Louise Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Douglas Set to Return?Leicester City boss Craig Levein is hoping to have Rab Douglas back between the sticks when the Foxes take on Watford this Saturday. The Scottish international goalkeeper has been forced to miss City's last two Championship fixtures following a freak accident at home left him nursing an ankle injury. But Douglas was back on the Belvoir Drive training pitches today (Monday) - and could be in line for an ahead of schedule return this weekend. Levein said: "Rab has been out doing some handling work and is getting there. I am hopeful that he will play at the weekend. "The injury is to his standing leg, so I'm not worried about the kicking aspect. It is whether he can land on his ankle or push off it." Paul Henderson has proved to be a more than able deputy in the absence of Douglas, and Levein confirmed that he would have no qualms about playing the Australian again on Saturday if required. He added: "Paul has done okay in the two games he has played, but he hasn't really had a hell of a lot to do in either of them if I am honest." Tickets for the game at Vicarage Road are currently on general sale, priced at £17 for adults and £12 for concession. Tickets bought on the gate on matchday will cost £20 for adults and £15 for concessions. link Now the question is, if he's fit, would you put him back in? I have to say I don't think I have a strong opinion either way, Douglas has the experience and has made some great saves but has also made a few mistakes, Henderson is enthusiastic and generally quicker but hasn't really been tested yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Kyle lcfc Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Henderson has done nothing wrong so shouldn't loose his place in the team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Flair Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Both are more than good enough for this league. Douglas has been solid since his opening two games and has made some quality saves. Henderson has looked sound when i've seen him recently and in the last two league games we've played he's only conceded one goal. Although he hasn't had alot to do, but did look commanding against Derby. All in all, not overly arsed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonbluefox9 Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Stick with Henderson. I think he's looked a decent keeper and he's a lot quicker off his line than Rab. If a poor backpass has been played to Rab it has caused mayhem in the area whereas Henderson has just sprinted out and got rid. I hope we don't start to see Levein showing who his favourites are. I think Henderson should continue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Both are more than good enough for this league. Douglas has been solid since his opening two games and has made some quality saves. Henderson has looked sound when i've seen him recently and in the last two league games we've played he's only conceded one goal. Although he hasn't had alot to do, but did look commanding against Derby. All in all, not overly arsed. Like your style Ric....me neither as long as whoevers in goal doesnt feck up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenFilbert Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 I would prefer Douglas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchy_lcfc Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 I would prefer Douglas. ME TOO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libertine Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 I prefer Rab, but stick with Hendo for a while as he's done nothing to warrant losing his place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supedaj Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 yep I agree - he needs a decent run and needs to build his confidence. we was doing well until he went out so it'll be good to have him back. Maybe we should start using Henderson in the league cup ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libertine Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 yep I agree - he needs a decent run and needs to build his confidence. we was doing well until he went out so it'll be good to have him back. Maybe we should start using Henderson in the league cup ... We already do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 I'd stick with Henderson, i was a little concerned after the amount of goals he'd shipped for the reserves, but as yet he hasn't made any blunders and the defence has seemed a little more comfortable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gené and Tonic Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 I think managers always prefer to use their first choice when fit. Look at Antti Niemi and Paul Smith... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supedaj Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 We already do. yep but i doubt he levein will stick with him if we get far ... or land a premiership team! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samlcfc1 Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 even if he is fit i think henderson has done nothing wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookwhaticando Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 My vote's for Henderson to continue - he's done nothing wrong, and Rab isn't so phenominally better that he deserves to come straight back into the side at the expense of a player who's done nothing really wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Arrow Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Henderson - hes been playing decenlty lately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head Honcho Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Douglas is the number one and he hasn't done much wrong so if fit he should play,Henderson knows this,he still has a lot to learn so shouldn't take it as if he's been dropped. Look at it the other way you drop Douglas he's pissed off,Henderson has a bad game,he gets dropped now you've pissed them both off.The last thing we need is two pissed off keepers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenFilbert Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Douglas is the number one and he hasn't done much wrong so if fit he should play,Henderson knows this,he still has a lot to learn so shouldn't take it as if he's been dropped. Look at it the other way you drop Douglas he's pissed off,Henderson has a bad game,he gets dropped now you've pissed them both off.The last thing we need is two pissed off keepers That's true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cisono Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Firstly, I am not sure that he will be fully fit for Sat anyway... Secondly, if he is not *really* fully fit (and I do mean FULLY fit), I would not play him. Thirdly, if he is fully fit, Henderson remains a possibility: Henderson made some great saves in training today. Mind you, it was Conrad shooting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk_fox Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 Douglas is the number one and he hasn't done much wrong so if fit he should play,Henderson knows this,he still has a lot to learn so shouldn't take it as if he's been dropped. Look at it the other way you drop Douglas he's pissed off,Henderson has a bad game,he gets dropped now you've pissed them both off.The last thing we need is two pissed off keepers I think players kind of expect to fight for their places nowadays. Play Henderson, I say. Players play hard to keep their places, and the seconds try hard to impress in training to get into the starting line up. Can only be a good thing I think! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cisono Posted 10 October 2005 Share Posted 10 October 2005 I think players kind of expect to fight for their places nowadays. Play Henderson, I say. Players play hard to keep their places, and the seconds try hard to impress in training to get into the starting line up. Can only be a good thing I think! Well, that's what Levein thinks (and some of the players, namely McCarhty, have echoed that in interviews). According to this old guy I was talking to today though (a Leic city fan for over 40 years), stability is paramount and more important that this competition business. Players need to play together to "jell" properly as a team - he was saying - you cannot keep changing the players around. It does not make the team strong. Having said that, I agree with you on this one (keeper) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thracian Posted 11 October 2005 Share Posted 11 October 2005 Keeping a settled side is a much underestimated factor in playing winning football. The problem today is that with biggish squads costing biggish money and with five available substitutes there is always the temptation to keep everyone involved a) because it helps keep them happy and b) because it justifies having to pay them. I think five subs causes all sorts of problems. Too many decent players not getting a game each week, tactical time-wasting ploys especially in the second half, substitutions for the sake of it, disharmony among the unfavoured overspill and more. Endless substitutions also upset the originally selected players. A chap on two goals can't complete his hat-trick cos the boss decides to give someone else 10 minutes of action. And how many times is a team playing controlled, settled football only to have a substitution prompt a momentary loss of concentration, or a moment's uncertainty which results in a goal being lost?. Really it is easier to administer a smaller squad (not to say cheaper), to have Academy/Reserve players capable of moving up in the case of injury/serious loss of form and to stay abreast of the potential loan signings available if an emergency arises. A settled team enables the club's playing system to fully develop so it becomes second nature. Players learn instinctively how to find their team-mates and the bench players also become familiar with the system and so can fit in more easily than if the squad is constantly changed and adjusted. A settled side also enables the manager to more easily spot and deal with weaknesses because there is little chance that an off-form player has been "thrown" by having newly introduced team-mates around him or by his unfamiliarity with a new system. So, any weaknesses are obliterated swiftly and there is least upheaval in accompanying the dropped man's replacement. A team style, a team spirit evolves and the manager then has only the relatively simple task of making minor adjustments because of specific circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The People's Hero Posted 11 October 2005 Share Posted 11 October 2005 There's some really good points in there. I found myself nodding as I read it. Which is actually quite sad I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anish Posted 11 October 2005 Share Posted 11 October 2005 Stick with Henderson. I think he's looked a decent keeper and he's a lot quicker off his line than Rab. If a poor backpass has been played to Rab it has caused mayhem in the area whereas Henderson has just sprinted out and got rid. I hope we don't start to see Levein showing who his favourites are. I think Henderson should continue. My vote's for Henderson to continue - he's done nothing wrong, and Rab isn't so phenominally better that he deserves to come straight back into the side at the expense of a player who's done nothing really wrong. Henderson - hes been playing decenlty lately Agreed. Keep Henderson in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitesh Posted 11 October 2005 Share Posted 11 October 2005 i would keep henderson in. He has played well and takne his chance in the first team. Rab should be made to win his place back, in the same way that Henderson had been working hard. despite it took an injury to get a chance, Rab has to wait for the same oppourtunity or wait until Henderson has a poor game. Either way, its going to be a tough choice for CL and i think just because of the Scottish connection he will play Rab! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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