Posted by Joe Kon - 08/05/2008
Q. Hey richard...whats your normal warm up routine? what do you do to get ready? any advice for warmups when you dont have much time?
Thanks, from a yank fan of yours.
A. My normal routine would be a good jog with plenty of different movement: side steps, high knees, heels to bum etc., a good stretch followed by passing and clipping the ball 30-40yrds.
Then I run through a few drills I may have to use in a game. So volleys to chest x 8, half-volleys to chest x 8, drilled half-volley to feet for pick-up x 4, dipping volley boucing just in front of me x 4, strikes off the floor from edge of box x 12.
I may also throw in a set of low dives each side and mid dives each side depending on how energetic I felt! I'd then go into crossing from either side and some longer kicking including half-volleys and side-volleys (which i still haven't quite mastered but i will soon!)
My biggest advice when it comes to warming up though is that it really is an individual thing, you need to do whatever you need to do to make you feel confident to play a game.
The example i'd often use is Ben Foster. He could quite happily just strike balls for 30mins in a warm up, step into a game and play the game of his life. So it really is an individual thing. If you don't have much time then choose the drills you think you need to do - you don't have to do many but enough to feel confident.
By the way am impressed to get an e-mail from the States! Great stuff!
Posted by Dan Kitchen - 07/05/2008
Q. Hey rich i was watching the keeper dvd and i noticed you were in it that must have been fun being in that dvd what was it like?
A. Yeah it was a lot of fun. I thought it was a great idea to put some of the drills we do onto DVD as I know as a kid i'd have loved that and been able to learn a lot.
It was also nice to meet a few other keepers that I wouldn't normally train with. Hope the DVD has been of help to you.
Posted by Grant - 06/05/2008
Q. How long have you been playing football and what is the best part of playing?
A. I've been playing since I was about three years old, joined a team when i was six (as a left-winger!) then joined Watford at the age of 10.
I get great enjoyment out of putting into games what i do in practice, so making a great save gives me a big buzz. But i'd have to say the best part is of course winning...we all love to win!
Posted by Gavin S - 04/05/2008
Q. Hi Richard. Can you give me any tips on how to improve my keeping? Thanks.
A. I could speak for hours on this subject and I've mentioned quite a few things in my Discussion Point this week.
My main advice would be quite simple: work harder than anyone else and enjoy what you are doing. By following that you won't go far wrong!
Posted by Gavin - 04/05/2008
Q. Hi Richard. I was just wondering, when you were younger how did you get your trials for watford?
A. I was very young when I joined Watford and for me it was a case of a Watford scout coming to one of my Sunday League games. As it turned out we won the game 10-0 and I didn't touch the ball! So my Sunday League manager at the time recommended me for a trial and it began from there.
As a kid, if you are looking for a trial at a club my advice would be to write to them, explain your situation and your desire to play football. As far as I know clubs have to respond and most will give kids a trial of some sort or maybe get a scout to come watch a game.
The last thing any club would want would be to miss out on talent that could be worth a lot in the future.
Posted by Sam Wallis - 04/05/2008
Q. Hey Richard. Congratulations on getting into the play-offs. I'd like to ask a couple of questions. Firstly was wondering out of the three other teams in the play-offs who would you have rather of played? And secondly who you voted for in the players player of the year?
A. Thanks. Regarding the play-offs I don't think any of us really had a preference - maybe Palace, only as it's a bit closer than Hull! No to be honest I think years gone by have shown that anyone can win it so we have to be prepared to beat anyone. I think being drawn against Hull will mean that we will now be considered by many as underdogs which could work in our favour.
As for player of the season I'm not sure whether I'm allowed to divulge who I voted for! Ok I guess i'm allowed... I voted for Tom, i think he's been most consistent this season in my opinion.
Posted by danny ion - 03/05/2008
Q. Obviously Richard. i think you're a great goalkeeper, a credit to watford! First off I wanted to ask you, how did you and the lads feel about losing to scunthorpe and palace, it was very disappointing from my perspective! And secondly, if we do go up, how do you think the we will cope in the Premiership, now we have had the experience in there?
A. Thanks. Obviously it has been a tough few weeks for players and fans alike, no one likes losing and when you are as competitive as the lads that we have then the mood can be felt around the club.
But the great thing about football is that there's usually another game around the corner where you can put things right and thankfully we were able to do that against Blackpool.
If we do make it then I think the experience we've already gained will benefit us a lot; we made mistakes last time round that we will have learned from and the extra revenue that we would get will again help boost the club even further.
Posted by samuel tulett - 30/04/2008
Q. Hi Richard. I was just wondering, as it's coming up to the summer transfer window, how will Aidy try to attract new players to the club? What sort of things do you look for when you go to a club for an 'interview'? And on a totally different point, when you're the goalkeeper for a penalty, when the crowd trys to put off the striker, does it actually put you off as well? Id just like to say congratulations for what i think has been a great season for you!
A. Thanks. I'm not too aware of Aidy's methods of attracting players, hopefully being a top Championship club (and maybe a Premiership one soon) is a big enough attraction on its own.
I'm not too sure how the interview process actually works if there even is one as I've yet to experience that myself. I'm guessing that most of the time if a manager has decided he's likes a player then more often than not an interview won't make too much difference as it's the players performance on the pitch that is most important to a team.
Regarding being put off by the crowd it hasn't ever had an effect on me, I think a goalkeeper is in a no-lose situation when it comes to a penalty as the pressure is on the striker. So if a keeper can pull off a save he's a hero but if not very little is said. So keep doing whatever you can to put off the taker!
Posted by Richard Wigfield - 29/04/2008
Q. I've taken my son to watch the reserves at Boreham Wood on a couple of occasions ( and yes, I do remember the days when they played at the Vic!), and it's a completely different atmosphere. I've watched a lot of football at many levels, and I've felt more of a buzz and seen more spectators in the BGB League Div One South & West! How different is the preparation from a first team game, and how difficult is it to adapt?
A. I agree that there is a big difference between reserve football and first-team football. You'll often see players at top clubs - Man Utd, Arsenal, etc - who are playing regular reserve football leave to ply their trade in League One or Two purely for the reason that they want to play 'competitive' football.
The reserve league does serve a big purpose though. For Watford it's an essential part of a young player's development, for players in need of a game and also for players returning from injury. I've played many reserve games over the years and the preparation is exactly the same as a first team game.
Whenever i've played it's always been a case for me to prove to a manager that I'm playing well and should be playing in the first team. By having that approach it's helped me play at a good level even when there's not so much at stake.
Although the atmosphere may not be quite the same the quality of football is usually very good.
Posted by Kristian Martin - 28/04/2008
Q. Hey Richard. Even after such a poor run of form do you still think we will get into the play-offs and if we do do you think we will go up? If we don't who would be some good signings to get us up next year. I heard we could sign Carlton Cole?
A. Thanks for your question. Firstly, yes I firmly believe we will go up, we've got more than enough talent and providing we replicate some of the football we are capable of then we'll have a great chance.
In answer to your other question regarding signings, it's a tough to one to answer as we're still unsure as to where we're going to be. I'm sure the boss will be looking to strengthen the team but i'm yet to hear any rumours!