Libertine Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 Levein: 'We Were Terrific' Craig Levein heaped praise on his players following City's 4-2 victory over high-flying Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon. The Leicester boss has been left cursing his luck of late - with the performances on the pitch not reflected by his side's Championship points tally. But everything came together against Neil Warnock's men - with goals from Iain Hume (2), Ryan Smith and Elvis Hammond sealing the victory. Speaking after the game, Levein said: "This is the type of day that makes up for all the difficult ones. "I thought we were terrific. It was a great performance and we got the points as well which is something we haven't been doing recently. "We have shown in spells what we can do but we haven't put the whole thing together. "I would say that we have been playing quite well over the last two or three months, but we have not been turning those performances into victories. Those victories are what give you confidence. "We were a different team later in the match. We did the right things and we made the right decisions. That comes from being confident. "Hammond and Hume both got on the scoresheet and that won't do their confidence any harm at all. Hammond's form in recent weeks has been pretty decent. He took on the role as the main striker today and it let Humey play round him. "It will do the both of them the world of good as it will the rest of the players. "We had played Elvis and Iain once before at Derby and it didn't work. They were both off the boil a little bit after just arriving at the club. A lot of things were going on off the field such as trying to find houses and moving families. But they are settled now. "From my point of view it is a partnership that should have worked, but as yet we hadn't seen the evidence of that. They were both terrific today. "But I don't want to make too much of that because it is only one game. It will help us, but it will only help us greatly if we can put together two or three like that." Levein also confirmed that the club would be looking to extend Ryan Smith's loan deal. He added: "Ryan will be with us until the end of the year. We will have a chat with Arsenal to find out whether or not they feel it is benefiting his career. That's a conversation for Arsenal and ourselves. Hopefully that will take place in the next two or three weeks."
Mark Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 Well done Craig for picking the team to allow this to happen. More of the same please.
The People's Hero Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 We've got a little momentum going now. Let's hope the over cautious approach and de Vries stay out of the picture for a while now.
Milky Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 Well done Craig for picking the team to allow this to happen. More of the same please. yes more of the same. i'd still like to see hughes put into that lineup though when he is finally ready.
MONreborn Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 At Derby Hammond had two goals ruled out for offside and Hume scored?
Mark Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 At Derby Hammond had two goals ruled out for offside and Hume scored? I know, i was suprised by that comment, he made it pre match also. They came to life in the second half against Derby when Smith was introduced, they received better service then, and i think they struck up a good promising partnership.
filbertway Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 At Derby Hammond had two goals ruled out for offside and Hume scored? Thats what i was thinking Well done today and i hope he sticks with this team whenever he can now, and good on him trying to keep smith here longer
john_lcfc Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 they were shitting themselves about Elvis Hammmonds pace. premiership your havin a laugh
lush Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 Speaking after the game, Levein said: "This is the type of day that makes up for all the difficult ones". Erm, no it doesnt craig. "I would say that we have been playing quite well over the last two or three months, but we have not been turning those performances into victories. Those victories are what give you confidence. We were a different team later in the match. We did the right things and we made the right decisions. That comes from being confident. Hammond and Hume both got on the scoresheet and that won't do their confidence any harm at all". Personally i think confidence has been a big factor as to why were 14th and not 6th. "Hammond's form in recent weeks has been pretty decent. He took on the role as the main striker today and it let Humey play round him". Lets hope he now realises what the best front 2 are.
Thracian Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 Speaking after the game, Levein said: "This is the type of day that makes up for all the difficult ones". Erm, no it doesnt craig. "I would say that we have been playing quite well over the last two or three months, but we have not been turning those performances into victories. Those victories are what give you confidence. We were a different team later in the match. We did the right things and we made the right decisions. That comes from being confident. Hammond and Hume both got on the scoresheet and that won't do their confidence any harm at all". Personally i think confidence has been a big factor as to why were 14th and not 6th. "Hammond's form in recent weeks has been pretty decent. He took on the role as the main striker today and it let Humey play round him". Lets hope he now realises what the best front 2 are. If Levein believes his team has been giving performances like this previously then he believes in fairies. We have had decent passages in other matches and given ourselves the chance to win some of em but Levein's tactics/team decisions have too often blown those opportunities. Today he had a good un. For reasons I've documented elsewhere he deserves 8/10 (his best mark so far by a distance). He loses two marks for chosing Nils (a glaring weakness at left back) rather than Stearman or Sheehan and leaving us vulnerable to a Sheffield comeback which they attempted when they targetted Nils flank early in the second half, scored and momentarily threatened an equaliser. Had Leicester lost that lead it would have sportingly criminal because City were so superior and serving up such wonderful entertainment. Don't keep risking your reputation Craig. Do the right thing and if in doubt - follow the fans. Pick your strongest side (but do it nicely!). Nils should be on the bench as stand-in centre-back and emergency left-back (serious emergency that is).
Milky Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 Nils should be on the bench as stand-in centre-back and emergency left-back (serious emergency that is). he's going to be a very expensive substitute. that is why he feels he has to play him, even if it is out of position. he's one of the highest wage earners. the fact that McCarthy and Gerrbrand are doing so well hasn't helped but he'll have to be brave and leave nissa out for the time being
Katy Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 At Derby Hammond had two goals ruled out for offside and Hume scored? I know, i was suprised by that comment, he made it pre match also. They came to life in the second half against Derby when Smith was introduced, they received better service then, and i think they struck up a good promising partnership. Thats what i was thinking Well done today and i hope he sticks with this team whenever he can now, and good on him trying to keep smith here longer Its quite obvious that CL saw a totally different game to us at Derby, I thought they worked well together that day. Yeah CL we were terrific today, you dont know how long ive waited to be able to say that!
lush Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 Don't keep risking your reputation Craig. Do the right thing and if in doubt - follow the fans. Pick your strongest side (but do it nicely!). Nils should be on the bench as stand-in centre-back and emergency left-back (serious emergency that is). Ive been shy to say this until now, that collectively we here seem to know a serious fault in our team more than craig does. Its SO obvious that sheehan is better equiped than johanson or any other at LB, and alot of us have prooved that hume n hammond is by a mile our best partnership upfront. I think johanson then macarthy are our best defenders, but sheehan is a massive choice with 80% of the votes to play LB. Bite the bullet craig and choose sheehan. The LB position was the only position we struggled with today (not johansons fault). Soon we`ll be picking the starting 11
Thracian Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 he's going to be a very expensive substitute. that is why he feels he has to play him, even if it is out of position. he's one of the highest wage earners. the fact that McCarthy and Gerrbrand are doing so well hasn't helped but he'll have to be brave and leave nissa out for the time being I don't give a toss how expensive he is. Selection should be on merit. Levein might have a reputation for packing a decent punch but real hardness is picking a team without fear or favour. Choosing the best player available and looking everyone else in the eye cos you KNOW you can justify that decision because it is FAIR and RIGHT - that is real toughness. Nils should improve on his weaknesses and be ready for further chances across the back four should there be an injury or someone drastically loses form. If that doesn't suit him, let him go - but it'll be his loss, not ours.
lush Posted 26 November 2005 Posted 26 November 2005 Speaking after the game, Levein said: "This is the type of day that makes up for all the difficult ones". Correction, ive just been listening to the press conference, and he said "This is the type of day that makes the other er difficult days worthwhile". And hes right to a degree. ONE out of 10 for the reporter He also said "i think the goals are the most important thing, erm, they lift everybody in the team, the defence know that your guna score and if they conceed one, its not a disaster". (why havnt we been told this on the OS?) This is the best part of the interview, because craig tells us what we WANA hear. "Goals are the most important thing", hes admitting (when we probably think he didnt realise it), that attack is the best form of play. "they lifted everybody in the team", with that, he then confirms what he`s now admitting, this is great news for us. The next bit is so what we think is not craig (as hearts fans "tell us") "the defence know that your guna score and if they conceed one, its not a disaster", UNREAL, after thinking all he likes doing is making sure the defence is tight, he`s now suggesting that it doesnt matter what the defence do, as long as the attack is in full swing, 10/10 craig!!! Craig is learning/learnt something today, that the best way to get out of this division is to attack, now he knows how. He was ultra cautious after the 4-2 win v stoke, he seems to want more of today`s performance now COME ON YOU BLUE BOYS!!
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