Posted by daniele kitchen - 02/07/2008

Q. Hi Richard. I've posted here before. I'm 15, 5 ft 10ins but I feel I'm too short. I'm desperate to get into football and I've got trials booked in the summer. I was wondering, do you know if there is there anything I can do to aid growth?

A. Unfortunately I don't! Otherwise I'd have used it myself! To be honest, though, in my opinion 5ft 10ins is more than enough, try not to let that become an issue and, if anything, use it as motivation to be that much better than those you are up against.

Providing you are technically solid, brave and commanding then height shouldn't be an issue. And if you are still young then who knows, you may still grow, I'm still hopeful now!

Posted by Adam Wilkins - 02/07/2008

Q. Hi Richard Thanks for your detailed answers. In response to the last question I fell out of love with the game a lot when we signed some players during the Vialli year who were paid huge sums for a club like ours and their percieved attitude was poor. I guess as a fan I take players not being good enough, but the lack of effort is unforgivable. This is exacerbated when they take home a week what the average fan makes a year. I'd take a pay cut to play for our club and give the proverbial 110%. Your point about player loyalty is also very relevent. It seems to me that too many young players show promise then sign for a big Premiership side only to spend the following years in the wilderness. I think playing squads should be limited to about 25 - this would pretty much stop larger teams buying players and keeping them in the reserves. It would aslo level the playing field a little for the smaller clubs and perhaps make the game less predictable than it is now. Its also a bit depressing to think that a club of our size won't be able to get into the top four withut an outsider bankrolling the team.

A.

It's a fair point and there's arguments for both sides. I guess what it all boils down to is that football is a massive business which means excessive money equals success. By the same token, a young player being signed by a larger team will more often than not get a contract that may well set them up for the rest of their life.

That then begs the question for the player, do I stay here and have faith in my abilities that I can stay injury-free, progress and make the move when i believe it's best for me and not jus be another squad player? Or do I take the contract in front of me and take my chances? Or do I stay with the club which has given me my upbringing and accept i'll never be on the top wages but can help progress this club as far as i can?

It can be a tough question, for a top club it's a no-brainer, a kid's got talent then we can take a chance on him whatever the cost; if he makes the grade great, if not I'm sure there's plenty others who will. It's sad in some respects but it's the way of football.

The positive aspect to all this in my eyes would be that a team without excessive money may not be a 'top four' team in the near future, but that makes the challenge that much greater and more exciting. Any success that is achieved requires enormous amounts of hard work and dedication from not only the team but the fans and therefore some may argue enjoyed even more. I choose to take this view!

Posted by Adam wilkins - 22/06/2008

Q. Hi Richard Nice website, I have a few questions 1) Are you as fit as the outfield players? I mean you don't have to run around much in the 90mins :-) 2) You have always come across as an intelligent person - this is quite unusual for a football player, do you think this is fair comment? 3) What is your favorite book? (my sister is asking this one) 4) I've read John Barnes autobiography, he says when he was at Watfrod he was earning about 35k a year (I think). This was a good wage for the day but not huge. Now a footballer of his calibre would earn that a week, do you think it is too much and has this distanced the players from the fans? Thanks Adam

A.

Hi! In answer to your questions...

1. I am as fit but in a completely different way. For instance I find it tough to do the stop-start running that they do in a game but they'd find it tough to do the drills we do as keepers; for instance getting up and down many times as part of an exercise. We all have body fat tests done regularly and I've always fared well in them which is a good indication also.

2.  Yeah I guess it is fair to some extent but it's easy to place all footballers in the same catagory and it's quite common for people to do that.

I guess because you generally leave schoool at a young age with little in terms of education and it isn't a requirement of the job to do any form of studying, the brain possibly doesn't get used as it might do in other lines of work.

But my argument against that would be that you have to be intelligent in other ways. The examples I'd use would be Wayne Rooney and David Beckham, most people's opinions of these would be that they aren't the most intelligent but when it comes to a game of football they see situations that very few would see and their brains would work in a completely different way to many 'ordinary' folk.

In terms of education, I was fortunate in that I went to a good school and grades were very important so I managed to get some good GCSEs before I left. I do believe it's vital to have that, it took off a bit of pressure when I was a scholar at Watford because I always knew I had something fall back on if things didn't work out.

3.  I have a few for different reasons - 'It's not about the bike' Lance Armstrong, 'Awaken The Giant Within' Anthony Robbins and 'Tthe Celestine Prophesy'.

4.  The game certainly has changed in recent years and money has become more and more of a factor.  I do believe the wages are extortionate but my theory is that it compares to someone who is at the top of their chosen trade, they will more than likely receive large financial rewards in most lines of work.

Being a footballer is a highly desired job and very few are priveliged enough to become one and I am very aware of this.

The amount of lads that haven't made it over the years I've been at Watford is in the 1000s, so for those that do make it the rewards are there.

The part I don't like about it is that I believe the idea of loyalty to a club has diminshed in recent years.  Testimonials are few and far between now and that, in a large part, is due to money. A player will go where he is offered the most money, he may have little or no connection with that club and may move several times in his career and make huge amounts of money without ever really realising his potential.

I take my hat off to the likes of Wayne Rooney or Christiano Ronaldo and the like because they are at the top of the tree, something that millions of us are trying to do but they've done it with years of hard work and dedication.

In terms of distancing players from fans I think this comes down to the individuals. I know there are a lot of lads at Watford who will chat to all the regulars before and after a game and know most by first name terms and are quite happy to be approached on a night out etc. and take it as a massive compliment. 

I'm sure you will find a few who aren't like this but then I'd also guess that was also the case years ago. I don't believe the increased wages need play any role in players and fans becoming detached.

My thought is that is it due to the fans that we are held in such high esteem and it's for that reason that I and many other lads will make the extra effort when we can.

I would be interested to hear anyones alternate views?

Posted by sillick - 18/06/2008

Q. What made you realise that you wanted to play football?

A.

When I was young I loved everything about football and I knew everything too! Any player in the top league and I could tell you something about them!

Then I realised I was quite good and continued to learn. Fortunately, Watford picked me up at a young age and I had the opportunity to improve with the help of top coaching; the better I got the more I realised I could make a living out of doing something I loved and thankfully I am still with Watford today and fulfilling a childhood dream.

Posted by chris - 17/06/2008

Q. Hi. I want to know if you ever get put off by the crowd because i get put off by the other parents? I play for a team called Acorn Raiders. Have you ever thought about playing in a different position?

A. I've always been aware of the crowd but it is important that I don't get put off by them. I make an effort to use whatever the crowd are saying to my advantage.

For instance if it's the opposition saying nasty things then I make it my goal to beat not only the opposition but them too! And if it's our fans singing then I make it my goal to ensure they continue to be positive towards us and continue to cheer for us.

Simple psychology - but it works for me! So my advice would be to try and use whatever the parents are saying to your advantage and use it to spur you on.

When I was younger I used to play left-wing but I wasn't quick enough or skilful enough! I've always enjoyed playing in goal and I can't see that changing.

Posted by tai - 07/06/2008

Q. What is it like to be a goalkeeper? I am one but im only 7 years old? And what is your favourite ground except Watford's ground?

A.

Well I've always enjoyed it! For me it is a position that you have to be prepared to be quite strong-minded as when you let in a goal it can be easy to blame a keeper but, on the other hand, if you make a great save it might the one that wins a game for your team!

I began playing in goal at eight years old so you have a head start on me! My favourite ground that I've played at would have to be Old Trafford. I went there a few times as a boy with my Dad to watch games and to actually be on the pitch playing was incredible. I also enjoyed St. James' Park (Newcastle) too; the atmosphere there is amazing.

Posted by daniel willis - 31/05/2008

Q. Hi, I have always been intrigued by the pre-match preparation in the dressing room...do you have any specific routine or superstitions that you follow?And do any of the other players have anything out of the ordinary in their routine?

A.

I used to have a few superstitions, one I used to have was that i kept a 'lucky stone'. Ridiculous at it may sound, I'd always take it to games with me and like many others I'd put on my shirt last (before my gloves obviously!).

But then, after breaking an elbow, a cheek and getting concussion, I started to doubt these superstitions! I then always found them to be very limiting; for instance, what if I was to leave my lucky stone at home? I could then suddenly believe that I was going to have a bad game - which again sounds ridiculous but if you have a superstition then any change in it can throw you off.

Regarding the other lads there's none that spring to mind, I'm sure a few of them do but none elaborate enough to be noticed by others. I remember the likes of Paul Ince not being able to put his shirt on before he got out of the tunnel but there's nothing quite like that at our place.

Posted by Tom from Lowecroft - 30/05/2008

Q. i have heard that you fancy yourself a little on wii olympics? is this true?

A. Certainly is true!!  Yet to be beaten! ;-)

Posted by Joseph Dore - 28/05/2008

Q. Hey Buddy , Just a Quick one . I've seen you on Dragon's Den in the past - have you ever considered being on a reality TV show? Big Brother starts this Friday!!!

A.

Ha ha. It'd be quite fun, I reckon, but I don't like the idea of Big Brother. If I had the chance to do 'I'm a Celebrity' however, I'd go for that - the physical side of the stuff they do on there I enjoy...and you get a bit more freedom as you're not quite so penned in.

Posted by Alex - 26/05/2008

Q. Hi Richard. I was wondering: what do you call Aidy, does he make you call him gaffer or do you just call him Aidy? Also have you heard any rumours about new signings coming in or players going out?

A.

Personally, I call him 'Boss' but he's very lenient with it. He doesn't insist on anything in particular. A few of the lads call him Aidy but most call him Gaffer. It's a kind of respect thing, I think.

Just for comparison, everyone called Ray 'Gaffer' but that wasn't because he was distant, I think it was because there was a little age gap and it seemed right. He was Ray when he was running the reserves but 'Gaffer' kind of came along naturally for the lads I think.

As for comings and goings - sorry, you'll have to ask the Boss :-)