Ian Holloway - Radio Leicester Phone In

[Geo V]

Don't start being silly GeoV.

I'll take good fortune like the next bloke but it won't blind me to the way we're playing and the run of better results at home is only being seriously negated by the run of awful results on our travels.

No-one denies that you can grind out results and be grateful but however often people deny it or ignore it, sooner or later we have to play well and score goals if we're ever going to be successful. It's what successful teams do mostly.

So I'd prefer that we won AND played well. Managing is not just about results it's about rousing the fans, putting bums on seats and making more and more people want to watch you.

I sometimes think the dourists are happy with any sort of football so they can keep the club to themselves and show the world how they can suffer and still be supportive.

I love watching free-flowing football but I am realistic enough to realize that wins breeds confidence and once the players are confident they are more likely to express themselves and play a more care-free game. At the moment they are just plodding along and as soon as they make an error, the head hangs and they want to commit suicide!

Wins = Confidence = Expression + Better Football

Einstein said that once.

[The Reverend]

Don't start being silly GeoV.

I'll take good fortune like the next bloke but it won't blind me to the way we're playing and the run of better results at home is only being seriously negated by the run of awful results on our travels.

No-one denies that you can grind out results and be grateful but however often people deny it or ignore it, sooner or later we have to play well and score goals if we're ever going to be successful. It's what successful teams do mostly.

So I'd prefer that we won AND played well. Managing is not just about results it's about rousing the fans, putting bums on seats and making more and more people want to watch you.

I sometimes think the dourists are happy with any sort of football so they can keep the club to themselves and show the world how they can suffer and still be supportive.

Yes Thracian, but most of us realise we will never play good football. Managers that play with that style are a rarity. They realise that the blueprint for this division seems to be strength and height in most positions,as well as ability of course.

Asking to win and play well is a step too far. Theres only 2 or 3 teams in the country that do that with any consistency. And we wont be one of them in the near future, as much as you and I would like it. We have to be realistic here.

You just make it sound so simple, and i admire you're optimism, but im afraid i doubt it will happen.

[Babylon]

We're not playing any better at home than when we drew against Cardiff and we're losing away with barely a whisper now.

You do make loads of sense most of the time about football but you'll be perfect in politics cos you just ignore what you don't want to see.

I'm just glad I gave the PR exercise a miss.

There are no excuses for so much of what's happened this season. And he can offer as much passion as he likes but Holloway has presided over his own share of the endless accumulation of daft decisions we've made this season and none of his banter will change that.

I won't list chapter and verse because he's been no worse than anyone else and he's got a stack of problems no-one should envy and no-one would find easy to put right in the circumstances.

But to date, too much of what Holloway says is not easy to equate with what he does, so I don't see much point in listening to him.

All I want to see is evidence on the field that things are changing for the better. So far I've seen little.

Maybe you should have, then you would have got some answers as to why he is doing some of the things he's doing.

[Jimmy]

I'm honestly struggling to listen. Some prat has phoned up and asked why Ollie hasn't implemented the changes that the caller suggested in a letter. Roland apparently. Is he the new Andy from Long Eaton?

they're the only 1's allowed on so Bahbah can look smart

[Babylon]

It seems some people are easily convinced by our managers words.

People saying that really pisses me off. I'm not easily convinced by his words, but the guy spoke openly and honestly about why he has done, what he has done.

I'm sure we're all in agreement things need to get better on the pitch. Many on here don't seem to appreciate the shit storm the guy has inherited though. I thought it was a great insight into what he's having to deal with.

[The Reverend]

People saying that really pisses me off. I'm not easily convinced by his words, but the guy spoke openly and honestly about why he has done, what he has done.

I'm sure we're all in agreement things need to get better on the pitch. Many on here don't seem to appreciate the shit storm the guy has inherited though. I thought it was a great insight into what he's having to deal with.

Well said.

[Ric Flair]

That was painful listening to that. The one thing that strikes me though is, why would you loan out a 17 year old left back who is already playing for the England Under 21's, had bids in excess of a £1-1.5 million and is being scouted every week.

I know he's inconsistent and seems to be crap away from home and quality at home, but you'd be wanting to get the best out of that young star, rather than loan them out to a lower league club. I don't know many teams at our level who have had a youngster like Mattock be as highly rated at 17 and then loan them out. It doesn't make sense, you usually loan out the youngsters that haven't forced their way in to the first team.

Or perhaps Holloway doesn't rate Mattock as much as the hype and other teams and managers do, but is playing him due to other factors?

Just seems strange. I remember Derby playing Huddlestone as a young kid and him being distinctly inconsistent, capable of some quality games and then very naive and under-par in others. But would they have loaned him out to Yeovil or someone? Naah. Likewise with Bale, who I do accept was probably far more consistent than Mattock, but I still stand by the fact that playing for England Under 21's at 17 and starting games, is a massive achievement. I just hope Holloway know's how best to handle this prestigious talent.

Good to hear his views on Gradel though, 3 year contract? Nice.

[Babylon]

That was painful listening to that. The one thing that strikes me though is, why would you loan out a 17 year old left back who is already playing for the England Under 21's, had bids in excess of a £1-1.5 million and is being scouted every week.

I know he's incosistent and seems to be crap away from home and quality at home, but you'd be wanting to get the best out of that young star, rather than loan them out to a lower league club. I don't know many teams at our level who have had a youngster like Mattock be as highly rated at 17 and then loan them out. It doesn't make sense, you usually loan out the youngsters that haven't forced their way in to the first team.

Or perhaps Holloway doesn't rate Mattock as much as the hype and other teams and managers do, but is playing him due to other factors?

Just seems strange. I remember Derby playing Huddlestone as a young kid and him being distinctly inconsistent, capable of some quality games and then very naive and under-par in others. But would they have loaned him out to Yeovil or someone? Naah. Likewise with Bale, who I do accept was probably far more consistent than Mattock, but I still stand by the fact that playing for Eng;and Under 21's at 17 and starting games, is a massive achievement. I just hope Holloway know's how best to handle this prestigious talent.

Good to hear his views on Gradel though, 3 year contract? Nice.

Was it not more of an "in an ideal world" statement.

ie. In an ideal world if we had a fantastic, consistent left back, I'd like to loan mattock out to get a bit of experience. We haven't got one so he's still here!? Not that he used those exact words, that's just the impression I got.

[Jimmy]

Was it not more of an "in an ideal world" statement.

ie. In an ideal world if we had a fantastic, consistent left back, I'd like to loan mattock out to get a bit of experience. We haven't got one so he's still here!?

that's how he said it, he CAN do it with Gradel and would ideally like to do the same with Mattock so he could make most of his errors in someone else's team and come back a better player and at 19 become the awesome player he expects him to become...

His comments about Hume were the most important basically publicly telling him "shut up, I'm in charge, sulk all you like but if you didn't give the ball away so much (especially away from home) you WOULD be playing upfront"

[teblin]

People saying that really pisses me off. I'm not easily convinced by his words, but the guy spoke openly and honestly about why he has done, what he has done.

I'm sure we're all in agreement things need to get better on the pitch. Many on here don't seem to appreciate the shit storm the guy has inherited though. I thought it was a great insight into what he's having to deal with.

agreed, i think people have this perception of ollie just being a comedian a bit of a joker.

But i think he came across as a very intelligent, thoughtful guy. Most of all i think he understands people which is half the battle. I get the feeling that he will sort it out and this time next year we will be hovoring aroung the right end of the table.

People have very short memories, even our most successfull manager over the last 20 year didn't get success instantly as he had to rebuild a team too, infact his first 13 games he didn't even get 1 win.

We just need to get safe as soon as possible so we need 5 wins and a draw but hope fully we will get more than that. And then give Ollie a pre season and i'm sure we'll be hovering at the right end of the table.

[The Reverend]

That was painful listening to that. The one thing that strikes me though is, why would you loan out a 17 year old left back who is already playing for the England Under 21's, had bids in excess of a £1-1.5 million and is being scouted every week.

I know he's inconsistent and seems to be crap away from home and quality at home, but you'd be wanting to get the best out of that young star, rather than loan them out to a lower league club. I don't know many teams at our level who have had a youngster like Mattock be as highly rated at 17 and then loan them out. It doesn't make sense, you usually loan out the youngsters that haven't forced their way in to the first team.

Or perhaps Holloway doesn't rate Mattock as much as the hype and other teams and managers do, but is playing him due to other factors?

Just seems strange. I remember Derby playing Huddlestone as a young kid and him being distinctly inconsistent, capable of some quality games and then very naive and under-par in others. But would they have loaned him out to Yeovil or someone? Naah. Likewise with Bale, who I do accept was probably far more consistent than Mattock, but I still stand by the fact that playing for England Under 21's at 17 and starting games, is a massive achievement. I just hope Holloway know's how best to handle this prestigious talent.

Good to hear his views on Gradel though, 3 year contract? Nice.

I think people have got far too excited over Mattock.

Its a fantastic achievement to get in the 21's at 17, but is that due to ability or lack of other ability in the 21's squad? Left back is a rare job these days, young English left backs are hard to find.

Personally i dont believe the hype, and dont think he is as good as Stearman was at 18 (when he first got in the team), and look how he's turned out.

[Jimmy]

I think people have got far too excited over Mattock.

Its a fantastic achievement to get in the 21's at 17, but is that due to ability or lack of other ability in the 21's squad? Left back is a rare job these days, young English left backs are hard to find.

Personally i dont believe the hype, and dont think he is as good as Stearman was at 18 (when he first got in the team), and look how he's turned out.

good point people seem to forget that 1 of the keepers in that squad is currently playing for Peterborough, so would playing for Yeovil as the example made, really stop him getting into the U21's? surely he'd look even better at that level

[Geo V]

That was painful listening to that. The one thing that strikes me though is, why would you loan out a 17 year old left back who is already playing for the England Under 21's, had bids in excess of a £1-1.5 million and is being scouted every week.

I know he's inconsistent and seems to be crap away from home and quality at home, but you'd be wanting to get the best out of that young star, rather than loan them out to a lower league club. I don't know many teams at our level who have had a youngster like Mattock be as highly rated at 17 and then loan them out. It doesn't make sense, you usually loan out the youngsters that haven't forced their way in to the first team.

Or perhaps Holloway doesn't rate Mattock as much as the hype and other teams and managers do, but is playing him due to other factors?

Just seems strange. I remember Derby playing Huddlestone as a young kid and him being distinctly inconsistent, capable of some quality games and then very naive and under-par in others. But would they have loaned him out to Yeovil or someone? Naah. Likewise with Bale, who I do accept was probably far more consistent than Mattock, but I still stand by the fact that playing for England Under 21's at 17 and starting games, is a massive achievement. I just hope Holloway know's how best to handle this prestigious talent.

Good to hear his views on Gradel though, 3 year contract? Nice.

Mattock is the England u21 set-up because it has always been a problem position in this country and we haven't many decent ones coming through. Mattock has shown potential for England when representing them at the younger level of International football and thats one of the reasons why he is there.

Mattock is over-hyped from what I have seen and I agree he could develop into a good player but at the moment, he seems to be getting skinned by any half-decent right-midfielder/winger which is of huge concern.

As for Gradel, he used examples of players like Jermaine Defoe who went down to Bournemouth and came back better for it. He knows that lower league football toughens up a player mentally and physically as they`ll get a run of games and he said he`ll assess him in pre-season once he gets the chance to work with him. If he is good enough Im sure he`ll be in that first team squad come the start of next season.

[Ric Flair]

that's how he said it, he CAN do it with Gradel and would ideally like to do the same with Mattock so he could make most of his errors in someone else's team and come back a better player and at 19 become the awesome player he expects him to become...

His comments about Hume were the most important basically publicly telling him "shut up, I'm in charge, sulk all you like but if you didn't give the ball away so much (especially away from home) you WOULD be playing upfront"

I found the Hume comments interesting but perhaps a little out of order, he shouldn't be publicly saying those things about his players. Even if I do agree with him, that's one part of Hume's game he needs to work on. When he's closely marked, which usually happens more on the wing, oddly enough, he often loses the ball. Given space, which he get's more of up front, especially at home, he can use the ball more.

If Holloway doesn't like him up front (even though he raved about him v Coventry and said the Howard and Hayles partnership isn't right) then don't play him. Playing him on the wing is a hinderance to the team.

[Thracian]

People saying that really pisses me off. I'm not easily convinced by his words, but the guy spoke openly and honestly about why he has done, what he has done.

I'm sure we're all in agreement things need to get better on the pitch. Many on here don't seem to appreciate the shit storm the guy has inherited though. I thought it was a great insight into what he's having to deal with.

I've never thought he doesn't have reasons for what he's doing. I just don't agree with them and would refer you first to what Ric's said about Mattock.

I've heard so much rhetoric from various managers over the years, much of which doesn't tell the full story, that I'm really not that interested.

All that finally matters is the performances on the field. Seems to me that Holloway has done a Kelly. He's largely discarded the young players and gone for experience, just as Rob Kelly did last winter and, I'd have to assume it's a policy MM agrees with.

I think that's short termist. Yes, Holloway's signed a better quality of experienced player but I see no future for the style of football we're playing and I'm not at all sure that the internal disharmony caused by the policy won't have disastrous consequences in more ways than one before long.

Bottom line I still think the club's a mess and you talk about the manager's honesty.

Well, one day we're told Gerry Taggart will be building a reserves team to feed the first team but the next day various players who might be expected to challenge for that first team are farmed out on loan. Unless there are brilliant players around who I don't know about, it seems like he's been shafted.

We're told the first team needs square pegs in square holes then we do the opposite, we're told the team needs wingers but the manager doesn't pick em and when he does, one of them doesn't act like a winger.

The manager complains he's been left short of funds but he's hardly got the players he's signed to look on top of their games and there are plenty of managers who made something of their team with less than a fortune to spend.

There was public criticism of our previous players and even now there are public rumblings about what the current players aren't doing.

It seems Holloway's quick to pass blame and slow to blame himself but, for isntance, it was he who presided over us trying to play out time against Charlton, his team that was asleep at the start of the game against Blackpool, his decision to substitute Hume in the same match for no obvious reason, his decision to play a right-back at left back and his decision, presumably, not to go chasing the win when we equalised against those seasiders.

None of the above are down to a shit storm of anyone else's making. They are down to managerial decisions.

And altogether it worries me no end.

[Ultra]

I've never thought he doesn't have reasons for what he's doing. I just don't agree with them and would refer you first to what Ric's said about Mattock.

I've heard so much rhetoric from various managers over the years, much of which doesn't tell the full story, that I'm really not that interested.

All that finally matters is the performances on the field. Seems to me that Holloway has done a Kelly. He's largely discarded the young players and gone for experience, just as Rob Kelly did last winter and, I'd have to assume it's a policy MM agrees with.

I think that's short termist. Yes, Holloway's signed a better quality of experienced player but I see no future for the style of football we're playing and I'm not at all sure that the internal disharmony caused by the policy won't have disastrous consequences in more ways than one before long.

Bottom line I still think the club's a mess and you talk about the manager's honesty.

Well, one day we're told Gerry Taggart will be building a reserves team to feed the first team but the next day various players who might be expected to challenge for that first team are farmed out on loan. Unless there are brilliant players around who I don't know about, it seems like he's been shafted.

We're told the first team needs square pegs in square holes then we do the opposite, we're told the team needs wingers but the manager doesn't pick em and when he does, one of them doesn't act like a winger.

The manager complains he's been left short of funds but he's hardly got the players he's signed to look on top of their games and there are plenty of managers who made something of their team with less than a fortune to spend.

There was public criticism of our previous players and even now there are public rumblings about what the current players aren't doing.

It seems Holloway's quick to pass blame and slow to blame himself but, for isntance, it was he who presided over us trying to play out time against Charlton, his team that was asleep at the start of the game against Blackpool, his decision to substitute Hume in the same match for no obvious reason, his decision to play a right-back at left back and his decision, presumably, not to go chasing the win when we equalised against those seasiders.

None of the above are down to a shit storm of anyone else's making. They are down to managerial decisions.

And altogether it worries me no end.

Nail. On. The. Head.

[Babylon]

I've never thought he doesn't have reasons for what he's doing. I just don't agree with them and would refer you first to what Ric's said about Mattock.

I've heard so much rhetoric from various managers over the years, much of which doesn't tell the full story, that I'm really not that interested.

All that finally matters is the performances on the field. Seems to me that Holloway has done a Kelly. He's largely discarded the young players and gone for experience, just as Rob Kelly did last winter and, I'd have to assume it's a policy MM agrees with.

I think that's short termist. Yes, Holloway's signed a better quality of experienced player but I see no future for the style of football we're playing and I'm not at all sure that the internal disharmony caused by the policy won't have disastrous consequences in more ways than one before long.

Bottom line I still think the club's a mess and you talk about the manager's honesty.

Well, one day we're told Gerry Taggart will be building a reserves team to feed the first team but the next day various players who might be expected to challenge for that first team are farmed out on loan. Unless there are brilliant players around who I don't know about, it seems like he's been shafted.

We're told the first team needs square pegs in square holes then we do the opposite, we're told the team needs wingers but the manager doesn't pick em and when he does, one of them doesn't act like a winger.

The manager complains he's been left short of funds but he's hardly got the players he's signed to look on top of their games and there are plenty of managers who made something of their team with less than a fortune to spend.

There was public criticism of our previous players and even now there are public rumblings about what the current players aren't doing.

It seems Holloway's quick to pass blame and slow to blame himself but, for isntance, it was he who presided over us trying to play out time against Charlton, his team that was asleep at the start of the game against Blackpool, his decision to substitute Hume in the same match for no obvious reason, his decision to play a right-back at left back and his decision, presumably, not to go chasing the win when we equalised against those seasiders.

None of the above are down to a shit storm of anyone else's making. They are down to managerial decisions.

And altogether it worries me no end.

Very nice Thracian, complete waste of time though because you didn't even listen to what was said. How can you say you don't agree with why he's doing it when you don't even know what he said.

[Daggers]

I think that's short termist. Yes, Holloway's signed a better quality of experienced player but I see no future for the style of football we're playing and I'm not at all sure that the internal disharmony caused by the policy won't have disastrous consequences in more ways than one before long.

Nonsense.

[teblin]

I found the Hume comments interesting but perhaps a little out of order, he shouldn't be publicly saying those things about his players. Even if I do agree with him, that's one part of Hume's game he needs to work on. When he's closely marked, which usually happens more on the wing, oddly enough, he often loses the ball. Given space, which he get's more of up front, especially at home, he can use the ball more.

If Holloway doesn't like him up front (even though he raved about him v Coventry and said the Howard and Hayles partnership isn't right) then don't play him. Playing him on the wing is a hinderance to the team.

I think he hit the nail on the head with hume.

The ball over the last 2 or 3 years have been coming back too easily not being held up, thats whay we have been crying out for someone like howard. Hume isn't a hold the ball up type of player.

Hume would've got on alot better(though he had done well, done't get me wrong) if MDV(or someone like him) had been playing along side him for the last 2 seasons not elvis or fryatt.

[Daggers]

Very nice Thracian, complete waste of time though because you didn't even listen to what was said. How can you say you don't agree with why he's doing it when you don't even know what he said.

Seeing and hearing is no bar to holding a forthright opinion on this forum these days.

[Ric Flair]

I think he hit the nail on the head with hume.

The ball over the last 2 or 3 years have been coming back too easily not being held up, thats whay we have been crying out for someone like howard. Hume isn't a hold the ball up type of player.

Hume would've got on alot better(though he had done well, done't get me wrong) if MDV(or someone like him) had been playing along side him for the last 2 seasons not elvis or fryatt.

Hume's never really been a hold up player, but you don't need two hold up players up front either. You have one (Howard) and then a fast and skillful striker alongside them something Barry isn't unfortunately. Hume and DJ fit that criteria, and Hume and Howard looked co-ordinated together against Coventry.

[Babylon]

Hume's never really been a hold up player, but you don't need two hold up players up front either. You have one (Howard) and then a fast and skillful striker alongside them something Barry isn't unfortunately. Hume and DJ fit that criteria, and Hume and Howard looked co-ordinated together against Coventry.

You're right ric, I'm sure he sees DJ and Howard as the pairing. Once DJ is match fit I'm hoping we see it and Barry will drop to the bench.

Everyone looked good against Cov though!!!

[Steven]

It seems Holloway's quick to pass blame and slow to blame himself.....

With good reason at the moment. However I would say he needs to publicly lay down targets and criteria against which he can feel comfortable about being judged upon. If not I feel he might still be trying to use the I need time to turn it around excuse and others this time next year.

[Babylon]

With good reason at the moment. However I would say he needs to publicly lay down targets and criteria against which he can feel comfortable about being judged upon. If not I feel he might still be trying to use the I need time to turn it around excuse and others this time next year.

Exactly the question I sent in last night... but Radio Leicester were to bothered about idiotic questions rather than mine.

[Houdini Logic]

I hear Gascoigne is going on the cheap - I think that kind of 'experience' would be good for us!