Ben Herd / Ben Herd / 22 September 2009 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

After what is likely to be Ben's last match missed through injury, he caught up with Crewe Alexander's Joel Grant to talk to him about playing in La Liga, improving his consistency and the next superstar off the Crewe production line.

"I feel that the Spanish game is more suited to my purist style of play. The English game is too frenetic and although it is getting better, too many teams still play the long ball game. Also I don't think that there is enough protection from officials in this country which makes it easier for defenders to smash forwards all over the place."

I was sidelined for this week's away game at Crewe but hopefully this will be for the last time. My injury is coming on really well and touch wood, there hasn't been any bad reaction. In recent weeks I have stated that we have come away from games without the much deserved three points. On this occasion, it was probably fair to say we rode our luck and Crewe can count themselves unlucky not to come away with something from the game. Nonetheless it gave me a chance to have a word with a former Aldershot Town favourite, Joel Grant. Joel is a record sale from Aldershot with Crewe paying £130k for his services and has more recently been described by his team mate, Steven Schumacher, as having the best technical ability he has ever seen. That's a big statement considering Schumacher started his career off at Everton and played alongside a particular Wayne Rooney!

What did you think of today's game?

We should have won the game comfortably, as a team we are massively disappointed not to have turned our domination into more goals. We should have been at least 3-0 up at half-time and I am guilty of missing a decent chance myself. I think if we had scored another in the first half then we wouldn't have been snatching at chances in the second half. In fairness to Aldershot they played much better in the second half and really tightened up defensively which denied us space, but ultimately we should have won the game.

How has Gudjon Thordson put his mark on the club?

I have to say that I really like the manager's approach, he came into the club and immediately laid down what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. He is probably a little stricter than what I have had before but he does get his point across very clearly. Another good attribute of the manager is that he knows when to be relaxed around the players and when to have a bit of a shout. We have probably changed our style of play a bit under him and maybe we are a little more direct now. Beforehand we were playing pretty football, we weren't winning games and ultimately got relegated. We are in League Two now so we have to start playing a winning brand of football.

Which coach/manager has had the biggest influence on your career so far?

Gary Waddock and Gudjon Thordson. Gary saved my career; after I had been released from Watford he gave me the chance to play. Not only did he give me an opportunity, he allowed me to express myself, to let me just go out and play. He encouraged me to do what I am good at and just gave me a free role to play which benefitted me. Gudjon is for different reasons, he has made me focus on my weaknesses, like working harder. He has also altered my mindset, in essence he is trying to make me a more rounded player. Gudjon is also making me a more of a consistent player, instead of being 9/10 one week then 4/10 the next he wants me to be 7 or 8 out of ten every week.

Realistically where do you want to be in 3 years time?

Playing either in the Premier League or La Liga in Spain. I would like to get to the Premier League first then play in Spain. I feel that the Spanish game is more suited to my purist style of play. The English game is too frenetic and although it is getting better, too many teams still play the long ball game. Also I don't think that there is enough protection from officials in this country which makes it easier for defenders to smash forwards all over the place. I watched a La Liga game recently, Real Madrid were hammering this team but Madrid's opponents never resorted to kicking them off the park or hoofing the ball forward which is what happens in the Premier League most weeks.

Crewe is renowned for producing good players. Is there any coming through that are worth keeping an eye on?

There are two in my opinion, James Bailey and Ashley Westwood. Bailey is a midfielder out of the Frank Lampard mould. He has great technique and is an all-round midfielder. I nicknamed Ashley Westwood, Dani Alves, because he is a right-back and is full of running and loves going forward. The manager is playing him in midfield at the minute and he is playing well in there. Like most players Crewe produce, Ashley has good technique and is composed on the ball.


Football

Favourite Premier League Player? Emmanuel Adebayor
Favourite player outside the Premier League? Lionel Messi
Manager you'd most like to work under? Arsene Wenger
Club you'd most like to play for? Barcelona

Best mate at the club? Clayton Donaldson
Messiest eater? Patrick Ada
Biggest ladies man? Anthony Elding
Who's best at putting away the pints? Steven Schumacher

Non-football

Dream date? Beyonce
Favourite TV programme? BET, music channel
Favourite shop? Westfields shopping centre
Worst vice? Don't have any
Biggest pet hate? Girls having bad hair

50/50

Meat or fish? Meat
Wine or beer? Wine
Blondes or brunettes? Brunettes
"Friends" or "The Office"? Friends
PS3 or newspaper? PS3
Frank Sinatra or Fifty Cent? Fifty Cent

Tags: Ben Herd, Crewe Alexander, footballers interviews, Joel Grant