Football quotes, humour and opinions

Posted by chef on August 5th, 2006 in Interviews

Big Ron names the best exponent of a spotter’s badge, talks about Desailly and the night in Stade Louis II, tells how he lost out to Dale Winton and names his commentating dream team. And much more.

Right Ron, down to business. This Ronglish lark, what’s the story?

Well, a lot of the things I used when we were coaching - as identification things. Rather than go the long way round and go “he did this or whatever… one of the things – probably because it was the only trick I had as a player was the little stepover – and the lads used say, “oh, that’s a lollipop”, and it sort of stuck with me. And people say to me now, “what’s that got to do with anything? A lollipop?’ And I say “I don’t know”. But, tell you what, I watch cricket and I say “what’s a googly?” People just give it a name and it sticks. And now people know what the trick is. It’s an identifier, if you like.

Ronglish scholars put it down to rhyming slang – lollipop stick/trick?

Yeah, that’s not bad. It first came out actually on a club tour in Spain when it was a bit relaxed and I was still doing them. And all the lads were going “Ole, it’s a lollipop” and I just took it on from there.

Alright, you nicked that one. But you’re still a bit of a wordsmith. Were you a top English student in school?

Yeah, I wasn’t bad. I was good actually. I just went to an ordinary secondary school. I passed for Grammar School but I wouldn’t go because they only played rugby. [Fair play Ron] But yeah, I was always good at English. In fact, the other thing I was good at was religious knowledge. [laughs]

Have you held onto that knowledge?

Not really no. [laughs]

So… who’s the original amusement arcade?

Well, I saw a player once, quite a well known player but he shall remain nameless. Anyway, everyone’s saying “What a good player”. I said “Why, because he nutmegs people on the half way line? For me, he’s an amusement arcade.” He didn’t produce. If he nutmegs people in the penalty area and scores a goal, fair enough, he’s a productive amusement arcade.

Go go, give us a few names.

Heh, heh, I know exactly who I’m thinking of but….

You’re reluctant to reveal it?

Yeah. He’s had a good career, still see him now. In a lot of international squads but didn’t get a cap. He was a fans’ favourite at one or two clubs.

Alright, suppose you’re in enough trouble…. Kanu’s an amusement arcade isn’t he?

Hell, yeah… he is the ultimate, heh, heh.

Ok then, who’s got the most spotter’s badges in his locker?

That’s people with vision isn’t it. Tell you what, one of the best players I’ve ever worked with was John Sheridan. Sheridan was a magnificent passer. Great vision. He’d play a ball nobody would anticipate and you’d go “he’s seen that one early, that’s a spotter’s badge..”

But would it have been fair to say that John Sheridan was a player who would need to have been “in acres” to produce a spotter’s badge?

No no [appalled at the suggestion]. He could do it in the tightest areas. He made his own time and space. Great players make their own. Johnny Giles made space. [Nods in direction of Bacardi-cradling Gilesy] But I would have said, in the category of Ireland, John and Liam Brady would be up here, and in the next category, I’d have Shez in there.

Underappreciated in Ireland perhaps?

Well, the way Big Jack played it, he didn’t want play going through the midfield. And you have to keep Shez on the ball. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever worked with on free kicks you know. He pulled all kinds of strokes around the box. He’s cocky on the ball. Audacious. You talk to anyone at Sheffield Wed and he’ll come into their best ever team. I think there was some sort of ballot and he was voted their best ever player. Shez is well rated.

He could be spiteful enough if he had to be too. Leave his foot in.

Like Gilesy…

Heh, heh, phew, tell you what.

You ever cross paths with Gilesy?

Johnny? No.

Would you have left a foot in yourself?

No no, I’d tackle. I’d compete. I never went over the top with anyone. I’d batter them if I had to. Physically, Fairly.

How would you describe yourself in Ronglish terms?

Complete midfield player. Centrocampisto. Pivotal in anyone’s team… heh, heh.

An “absolute colossus” then, as you might put it…?

Yeah, I did the frontscreen job too. In front of the back four.

It’s a fine line between a spotter’s badge and a Hollywood ball. Do you reckon Steven Gerrard hasn’t yet learned the difference?

A Hollywood ball is one that looks for miracles.. looks over-ambitious or too glamourous…. To be fair, he does produce but I’ll go with you on that. He’s got to mix it up a lot more – hold onto the ball a lot better than he does. Beckham is a bit like that too but he was quite good to be fair with his ability to produce a few spotter’s badges.

Who’s the best exponent of a reducer?

Well, that came about with a player I had, a very much underrated centre half called Alistair Robertson at West Brom. Tremendous player. And before the game, we’d be talking about something and we’d say to Robbo, “Hey, get your reducer in early. Let him know you’re about.”

Pages: 1 2 3