Our system detected that your browser is blocking advertisements on our site. Please help support FoxesTalk by disabling any kind of ad blocker while browsing this site. Thank you.
Jump to content
 Share
StanSP

Pearson and Percy

By StanSP, in Leicester City Forum

Recommended Posts

  • Popular Post
StanSP

StanSP

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted (edited)

I'll never tire of reading stories and articles about him lol

 

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!”
 

 

 

 

Edited by StanSP
  • Like 18
  • Thanks 4
  • Sad 1
  • Haha 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Popular Post
Mark_w

Mark_w

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

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!”

:wub:

  • Like 13
  • Thanks 2
  • Sad 1
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Popular Post
Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted
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!”

:wub:

 

Nigel Pearson is a Remoaner, is a Remoaner, is a Remoaner,

Nigel Pearson is a Remoaner,

He hates @MattP  :whistle:

  • Like 5
  • Haha 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

Posted
Posted

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.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
oxford blue

oxford blue

Posted
Posted

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.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
trabuch

trabuch

Posted
Posted
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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
murphy

murphy

Posted
Posted
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...  :punk:

 

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wolfox

Wolfox

Posted
Posted
19 minutes ago, murphy said:

 

I don't know.  Nick Drake, Miles Davis, Van Morrison...  :punk:

 

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…!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
MrsJohnMurphy

MrsJohnMurphy

Posted
Posted
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?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Popular Post
Arriba Los Zorros

Arriba Los Zorros

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

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.

  • Like 8
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
bluebeau

bluebeau

Posted
Posted
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.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 months later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...