Posh legend and former England goalkeeper David Seaman talks to the BBC’s Paul Stainton about today’s crunch World Cup fixture with Slovenia and about the John Terry incident and his love for the Posh. Broadcast at 08:55 on Wednesday 23rd June 2010 in the Peterborough Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Peterborough.
PAUL: We’ve got faith on this show this morning. What about former Posh legend David Seaman? Morning.
DAVID: Good morning.
PAUL: How are you?
DAVID: I’m not bad, are you?
PAUL: It’s been a long time since I shook your hand, many years ago when you came to open the Club Shop at London Road. Towering above me, you colossus you. Have you got faith, David, this morning?
DAVID: Yes. Yes.
PAUL: Why?
DAVID: No. Yes. No. I don’t know. I’m just so nervous already. We’ve got to qualify. Oh my God it’s like, I can’t believe how bad we played Friday. But this is a massive game. I don’t know. I’m like really nervous.
PAUL: These are good players David. You’ve played with most of them.
DAVID: Exactly.
PAUL: They’re not donkeys. They looked like donkeys the other night but they’re not, are they?
DAVID: No. They’re just getting really affected with the nerves and the tension.
PAUL: Why though. They’ve all played in Champions League, and they’ve played in the Premier League. they should be used to all this, shouldn’t they?
DAVID: Yeah but you’re never used to World Cup games. They’re such big games. This is like the group stages. It’s not like we’re in the semi-final or anything. Today is going to be like so hard, because if you get to the Final or the semi-final, you’ve already achieved. This is like looking failure right in the face. If we go out I dread to think what’s going to happen with the fall-out that will be over the next few days.
PAUL: A bit of ructions in the camp, John Terry and everybody else. It always happens I suppose when footballers are thrown together for two or three weeks. There’s not a lot to do, is there?
DAVID: No. That’s one of the main things, is the boredom, when you’re together like that. I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing, the fact that John was saying that and then all of a sudden Frank has to come out and cover up for him, and it was just a really weird thing for John to do. But we’ve got to put that away and just totally focus on the game this afternoon. Because it’s a massive game for us.
PAUL: How do they turn it around David? How do they pick themselves up mentally?
DAVID: I don’t know, because it’s not like we’ve got beat or anything like that. It’s just the fact that we didn’t play well at all. Even the passing, the control was terrible, the only plus side of it was defensively we seemed Ok. Obviously David was back in goal which would have been my first choice anyway. we;ve just got to try and change up front. Whether he goes with Gerrard behind Rooney, because it didn’t work the other night. You had Gareth Barry, you had Steve Gerrard, you had Frank Lampard all doing the same sort of thing.
PAUL: We want Joe Cole Dave. we want Joe Cole.
DAVID: Yes I know but if you look at the formation for the first game against America I think everybody was happy with that. Maybe a few people weren’t too happy with Heskey, but that’s because they don’t realise what he does bring to the team. He doesn’t bring the goal scoring but he’s a massive linker.
PAUL: Yes. David, if Defoe is the answer, what’s the question?
DAVID: (LAUGHS) The question is, who do you leave out? (LAUGHS)
PAUL: Joe Cole was Player of the Tournament four years ago wasn’t he? He’s had a restful season, he can link the forwards and midfield. (LOSES CONTROL) Come on Joe Cole!
DAVID: (LAUGHS) Yeah. Maybe. So who do you leave out then? Who would you leave out.
PAUL: (SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH) Who would I leave out? I’d just play Rooney up front with Gerrard in behind.
DAVID: Exactly.
PAUL: That’s what I’d do.
DAVID: I’d just put Joe on the left, and then .. but then you’ve got Lampard, Gerrard and Gareth Barry. What do you do with them? (LAUGHS) I’m asking you.
PAUL: Bang their heads together David Seaman. Where are you watching the game today Dave?
DAVID: I’m watching it at home. Yeah. I want England to get through because I want to be watching them in the Final, because I’m going to Rio, and I’ll be in Brazil for the Final promoting a Yahoo Penalty Shootout.
PAUL: Good stuff.
DAVID: So I’ll be over there and I want to see England in that Final. Because I want to brag to the Brazilians, by the way. There’s some serious bragging to be done.
PAUL: I want you on the sofa out there in South Africa. i can’t believe nobody’s picked you up.
DAVID: (LAUGHS) I don’t want to go. have you seen the weather outside? (LAUGHS)
PAUL: And just quickly on the subject of Posh, a big Posh fan, played at London Road ..
DAVID: Love them.
PAUL: Are they going to get back up next season?
DAVID: I hope so mate. I’ve got great great memories of that club and I love the club.
PAUL: Good stuff. Give us a Come On England David. (ROARS) Come On England.
DAVID: (ROARS) Come on England. (LAUGHS)
PAUL: (ROARS) Come on England. Thank you. Dave Seaman former Posh legend, England legend, live on the phone for us this morning. He believes.
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