StanSP Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 I'll never tire of reading stories and articles about him Quote Nigel Pearson is not your average Premier League manager. It is difficult to picture Jose Mourinho fighting off wild dogs in the Carpathian Mountains, or Pep Guardiola climbing Scafell Pike, but Pearson is a unique character. He is back under the spotlight as Watford’s third head coach of the season, securing a momentous victory over Liverpool last month to end Jurgen Klopp’s 44-match unbeaten run and galvanising the club in their battle against relegation. Pearson was preparing to face Leicester City today for the first time since his dismissal in 2015, before the league suspended games until April 4 amid the coronavirus pandemic. These are uncertain times yet here is Pearson, sitting in his office reflecting on the wild escapades he enjoys away from football management. I once did a barrel race. On the Saturday night my mate John called me and asked me to do it, with a team of doctors. Someone had pulled out. When John comes up with an idea, I find it difficult to turn him down,” he says. It was a race from the Snake Pass Inn, over Kinder, and you end up at The Old Nag’s Head in Edale You have to take a barrel of beer from one side to the other, in a team of eight. We tied it to a ladder and ran over Kinder with it. I think we came last. Some Olympic fell runners came first, in a ridiculous time. That was quite bizarre.” This is the Pearson far removed from the often serious figure the public see in front of the television cameras. He is fascinating, yet complex, and during the interview covers subjects as diverse as politics, yoga and old 1970s TV shows (he does a fine impression of Peter Falk as Columbo). On Friday, he was trending on Twitter after criticising Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a “lack of leadership” on the coronavirus crisis.. Pearson is a man of many surprises. I love the other side of life, I like to do what interests me. People talk about bucket lists – I hate that. You might as well call it the coffin list,” he says. “I hope I retain the appetite to find new things to stimulate me, whether that’s travel or finding new interests. I’ll always go out and enjoy nature and the countryside, because it’s a big part of my life. I’m sure I’ll find some more madcap things to get involved in – I don’t expect that to change until the day I peg it.” Pearson is a football manager by trade, though, and is clearly enthused by the challenge at Watford. There have been tangible signs of progress, most notably with that 3-0 win over Liverpool, and Watford will spend the next three weeks outside the relegation zone on goal difference. He has never been relegated as a manager, performing escape acts at Carlisle United, West Bromwich Albion [as Bryan Robson’s assistant], Southampton and Leicester City. After taking over at Watford in December with the club bottom after only one win in 15 games, survival would represent another notable achievement. With Leicester, it was a team which had been together all season, needed snookers, and got out of it,” he says. “At West Brom, we had all that c--- about no team surviving who were bottom at Christmas and stayed up, so really, who cares? “We can’t afford to pat ourselves on the back and dwell on the Liverpool result, we have to move on. If you said to me we’d be thumped by them on the day and stay up, I’d have taken that. “The fear factor of being in a relegation battle, and how that pressure can erode confidence and self-belief, can be quite damaging. For players to perform near their best every week is commendable.” Watford is Pearson’s first job since last February, when he departed Oud-Heverlee Leuven in Belgium, and his appointment was a surprise to many, including himself. “If you’d asked me in the summer about getting back into management, the answer would have been no,” he says. “Certainly not back in England. Why did it change? I suppose it’s because it’s an opportunity in the Premier League, and to validate the reasons why I do this. “It’s interesting coming back and seeing how frenetic it is. I find it quite hilarious. It’s such a huge global product and I find myself being asked questions that have nothing to do with the games. I’ve just decided to run with it.” His press conferences at Leicester were often the stuff of legend, including bizarrely calling a reporter an ostrich, so has he mellowed at the age of 56 Maybe in some ways, but I’m just different. I treat people fairly. I can’t be dictatorial. We have multicultural dressing rooms and what’s really important is that you have a way of working that brings the best out of everyone. “If you’re in a position of leadership, you have to make connections with people. If people think I haven’t still got a snap in me, I might surprise some people, but I’m just a bit older now. We all change, don’t we?” Pearson has certainly made a huge impact at Watford. He is popular at the training ground, establishing a sense of unity with players and staff. He has been reunited with Craig Shakespeare, his trusted No 2 from Leicester and Hull City, and it is a partnership that clearly works. Shakespeare, also a former Leicester manager, was recently described by Watford captain Troy Deeney as the best coach he had ever worked with. “We are both different,” Pearson says.“ ‘Shakey’ has been a manager himself – I call it moving over to the dark side – and I think he’d like to go back again at some point. “He understands me, we know each other very well. He’s a really good coach, a very positive person and, for all his humour, he’s tough-minded. We’ve promised ourselves that we just enjoy it. The players don’t want two miserable buggers walking around.” Pearson and Shakespeare famously pulled off that great escape at Leicester with seven wins from the final nine games in 2015, their final season together. The outlook is not as bleak at Watford, though their reunion with Leicester will have to wait. By the time the two clubs face each other, Jamie Vardy may have joined the 100 club. He is on 99 Premier League goals and Pearson feels a sense of pride over the striker’s remarkable journey, after signing him from Fleetwood for £1 million in May 2012. He can remember when times were different. “When we signed him, people were saying we were mad,” he says. “Early on there was a period when he wasn’t scoring and people were asking questions and moaning. There were rumours about him wanting to go back to Sheffield Wednesday, or even packing it in. “He had a crisis of confidence but I said, ‘I’m just going to keep playing you’. There was a lot of ‘we believe in you’. It wasn’t all fluffy like that – there was probably some ‘f---ing get on with it’, too. “We never envisaged him hitting the heights he did. We knew what his strengths were and even if for a million quid he’d have provided the springboard for us to get in the Premier League, and then it went no further, he would have been value for money. But what he’s done is incredible.” As Pearson prepares to leave for his apartment near St Albans, there is only one subject to finish on. After the victory over Liverpool, Pearson’s opinions on Brexit from a Daily Telegraph interview in November 2017 resurfaced on social media. At the time, he was “b----- annoyed”, and his indignation seemed to jar with the public perception of him. So, how does he feel now? “I’m still b----- annoyed. Absolutely. Fortunately for me, I got a new passport before Christmas so I don’t have one of those stupid b----- blue ones. There’s your quote!”
somebum Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 He gave me one saying that I will take to my grave: "fcuk off and die"
Mark_w Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 At the time, he was “b----- annoyed”, and his indignation seemed to jar with the public perception of him. So, how does he feel now? “I’m still b----- annoyed. Absolutely. Fortunately for me, I got a new passport before Christmas so I don’t have one of those stupid b----- blue ones. There’s your quote!”
Happy Fox Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 Just now, Aus Fox said: They’d make beautiful babies... Percy and
Clever Fox Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 I just love him. There's no better Manager in the Premiership to set up a Club for success than Nigel. What he done here is nothing short of a Miracle.
Alf Bentley Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 31 minutes ago, Mark_w said: At the time, he was “b----- annoyed”, and his indignation seemed to jar with the public perception of him. So, how does he feel now? “I’m still b----- annoyed. Absolutely. Fortunately for me, I got a new passport before Christmas so I don’t have one of those stupid b----- blue ones. There’s your quote!” Nigel Pearson is a Remoaner, is a Remoaner, is a Remoaner, Nigel Pearson is a Remoaner, He hates @MattP
Raj Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 And yet there are so called leicester fans who don't realise what a legend thus man is They should be ashamed. LEG END
TrentFox Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 He’s becoming the new Sam Allardyce for the 21st century.
Alf Bentley Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 Another interview in The Guardian today, which is a good read: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/14/nigel-pearson-watford-liverpool-premier-league-coronavirus-interview-donald-mcrae I wonder if his agent has advised him to do a few interviews to improve his public image, for the sake of his longer-term career? He seemed to get a public reputation as a semi-unhinged, confrontational macho man due to 1 or 2 incidents at LCFC. But although he seems quite intense (hence needing time alone, I imagine), there always seemed to be a lot more subtlety & positive qualities to his personality than that.
foxile5 Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 Always interviews very well. Great manager for us and, it seems, a fundamentally good man.
foxfanazer Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 4 hours ago, somebum said: He gave me one saying that I will take to my grave: "fcuk off and die" Can't believe Boris Johnson used it in his coronavirus speech
UpTheLeagueFox Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 Kasper spoke so warmly about Nigel in the interview we did this week. Will upload it in the next few days.
foxfanazer Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 6 minutes ago, UpTheLeagueFox said: Kasper spoke so warmly about Nigel in the interview we did this week. Will upload it in the next few days. He was always very vocal about how Pearson created a great bond between players
Guest foxestalkisfullofidiots Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 41 minutes ago, UpTheLeagueFox said: Kasper spoke so warmly about Nigel in the interview we did this week. Will upload it in the next few days. I know someone who has worked at the club a long time and I remember speaking to him pre BR and he said NP is the best guy he has ever worked for.
Leicester_Loyal Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 My favourite ever manager, I can't see anyone else ever coming close. I just ****ing love the bloke.
oxford blue Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 Here's another intersting interview from the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/14/nigel-pearson-watford-liverpool-premier-league-coronavirus-interview-donald-mcrae This is well worth reading,particularly about the training before Liverpool win and that Watford need three points each game hence more attacking style. Not so sure about his musical tastes though.
trabuch Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 30 minutes ago, oxford blue said: Here's another intersting interview from the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/14/nigel-pearson-watford-liverpool-premier-league-coronavirus-interview-donald-mcrae This is well worth reading,particularly about the training before Liverpool win and that Watford need three points each game hence more attacking style. Not so sure about his musical tastes though. Seems decent enough to me. In fact the more I find out about the deeper my respect grows.
murphy Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 58 minutes ago, oxford blue said: Here's another intersting interview from the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/14/nigel-pearson-watford-liverpool-premier-league-coronavirus-interview-donald-mcrae This is well worth reading,particularly about the training before Liverpool win and that Watford need three points each game hence more attacking style. Not so sure about his musical tastes though. I don't know. Nick Drake, Miles Davis, Van Morrison... Sounds pretty good to me and a step up from the usual footballers easy listening cul-de-sac. He's an interesting bloke, I could listen up to him all evening.
Wolfox Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 19 minutes ago, murphy said: I don't know. Nick Drake, Miles Davis, Van Morrison... Sounds pretty good to me and a step up from the usual footballers easy listening cul-de-sac. He's an interesting bloke, I could listen up to him all evening. 3 of the very best Dave…. Bryter later is an amazing album…. Astral weeks by Van the man…. I own loads of stuff by Miles… The man has depth and swag…!
MrsJohnMurphy Posted 14 March 2020 Posted 14 March 2020 4 hours ago, oxford blue said: Here's another intersting interview from the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/14/nigel-pearson-watford-liverpool-premier-league-coronavirus-interview-donald-mcrae This is well worth reading,particularly about the training before Liverpool win and that Watford need three points each game hence more attacking style. Not so sure about his musical tastes though. Flicking through his Spotify playlist he reads out an eclectic mix stretching from Miles Davis to The Cure, Nick Drake to Chick Corea, Van Morrison to XTC, The Shins to a selection of Icelandic groups, his enjoyment is obvious. And Shostakovich too, blokes a legend What do you want him to listen to some kind of thud, thud, clunk music like Queen or Oasis?
Arriba Los Zorros Posted 15 March 2020 Posted 15 March 2020 Nigel Pearson is my hero. I'm 31 years old and would be like a shy teenager if I ever met him. Nobody will ever come close regardless of success to him as my favourite ever LCFC manager. Actually favourite person ever. He's a cult leader for some here and rightly so.
Dan Posted 15 March 2020 Posted 15 March 2020 I'm still convinced he's back here one day. I might be insane but I just can't escape it.
bluebeau Posted 15 March 2020 Posted 15 March 2020 Quote Yes he did a terrific job at LCFC along with Craig Shakespeare.. He calls a spade a spade, no asshole creeping with him. j The reason he was sacked by Leicester has never really come out, but it certainly wasn't to do with his achievements on the pitch. Claudio Ranieri inherited Nigels team which won the Premiership. I believe as many people do, that he had a bust up with the Directors/owners regarding his sons pissing around in Thailand. Because of my respect for him, I hope that Watford do not get relegated.
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