Complimentary about fans, Shearer and a view on Gullit.

Fulham's New French Import On Gullit, Shearer & Being Let Down By Thierry Henry

365 Interview by Iain Moody

When you first arrived in Newcastle, what were your first impressions of English football in comparison with what you had experienced in France? "The biggest difference was the emphasis on physical work rather than tactical preparation. Training is very different. Here, everything is more physical, there is a lot more contact both in matches and in practice sessions. The other thing that really struck me was the passion of the fans in Newcastle."

What convinced you to come to England for the first time and then return to Fulham? "The first attraction was the opportunity to work with a super coach like Ruud Gullit. The best way of developing as a player is to work with experienced people like him. Thats also the reason why I came to play for Jean Tigana at Fulham. He has so much to teach us young players."

What did you make of Gullit both as a manager and as a person, bearing in mind the problems he had during his time at St James Park? "At the beginning, I got on well with him as a manager. Tactically, he had a few problems but I arrived during the course of the season so it wasnt easy for me to adapt to his team immediately. But I think that I fitted alright and things went quite well for me. I think his biggest problem was that the English players were not used to working so much on the tactical side of things and, because he had played in Italy, he perhaps tried to impose that on them too much."

So he had problems trying to impose the methods that he had learnt in Italy "Perhaps, yes. I think that is what caused most of his problems on the coaching side of things."

As an attacker, you played alongside Alan Shearer during your time with Newcastle. What did you make of him as a team-mate, bearing in mind that he often comes across as selfish both on and off the pitch? "Personally, I never felt that. He struck me as a serious person, but he was very professional. It was up to me to adapt to playing with him - he is an experienced professional and I was just a young kid up there. He tried to give me advice and I found what he had to say very interesting. On the pitch he was always there to help me and advise me where I should be making runs. For me it was very good because playing with someone like him can only be a positive experience."

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2000

Answers

"...bearing in mind that he often comes across as selfish both on and off the pitch?"

How about a bit of Shearer-bashing gossip, Louis? No rush...no pressure...be open minded about it...

F***ing 365 bastards

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

....at least he didn't bite to it Bobby.

I thought his answer was pretty measured.

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000