6: Razor Ruddock: How Paul Merson Saved My Life!

Better players back then, Geoff.

No VAR.

You had to get on with it.

Well, I think you say that.

Do you believe that? Do you believe there were better players back then?

Well, I think there was tougher players.

I think with the pitches, I think, you know, everyone had to have a good touch.

The pitches weren't so good now.

You know, I think we were as fit as we could have been.

You know, with the dieticians and the fitness coaches, you know, we didn't have none of that.

We used to You know, it was crazy.

If I was a pound overweight, you know, they'd make me wear a black sack under my kit, under my training kit and get weighed after training.

I'd be two pound underweight and I'd feel all right, but then I'd drink three pound of water.

So it did, you know, so actually the education and the science of football wasn't about, so they are a lot fitter nowadays because of, You know, the technology.

How long do you think you'd have lasted in a game today? I'd been all right.

I didn't have to kick people unless they wanted me to kick them.

Yeah.

No, that's what I say.

I remember how well you could pass a football.

I'd be all right now.

I'd be fitter.

And, you know, you don't have to run around a lot now, do you? You just all sit back.

You know, they get the ball, you sit back, we get the ball, they sit back.

I could play a goal for Man City, that's for sure.

You don't have to make a lot of saves and I'm good with my feet.

Better players back then, Geoff.

No VAR.

You had to get on with it.

Well, I think you say that.

Do you believe that? Do you believe there were better players back then?

Well, I think there was tougher players.

I think with the pitches, I think, you know, everyone had to have a good touch.

The pitches weren't so good now.

You know, I think we were as fit as we could have been.

You know, with the dieticians and the fitness coaches, you know, we didn't have none of that.

We used to You know, it was crazy.

If I was a pound overweight, you know, they'd make me wear a black sack under my kit, under my training kit and get weighed after training.

I'd be two pound underweight and I'd feel all right, but then I'd drink three pound of water.

So it did, you know, so actually the education and the science of football wasn't about, so they are a lot fitter nowadays because of, You know, the technology.

How long do you think you'd have lasted in a game today? I'd been all right.

I didn't have to kick people unless they wanted me to kick them.

Yeah.

No, that's what I say.

I remember how well you could pass a football.

I'd be all right now.

I'd be fitter.

And, you know, you don't have to run around a lot now, do you? You just all sit back.

You know, they get the ball, you sit back, we get the ball, they sit back.

I could play a goal for Man City, that's for sure.

You don't have to make a lot of saves and I'm good with my feet.