Teddy Sheringham Exclusive Interview with WDW Bingo

Teddy Sheringham is a former professional footballer and manager who played for Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Millwall and others, scoring 288 goals in 788 club appearances and making 51 appearances for England, scoring 11 goals.

He spoke exclusively to WDW Bingo on the 25th March 2025.

Q: Man United went into the break 7 games unbeaten (if you discard losing on penalties). Are you seeing any signs of what the future might bring under Ruben Amorim’s tenure?

Teddy Sheringham: “Ruben Amorin comes across well in the media, he speaks the truth. This can be both positive and negative, as sometimes you have to be a little bit coy when you’re a manager and he’s found out quickly that being too honest in a big job can send a negative message. But I am a fan of Amorin, but he has a huge job on his hands, which I am sure he knew when he came to the club.

“Many managers and teams in the Premier League have tried to execute the 3-4-3 formation with mixed success. We have seen success with all kinds of formations over the years, but the players have to understand it. When the players don’t know how to play it naturally, because they have never played it in their lives, then that’s where the problems occur. A lot of Premier League teams are accustomed to four at the back, which is generally the norm, but now and again some teams experiment, like Amorin is doing at United now.

“If he gets the right players, then maybe it will work, but it looks a bit forced at the moment. Most Premier League teams play with three up front, a striker and two wingers, and I’m not sure having three centre-backs marking those three players will work consistently, and you have to be consistent to see success.

“You can play any formation you want in football, but other managers and teams will make plans to counteract it. Amorin will have to change things sometimes, otherwise they will get caught out, and they need to be able to surprise other teams. It’s never going to be as simple as playing this system, and everything will work out perfectly as other managers in the game are out there to counteract it.

“Other teams won’t just roll over in the Premier League or in Europe, and if United get this formation right, they still have to go out there and perform individually and as a team. The players have to win their battles, defend as a team, be creative and attack with confidence. Football isn’t just about the tactics and systems.”

Q: What have you made of Amorin’s signings so far? He brought in Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu in January, who have been involved quite a lot up until the injury/suspension.

TS: “I think the new signings have done well, but I haven’t noticed anything special so far. These players, especially because they are so young, will need some time to settle in and adapt to Man United. Similarly to the manager, they are settling in, and I think over time we will see more from them, hopefully as soon as next season.”

Q: United have gotten very few goals from their strikers this season, no matter who has played up top. As a former striker yourself, can you put a few words as to why that is?

TS: “I’m a fan of Rasmus Højlund; he’s got something about him as a striker, and that’s a positive sign for United. Joshua Zirkzee has also shown signs of quality over the last few months and may suit the deeper role. I don’t necessarily think it is the system’s fault that the strikers aren’t scoring, but the quality of the supply line.

“Back when I was playing, I had players like David Beckham and Ryan Giggs supplying me with chances and great quality balls into the box. Man United couldn’t be further from this now, playing with two inverted wingers. The left-footed players are playing on the right and the right-footers on the left, all with the view of cutting in and shooting, not supplying the strikers with chances. When Marcus Rashford was playing, and even Alejandro Garnacho now, all the wingers want to do is cut in and shoot, despite United not scoring many goals like this.

“However, when they can’t shoot, then all of a sudden they just give a little poked ball to the striker as if to say they can’t go any further, you can have it now and get on with it. What are Højlund and Zirkzee meant to do with that? In my opinion, whoever plays up front is being starved of service and that has to change if you want the strikers to thrive.”

Q: How would you have felt up front in this formation, having typically played up front with a partner in your career?

TS: “I wouldn’t have liked playing up front in this formation. Back in my heyday when I was playing for Millwall, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, I wanted service, if wingers didn’t get the ball in the box, I’d be screaming at them. Wingers at United now just mess around with the ball too long, they create space for a cross and then cut back on themselves wanting to beat the man again.

“I wanted my wingers to get their half-yard, get the ball in the box, and I can work off that. If you don’t get the ball in a box, I can’t score goals. I wasn’t the type of player to have the ball threaded from a midfield player on the edge of the box and turn and rifle one for 20 yards, and I don’t think Højlund and Zirkzee are either. I relied on service and even with how much the game has changed, I can’t name many centre forwards that don’t need to be supplied with chances.”

Q: Can you see Chido Obi getting a run of games up front before the end of the season? He has looked positive in the few sub-appearances he has made.

TS: “I hope Chido Obi will get a chance up front sometime soon. United have bought themselves a bit of breathing space by winning games recently, therefore, you earn the right to experiment and give young players a chance. I think it also makes a point to the hierarchy at the club, demonstrating that some of these players aren’t good enough, so I am having to play the young lad who maybe isn’t quite ready for the first team.

“Amorin can make the point of ‘if you want me to succeed as the manager, you must invest in new players this summer’. Over the past few weeks and months, Amorin has become more flexible, he has changed a lot of players and given players a chance from the bench. Therefore, there’s every chance Chido Obi will get his chance between now and the end of the season, he will have to take his chance and prove himself, otherwise new signings will come through the door.”

Q: What have you made of United’s recruitment over the past few years and where should their focus be this summer?

TS: “United need to be signing all the top players that become available if they want to get back to where they were under Sir Alex Ferguson. Harry Kane and Declan Rice were made available two years ago, and they missed the opportunity to sign both of them. Under Fergie’s rule, if top British players became available, he would snap them up, and that is why United had so much success. Players like Gary Pallister, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand, and Wayne Rooney, once they were made available, Fergie got them to Manchester United. This was because he knew that they were top players who led by example, which is what you need in the Premier League.

“When Kane and Rice were available, United should have been chomping at the bit to get them in, and they were nowhere near signing them. They chose not to spend the 100 million and went on to spend 50, 60 or 70 million on lesser, untried and untested players. These signings have pretty much all been a waste of money and time. United didn’t spend top dollar on quality players, they spent a lot of money on a lot of underwhelming names and players, which combined probably cost more than what Kane and Rice would have. United should have been aiming for quality over quantity, no matter the price tag, but it has been quantity over quality for a long time now at United.”

Q: How important do you think Premier League experience is when it comes to bringing in new players for a club like Man United?

TS: “I think it is a really important part of signing a player, especially if you desperately need them to perform for the club immediately. Premier League experience is vital when you move to a top club, but there are exceptions.

“Once in a while, you get one player that comes along that understands the Premier League, gets up to speed quickly and adapts well, but it’s a rarity. Usually, it takes foreign players a little while to understand the culture and the pace of the Premier League and the commitment needed to succeed. This commitment and effort isn’t required in France, Spain, or Italy as you roll over the bottom teams, so the season isn’t as testing, the Premier League is much more well-rounded and competitive.”

Q: Do you have United as favourites to win the Europa League?

TS: “Man United must be the favourites for the Europa League, they’re a massive football club with a worldwide reputation and a big tradition of winning. Therefore, whoever they meet in the rest of the competition will fear them naturally, and they will be underdogs playing against Manchester United because of the stature of the club. No matter how well their opponents are doing domestically or so far in Europe, the other teams will be looking at them feeling inferior.”

Q: United recently announced plans to move from Old Trafford into a new stadium, what did you make of this news?

TS: “I’m not surprised they are doing it, a lot of football clubs are moving on now, aren’t they? Arsenal have done it, Tottenham have done it more recently, and Everton are moving next season. It is the new ‘in’ thing to do for the clubs to update or move stadiums; it’s happening all over the world.

“If they could have updated Old Trafford and made that work, I’m sure they would have done. Even if they did that, it still won’t be a new stadium and there’ll still be old parts to it, so they might as well build a new stadium, so I’m not surprised they are moving on.”

Q: Similarly to Man United, Spurs are having a very up-and-down season, but they are still in the Europa League. Do you think they will win the competition?

TS: “I wouldn’t be betting on either Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United to get to the final. They have both had ups and downs this season, and I can’t see either of them correcting that and being consistent enough to win a European trophy. I hope I am wrong, as I would love to see a Spurs vs Man United final that would be a great watch and I would have ties to both sides of the game.”

Q: Do you think Spurs may sack Ange Postecoglou if they don’t win the Europa League?

TS: “I think if Spurs finish where they are currently in the league and don’t win the Europa League, then conversations will be had regarding Ange Postecoglou’s job. There are already rumours circling, which isn’t a good sign for Ange, and if they don’t win the cup, then it’ll be a really poor season.

“However, at this moment in time, I have every confidence in him and his football team. When they get their full-strength team back, they will look like a completely different outfit. Quite a few of their players haven’t been away on international duty, which always helps, they will have loved a bit of time off, and I expect them to finish the season strong, and if that means they win the Europa League, then brilliant.”

Q: How much have Spurs’ defensive injuries impacted their season?

TS: “The injuries Spurs have had this season have been terrible. They have had their two centre-backs and their goalkeeper out for a significant amount of time, which is the backbone of the team. Those three players make a huge difference for the team when they are fit, as they bring lots of talking and plenty of leadership, which gives the whole team a confidence boost. Plus, they are all great players in their own right, which helps take the pressure off some of the other players in the team.”

“When those players aren’t there, everyone has to adapt their game, and then this season it means a lot of young players have played who need looking after due to their inexperience. I can’t stress enough how important getting these players back is for Spurs and Ange, as he has harped on in countless interviews over the season. I am confident that once the squad is back to full strength week in and week out, you will see a completely different Spurs side which can compete with the very best.”

Q: Archie Gray is having a standout season, getting lots of game time due to Spurs’ injury struggles. What have you made of his season so far?

TS: “Archie Gray has been absolutely brilliant for Spurs this season. He was a top signing, and all Spurs fans should be excited about him. A lot of young players would have folded under the situation that he’s been in this season, but he has just stepped up to the plate time and time again.”

He’s played in central midfield, on the wing, full back and centre back, putting in brilliant performances all over the pitch. He’s been a revelation. But I have one worry for him, and I’m sure he feels the same way, he won’t want to be known as the utility man. He will want to nail down a position for next season to have as his own to play in every week, but I think he’s been fantastic so far for Spurs.”

Q: Do you expect Nottingham Forest to be in the Champions League next season?

TS: “It’ll be a tough run-in at the end of this season for Nottingham Forest. I’ve seen the end of the season from both sides of the coin in my career, being involved with top teams and smaller teams. People think it’s easy, the hard work is done, and you are coasting towards success at the end of the season, but it’s not. You have to be focused until the final whistle on the last day of the season.

“The games get harder because other teams start playing for European places, which there are even more of now and then others are playing to avoid relegation. It’s easier than you think to take your foot off the accelerator and drop points in games you ordinarily would have won.

“However, I think they will get to Champions League football because of the manager and the type of players involved with Nottingham Forest. They understand the stakes and what it will mean for the club, but it is still a big ask. Clubs are breathing down their neck like Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle, all looking to take their spot. They need to fight until the end and keep battling for wins, but I believe they will see it out and be in the Champions League next season.”

Q: Will Forest struggle to keep their best players this summer?

TS: ‘It’s all down to the owner and those in the top jobs at the football club to decide. I think Evangelos Marinakis is very optimistic and reaching for the stars at Nottingham Forest, he clearly just wants the club to get bigger and better. Therefore, I’ll be very surprised if he allows anybody to leave, and I don’t think many players would want to leave this project. However, money talks, especially in football. If teams come in with ridiculous bids, then inevitably players will be sold, but at the moment I only see Marinakis excited about taking Forest to the next level.”

Q: Have you been surprised by the resurgence of Chris Wood this season?

TS: “I’ve heard a lot of people say that he’s having a wonderful season, but he’s a goal scorer and always has been, he just has a good supply of chances now in this Forest team. Their two wingers, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi, work hard to supply their centre forward with lots of chances, and it has been working for them all season.

“Now compare Forest to Manchester United and it’s like night and day. Forest get the ball into the box for Chris Wood, who is scoring a lot of goals, as would a lot of strikers in the Premier League if they get an abundance of chances. But take nothing away from Chris Wood, he is having a brilliant season so far.”

Q: I know Morgan Gibbs-White got a late call-up to the England squad, but were you surprised that there were no Forest players in the original squad?

TS: “I have never been a fan of players having half a good season and then getting straight into the England squad. Unless you’re an absolute superstar like Paul Gascoigne, who came along and everyone knew he had to be selected immediately.

“I like players to have two good seasons before they get into the England squad, this gives them a chance to really prove themself domestically. I don’t like it when these flash-in-the-pan players who have had a good month or two get straight in the team, as more often than not it becomes apparent that perhaps they aren’t good enough for England.”

Q: It looks like West Ham will survive this season. What has Graham Potter done to turn the team around since his arrival?

TS: “Graham Potter is just a good fit for West Ham, his personality and managerial style suit the club. As soon as West Ham appointed Julen Lopetegui, you could feel the murmurs as soon as he came into the football club, the fans were sceptical of him. The vibes in the appointment were just off, and it was strange how quickly everyone picked up on it.

“However, as soon as Potter got the job, many West Ham fans thought he would be a good fit. He’s got that persona that we like, a very workmanlike order in his camp, very structured, and he’s likeable. He got great results at Brighton but took on a tough job at Chelsea, and he will have learnt plenty from that experience. He knows what he wants and I think he’s got a nice way of getting it across to his players, I’m optimistic for West Ham in the long run.”

Q: Can you see teams sniffing around their top players like Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in the summer?

TS: “The pair of them are fantastic players. Although I don’t know him personally, I think Jarrod Bowen seems quite happy at West Ham, and I could see him staying for the long run.

“Mohammed Kudus looks like a fantastic player, but if they got a big bid for him in the summer, I could see the club letting him go, although I am sure they would love to keep him. He’s just come on the scene and really come into his own, but sometimes you watch some players and they look like they can go on to other clubs. Other players like Bowen look like they’re made to play for certain clubs, but I can see Kudus moving on in the summer if the money is right and suits all parties. I think they would get big money for him.”

Q: What did you make of Thomas Tuchel’s first two games in charge for England?

TS: “I went to the game against Albania and I was quite impressed. I thought it was a good game, England played well, and Albania came to compete. On the other hand, Latvia had no intention of competing with England; they just defended all game. It makes it more of a spectacle when a team comes to play against you.

“There was some exquisite play from different personnel. Such as the first goal – Jude Bellingham finding the turn and the pass to Myles Lewis-Skelly for the first goal was absolutely brilliant. Kane’s goal was a really cool finish, and those goals just showed how good those two players are.

“The game against Latvia was much tougher because all they wanted to do was defend and keep the score down, which made the game boring. I don’t think teams like Latvia should be in this group with England, they should have to qualify for the group through a playoff or something similar because they never beat anyone that gets close to qualifying for a World Cup. That way, these games would be much more entertaining and only teams capable of putting in at least a half-decent performance would be involved. But it was a game that needed winning and ticking off, which England managed, so we can’t complain.

“I can understand fans moaning about the lacklustre performance. But I’ve been there and played in those types of games myself. It’s tough on the players when you just have to break teams down. Reece James scored a worldie that broke the deadlock and changed the face of the game, after that went in, it was game over and job done.”

Q: Do you see Harry Kane being captain of England and starting up front at the World Cup next summer?

TS: “Yeah, I think Kane will be captain and leading the line next summer in the World Cup. Thomas Tuchel has only had good things to say about him, and I think he looks free when he plays, looks mobile and is confident in front of goal. There is no doubt in my mind Kane will be England’s main man next summer.”

Q: Which striker in the Premier League now reminds you the most of yourself and why?

TS: “Nobody in the Premier League at the moment particularly reminds me of myself, but that is because when I played, I worked with and off another striker. However, in my early days, I had a similar play style to Chris Wood, but as I got older, my game adapted. I started dropping a bit deeper, but he is still the main center forward; he stays high up the pitch. We are both good with our heads and good finishers, so I think he is the closest striker to me in the Premier League at the moment.”

Q: You moved in your career from Spurs to Man United, which enabled you to win trophies. Alexander Isak just won the League Cup with Newcastle, but would you advise him to move to a club that has a better chance of winning regularly?

TS: “Alexander Isak is in a very different situation from what I was in at Tottenham. When I was playing for Tottenham, the club wasn’t ambitious, so I felt I had to leave to improve my situation.

“Whereas, at Newcastle, for Isak, he’s at a fantastic football club that wants to improve. They’re ambitious, and the fans should be excited about where the club is heading. The place is on fire at every home game, and I don’t see any reason why he would want to leave an amazing club that plays to his strengths and allows him to score goals. He is the best striker in the Premier League without a doubt, and my advice to him would be to enjoy his football, love the position he’s in and carry on scoring goals.”

Q: Who was your favourite strike partner you had in your career and why?

TS: “I had two favourite strike partners in Alan Shearer and Jürgen Klinsmann. They were both phenomenal players. Shearer was the main man for England, and he was a joy to play with. When Klinsmann came to Tottenham, he was absolutely unbelievable, a World Cup winner that could have come in and swanned around, but he was the exact opposite. He was such a talented footballer and an absolute pleasure to play with.”

Q: You played with Paul Scholes at United, who was a brilliant passer of the ball, but is there anyone else you played with in your career who went under the radar that you thought could match his vision and creativity?

TS: “Without a doubt, it would be Darren Anderton. Anderton doesn’t get the respect that he deserves. He was a phenomenal player for both Tottenham and England, criminally underrated. Anderton was that good that Man United tried to buy him more than once, but it didn’t quite happen for whatever reason.

“When I was on England duty, all the Man United players used to say to me ‘Go and talk to Darren, get him to come and play for us’ and believe me, I tried because he was a top player, but it never quite happened.”