Back to the Future | Carl Ikeme

Team most like to play against | Arsenal

I’d like to play against Arsenal at the minute. There’s quite an excitement around the club and maybe it's a bit sentimental about recognising the Arsenal team from back in the day, and they’re quite exciting again. They've got their swagger back a little bit and it’s good for the Premier League to have Arsenal back like they are. I think they're the team I like watching the most at the minute and I’m excited by them a little bit because they're a little bit fiery as well. It's not just good football, they've got a bit of snap to them as well.

Team least like to play against | Manchester City

I think Man City are that team which I probably wouldn't want to pay against, just because it can be a bit demoralising not having the ball for so long. You just have to concentrate so much in those sorts of games, because there's so much danger everywhere. City will be a team that I wouldn't really be relishing the task again at the minute.

Player most like to face | Erling Haaland

I always enjoyed going up against someone with a bit of physicality about them, and I quite liked the battle. Maybe Haaland actually, just because of the physicality of him as well. He’s kind of brought the proper number nine back. It’s a role which seemed to go out of fashion a little bit in recent times, but he seems to have brought the old-fashioned number nine back. But things always come back round. Football's obviously improved a lot, but for me, teams are starting to get a little bit gritty again, which is why I quite like watching Arsenal again and why I’d enjoy facing Haaland.

Manager most like to play for | Ange Postecoglou

It's quite easy to say Pep, isn’t it, but I think I’d go big Ange. He just seems like a good, enthusiastic and down to earth sort of guy. I always enjoyed working under managers who had good man-management skills, but who were also no-nonsense. He just says it how it is and he’s just straight to the point. I think that’s a good quality for me. I enjoy someone who is straight to the point, whether you like it or you don't like it, at least you know where you stand, and that the energy he gives off.

Competition most like to win | World Cup

There’s no comparison to the World Cup. It’s the biggest trophy there is in sport, and even to play in a World Cup would be amazing, but to win one, it would be a different level. I know they’re expanding it now, and I do wonder if we’ll lose some of the quality in the tournament, but we’ll have to wait and see how it goes. My initial thought was that I was not too pleased, but then it also gives new countries the chance to experience a World Cup who have never experienced it before.

Stadium most like to play at | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

It would be the new Tottenham stadium. I've still not been there to try this one, but it looks wicked and the atmosphere looks wicked as well and is definitely a stadium I would love to play in. I never got to play at White Hart Lane before they moved, I think I did travel one time with a team, but I think I was on the bench, but their new stadium is a lot different now.

Aspect most like to have | None

Nothing. Simply, nothing. With what they have now with VAR and, I know they’re trying to bring it back and it’s still there a little bit, but the physicality of the game is just different. You can’t do certain things and I preferred a little bit more of the battle, so I wouldn’t have wished for it anything.

Aspect least like to have | VAR

VAR. Definitely. I think the fact that when you’re celebrating a goal and you don’t know when it’s in or not, it's just a bit frustrating. You’ve now got teams and fans celebrating decisions rather than moments, and I think that's something that I wouldn't want to be a part of.

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.