The Holloway Column Thread

[skinnydipper]

Gareth's dad.

He strikes me as a cross between David Brent and Gareth. Maybe he is their love-child

[davieG]

New Leicester City boss Ian Holloway says he is glad the team are struggling in the Championship or he would not have been given the job (The Sun). That’s what we want in football, more honesty.

source

Glad to be able to help you with your career progression Ollie

[Simi]

This week

[Simi]

El Lloydie: "Hey Ollie. Absolutely delighted with your appointment at City. You've mentioned you're going to give everyone a chance in the first XI between now and Christmas. Any chance of us seeing Hossein Kaebi or Sergio Hellings in the team?"

I've already played Hossein Kaebi and he's in the team to play on Saturday. As for Sergio Hellings, I'm not sure, because other people are slightly ahead of him at the moment in my opinion. But we will have a look. I like to give people the opportunity to fail or do well.

Reserve team football for people like Hossein is no good whatsoever. He man-marked Ronaldo when he played against Portugal for Iran.

Hossein Kaebi

Ollie nose Kaebi can shine

I've seen the dvd and he did very well but I'm going to stick him on the right wing because we seem a bit short of attacking options.

His lack of communiction doesn't help, but how many people have actually helped him to get over that since he's been here?

You have to have a warm, welcoming atmosphere and I don't think we've had that since the summer changes - and that's what I've got to try and sort out.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Agree that the Kaebi answer is interesting.

[Sods]

In the squad then, can see him starting again.

Intresting about hellings as well, obviosuly not good enough.

And at least he's syaing that.

[Raj]

This week

Another good read.

summed up by this me thinks..

It's a great opportunity for the lads who I've inherited to show me they've got the right character to stay here after the January window.

[The Reverend]

El Lloydie: "Hey Ollie. Absolutely delighted with your appointment at City. You've mentioned you're going to give everyone a chance in the first XI between now and Christmas. Any chance of us seeing Hossein Kaebi or Sergio Hellings in the team?"

I've already played Hossein Kaebi and he's in the team to play on Saturday. As for Sergio Hellings, I'm not sure, because other people are slightly ahead of him at the moment in my opinion. But we will have a look. I like to give people the opportunity to fail or do well.

Reserve team football for people like Hossein is no good whatsoever. He man-marked Ronaldo when he played against Portugal for Iran.

Hossein Kaebi

Ollie nose Kaebi can shine

I've seen the dvd and he did very well but I'm going to stick him on the right wing because we seem a bit short of attacking options.

His lack of communiction doesn't help, but how many people have actually helped him to get over that since he's been here?

You have to have a warm, welcoming atmosphere and I don't think we've had that since the summer changes - and that's what I've got to try and sort out.

Praise the ****ing Lord.

This is what me and a few others have said all along. How is reserve team football gonna motivate an international player?!

[Brainy]

In full:

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

Ollie talks about another "dodgy" decision at Ipswich and his plans to spend some money in the January transfer window.

He also gives his thoughts on Fabio Capello as well as the man who locked himself in a toilet for four days and also reveals how he overcame his phobia of all things red.

ANOTHER 'DODGY' DECISION

In all my years I have never seen one like that. It should have been a corner to Ipswich, my player gets sent off for a deliberate foul and they get a penalty - even though it was nowhere near the box and it wasn't a foul.

The referee admitted he was wrong afterwards because he was over-ruled by the linesman, but that's life. Things have got to turn our way but it's a catalogue of errors that put us 2-1 down and gave us a mountain to climb.

It was shocking for the lads because we were looking all right up until then, but onwards and upwards - let's see what we can do on Saturday. If you cry over spilt milk you're never very successful and we've got to get on with it.

It's a great opportunity for the lads who I've inherited to show me they've got the right character to stay here after the January window.

JANUARY SALES

Newspapers suggest David Norris is a target, amid claims of a raid on former club Plymouth.

I don't know about a raid on Plymouth. I've got some players that Gary Penrice is lining up. It's nice to try and get some players you know and some of them would do very well here.

I don't talk about other people's players. I enjoyed my time at Plymouth and if I ever end up with any Plymouth players, the club will be the first to know.

There's a load of good players all over the world and we need to sign some of them because we're not doing that well at the moment.

VIEWS ON FABIO CAPELLO

They're mixed. We seem to be giving all our institutions and good workplaces away to foreign companies and now we've got another foreign manager in the England chair.

Good luck to him, he's got a great record, but it's a little bit disappointing for me that we haven't gone for an English coach. What happens if we play Italy in the World Cup final?

The likes of Stevie Coppell could and should have been in the frame. He's a well-educated man - what's the point of educating people in this country if you're not going to give them the top jobs?

We've even got a Scotsman as Prime Minister - William Wallace would have loved that!

MAN STUCK IN TOILET FOR FOUR

David Leggat, 55, trapped after door handle breaks at a bowling club in Aberdeen.

Why didn't he just kick the door in? That's a hell of a strong lock to keep you in there for that long.

What a terrible ordeal for the fella - still, he wasn't going to be caught short, was he?

At least he had somewhere to spend a penny and do a number two!

PUNTER'S QUESTION

Leciestercity4eva: "Hi. Ollie. I'd just like to know if you've got any good jokes, and have you pulled any pranks on the players at Leicester yet, or vice-versa?"

No. I'm not a practical joker, I just like to create an atmosphere. It's a bit low at the minute because things have been going against them but I believe you have to enjoy what you do and then you get better at it.

We're trying to change the attitude around the place but I'm not really a joker. I do some slightly different things and try and enjoy what I do.

There have been one or two things that have been quite funny, though.

There was a Christmas staff match on Thursday with people like the vicar and the cook involved and I've never seen so many bad tackles on my life!

I only came on for five minutes at the end but scored one of the winning penalties, so can't be bad.

PUNTER'S QUESTION II

El Lloydie: "Hey Ollie. Absolutely delighted with your appointment at City. You've mentioned you're going to give everyone a chance in the first XI between now and Christmas. Any chance of us seeing Hossein Kaebi or Sergio Hellings in the team?"

I've already played Hossein Kaebi and he's in the team to play on Saturday. As for Sergio Hellings, I'm not sure, because other people are slightly ahead of him at the moment in my opinion. But we will have a look. I like to give people the opportunity to fail or do well.

Reserve team football for people like Hossein is no good whatsoever. He man-marked Ronaldo when he played against Portugal for Iran.

I've seen the dvd and he did very well but I'm going to stick him on the right wing because we seem a bit short of attacking options.

His lack of communiction doesn't help, but how many people have actually helped him to get over that since he's been here?

You have to have a warm, welcoming atmosphere and I don't think we've had that since the summer changes - and that's what I've got to try and sort out.

PUNTER'S QUESTION III

Fatfox: "Ollie: is it true that the Bristol local rivalry runs so deep with you that, as Rovers manager, you banned red vans from delivering to the ground?"

Yes I did do that. I wouldn't let anyone with a red motor leave it inside the ground. My captain, Andy Tillson, bought a red car and I stood in the drive and made him park outside.

But my wife stopped all that one year. I insisted I didn't like anything red and then she bought some red underwear and I had to change my views because it looked fantastic!

PUNTER'S QUESTION IV

Superredripper: "Ollie, what should i get the missus for Xmas?"

Well I strongly suggest you ask her what she would like first.

But be careful what she says, because some women say one thing and want something totally opposite that you should already know about!

I would try and dredge your memory banks to see if she's dropped any hints throughout the year and then cunningly ask a relative or one of your kids what you think she wants, because you need a surprise.

[Babylon]

Praise the ****ing Lord.

This is what me and a few others have said all along. How is reserve team football gonna motivate an international player?!

[The Reverend]

You know more than Holloway then mate.

[lookwhaticando]

Praise the ****ing Lord.

This is what me and a few others have said all along. How is reserve team football gonna motivate an international player?!

Is it any less likely to motivate a true 'international' player than playing in a shitty first team that's struggling in the second tier of domestic football?

Only a smidgen, probably.

[Thracian]

I remember watching Hume playing for the Reserves, and Kenton and N'Gotty. It didn't make a blind bit of difference to their motivation.

Nor would it any other professional including, I should add, Kaebi who's always appeared to give of his best. That doesn't suggest he's happy playing there. But I've never once got the feeling he wasn't trying or wasn't motivated.

Come on - there must be better excuses than that. And not Ramadan, someone's already mentioned that.

[Raj]

Ramadam

[The Reverend]

Is it any less likely to motivate a true 'international' player than playing in a shitty first team that's struggling in the second tier of domestic football?

Only a smidgen, probably.

I remember watching Hume playing for the Reserves, and Kenton and N'Gotty. It didn't make a blind bit of difference to their motivation.

Nor would it any other professional including, I should add, Kaebi who's always appeared to give of his best. That doesn't suggest he's happy playing there. But I've never once got the feeling he wasn't trying or wasn't motivated.

Come on - there must be better excuses than that. And not Ramadan, someone's already mentioned that.

No, but these are totally different players to Kaebi. I'm just looking at the situation through HIS eyes. If i was an international player, i would be wondering why i was rotting away in a struggling Championship sides reserve team, and quite frankly, i wouldnt give a toss.

I dont think its a coincidence that in the reserves, according to you and others, Kaebi has not stood out, but in the Swich game according to a few on here he played well.

[Babylon]

You know more than Holloway then mate.

No, but judging by your comments you think you knew better than 99.9% of the people on here. Going from what you are saying any international shouldn't have to play in the reserves. I'm wondering if your thoughts would be the same had the guy been a northern Ireland international, not someone from a few thousand miles away with a fancy name, who once tackled Figo... according to youtube.

If a player can't be bothered in a reserve game because he is some fancy dan international, why the hell would he get much more motivated on a cold winters night away to S****horpe (for example). If someone can only be bothered to put in the effort whilst playing a first team game and not in training or reserves then they don't deserve to be even considered for the team.

Why is he a different player to Hume? Hume is an international. I'd imagine the league is littered with internationals who don't get a first team game. I'm not having a go at the lad, but people seem to think he has some god given right to be int he first team without putting on the effort.

As for Holloways comments, have you considered he may now being considered because he has been here 6 months. If it's difficult to communicate now, how bad do you think it was then. The lads had a lot to deal with, I doubt throwing him in the deep end (as you wanted) would have done him or us much good.

[WetFlannel]

No, but judging by your comments you think you knew better than 99.9% of the people on here. Going from what you are saying any international shouldn't have to play in the reserves. I'm wondering if your thoughts would be the same had the guy been a northern Ireland international, not someone from a few thousand miles away with a fancy name, who once tackled Figo... according to youtube.

If a player can't be bothered in a reserve game because he is some fancy dan international, why the hell would he get much more motivated on a cold winters night away to S****horpe (for example). If someone can only be bothered to put in the effort whilst playing a first team game and not in training or reserves then they don't deserve to be even considered for the team.

Why is he a different player to Hume? Hume is an international. I'd imagine the league is littered with internationals who don't get a first team game. I'm not having a go at the lad, but people seem to think he has some god given right to be int he first team without putting on the effort.

As for Holloways comments, have you considered he may now being considered because he has been here 6 months. If it's difficult to communicate now, how bad do you think it was then. The lads had a lot to deal with, I doubt throwing him in the deep end (as you wanted) would have done him or us much good.

[The Reverend]

No, but judging by your comments you think you knew better than 99.9% of the people on here. Going from what you are saying any international shouldn't have to play in the reserves. I'm wondering if your thoughts would be the same had the guy been a northern Ireland international, not someone from a few thousand miles away with a fancy name, who once tackled Figo... according to youtube.

If a player can't be bothered in a reserve game because he is some fancy dan international, why the hell would he get much more motivated on a cold winters night away to S****horpe (for example). If someone can only be bothered to put in the effort whilst playing a first team game and not in training or reserves then they don't deserve to be even considered for the team.

Why is he a different player to Hume? Hume is an international. I'd imagine the league is littered with internationals who don't get a first team game. I'm not having a go at the lad, but people seem to think he has some god given right to be int he first team without putting on the effort.

As for Holloways comments, have you considered he may now being considered because he has been here 6 months. If it's difficult to communicate now, how bad do you think it was then. The lads had a lot to deal with, I doubt throwing him in the deep end (as you wanted) would have done him or us much good.

Perhaps thats the case, you'd have to ask Holloway

Anyway, Sorry yes another thing i forgot to add was Kaebi's apparent 'bad attitude', which is another reason why i said, ''if i was him,looking at the situation through his eyes, i wouldnt want to be in the reserves''.

And another thing, i would in fact, say the same if a player from Northern Ireland or Wales,whatever, had 56 international caps as a recently turned 22 year old.

I've never said he's a world beater, i just want to see him given a chance. If he aint good enough, get him on the next plane to Iran, i dont give a toss, but i want to see him given a consistent run in the first team before he ****s off back to Iran and turns out to be a very good player and we lose out (like normal).

[Babylon]

turns out to be a very good player and we lose out (like normal).

What player have we had that didn't get into the first team but went on to do well?

[maddog]

support Ollies Column!!!!!!! and Ollie!!!!!!! Vote NO in the poll

[Raj]

support Ollies Column!!!!!!! and Ollie!!!!!!! Vote NO in the poll

Are you on fcuking drugs boy????

[WetFlannel]

Does anyone actually give a fcuk about Kaebi anymore? Hes one player and i couldnt care less now... we need a team that will pull together and get some points on the board, if he isnt apart of it then thats fine by me

[Cal]

support Ollies Column!!!!!!! and Ollie!!!!!!! Vote NO in the poll

What poll?

[Raj]

Does anyone actually give a fcuk about Kaebi anymore? Hes one player and i couldnt care less now... we need a team that will pull together and get some points on the board, if he isnt apart of it then thats fine by me

True...i couldnt give a fcuk about ANY of them....

[Fox in a Box]

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

This week he talks about his team's continued struggle in the Championship and the renewed hope the January transfer window will bring.

He also talks about what he will be up to over the festive period, his fullproof plan for Christmas shopping and the plight of the poor turkey.

LEICESTER ON A BAD RUN

We're on the crest of a slump at the moment and I'm expecting a different attitude, a different work ethic.

We play Wolves on Saturday in the televised game. You know what it's like on the telly - everybody does their hair and they get a bit of a lift. We're up against one of the most enthusiastic teams in the division. Mick McCarthy's done a fantastic job and I don't see mine as any different.

Ian Holloway

Now what shall I do with my hair?

He inherited a load of overpaid players and he's brought in some fresh, hungry, enthusiastic players that have lifted the whole club, but he's a long way ahead of me.

I'm still unbelievably upbeat and positive about what this club will have in a year's time. It's tough at the moment but we've got to get a tin hat on, we've got to dig in and we've got to scrap.

ACTIVITY IN THE JANUARY WINDOW?

I expect there will be. I've lifted a couple of kids from our academy and I've told about eight players that I don't want them and sent them away for Christmas.

I won't be spending much time with my family until after the transfer window unfortunately. My poor wife understands that.

I'm talking to my chief scout, Gary Penrice, more than I am to her at the moment. He's been staying over at my house and we're working our socks off to get some players that Leicester City fans will be very, very proud of.

Gary Penrice in his playing days

Move over, Mrs H, there's a new man in town

I might have Christmas Day off after we've done training in the morning but I've never looked forward to four games over the Christmas period so much in my life.

The overall picture doesn't look good but we can do things in the window. How many other clubs down there can do that?

ALL THE BEST TO PLYMOUTH

What I will say is that Plymouth backed me to the hilt and broke their transfer record three times for me last season.

The higher they get in the table, the better I feel about it. But Colchester finished two points above Argyle last season - and look what happened to them last summer. They lost seven players.

I was worried that might happen to Plymouth with only 11,000 gates. Because the better your players play, the more admirers they're going to get and all of a sudden the sharks come swimming.

Paul Sturrock

Just the man for the job

Nothing fills me with more pride than when I see Plymouth beating Watford away - fantastic, they deserve it. Every player plays for that club with so much pride and passion and I hope they get to the Premier League.

There's been an awful lot of horrible things said, an awful lot of untruths spoken, but I'm at Leicester now and I'd like to think the Plymouth fans might wish me well, although I don't think they will.

I left them with probably the best team they've ever had and now they've got a great manager in Paul Sturrock, who's a top bloke, and I wish them all the best.

CHRISTMAS IN THE NEW HOUSE

This is the third Christmas in a row I'll be in a different house. I've had four houses in the last 18 months.

We were shopping the other day and my wife thought 'that's nice but where will I put it?' - she couldn't remember what our rooms looked like, which is a bit worrying!

But we moved into our new house on the Sunday and had the Christmas tree up by the Monday (Dec 3), which isn;t bad going. To be fair, it's been the busiest month of my life and the next two months will be really busy, then hopefully it will settle down a bit

PUNTER'S QUESTION

Sabretooth: "Hi Ollie. Being the father of deaf children, perhaps you can help me out. I'm 21 years old, and I've been getting to know a really nice girl recently. She's sport-mad and we are really into each other. But she's also deaf and I really want to take the relationship further. I'm learning the sign language slowly, but I was wondering if you can give me some ideas for a Christmas present and on how to ask her out?"

Well, not knowing the girl I haven't got a clue about a Christmas present. I've lived with my wife for 20-odd years and I still don't know what to get her!

But it's brilliant that you've met someone. To me it doesn't matter whether you've lost a sense or not - they're still human beings underneath.

606: DEBATE

Ask Ollie a question

Until you learn the language you have to be very visual, smile a lot, be very expressive and you'll get over things. Deaf people are unbelievably receptive to anyone who wants to try and talk to them.

You have to be subtle with your touch when you want to get their attention - just touch them on the outside of their upper arm, otherwise you can jolt them.

And you have to turn the lights on and off if you're in a room to get their attention, or you can bang the floor with your foot so they pick up on the vibration.

But what a wonderful thing for you to want to learn sign language because you've met a wonderful person. I'm proud of you, son.

PUNTER'S QUESTION II

Jonwollufs: "Hi Ollie. After saying you hadn't had time to think about Xmas shopping last week, I saw you Xmas shopping in Loughborough. Would you like to share with us what you had in your bags?"

My poor wife didn't know where she was, she forgot what house we were in and has never liked the worry of Christmas because I've always been too busy and left it too her.

So we sat down, before you saw me, had a cup of coffee, and I made a list of all the people we needed to buy for.

I decided on three shops where I could buy something for everybody - now that's planning!

Unfortunately Loughborough only had one of the shops, so we did a third of it there, then went to Leicester the following day and went to the other two shops. Job done, cash back, back of the net!!!

Alan Partridge

You nicking my sayings again, Holloway?

Now I just need to get in a couple of strikers for Leicester. We're joint-bottom as far as goals scored are concerned and you haven't got to be a genius to work it out.

Get some strikers, get some widemen to create the chances and Leicester will be climbing the table. End of story. And that's the same principle with which I do my Chrismtas shopping.

PUNTER'S QUESTION III

Kernowking: "What's your favourite Christmas carol?"

I don't know if I've got a favourite carol. Good King Wenceslas is probably the one I know best - although I can't spell it!

As for Christmas songs, I like Slade's Merry Christmas - Noddy Holder, he's got some enthusiasm that bloke - and Wizzard was good as well, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.

And there's that Chris Rea one - Driving Home For Christmas - times I've had to do that.

Slade's Noddy Holder

It's Crissssss-massss!!!

When I was a QPR player I had to go training on Christmas Day. I drove an hour and a half into training, trained for 45 minutes and then drove back home again. And when I put on the car radio, Chris Rea was singing Driving Home For Christmas, which was brilliant.

IDEAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT?

I just want health and happiness for everyone who deserves it. It's a wonderful world, it's a wonderful life and it's just a shame that horrible things happen sometimes.

I really get saddened by the attitudes of some human beings. And why should there be starvation in the world these days when we're all so sophisticated?

Why should there be wars? Why is this still happening if we're a civilised group of people? I just want peace and happiness for everyone.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

We'll be having a traditional Christmas dinner. I shall look forward to preparing it all on Christmas Eve with my good lady, Kim.

We've done it for a few years now and we have a little tot of whisky after we've finished it all. We've got a lovely Marks and Sparks turkey this year with bacon all over. A turkey crown I think it's called.

Roast turkey

Uh-oh, too late!

I do feel guilty every year, though - I'm glad I'm not a turkey! What a horrible thing if you suddenly realised you were a turkey and it's November.

You see yourself in a reflection in the farmyard and you think 'God I'm a turkey and it's nearly Christmas!' What a horrendous thing to realise.

Before I go, I'd just like to wish everyone a great Christmas. HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY! YOURS IN FOOTBALL, HO HO HO!

Ian Holloway was talking to Chris Charle