A real footballer wants to be our friend and talk to us

thespoiler was more than delighted to be offered the chance to natter away with one of the Premier League’s in-form centre-backs, Clarke Carlisle. The former England U21 defender was promoting FIFA 2010 and told us he was a big fan of the new edition:

I’ve got my man-space in the garage at home, and love to play a bit of FIFA when I need a quick break from family life.

Being a perceptive little website, thespoiler asked Clarke why things had started so much better at Burnley, than they did for the Watford side he was promoted with back in 2006:

Its a different type of play. We at Watford were very direct, and had two of three lads upfront who could capitalise on the second ball. Here at Burnley we have a Plan A, Plan B and a Plan C. Watford didn’t have that Plan B, and we ultimately had to work hard on it in training, with a group of players who were made for another style.

Having already faced Man United, Everton, Chelsea and Liverpool, Carlisle is perfectly placed to name his toughest opponent:

“Didier Drogba is the best player I have ever come up against. He’s skilful, can manipulate the ball, has such a low centre of gravity for a big guy, is good in the air and quick. He’ll ask so many questions of you in the course of a game.”

During our chat, Clarke tossed in words including ‘palpable’, ‘articulate’, and ‘epitomise’, hardly the standard after-match thoughts of a Premier League footballer. Indeed, Carlisle was recently named the most intelligent footballer in the country so he seemed a good person to put the charge to, that his fellow professionals are all idiots:

The stereotype of the stupid footballer could not be further from the truth. There is plenty of intellect in the changing rooms at football.

But then he went and spoiled it all by answering ‘Alan Brazil’ to the question of whether he is in fact the best footballer with a city for a surname…

Clarke Carlisle is a top man, and FIFA 2010 is available on all formats from places where you can buy things