Flying full-back and member of Wolves’ 300 Club Lee Naylor 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
Everyone probably would have said the best Man City side and the current Liverpool side, and I agree as I’ve always liked to play against the best teams and the best players. If I’m honest, I’ve always been that kind of player. I always wanted to go up against the best and test myself against the best. I always wanted to see if I can mix it with the best, and I would get into the mindset that I could get the better of anyone and by doing that, I wanted to play against the best.
Player most like to face | Mohamed Salah
Mo Salah is probably the best player, and especially the best right winger, in football at this moment, so if I was to go up against anyone it would be him. I had pace, and he's got pace as well, so he would have been a good match, but it’s just the fact that I don't give up, and I'd like to think that I was hard to play against. It would have been an endeavour for me to not wanting to get beat.
Player least like to face | Mohamed Salah
I’d have Salah as the same answer for that as well, but for the opposite reasons. I wouldn't say he cheats out, but he gets a free role in a sense, so if you got forward, he's not necessarily coming back with you every single time, which – as a defender – automatically stops you from getting forward. It's one of those catch 22 situations where you’re thinking that if I actually get forward here, is he going to come with me? Is it going to run back with me, or am I going to be chasing my tail all the way back if we lose the ball? It's one of those moments where I think it’s the same answer but for different reasons.
Manager most like to play for | Jose Mourinho
It would definitely be like a Mourinho type of manager. One that if you give them your respect, they'll give everything of them to you. Everything on and off the field, someone that would just go all in for you and, in return, you go all in for them. I don't think you can beat those managers. I never really had a manager like that in my career, although I really enjoyed playing under Gordon Strachan and Glenn Hoddle, but it wasn’t the same. They’re involved in their job and they did take time to try and make you a better player – and not many managers do that – but I just feel like a Mourinho would go all out to get to know you as a person, get to know your family, and if I was a manager, that's how I’d want to be.
Wolves player most like to play with | Joao Gomes
I just think Joao Gomes has got a lot. For me personally, I used to love getting forward so knowing that you've got that backup, and you've got that security if you get forward, that he’ll lock it in for you by not having to sprint all the way back straight away – similar to what he does for Rayan Ait-Nouri now. To have people in your team like that is indispensable.
Competition most like to win | Champions League
It’s got to be the Champions League. We did well and got to the last 16 twice, which is a massive achievement for Celtic. Those Champions League nights at Celtic Park, I don't think you'll ever beat it. I got the chance to go back as a fan against Barcelona, but when you’re on the pitch, you don't really get to see that side of things and it was just electrifying. When you’re on the pitch, you can feel the energy and the fans are so close they are your 12th man, which is why we got the results against the top teams, because I don't think you'll ever get a better atmosphere than Celtic on a Champions League night.
Stadium most like to play at | Santiago Bernabeu
The Bernabeu in Madrid. That was the one I always wanted to play at but we kept getting Barcelona every year! Don’t get me wrong, it was great to play against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, but that new Real Madrid stadium it looks amazing. Being in that arena to play football in would be brilliant, so that’s the one that I really wanted to tick off.
Aspect most like to have | VAR
I don’t mind VAR, I’ll be honest, but that’s only if it’s used in the right way and for decisions which are black and white, such as offsides. I would have liked to have had that, all day long. When someone is either onside or offside and there’s no argument then I’m happy with that. Goal line technology too. When you can’t argue with the decision then that’s what I want.
Aspect least like to have | VAR
Again, I’m giving you the same answer but for different reasons. I don’t like the human side of some of the VAR decision making. I’d rather them just make a decision on the pitch and not go to see a screen, because whenever they go and do that, some of it really baffles me because I don’t know what they’re seeing. Sometimes even when they’re looking back at a decision on the screen, they still get it wrong, so I’m glad I didn’t have the human side of VAR when I played but I wouldn’t have minded having the other side of it.
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.
