Pre-empting the Plymouth Effect

We don’t have a particularly good managerial record at Plymouth. The last two visits have been followed by the dismissal of a Leicester City manager. This time, Mandaric has avoided any embarrassment by sacking the manager beforehand.

In contrast, Plymouth manager Ian Holloway has been in the job since June last year. Whereas Leicester managers clearly have to be careful with their opinions, Ian is never one to hold back. Here is a typical quote: I’m as chuffed as a badger at the beginning of the mating season.”

Let’s just hope that after 90 minutes against City he’s as miserable as a finger in a blender.

Speculation Time

Megson, Roeder, Jewell, Hoddle, Simon Grayson…..and oh my god, Neil Nasty Horrible Hateful Disgusting Horrendous Hideous Warnock.

No More Manager

I turned on the BBC regional news to find out the latest on Clive Clarke’s condition, only to learn that Martin Allen has gone. Officially he departed by mutual agreement (according to the LCFC website), but this is surely code for the sack.

I’m sure most City fans, regardless of the recent media speculation, will be alarmed at this sudden development. Only three league games into the season, and so soon after the events of last night, the timing has to be questioned. Whatever their differences, are their respective personalities/egos so great that they can’t develop a good working relationship? Clearly not.

Mandaric has only been in charge for five or six months and he’s already dismissed three managers. In the real world that might seem like the actions of a bully. Now we face the spectre of Neil Warnock taking the manager’s job. Meanwhile, Clive Clarke remains in hospital.

The Match

Nottingham Forest 1 Leicester City 0, (match abandoned) Tuesday 28 August 2007 (CC2)

21.12: The game has been abandoned. Although the radio is reporting that Clive Clarke is conscious his condition must be very serious. Some of the Forest fans are taunting the Leicester fans as they leave the ground. They are a disgrace.

21.05: There is a delay to the start of the second half due to Leicester player Clive Clarke collapsing. No further details but let’s hope he’s OK. It will be at least 21.15 before the game resumes.

20.31: Half time. This is terrible. Too many long balls, not enough football. Gerry says we need to get the ball out wide.

20.16: After Forest’s sixth corner, disaster strikes. Shit.

20.12: Hanging on. Forest should have had a penalty according to Gerry. I’m now worried.

19.55: Three Forest corners already. This isn’t right.

19.45: Here we go.

19.34: Apparently it’s raining in Nottingham. Neil Lennon says he was thrilled when Forest drew Leicester. As I’ve said before – Leicester reject.

19.27: PMT (that’s pre match tension) has taken over. I’m not going to the game on account of the nasty atmosphere I experienced last time I went to Forest’s City ground. So its the BBC commentary again for me. With twenty five minutes to go the Leicester fans are in good voice. And here’s a bonus, Gerry Taggart is the BBC’s summariser. Come on Leicester!

When Did we Last Score Four?

Leicester City 4 Watford 1, Saturday 25 August 2007

Yes, when did we last score four? In hot sunshine Leicester discovered what they can do if they pass the ball around and play attacking football.

After a nervous first five minutes when Watford made our defenders look like they had cement in their boots, I was seriously worried. The bloke behind me started muttering about being the wrong shape, and I don’t think he was referring to his waistline. Leicester looked poor. But then just as quickly as Watford started, they suddenly stopped. Leicester on the other hand shifted gear. De Vries, Campbell and Hume repeatedly troubled the Watford defence, and it was a Hume screamer that gave us the lead.

At the break we rushed inside to cool off and look forward to more of the same in the second half. We weren’t disappointed. Two quick goals left Watford wondering what happened. So at three-nil we started to relax. But it got better. De Vries had caused them problems all afternoon and was rewarded with an excellent goal. We were in the  delightful but unfamiliar territory of four-nil. Watford finally got one back with an injury time penalty (no idea why, don’t know that the ref did either) but the points were ours.

It meant a happy walk back to the car and a very enjoyable pint or two later (OK, more than two!). Bring on the Forest.

Pointless Pundits

In football terms, I couldn’t really see the point of last night’s England friendly. But it certainly wasn’t as pointless as the opinion of so-called pundits. Apparently it’s their job to analyse, scrutinise and criticise in a typically arrogant “I know best” way that makes them sound important. Quite honestly, I really don’t care what Hanson or Lawrenson  have to say as I’m perfectly capable of making my own mind up about England’s performance (and I only caught the last 15 minutes). And as for that patronising little prick Alan Green on Radio Five ….

How refreshing then that the commentary for the Northern Ireland match (I watched the second half) was virtually free of comment and critiscism.

As for pundits, do us all a favour and get rid of them (except of course for Gary Lineker on account of him being a Leicester City legend).

Nails Chewed Then Gut Removed

Crystal Palace 2 Leicester City 2, Saturday 18 August 2007

When your team loses the lead in the last minute it feels like defeat. I was gutted.

Three minutes to go, Kisnorbo puts us ahead and suddenly the prospect of victory is in sight. Time to chew nails and check watch every 10 seconds. But then disaster strikes and we can’t even blame it on Rob Styles. Swear words fail me.

From Leicester to Abba

I’m wearing my new City shirt, but we’ve got to travel to Stoke this afternoon for an evening/night out with family (apparently involving an Abba tribute band and beer). So I’ll have to listen to today’s match on the car radio. We don’t seem to have a particularly good record against Palace, and after they cruised past Southampton last week (chuckle, chuckle) I’m a little worried.

Hopefully the A50 will be jam free; and if you see an exceptionally happy bloke in a Beetle, it must mean we’ve scored. But if you see me doing Dancing Queen later, it simply means I’m drunk.

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I’d Forgotten About Forest

It’s Forest then in the second round of the league cup. I’d almost forgotten they existed. Last time against them we had 99% of the play, dozens of goal chances and still lost 1-0. It’s a funny old game.

But so crap were Forest that season (they were relegated), one of their supporters told me he’d bet on Leicester to win that match. A fool and his money are easily parted…

No doubt Neil Lennon will want to make an impression when the teams meet. But I’m not sure how he’ll be received by City fans now he’s wearing a Forest shirt. I always thought he was a class above, but for some reason “Leicester Reject” springs to mind.

Sadness At The Local

A lad of about 19 or 20 walked into the local last night wearing a Man United shirt. The pub isn’t anywhere near Manchester or Surrey; and he was clearly too old to be still at primary school. I therefore had no option but to conclude he was a sad bastard. He must have been even sadder when Ronaldo was sent off and they could only draw (again).