The Official Podcast of Midlands Footy
Midlands Footy:
Welcome to my Podcast, Today I have arranged to meet with former Saddlers Manager Sir Ray Graydon and new Walsall boss Craig Blick. we will be asking those questions that you have tweeted or posted on my facebook group. Fans this podcast will be available tomorrow morning, I will let you know when on Twitter and Facebook.
Craig B: Thank you for having me.
S.R-Graydon: Thank you for having me.
Midlands Footy:
My first question comes from Twitter and its from @SuperSaddlers2012 and its for you Sir Ray:
You have great experience from managing Walsall, are you going to give the new boss any tips or ideas?
S.R-Graydon:
Thank You for your question! I would be willing to give some of ideas I have when I was Walsall Manager, Craig is one of the newest upcoming managers in the game and I would gladly help him as this could be a great learning curve as you have alot of pressure managing a club especially with a new owner, When I was incharge I had former Owner Jeff Bonser. Walsall is a club close to my heart, I was sad to leave but its nice to see a fresh face at the club as we havent had a good time lately with the last couple of Managers.
Me:
Thank you for those kind words Sir, I would be glad to hear what ideas and tips you have for me I am always willing to learn what great experienced managers have it could help this club, having you at this club would be great for the fans and players as you were loved by everyone, you had the players respect and personally I think it would be great if you were here! We can discuss after this podcast what will happen. I want to replicate what you did for this club all those many years ago by winning the Play-Offs and getting back into the Championship!!
Midlands Footy:
The second question is my question; What are you going to bring to the club, what philosophy you have?
Me:
We have a very good squad and think we can be a team team, we have alot of good young players like Mal Benning, Jamie Paterson, Paul Downing and many more, So i will more than likely mix experience and inexperience. This will help the younger players gain experience from the more experiened heads like Jimmy Walker, Andy Butler, The Chamber twins. I hope to expect to be playing different types of tactics, my favourite tactic is 4-4-2 attacking, having to pacey wingers who can supply the ball for the strikers like Grigg and Bowerman(or whoever will be in my strike force in the upcoming season.
S.R.Graydon:
Craig has a excellent philosophy, its great to give young players a chance of making the first team to show the fans and also Craig what they have got to offer! Walsall have experienced players like Craig said who can help this talented youngsters. I think the position that could learn the most is the Goalkeepers like Liam Roberts, because they have one of the best keepers in the Walsall squad that I have seen in the Wacka - Jimmy Walker. Also Walker(Jimmy) has had spells in the Best League In The World - the Premiership! he had a spell at West Ham United when he left Walsall, then after he left them he had greater experience when joining their rivals Spurs and became a goalkeeping coach their, so after Jimmy retires Craig should think of getting Jimmy in the backroom staff as the Goalkeeping Coach.
Midlands Footy:
The next question is from a West Brom fan Andy Giles
Sir Ray you are highest thought of with Walsall fans, I think you are a fantastic coach, I would of liked you at West Brom.
S.R.G:
Thank you, Andy! I did have interest in me from your club but I wanted to do great things with Walsall as I have always had something close with them and couldnt leave.
Me:
Its nice to hear from our rivals that Walsall had a such a manager in the calibre of the legend that is sitting next to me!
Midlands Footy:
Craig with the new owner taking over the club now, With the squad are you looking to add players to give competition? As this will help players train better and fight for their place in your place.
Me:
I will maybe look at adding a few players into the squad for healthy competition, but wont be adding to many! I dont want players to come to me and complain that their is too much competition for them! you have to give every player a chance! I will definetly be looking to add a couple of Goalkeepers as Jimmy is coming close to ending his career and want to bring in a player that will be hungry to emulate his success.
S.R.G:
Craig has a point you can always bring in new players and give them competition! But me personally would look to bring in a few loanees from the Premiership as they have very good talent, from the likes of Manchester United,Liverpool,Arsenal,Chelsea etc.
We have had good loanees at this club recently especially the talented Flo Culivier from Stoke! He was a gem and half i would love Walsall to try and bring him back to the club on loan or even permanently as he is a star for the future!
Midlands Footy:
My final question is what do you think to the new owner of the club, was you shocked to hear the news that he brought your beloved club, We have obviously seen that the ex-owner didnt spend much while he was running the club as on record the last time money was spent was when you brought Jorge Leitao to the club for £175k.
Me:
Yes i was shocked when I heard the news that Sir Alan Sugar brought the club I have supported all my life, as we all know him from The Apprentice and that he is a very wealthy man and can pump money into the club and bring success to this club as he has in businesses across the UK and abroad. I know that alot of Managers where in the frame to take over Dean at the end of the season due to him having a bad time in the relegation battle, so the stronghold had to be changed to try and bring success to the club, I heard the likes of Roy Keane, Stuart Pearce, Mick McCarthy were in the running for this little team, But I surprised to see that they decided to take me on, I was only having a joke with friends and E-mailed my CV to apply for the job, you have heard stories of Football Manager fans applying for jobs like that lad who applied for the Crewe job and I also heard that a lad got the job of his teams 'B' squad.
Midlands Footy:
Welcome to my Podcast, Today I have arranged to meet with former Saddlers Manager Sir Ray Graydon and new Walsall boss Craig Blick. we will be asking those questions that you have tweeted or posted on my facebook group. Fans this podcast will be available tomorrow morning, I will let you know when on Twitter and Facebook.
Craig B: Thank you for having me.
S.R-Graydon: Thank you for having me.
Midlands Footy:
My first question comes from Twitter and its from @SuperSaddlers2012 and its for you Sir Ray:
You have great experience from managing Walsall, are you going to give the new boss any tips or ideas?
S.R-Graydon:
Thank You for your question! I would be willing to give some of ideas I have when I was Walsall Manager, Craig is one of the newest upcoming managers in the game and I would gladly help him as this could be a great learning curve as you have alot of pressure managing a club especially with a new owner, When I was incharge I had former Owner Jeff Bonser. Walsall is a club close to my heart, I was sad to leave but its nice to see a fresh face at the club as we havent had a good time lately with the last couple of Managers.
Me:
Thank you for those kind words Sir, I would be glad to hear what ideas and tips you have for me I am always willing to learn what great experienced managers have it could help this club, having you at this club would be great for the fans and players as you were loved by everyone, you had the players respect and personally I think it would be great if you were here! We can discuss after this podcast what will happen. I want to replicate what you did for this club all those many years ago by winning the Play-Offs and getting back into the Championship!!
Midlands Footy:
The second question is my question; What are you going to bring to the club, what philosophy you have?
Me:
We have a very good squad and think we can be a team team, we have alot of good young players like Mal Benning, Jamie Paterson, Paul Downing and many more, So i will more than likely mix experience and inexperience. This will help the younger players gain experience from the more experiened heads like Jimmy Walker, Andy Butler, The Chamber twins. I hope to expect to be playing different types of tactics, my favourite tactic is 4-4-2 attacking, having to pacey wingers who can supply the ball for the strikers like Grigg and Bowerman(or whoever will be in my strike force in the upcoming season.
S.R.Graydon:
Craig has a excellent philosophy, its great to give young players a chance of making the first team to show the fans and also Craig what they have got to offer! Walsall have experienced players like Craig said who can help this talented youngsters. I think the position that could learn the most is the Goalkeepers like Liam Roberts, because they have one of the best keepers in the Walsall squad that I have seen in the Wacka - Jimmy Walker. Also Walker(Jimmy) has had spells in the Best League In The World - the Premiership! he had a spell at West Ham United when he left Walsall, then after he left them he had greater experience when joining their rivals Spurs and became a goalkeeping coach their, so after Jimmy retires Craig should think of getting Jimmy in the backroom staff as the Goalkeeping Coach.
Midlands Footy:
The next question is from a West Brom fan Andy Giles
Sir Ray you are highest thought of with Walsall fans, I think you are a fantastic coach, I would of liked you at West Brom.
S.R.G:
Thank you, Andy! I did have interest in me from your club but I wanted to do great things with Walsall as I have always had something close with them and couldnt leave.
Me:
Its nice to hear from our rivals that Walsall had a such a manager in the calibre of the legend that is sitting next to me!
Midlands Footy:
Craig with the new owner taking over the club now, With the squad are you looking to add players to give competition? As this will help players train better and fight for their place in your place.
Me:
I will maybe look at adding a few players into the squad for healthy competition, but wont be adding to many! I dont want players to come to me and complain that their is too much competition for them! you have to give every player a chance! I will definetly be looking to add a couple of Goalkeepers as Jimmy is coming close to ending his career and want to bring in a player that will be hungry to emulate his success.
S.R.G:
Craig has a point you can always bring in new players and give them competition! But me personally would look to bring in a few loanees from the Premiership as they have very good talent, from the likes of Manchester United,Liverpool,Arsenal,Chelsea etc.
We have had good loanees at this club recently especially the talented Flo Culivier from Stoke! He was a gem and half i would love Walsall to try and bring him back to the club on loan or even permanently as he is a star for the future!
Midlands Footy:
My final question is what do you think to the new owner of the club, was you shocked to hear the news that he brought your beloved club, We have obviously seen that the ex-owner didnt spend much while he was running the club as on record the last time money was spent was when you brought Jorge Leitao to the club for £175k.
Me:
Yes i was shocked when I heard the news that Sir Alan Sugar brought the club I have supported all my life, as we all know him from The Apprentice and that he is a very wealthy man and can pump money into the club and bring success to this club as he has in businesses across the UK and abroad. I know that alot of Managers where in the frame to take over Dean at the end of the season due to him having a bad time in the relegation battle, so the stronghold had to be changed to try and bring success to the club, I heard the likes of Roy Keane, Stuart Pearce, Mick McCarthy were in the running for this little team, But I surprised to see that they decided to take me on, I was only having a joke with friends and E-mailed my CV to apply for the job, you have heard stories of Football Manager fans applying for jobs like that lad who applied for the Crewe job and I also heard that a lad got the job of his teams 'B' squad.
It will be interesting to see how Sir Alan Sugar works as the owner after his stint Spurs. Can't wait to see who comes in 
