The Big Interview

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Paul Dickov from season three.

Paul’s dad was delighted to pack his teenage son off to Arsenal to stop him getting into bother. Paul loved Gunners boss George Graham and flourished as a youth striker, but the wealth of talent at the club was stifling so he went to troubled Manchester City, who promptly sacked manager Alan Ball.

Joe Royle had success despite inheriting 56 pros after a period of mismanagement, and Paul’s famous equaliser in the 95^th minute of a playoff final against Gillingham set up a return to the Championship. There’s great stuff about that City era, including cult heroes Georgi Kinkladze and George Weah. Paul still adores Man City and its supporters and he is delighted to witness their recent successes. It is, he considers, a club that has kept its soul.

Enjoy a genuine classic.

Graham

In part two, Martin Braithwaite speaks about how his dad imbued a winning mentality in him. It was tough love at times but it set him up well for the future.

When playing for Toulouse against Monaco, Martin came up against Eric Abidal – the toughest opponent he has faced. Eric outsmarted him that day, but it was a lesson learned.

Martin is brilliant on Lionel Messi. If you thought it would be hard playing alongside a genius, you’d be wrong. In fact, Lionel is the consummate teammate, because he is so good at setting up himself and his colleagues.

Enjoy

Graham

I enjoyed a brief but brilliant interview with Barcelona and Denmark striker Martin Braithwaite.

Martin’s style, adaptability and attitude remind me of Henrik Larsson, so it’s fitting that he now works with Henke the coach at Barca. They chat every day and Martin just loves picking the great Swede’s mind.

Martin is the thinking football fan’s forward, and he is fascinating when speaking about how patience is key to the striker’s art. You prowl like a predator and get the defenders rattled, waiting for that split-second moment of opportunity and then seizing upon it.

Enjoy

Graham

In part two of my conversation with Kevin Campbell, you’ll hear about coming through the ranks at his beloved Arsenal under legendary academy coach Pat Rice. You’ll hear what it was like to witness that incredible injury-time Michael Thomas goal at Anfield which clinched the 1989 title for the Gunners.

You’ll also hear about Kev’s time at Everton. He loved it there because he had service from the likes of John Collins, Scot Gemmill, Olivier Dacourt and Don Hutchison, with Franny Jeffers alongside him up front. He also once played with a fourteen-year-old genius by the name of Wayne Rooney.

Now aged fifty, you get the impression that, more than anything else, this modest man is interested in passing on his wisdom – not just about sport, but about life in general.

Kev, it was an honour.

Graham

Oh what joy to be sitting in the same room as a Big Interview guest, particularly one as special as Kevin Campbell.

There aren’t many players who can claim they were adored at every club they played for, but Kevin is one. His love for football and his sheer commitment to winning endeared the brilliant, prolific striker wherever he went. He is also one of the beautiful game’s great storytellers.

In part one, you’ll hear about the craziness of Turkish football and what it’s like to net a hat-trick for Trabzonspor at Galatasaray. There’s also an amazing description of how Kev harnessed the indignation he felt towards the social injustice he and his Brixton community endured as a driver for success.

You will love this.

Graham