TOPICS2:00 Whether journalism and commentary was the plan for his post playing career4:01 Developing the key skill of spotting stories and angles5:07 The process of writing his book6.20 The discipline he required to write it7.42 The problem of trusting your memory when writing a biography9:35 His only booking and his it happened10:42 Transitioning from player to journalist. The moment he was able to separate the two13:15 How social media has reframed the way journalists articulate their opinions15.20 Why he wished he had have had ‘the edge’ of Mark Hughes as a player16:45 The importance of controlling your emotions both as a sports journalist and on the pitch18:20 How he manage to move into co-commentary when at first his response was “they don’t want to listen to my whining Brummie drawl”21:20 How he’ll prepare for a game22:30 The US model for access. Getting behind the information like in the US and how the Man C documentary might changes24: 20 The ways Sky Sports have changed in the way they broadcast a game - stats, 3D, 4K25:32 Is it needless to ‘reinvent the wheel’ in football coverage26:25 Has he been ever being asked to changing his accent. Lifting his voice and injecting urgency“The right words in the right tone. You want to reflect them moment the right way”28.20 What you learn from listening back to yourself29:01 How his pairing Martin Tyler developed29:58 The need of a good personal relationship to make a commentary team work30:53 The addition of FIFA to his career“It has given me a bit of kudos among 10-15 year-olds, people who have never seen me as a player”31:20 Fans taking FIFA too seriously32:40 The process of recording it each year34:23 The prevalence of English. Being the voice of the Premier League of Fifa in the US and beyond36: 10 Opening him up to a new audience and Fifa being a window to soccer for young soccer fans37:34 On whether his career would be possible now for an ex-footballer.“You always have someone snapping at your heels”39:51 How the reporting has created an entirely different environment for a player41:24 How Arsenal’s old drinking culture would have been reported today42:45 Being in the ‘Tuesday Club’43:49 His media ambitions45:00 The reinventions of footballer and waiting for the tap on the shoulder46:33 The honesty of the bookALAN SMITH LINKSAlan Smith on TwitterHeads up on AmazonWANT TO HEAR, SEE, READ MORE...? Check out my blog, here? Listen to my other podcast: Football Indonesia here? Sign up to my digital sport newsletter, here? @MrRichardClarke on social:Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube