"You know it's funny this season. It's actually a lot tamer. The ultras actually turn up unannounced, I'm talking 50 ultras, and you can imagine the kind of guys they are. They demand to speak to the staff - the players and management. It's never been physical but they let loose on us.
There's not a lot you can do. We're all stood there. They have their say. That was very interesting the first time that happened, but it's what they do. They're very organised. It's like a military procedure really. They have two or three leaders who instigate it. They don't wait for us to finish training. We all wait, it all goes silent, and the top guy starts talking. I say talking... sometimes it can get very aggressive.
They pick on individuals and you just have to hope you did enough to not be looked at. Luckily it's not been me so far. Our captain might speak on behalf of the players if he's asked. Nobody speaks unless they're asked to. You can translate it pretty well just by watching. It's a marvellously strange thing to see. I'm not saying it's right but not saying it's done any damage to us either. All these little things I've enjoyed so much, seeing how things work. It's quite poignant.
You have every aspect of your life looked at. I hadn't been used to that for a long time. They're not happy if they see you out and about after a bad result. It's extremely intense. The pressure to do well is part of the reason why I love it so much. The thing is, a lot of people put us in categories, which is fine, but it's about whether you settle for that,' he says. 'I couldn't sit there and wait. I felt I was doing a lot of good work which went unseen at Barnsley. This was a chance to get a foot in the door.
Sometimes the system is wrong and I firmly believe that. Jamie Vardy is a prime example, someone who's done it on a much larger scale than myself. People don't look at players deeply enough. It's good I'm on the radar - it's a good enough sign at the moment. I'd swim across the ocean to get to France. I risked a lot coming here. Without sounding too confident I knew I could play at this level, that European standard.
My contract was quite low - I'll admit that - but after playing all the games [last season] they offered me a new deal. My dad came over with his friend this year and they loved it,' he says. 'That one was relatively well-behaved. The away fans aren't allowed in. But you've got the fireworks, flares, smokebombs... you feel like you're in the middle of a movie set. You always have to wait 10-15 minutes for the smoke to clear, nobody can see the ball.
We don't see a car for miles because the roads are all shut for our bus. It's surrounded by riot vans. I'm not lying, you don't see a fan until you're on the pitch for the warm-up. Then comes the deafening screeching. It's absolutely brilliant. It's the reason why you come to these places - I wouldn't change it. I've gained so much. Hopefully it's made me a better goalkeeper.
It's actually the smaller stadiums which are the worst. OFI Crete went down last year and you were so close there - honestly, that's the only place I've ever felt in danger. Things were hitting me on the head - lighters and some sort of bodily fluid. I can take spit and the odd lighter but anything heavier than that and I'd have to start wearing a crash helmet", said the 31-year-old former player of Barnsley.
