On this week’s episode, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright, and Jill Scott are joined by special guest Paul Merson, who reflects on his time on Soccer Saturday and his career at Arsenal. Merson opens up about his journey in football, including his struggles off the pitch, and shares his honest thoughts on his England career.
Credit “This week’s Stick to Football podcast is available now on YouTube and all leading podcast platforms”
Key Quotes:
Merson on Soccer Saturday…
“I love it. Every now and again you get a shocking game. I can’t watch Tottenham and I’m not a great lover of watching Man City. I think the other teams come and get their stomach’s tickled a lot of the time. I like a game where you’re going to get a bit excited. They (the producers) won’t let me watch Tottenham; I don’t want them to win.”
Merson on ringing up players after appearing on Soccer Saturday…
“I’ve rung up two players since I’ve been on that show to apologise. One was Harry Maguire when he signed for Man United because I thought it was a bad signing. I didn’t think he could play on the halfway line and I stick by that. I felt like I carried on and on and I came away from the show and I thought to myself you’re out of order. It didn’t feel good.Then last season Idid Arsenal against Tottenham and Tottenham were at home. They were atrocious that day, but I picked out James Madison. I just said it wasn’t good enough and he had to be doing more. He played in my position, and I think Scholes said it earlier when you’re playing at 10 you’ve got to affect a football match. It doesn’t matter how bad the team are playing and he didn’t do that.”
Merson on who he wanted to emulate as a footballer…
“Honestly, I always wanted to be Ray Wilkins. I always wanted to be everybody because I hated myself. Hated being in my own body but Ray Wilkins. Even when I watched him on the television, the way he talked he was a gentleman. I like people who’ve got a good football brain. Ray did everything simple which is the hardest thing in the world.”
Merson on playing in the different leagues…
“I always felt the top league was the easiest league I played in. The lower I went down, I know I was getting a bit older as I went down, but it was harder. I played a game in the conference at the end of my career and every time I got the ball, someone just took it off me. Someone would just smash you and I don’t mean smash you in a horrible way, but they would close you down enough to get your head down, so you had to play.’’
Merson on playing in his favourite position…
“I would say as a 10. I always got man to man marked. That’s what I don’t see anymore. When I used to watch Manchester City in their pomp and Kevin De Bruyne was off the charts, I always used to sit there and think just go man to man on Kevin De Bruyne. Just stop him playing first and then see what the others are like.”
Merson on Arsenal winning the league…
“I love Arsenal. Arsenal are in my heart but Chelsea’s in my blood. Chelsea isn’t winning the league. I want Arsenal to win the league this season and Arsenal will win the league this season.”
Merson on Gyokeres at Arsenal…
“Arsenal don’t trust him (Gyokeres) and the players never pass to him. You watch him next time; he comes short they go no. When I watch the game, he comes short and they don’t give it to him. I don’t think they trust him at all.”
Merson on how he was as a young professional in the game…
“I struggled with shyness and I was quiet. It was all right when I was around the lads. I hated myself with a passion. I was playing at the top level. Playing at Arsenal and winning trophies. I’d always be the same unless I had a drink and then I was a bit loud. That’s what got me out of being myself is drink, drugs, and gambling. They took me away from the way I felt. I never turned up at England and thought ‘I’m here I should be here, I always felt I’m a fraud.”
Merson on feeling appreciated by England…
“I don’t think I deserve to be loved more. I didn’t play well for England. I never felt that I’d come off the pitch at England and sat in the dressing room after and gone that’s how I used to play for Arsenal or Villa or Middlesbrough.”
Merson on how England should set up…
“I think we’re in a position and I know people might think it’s 1980 stuff, it might be better sometimes just to play two up front play Watkins and Kane, or you go an extra man in midfield, and you keep the ball and try and bring teams out. I just think it might be better off playing another midfield player or another centre forward where you’re enticing teams out. I would play Foden out there because Foden’s got guile you know he’s got guile he’s going to come inside.”
Merson on who he would’ve like to play more with…
I’d love playing with Ian Wright. There’s a lot of films where I’ve literally got my hands in the air when he’s going through. You can play on wavelength with players. I knew what Wright was going to do. When he knew what I was going to do and that makes your job very easy. He had that enthusiasm where it carried you through. There’d been dark days in my life where I’d come in where his enthusiasm would pick you up.”
Merson on his dream 5 a side…
“I’m going to pick David Seaman in goal. If I’m going to play out from the back and I’m going to play people who want to play and I’ve got to play, I’m going to go Gary McAllister. Then, Dennis Bergkamp, Gazza, Ian Wright.”
Stick to Football is brought to you by Arne Clothing
