o Brendan was giving a talk in Northern Ireland, and I'd already paid weeks ago, so I thought I'd go down anyway. If only for some sort of closure. I've transcribed the Q&A - and tried to put it in some sort of order (ie the first question he had was who is he planning on signing for Liverpool) he did for anybody who's interested. I've also got the full audio of it (although not great quality) if anybody wants that. There were a few Swansea questions, but most of the audience ended up being Liverpool from what I could tell.
Was it hard for you to leave Swansea?
Of course it was hard. Of course it was. I've grown to truly love not only the team I had, but the city and the people of the city. They treated me well when I was there, and I believe I did the same for them.
So why did you leave?
I've always said - always - that I'm not the type to chase money. That wasn't a factor in my decision. I've always outlined that I have a career plan, and Liverpool is my next step in that. They're a step to the overall goal.
What is the overall goal?
If I told you that I'd have to kill you!
No, really, it's no secret. I want to win things. I suppose every manager does. I believe I can do that with Liverpool, or at least give myself the platform to show that I'm capable of doing that. That's the thing, even just being at a club like Liverpool gives you the platform to show what you can do. You have greater exposure. It puts you in the shop window so to speak, rather than in the warehouse.
What attracted you to Liverpool
It's the shop window, as I said. When I was with Watford I was the same manager I was with Swansea. Maybe a few less wrinkles! Being at Swansea - in the Premier League - was a platform. Being at Liverpool is an even bigger platform. They're a great, historical club.
What do you think you're capable of achieving with Liverpool?
I think I'm capable of giving the team a defined style of play, that they've lacked for a couple of years really. You look at teams like Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham even Stoke, Swansea - you know how they play, and more importantly they know how they play. I don't know what's gone on before I came here, but it's football management at it's most basic. That will be the first thing I look to implement.
What players are you looking forward to working with?
All of them. I know that sounds like a cop out answer, but it's true. There's a danger when you start elevating one player's importance above the others. You've seen that in the England National team and you even saw that at Liverpool last year, which I won't get into.
What style of play will you be looking to use?
I don't consider it a style of play. It's an ethos. We'll be looking to play with our brains, not our hearts. Intelligence is key for me. Ball retention, team play - nobody looking to be a hero. It goes back to elevating one player. You look at Barcelona, and even Messi is fighting for the team - not for himself. Football is very much a team game, and anybody who doesn't realise that will not play for me. That's one thing that's not negotiable for me.
Can you ever see yourself coming back to Swansea?
Swansea will always have a place in my heart.
One the final question, he pretty much refused to answer it. He just kept repeating the 'place in my heart' answer.
He was also asked about Gylfi, and about transfers in general, but refused to comment on them.