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
davieG

The Holloway Column Thread

By davieG, in Leicester City Forum

Recommended Posts

Fez of Mahrez

Fez of Mahrez

Posted
Posted

Chris Kamara sits on the fence and tries to please everybody at once.

Ian Holloway has come out of the comfort zone, but it's probably the toughest decision he has ever made.

Nothing surprises you in football, but knowing Ian as well as I did, I was slightly taken aback when I heard he was leaving Plymouth for Leicester. It's slightly out of character for him to walk out on a club, but in footballing terms I can understand why he's done it.

As I wrote in this column last week, it hurt him greatly when he was sacked by Bristol Rovers because I know how much he loved that club. He was let down by Queen Park Rangers as well, so I suppose this is the first time the worm has turned.

It would have been easy for him to remain in a comfortable position at Plymouth, but it's hard to turn down the offer of a job like Leicester and I mean no disrespect to Argyle when I say that.

I wouldn't say he had a job for life at Plymouth, but he certainly has a place in Argyle folklore. He achieved so much there and they were hoping he would be the manager for a long time to come.

But the one thing you know for sure is that Leicester City is a good football club. He's not taking over any old rubbish. He's based his decision on what he considers to be the most advantageous to him in terms of football.

The Walkers Stadium is magnificent and there are a lot of grounds in the Premier League that aren't that nice. They are getting an average of 20,000 people a week in there and if they start doing well they will be getting full houses. If they got back into the Premier League they would be locking people out!

Ian Holloway must have sat down and decided he is the man to bring the good days back for the Leicester fans. He know he'll be a hero in the city if he can revive their fortunes.

In reality, the playing staff is probably on a par with what he had at Plymouth, so he'll be knocking on Milan Mandaric's door and I'm sure the chairman will be happy to invest. He's not there to hang about and he wants Leicester back up in the top flight.

Good lad

I've got no doubt Ian can work with Mandaric. The one thing with Ollie is that he's a good lad and he really gets on well with people. He is a top man and his character won't ever change. He doesn't go in for confrontation unless it approaches him.

Ian was quoted as saying that he's lived in the bargain basement since he's been a manager and now he's going to be in Harrods for a while. So while he's there he's going to try and enjoy it as much as he can.

Mandaric will have a ball working with him and the Leicester public will enjoy what he's about. Hopefully for their sake it will work.

Time will tell whether it was the right decision. He's obviously gone with his gut feeling and in six months time he might regret it. But then again it might end up being the best thing he has ever done.

Saying that, I can understand why Plymouth fans feel betrayed because in many ways he was Mr Plymouth.

Paul Sturrock revived their fortunes to begin with, but then Ollie went there and superseded what Sturrock did. The whole place was behind the football club and he was the main personality within that city because of what he did and because of his character.

I said last week that I would be surprised if he moved because of that attachment to the people of Plymouth. So they are obviously going to feel let down.

But Paul Sturrock is there now and he's a very good manager. He made a decision in 2004 to leave Plymouth to go to Southampton when they were in the Premier League and you couldn't argue with his ambition in wanting to do that.

Better position

But now he has come back to the football club and finds it in a better position. That is really rare because it's not often that you can go back to a club in a better state than when you left it.

But there is a problem with that. I wouldn't say he's on a hiding to nothing, but he'll be under a lot of pressure to maintain what they've got and challenge for the play-offs.

It will be very different for Paul because in his previous jobs he has been trying to revive a club's fortunes. Now he's got to try to keep the momentum going.

In an ideal world he would be picking up the pieces when Plymouth were struggling because the only way would be up and people could say that the messiah had returned.

But this is a different scenario and he won't want people saying in three weeks time that they wish Ian Holloway was still there. But hopefully Paul will do even better.

They've got some good players and they are a very organised team. They are in the mix and there is no reason why they should drop out of the play-off positions tamely.

But who knows what the rest of the season has in store for Leicester and Plymouth? They've both got a chance of going up, but I'd say Leicester have a bigger chance because of the finances they can throw at it.

Mandaric will make funds available to Holloway in January to try and guarantee promotion, but at Plymouth that might not be quite so forthcoming.

Simi

Simi

Posted
Posted
Chris Kamara sits on the fence and tries to please everybody at once.

He's a twat.

Remember that time he took credit for us staying up! :rolleyes:

davieG

davieG

Posted
  • Author
Posted

From OS

Leicester City boss Ian Holloway says things are now coming together both on and off the pitch following an action packed first week in charge.

Holloway took over the reins at the Walkers Stadium last Thursday - and can boast a win and a draw from his first two games in charge.

Meanwhile, the Foxes chief has been busy securing a base in Leicestershire to allow his family to join him in his new surroundings.

And now as he prepares for his third game in seven days against Southampton on Saturday, Holloway confirmed that he couldn't wait to put his routes (is he leaving already ;) ) down in the area and be with his family once again.

He said: "I've got my family up here today and they are waiting for me at the hotel. I'm going to take them to see the house that I have sorted. The furniture is coming up on Friday and Saturday and we are going to move in on Sunday. I certainly don't muck around do I?!

"I'm fully committed, I'm up here and I just can't wait. It's going to be outstanding.

"I have got my family here and I feel human again. Nobody deserves to be on their own in this life and it is absolutely marvellous to have them here.

"They haven't seen the training ground, the stadium or the house that I found for us yesterday.

"It's a new challenge and a new chapter in our lives. It is just marvellous to have my wonderful wife with me. She has always gone wherever my heart is and we are here now. I just can't wait to show her round."

Simi

Simi

Posted
Posted

Good read again, second installment as our gaffer. Definitely knows what to say to keep us sweet. ;)

Interesting comments about Savage! Mind you, it's true. He loves it.

Koke

Koke

Posted
Posted
I've been booed as a manager, loads of times. At Bristol Rovers they shouted out 'You don't know what you're doing' when I took off the captain, who was having a beast, and put another bloke on.

We were 2-0 down at that stage and went on to lose the game 2-1 after playing ever so well. So I rephrased it to say the crowd didn't know what they're doing.

Quality.

Simi

Simi

Posted
Posted
We've only got 17 days left to Christmas and me and my wife are busy spray-painting some abuse off our wall that some bright spark from Plymouth sprayed all over it it last week, which wasn't very pleasant.

Plymouth fans not bothered right?

Wankers.

Brainy

Brainy

Posted
Posted
The Leicester manager gives his inimitable views on football and life in his weekly column.

Ollie talks about an indifferent week for the Foxes and a "dodgy" penalty awarded against them.

He also gives his thoughts on his young players, Sam Allardyce, Christmas shopping and creation.

MIXED BAG FOR LEICESTER

Yes, terrible, terrible refereeing decision that ruined us against Southampton. We pulled it back to 1-1 and then in the second half the most shocking decision I've ever seen in my life.

Handball's supposed to be deliberate but our bloke wasn't even looking at the ball. There was no-one was around him, you could argue it was outside the box...I've never seen anything like it. The referee won't be getting a Christmas card from me, I can assure you.

Then we went to Burnley, the lads were a bit shell-shocked and we got a bit of a drubbing. But at half-time we were only 1-0 down and in the second half we looked like world-beaters and could have nicked it.

I said if that was a penalty - or even a free-kick - against Southampton I would change my name to Alex McJockstrap and wear a kilt every day, because it was ridiculous.

But we've drawn Southampton in the FA Cup so there's a chance to get a bit of 'rewengee' as they say in Blackadder - "We'll wreak horrible rewengee on you!"

BIG SAM'S ROUGH RIDE

I've been booed as a manager, loads of times. At Bristol Rovers they shouted out 'You don't know what you're doing' when I took off the captain, who was having a beast, and put another bloke on.

We were 2-0 down at that stage and went on to lose the game 2-1 after playing ever so well. So I rephrased it to say the crowd didn't know what they're doing.

But it's all part and parcel of life. You've just got to look at Sam's record, end of story. If people are patient, he'll get the structure right, he'll get the team right.

Sam's a proper manager. I've got the utmost respect for him and we're all trying to emulate what he did at Bolton.

FOOTBALLERS' CHRISTMAS PARTIES

Liverpool are planning an 80's pop star-themed party and Dirk Kuyt can't decide whether to go as Adam Ant or Boy George.

But he's got blond hair and they both had dark hair - what's he going to do, wear a wig?

The players here have already got one booked but I won't be going with them - why would they want me there? I'm boring company - you should see the people up here at Leicester, they're only happy when I've gone home.

But I won't be telling my players to behave themselves. In this world of the fancy-dan footballer, overpaiditus, they've got to take responsibility themselves.

These players will have learnt from what happened to the club a few years ago so I'm sure they'll be respectable. They seem decent human beings, but you can never predict what the odd lager or two does to some people.

I believe in Christmas spirit - I'm certainly no Ebeneezer Scrooge or Jacob Marley - and going out at Christmas is part and parcel as long as you're respectful to people. I recommend everyone should have a night out.

THE MISSING 'CANOE' MAN WHO CLAIMED AMNESIA

So how did he know how to find his way home, then?

What an ironic thing to happen - 'I've got amnesia - oh blimey, did I used to live here? And oh, is that my wife? And how come I'm in a picture with her taken a year ago?'

Jokes aside, though, they're saying he didn't tell his sons what he was doing, which was a despicable thing to do if it's true - and I hope they can prove it, if that's what he has done.

And if he left his clothes on the beach like old Reggie Perrin, I hope he had some clean skiddies on when he came back.

PUNTER'S QUESTION

Josh: "Hi Ollie, as a young Leicester fan I've been delighted to see you've been giving some of the younger players a run out this season. Anyone we should particularly keep an eye on? PS I gave you my lucky guitar pick on the day you got appointed as manager, I take it you took it out of your pocket for the Southampton game!?

Keep an eye on all of them, to be fair. They're bright, they're fresh and in the future they'll come into the team on a regular basis.

In the meantime I've got to get some senior pros who can help them along the way, teach them and take responsibility.

I suppose the one who's stuck out most is Ashley Chambers, who's a breath of fresh air. Then there's Kingy, who scored a brilliant goal the other day, and young Hayesy's already played.

I need to bring some proper Championship players in who are ready to go straight in, but these young lads are great because it means that bit more to them.

I've taken the guitar pick everywhere so far, brilliant - although it hasn't been that lucky! I took it to Southampton and we were totally robbed. But never mind that, it's with me at all times.

PUNTER'S QUESTION II

Jobyfox: "Ollie, what are your views on creation: Do you tend towards a rational scientific explanation or an omnipotent creator?"

I tend to edge towards a Darwin-type theory. I do believe as human beings we question our very being and we do like something to believe in to help us through this very difficult, but wonderful, life.

I believe we evolved, I believe there's proof of that but I also believe there has to be more to us when we finish.

I try to make the most of every human being I come across. Every one of us is a great big ball of shining light inside. Sometimes people can have very destructive thoughts and sometimes fear grips us and stops us shining.

But I do think you get back what you put into this world. Unfortunately life isn't always fair and some people get a rough deal, although most of them deal with that in a fantastic way and are an inspiration for us all.

PUNTER'S QUESTION III

I-Bristolian: "Hi Olly. Congrats getting the Leicester job. All the best to you. Just wondering if you've had time to start your Christmas shopping yet?! Or are you a last-minute person? Cheerz.

Don't panic, Captain Mainwaring!

We've only got 17 days left to Christmas and me and my wife are busy spray-painting some abuse off our wall that some bright spark from Plymouth sprayed all over it it last week, which wasn't very pleasant.

Do they think they're actually hurting me or are they just vandals? I think they should look back at the job we managed to do together at Plymouth and be very proud of it. Stupid nuggets.

Don't tell 'em your name, Pike!

And apart from getting the wall sorted out, moving house up here, getting my daughters sorted out in their schools and bringing some horses up, I haven't had time to think about Christmas shopping yet.

I'm not normally a last-minute person because my wife is absolutely magnificent and she normally does all of it - because I'm a bloke and I can't multi-task!

Another great read!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

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