The Big Interview

David Provan is the best co-commentator in football.

He’s been promoted within the Sky team time and again despite having no real name in England from his playing days – it’s all been done behind quick, insightful calls and a fierce commitment to this second career in media. Plenty here on life in the Premier League gantry – but also on his first career, as a talented and winning winger for Celtic and Scotland, and the illness that cut it short. All of you will recognise the voice, but only some will have known the player. It’s all here.

How does an elite middle distance runner become an elite footballer? How does a guy who can’t trap a ball become European Midfielder of the Year – twice? How does that player adapt his penalty technique to become – very nearly – perfect? Gaizka Mendieta says this: “My talent was learning. I wanted to learn.”
It’s the bedrock of his story but this also includes The Doors and Lou Reed, maybe the best under-21 tournament ever, maybe the best goal ever, maybe the best cup run ever – and loads more. I hope you like it.

I wanted to make sure you could watch this goal Gaizka scored in the Copa del Rey final of 1999. It is, I think, the best I have been present for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPoGnRObrNU

And in the podcast I link it to the name of Frank Worthington, who some of you may recall and some of you may not. This is the goal I was thinking about. You can make the call of which you like better on the podcast Twitter feed.

In this latest edition of The Big Interview, Alan Pardew was brilliant on some very big moments in his career, the kind that can go either way and result in very different outcomes.

Like, what if Steven Gerrard hadn’t hit one of the all-time FA Cup final goals against Pardew’s West Ham in 2006 (there’s also great insight into how that goal happened)?

Or how does the Newcastle United story pan out if Hatem Ben Arfa scores for 2-0 against Benfica in the Europa League quarter-final?

There’s also loads here about his origins in non-league, man-marking Gazza, the future for Crystal Palace and much more.

Alan was a generous host at the Palace training ground, and gave us an open and insightful interview. I hope you like it.

WHEN we recorded our first Big Interview – with Gary Neville in April – we had no idea how popular it would prove. My conversation with Gary went to No.1 in the iTunes charts and gave us the incentive to record another 10. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, we now have more in the pipeline… but it all started with Gary Neville.

Gary is fascinating on so many subjects, but his reflections on European football are fascinating and very relevant to his appointment as Valencia head coach.

Listen to him explain: why Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern Munich team of 2012 were better than Pep’s current incarnation; Why Barcelona in Pep’s first year were superior to what followed; why he loved the fast, counter-attacking of Borussia Dortmund.

Sit back and enjoy.

Graham

Listen to The Big Interview with Gary Neville on…

Audioboom

iTunes

Souncloud

So, we have now confirmed the dates for our Kickstarter backers parties. These events are going to be a huge amount of fun – chat, music, on-stage Q and A. For a £40 pledge, you’ll also get a copy of my ‘Spain’ book, which I’ll personally sign for you on the evening.

Hundreds of you have already signed up, and the good news is that you can still book your place. But the clock is ticking. You only have until Wednesday morning (November 18) at 8am. If you’re in any of the below cities, or within striking distance, come along and we’ll have a Fiesta to remember!

Confirmed dates…

Aberdeen (venue to be confirmed) – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Glasgow (venue to be confirmed) – FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19

Dublin (venue to be confirmed) – FRIDAY, MARCH 4

London (venue to be confirmed) – FRIDAY, MARCH 25

Book your place at the parties here

Graham