MARK VIDUKA

Edited transcript of the Live Chat with socceroo Mark Viduka. 18th of November 2001

Interviewer: Welcome to Soccer Australia an BigPond Chat. Today we are chatting to Mark Viduka. Hi Mark, how are you and where are you?
Mark Viduka: I'm good thanks - in my room inm the Crown Casino!

Interviewer: What are your predictions for the Tuesday match?
Mark Viduka: My prediction is - I don't like predicting games! (LOL) You know anything can happen in a football game and I don't think anyone can predict it.

Interviewer: Who would you say is the hardest team to play against?
Mark Viduka: Uhh... the hardest team for me - that I've played against is probably Manchester United.

Interviewer: mpc: G'day Mark, I was interested to know what sport psychology you have utilised in your career to date?
Mark Viduka: Actually sport psychology has been a part of my career for a long time, since I was at the AIS in Canberra - we use alot of visualisation techniques, positive imagery and things like that...

Interviewer: Matt: Are you in perfect health? Are there any niggling injuries?
Mark Viduka: For me - No! I feel in pretty good shape at the moment.

Interviewer: V-Bomber: Mark, in your mind after supporting a team for almost two seasons does that make the person a bandwagon supporter?
Mark Viduka: I don't know really - if you like the team and support them then I think you're a real supporter.

Interviewer: Frank_TheBeef: How does Scottish league compare to English Premier league?
Mark Viduka: The English League is more competitive than the Scottish League - in Scotland you have the two teams, Rangers & the Celtics; whereas here there's alot of teams and anybody can beat anybody you know.

Interviewer: Matt: In the game against France, we didnt seem to be able to get the ball up to very well. Do you think we will have much trouble against the Uruaguay Defence?
Mark Viduka: Well, in the game against France, the reason for that was, they had the most of the ball,and we were defending most of the game - and I think on Tuesday night - I really don't know what the game is going to be like - it could be that we have the ball and they defend - it could be a different sort of game you never know.

Interviewer: AvErMaN: Is the NSL popular in Europe?
Mark Viduka: Umm.. I don't know, I don't think many teams know too much about the NSL in Europe, but there is a program on Sky Sports which is a round up of the Australian soccer leagues.

Interviewer: marchingtogeter: You have talked about one day going back to celtic and wanting to win some silverware is that a far possibility
Mark Viduka: I don't know - who knows in football what's in the future!!! I enjoyed my time while I was there & I really wanted to win trophies with the Celtics - who knows what'll happen in the future.

Interviewer: Matt: Do you ever get any verbal pressure put on you (by the club) not to represent Australia and stay with your club?
Mark Viduka: No. No I don't ..

Interviewer: V-Bomber Mark are you coming up to brisbane during your stay?
Mark Viduka: I'd love to come up to Brisbane - I like Queensland but I don't think I'll have enough time to do that.

Interviewer: home_goal: I thought you were a bit of a passenger in the France game - what do you think about using a 4-5-1 formation to force you into the game? As we need you playing well!
Mark Viduka: I was a bit of a passenger, 'cos I just got off a flight from Europe! LOL

Interviewer: Dooks: Do you often play soccer games in the computer and make yourself really good?
Mark Viduka: No I don't really play - I don't have any soccer games - for the computer at least!

Interviewer: Marco-Syd: Mark when you scored the goal against Barthez, i was watching it at a pub in Bondi and everyone was screaming that one was for Mark Bosnich, did you also think that too
Mark Viduka: LOL - ah-hah - no, not really, I was just excited about scoring - those things don't really go through your mind at the time :-)

Interviewer: SHaLLDoG: Mark_Viduka do u get to see your family much?
Mark Viduka: Not really - probably about once a year or something ..

Interviewer: Mark, do me a favour and tell Emerton to come and join Leeds Utd!
Mark Viduka: alright!

Interviewer: home_goal: With the main form possibility for a goal in Uruguay going to come off Recoba off free kicks, do you think Tiatto and Muscat's temper might cause a loss?
Mark Viduka: Dunno - we'll have to wait and see - I think it should be a fiery game 'cos Uruguay is fiery as well, but I hope it doesn't cause any harm.

Interviewer: AvErMaN: what is your most memorable moment in your career?
Mark Viduka: I don't know - I've had few good memorable moments - probably scoring 4 against Liverpool.

Interviewer: hi: Would you ever move to another football club instead of Leeds
Mark Viduka: Maybe - depends on the circumstances ..

Interviewer: mpc: In 1998 there was a fair amount of press about your sudden inability to play for Celtic Rangers. Some posed that it was a nervous breakdown - seeing as this was your first real big trip overseas and into the 'big leagues' was it more a case of coping with the change and not having, at the time, the competencies to cope?
Mark Viduka: Not really - I just needed a rest from football basically...

Interviewer: Will Leeds tour Australia anytime in the near future?
Mark Viduka: I don't know - there was some talk of us coming next summer...

Interviewer: home_goal: What is your assessment on Carini the goalie?
Mark Viduka: To be honest I don't know much about him at all - to make an assessment.

Interviewer: Dooks: In Fifa 2001 on PC you are given a rating of '36' whereas Benito Carbone is rated 40 ... do you think he's 4 points better than you?
Mark Viduka: I don't know - Fifa obviously does! LOL

Interviewer: Jacster: You've said before that Melbourne is the best city in the world, why do you love it so much?
Mark Viduka: Because I think it's the most livable city in the world - i think the lifestyle there is the best - for me anyway!

Interviewer: home_goal: Thew Uruguans have the best defence in the South american league does that worry you?
Mark Viduka: Umm... I don't know - I'm not really sure if they have the best defence - but not really, it doesnt' worry me that much.

Interviewer: marchingtogeter: Can you explain the emotion of bagging 4 goals against Liverpool in what was regarded as one of the best performances?
Mark Viduka: The emotions.... sky-high! Very difficult to explain if you havent' experienced it....

Interviewer: mpc: Are sport psychologists a part of the football clubs in England? If so, do they play a full-time role similar to a medico or physio? From a successful player's point of view, when do you believe is the right time for a player to look to the mental side of playing football / soccer?
Mark Viduka: In my club there isn't a full time psychologist - there isn't one at all - but
Mark Viduka: I think the mental part of the game, the psychology - is the most important part of it. I think at least 80 per cent of it is mental!

Interviewer: Mark, what was the one thing you regret doing in a match?
Mark Viduka: There's not really.... when I play, there's nothing you really regret - it's a game, you play it, you know - whatever happens.

Interviewer: hi: Is Harry Kewell one of your close friends?
Mark Viduka: I wouldn't say he's one of my close friends - I don't really have too many close friends, but he's a team mate, and he's a friend.

Interviewer: VIDUKA_WALKS_ON_WATER: Do you still care about knights?
Mark Viduka: I do - but I'm disappointed with the way it has been run....

Interviewer: ccc: How important were the early years (ages 5 to 10) in your development?
Mark Viduka: I don't think it was that important - at that time you're just enjoying the game and having fun. ..

Interviewer: Malik_Leeds: When you were a kid how many hours did you put into soccer?
Mark Viduka: From the age of probably 5 to 15.....or, actually from 12 to now I've been playing every day of the week & on weekends.

Interviewer: mpc: What is the best way for my book "It's what's up here that counts - winning the mental game of football" to get into the hands of the English football public, players, parents and coaches?
Mark Viduka: Get a good publisher!

Interviewer: Mark, why has Farina chosen Montevideo as a training camp rather than Buenos Aires. I am married to an Argentine girl and they say that Uruguayans will be getting up to no good and won't let you sleep?
Mark Viduka: LOL - Because we have to be acclimatised to the place we're going to be playing. It's close to Buenos Aires - but it's better to be in the place that we're playing ..

Interviewer: home_goal: The Uruguan team has been very Jekyll and Hyde how do you train for a team that is so unpredictable?
Mark Viduka: You don't - you basically play your own game and not really concentrate on them.

Interviewer: Raymond_Viduka: Whats it feel like to play at the level you're at, as opposed to the australian level you played in as a youngster? What goes through your head and heart?
Mark Viduka: No - I think it's just you're playing with the team you're in - when you're playing at national level it's totally different to playing at club level.

Interviewer: marchingtogeter: How is Jacob Burns and Danny Milosivik going at Leeds? I think they are very good talent for club and maybe one day country....
Mark Viduka: Yeah, very good - they're doing very well actually. The thing is it's very difficult for them now cos we have a very good team who's winning and performing well, so it's a bit more difficult for them to get a chance.

Interviewer: Jacster: You've played under Terry Venables and Frank Farina. Do you think one is a better manager than the other? Or are they just different?
Mark Viduka: They're different - they're both very good managers, but they have different styles of management ..

Interviewer: home_goal: What do you expect to be the gains for Oz soccer if we do qualify?
Mark Viduka: I think there'll be huge gains - first of all the recognition of soccer in this country will be on a higher level in this country than it has so far, and as a nation & national team be much more respected!

Interviewer: Thank you Mark for your time. We all wish you well in both club and international games.
Mark Viduka: Thank you very much to you all - it was a pleasure chatting to you all - make sure you're watching and supporting on Tuesday!