ALS INTERVIEW: CHRIS WADDLE

Former Sunderland and England player Chris Waddle spoke to A Love Supreme and told us about playing for Newcastle United as an SAFC fan, his career and his World Cup predictions. This interview was via New Betting Sites.

PLAYING FOR NEWCASTLE AS A SUNDERLAND FAN…

“Growing up, I was the youngest of three brothers and my dad was a massive Sunderland fan. I grew up with him taking me down to Roker Park on a Saturday with my brothers until I was about 14. That’s when I started playing a lot of football so I couldn’t really go to the games anymore. It’s bizarre how Newcastle signed me after Sunderland turned me down and it’s a cliche but the rest is history, I had five good years there, a good club and good supporters, I have a really good relationship and I’ve still got lots of respect for them. It was also bizarre how I ended up playing for Sunderland at the end of my career! I played seven or eight games, it went in a full circle - supporting Sunderland as a kid, going to their rivals and then ending up playing for Sunderland at 37 years of age.”

PLAYED WELL AT SAFC

“It was an amazing little time for me. I always thought Peter Reid should have signed me earlier! I was involved in all the goals and I scored a free kick at the Fulwell End, which is always a nice memory because that’s where I used to stand. It was a strange time, we got relegated at Wimbledon on the last day which was a sad day. Coventry put the kickoff time back, as normal. It was a brief spell but it was something that I always aimed for in my career. I thought the moment had passed me, but if my dad was looking down I think he would have been pleased that I did run out in that red and white shirt at Roker Park.”

PLAYING FOR MARSEILLE V PLAYING IN ENGLAND

“I don’t mind, football is football for me. I’ve always treated it like a game and always tried to play the same way. I think the difference was that Marseille’s team was just brilliant. We didn’t have a bad player, sometimes you have a weakness in a team but we didn’t. Every game we played, we dominated football matches, even if we played AC Milan or whoever else. We were always the better side, we had this air of confidence, I don’t think we were arrogant but we had confidence. If the opposition thought the best way to play was to kick us and disturb us, we had players who could handle that. If we wanted to play football, which we did 95% of the time, we could definitely play football. It was a team of international footballers so that was a great time in my life. Looking back, sometimes I don’t realise how good we were at the time. We were a top side. Arguably, the best team in Europe at that time.”

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS

“I look at it and I don’t think there’s an outstanding team. The best teams in my eyes are France and Spain, and then I’d put England in that top four or six. I don’t think South America have too much to offer, they’ve got teams who are quite exciting though. Colombia score goals, Argentina with Messi is always a danger and we know they’re quite physical and strong, Brazil I just don’t see doing anything. You used to look at a Brazil squad and think ‘wow’ but now I’m thinking it’s not really great. There will be surprise packages. I don’t know the Asian and African teams that well, will someone like Egypt do well in the hot conditions which might suit them? I think Norway are dangerous when you’ve got people like Haaland in the team, I think Japan will have a good run and I could see them getting to the quarters, they’re an underrated side. If I was putting a bet on, I’d back France or Spain and I’d probably take England each way for the semis.”