Former Wolves striker Iwan Roberts discusses how he would fare if he was at the peak of his footballing career in the modern-day game.
Team most like to play against | Liverpool
I’m a Liverpool fan, and was Liverpool fan growing up, and they are the best team in the Premier League, so I think you want to test yourself against the best. They've got the best defensive record in the division, and Allison, for me, is one of the best, if not the best goalkeeper in the world. As an individual, you always want to pit your wits against the best centre halves and the best teams, so I think I'd have to go for the team that's top of the Premier League, and are comfortably going to win the Premier League.
Team least like to play against | Arsenal
I’d have to say Arsenal. There’s just something about those two centre halves – Gabriel and Saliba, they get under people’s skin. I think I’d just have to look at them and they’d wind me up. I've got to be careful what I say, but I think they’re magnificent defenders, especially as a partnership. As a two, I think they're as good as any out there. Given what they bring to the table, the way they would probably crawl under my skin and wind me up, I'd have to say those two.
Player most like to face | Virgil van Dijk
I’ve heard van Dijk smells incredible and the best smelling footballer that’s ever walked the planet – but he’s got everything. I remember when I was halfway through my career, I hadn't really played in the Premier League, and I was desperate to play against Des Walker, because of the strengths that he had. He had ridiculous pace, he was strong as an ox and I got the chance to do that. But I’d have to say van Dijk because I think he’s as good as any that are out there. He reads the game well, he’s physically strong, he’s powerful, he’s quick, he can play, he’s good in the air, so I’d love to have a go against him.
Manager most like to play for | Carlo Ancelotti
This is quite an easy one for me – Carlo Ancelotti. His longevity in the game, whenever he’s been, he’s been successful, wherever he’s been he’s won trophies. He comes over as quite an unassuming, down to earth kind of person. He’s not a ranter or a raver, but don't get me wrong, I’m sure he’s got that side to him, but it looks like he’s the sort of manager that will put his arm around you, if needs be. He’s just such a cool, composed character on the touchline. He’s not one of these that’s here, there and everywhere, so he would be the one that I would have loved to play for.
Competition most like to win | Premier League
I mean, I’d have loved to have won the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup. Back in the day, the FA Cup was huge. You’d get up at nine o'clock, watch ‘It's a Knockout’, you’d watch the cameras going to the teams hotels, follow the bus going to Wembley, but it's not what it used to be sadly, so it’s got to be the league for me. In a cup competition, you can have an off day or you can play badly, but you can still go through to the next round somehow by scraping a win. You need a little bit of luck with winning a cup competition, but in a 38-game season, you might get a little bit of luck, but it's your consistency throughout that period that wins in the league.
Stadium most like to play at | San Siro
The Spurs stadium looks incredible, the Bernabeu now how they’ve developed it, it kind of looks like a spaceship, and I’ve not the new vast Nou Camp yet, but I think the most iconic one for me is the San Siro. It was built for Italia 90, it has those four turrets, the first game that was held there I think was Argentina versus Cameroon, and I took my son there a few years ago for a Champions League game and they played Shakhtar Donetsk, so I’ve actually been to the stadium and the atmosphere then, although it was only three quarters full was absolutely magnificent. I've got a bit of a soft spot for AC Milan as well, so to play at the San Siro would be it for me.
Aspect most like to have | Playing out from defence
There’s a new rule coming in next season with the goalkeeper holding onto the ball. He’s got six or eight seconds holding it, otherwise it’s a corner kick. Even now, when I’m watching games, it leaves me pulling my hair when you see goalkeepers catching a ball, going down, holding on for it for 20 minutes and then rolling it out, so I welcome that with open arms.
Aspect least like to have | Social media
Towards the end of my career, mobile phones were just starting to come out, but for 85 to 90% of my career, there was no such thing and these days, the players can’t go anywhere without someone putting the mobile phone in their faces when they’re out having meals with their children, or whether they're on holiday, there are always people taking photographs of them on their phones. That would have absolutely driven me mad.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2024/25 matchday programme. Last season's programmes are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
