Nigel Reo-Coker - Exclusive Interview with OLBG

Nigel Reo-Coker Interview

Continuing with our series of interviews with players, managers, and officials from top-tier football in the UK, we spoke with Nigel Reo Coker, former midfielder at a host of clubs across a career spanning some 17 years and serving clubs in the UK, North America and a very brief stint in Norway. Reo-Coker player for West Ham United, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers, Ipswich Town, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Chivas USA, Montreal Impact, Start and Milton Keynes Dons.

Both of your old clubs West Ham and Villa have had terrible starts to the season, what do you put that down to?

It's been tough for West Ham, I think with the fantastic roller-coaster they had last season in the Premier League, it was always going to be difficult for West Ham manager David Moyes to maintain that same energy and consistency.

That's what people have to understand sometimes, when you play for the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United that's what is expected week in week out.

With a club like West Ham, it's different, I think David Moyes has done ever so well across the past two years.

David Moyes - credit: YiAN Kourt / Shutterstock.com

He's assembled a great team, there's a great spirit about them which is still there, and I just feel maybe the lack of activity in the transfer window is playing a part.

They needed to bring in a few more players to improve the squad and re-energise the team and I think that may have been their problem.

I think again there was too much dependency on Michail Antonio last year, bringing in Scamacca takes a bit of pressure off, but it takes time to adapt.

It's always going to be a difficult season for West Ham to maintain those levels, it's just surprising the start they've had.

David Moyes has even admitted himself that he's surprised and worried from what he's seen himself.

With Aston Villa, they've got a good squad, but I think it's just down to the style of play at the moment.

They play too narrow, and I understand it's to try and get Buendia and Coutinho on the ball.

But when you play so narrow, teams become aware of that and pack the midfield.

They get on top of players, and I think that's why we aren't seeing the best of John McGinn at the moment.

Teams are smothering that midfield area and Aston Villa don't have enough width at the moment, so it's the style of play more so than anything affecting Aston Villa.

When you look at Aston Villa as well, it looks as if they're playing within themselves a little bit and playing with a bit of fear.

There isn't that explosion or willingness to express themselves going forward

When you use the width you create spaces for the likes of John McGinn, so it's clear to see why they're struggling a little bit.

The one bright light they do have is Jacob Ramsay, I think he's a fantastic young talent and a really bright spark for Aston Villa.

If anything I think he's becoming the most important player in this system for them currently. 

You captained both clubs and both have appointed new captains this season, Declan Rice and John McGinn, who are both centre midfielders, how would you compare the two?

It's difficult to compare the two because they're different players with completely different styles of play.

What I will say is that I had the chance to train with Declan Rice a bit when I went back to West Ham's U23s.

He's different class, he really is one of the outliers of that younger generation.

He's enthusiastic, he loves the games but he's a very humble lad.

Declan Rice

You could always see that he had that star quality about him and that leadership quality as well.

He's a natural born leader and to become a great leader you get moulded into that, and I think he would have learnt a lot from Mark Noble.

I can't speak too much on John McGinn because I don't know him personally, but he seems like someone who the rest of the players respect a lot.

He has become the heartbeat of Aston Villa in the sense of every week you know what you're going to get from him.

He really does put in a consistent performance and works hard for the team.

You can see he's got the respect of the other players because he's going to perform.

That's the thing when you're a captain, everyone generally looks to you and you have to perform.

Your captain has to be at a 7, 8, 9 out of 10 every week and show that consistency.

There has to be respect from your teammates in the dressing room and when things aren't going right you have to be the one who takes control of the game.

Within both captains they are the types of players, from watching them, who have the ability to do that.

Rice has been appointed after Mark Noble left West Ham. Rice and David Moyes have mentioned Noble's departure as one of the reasons why West Ham have had their worst start to a season in 51 years, what are your thoughts on those comments?

It's a difficult one, I know Mark well from when he was coming through at West Ham, but he grew up in a different environment.

I'm sure Mark took a lot on with the number of changes happening at West Ham and he embodied those changes to become a great captain himself.

Sometimes it is about having that sort of presence, I'm a big fan of personalities in football clubs because they play a big part.

They might not be playing all of the time, they may not be the most talented player, but if they've got that certain personality and energy around them, then they can keep a team and a club together.

I think that's in the sense of having him in and around the dressing room day to day.

Being at the club for so long, he can pass his knowledge down to younger players at the club and let people know what it means to play for West Ham.

I do feel it plays a part, but at the same time with Declan Rice now as captain and being an England international, that's something he has to take on board.

Your age goes out of the window, your age doesn't matter, and you have to take on board that you are now the captain.

You have to act more responsible, maybe taking the time to talk more with your teammates, seeing how they feel and becoming a really good people person.

You have to find ways of helping other players and lifting the mood within a dressing room.

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John McGinn has taken over from Tyrone Mings who is still at Villa. What do you make of that situation/ decision by Steven Gerrard? Will it be awkward / strained in the dressing room?

I don't think it should be awkward because as professional football players these are things that can happen.

You have to be held to a certain standard whether your captain or not.

As I said, when you're a captain you have to make sure your performances stand out and be at a consistent level week in week out.

You have to simply put that extra burden on yourself.

I've known lots of players who I've played with and against who want that extra responsibility, but when they get it, they can't handle it because it's not meant for everyone.

Some people can handle it and some people can't.

A good example would be Harry Maguire who was dropped to the bench against Liverpool because he didn't perform.

That's what comes with it and it's how you bounce back from that which is the real testament to the character of a captain.

The armbands been taken away from you, how are you going to react to it.

I'm not a huge fan of the whole reverse psychology thing, but it's just the reality of facing what's occurred.

You were a captain, you didn't perform to the levels expected, you lose the captaincy and now you have to deal with it.

You can't take it personally because it happens in football, and it would have happened throughout a lot of players careers.

So, it shouldn't really be awkward because the players have a job to do, they have to go out and perform and sometimes these things just come with that. 

Sunday's game at Villa Park is already looking important for both clubs with many suggesting the game will be won and lost in the centre of midfield, your old position. What are your thoughts on that and the battles that will take place there with Soucek and Rice vs McGinn, Kamara and Ramsey.

Definitely, it'll be a midfield battle which will be key to deciding the game.

The only upper hand that Aston Villa may have over West Ham right now is the striking force that they've got.

With Ings, Coutinho & Watkins I think they've got more creativity and attacking threat.

But if West Ham can gain control and smother that midfield area keeping Aston Villa penned in then I think they have a chance.

Right now, they're struggling to create chances and score goals, so really it comes down to who can get on top in the middle of the pitch.

If Aston Villa change their approach slightly by being adventurous and playing with people out wide, then I think they can get more joy.

That will give them the slight edge in the sense of attacking threat more so than West Ham at the moment.

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Have you any other thoughts on how the game will play out and who are you backing to win?

David Moyes is someone who has so much experience and he's been fantastic at the club.

It won't be panic stations for him right now and fans just have to trust that it'll turn around.

West Ham have some very good players in the likes of Rice, Soucek and Antonio who can turn it on when he likes.

It's just been a slow start for them, but I'm sure Moyes will know how to get his team through this period.

They'll always be organised tactically from a defensive point of view, and I think with how Aston Villa are currently playing, then that will play into West Ham's and Moyes' hands.

It's just whether they have that quality and maybe a bit of luck at the top end of the pitch to get goals in a game like this.

I think it'll be a great game and a pressure game so early in the season.

It's tough to call because when you look at the Premier League so far, it's so hard to predict with how some teams are playing.

If I'm going to go with my gut, as much as I believe that Aston Villa do have the attacking threat more so than West Ham, I think it'll be a West Ham win and I'll go with 2-1. 

People are already calling for managers to be sacked, what do you think about those calls?

You can't pay any attention to things like that, I just think it gives people things to talk about.

It's way too early in the season to be saying that, even with teams who have started well and look good at the moment, it's just too early to judge.

People who have played in the Premier League know that it's way too early to get excited at this stage.

There's a long way to go and things can change quickly, teams will go through a dip in form or a poor run throughout a season.

Around Christmas time is when you start to see things take shape and understand where the league is going.

Both managers have done well, for Gerrard this is the year where you can really judge him on.

He's brought players in, implemented his style so this is the year where you can start to judge his progression.

You've got to give him at least a season to be able to judge him and for David Moyes I think it's ridiculous for anyone to start calling for his head.

What he did for West Ham last year was superb and there should be no worries about him turning things around.

What about your experiences of being a player when managers lose their jobs?

As a player you know you have to do your job.

From the generation we came in we were always told to do your job.

This is the pressure you come under when you're a manager, just like players you have to perform but if it doesn't happen then a manager comes under pressure.

But if you aren't performing as a player, then you know that the manager isn't going to pick you.

When you lose managers, it does depend on other things such what stage of the season it is and what the results are looking like.

When a manager does lose their job, as a player you have to reflect on why that's happened with your own performances.

There can be other factors such as managers losing the dressing room or losing big figures or personalities so the change can be needed to freshen it up.

For such an early part of the season, it's very difficult to say so right now.

Martin O'Neill

One of my experiences was when Martin O'Neil resigned just before the season started and for us it was the worst thing that could happen.

We prepared for the season all summer and now the manager resigns without us knowing who was going to come in.

It's difficult to get that momentum going and that understanding of the style of play which does make it chaotic at times.

But if you've got the right experience and personalities in the dressing room, then you can overcome that.

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What have you made of Steven Gerrard's time as Villa boss so far? 

I think it's hard to judge and it's going to be this year where you can truly judge the job he's doing.

I do believe in giving managers and coaches time to settle in to get their ideas across and in the end, you can always tell how it's going by performances.

I think the performances haven't been bad, Aston Villa have a good squad and he's had chance to recruit players that he wants in.

I won't really hold an opinion of him until at least halfway through the season to see where Aston Villa are at and how the performances are going.

He needs time to really settle in with the players.

Steven Gerrard

Unfortunately, they made a big signing in Diego Carlos who they've lost through injury, so now they need to decide if they need to make another signing in that area.

I feel like they might have to, but Steven Gerrard needs to be given time and that's the reality in football.

Things can't be done overnight, certain clubs have their operations where they can get top class managers in, but you've then got to work with the players at your disposal.

The players play at such a high level in the Premier League, so they're expected to perform, but it's easier said than done.

With Villa, there is an element of changes and a revolving door which can be challenging, but I stand by that he needs more time before you can really judge him.

As a former Aston Villa midfielder yourself, what do you make of their current options within the position and do they need to invest in the area?

I think the midfield is good, I think it's just the style of play that's just stifling them.

Everyone can see that they have a lot of quality in Coutinho and Buendia, so obviously you want to get them the ball.

But if opponents flood that midfield and make it congested, keep it tight and block spaces, then you can't get those players into the game and in between lines.

That just counters the whole style of play, they need to play with width to get the best out of the likes of McGinn.

They need attacking fullbacks and be adventurous in the wide areas to then create the space for Coutinho in between the lines.

It's just the style of play, overall, their midfield is good and they've got a good squad.

It's hard to argue that they don't because there are a lot of good players at the club and really, it's just the style of play not getting the best out of them right now.

What have you made of Boubacar Kamara so far in a Villa shirt? 

I think he's done ok, again he's one of those players who needs time to adapt to the Premier League.

The Premier League isn't easy for players coming into it and sometimes people don't understand it's a very difficult league.

It's one of the most physical and demanding leagues, unless you come through English clubs, possibly coming from the Football League to the Premier League, then you don't quite understand it fully until you play.

You look at a free scoring Haaland for Borussia Dortmund, now he's finding it harder to get those chances and find his feet in the Premier League.

So, it isn't as easy as people might think it is, so with Kamara it's just a case of giving him time to adapt.

Give him six months to truly settle in, then you can start to judge his performances and see what level he's at.

Where do Aston Villa need to improve, is a new centre-back vital following an injury to Diego Carlos?

I think it's a problem for them and they're going to have to try and strengthen that area whether it's a signing or a loan.

It's a very important area if you want to be successful in the Premier League, you need to start with a very solid foundation of not conceding goals.

Being defensively solid and strong is key in the Premier League, but we'll have to wait and see what they do with that one.

It's going to be interesting to see how they handle that situation.

Manchester United haven’t had the best start under Erik Ten Hag – with the arrival of Casemiro and potential for Frenkie De Jong would that solve a lot of their issues?

I must say that for me Manchester United played very well against Liverpool and I think that is what's expected of that club.

My thing with that performance is they have to do it week in week out for the whole season.

I think they lifted up the levels because of what happened at Brentford and because it was their biggest rivals Liverpool.

Are they going to be as consistent playing at a high level and high tempo which is what is expected of Manchester United.

That's what I'm looking to see, and I'm intrigued if they can keep it up.

Editorial credit: kivnl / Shutterstock.com

I think Casemiro is a great signing for them because they've been lacking that midfield general in my opinion ever since Roy Keane left.

Even since Michael Carrick, someone who can control the game for you.

I think McTominay and Fred are good players to have, but they don't have the ability to be midfield generals where they can dictate the pace of a game.

They needed someone who is comfortable taking the ball off the back four, making forward forward passes and arriving on the edge of the opposition box.

I think from Real Madrid's perspective, it's a great bit of business because to sell a player who's 30 years old for £70 million to Manchester United is an excellent deal.

For me, Real Madrid seem to be reinvesting in youth and up and coming talent, so I think Manchester United should have gone for Tchouameni from Monaco.

I watched him play in the Champions League, he's only 22 years old and already a full French international.

He is a midfielder who can play anywhere, and I remember Cesc Fabergas doing an interview saying that as well.

He can be a box-to-box midfielder, he can be a defensive midfielder, or he could be a number 10.

I think that's where the money should have gone, pay that sort of money for a young player like that who is someone who could be world class and you can build around him for the future.

No disrespect to Casemiro but if he was still very valued and important to Real Madrid, then I don't think they would have sold him.

Real Madrid are the one club who never need to sell players, but they went and brought Tchouameni in which shows you the direction they're heading in.

Compared to Manchester United, you can still question the direction they're going in with the recruitment.

What do you think has gone wrong for Jadon Sancho so far at Manchester United, at Dortmund he was one of the best wingers in the world but in the Premier League he looks like a different player?

That goal against Liverpool was a big goal for him, I'm a big Jadon Sancho fan but I just don't think he's performed at the levels needed for Manchester United so far.

It goes to show how difficult it is adapting from the German league to the Premier League because it's a completely different kettle of fish.

The Premier League is so demanding, so competitive and he already has a target on his back because he plays for Manchester United.

Teams always raise their levels to another standard when they play Manchester United.

He's had a year of experience now being a Manchester United player and he has to be able to take the burden on.

He needs to show that he's supposed to be a star of this team and prove a point.

He hasn't done it enough so far and it shows me that he could be lacking in that self-belief and confidence in himself.

Liverpool are having to adapt without Sadio Mane, a lot of people have claimed he was undervalued at the club – are we seeing that currently?

Steindy (talk) 18:26, 7 October 2013 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

I was one of the people that believed when Sadio Mane it would affect Liverpool, I said at the time that Liverpool will miss Sadio Mane big time.

I fully agree with how undervalued he was and when you try to explain to people sometimes it's hard to get your point across.

When you've played the game, you can see players who bring a different element to a team.

He was a quiet personality, but he showed his quality with the way he played.

He had a bit of arrogance about him and that bit of edge in his play, his link up with Salah and Firmino was fantastic and for me he will be a big miss for Liverpool.

1000%, I said it when he left that it was a big mistake from Liverpool and he's already flying for Bayern Munich.

He's fitted in perfectly there at Bayern Munich and currently Liverpool are struggling without him.

The game against Manchester United the front three were non-existent and they didn't really look like a threat.

Yes, it finished 2-1, but when you watch that game and reflect on it, Liverpool were poor defensively and poor going forward.

Sadio Mane will prove to be a big miss for Liverpool as the season goes on.

Jurgen Klopp says they won’t panic with their midfield options – do you think they could be waiting another year for a certain Jude Bellingham?

It's going to be a difficult one, but this is Jurgen Klopp's management style, he isn't going to panic buy.

He believes in youth and the younger players, so he'll look to bring in more youngsters from the academy.

It's a sustainable way to run a football and unfortunately, they're having issues with injuries right now.

There's nothing he can do about it, I'm sure they'll be competitive, and he'll turn it around because he's a smart manager.

I think you might need to pay attention to the Jude Bellingham situation because there's the likes of Real Madrid sniffing around.

Real Madrid are on a rebuild and with the youngsters they're getting in through the door right now, you can see a very strong Real Madrid side for years to come.

It'll be a case of where Jude Bellingham wants to go and play, whether it will be Liverpool or elsewhere will be down to him.

I don't think there's any rush to go out and get Bellingham, but if they do want him then they'll have to make moves before another club does.

What do you make of the MLS nowadays compared to when you were playing in that league?

It's definitely improved from the days when I played in the league.

It still has a bit of a way to go and there's a few minor things that could improve.

There's a lot of talent in the league, but I think the next step could be changing the mentality and being more open for coaching.

Getting slightly better coaches in would be the next step if I'm being honest because I think the quality could improve.

It would allow players to really understand the game at an even higher level, especially from a young age because they'll understand it more.

But the standard has improved slowly from when I was playing.

We’ve seen an influx of US and Canadian stars emerge over the past few seasons, is football becoming a bigger sport in those countries with the players being produced?

It's a difficult subject, but if you look at Canada it was different in terms of getting the talent.

Canada is a nation for the national team, so what they did was they went into the inner city.

They went into the inner city to find these gems and players playing to give them the opportunities to join clubs.

A lot of players on the Canadian national team are inner-city kids.

In America that is where they're completely missing the bigger picture.

The American system is built completely differently where it's mainly the kids in the suburbs that get to play soccer because it's a pay to play system.

That's the reality of it, most of the inner-city kids in American are playing in the NBA and the NFL.

These are very athletically gifted kids, but if they were given the opportunity to play soccer, then there's already so much athleticism there and potential.

If they had the right coaching and opportunities, then there's so much potential for the US to produce a lot of talented players.

The problem is that it's a suburb sport and it's a pay to play system, so that's where they're missing the point.

This is why Canada have come out of nowhere to become such a force in the CONCACAF region.

That's because they've gone into the inner city and unearthed some absolute gems and some great talent.

How well can those countries do at the upcoming World Cup (if all their first choice players are fit)?

It's a tough question, but I think both sides might find it difficult.

There's a greater expectancy on the US right now because there's a lot of talent playing in the Premier League and across Europe.

They've got a lot of young players playing at big clubs and I think there's a greater burden of expectancy.

But it's a World Cup where no one can really say what's going to happen because we've never had a World Cup in the Christmas period.

It's the first time a World Cup has been played in the middle of a season and different leagues will have different demands.

I still feel personally that most of the players playing in the Premier League will be the players who suffer the most just because of how intense the Premier League is.

If you look at last season to this season already, you can see certain players seem to be struggling or off it by a couple of yards.

Both nations are in difficult groups, but it'll be about how the coaches get their players prepared mentality to cope with any expectations.

There's a lot of factors that could come into play, let's not forget that injuries could come into it and players could be unavailable for the World Cup.

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