A Trip Back to the Back In The Day Era
I have my own football podcast that I began in 2020 called: Back In The Day, which focuses on football in the 1990s. Recently, I set up a podcast called: 1990s Football Dinner Party. I, along with my two guests and friends, (both named Paul, chose five ex-footballers who we would like to invite to a dinner party to ask them about certain experiences.
I will attach the link at the end if you would like to listen. This did not focus on West Ham United necessarily, hence writing this. I have chosen five ex-West Ham players who I would invite to a dinner party or the pub if they’d prefer that.
My five players are: Julian Dicks, Ludek Miklosko, John Moncur, John Hartson and Paolo Di Canio. Growing up in the 1990s and of course focusing my podcast on this decade, I decided to choose players that I watched a lot throughout this decade. I have been to events and listened to all of these players so what I write below are things I have not necessarily heard them say before.
The Terminator and the Modern Game
Julian Dicks: He was my hero growing up. I played left-back when I first started playing football so he was naturally my hero. If I invited Julian (Dicksy), I would ask him about coaching. Does he feel that he’s had to adapt his coaching methods since the game has changed so much. Particularly when it comes to defending and tackling. I’d ask him how he feels having to adapt, potentially going against his natural instincts.
Settling in East London with Ludo
Ludek Miklosko: I’ve never played in goal personally, however, Ludo was one of my heroes. I think he’d be a great guest. I’d ask him about how well he settled in at West Ham. Was he concerned when the manager who signed him left, Lou Macari? Who looked after him among the players and helped him to settle in England? I’d also ask him if he saw differences in how foreign players settled into clubs and the local area when he went into coaching at West Ham, with the introduction of player liaison officers.
The Evolution of John Moncur
John Moncur: I’d invite him as I think he’d be a really interesting guest as he’s rarely interviewed. I would ask him how he almost adapted his game from being the cultured, creative player to the ‘enforcer’, getting stuck in and often receiving yellow cards. Was it because he played alongside a creative midfielder in Ian Bishop? Was this change led by himself or through managerial instructions?
Di Canio’s High Standards
Paolo Di Canio: Another hero of mine in the late 90s and early noughties was of course Paolo. What a guest he would be! I think I would ask him who the best manager was, that he played under and why. Also, in his opinion, what makes a good manager? As well as this, why didn’t it work out for him when he was managing. Was it the players he was coaching? Did they not meet his high standards?
Hartson and the Shadow of Wrighty
John Hartson: I’ll always remember him fondly for his spell at West Ham and I think he’d be a great guest. I would ask him how it felt hitting the ground running at West Ham. Did he feel invincible in that first full season? I would also ask if Ian Wright joining affected him as Wrighty was the main man at Arsenal and Hartson left to be the main man at West Ham. Did that affect his mindset and was this maybe a factor in his form dipping? Did he no longer feel like the main man? Did he once again feel like he was in the shadow of Ian Wright, albeit, Wrighty was at the end of his career?
Listen to my podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/05Ae6AqTgz1NEiiC9apP67?si=6vFel3rgT7qClh2esz8zjw
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