Joe Baker's Dog
Grenville Morris
My view too. A talented lad who needs managing properly. SP will do that (if you think I'm joking look how much respect & admiration he had for young Nigel).
Radoslaw Majewski
- Thread starter red@rmy
- Start date
My view too. A talented lad who needs managing properly. SP will do that (if you think I'm joking look how much respect & admiration he had for young Nigel).
E
Enzo Molinari
Guest
Stalker alert
FBS
Steve Chettle
Would imagine he is going back home for his summer hols. Isn't his wife Polish as well?
Kelvin's Local
Jack Armstrong
When you leave on holiday do you say goodbye England?
My Mrs says goodbye to her car when she parks it at the shop, so yeah people do
WillE
Geoff Thomas
Lol my mrs isn't the only one then! Weird creatures
klinsi
Geoff Thomas
A recent interview with Majewski, translated (poorly) by me, edited (heavily!) by Winnits 
From here: http://www.weszlo.com/news/20002-Radoslaw_Majewski_Odlaczylem_sie_od_tego_wszystkiego
Majewski: I’ve detached myself from it all
You’ve recently fooled the journalists by announcing on Facebook that you’re coming back to Poland and you’re in talks with Legia [Polish club], didn’t you?
No, it wasn’t like that. I wrote “Poland, here I come” as I was leaving England and fans speculated it was about Legia. I was oblivious as I’d switched off my phone, when I turned it on again I had about ten messages from journalists.
I thought it was all planned.
Not at all, people misinterpreted my words. Of course “time to say goodbye” could have more than one meeting, so I added that I’m coming back to Poland. I don’t use Facebook a lot, I thought that I’d add a few words then something like this happens. Once before signing a new contract I wrote “should I stay or should I go” and a similar thing occurred. That’s the way I am, though, this account isn’t like some official fanpage with entries like “we are going to a match, there’s eighteen of us, the bus is almost there” or “we thank the fans for their support” – it’s not my style. Nor is Twitter.
Come on, you can show your good side there [on Twitter], like some Polish players do.
Do they fool people there?
It’s not about fooling people, it’s about authenticity.
OK, that’s fine, but that’s the way the world is going along – more use of social media. There’s a website in England called “Football League 72” and someone wrote on it that I was making bets on our matches. I was asked at the club what was going on and if they should intervene to clear my name and to prevent situations like that in the future. The correction appeared on that website the following day. I don’t know where it all came from. Some shithead from Preston made it all up, we were playing them in the cup and you see what happens.
[they are talking about a case of Polish footballer who was recently caught betting, nothing interesting from a Forest fan point of view]
You can’t bet on league games or any games that involve your team in any way. But I don’t really know, I’m not interested in those things. Recently one of our guys was caught and had to pay a penalty because he was betting against a team he was loaned from. FA has probably some kind of deal that allows them to check if footballers are involved in betting. Before every season we have a meeting with FA’s representatives about those things to let us know the rules.
There are not many leagues with so many scandals as in England. Parties, betting, chicks… Here [in Poland], even if something gets to the tabloids it doesn’t get so much hype.
Yes, there is so much going on but I’ve started to detach myself from such things. I’ve begun working with a guy who sets my head right, he tells me that even if the media say something negative about me that I should distance myself from it. Everybody has their role and I can’t tell somebody how to write, I can only focus on my job. I had some problems in the last six months but never put them on somebody else’s shoulders, but there was a time when three or four personal matters hit at once and seriously impacted me. Now I know that family is family and football is football.
If the problems are so serious you probably can’t just detach from them on the pitch.
I always thought this too, but if you talked with the guy I work with then you’d discover it is possible.
If you’re going through a divorce or someone from your family is seriously ill or you have problems with gambling it must be still in your head.
Call this guy and talk to him, you’ll change your mind (laughs). I see your point but I’ve spent a lot of time with him, I told him about all my problems and he gradually helped me solve them and eventually rescued me. It’s what psychology is about – you open up and someone gets your head together. You mentioned a divorce… I’m not saying it applies to me but I guess I know how it looks – you worry, wife here, child there, you go a training thinking “I had to call the court”. It’s in your head all day but if you’re at work you should only care about what’s here now. Theoretically, everybody knows that but you need someone to point you in the right direction. I’m so satisfied with this cooperation that even now, on holidays I’m meeting him in about two hours. Psyche makes about 70% of the footballer. The rest is skill and spirit. If you don’t have the head you’ll get yourself into something bad quickly. I couldn’t care less what people think even if I was sitting here in the middle of this shopping centre dirty as a chimney-sweep.
Who gave you the idea?
A friend of mine once asked me if I’d like to talk to a professional and when all those problem arose I finally decided. I treated it as an investment in myself and spent some money on it because he used to fly to me in England and I’ve frequently visited him in Warsaw. It’s the systematic nature of it that counts and all those little steps. For example, on the pitch, I had problems with deciding whether to shoot and I was looking for a pass often. We began with little changes and then I had eight shots per match. He convinced me not to feel too disheartened. It’s always about a positive thinking – if you approach something negatively you lose at the start.
From here: http://www.weszlo.com/news/20002-Radoslaw_Majewski_Odlaczylem_sie_od_tego_wszystkiego
Majewski: I’ve detached myself from it all
You’ve recently fooled the journalists by announcing on Facebook that you’re coming back to Poland and you’re in talks with Legia [Polish club], didn’t you?
No, it wasn’t like that. I wrote “Poland, here I come” as I was leaving England and fans speculated it was about Legia. I was oblivious as I’d switched off my phone, when I turned it on again I had about ten messages from journalists.
I thought it was all planned.
Not at all, people misinterpreted my words. Of course “time to say goodbye” could have more than one meeting, so I added that I’m coming back to Poland. I don’t use Facebook a lot, I thought that I’d add a few words then something like this happens. Once before signing a new contract I wrote “should I stay or should I go” and a similar thing occurred. That’s the way I am, though, this account isn’t like some official fanpage with entries like “we are going to a match, there’s eighteen of us, the bus is almost there” or “we thank the fans for their support” – it’s not my style. Nor is Twitter.
Come on, you can show your good side there [on Twitter], like some Polish players do.
Do they fool people there?
It’s not about fooling people, it’s about authenticity.
OK, that’s fine, but that’s the way the world is going along – more use of social media. There’s a website in England called “Football League 72” and someone wrote on it that I was making bets on our matches. I was asked at the club what was going on and if they should intervene to clear my name and to prevent situations like that in the future. The correction appeared on that website the following day. I don’t know where it all came from. Some shithead from Preston made it all up, we were playing them in the cup and you see what happens.
[they are talking about a case of Polish footballer who was recently caught betting, nothing interesting from a Forest fan point of view]
You can’t bet on league games or any games that involve your team in any way. But I don’t really know, I’m not interested in those things. Recently one of our guys was caught and had to pay a penalty because he was betting against a team he was loaned from. FA has probably some kind of deal that allows them to check if footballers are involved in betting. Before every season we have a meeting with FA’s representatives about those things to let us know the rules.
There are not many leagues with so many scandals as in England. Parties, betting, chicks… Here [in Poland], even if something gets to the tabloids it doesn’t get so much hype.
Yes, there is so much going on but I’ve started to detach myself from such things. I’ve begun working with a guy who sets my head right, he tells me that even if the media say something negative about me that I should distance myself from it. Everybody has their role and I can’t tell somebody how to write, I can only focus on my job. I had some problems in the last six months but never put them on somebody else’s shoulders, but there was a time when three or four personal matters hit at once and seriously impacted me. Now I know that family is family and football is football.
If the problems are so serious you probably can’t just detach from them on the pitch.
I always thought this too, but if you talked with the guy I work with then you’d discover it is possible.
If you’re going through a divorce or someone from your family is seriously ill or you have problems with gambling it must be still in your head.
Call this guy and talk to him, you’ll change your mind (laughs). I see your point but I’ve spent a lot of time with him, I told him about all my problems and he gradually helped me solve them and eventually rescued me. It’s what psychology is about – you open up and someone gets your head together. You mentioned a divorce… I’m not saying it applies to me but I guess I know how it looks – you worry, wife here, child there, you go a training thinking “I had to call the court”. It’s in your head all day but if you’re at work you should only care about what’s here now. Theoretically, everybody knows that but you need someone to point you in the right direction. I’m so satisfied with this cooperation that even now, on holidays I’m meeting him in about two hours. Psyche makes about 70% of the footballer. The rest is skill and spirit. If you don’t have the head you’ll get yourself into something bad quickly. I couldn’t care less what people think even if I was sitting here in the middle of this shopping centre dirty as a chimney-sweep.
Who gave you the idea?
A friend of mine once asked me if I’d like to talk to a professional and when all those problem arose I finally decided. I treated it as an investment in myself and spent some money on it because he used to fly to me in England and I’ve frequently visited him in Warsaw. It’s the systematic nature of it that counts and all those little steps. For example, on the pitch, I had problems with deciding whether to shoot and I was looking for a pass often. We began with little changes and then I had eight shots per match. He convinced me not to feel too disheartened. It’s always about a positive thinking – if you approach something negatively you lose at the start.
klinsi
Geoff Thomas
When I’m listening to you today I recall our conversation that took place two years ago or all the interviews you were giving some six years ago and I start to wonder if any other Polish player has gone through such a mental metamorphosis.
I don’t know if it was the biggest change but all those interviews… f***! I’ve learned not to treat every criticism as an attack on me but as something normal. I won’t be playing football when I’m seventy, so you have to use this career as best as you can and psychology can be applied to every aspect of life. I’ve learned also not to worry other people with my problems.
Going abroad happened at the best possible moment, it seems.
Here, in Poland, when I’m driving and I stop at red, the green isn’t really on yet and they honk at you already. People could do with a little bit of calmness, distance. I don’t want to complain about Poles but what I love in England is the understanding, sympathy for others – they’d let you go through, they’d ask you what’s wrong. If you have three cows your neighbour doesn’t wish one of them dies, he simply congratulates you. Once I had an accident during the snowstorm, a guy stopped, waited with me for half an hour, checked my car and didn’t go home until he was sure I was OK. But you’re right, I really needed that change [going to Forest].
So your image in Poland was worse that the reality?
Yes, I guess so and whatever people were telling about me I took personally. Chairman [of his previous club] was talking about how my ‘friends’ and problems from Pruszkow [a little city from which one of the most infamous organized crime groups in Poland used to operate] can destroy me. It would be hard not to go to Pruszków frequently when I have a family there. Maybe he planted a GPS in my car? Or maybe he thought that a decline in form was caused by personal problems? Here [in Poland] when your form is worse they will always say that you must have a drinking problem or something like that. In England no one will accuse you of anything, manager will ask what’s wrong, maybe change your training schedule. The most important part is giving 100%.
But you know you have been considered rather quarrelsome.
Wojciechowski [chairman of his previous club] was also responsible for creating such reputation. I admit – I used to argue with him and once I told him a few words at some meeting. And then I read in some interview that I’ll be the person he would remember because of my stubbornness. It was about financial matters and a personal one about which I don’t want to talk. But you know how it is. When you’re 17-21 and you get some money then you spend some here, you do something there and you generally consider yourself to be the champion of the world and then only with the age comes the wisdom.
Do you regret something from that period?
No. Well, maybe the incident in Ukraine. Later is was an injury, then another and that’s how the image was created. I pulled ligaments because somebody fell on my knee, and when you hear as a young boy from fans something like “You drunk!” you take it personally. Yes, we were caught in Ukraine, but it was over-sensationalised because nobody had been caught before. Bad luck? I could have decided not to drink, but it happened.
Did you want to show off?
No. Neither this nor anybody forced me to do anything. I have some mutual friends with Artur Boruc, a few people gathered at the same place and I was (then!) a different person when drunk… Laughing, jokes, some pranks, let something happen! It was too loud, too long…
What had the bigger impact on you – Ukraine or going to England?
They are two sides of the same situation. Those close to me took Ukraine very badly because I was put into very negative light. I was young and stupid. England? Before I went there I used to talk about how I don’t want to learn languages whereas in Nottingham I’ve learned English and began to learn Spanish, because I like it and when I was in Spain I couldn’t communicate there because nobody speaks English there. I started to learn by myself, I talked a lot with a Chilean guy in a team, Gonzalo Jara, another guy joined us and he also knew Spanish… But you’re right, I needed that move to England badly.
Do you understand today the arguments of those who tried to discourage you from the Championship? Because that transfer wasn’t really favoured here in Poland.
Everybody talks for the sake of it, and nobody really knows what it’s really like because they’re unfamiliar with this league. They watch me – if you follow me – from a passing train. Would you think that Benfica will buy this young Polish player? You wouldn’t.
I wouldn’t also and nobody else would think that a petite guy from Polish league will be able to compete in such a hard league as Championship.
Go and try – you don’t often get a second chance like that! Why don’t we get more of this attitude in Poland? Even if a guy can’t make it for Benfica every club in Poland will take him. Maybe he’ll fit there perfectly? I personally believe I’d fit better in the Premier League but it’s really hard to get there. The Championship is simply the most demanding league in the world when it comes to pressing. Someone noticed once I ran 14km in a match but it doesn’t matter at all. What matters most is what part of that distance you sprint. If it’s 1,700m or more – then it’s really a lot and you’re putting a lot into the match. The average distance for midfielders is 11.5km. In training – where it’s also measured – I get around 5-6km which is usually the most in the team. I must obviously be running senselessly a lot (laughs). We’ll see how it goes under our new manager, Stuart Pearce.
I don’t know if it was the biggest change but all those interviews… f***! I’ve learned not to treat every criticism as an attack on me but as something normal. I won’t be playing football when I’m seventy, so you have to use this career as best as you can and psychology can be applied to every aspect of life. I’ve learned also not to worry other people with my problems.
Going abroad happened at the best possible moment, it seems.
Here, in Poland, when I’m driving and I stop at red, the green isn’t really on yet and they honk at you already. People could do with a little bit of calmness, distance. I don’t want to complain about Poles but what I love in England is the understanding, sympathy for others – they’d let you go through, they’d ask you what’s wrong. If you have three cows your neighbour doesn’t wish one of them dies, he simply congratulates you. Once I had an accident during the snowstorm, a guy stopped, waited with me for half an hour, checked my car and didn’t go home until he was sure I was OK. But you’re right, I really needed that change [going to Forest].
So your image in Poland was worse that the reality?
Yes, I guess so and whatever people were telling about me I took personally. Chairman [of his previous club] was talking about how my ‘friends’ and problems from Pruszkow [a little city from which one of the most infamous organized crime groups in Poland used to operate] can destroy me. It would be hard not to go to Pruszków frequently when I have a family there. Maybe he planted a GPS in my car? Or maybe he thought that a decline in form was caused by personal problems? Here [in Poland] when your form is worse they will always say that you must have a drinking problem or something like that. In England no one will accuse you of anything, manager will ask what’s wrong, maybe change your training schedule. The most important part is giving 100%.
But you know you have been considered rather quarrelsome.
Wojciechowski [chairman of his previous club] was also responsible for creating such reputation. I admit – I used to argue with him and once I told him a few words at some meeting. And then I read in some interview that I’ll be the person he would remember because of my stubbornness. It was about financial matters and a personal one about which I don’t want to talk. But you know how it is. When you’re 17-21 and you get some money then you spend some here, you do something there and you generally consider yourself to be the champion of the world and then only with the age comes the wisdom.
Do you regret something from that period?
No. Well, maybe the incident in Ukraine. Later is was an injury, then another and that’s how the image was created. I pulled ligaments because somebody fell on my knee, and when you hear as a young boy from fans something like “You drunk!” you take it personally. Yes, we were caught in Ukraine, but it was over-sensationalised because nobody had been caught before. Bad luck? I could have decided not to drink, but it happened.
Did you want to show off?
No. Neither this nor anybody forced me to do anything. I have some mutual friends with Artur Boruc, a few people gathered at the same place and I was (then!) a different person when drunk… Laughing, jokes, some pranks, let something happen! It was too loud, too long…
What had the bigger impact on you – Ukraine or going to England?
They are two sides of the same situation. Those close to me took Ukraine very badly because I was put into very negative light. I was young and stupid. England? Before I went there I used to talk about how I don’t want to learn languages whereas in Nottingham I’ve learned English and began to learn Spanish, because I like it and when I was in Spain I couldn’t communicate there because nobody speaks English there. I started to learn by myself, I talked a lot with a Chilean guy in a team, Gonzalo Jara, another guy joined us and he also knew Spanish… But you’re right, I needed that move to England badly.
Do you understand today the arguments of those who tried to discourage you from the Championship? Because that transfer wasn’t really favoured here in Poland.
Everybody talks for the sake of it, and nobody really knows what it’s really like because they’re unfamiliar with this league. They watch me – if you follow me – from a passing train. Would you think that Benfica will buy this young Polish player? You wouldn’t.
I wouldn’t also and nobody else would think that a petite guy from Polish league will be able to compete in such a hard league as Championship.
Go and try – you don’t often get a second chance like that! Why don’t we get more of this attitude in Poland? Even if a guy can’t make it for Benfica every club in Poland will take him. Maybe he’ll fit there perfectly? I personally believe I’d fit better in the Premier League but it’s really hard to get there. The Championship is simply the most demanding league in the world when it comes to pressing. Someone noticed once I ran 14km in a match but it doesn’t matter at all. What matters most is what part of that distance you sprint. If it’s 1,700m or more – then it’s really a lot and you’re putting a lot into the match. The average distance for midfielders is 11.5km. In training – where it’s also measured – I get around 5-6km which is usually the most in the team. I must obviously be running senselessly a lot (laughs). We’ll see how it goes under our new manager, Stuart Pearce.
klinsi
Geoff Thomas
You really overstayed at Forest. Is it not too long?
I’ve signed my third contract. You can see it from both sides – I’m 28 years old and theoretically have my sixth season at Forest ahead of me. In hindsight these seasons are always quite different – first season was superb, third place, playoffs – the second season, sixth place, the third was a tragedy, the fourth – almost play-offs and now in the fifth another change of manager.
Can you name in order all the managers that you were working under in Nottingham?
I was brought here by Billy davies, then McClaren, Cotterill, O’Driscoll, McLeish, Davies again and not it’s a guy from the academy, Gary Brazil. As me how many players from my first season are still there – three. There were changes all the way through but – as the English say – “everything for a reason”. Bad results or change of owners or something else. Now the manager is a guy who the fans love, but you know – at this level – they all know how to proceed, how to eat, how to train and the manager’s job is to set everything right on the pitch and bring the right players. If you don’t succeed – that’s how it is in England – the manager is to blame. This last season, I must admit, was a really strange one.
And definitely the worst when it comes to you personally.
Yes. I played a lot but my individual contribution was a tragedy. Four assists and one goal in the cup. Very, very bad. I had a lot of opportunities, right but... no, f*** the opportunities. The facts don’t speak in my favour and I can’t change that now. I could have changed it during the season.
Isn’t it that you just don’t feel it anymore? We were talking about Premier League two years ago and yet you’re not closer to it.
It’s been two years already? ‘Wasyl’ [Wasilewski] came here and was promoted but me? Maybe when I’m gone they’ll get promoted. But I’d regret that very much. You see, it’s such an uncertainty – you can assure yourself that THIS is the season, but then you end up fighting again. Look at the season just gone, we defeated QPR 2-0, we dominated Burnley and drew 2-2, we won and drew with Leicester, Wigan beat us 4-1 and we had no response. Barnsley were relegated yet we lost and drew with them. It’s just such a league. There are no clear favourites in the matches, you can’t assume the ‘top’ teams can’t be beaten – everybody can beat everybody else. If I were to tell you how many points we lost, how many matches we should have won or draw or how many times we conceded in the last minutes – we would have had 15 more points. But what does it matter now?
Have you had at least some interest from Premier League?
There were enquiries, from foreign clubs also but there was nothing concrete. I’m now in an agency that represents many footballers from Premier League too. I’m still in touch with my former agent and when I need something in Poland he helps me but it’s better to have an English agent when playing in England.
How do you rate your chances of staying in Nottingham? 60 percent? 80?
Well, 80%. I’m under contract so they won’t want to release me. Everything has its’ negatives and positives. Even now and here I could list all the advantages and disadvantages of staying or going. I’ve been here for five years now, everybody knows me and at a new club I’d have to learn everything from the beginning. On the other hand, maybe it would give me a fresh start?
That’s why I asked – aren’t you little tired of Championship or Forest?
No, I’m not because I believe Championship to be a lot better league than Polish Ekstraklasa [the highest league level in Poland]. Crystal Palace got promoted and stayed up, we were able to beat Hull, but Cardiff got up and immediately down. There’s no rule but I don’t think I could get fed up with this league. I’m still motivated though it’s the first club at which I’m playing for so long. I have a contract until June 2016. So it’s two years more but the changes are unavoidable. We have six midfielders in the team and they all played more or less in the same amount of matches. The only player to play at the highest level all season was Andy Reid and maybe if he didn’t get injured at the end of season we would get promoted? 10 goals, 10 assists. Double-double as in basketball.
And what’s your position in the Championship after all those years?
I’ve spent so much time here that I’m rather well known now. I asked the guys, they told me that coaches consider both good and bad sides when analysing a player. The most used criteria when defining a player’s place in the league are wages – which makes it not so bad (laughs). Maybe I’m not being remembered by everyone but I do get recognised by people in places other than Nottingham.
You’re apparently a popular person in Nottingham.
But will they remember me for long? I don’t know. Everybody’s replaceable. You can play good matches, score against the fiercest rival but then comes another player and does the same thing and people forget you immediately. Of course, I’m not talking about top legends like Stan Collymore though even players like him won’t be remembered by everybody.
Did you considered going to another country?
I did. I got an offer from USA but is it a good direction? I was interviewed recently by a radio station from Orlando and they apparently have some big names playing there but it’s not really a big league. I've heard from a guy who played there that it’s good only for a year, a year and a half, to see something new. Kris Boyd who was with us for a moment went to MLS, came back fast and plays now for Kilmarnock. People are curious about living in the States but is it a good option for longer? Anyway, there hasn’t been any concrete talk, but maybe I don’t know everything and something is going on still? That would be a normal thing in a transfer window. But it never was like somebody called and said “here you are, three years contract and a wage of … Euros”. Well, it was, once, but it was from Greece, so, you know… But in Poland there’s a crisis too.
But it’s a different world. You know, I’d like to get a taste of some stronger league. When we were playing Premier League teams in pre-season games it didn’t feel [like in Championship] that you’d immediately get someone kick you in the back. Calmness and order.
And who impressed you the most?
Wasilewski! No, wait, let me think. I have problem with names. Who were we playing? QPR who got relegated from Premier League. And I’m positively jealous about Wasyl. In England they can appreciate such a healthy brute with such combative traits like him. Fight, gets up, gets forward, scores with his head. They’ve decided to sign a new contract with him – while there were another eight players with contracts running out. Premier League… Yes, that would be f***ing great.
Have you heard that three out of five Premier League players are broke in a few years after their playing career is over? Are you as a person who is in it shocked by this statistics?
The main difference between Premier League and Championship players you can see by comparing their houses because at this level everybody has a car they want. Well, I’m not talking Ferrari or Lamborghini because they are for those earning the most. What’s my opinion? I try to achieve financial security during my career already, I watch the markets and invest, because I’ve never really wondered what I’d be doing once my playing days are over. I also don’t know where I’ll be living then. I have many friends in England now, I’ve changed houses for the third time, I know many people from Nottingham…. I’m there practically all the time and I’m at peace there – and here [in Poland] I’ve been just for three weeks and still haven’t managed to go to vacations and I’m constantly running somewhere. I’ll work myself into the ground here, it’s worse than the training at the club (laughs). I’m joking, of course, it’s just such time. If I want to secure the future of my family it’s the perfect moment.
Are you investing only in Poland?
For now, yes, but I’m starting to think about investing in England. When I’ll buy my first property there it will be easier. I was making enquiries, tried to begin but the first step is the hardest. And after football? I’d like to work as TV pundit but I’d have to repair my nose first because I have a hump like an Armenian (laughs). I already asked about that, but, man, it takes so much time… I’d have to play in a mask.
Ever had your nose broken?
I was hit in the face so many times I don’t even remember them all! (laughs) I think it’s been broken. But I like this TV stuff. I already did that once and people were asking me later “what were you talking about there, man?!” but I guess it was in a jest. I had some offers from other TV stations. It’s nice when you have a way with words. But it’s all a distant future, never really considered it seriously yet. When it comes to investment I’d like to follow the tracks of Cezary Kucharski [former Polish player, now football agent and a deputy to Polish Parliament] who has millions of apartments and he rents them all. I don’t want to find myself in the situation of many players who earn ten thousand for their entire career and suddenly realise they’re left with two thousand and start to wonder where the rest is gone. So far I haven’t been investing silly and wasn’t desperately trying to find some markets for me. Slowly, step by step I’m achieving my goal. Common sense is the essence, what will come next – we’ll see. Maybe I’ll be herding sheep somewhere on the meadow in Greece? (laughs). So far everything’s OK. I have peace and quiet and people don’t talk about me much, because what would it matter? Tell me – would it change my situation?
I’ve signed my third contract. You can see it from both sides – I’m 28 years old and theoretically have my sixth season at Forest ahead of me. In hindsight these seasons are always quite different – first season was superb, third place, playoffs – the second season, sixth place, the third was a tragedy, the fourth – almost play-offs and now in the fifth another change of manager.
Can you name in order all the managers that you were working under in Nottingham?
I was brought here by Billy davies, then McClaren, Cotterill, O’Driscoll, McLeish, Davies again and not it’s a guy from the academy, Gary Brazil. As me how many players from my first season are still there – three. There were changes all the way through but – as the English say – “everything for a reason”. Bad results or change of owners or something else. Now the manager is a guy who the fans love, but you know – at this level – they all know how to proceed, how to eat, how to train and the manager’s job is to set everything right on the pitch and bring the right players. If you don’t succeed – that’s how it is in England – the manager is to blame. This last season, I must admit, was a really strange one.
And definitely the worst when it comes to you personally.
Yes. I played a lot but my individual contribution was a tragedy. Four assists and one goal in the cup. Very, very bad. I had a lot of opportunities, right but... no, f*** the opportunities. The facts don’t speak in my favour and I can’t change that now. I could have changed it during the season.
Isn’t it that you just don’t feel it anymore? We were talking about Premier League two years ago and yet you’re not closer to it.
It’s been two years already? ‘Wasyl’ [Wasilewski] came here and was promoted but me? Maybe when I’m gone they’ll get promoted. But I’d regret that very much. You see, it’s such an uncertainty – you can assure yourself that THIS is the season, but then you end up fighting again. Look at the season just gone, we defeated QPR 2-0, we dominated Burnley and drew 2-2, we won and drew with Leicester, Wigan beat us 4-1 and we had no response. Barnsley were relegated yet we lost and drew with them. It’s just such a league. There are no clear favourites in the matches, you can’t assume the ‘top’ teams can’t be beaten – everybody can beat everybody else. If I were to tell you how many points we lost, how many matches we should have won or draw or how many times we conceded in the last minutes – we would have had 15 more points. But what does it matter now?
Have you had at least some interest from Premier League?
There were enquiries, from foreign clubs also but there was nothing concrete. I’m now in an agency that represents many footballers from Premier League too. I’m still in touch with my former agent and when I need something in Poland he helps me but it’s better to have an English agent when playing in England.
How do you rate your chances of staying in Nottingham? 60 percent? 80?
Well, 80%. I’m under contract so they won’t want to release me. Everything has its’ negatives and positives. Even now and here I could list all the advantages and disadvantages of staying or going. I’ve been here for five years now, everybody knows me and at a new club I’d have to learn everything from the beginning. On the other hand, maybe it would give me a fresh start?
That’s why I asked – aren’t you little tired of Championship or Forest?
No, I’m not because I believe Championship to be a lot better league than Polish Ekstraklasa [the highest league level in Poland]. Crystal Palace got promoted and stayed up, we were able to beat Hull, but Cardiff got up and immediately down. There’s no rule but I don’t think I could get fed up with this league. I’m still motivated though it’s the first club at which I’m playing for so long. I have a contract until June 2016. So it’s two years more but the changes are unavoidable. We have six midfielders in the team and they all played more or less in the same amount of matches. The only player to play at the highest level all season was Andy Reid and maybe if he didn’t get injured at the end of season we would get promoted? 10 goals, 10 assists. Double-double as in basketball.
And what’s your position in the Championship after all those years?
I’ve spent so much time here that I’m rather well known now. I asked the guys, they told me that coaches consider both good and bad sides when analysing a player. The most used criteria when defining a player’s place in the league are wages – which makes it not so bad (laughs). Maybe I’m not being remembered by everyone but I do get recognised by people in places other than Nottingham.
You’re apparently a popular person in Nottingham.
But will they remember me for long? I don’t know. Everybody’s replaceable. You can play good matches, score against the fiercest rival but then comes another player and does the same thing and people forget you immediately. Of course, I’m not talking about top legends like Stan Collymore though even players like him won’t be remembered by everybody.
Did you considered going to another country?
I did. I got an offer from USA but is it a good direction? I was interviewed recently by a radio station from Orlando and they apparently have some big names playing there but it’s not really a big league. I've heard from a guy who played there that it’s good only for a year, a year and a half, to see something new. Kris Boyd who was with us for a moment went to MLS, came back fast and plays now for Kilmarnock. People are curious about living in the States but is it a good option for longer? Anyway, there hasn’t been any concrete talk, but maybe I don’t know everything and something is going on still? That would be a normal thing in a transfer window. But it never was like somebody called and said “here you are, three years contract and a wage of … Euros”. Well, it was, once, but it was from Greece, so, you know… But in Poland there’s a crisis too.
But it’s a different world. You know, I’d like to get a taste of some stronger league. When we were playing Premier League teams in pre-season games it didn’t feel [like in Championship] that you’d immediately get someone kick you in the back. Calmness and order.
And who impressed you the most?
Wasilewski! No, wait, let me think. I have problem with names. Who were we playing? QPR who got relegated from Premier League. And I’m positively jealous about Wasyl. In England they can appreciate such a healthy brute with such combative traits like him. Fight, gets up, gets forward, scores with his head. They’ve decided to sign a new contract with him – while there were another eight players with contracts running out. Premier League… Yes, that would be f***ing great.
Have you heard that three out of five Premier League players are broke in a few years after their playing career is over? Are you as a person who is in it shocked by this statistics?
The main difference between Premier League and Championship players you can see by comparing their houses because at this level everybody has a car they want. Well, I’m not talking Ferrari or Lamborghini because they are for those earning the most. What’s my opinion? I try to achieve financial security during my career already, I watch the markets and invest, because I’ve never really wondered what I’d be doing once my playing days are over. I also don’t know where I’ll be living then. I have many friends in England now, I’ve changed houses for the third time, I know many people from Nottingham…. I’m there practically all the time and I’m at peace there – and here [in Poland] I’ve been just for three weeks and still haven’t managed to go to vacations and I’m constantly running somewhere. I’ll work myself into the ground here, it’s worse than the training at the club (laughs). I’m joking, of course, it’s just such time. If I want to secure the future of my family it’s the perfect moment.
Are you investing only in Poland?
For now, yes, but I’m starting to think about investing in England. When I’ll buy my first property there it will be easier. I was making enquiries, tried to begin but the first step is the hardest. And after football? I’d like to work as TV pundit but I’d have to repair my nose first because I have a hump like an Armenian (laughs). I already asked about that, but, man, it takes so much time… I’d have to play in a mask.
Ever had your nose broken?
I was hit in the face so many times I don’t even remember them all! (laughs) I think it’s been broken. But I like this TV stuff. I already did that once and people were asking me later “what were you talking about there, man?!” but I guess it was in a jest. I had some offers from other TV stations. It’s nice when you have a way with words. But it’s all a distant future, never really considered it seriously yet. When it comes to investment I’d like to follow the tracks of Cezary Kucharski [former Polish player, now football agent and a deputy to Polish Parliament] who has millions of apartments and he rents them all. I don’t want to find myself in the situation of many players who earn ten thousand for their entire career and suddenly realise they’re left with two thousand and start to wonder where the rest is gone. So far I haven’t been investing silly and wasn’t desperately trying to find some markets for me. Slowly, step by step I’m achieving my goal. Common sense is the essence, what will come next – we’ll see. Maybe I’ll be herding sheep somewhere on the meadow in Greece? (laughs). So far everything’s OK. I have peace and quiet and people don’t talk about me much, because what would it matter? Tell me – would it change my situation?
klinsi
Geoff Thomas
Marcin Gortat [Polish NBA player] once said that it’s important how people talk about the sportsman – it’s important that they do at all.
Let’s not compare this to NBA…
[some talk to connect previous question to a national team matter]
What is your contact with Nawałka [Polish national team manager]?
None. Zero. But we’ve already talked here about my contribution the season just gone. If I’d been scoring I wouldn’t need any interviews because people would talk about it anyway. Besides, you know how people treat the Championship. Brutes, lumberjacks, league and money. It’s not like that. It’s hard however to expect Nawałka to reach for me now. To take something out you need to put something in first. But wait, you started to count something like ‘second degree assists’ in Poland lately, yes?
Yes, that’s true.
Oh, so I have many of those! But, serious clubs don’t take such statistics as seriously as the match itself. Because what can I do when we’re playing Brighton, I create a lot of chances and Kuszczak defends more than he should? (laughs).
Let’s not compare this to NBA…
[some talk to connect previous question to a national team matter]
What is your contact with Nawałka [Polish national team manager]?
None. Zero. But we’ve already talked here about my contribution the season just gone. If I’d been scoring I wouldn’t need any interviews because people would talk about it anyway. Besides, you know how people treat the Championship. Brutes, lumberjacks, league and money. It’s not like that. It’s hard however to expect Nawałka to reach for me now. To take something out you need to put something in first. But wait, you started to count something like ‘second degree assists’ in Poland lately, yes?
Yes, that’s true.
Oh, so I have many of those! But, serious clubs don’t take such statistics as seriously as the match itself. Because what can I do when we’re playing Brighton, I create a lot of chances and Kuszczak defends more than he should? (laughs).
S
Samuel
Guest
Some shithead in Preston?
Probably the same guy whose telling the forum I wear pink football shirts!
Probably the same guy whose telling the forum I wear pink football shirts!
Psycho's Dragon
Jack Armstrong
Thanks for that Klinsi
No Raddy nobody cares about your second degree assists sadly! You will be judged as you said on your goals and assists.
No Raddy nobody cares about your second degree assists sadly! You will be judged as you said on your goals and assists.
Great work lads - a very illuminating interview.
Kjetil Osvold's Cat
Kingsley Black
Not sure the psychologist should be telling him that shooting instead of passing is best in every situation (maybe I mis-interpreted that bit)! I guess it was a "be positive, not cautious" instruction but hopefully he's not been hypnototised into ignoring team-mates and shooting randomly from anywhere near the box!
Let's hope so because his shots to goal ratio is pretty sub-standard.
Kjetil Osvold's Cat
Kingsley Black
Yeah, that's what I mean though. Shooting randomly will only make his percentage worse. He should tell him to pick out a visionary pass or make sure he finds the net! I hope he's not praising him for having 8 random shots per game.
Nice story about being looked after by the chap though when his car broke down.
casual_dave
First Team Squad
Great read. No excuses about his performances last year. I hope SP sorts him out. Raddy ok song will be brilliant for us
incapable hulk
Best served cold
Raddy are you okay
Are you okay
Are you okay Raddy
You've been hit by
Youve been struck
Another hendo punch
Are you okay
Are you okay Raddy
You've been hit by
Youve been struck
Another hendo punch
Alf-engelos Mindminackers
The Artiste formally known as "Wanksy"
Top work, great read.
Really hope he comes back this year and plays to his full potential. Interesting to hear about all his personal problems after being told he was playing poorly due to awful motivation.
Really hope he comes back this year and plays to his full potential. Interesting to hear about all his personal problems after being told he was playing poorly due to awful motivation.
Malcolm.Star
First Team Squad
I hope he gets back to his best this season. I really rate him and he comes across as a real good guy.
Kelvin's Local
Jack Armstrong
How many chances does one guy get? He's done nothing for two seasons now.
Cortez the Killer
Impressive member
We've cut loose enough deadwood - Tudgay, Miller, Derbyshire, Jara, Greening, Gillet, Moussi, etc.
I'd happily keep Raddy and Djabbour to give them a little longer. Raddy especially has been a decent lad. I hope Pearce can encourage them both to flourish.
I'd happily keep Raddy and Djabbour to give them a little longer. Raddy especially has been a decent lad. I hope Pearce can encourage them both to flourish.
Kelvin's Local
Jack Armstrong
It's not a case of keeping Djebbour, it's a case of actually signing him. It would be a ludicrous decision.