TheFA.Com's Joe Bernstein will be asking the same seven key questions to every Premiership manager this season giving them a unique chance to speak about the game - from what rule change they would like to see in football to their favourite motto and dream signing.

Gaffer Tapes - Terry Venables (Leeds United)

One of the most colourful and controversial managers in the game, Venables has a glittering c.v. that includes Barcelona and England. The first player to win England honours at every level from schoolboy to full international, Venables made an instant impact as a manager, building the so-called 'Team of the Eighties' at Crystal Palace before helping QPR reach the FA Cup Final as a Second Division club.

His feats in London attracted the attention of Barcelona, whom he helped win the Spanish League and reach the European Cup Final, which they lost on penalties.

When he returned to England, Venables helped Spurs win the 1991 FA Cup but off-field problems with chairman Sir Alan Sugar ended in the High Court and Venables losing his job.

He proved a master-coach when he helped England get to the semi-finals of Euro 96, a summer where football 'came home' and dominated the national consciousness.

Since then, ill-fated spells at Portsmouth and Crystal Palace have been interspersed with success with Australia and Middlesbrough. He gave up the TV punditry to take over at Leeds United last summer where a difficult season has been part-rescued by another FA Cup run. Then he met TheFA.com...

MOST AND LEAST ENJOYABLE PARTS OF YOUR JOB?

It sounds simple but winning and losing matches. As a player, I hated to lose at anything - even a game of cards.

I was warned that when I became a manager, the disappointment of losing would be ten-fold and that is right because you feel responsible and so many people are affected by team's result. The winning is all the more satisfying as well.



THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE SINCE YOU WERE A PLAYER?

I think it is the pressure and expectation from media and, most particularly fans, that follows every single game. I know it meant a lot 30 years ago if you won or lost a game but it seems more extreme now.

Fans just have to see their team win these days, the media have tapped into this and hit you really hard after defeat. I don't know if it's because families or religion are less part of peoples lives now, but the football club seems to give supporters this belonging.

They don't like mixing with fans of other teams at work if their club have lost a match. It is almost like a religion and personally I think there is too much hype now surrounding individual results.

ONE FOOTBALL RULE YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE?

Instead of settling games with a penalty shoot-out, which is a lottery, introduce something that requires skill to win it. Let's face it, I could still score a penalty - it seems daft to get professional players to settle something that anyone can do.

I would prefer it if players ran in on goal from the halfway line with a defender chasing them, that happens in a game so it would require skill to score and would be exciting.

It could go into sudden-death from the start; so if team A scores and team B misses it is all over. I think that is a lot fairer than penalties.

People are averse to change for some reason; I don't look at it as change - I call it improvement.

OTHER PREMIERSHIP MANAGER YOU MOST ADMIRE?

I would like to give a special mention to Graeme Souness. I remember Graeme when he was starting his career as a youngster at Spurs. He had that confident air about him then - he thought he should be in the first-team at 14! I've always followed his career since then.

As a manager I think he's been brave and stuck to his principles. He went to Scotland and did a little revolution there, he has been abroad in Turkey where they are very passionate about their football and he's done a great job at Blackburn.

He loves his job and I've always got on well with him. He has that authority and confidence about him, he has always had it really. I like and admire a lot of managers but to win a trophy with a club like Blackburn who haven't got the most money or best players is impressive.

PREMIERSHIP PLAYER YOU WOULD SIGN IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT?

Thierry Henry is a special player, because he has ability and he is playing with a lot of confidence. When a player has ability and no confidence, you don't see the ability.

And when I say confidence, I mean a strong inner-confidence - not a flashy arrogance. That only makes you sloppy on the field. Henry is full of self-belief and that is why he's so effective on the pitch.



HOW DO THE PLAYERS ADDRESS YOU?

They can call me what they like - I haven't got rules about it. Most of them call me Boss or Gaffer but some call me Terry from time to time and that's fine.

I don't think insisting a player calling you Boss automatically means they respect you; respect has to be earned by a manager. So really it's the players' call, 'Thingy' if they like!



WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

My wife introduced me to the poem If by Rudyard Kipling and I think that it's fantastic - every single line has a very strong meaning. I know I'm not the first to use the poem but I really think it's fantastic.

("If you can dream and not make dreams your master, if you can think and not make thoughts your aim. If you can meet with triumph, and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same...")


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