Jamie Vardy overcame self-doubt thanks to chat with Nigel Pearson

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jamie-vardy-overcame-self-doubts-1937510

Leicester City striker asked for move back to Fleetwood as he struggled to adapt to the Championship

Jordan Blackwell

12:00, 26 AUG 2018

SPORT

Jamie Vardy has recounted the moment Nigel Pearson and his assistants helped him overcome self-doubts to prosper at Leicester City.

In an interview with Unscriptd, Vardy opened up about his struggles following his £1million move from Conference winners Fleetwood to then-Championship side City .

Having netted just five goals in 29 appearances in his debut second-tier season, Vardy sat down with Pearson and his right-hand men Steve Walsh and Craig Shakespeare, explaining that he didn’t feel he was good enough for the Championship and asking for a loan back to Fleetwood.

Their words helped Vardy gain confidence and he scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists as City won the division the next season.

 

“When you step up the leagues, the defenders are better at reading the game, better positioned, not as slow as everyone thinks a centre-half should be and that’s when I knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” said Vardy.

“I was realising that certain stuff I was doing the year before at Fleetwood wasn’t working.

“For myself and probably for people that were watching as well, it wasn’t good enough.

Jamie Vardy in his early Leicester City days against Cardiff City in 2012. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)

“It was hard to take. If I wanted to make sure that more goals came, there was a lot of work that I did need to do, not just when I’m at training but obviously on my own.

“I didn’t speak to my family about it but I had a chat with the manager and his two assistants.

“I remember all three of them sitting me down, and saying, ‘Look, we believe in you, we got you here for a reason.’

 

“That’s what I needed to hear.”

Vardy also kicked his drinking habits in an attempt to turn his form around.

“That summer, I remember knuckling down even more and trying to curb off-the-pitch habits which I knew I needed to do,” he added.

“I came back in the second season feeling confident.”

Watch the full video below.

 

[Max Wall]

I'm glad he was helped to overcome that self doubt or I wouldn't be able to send this to my top four supporting mates whenever I feel like it.

[Fox92]

I bloody love Nige.

[UpTheLeagueFox]

The Pearson haters won't want to hear this.

[BenTheFox]

[Carl the Llama]

We already knew this but it's a good story to hear again. Imagine where this club would be without the influence of Nigel and his rough diamonds.

[st albans fox]

16 minutes ago, UpTheLeagueFox said:

The Pearson haters won't want to hear this.

Are there many who think Nigel got it wrong ‘off the pitch’ Geoff?  If rudders wasn’t so ensconced then I think Nigel would make a superb d of f 

[deep blue]

34 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

Are there many who think Nigel got it wrong ‘off the pitch’ Geoff?  If rudders wasn’t so ensconced then I think Nigel would make a superb d of f 

I hope this happens sometime soon. When you think of the way he restructured the whole club, and what ultimately followed from that.

[Unabomber]

He will be back one day

[Nick]

“I want out boss”

”Are you an ostrich?”

”No boss”

“Well stop taking recreational substances and get fitter and let go of those dreams of being a holiday rep or I will pin you to the ground and throttle you”

“Thanks for this talk boss I’ll start a thread on Foxestalk later about what a great communicator you are”

[foxfanazer]

Say what you want about Pearson but the players loved him and he knew how to gain their respect 

[Brooksy]

I ****ing love Pearson

[DennisNedry]

Vardy discusses this in his autobiography if anybody wants to hear more about his difficult first season here.

[Guy]

9 hours ago, UpTheLeagueFox said:

The Pearson haters won't want to hear this.

The Pearson haters don't support Leicester, most obviously! 

[RoboFox]

12 hours ago, UpTheLeagueFox said:

The Pearson haters won't want to hear this.

Haters? There isn’t such a thing. We all acknowledge and appreciate Nige’s achievements and undoubted contribution to our greatest ever season.

I do, however, realise there’s many people on here who are quite jaded by the constant calls for him to return to the club the moment something goes slightly awry; as well as the the quite inane Pearson vs. Ranieri arguments that spring up on threads all too regularly.

I love Nige as much as the next supporter, but I also appreciate the need to move on.

Edited 27 August 2018 by RoboFox

[The whole world smiles]

I am a massive Pearson fan but don't think we should be over doing the praise with this. 

99% of other professional managers would have done the same. You have a player signed from non leauge who is rapid and showing glimpses in training and matches that he can be a quality player and he comes to you and says he thinks he's not good enough for this level doesn't take Bill Shankly to realise he needs a pep talk and his confidence boosting. 

[That_Dude]

10 hours ago, UpTheLeagueFox said:

The Pearson haters won't want to hear this.

There should be some to begin with.

[Guest Bob Hazels shorts]

Not sure if a Puel motivational pep talk would have the same effect

[waylander]

Puel seems too be helping many of the younger players improve. As gray has stated. He is being underestimated by many . But luckily not by those who count . The owners. 

[Jacnah]

19 hours ago, UpTheLeagueFox said:

The Pearson haters won't want to hear this.

A noisy and opinionated minority vs the silent majority Geoff. 

[ARM1968]

Pearson is the new O’Neill. Did an amazing job with us, but also did a few odd things. Top bloke though, generally. 

[Nickfosse]

11 hours ago, Guy said:

The Pearson haters don't support Leicester, most obviously! 

Absolutely, judging by comments on this site, they support Leuven ?

[Max Wall]

Who are these Pearson haters being mentioned? Is it a large group?

[Leeds Fox]

11 hours ago, The whole world smiles said:

I am a massive Pearson fan but don't think we should be over doing the praise with this. 

99% of other professional managers would have done the same. You have a player signed from non leauge who is rapid and showing glimpses in training and matches that he can be a quality player and he comes to you and says he thinks he's not good enough for this level doesn't take Bill Shankly to realise he needs a pep talk and his confidence boosting. 

 

Yeah it probably does happen quite often but how many of them turn out to be Jamie Vardy? 

[Wymsey]