issue 8 SAN MARINO V IRELAND, Wed Feb 7, 2007

YBIG: What differences have you noticed between the Scottish Premier and league One?
ANTHONY: I’ve only played one game so it’s hard to say. The conditions were very hard but atthe moment I really Couldn't say, I’d have to play a few more games before I have a good idea what it’s like.

YBIG: Your best manager to date?
ANTHONY: I’d go for Roy at the moment, definitely because of the influence he has over all the players.It’s quality playing for him and I’ve enjoyed it so far.

YBIG: Toughest player at Sunderland?
ANTHONY: I’d have to go for Stan Varga or whatever his name is! He is just an absolute power house, that fella. I’d go for him as the hardest man cause I wouldn’t say a bad word about him.

YBIG: Best advice ever received.
ANTHONY: Probably off my dad when I was younger, just to keep at it and keep practising and I think that has helped my career.

YBIG: Biggest influence?
ANTHONY: My dad and my old manager John Bolger (Cherry Orchard and Shels)

YBIG: You turned down more money from Charlton to join Sunderland. Do you think there is too much money in the modern game?
ANTHONY: I don’t think so. We are well paid and all, but it’s not as easy as people think it is. Maybe it is to an extent but nobody would turn it down would they? That’s the way it is. We’re just lucky. Money is not everything to me, I could of got more money from one or two other clubs but I am happy here and happy with the decision I made.

YBIG: How important i s it for a young player like you to keep a level head?
ANTHONY: Definitely ye. It’s the same at any time in your career. I know everyone says when you are younger you need to be level headed but that’s a bit stupid, you have to be like that for your whole career don’t you.

YBIG: What would you say to the people who say that international footballers don’t have the same passion nowadays?
ANTHONY: Well I wouldn’t agree with it personally. The main thing I want to do in my career is play for Ireland on a regular basis and cement a place in the first team. Obviously club football is very important but there is nothing better than playing for your country.

YBIG: Are you excited about the prospect of playing in Croke Park?
ANTHONY: I play in front of 50,00 here but it would be great to play in Croke Park in Ireland in front of 80,000 people. I’m looking forward to it if it happens.

YBIG: Are you confident about getting the chance?
ANTHONY: I would be confident if I did get the chance. Obviously it is up to Staunton now and hopefully I can just keep playing my own football and let other people make those decisions. 

YBIG: Roy Keane?
ANTHONY :Straightforward and honest. They are the main things I noticed. He is not one of those managers who will tip-toe around you. If he has something to say he will say it. He might f and blind you. He tells you what he wants you to do and what he wants to get across and after that it’s forgotten about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YBIG: He says he has mellowed out as a manager compared to his playing days, do you think that has happened?
ANTHONY: To an extent ye. When he trains and that, he is still as passionate as ever and as a manager he is very passionate. obviously he has had to a bit. He wouldn’t get away with two footing someone on the sideline I don’t think!

YBIG: Can you think of any other young players who might make a breakthrough for Ireland soon?
ANTHONY: There is a lot of good players who are friends of mine. Players like Keith Treacy of Blackburn. Simon Madden as well. I’m good mates with them.

YBIG: Best fans you have experienced to date?
ANTHONY: I have to say the best fans I have seen and this may sound biased cause I’m with Sunderland now but when I played for Arsenal and I came on for Arsenal against Sunderland in the Stadium of Light. We were thumping them 3-0 and the fans were going on as if they were winning 3-0. It was mad.

YBIG: Can you sense an Irish atmosphere in the club?
ANTHONY: There is an awful lot of Irish players there and an Irish manager, an Irish chairman so definitely ye and it has made it easier to settle in as well.

YBIG: If there was any other club in the world you could play for?
ANTHONY: I’d love to play for Celtic at some stage of my career. Other clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona. Being
 realistic, I would like to play for Celtic before the end of my career.

YBIG: What was it like to score against them in the CIS Cup last year?
ANTHONY: It was great but I missed a peno that night! But still we went on to win. It was the only time I wanted to see them beaten but I enjoyed it.

YBIG: Longest in the shower.
ANTHONY: Longest in the shower, myself probably been honest with you!

YBIG: Favourite from Girls Aloud?
ANTHONY: I’d go with Cheryl Tweedy.

YBIG: Worst dress sense at Sunderland?
ANTHONY: B i l l y Dennehy. He is brutal, he’s a good lad though.

YBIG: Best player in the world?
ANTHONY : Ronaldhino

YBIG: What other sports are you interested in.
ANTHONY: Gaelic. I played gaelic right up through the years, right up till I moved away with Templeogue. Rugby as well. I love rugby and played that in school. They are the main two.

YBIG: Hobbies?
ANTHONY: Just relaxing, watching TV and taking it easy. A bit of shopping here and there.

YBIG: What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t a footballer.
ANTHONY: On the dole! Ah I don’t know probably in college doing something. Been honest with you I don’t really know. I would be struggling let’s put it that way!

YBIG: Most memorable moment on the pitch?
ANTHONY: Scoring against Celtic in Parkhead.

YBIG: And the worst moment?
ANTHONY: Missing the penalty in Parkhead.

YBIG: Biggest joker?
ANTHONY: Robert Bailey, Boca. A fella I used to play with. He’s an absolute lunatic. He’s with Leeds now and is one of my best mates in football. I played with him at Cherry Orchard for years. He is mad, just things like pouring loads of milk in the bath when you were in it, minging.

YBIG: Best centre- half you have played against?
ANTHONY: Probably Kolo Toure in training. He is unreal.

YBIG: Favourite Ireland memory as a supporter?
ANTHONY: One of the Ireland matches I remember really well, and I know it was only a few years ago when we drew with Germany 1-1 (World Cup) cause I remember watching it and it was right in the last few minutes when they scored. I was down in Barcode (north Dublin bar, 14 years old??) watching it and the place erupted. I know we only drew but that’s one match I really remember, and there was thousands in the place. It was mad because they scored and then the music came on for about half and hour afterwards.

YBIG: Best ever Ireland player?
ANTHONY: I’ll go with the Bradster. It’s hard to judge cause if you put Brady in now he would be an average player but in his time he was unbelievable. Football has come on an awful lot now but back then he was just unreal.

YBIG: You have the number 9 shirt and a sizeable price tag on your head. Is there much pressure on you?
ANTHONY: I don’t really let it get to me. I just go out and take each game as it comes and that way there is no pressure on me. I don’t worry about people expecting me to score, just every game go out and try and scoreand take it from there. 

YBIG: Main football ambitions?
ANTHONY: To play for Ireland and try and get a regular place, that’s my main aim in football.

YBIG: Films
ANTHONY: All gangster films, Goodfellas. The Shawshank Redemption, Braveheart and Michael Collins.