Cold, disappointed but relieved

Foxes 2 Walsall 2, Tuesday 21 October 2008

Quick to the ball, good movement, and some tenacious tackling. That was Walsall for half the game. City just didn’t seem to have any answers. But then the rest of the time it was Leicester on top. So a game of mixed fortunes and an outcome that matched the state of play. Even so, it was Walsall who took the lead twice, and they showed just how frail we can be. City had better be more focused when they play Northampton.

For most of this match, Fryatt was well marked, and Howard effectively closed down. It worked well (both our goals came from corners). If other sides employ the same tactics as Walsall we might struggle to score. Let’s hope the manager has some answers.

We left the stadium, cold, disappointed at not winning, but perhaps also relieved we didn’t lose.

Disaster: a lack of mobile phone signal

Oldham 1 Foxes 1, Saturday 18 October 2008

I was visiting my parents and we had gone out for the day. What I hadn’t planned for was the lack of a mobile phone signal in deepest Hampshire. Disaster. Luckily, everyone was beginning to feel tired after all the walking so we headed back to the car at about the time the second half kicked off. I then listened avidly, to the exclusion of any conversation, for news from Boundary Park on Radio 5.

I had to endure commentry from some premier league game, and news from everywhere but Oldham. And then just two brief reports. One when we took the lead, and one when they equalised. I guess a point is bad from one of the coldest grounds in Europe.

It Seems A Very Long Time Ago

It seems a very long time ago that Leicester last played a league match. Still, it is a credit to the team that we need postponements due to international call-ups.

And speaking of internationals, what great results for England. Of course the media would have loved to find fault. Indeed, if you watched the ITV coverage on Saturday you’d have thought it was all doom and gloom. Just why they have to be so negative is beyond me. They even had another dig before the highlights of last night’s game.

But I guess you don’t get a job commenting on football these days unless you are completely full of yourself. After all, you only have to listen to the over-opinionated, arrogant shit on Radio 5 called Alan Green. I’m simply not interested in your views Alan so keep them to yourself. And I have a message for you, I will never support Man Utd in Europe so stop assuming that I do!

Anyway, it’s Oldham Athletic away this weekend. Let’s hope Boundary Park isn’t it’s usual freezing self. I’ve only been there once and it rained, hailed and blew a gale. Apparently they sing a song there that goes something like “It’s cold, it’s wet, pneumonia’s a safe bet, Boundary Park….”

Terriers make it tense

Huddersfield 2 Foxes 3, Saturday 4 October 2008

This sounded like a cracker of a match – clearly better seen than heard. At half time I kept telling myself not to worry – we would score. So when Fryatt shot us into the lead I felt pretty pleased with myself. This turned to enthusiastic pacing around the room after the penalty conversion for our second. But then the tension really started.

First Huddersfield got a goal back. The Radio Leicester commentators were full of excitement, I took to biting my nails. Then disaster – Huddersfield equalise. As posession was won and lost, I started flicking through my partner’s magazine in an effort to calm my nerves. But not even a rather fetching photo of Rachel Stevens could do the trick. So back to pacing around the room.

And then, just as I was getting used to the idea of a draw, Lloyd Dyer hits the winner in injury time. Brilliant!

Advance immediately to the top of the table

Colchester 0 Foxes 1, Tuesday 30 September 2008

Take three points and advance immediately to the top of the table.

According to Radio Leicester, the Foxes were the only team in the first half; and far from sitting back, they started the second half with even greater determination. The goal from Lloyd Dyer on 48 minutes sounded well deserved, and only some excellent goal keeping kept Colchester in the game. Indeed, Matt Piper said that Leicester were “obliterating” Colchester.

Oh yes, this pint of cider is particularly refreshing. As the song goes, “when your smiling…”

A complete contrast

Foxes 1 Hartlepool 0, Saturday 27 September 2008

What a complete contrast to the Millwall match. Both teams determined to play proper football, and a joy to watch. Leicester deserved the victory and proved again that when they pass and move, they create chances. For once we had very few long balls; and so for most of the match the game flowed nicely. Hartlepool themselves must take some of the credit. They too wanted to play rather than foul their way through the game.

The early strike for Matt Oakley promised a possible goal feast. Sadly it was not to be, but we did see some penetrating runs from Dyer, and a solid performance by Chris Powell. The only player who didn’t seem quite that bothered was Howard, so no surprises there!

Despite Leicester being the better team, I still managed to give my nails a good bite. After all, history shows us that a one-nil lead is usually not good enough. But my anxiety was not necessary. The sun was shining, the fans were in good voice, and my motorbike was parked right outside the stadium.

In fact the only downside was the bloke who has started sitting in front of me. He clearly likes pies, and as a result, his seat strains under the excess weight (what I mean he is fat even for a pie eating football fan). This means I have even less leg room than normal due to him preferring to sit back in his seat. So my dilema is this: Do I tell him to sit forwards? Do I ignore him, or do I continue to give him the occasional accidental kick in the hope that he gets the message?

I’ve no idea what the JPT is…

Foxes 0 Lincoln 0, Tuesday 23 September 2008 (Foxes win on penalties)

I was too ill to actualy switch the radio on for this one. My lack of enthusiasm was shared by many other fans as apparently only about 9000 turned up to the Walkers. The trouble is, I have no idea what the JPT is all about, except that it is only for clubs below the Championship. Still, can’t complain about the result.

Oh the pleasure

Leyton Orient 1 Foxes 3, Saturday 20 September 2008

Just when it sounded like Leyton Orient were going to take at least a point, if not all three, so Leicester up their game and come away easy winners. Clearly when we find the room to pass the ball around it pays dividends.

Not only was this an important victory after a bad performance against Millwall, but it was a victory over my bosses team! Of course he says we were lucky, but frankly I don’t care. I get to be all smug while he has to make excuses. Oh the pleasure!

Apologies

Apologies for getting behind with my posts. It’s due to a combination of over work and then getting ill. I guess the two go together. Anyway, I’m back to my usual opinionated self and I have a need to comment on the last couple of matches……

Manager of the Month Curse Strikes Again

Foxes 0 Millwall 1, Saturday 13 September 2008

You know the rules Nigel… Win manager of the month and then watch your team lose their next match.

Sadly though, it was more “careless” than “curse” that cost us this one. A stupid defensive error and a fluke goal was all it took, as Millwall seemed happy to watse their other chances. Indeed, their tactics appeared to be foul-your-way-to-victory. The game never really got going as every time Leicester had the ball a Millwall player would trip/push/hit/pull/hold/obstruct/kick etc. (delete as applicable) our player, leading to a free kick.

The problem was we had no answers. As Millwall muscled their way through the game we ran out of ideas. Fryatt seemed one step behind, Gradle didn’t realy get into the match, and our defenders seemed content to just kick it long. By the end of the game we had four strikers on the pitch but we still never troubled their keeper.

So were there any good points? Well my Pepsi Max was very refreshing, and it was a nice sunny day. I also had a good ride to and from the ground. That’s about it.