Wilson backs Green and Wenger to shine

West Ham’s Rob Green was backed by a fellow member of the goalkeeping union who visited Canary Wharf last week.

Bob Wilson, who kept goal in Arsenal’s double-winning season in 1971, believes Green has had the rough end of the stick when it comes to national recognition.

Green missed out on selection when England played Germany two weeks ago and Wilson, who was in Canary Wharf to promote his latest book, Life In The Beautiful Game, says the ex-Norwich stopper deserves to be a regular under Fabio Capello.

Wilson said: “Rob Green’s been terrific. He’s in and out of the squad and I think he’s going to be one of these goalies, like Bert Williams and Ted Ditchburn, who never played the number of games they should have.

“He’s a terrific player and when you think of Rob’s consistency he should be up there.

“If they are playing Scott Carson then Rob should be in there as well. He’s playing for his club on a regular basis and you are not going to have a West Ham side currently without Rob Green in goal.�

Wilson, 67, believes England have a real problem when it comes to goalkeepers and he lays the blame at the Football Association’s door for not having a proper structure in place.

He said: “It’s serious because there’s not this developing line. One of the reasons is because the FA have never used the likes of Gordon Banks, probably the greatest ever, Peter Shilton, with 125 caps, or David Seaman, 75 caps. Where are they on the coaching scenario?

“David’s done all his coaching badges but doesn’t want to be a coach from 7am to 7pm, which is the modern way with clubs. But you need to develop the young goalies and at international level you do it differently so you use people like David to keep the production line going.�

On the club front Wilson is backing under-fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, despite the Gunners lagging behind Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League.

Wilson said: “One of Arsene’s biggest problems is that he’s French. They wouldn’t batter Sir Alex Ferguson the way they do Arsene. He’s had 12 extraordinary years and only when he’s gone will people fully appreciate it.

“I know what he’s trying to do and what Arsenal are trying to do. They are not in debt to the tune of £400m or whatever Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are.

“Arsenal only have the debt of the new stadium. When that’s paid they are going to be big time. It doesn’t help the supporters at this moment, but we have to believe in his philosophy and that is power, pace, youth, amazing technique and play the game in a certain way, the beautiful way.

“He believes the amount people are paying to watch their football nowadays is right on the edge of being outrageous so he wants people to go home – win, lose or draw – saying ‘I’ve had value for money’ and I admire that.�

Wilson also fears Arsenal could lose their best young players to the wealthier clubs, with 16-year-old wonderkid Jack Wilshere certain to be a target for the likes of Chelsea.

He said: "That's my only concern, actually, that we don't become a breeding ground for clubs like Chelsea and the big wealthy ones, who say they will double your money.

"Ashley Cole really upset me because he was always an Arsenal man, from being a kid, and it still upsets me. I sat with him on his last morning at the club, when he wasn't part of the new season's photograph, and said 'What are you doing? Why do want to leave this?'.

"But he doesn't regret it. There's a financial side and you move on. But I think the way all that was done is the reason why the Arsenal fans, who loved him as a footballer, are upset by the manner in which he underwent the negotiations.

"It's not a new thing in football and that's my worry. Arsene develops all this for the game and then loses it."

Wilson’s book profiles 69 football figures with whom he has had an association in more than 50 years in the game.

He said: “Each profile starts with a quote or two and then it’s my personal story or stories about that great person, their effect on the game, and the part of the game right from 1957.

“It basically traces my life from being a 15-year-old Busby Babe at the time of the Munich air crash, right through to me now. Those I played with, those I coached, those I interviewed for television and got to know well, like the great Bill Shankly.�

With so many great players to choose from, who does Wilson rate as the greatest he's seen?

"George Best was exceptional but it's hard to say who was definitively the best. I played against [Johan] Cruyff, Bestie, and Jimmy Greaves scared me to death. Maybe those.

"Played with? Liam Brady probably but that's for technical ability. Captain? Frank McLintock.

"Of the modern era we were so privileged to watch Thierry Henry in his pomp, while Dennis Bergkamp was spatial awareness gone mad. His ability to see the whole field was amazing.

"Then great people at Arsenal like [Tony] Adams and [Patrick] Vieira, great leaders. Maybe we could do with one or two of those at the moment."

The book makes an ideal Christmas present and all royalties will go to Wilson’s other great passion, The Willow Foundation, the charity he set up in memory of his daughter Anna, who died of cancer 10 years ago this week, aged 31.

And Wilson revealed Arsene Wenger proved to be as good a friend as he is a football manager as he helped him get through the trauma of losing a child.

"Arsene was amazing," he said. "He supported me and he kept me going often. He was just an ear for me.

"Some people found it difficult to talk when Anna was ill. Arsene didn't. He would ask me about her medical treatment, he wanted to know where medical science had got to and the surgery. He's an extraordinary man and he was a huge help for me.

"He came to Anna's funeral and he always listened to me when Anna was fighting her fight and the journey she had with her illness."

The Willow Foundation provides special days for people aged between 16-40 suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Despite his personal tragedy Wilson, a He came to Anna's funeral, he always listened to me when Anna was fighting her fight and the journey she had with her illness.

"The story has been wonderful," said Wilson. "We've been nine years and three or four months as a charity, going from 17 special days in year one to where we are now, a national charity.

"We give over 1,500 special days a year, we have 36 full-time staff, and we require £3.5million a year. It's an amazing story. We know our special days work for the people and their families because they are getting a bit of normality at a horrible time.

"Basically we are replicating Anna's special days, which keeps her alive. Our lives have changed for ever and we will never, ever get over losing Anna but we got on with our lives.

"We've got wonderful grandchildren, we've got two great sons, and Anna, in a way, is still alive with her philosophy.

"It's an amazing positive out of a negative."

For more information on the Willow Foundation visit www.willowfoundation.org.uk

Life In The Beautiful Game is available from Waterstone’s in Jubilee Place mall.