Footy Talks with Steven Caldwell

Stevie chats with his friend and fellow footy broadcaster James Sharman about his new venture; Sharman's Proper Pies. Along with his wife Toni, James has launched Toronto's one and only subscription pie business and he talks to Stevie about his journey from the media desk to the kitchen.If you live in Toronto, please visit https://sharmansproper.ca/ and get some pies delivered right to your door!

Very few Scottish footballers can say that Kenny Dalglish personally invited them to the EPL, but that’s just what happened to Stephen Glass after a man of the match performance in the League Cup Final landed him a contract with Newcastle FC. In this episode, I sit down with ‘Glassy’ - my old friend and teammate - to talk about his own tactical influences as an elite profesional, and how as a coach he’s now passing on that insight to the next generation of North American footballers.Episode Notes: Coaching the next generation of players, and breaking down the many factors required to become a top athleteGlass recalls the commitment of coaches when he was a young player, and how that degree of personal commitment is rare in today’s game.Glass and Stevie reminisce on the influence of Kenny Dalglish - the finest footballer Scotland ever produced - and Glass breaks down Dalglish’s role in his move to Newcastle FC.Playing with the Magpies for three injury-hit seasons, Glass describes the attributes that made Alan Shearer such an effective player and prolific goal scorer.Joining 1st division Watford FC as part of Gian Luca Vialli’s ambitious rebuilding project, Stephen describes being coached in the art of the ‘tactical foul’ and considers why the overall project was not deemed a success. 

At only 19 years old, Bradley Wright-Phillips scored four minutes into his EPL debut and had the world at his feet. But just a few years later he was short on goals and confidence in the Championship. When Red Bull New York handed him a lifeline and a chance to revitalize his career in the MLS Wright-Phillips took the league by storm and went on to become Red Bull’s all time leading goal scorer.In this episode of Player to Player Stevie sits down with Bradley Wright-Phillips to find out about the pressures of being born into a famous footballing family, and what the future holds (after lockdown) at LA FC.Episode Notes: With football literally in his blood, Wright Phillips' love of the game started early, and in the pre-internet days it was all about videos.But soon real life became more interesting, when Wright-Phillips finally realized just what a world-class talent his father Ian Wright was.Going through the ranks of youth football at Notts Forest and Man City, Wright-Phillips learned that having a famous father and talented older brother placed him under greater scrutiny than other players.After Bradley’s illustrious debut the Wright-Phillips brother soon found themselves on different footballing trajectories, and it took time for Bradley to find his feet - and his own game.Reflecting on the challenges of his early professional career, Wright-Phillips believes he was hampered by his own relaxed attitude after such a bright start at Man City.And when he got his chance in the MLS, the quality of one (super-star) teammate in particular spurred Wright-Phillips on to record-breaking form.Check out the full interview for more fascinating stories and insights including the Wright-Phillips brothers reunited in NYC, and how Bradley still feels let down by the circumstances surrounding his own departure from the club.

Everyone knew he was a world-class goalkeeper, and most people knew he’d suffered a succession of career-hampering injuries; but for a long time, not even Chris Kirkland’s close friends and family knew about the severe depression he was battling on a daily basis. In this special episode of Player to Player, Stevie sits down with his former Wigan teammate to discover how events conspired to leave Kirkland contemplating suicide on a preseason rooftop, only for him to seek out help and bravely fight back from the brink.Episode Notes: With the unwavering support of his father - who suffered a significant health scare when Kirkland was only 9 years old - how the future England Goalkeeper originally saw himself as an outfield player, and only found himself between the posts by accident.Developing his playing style and professionalism under the tutelage of Coventry legend Steve 'Oggy' Ogrizovic, before earning a high profile and big money move to Liverpool.Thriving on Merseyside with the support of Gerard Houllier, before serious injuries and new manager Rafa Benitez ground that progression to a halt.A promising start on loan at West Brom was again cut short by injury, and after finding his feet at Wigan, Kirkland’s hopes were again dashed when he fell out of favour with Roberto Martinez.Leaving Wigan, Kirkland signed for Sheffield Wednesday and the lengthy travel involved suddenly found him out of his routine and increasingly isolated - marking the beginning of a serious battle with depression.

All eyes are on the Bundesliga this weekend - with fans around the world finally able to tune in to live top flight football. Although the games will be played out in eerie empty stadiums, and in some cases in front of a cardboard cut-out crowd, players and fans alike will breath a huge sigh of relief as competitive action finally resumes.In this special episode, Stevie sits down with broadcaster Ian Joy to get the lowdown on what to look out for in Germany this weekend.With Bayern Munich looking like runaway leaders before lockdown, has the unexpected break handed a lifeline to other teams with eyes on the title?Ian breaks down the factors behind Alphonso Davies' surprising rise within the Bayern ranks, and how injuries gave him an opportunity in an unfamiliar position.With Dortmund v. Schalke the weekend's stand out fixture, Joy gives us a primer in what to watch out for in the game, as well as highlighting exciting lesser-known Bundesliga players.  Stevie and Ian discuss the North American talents currently playing with German sides and respond to claims in the media by Weston McKennie that he's ready for the EPL.

In this episode of Tactical Talks, Stevie picks the footballing brain of TFC legend, and former Vancouver White Caps manager, Carl Robinson. Now head coach of Australian A-League club Newcastle Jets, Carl shares fascinating behind-the-scenes insights on a life in the game - working with top coaches like Harry Redknapp, Mick McCarthy and Pep Guardiola, and how they influenced his own hard-won principles on coaching a team for success.Episode Notes: Carl discusses the power of man management and the lesson he learned on day one as a pro - the crushing blow that later turned out to be a deliberate psychological spur.Carl and Stevie explore the importance of mental strength, and how the mind can affect individuals and interpersonal dynamics with the squad: ‘I love my players, but their minds do awful things to them.’How different managers handle the delicate balance of locker room culture, and how Carl employs the approach used by Harry Kedknapp to create the right balance on and off the field. Living and dying by your decisions as coach - how to deal with the pressure of top-flight management and the importance of shielding players.

Stevie talks to the Montreal Impact and Team Canada midfielder about the teenage transatlantic journey - through three European Leagues - that finally brought him back to the MLS, as the hometown hero at his boyhood club.Episode Notes: From the peace and quiet of his Quebec cabin, and with the MLS season on hold, Sam chats with Stevie about a life in football.At aged 14, how connections at provincial level gave Piette the opportunity to play in France, and the mental and emotional demands of growing up fast, away from family and friends.  In the Bundesliga at 17, what it meant to finally get minutes on the field as a professional player, despite already being involved for years at international level.  The challenges of two radically different seasons in Spain; one in LaLiga - the best division in the world - and another in the third tier playing alongside semi-professional teammates.Becoming a household name back home after the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup, and how he couldn’t say no when the Impact came calling. Stevie and Sam discuss the influence and belief of manager Mauro Beillo, and what the future holds playing under Thierry Henry and John Herdman.

For fans, the season begins on match day one, but for clubs and players the four weeks of preseason can determine the quality of an entire campaign. In this episode Stevie takes us behind the scenes to reveal how top EPL and MLS teams make sure they get off to the right start, and peak at the best time, over a grueling ten month season.Episode Notes: How pre-season is a battle with yourself to be on the team sheet for the first game of the season.How a hill-run to a castle became Stevie’s annual pre-season fitness gauge, and the shift in sports science that introduced ball work from day one.We learn how academy culture can help North American soccer progress, and discuss the importance of MLS teams traveling to Europe to pit themselves against different kinds of opponents.Stevie reveals pre-season highlights and lowlights - including team building in US bars, and team breakouts from remote Alpine camps.