Classic11 Football Blog

Hi guys its me again, James Lupton, and I’m back with another interview this time with the former Chelsea man Dave Lee. He was kind enough to take the time to take part in my interview. Its a must read for all Chelsea fans.


Firstly I would like to hear your opinion on gay footballers, would they be treated like 70s style racism or will players be respected for coming out?

DL: My opinion on gay footballers is the same as gay people , entirely up to them what they do in there life , I think players would be respected for coming out.

Second question for you Dave is this, is football now becoming more of a business and less of a sport filled with passion for the game?

DL: Football is now a industry with all these massive fees. Owners are billionaires so money is no object to them.

The greatest footballing debate, who is the best player to ever grace the pitch?

DL: Greatest player ever In my opinion was the Brazilian Ronaldo as he's more my era and I saw him play live.

Wow, no Pele or Maradona! But see what your saying, one of the finest finishers ever! A proper striker!

On a personal note who was your footballing hero growing up?

DL: Ok so footballing hero Glenn Hoddle. Was privileged to play with and against and be managed by Glenn Hoddle. A sublime talent. 

Fantastic player Dave! One of my idols to!

And finally my personal favourite question, who would make your best ever eleven?

DL: Neville Southall, Cafu, John Terry, Bobby Moore, Paulo Maldini,  Graeme Souness, Glenn Hoddle, Gazza, , Ronaldo, Pele, Diego Maradona   Subs: Gianfranco Zola, Leo Messi , Franz Beckenbaur, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo. My manager would be Cloghie! 

What a team that is! Even named me a subs bench to! That is a frightening team, Thank you very much Mr Dave Lee. 

And as always a massive thank you to you the reader, it is a pleasure to write for you all, feel free to follow me and my progress and all my blogs on twitter @lupto_blogger

Hi guys its me again, James Lupton. I'm back with another interview this time with the Liverpool legend that is Jamie Carragher, he was kind enough to take the time to take part in my interview. Its a must read for all football fans, some of you may have already seen a sneak peak at one of Jamie's answers as the sport bible featured it.

Hi Jamie,

1. What is your opinion on gay footballers, would they be abused or will players be respected for coming out?

JC: Erm it could be a bit of both, stick from a section on the terraces but think the dressing room would be fine in the main.

2. What is your thoughts on the massive transfer fees these days, is football becoming a business more than a sport?

JC: It is a business and it has been like that for a long time and fees will continue to rise as the next TV deals will be bigger again.

3. Very valid point! I would also like to know who was your footballing hero growing up?

JC: Well I was an Everton fan as a kid and that player would change on a weekly basis!

4. Never realised you were a Everton fan Jamie! Next question I have for you is the greatest football debate ever, who is the greatest ever player?

JC: PÈLE as he's my mate after seeing him at the World Cup!!

5. What a player he was! Now then Carra, who would make it into your best team ever and who would manage that team?

JC: .Neuer, Cafu, Baresi, Desailly, Maldini: Xavi, Matthaus, Zidane: Messi, Van Basten, Maradona. Players from whom I've seen. But at the moment the best player in the world is Cristiano Ronaldo and the best manager in the world at the moment is Jose Mourinho.

Wow what a fantastic team of players there! Great picks, now that wraps up the interview Jamie I cant thank you enough for taking the time to do this for me.

JC: No problem James.

And as always a massive thank you to you the reader, it is a pleasure to write for you all, feel free to follow me and my progress and all my blogs on twitter @lupto_blogger

Our new resident football writer, James Lupton met up with ex Sheffield United and England U21 midfielder, Curtis Woodhouse to find pick his brains on a host of footballing issues, including his all-time footballer. Here's what he had to say.

Hi Curtis,

Firstly thank you for your time and partaking in this short interview. My first question for you is;

What’s your thoughts on gay footballers, would they be abused or respected for coming out?

CW: abused by opposition fans, team mates wouldn’t care less, I had a gay team mate, nobody cared, he’s still not come out for fear.

Very interesting to hear that players are out to team mates but not the public! Second question for you Curtis is;

2) What’s your thoughts on the massive transfer fees these days, is football becoming a business more than a sport?

CW: Crazy, money has taken the game away from the people, it’s a business and a very big business at that.

Agreed! It’s a shame, in years to come it could ruin the beautiful game we all fell in love with! The third of five questions is as follows Curtis;

3) Who was your footballing hero whilst growing up?

CW: John Barnes!

Nice choice! But now for the greatest football debate, who is the greatest player ever?

CW: DIEGO MARADONA!

Maradona a true footballing legend, lets try to put aside the hand of god…. And finally Curtis who would be your ultimate team?

CW: In goal I would have Alan Kelly, centre back pairing would have to be Tony Adams and Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole at left back and my right back would be Vassilios Borbokis. In midfield I would pick Paul Gascoigne and Bryan Robson in centre midfield with my hero John Barnes on the left wing and David Beckham on the right wing. My two strikers would be Brian Deane and Tony Agana.

Lovely mix of England legends and Sheffield Uniteds finest there Curtis! But who would be the ultimate manager to boss this team, Fergie? Jose? Pep?

CW: Only one manager for me, Brian Clough.

That’s an excellent managerial choice! That concludes this short interview, once again thank you Curtis for your time.

CW: My pleasure pal.

You can follow James Lupton on Twitter: @lupto_blogger

I am male, age 30. from Croatia.I really could say that I eat,sleep and breathe football.
Not a single day passes in my life that I don't do something very related to the most beautiful sport in the history of the world.
Juggling in my backyard,watching some highlights of epic matches in the past, or while having dinner I cought myself thinking of some great starting eleven of some club in Europe .
When I was a kid I was great at playing mostly  futsal, or playing on concrete playgrounds as we had them alot in Croatia.
I loved the most in football the creativity, dribbling under pressure and I find it fascinating that every game or every training discoveres something new.
Some new move you can use.Some new trick that you can show.
I love it all.The pressure, the sweat, dirty and blooded knees.
The sound of the ball, the sound when it touches the net.
Or even the crossbar while you shoot it hard. :)
I love it when I m playing while it rains, when it s sun and warm, even when it is snow.
When I was 14-15 years old I was going on the field running laps, shooting the crossbar as much as I can and things like that.
Football all day all night, dreaming of football. So I can say it is really my passion.
Although I never become a football player the passion never left me.
Even now at this age the fire in me is the same.
So... :)
I wanted to write down my football XI of players I have watched live or on TV that I adore and find very special to me.
Some are world wide recognized, while some maybe are not.But they are special to me.
I will try to explaine why are they on the list. It is 4-4-2.
Here it is:
Goalkeeper: Angelo Peruzzi
Juventus was with AC Milan maybe the greatest team in the 90s era and this goalie was really good.
And a big reason why Juve made those great results is Angelo.
As Juve was playing three consecutive CL finals I find that Juve one of the greatest teams ever.
Central defender "1 : Slaven Bilić
Croatian legendary defender is the best example of a hard working player, playing with a lot of heart but still with very intelligent thinking.
He was strong, he could score, he would "die" on the pitch for his team.First foreign captain in Bundesliga while in Karlsruhe playing with Hassler and Kahn.
One of the best paid defenders in EPL while signing for Everton.
Central defender "2 :  Paolo Maldini
We all know him.One of the greatest defenders in the history.Great tehnique for a defender,tall, strong.
Smart.Played and won many mayor trophies with  and Milan.
Left defender : Robert Jarni
Juventus ,Real Madrid although in Betis he played maybe his best football.
A dream player for that position.He could repeteadly run up and down and his assists were amazing, aggresive at defending.
Croatia never found his replacement as he left.And he was a key player for Croatia in Euro 96 and WC 98.
Right defender:  Cafu
As for Maldini we all know him, some say he is maybe one of the best in the history of football in that position.
Left wing : Milan Rapajic
By talent he could play for any big club in the world.Although he didn t.
But jusk ask any fan of Hajduk Split,Perugia,Fenerbahce and others what kind of player he was.
His left foot is always half a goal. :)
Defensive midfielder : Edgar Davids
Can you imagine a skilled player with great defensive abillities better than him ?
I really can t.Not because of the glasses. :) Pure legend.
Central midfielder: Robert Prosinecki
Ok now, I have some names that I could write here, but..
A player that can not lose a ball, with perfect view where his players are on the field , and he could assist them anytime.That is Prosinecki. And he can do some stuff you simpy can t believe it is possible.That s Prosinecki.
Played for Real and Barca but a CL winner with Red Star Belgrade when he was about 20 years old.
Btw ask Pompey (Portsmouth) fans ;)
Rigt wing : Luis Figo
Skilled 5 stars and he could do anything.Enjoy to watch him it was.
Striker "1 : Gabriel Batistuta
Batigol. You know we all love a forward when he doesn t complicate too much and just score.
That is Batistuta, and he ll score all right.A bomb. :)
Striker "2 : Dennis Bergkamp
 They say the striker duo have to be combined of a two different kind of player.
So the other should assist, hold the ball and be creative.
Magic Dennis.

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