FOOTAGE emerged recently of a post-match interview with Roy Hodgson, which didn’t exactly paint the former England boss in the best light.

The clip saw him tear strips off a poor Match of the Day reporter trying to get his view on a penalty incident involving Wanderers’ Fabrice Muamba and his West Brom midfielder Zoltan Gera in 2011.

It was shocking, only in that Hodgson’s incandescent rage was completely at odds with his public persona. But he is by no means alone – and there isn’t a manager alive who hasn’t lost his rag with a journalist’s line of questioning at some stage.

Sometimes in a press box when a final whistle sounds, you know the next couple of hours are going to be the most difficult ones of the day.

You may have 101 questions swirling around in your mind after a 4-0 midweek pummelling but like letting air out of a balloon, it’s sometimes easier to open with a gentle: “Your thoughts?”

Of the Wanderers managers I’ve dealt with, Phil Parkinson is perhaps the most obliging.

I’ve heard some truly daft questions – some of which have been my own – aimed at him in the last 20 months, but he very rarely gets flapped.

His predecessors have been a mixed bag. Both Owen Coyle and Neil Lennon were still fully charged when they marched into the press room, and it was often 100 miles per hour stuff, a real test for the shorthand.

Dougie Freedman was more deliberate, and careful with his choice of words. Gary Megson also fell into that category.

It all came naturally to Sam Allardyce, who could hold court for as long as you wanted, his successor Sammy Lee struggled to get himself across in the same way after a game.

Everyone has their own character and I don’t mind managers who give a bit back. I have always enjoyed Mick McCarthy’s brash candour after a match but I’m not a fan of the passive-aggressive types cropping up in the top flight these days, constantly deflecting questions by saying “you know more than me” or “you saw the incident, write what you want.”

Dealing with players can be equally unpredictable.

From a journalist’s point of view, the ideal post-match player interview is one that doesn’t troll out the horribly dull footballing platitudes and has a personal touch or air of emotion which gives you a fighting chance of making the story an interesting one.

I’ve been lucky at Wanderers, where there have been some truly world-class talkers. It would be rude to list current players – although they a very good crop indeed – but some of my favourites have included Kev Davies, Stu Holden, Gary Cahill, Tim Ream, Gretar Steinsson, Kevin Nolan and Andy Lonergan.

Another name who’d make my list is Paul Robinson – but only after he’d won.

The full-back announced his week he’d be hanging his boots up at the end of the season after 22 years as a pro, and I’d like to wish him the very best in the future.

Robbo was a cracking lad to deal with at Bolton, through bad times and good, but it could be an intimidating experience putting a microphone in front of his face after a defeat.

A couple of occasions stand out in my mind. One was a midweek game at Arsenal, Owen Coyle’s first in charge. Angry at a challenge on Mark Davies which forced the midfielder off the pitch I managed to grab Robbo for a couple of minutes to pool his views. Of about three minutes of recorded conversation, about 30 seconds was printable.

A couple of years later Wanderers were beaten at Blackpool and Robbo was again ushered pitch-side to speak to the local press. Veins protruding from his forehead, icy stare fixed forward and flecks of spittle flying everywhere – I’m not sure he even knew he was there.

I’ll never forget the 10 seconds of silence as we all looked at each other wondering who was going to ask the first question. I did, and now I know what Pandora felt like when she unlocked the box. Ouch.

Thinking back to that West Brom game seven years ago I can’t think for the life of me what got Roy so hot under the collar. I remember nothing outstanding of the match itself – but I do recall having a half-time pee stood between Frank Skinner and a bloke I’m sure was Robert Llewellyn (of Red Dwarf fame); just in case you were wondering how my mind works.