Interview: The Myth Becomes A Reality... Meet CAPSman

Dear reader, you already know that we get some of the best interviews around on this site, and we work hard behind the scenes at all times to bring you more.

Now it has to be said that it isn't always the easiest of tasks to get hold of ex-pros, and even when they do want to talk to us, it still isn't the easiest of tasks to actually get an interview done, whether it be scheduling it on the phone, or getting a reply via email.

In this instance however, there was absolutely no danger of that becoming an issue, as we had, quite easily, the most enthusiastic response that we've ever had.

While this pro may not have played for our beloved club a huge amount of times, his reaction to our interview request was thoroughly refreshing. Well, see for yourselves.

"HELLO

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SPEAK TO YOU PLEASE SEND ME THE QUESTIONS

I WILL ANSWER THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.....

WOULD BE GREAT TO SPEAK TO THE FANTASTIC FANS OF SAFC AS I HAD

A WONDERFUL TIME THERE BUT NEVER COULD SAY GOODBYE TO THE PEOPLE

WHO SUPPORTED ME THAT WELL...."

So, the obvious question is, who is CAPSman? Some say that he can toast bread just by looking at it, some say that he beat Top Gear's Stig in a race - on foot, all that we know is he used to play for Sunderland FC, and his name is, JURGEN MACHO.

I'm sure that you will excuse us for the punctuation, it just didn't seem right to make it, well, normal. Here we go, in all it's completely unedited glory....

Hi Jurgen. It's our pleasure to speak to you. Who were your football heroes when you were growing up?

I DIDNT HAVE A REALLY FOOTBALL HERO I TRIED TO SEE AND LEARN FROM ALL THE GOOD GOALKEEEPERS

IN THE WORLD I TRY TO PUT SOME THINGS TO MY GAME BUT NEVER LOOSE MY OWN STYLE.

AND I MEAN IN ALL ASPECTS FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I WAS A KID I SAW MY FATHER PLAY WHO PLAYED LOWER

LEVEL BUT THE WORK SPIRIT HE PUT IN EVERY TRAINING EVERY GAME THAT WAS SOMETHING I WANTED TO

HAVE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE PETER SCHMEICHEL I PLAYED AGAINST HIM PERSONALLY WITH SAFC AGAINST

MAN CITY HIS PRESENCE AS GOALKEEPER....THERE ARE SO MANY TOO LEARN FROM....HOPEFULLY

SOMEONE WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM ME :-) HAHAHA

What is your favourite memory from your time at Sunderland?

THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE STADIUM OF LIGHT - AND THE PASSION FROM THE FANS FOR THE CLUB.....

And the game that you look back on most fondly?

MY FIRST GAME FOR SAFC AGAINST ARSENAL - MY FIRST GAME IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE ... I CAME INSIDE AT

HALF TIME FOR THE INJURED TOMMY SÖRENSEN ... WE WON 1-0 CLEAN SHEET ...A UNFORGETABLE

MOMENT IN MY FOOTBALL CAREER.

What was your impression of Sunderland before you joined?

FOR ME FIRST IT WAS A INCREDIBLE STEP FROM THE SECOND DIVISION IN AUSTRIA TO COME TO THE

PREMIER LEAGUE. I DIDNT KNOW TOO MUCH TO BE FAIR BUT I LEARNED VERY FAST IT WAS A CLUB WITH A

GOOD SETUP AND A FANTASTIC STADIUM WITH VERY PASSIONATE FANS.

Did it change, and if so, how?

NO.

A lot of people see the North East of England as being 'unfashionable', how were you persuaded to come here?

AS I SAID FOR ME IT WAS THE TARGET TO PLAY IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE ...TO PLAY IN ONE OF THE BEST

LEAGUES WITH THE BEST PLAYERS TO CHALLENGE..... I HAD NO PROBLEMS TO LIFE UP NORTH AND IF I

WANTED FASHION I SHOULD HAVE BECOME A MODEL - HAHAHA...

Who was the best player that you played alongside at Sunderland FC?

KEVIN PHILLIPS WAS A TOP CLASS PLAYER AND NIALL QUINN - A REAL LEADER ON AND OFF THE FIELD .....

And the best that you played against?

IF YOU SEE THE QUALITY IN THE PREMIERSHIP ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY.... FOR EXAMPLE AGAINST

DAVID BECKHAM I ALWAYS HAD A HARD TIME...

Was there anyone that you used to dread facing?

NO.

How did your move to Chelsea come about?

MY CONTRACT WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE I HAD A CHAT WITH MICK MC CARTHY, THE COACH BY THE TIME AND

HE TOLD ME HE IS NOT PLANNING WITH ME. CHELSEA WATCHED ME IN SOME GAMES BEFORE AND WHEN I

FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT THEY WANTED TO SIGN ME THERE WERE NO DOUBTS FOR ME WHERE I WANTED

TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE.

Do you ever regret the move?

I REGRET NOTHING BECAUSE WHEN I MAKE DECISIONS I LIFE WITH THEM......

You were at the club with Howard Wilkinson, what were your thoughts on him?

HE GAVE ME THE CHANCE TO PLAY AGAIN AFTER A DIFFICULT TIME IN SAFC FOR ME AND I ALWAYS

REMEMBER HIM FOR THE - "HE COULD NOT EVEN CATCH A BEACHBALL BEFORE" - THING.... I WAS WINNING

ONCE THE NORTH EAST SAVE OF THE SAISON AWARD AND GOD'S PLEASURE IT WAS NO BEACHBALL THAT

I SAVED HAHAHAHAHAAHHH.......

Do you still follow Sunderland at all?

YES I FOLLOW THE RESULTS ALWAYS.

How does the Greek league compare with the Premiership?

PREMIERSHIP IS PREMIERSHIP...

Do you have plans for when your playing career is over?

YES I WILL BECOME A GOALKEEPER COACH AND THE GOALKEEPERS WILL HAVE A HARD

LIFE....hahahaahhaaha.. NO SERIOUS, I WANT TO GIVE ALL MY EXPERIENCE ALL MY THOUGHST ALL MY

IMPRESSIONS TO OTHERS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED I WHAT I AM GOOD IN I BELIVE....

And, to put you on the spot, who would be in a team of the XI best players that you played alongside?

FOR THIS QUESTION THE STARTING LINEUP MUST INCLUDE MORE THAN 11 PLACES THERE ARE SO MANY

FANTSTIC PLAYERS WHICH I HAVE PLAYED IN MY TIME IN ENGLAND-GERMANY-GREECE AND WITH THE

NATIONALTEAM OF AUSTRIA.....SO I WILL PICK ONLY MYSELF IN THE TEAM AND THE REST THE EXPERTS

SHOULD MAKE .......HAHAHAHAHAHA!

And that, my friends, was CAPSman. The most enthusiastic recipient we have ever had, and a true gentleman. I speak for all of us at Roker Report when I wish him all the best in the future. I seem to remember links to West Brom floating around recently, so we may see him back at the SOL sooner, rather than later.

And before I go, Mr Macho tagged this statement on the end. It's for me, you, and everyone else who supports our magnificent club.

I HOPE I COULD HELP YOU WITH MY ANSWERS SOMETIMES THERE WERE LITTLE BIT FUNNY BUT THIS IS

THE WAY I AM ......ONE LAST WORD I WANTED TO SAY TO THE FANS OF SAFC:

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE SUPPORT THEY GAVE ME AT MY TIME AT SAFC IT WAS A

FANTASTIC TIME IN MY CAREER WHICH I WILL NEVER FORGET...I WILL ALWAYS LOOK BACK WITH JOY.....

HA´WAY THE LADS

JÜRGEN