Adam Wharton on his instincts in Crystal Palace's midfield, the message behind every pass, and chemistry with Jean-Philippe Mateta: Men in Blazers 10/24/25

Men In Blazers

Men In Blazers | Wondery

Fantasy Sports, Sports, Football, Soccer, Mib

4.6 • 5.2K Ratings

🗓️ 24 October 2025

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Rog is joined by Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton to talk about how he sees the game. Adam reflects on his early YouTube skills videos and the practice habits that shaped his touch, then goes into the “message” he sends with every pass. He walks through his warm-up scanning routine and breaks down his chemistry with Jean-Philippe Mateta. Wharton closes on what success means to him now that he's won two trophies and where he wants to grow.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wonderry Plus subscribers can listen to Meninblazers ad-free right now.
0:04.6	Join Wondry Plus in the Wondry app or an Apple podcast.
0:09.0	You're listening to the Meninblazers Media Network, Suboptimal Radio.
0:15.3	I think the weight and the execution sends the message on the pass.
0:19.0	If I'm playing it in behind, pass it into the space.
0:21.4	Obviously the message is for the player to run onto it, maybe fizzing it in hard so that they take a touch, just things like that.
0:28.5	And the messages, lads, I made it easy for you, just finish it off.
0:31.7	Hopefully, yeah.
0:43.4	My guest today is a creative midfielder with a kind of vision.
0:49.5	Most psychics would smash a crystal ball for football moves fast, but he seems to slow it down,
0:53.8	both on the field and in the way he's progressed through the levels like a meteor born in Blackburn.
0:55.8	He plays like he's from Barcelona.
0:58.0	It's a joy to welcome the Wilpshire
0:59.8	Perlow himself. It's Mr Adam
1:01.7	Waterland. Hello, Raj.
1:03.6	Adam, it's incredible to be with you.
1:05.6	Your story's amazing. You joined your hometown
1:08.0	Blackburn Rovers Academy,
1:10.0	age six. And the former head Rovers Academy, age six.
1:11.3	And the former head of the academy, Stuart Jones, said that you're outstanding even then,
1:16.3	real quote, miles ahead mentally with your ability to see the field.
1:21.2	How did you develop that ability at such a young age?
	...

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