Ben Herd / Ben Herd / 23 December 2009 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet View Market

With Aldershot's match against Bradford City suffering the same fate as so many of last week's League Two matches in being called off, Ben Herd stepped up a division this week and touched base with Colchester United's Marc Tierney for a bit of Ben Banter.

"The best player that I have played against would be Robbie Fowler. I was only 17 but his movement off the ball was absolutely frightening, a real eye opener of how good top Premier League players are."

Unfortunately our game against Bradford City was called off at the weekend, due to all the snow we have been having. It was a shame because all the training last week was in preparation for the game and instead of playing on the Saturday, I found myself with about a million other people Christmas shopping - I know which one I prefer! Although the snow put paid to our game, I wasn't going to let that stop me from doing my weekly chat with a player for betting.betfair.com. This week's player is left-back Marc Tierney, flying high in League 1 this season with Aidy Boothroyd's Colchester United.

So Marc, no game this weekend but how are you enjoying life under Aidy Boothroyd?

I have to say I am enjoying it immensely, probably because he keeps picking me! In all seriousness, since he came in, he has commanded the respect of the dressing room. His attention to detail is something I have not encountered before; he has stats and DVDs of all of our opposition with in-depth analysis. On a personal front, he is a player's manager; some managers that I have had in the past only talk to the first team and banish the rest to train elsewhere, but Aidy keeps all the lads involved even when you are injured and is very approachable.

What are your targets for the season?

As a club it has to be promotion, we are currently third in the table and we are gunning for one of those automatic places. I feel we are good enough to get one, but we are going to have to work hard right up until the end of the season. From a personal point of view, I want to keep up the form I'm in and be part of something special in a promotion winning team.

You have experienced life in both League One and League Two, what do you think the difference between the two is?

Not a lot. I came into League One half way through last season, so it gave me an excellent chance to compare the two and the only thing I would say is that concentration levels are a little bit higher in League One. The standard in both the lower leagues has improved since I made my debut for Oldham seven years ago - you have to look at some of the massive clubs in League One now: Charlton, Leeds, Southampton to name but three. There isn't a massive gulf in player ability between the two leagues, but strikers in League One seem to be that little bit more clinical.

Who is the best player that you have played with and against during your career so far?

The best would be David Eyres. When I was at Oldham, he was playing left wing in front of me and was still tearing right backs apart at 40. The best player that I have played against would be Robbie Fowler. I was only 17 but his movement off the ball was absolutely frightening, a real eye opener of how good top Premier League players are.

Where would you like to be in five years time?

For my family and I to be both healthy and happy. Whether that means I am playing in the Conference or La Liga.

Finally, fans have often commented on the fact that you are a real fans player, and are often last to leave the field after applauding your own set of fans. Does it annoy you that not enough players show the same gratitude towards fans?

I nearly put it down as one of my pet hates (see below). How hard is it to walk over to your own set of fans, win, lose or draw, to show your appreciation for their support? I think a lot of players have forgotten their place when it comes to showing gratitude towards fans. Football matches aren't cheap to go to and fans sacrifice things to support their team and for that, we should show them our appreciation. Sometimes it is a brave thing to do when the team has lost and you have to face a barrage of abuse from the minority, but you can't always have it both ways!

Football

Favourite Premier League Player? Ryan Giggs
Favourite player outside the Premier League? Lionel Messi
Manager you'd most like to work under? Roy Keane
Club you'd most like to play for? Man Utd

Best mate in Football? Danny Hall
Messiest eater? Matt Heath
Biggest ladies man? Magnus Okuonghae
Worse Dressed team-mate? Scott Vernon

Non-football

Dream date? Megan Fox
Favourite TV programme? Street Cops
Favourite shop? Hugo Boss
Worst vice? Biting my nails
Biggest pet hate? People who talk about giving 110% - You can only give 100%!

50/50

Chinese or Curry? Chinese
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
Audi or BMW? BMW
Pro Evo or Fifa? Pro Evo
Michael Buble or Akon? Buble

Tags: Aidy boothroyd, Aldershot Town, Ben Herd, football bets, Marc Tierney, Robbie Fowler