head which was really good advice I think Bobby Robson was really charismatic and he sort of knew the club in Newcastle he got the area you know his message to the players was you're the lucky 11 to play for this club and I think that was you know he was very inspirational with his team's talks and stuff Sui I'm trying to think of Sui some of the story he was sort of brought in as a disciplinarian I was going to say he must have been terrifying we had some issues with some discipline with Bellamy and Dyer and then obviously the famous Dyer and Boyer fight Was Souness in charge then?

57:21Yeah, and Boyer. Yeah, Souness in charge. So hang on, you two were playing in that game. You got Souness who was like disciplined. I blame Boyer for not passing. They wanted to think at the time. What was it like in the changing rooms after? Or what was it like on the pitch firstly and you're watching it unfold? You're sure he was going, what the fuck's going on here?

57:36Nicky:It's a bit surreal, isn't it? It's crazy. You were in the middle of it. I ran over because I'm thinking that one of my teammates said I want to fight with the opposition. The closer you get and you're seeing two black and white shirts playing together and you're thinking, oh no, oh no. It's one of them things, you can't really explain it, but I remember the aftermath wasn't great. Were they fighting in the dressing room as well? No, I think Shearer came in and had a pop at him. As soon as he came in and said, if you think I'm going up there on my own, because he did a lot of press after the game, he dragged them to the press conference, didn't he?

58:05Which one's your favourite to play for, Shear? We play with a lot of England lads who play for Canada, and we loved him. I would say probably Kenny, yeah. He's great. And the thing is, the Newcastle fans didn't overleaf him, because it was after Keegan, and he had to sort of try and get a balance raise and sort of a bit more defensive than just the all-out sort of attack, you know, but yeah, I think just Kenny, just the person he was and, but then I suppose the most successful time was Bobby Robson at Newcastle with, you know, Champions League football and what the club meant. They got the club back, I think, at the bottom of the league whenever he took over.

58:36Sir Bobby signed me. Was it? So when I signed Sir Bobby,

58:39Nicky:I literally, I was going anyway because I was, Newcastle was a bit, I wanted to go and play for them when I left my United. The big pull was Sir Bobby. Yeah. and he said we're going to do big things here because I remember that when I signed before I signed it was like third in the league, Champions League every year, Shea playing Shearer, Cliver, Bellamy, Dier, Woodgate, they had a proper team and I remember the fact, I think I'm probably in a room with you, the first time you go back to England it's usually September isn't it and after the next get together it's dead early isn't it, three days, three games in sacked it's like I've just signed for this guy, it was horrendous and I remember him such a, I don't know him as well as Shea does but lovely man and gentleman but a proper football player so he loved it didn't he it was a real pleasure I met him a couple of times only briefly but just having a quick chat with him and leaving like what you were saying we were joking for about Pele saying that about certain people you meet and you think wow I've met someone proper there you know people they had a presence about them so if Bobby walked in that room I'd be going a bit like Fergie I suppose exactly the same you just knew they got a presence about them and Kenny Adlice you'd be like you can't you can't you can't you can't you can't you could be walking down the corridor you know he's there yeah it's funny because even when I watch football now and you're watching the Premier League games if I see a United game and they go oh Sir Alex is watching even me sat at home I go fucking hell like through the telly it's a funny one then it's certain people Kevin Keegan as well he came back he came back didn't he when I was there I weren't there the first time when he did so well.

1:00:18Nicky:But the second time he'd come back, he was brilliant in me. Was you two... Was that before your time playing for England when he was in charge? Kevin Keegan? Yeah. No, I played for him. Right, so obviously you've all played for him. What was he like? Because he's one of them people for me growing up. You'd go to your mate's house and there'd be a Keegan poster. Patrick Keegan kid. Did you have a pair of them boots? I had Patrick Keegan kid. What was he like then? For me, I think Keegan, I think it was, you know, you guys obviously played Ringling or whatever, but at Newcastle, I always found him going around the dressing room and he'd be speaking to his buddy and he'd go over to Allen or whatever it was and blah, blah, blah.

1:00:55And one day he came to me, you know, the keepers always had the most horrendous, like the design of the kit that would be multicoloured, like a six-year-old, like made of the thing. I can't remember what, they had this one with some horse or something on the front of it. I can't remember what it was. It looked horrendous. And after I'd done the warm-up, came in getting the match kit on and he's come over to me and he goes, I'm not sure about that kid say and I was like yeah it's not creative or whatever you break the ice because the pressure of just about to go on to the pitch he says but you know what I'm sure about the person wearing it and he just walked off I was like come on then do you know what I mean little things he did give you confidence do you know what I mean he used to come in and sit around every table in England just telling stories he was brilliant he's like a manager he's like one of the players he's such a good man It's funny because you don't really see him now sort of just doing punditry or anything.

1:01:46He's just sort of like... I think Nicky sees him around the corner. He's listening to me. He's listening to me. Does he?

1:01:51Nicky:Literally five minutes away, always walking down Hale with his wife. Hang on, I'm fucking saying no. We went for dinner with him in Hale about, what, like, six a month ago, five months ago, something like that. Really lovely man. Oh, fucking hell. I'm going to have to do an accidental ago. Get him, man. You should get him in, actually. He'd be great fun. Oh, what about that? should we get Kevin Keegan I say we as though I can do it he's a lovely man oh I'd love that and he got the meal he got the meal he got the meal as well yeah I'll tell you a story about I'll tell you a story it's a shock you didn't pay we used to always be I paid for your ticket for an off-the-money yeah and I paid for your upgrades yeah you didn't pay you two already don't I literally we played head tennis didn't he he's playing him and Terry Mack he loved playing yeah so he played head tennis with him and Terry Mack and it was me and Michael Owen right head tennis and you just think how are they beating us these two old guys who had a little trick they used to let the ball down so it wouldn't move very fast so it's basically now Scully's obviously one of the best if you're a skilful player you never lose your skill but you lose your pace you lose your reaction time so the ball was flat cheating bastards so we had a bet it was a hundred quid and we got beat so I'm like but he kept always going well you ex-man United players don't like getting beat do you don't like it so we'd have this bit of banter going back and forth and I said something to him about I can't remember what it was I remember when Newcastle come second and he was going what was the famous rant?

1:03:11Nicky:I'd love it, I'd love it. So I was doing that to him, I'd love it. It was a bit of banter to and fro. And he said, yeah, well, you might have done that son, but I've got two European cup, sorry, Ballon d 'Ors, whatever, two Ballon d 'Ors sat in there if you want to have a look at them. But he had a batter, so I'm thinking, right, so I went to the bank in Jesmond in the morning and he ordered about£100 worth of two peas and one peas. Brilliant. And I pulled him on his desk like that. And that's that. and I've gone back out and I've gone out because it was that kind of mind I never had that with Sir Alex because he was like standoff but with Kevin he was coming set like a score he was just a lovely lovely man so I love that I like hearing things like that listen Shane we're coming to the end pal but we can't let you go about talking a little bit about Ireland tell me a little bit about obviously you've played for them but watching them now what's the feeling?

1:04:05well we had a good few weeks there we a couple of months ago We went to Armenia, I think, in the qualifying, lost, and everyone thought the World Cup dream was over. And then they just finished so strongly. Three wins on the bounce, I think it was, and Portugal were coming to town in the second-last game, Ronaldo and co. And credit to the last. Before Ronaldo even got sent off, they were 2-0 up, so I think they really deserved that. And could they go to Hungary three or four days later and beat Hungary in the last game? It was 2-1 down with 10 minutes to go, and again, the World Cup dream was over, but Troy Parrott was five goals in two games.

1:04:38it was just a phenomenal four days for him and he's just and we're not there yet like but no it kind of shows you you know it was mad because the lads and a feel for him but because the last i don't many years or 10 years from they've been gone through the doldrums have gone and i think this is the first time they felt the the nation going oh my god because there was there was i don't know if you've seen some footage online you know in bars and restaurants and even dublin airport and stuff and there's like babies getting lofted there was like yeah there was granddad's jumping up off wheelchairs and stuff but like all those sports there's some great sports in rugby and gaelic and don't get me wrong they're all magnificent sports but the football does something different Paddy before we wrap up pal something I just as a fellow goalkeeper give me of all time your top three keepers oh good show that's a good question Paddy I know you've come good save it till the end it takes me a while to get it you could have given me a heads up yesterday on the text can you send me over briefly what we're talking about he goes we normally get that later on I'll drop a few later I'm like looking on my phone this morning still nothing if he'd sent you yeah certainly do you know how honey's made

1:05:46Nicky:to be fair I'm going to send it before I see this script he won't turn up top three all time top three of all time what's a big statement that what Premier League or anywhere all time all time I'm going to go it has to be in order or just you can go three first let's finish with I'll go with number three I'll go with Iker Casillas as number three that's three really who people really give us a little why he made his debut I think in the Champions League final in Hampden Park remember Zidane scored that worldly thing he was 18 years of age picked up a European cup and since that he's won can you do that myself I'm like you pipe down him I'm definitely hang on hang on he's won I don't know how many Champions League he's won how many La Liga's he's won he's won the Euros his country he's won the World Cup and he's a captain through all that so I think he deserves top three I said two I said two to be fair I can't think he was number one number two I'm probably going to go Petr Cech right I think when he came into Chelsea and what he'd done with Mourinho and stuff yeah he was a phenomenal talent talented goalkeeper he was really sometimes but number one for me is Peter Schmeichel I've said this minis of time growing up I used to look up to him and even Fergie would have said the points that he obviously these two guys next to me played with him the points that he would have won and a lot of the titles they would have won I know the forwards and the attacking players would have got the headlines but the amount of points he won in some of the saves was just he was just my hero absolute legend Dave Seaman won't be up here though I can't believe Yaskalan hasn't made it I wouldn't agree with that I'm sorry we're going to get a little bit more do you think he'd play for Pep Guardiola Smeichel good question well they brought in Donnarumma now haven't they and you would argue that Donnarumma is not the best with the ball at his feet at times so it's mad to think because Smeichel I don't know how many years ago when he was in his prime but remember he used to come out to the box catch the ball and throw it about 70 yards to Giggs or to Beckham and he set off a counter attack and now Ederson does it now or whatever or the modern day goalkeeper the way they revolutionized the game Smeichel was ahead of him 20 years throwing him past South White line he was unbelievable yeah so probably yeah right okay keep it simple just say yeah yeah hey can you please come back on again I've thoroughly enjoyed this lovely chat here and I feel as though I've had a bit of someone on my side back in the union back in the union Paddy's got a semi on I am glad you noticed thanks very much for coming on thanks for coming on thank you well that's it for today is the good the bad and the football.

1:08:33You can catch us every Monday from 6 o 'clock on all your usual channels. YouTube, Apple, Spotify and everywhere else.

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From the publisher

On The Good, The Bad & The Football this week, Paul, Nicky and Paddy are joined by special guest Shay Given.

Shay lifts the lid on how he went from being a striker as a kid to a goalkeeper and having a trial at Manchester United, shares how he and Steve Harper used to make life hard for potential rivals for the No.1 jersey at Newcastle, recalls the injury that nearly killed him and how he felt being dropped for the 1999 FA Cup Final by Ruud Gullit. He also explains why players would walk through walls for Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson and reveals which player had the hardest shot during his career.

Meanwhile, Scholesy recalls the only time he ever answered back to Sir Alex Ferguson when receiving the hairdryer, while Nicky shares how Dwight Yorke fell foul of the manager early on in his United career after an ill-advised joke at the gaffer's expense. Paul and Nicky also remember Massimo Taibi's ill-fated spell at Old Trafford and Nicky relates why he dumped a hundred quid's worth of 2p coins on Keegan's desk.

The episode rounds off with Shay naming his top 3 keepers, discussing the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, and Nicky reveals why Scholesy left him absolutely fuming on a recent train journey.

If you want to ask the guys anything about football email them at: questions@goodbadfootball.co.uk.

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Shay Given on almost SIGNING for Man Utd, his NEAR-FATAL injury and when Scholesy FOUGHT with Sir AlexThe Good, The Bad & The Football · 1 h 9 min
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