OMH spoke to Matt ‘Charlie’ Rogers after training this week asking him how he feels the season has gone, how we can improve in the second half. Matt also talks about his favourite goal, and who should take our penalties now that Mozzer has missed two.
OMH: Hello Charlie.
MR: Hello Wheels, how are you doing?
OMH: How are you feeling after training, not bad, not bad we did a bit more running this week under Mr Clarke.
OMH: How do you feel it went?
MR: Training?
OMH: Yeah.
MR: It was a really good workout actually we need to do a bit more running I think because we aren’t finishing games.
OMH: How do you feel your season going? Your first season back full time after university.
MR: Alright, I’m enjoying but the results obviously disappointing coz we’re just not getting enough wins really, its only one league win isn’t it?
OMH: How do you feel you’re playing?
MR: Peaks and troughs mate, Peaks and troughs, Just not consistent enough really.
OMH: Okay, you’ve been switched from up front to midfield on a few occasions this year, where would you prefer to play?
MR: As I was saying to you earlier, I felt a bit like passenger sometimes up front, its been difficult getting a good link between midfield and attack, I’ve enjoyed dropping back really.
OMH: You’ve reminded me a bit like another ‘Ginger Magician’ Paul Scholes the way you’ve been playing this season.
MR: Yeah you know, we are on the phone all the time me and him, he’s been giving me a few tips.
OMH: So where do you think our season’s going? Do you think we need to start winning some games sooner rather than later to stay up?
MR: Definitely, I haven’t seen the league at the moment but it can’t look to pretty.
OMH: We’re second bottom.
MR: That’s not the best is it, just need to get some points really.
OMH: Do you feel we’ve been unlucky in some games?
MR: Yeah we’ve been playing well, but we just keep giving away cheap possession. Playing well for about five minutes then playing S&%t for ten.
OMH: Dave Morren’s penalty last weekend, how was that?
MR: It was quite impressive that such a little man can get the ball up so high. (pauses for a couple of seconds). Yeah it was bloody awful wasn’t it? Absolutely atrocious.
OMH: Okay mate, enough said there what is your favourite Headstone Rangers Goal?
MR: (Thinks long and hard before answering) Probably my first one n my debut in that lovely old away kit.
OMH: The red t-shirts.
Interview is interrupted by Duttsie singing
‘Skipper’s w@%k laa laa laa’
OMH: (Trying not to laugh) Against Lonsdale in the Middlesex Cup, a free kick.
MR: (Still laughing at Duttsie) Yeah, went in as clean as a whistle.
OMH: You started the game at right back didn’t you?
MR: Yeah.
OMH: That was the first and only time you played right back.
MR: Yeah that was the last time.
OMH: Although Dave did throw you on at left back this year.
MR: To be fair I kinda said that I had played their before, so it wasn’t really his fault, but I don’t really want to play left back, to be honest. But yeah that first goal it’s my favourite got to be.
OMH: Yeah, definitely, are you up for tour this year? Will you be making an appearance?
MR: I think so, depends what date we are going really, see if I can get off work. Well I’m well up for it, I missed last year and heard it was a good tour, well up for it.
OMH: Good stuff Charlie, who’s been the best player this year? You’ve played quite a few games and seen most of them.
MR: It’s got to be one of the defenders, either Jarv or 50p, I think its gotta be Paul Jarvis he’s a rock, he never puts a foot wrong, apart from giving away a penalty last week, even though it wasn’t. Jimbob has come on a long way, his shot stopping has been brilliant.
OMH: Middlesex Cup today, Linton are currently top of their league do you feel confident about getting a result.
MR: I mean we have done it before, I remember a couple of season’s back, we were given no hope and we came out on top. It’s a cup you never know what’s going to happen in a cup, we’ll give it a good go I’m sure.
OMH: What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve had at the club?
MR: Playing on tour, the second tour when I played absolutely atrocious.
OMH: Was that when you got worst player on tour?
MR: Yeah that’s the one.
OMH: But the year after you got best player on tour.
MR: Yeah that was really nice, but definitely the first tour, I was absolutely disgusted by my performance.
OMH: This is your fifth season with the club, you only missed the first one, do you really enjoy playing for the club, enjoy the atmosphere and everything?
MR: Oh yeah definitely, I love it. It’s a good crack I enjoy it every week. With the pitches we play on it’s a bit unbelievable that we can enjoy it. Yeah it’s definitely good.
OMH: What’s your aims for the rest of the season?
MR: Get some more goals, coz I feel we have been letting the team down as we haven’t been finishing very well up front but I blame Olly and Geezer for that one really (Evil Chuckle). We got to get some more goals. Just keep the morale up I think, as when we are playing well we are really up for it. But when we play crap it is difficult to get out of a rut.
OMH: Finally on Liverpool this season.
MR: Awful, bloody awful.
OMH: Would you change the manager?
MR: errr no just get rid of the likes of Diao and Traore. I think Dave Morren could do better than Traore. No wait a minute that’s just rubbish.
OMH: So where do you think you’ll finish in the league?
MR: Fourth at best, probably Fifth.
OMH: Thanks a lot Charlie. Cheers Mate
MR: Cheers Wheels, nice one. Thank you very much.