Football Talk

Ok first, let me explain the lack of 'football talk' posted on the blog during the last month. At the end of each season ( long hard seasons! ), in fact at the end of the last game of the season, all any player wants to do is get away from the ground and turn off for at least a month. This may seem strange, it is a fantastic job and I am so thankful that I have been able to do it ( for so many years!!). But after the ups and downs of the season, the living, breathing and eating of the game, it is great just to drive away from wherever it may be and just relax. No training, no pre-match meals, no travelling and no sleepless nights or sore bodies!.
I apologise if I have neglected the beautiful game or harped on about my family too much but that is the way it is as a pro, you give it everything for ten months and then totally switch off.
In saying that I can speak for the entire squad who went to Wembley, by saying that I could have easily spent at least another week in the bar at the hotel after our Wembley win!!!!!!!.
In saying that ( again! ) I have spent nineteen of the last twenty summer holidays on the phone, to agents or managers, much to the despair of my wife. I have kept on training during most of these summers and I have, like most, been glued to the European Championships, World Cup or Champions league for most of them - after all it's hard to turn off altogether!!!.
Tomorrow I go under the knife to have my nose re-broken and straightened and to have some of the cartilage removed as I can't breathe very well - this resulting from the smash to the face I received in the Cup game against Coventry.
I am not overly looking forward to it, especially since I woke up in a hot sweat having dreamt that the surgeon replaced my nose with a pigs snout!!!. No bacon sandwiches for me in the morning.

CH