nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
On breaking through as an 18-year-old and the mistakes he made (December 2016)
"I struggled with the limelight. Some things happened in the past and I put it down to myself – I’ve been a bit young and a bit inexperienced in the game.
"Obviously about a year ago I broke through at Villa and I found it difficult to deal with to be honest. I didn’t really know what it was going to be like. I thought I’d just be the same normal Jack, but it wasn't really the case.
"But I’ve had some good advice from people, I've grown up a lot, and now I just really want to concentrate on my football.
"I've got the perfect manager for me here at the club at the moment, I’ve got the right people around me now, so hopefully I can carry on and do that and just let the football do the talking from now on.
"[Seeing myself in the papers] wasn’t the best for me or my family, but it happens. I was young, I’ve just got to learn from it and that’s what I’m trying to do."
On the holiday photos of him lying apparently drunk on the ground (August 2016)
"We all make mistakes when we’re young but you won’t be seeing me do any of that again.
"I felt like a kid last summer and in February last year, before Tim Sherwood came in, nobody would have known who I was. I didn't realise what the attention would be like, I just thought I’d go on holiday like all young lads do.
"I look back on it now and as a professional footballer you can’t do that sort of thing. We’re supposed to be role models for kids.
On being punished for being out at a nightclub after a defeat to Everton (August 2016)
"We’d got well beaten and I still went out, looking back it was stupid. We weren't having a great season and those are the days you’ve got to go home and reflect on it, stick your head under the pillow.
"I feel like I’ve matured a lot and grown up since then. It’s all about learning and I’m still only 20. You can see why the fans got frustrated and I’ve got a little bit to make up with them.
On his next holiday after the controversial one (August 2016)
"I went away to Dubai and Santorini with my girlfriend [Sasha] and was running on the beaches in the morning.
"I had a personal trainer with me. I was also going to the gym in the evenings at 7pm when she wanted to go out for dinner so I wasn’t too popular!"
On choosing England over the Republic of Ireland (August 2016)
"It was a big decision and wasn’t easy for me. I thought about it for a long time, spoke with my family and my agent, but in the end it came from me.
"I didn’t think it was going to be so big, I didn’t expect so much abuse from Ireland fans. I was still getting it during the Euros!
"But for my career I think if I fulfil my ability I feel I can play for England in years to come. I was born here, as were my parents, so I felt more English than Irish.
"I played for England at the Toulon Tournament and that was a great experience. I didn't really have a winning feeling last season so to play four of the five games, and score twice, ended it on a good note.
"A cap for the under-21s is the next target. There’s a qualifier in September and I want to try and be involved in that."
On dealing with opposition chants and Twitter trolls from his own club's fanbase (January 2017)
"I actually don’t mind a bit of football banter from opposing fans, in fact I quite like getting hammered by supporters of other clubs. But it’s when you get it from your own fans that it’s not nice.
"I've had people on social media saying ‘I wish you would die’ ‘I want to break your legs’ things like that.
"When I realise it’s from a Villa fan, that’s the saddest part because I think to myself ‘what have I ever done to you?’.
"I mean, I can understand if they don’t like me, that’s their opinion. There are always going to be people who are against you or don’t rate you.
"But to say some of the stuff, I can’t understand it. Sometimes it can get you down as a footballer. It’s why I don’t really look at the replies to my posts any more, sometimes it’s better that way."
On his playing style (January 2017)
"I try so, so hard to make a difference. I hate it when I hear people saying that I’m not trying hard enough because I put so much effort in.
"It’s my style I think. I’m a chilled-out player, if that’s the best way to describe me. I don’t go flying into tackles and running around 100mph, that's just not me.
"But to say I’m not trying is completely wrong. I give it everything, every game. And I will always give me all. That’s what it means to me playing for this club."
On always giving 100 per cent and not wanting to leave Aston Villa (February 2017)
"If I was in the Holte End watching me play, what I’d want to see is passion, to show you are fighting for the shirt. You’ve got players who have good technical ability, and the team and the fans expect more of those players. But first of all show that you want to play for the shirt.
I’ve grown up watching everyone on that pitch, hoping that one day that would be me. And it is me now. I just need to enjoy it and make the most of it. A lot of ex-pros have told me that sometimes you take it for granted, the playing, but they are the best days of your life. I’m 21 and I might have 15-16 years, but you never know what’s going to come along, do you?
"I would never want to leave the Villa. It’s a difficult question, but I wouldn't want to leave, no. I live here. I've been brought up here. I’m not planning on leaving any time soon.
"This is the dream for me. Exactly the dream. All I've wanted to do my whole life was to play for Villa, to be classed as a Villa first-team player."
On his career-changing work with strength and conditioning coach and friend Oli Stevenson (January 2018)
"When I was younger, I didn’t really do a lot of work in the gym. But this summer I just felt that it had a vital role to play in my bid to improve. The gaffer actually said to me a few times ‘Jack, I want to see you doing more in the gym’.
"Then Oli came in, who I know really well. He was my captain in the youth teams coming through the ranks here. We always got on. He was a real leader and I always looked up to him. We have always had that respect. When he came back here, I was buzzing for him.
"The work I do with him has really helped. But I don’t see him as a coach - he’s also a mentor and a friend. It just works perfectly between us.
"People have obviously commented on it, saying I look stronger and fitter, and that can only stand me in good stead going forward. I have been doing a lot with him – and he’s always in my ear about doing more.
"When I was coming back from injury, we were in the gym four or five times per week. Now I’m training, it’s more like two or three times per week."
"I struggled with the limelight. Some things happened in the past and I put it down to myself – I’ve been a bit young and a bit inexperienced in the game.
"Obviously about a year ago I broke through at Villa and I found it difficult to deal with to be honest. I didn’t really know what it was going to be like. I thought I’d just be the same normal Jack, but it wasn't really the case.
"But I’ve had some good advice from people, I've grown up a lot, and now I just really want to concentrate on my football.
"I've got the perfect manager for me here at the club at the moment, I’ve got the right people around me now, so hopefully I can carry on and do that and just let the football do the talking from now on.
"[Seeing myself in the papers] wasn’t the best for me or my family, but it happens. I was young, I’ve just got to learn from it and that’s what I’m trying to do."
On the holiday photos of him lying apparently drunk on the ground (August 2016)
"We all make mistakes when we’re young but you won’t be seeing me do any of that again.
"I felt like a kid last summer and in February last year, before Tim Sherwood came in, nobody would have known who I was. I didn't realise what the attention would be like, I just thought I’d go on holiday like all young lads do.
"I look back on it now and as a professional footballer you can’t do that sort of thing. We’re supposed to be role models for kids.
On being punished for being out at a nightclub after a defeat to Everton (August 2016)
"We’d got well beaten and I still went out, looking back it was stupid. We weren't having a great season and those are the days you’ve got to go home and reflect on it, stick your head under the pillow.
"I feel like I’ve matured a lot and grown up since then. It’s all about learning and I’m still only 20. You can see why the fans got frustrated and I’ve got a little bit to make up with them.
On his next holiday after the controversial one (August 2016)
"I went away to Dubai and Santorini with my girlfriend [Sasha] and was running on the beaches in the morning.
"I had a personal trainer with me. I was also going to the gym in the evenings at 7pm when she wanted to go out for dinner so I wasn’t too popular!"
On choosing England over the Republic of Ireland (August 2016)
"It was a big decision and wasn’t easy for me. I thought about it for a long time, spoke with my family and my agent, but in the end it came from me.
"I didn’t think it was going to be so big, I didn’t expect so much abuse from Ireland fans. I was still getting it during the Euros!
"But for my career I think if I fulfil my ability I feel I can play for England in years to come. I was born here, as were my parents, so I felt more English than Irish.
"I played for England at the Toulon Tournament and that was a great experience. I didn't really have a winning feeling last season so to play four of the five games, and score twice, ended it on a good note.
"A cap for the under-21s is the next target. There’s a qualifier in September and I want to try and be involved in that."
On dealing with opposition chants and Twitter trolls from his own club's fanbase (January 2017)
"I actually don’t mind a bit of football banter from opposing fans, in fact I quite like getting hammered by supporters of other clubs. But it’s when you get it from your own fans that it’s not nice.
"I've had people on social media saying ‘I wish you would die’ ‘I want to break your legs’ things like that.
"When I realise it’s from a Villa fan, that’s the saddest part because I think to myself ‘what have I ever done to you?’.
"I mean, I can understand if they don’t like me, that’s their opinion. There are always going to be people who are against you or don’t rate you.
"But to say some of the stuff, I can’t understand it. Sometimes it can get you down as a footballer. It’s why I don’t really look at the replies to my posts any more, sometimes it’s better that way."
On his playing style (January 2017)
"I try so, so hard to make a difference. I hate it when I hear people saying that I’m not trying hard enough because I put so much effort in.
"It’s my style I think. I’m a chilled-out player, if that’s the best way to describe me. I don’t go flying into tackles and running around 100mph, that's just not me.
"But to say I’m not trying is completely wrong. I give it everything, every game. And I will always give me all. That’s what it means to me playing for this club."
On always giving 100 per cent and not wanting to leave Aston Villa (February 2017)
"If I was in the Holte End watching me play, what I’d want to see is passion, to show you are fighting for the shirt. You’ve got players who have good technical ability, and the team and the fans expect more of those players. But first of all show that you want to play for the shirt.
I’ve grown up watching everyone on that pitch, hoping that one day that would be me. And it is me now. I just need to enjoy it and make the most of it. A lot of ex-pros have told me that sometimes you take it for granted, the playing, but they are the best days of your life. I’m 21 and I might have 15-16 years, but you never know what’s going to come along, do you?
"I would never want to leave the Villa. It’s a difficult question, but I wouldn't want to leave, no. I live here. I've been brought up here. I’m not planning on leaving any time soon.
"This is the dream for me. Exactly the dream. All I've wanted to do my whole life was to play for Villa, to be classed as a Villa first-team player."
On his career-changing work with strength and conditioning coach and friend Oli Stevenson (January 2018)
"When I was younger, I didn’t really do a lot of work in the gym. But this summer I just felt that it had a vital role to play in my bid to improve. The gaffer actually said to me a few times ‘Jack, I want to see you doing more in the gym’.
"Then Oli came in, who I know really well. He was my captain in the youth teams coming through the ranks here. We always got on. He was a real leader and I always looked up to him. We have always had that respect. When he came back here, I was buzzing for him.
"The work I do with him has really helped. But I don’t see him as a coach - he’s also a mentor and a friend. It just works perfectly between us.
"People have obviously commented on it, saying I look stronger and fitter, and that can only stand me in good stead going forward. I have been doing a lot with him – and he’s always in my ear about doing more.
"When I was coming back from injury, we were in the gym four or five times per week. Now I’m training, it’s more like two or three times per week."
That’s a good shout....