In a TAW Player exclusive, Craig Hannan sits down with Liverpool midfield Gini Wijnaldum to talk Liverpool’s upcoming European Cup Final against Real Madrid, what his hopes for the games are and what it’s felt like to be part of the Reds momentous run to Kiev.
Champions League Final: Gini Wijnaldum Talks To TAW
I love the Anfield Wrap, I really do, and I feel £5 per month is good value for the amount of content you guys provide (increasing adverts for gambling and booze notwithstanding) but I just can’t listen to Craig Hannan.
99% of the time he’s negative, boring, pessimistic and negative. The odd 1% is when we’ve just won a big game and he’s drunk, obnoxious, talking about conquering the world and going on about how “this is our time, you old people had the glory days, it’s our time now”. Which gets boring.
Earlier in the season, in the run-up to either an FA cup tie or a league cup tie (I forget which it was), Hannan stated that we needed to win not just the game, but the entire competition, this year, because if we don’t, people will start clamouring for Klopp’s head due to the fact we’ve yet to win anything under him.
It was a total straw-man argument which he does all the time.
Nobody was saying Klopp needed to win something this year. Except Hannan himself that is. By constructing this conceit HE was the only one putting pressure on us to win anything this year and implicitly putting the idea into people’s heads that there’ll be calls for Klopp’s head if we don’t.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so annoyed by anything uttered on The Anfield Wrap.
Before games he’s always full of doubts, not sure about the players, does Klopp always get his tactics correct? etc. But after we win? Bring it on lads, this is our time remember!!! And it’s got to the point where if he’s on an AFQ (my favourite of all your shows), I just don’t even bother listening.
And now this “interview”.
Hannan: “Relegated 2 years ago and now in a champions league final. How does that feel?”
Gini: “Um… yeah, the relegation was awful and getting to the final is great. How did you expect me to answer such an insipid question?”
Hannan: “OK, so have you spoken to Rafa about Istanbul and the magic of the champions league and all that jazz?”
Gini: “No. He isn’t my manager anymore. Do you regularly phone any of your old employers???”
Insightful stuff.
Sound! 99% of the time i’m negative? haha. I don’t think i’m negative at all but whatever. Everyone is allowed to like or not like listening to certain contributors – have no problem with that. Don’t listen when i’m on – up to you, there’s plenty of content on TAW Player i’m not on and that’s the point, you can pick and choose what you listen to or who you listen to.
On the interview – I went to the open training session to get social content. We didn’t know we’d be getting any interviews otherwise someone more experienced at interviewing would likely have gone – we were told 5 minutes before it to run upstairs as we had Gini. No preparation, just had to go for it with no experience of interviewing footballers. So don’t give me that shit behind your keyboard.
Oh, and hope you’re excited for all of our Kiev content – I’m on quite a bit of it. Enjoy!x
You’re doing fine Craig. Always appreciated.
It’s not about liking you or disliking you as a person, all I know of you is through the podcasts. And telling me not to give you shit from behind my keyboard? Righty-ho.
If you or anyone else thinks I was simply “giving you shit” then I apologise. (I feel like I’m apologising for other people’s lack of comprehension but there you go) But I absolutely do not apologise for the content or the thrust of my original comment. I stand by it.
You did make that crazy statement about having to win the domestic cup because you didn’t want people calling for Klopp’s head due to his lack of silverware. And at that point you were the only person putting pressure on us needing to win something and you were the only person who said anything about calls for Klopp’s head if we didn’t win anything. Am I making this up?
And you don’t see yourself as negative? That’s fine. But I’m just “giving you shit” if I disagree with that point of view? I don’t think that’s fair. And it appears other people agreed with my original comment, which, no offence, doesn’t surprise me because I’m not a dick*, I’m not some random angry internet troll. I’m a lover of TAW’s content who pays his subscription and finds your negativity (and occasional hyper-excitability) tiresome.
Today’s interview just iced the cake so to speak.
I guess dissenting voices are not appreciated. Gibbo is one of my favourite contributors but his tongue in cheek remark about firing you is a little churlish. I’m not trying to dictate anything or say who you should employ and it’s a little disingenuous to paint me as that sort of figure and take my feedback in such a manner. Yes, my original post was a bit of a rant and as it turns out, I should have kept it to myself like I have for the last few months but I’m just saying what I’m sure others are thinking.
But sure, just think of me as some weird keyboard warrior if you want. Ignore the feedback. You probably don’t even want my £5 anymore. Plenty more punters out there.
*citation needed
I remember saying that I thought Klopp would need to win something because I thought that the media would begin to put pressure on the fact that it would be 2 and a half seasons going into the 3 and a half without an trophies. One comment. I remember at the time other contributors saying similar. But it’s about as negative as I’ve been about Klopp. The amount of shows I’m on I’m bound to say something at some stage that’ll piss someone off. Let’s be honest I’m just a fan who occasionally talks about football, I’m sure if it were you at some stage you would say something that others wouldn’t agree with.
I just don’t get what you want to get from your comment? Me on less shows? Not on podcasts at all? I don’t get what it achieves.
So what you’re saying is you don’t want me to be negative or excited. Sound. Can’t win.
“Saying what I’m sure others are thinking.” – I can count on one hand how many negative comments I’ve received while doing this and usually I’ll take it on the chin if I think it’s constructive. What you’ve said is one opinion and I like I said you’re not going to enjoy listening to every contributor.
I think the things you’re saying on the interview are unfair considering the circumstances. My role at taw is head of marketing. I do podcasts and video occasionally when needed. I am not a journalist and I’d never interviewed anyone before, never mind a footballer and without any preparation.
Either way, your going to hear lots of “hyper excitability” over the next few days, I really hope you enjoy!
But in future, when you see my name next to something do yourself a favour – give it a miss! It’ll be better for us both.
Ever heard of constructive criticism?
Craig is relatively young and stil learning his trade in media and journalism.
Instead of slagging him off, rather offer him some advice on what he could do better in your eyes.
Or if you’re not capable of offering anything, then just skip the parts when he speaks. Quite easy to do.
There is a reason the seniors at TAW include his contributions.
How about you offer us your thoughts and knowledge in form of a podcast or article and we can assess your perfromance. I’ll gladly listen to/read it.
Cheers for this mate, i appreciate it.
What I would say is that I work in marketing for TAW. I do podcasts and video but my main role at TAW is marketing. So anything like the Gini Wijnaldum interview is something I’ve not done before and like I said, was something I did because I was there when we were offered it – 5 mins before it happened. To be honest, I’m pretty happy with how it went considering that fact! But yeah would agree – constructive criticism and all that would be nice!
We’ve taken the decision to terminate Craig’s employment on the back of this feedback. Up The Reds. Gibbo
All the Lads on TAW bring their own strengths. CH was summing up on a cast last week about the season . He did it not too specifically and not too generally- it was very accessible. He’s been Lord Charles to Robbo’s Roy Alan a lot mind, on Talking Reds!
Brilliant craig, come on you reds
Well done Craig. You’ve grasped the golden rule of interviewing – if they talk, let them talk. Especially important with people like Gini as in, he’s fairly softly spoken.
I feel young but this run is definitely about the youth. All my mates feel the same. It’s about our sons. They’ve known nothing as yet. I’ve loved celebrating with them more than I have actually celebrating the team winning. I just pray we bring it home. Feels like it’s meant to be.
I think I’m with Phil on this one.
Taw is boss but Phil articulated his point as good as any article I’ve seen on here not craigs fault but he’s out of his depth
As i’ve said to Phillip. On the interview – I went to the open training session to get social content. We didn’t know we’d be getting any interviews otherwise someone more experienced at interviewing would likely have gone – we were told 5 minutes before it to run upstairs as we had Gini. No preparation, just had to go for it with no experience of interviewing footballers. There’s loads of content to listen to, go to the next podcast if this one isn’t for you!
Bit harsh that Phillip, Craig is entitled to his opinions like anyone else, he goes through the same roller-coaster of emotions that we all do as football supporters. I’ve met Craig and he’s a sound lad, get off his case.
Well said Craig. Have a day off lads.
Well in, Craig. Boss interview. We’re a similar age and my head would have fallen off completely. Keep up the great work. Allez, Allez, Allez.
Can anyone point to any post match interview where the interviewer has asked any questions of a noticeably higher or insightful quality? It’s a quick chat with a footballer discussing an upcoming match in his second language – I think a certain amount of realism is needed for the end result.