MCFCforum.com speaks to Lee Dixon

Lee Dixon, he of 10-year fame at Arsenal, grew up in a Manchester City household, and today we sit down and have a chat about City, his career, and, strangely enough, his shinpad, and the end of the World ... 

MCFCforum: Lee, I heard an interview with George Graham (I think), where he said that he used to look in local papers around the country to find players who were doing well for lower league teams so he could grab a bargain - is this how it came about with him signing you?
Lee Dixon: I guess. He watched me for about six months. We all knew at the club, Arsenal were at virtually every Stoke game home and away. The lads used to joke when I had a bad game that the deal was off as George was here! Not long after I signed they asked me about Bouldy. They had been watching him too. I gave them the green light and the rest is history.

MCFCforum: You say you're a boyhood City fan; is this true, and, if so, do you still have the same passion for City now as you did when you were younger? Also if you were/are what got you into supporting City?
Lee Dixon: I was born in Fallowfield. All my family were Blues. My dad, Roy, was Bert Trautmann's understudy in the 50`s. The club has changed a lot of late but I am still a fan. I was a season ticket holder in the Kippax. However, you cannot play for a club for fifteen years and not be emersed in its tradition and culture like I am at Arsenal. I know the club inside and out. I dont know City anymore, so I guess I have split loyalties something I have always told my kids cant happen!

MCFCforum: Have you ever come across a situation like the Carlos Tevez one, whereby a player has refused to play for his club, and, if so, what was the general feeling in the dressing room? And what do you think City should do about what's happened?
Lee Dixon: It has never happened like the Tevez affair anywhere I have been at. Although Micky Thomas got into a contract wrangle with George Graham. It wasn't pleasant and it culminated in Micky training on his own, literally, and eventually saw him leave the club for Liverpool, ironically. It does effect dressing rooms. I think his days are over at City. He doesnt want to stay so let him go.

MCFCforum: When you're on Match Of The Day, do you ever feel that City are the butt of many jokes? The reason I ask is that all we ever hear are things like 'money bags Man City', 'player unrest', 'too many egos', etc, etc, and in my opinion the media should focus on the way we play rather than trivial things I've mentioned.
Lee Dixon: we try to focus on the football. However, stories coming out of Man City sell newspapers and people want to know what's going on. If there was nothing to write about then it wouldnt get written or said. In the modern game high profile rich clubs will get attention - like it or not. City get plenty of nice things said about them, dont worry.

MCFCforum: You were in my opinion a very, very, good defender, but why do you think you didn't earn more caps for England?
Lee Dixon: Thanks. I dont know. When Graham Taylor was sacked, I was really looking forward to working under Terry Venables. However, I wasn't in his first squad and never really was in favour again. Hey, twenty-two will do me just fine. One would of been enough!

MCFCforum: Who do you think will win the Premier league this season and why?
Lee Dixon: I think City have always had a chance. I did say Utd would win it, and I still think they will come back very strong. City`s success or failure will all depend on how they do when they hit their bad spell, and how close the chasing pack are. Chelsea have problems at the back, and so do Utd. Arsenal have improved but are not out of the woods yet. RVP gets injured and we are fucked. So I guess its the mighty Blues to lose!

MCFCforum: In some of your quotes recently, you've seem to have come over a little annoyed about City buying Arsenal players. Why is this, if you don't mind me asking?
Lee Dixon: Annoyed at the fact they have left Arsenal. But pleased they have gone to City. Arsenal are my club, City are my boyhood team.

MCFCforum: What's your take on the Arsenal situation? Is it as bad as everyone is making out, from the average fan to the whole media?
Lee Dixon: It has been bad. The whole balance of the team mentality has been too attack-minded. There is a lot of work to be done on the training ground. Vermalaen is a big player for Arsenal, and Wilshire will make a big difference. But we cannot go on defending like we have been.

MCFCforum: You are an established pundit on TV now, and you've worked with some great pundits, and I'm sure, secretly, you've worked with some bad ones, so who is your favorite pundit on TV, be it on MOTD or anywhere else?
Lee Dixon: Alan Hansen is the Don. He has been at it for eighteen years and very good at what he does; old school, set in his ways, but great in my opinion.

MCFCforum: How was life after you finished playing football, with trying to adjust to normal day-to-day things rather than going to training and being around your team mates?
Lee Dixon: It is hard at first. The dressing room, for anyone, is a special place. It's a place that tests you on many aspects of your character. I miss some of that but also glad I don't have to endure it at times. I love my life, now in its next chapter. I love trying to pass on my knowledge and opinion. I don't see myself as a football expert. I am just someone with an opinion and was fortunate to know certain things other people couldn't possibly know because I've been there. I just try to share those experiences.

MCFCforum: Who was the best player you ever played with for Arsenal, and who for England?
Lee Dixon: Dennis Bergkamp. THE best. For England, Gazza. THE best.

MCFCforum: Did you have any superstitions as a player? And what was the funniest or weirdest one from any of your former team mates?
Lee Dixon: I always used to go out 3rd onto the pitch behind David Seaman. Left shinpad on before right! David O Leary always had the same music on in his car on the way to home games!

MCFCforum: Where do you see City in the next five years, and what do you think City will have won by then?
Lee Dixon: They will have won the Premier league at least twice, they will be challenging for Champs league, too. If not, then they will have been relegated to Division 2 and the world will have ended!

MCFCforum: And finally what is Lee Dixon upto these days apart from Match Of The Day? Are there any charities you support, and if so where can people look to try and help?
Lee Dixon: I am involved with the media quite a bit (BBC), and I write a column in the Independent every Saturday morning. My wife has her own dance company that I help to run called Yorke Dance Project.
I am a mad cyclist, and do various charity rides every year. Next year riding from Olympia in Greece to Olympia in London, 3000km to raise money for the Dallaglio Foundation. So all in all quite busy.

Many thanks to Lee Dixon for his time, and to blue_mooner for setting this up and talking to him.