Ian Holloway - Radio Leicester Phone In

[teblin]

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.

I agree that it should be howard with hume or campbell.

It seems until we get another right sided player, hume will play out there at the moment from what ollie said

[Geo V]

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.

After all this time mate, have you not realized that our kids arent as good as you think they are???

Levi, Weso, Mattock, Stearman, Shush!, Dodds, COG, Logan, Gradel, Odhiambo, etc etc...

None of teh above have come into the side and done so well that they have made the position their own. COG was sold a while back now but the likes of Logan, Weso and Levi had there chance and have done OK in certain games but have not done well enough for us not to raid the transfer market. Mattock and Stearman have done OK but we are being linked to a new right-back and Clapham has come along to give Mattock competition whilst Shush! has been punted out on loan.

Just because we have a successful academy side doesn't mean that they will be instant hits in the first team.

From what I have seen, Mattock has a big future in the game if he isn't rushed, Stearman can easily develop into a solid enough right-back if he brushes up the edges of his at times wayward game and Weso, if stays injury free can be a quality central midfielder. Gradel I havent seen play but he is arguably the only other from that lot who has a chance in years to come.

Again going back to what Ollie and Birch said on the radio yesterday, they admitted as young footballers they learned more from the senior pro`s and not the coaches. That should twll us that the likes of the youngsters will learn plenty from the likes of Clapham, Oakley, Howard and Clemence and will develop there games in training and if punted out on loan, will again learn from the senior pro`s of that club and understand the rigors of first team football and the more difficult and realistic sides of being a pro footballer where not all the players have fancy cars and big old houses.

We have asked far too much of our youngsters and the knock on effect is they are either out injured or there form is bouncing up and down like a yo-yo so lets not ask too much from a decent bunch.

Our kids arent that great mate so finally realize it.

[Thracian]

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.

Because I've read verbatim quotes of what he's said over the weeks and I'm long sick of the doubletalk.

[Babylon]

Because I've read verbatim quotes of what he's said over the weeks and I'm long sick of the doubletalk.

And I'm sick of yours.

Not so long ago (after the loan spell) you'd written Shush! off, now he's going it's the worst decision ever again.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Determined to look for positives, especially when there are so many to be had. We need stability, not another new manager just because a couple of wordy seniors think they could do better.

[Ric Flair]

I agree that it should be howard with hume or campbell.

It seems until we get another right sided player, hume will play out there at the moment from what ollie said

Bori must look seriously crap in training then because from what i've seen of him in the first team he's looked good.

[teblin]

Bori must look seriously crap in training then because from what i've seen of him in the first team he's looked good.

I agree, seems to do the simple things well. I don't get it.

[Thracian]

After all this time mate, have you not realized that our kids arent as good as you think they are???

Levi, Weso, Mattock, Stearman, Shush!, Dodds, COG, Logan, Gradel, Odhiambo, etc etc...

None of teh above have come into the side and done so well that they have made the position their own. COG was sold a while back now but the likes of Logan, Weso and Levi had there chance and have done OK in certain games but have not done well enough for us not to raid the transfer market. Mattock and Stearman have done OK but we are being linked to a new right-back and Clapham has come along to give Mattock competition whilst Shush! has been punted out on loan.

Just because we have a successful academy side doesn't mean that they will be instant hits in the first team.

From what I have seen, Mattock has a big future in the game if he isn't rushed, Stearman can easily develop into a solid enough right-back if he brushes up the edges of his at times wayward game and Weso, if stays injury free can be a quality central midfielder. Gradel I havent seen play but he is arguably the only other from that lot who has a chance in years to come.

Again going back to what Ollie and Birch said on the radio yesterday, they admitted as young footballers they learned more from the senior pro`s and not the coaches. That should twll us that the likes of the youngsters will learn plenty from the likes of Clapham, Oakley, Howard and Clemence and will develop there games in training and if punted out on loan, will again learn from the senior pro`s of that club and understand the rigors of first team football and the more difficult and realistic sides of being a pro footballer where not all the players have fancy cars and big old houses.

We have asked far too much of our youngsters and the knock on effect is they are either out injured or there form is bouncing up and down like a yo-yo so lets not ask too much from a decent bunch.

Our kids arent that great mate so finally realize it.

The young players are as good as I think they are. They just might not be as good as you say I think they are, which is quite different.

A univesal problem in our society is that employees want people with experience but young people can't get experience without doing the job.

Someone has to give them their chance, show some faith in them. And so far the young players you mention have generally done perfectly well, at least those who have actually had a proper chance.

In a squad situation as football is today they were never likely to make a position "their own" because a manager has other people to keep happy like senior players on considerably higher wager for a start.

As for injury and variations in form I don't see they young players have been any more prone to those things than the seniors.

Clemence, Cort, DJ, Kenton, Fryatt have all had injury problems. Form wise I'm not sure any of our seniors apart from Fulop has been outstanding either.

The centre-backs have been consistent, yes. They've battled heroically and won the ball in dangerous situations to some effect but they've consistently given it away straight afterwards as well.

Newton was a disaster, as was Cort and, despite being top scorer, I wouldn't say Hume has been outstanding, nor Clemence.

It's just politically easier for managers to go with experience but we're going to need some pace, some devil and some invention if we're going to score goals and that won't come from labouring legs.

And to my mind our options have been considerably restricted by recent decisions. I say option becuase I've NEVER believed the young players should be used whatever.

I've believed they should be blended in slowly but consistently and within the framework of a blend of pass-and-move footballers that has experienced players of real ability and character. We don't have that.

If City's players were seen as car components we have perfectly reasonable bits but from all sorts of vehicles rather than parts that can be easily fitted together to produce a nice, smooth-running car.

[STUHILL]

The young players are as good as I think they are. They just might not be as good as you say I think they are, which is quite different.

A univesal problem in our society is that employees want people with experience but young people can't get experience without doing the job.

Someone has to give them their chance, show some faith in them. And so far the young players you mention have generally done perfectly well, at least those who have actually had a proper chance.

In a squad situation as football is today they were never likely to make a position "their own" because a manager has other people to keep happy like senior players on considerably higher wager for a start.

As for injury and variations in form I don't see they young players have been any more prone to those things than the seniors.

Clemence, Cort, DJ, Kenton, Fryatt have all had injury problems. Form wise I'm not sure any of our seniors apart from Fulop has been outstanding either.

The centre-backs have been consistent, yes. They've battled heroically and won the ball in dangerous situations to some effect but they've consistently given it away straight afterwards as well.

Newton was a disaster, as was Cort and, despite being top scorer, I wouldn't say Hume has been outstanding, nor Clemence.

It's just politically easier for managers to go with experience but we're going to need some pace, some devil and some invention if we're going to score goals and that won't come from labouring legs.

And to my mind our options have been considerably restricted by recent decisions. I say option becuase I've NEVER believed the young players should be used whatever.

I've believed they should be blended in slowly but consistently and within the framework of a blend of pass-and-move footballers that has experienced players of real ability and character. We don't have that.

If City's players were seen as car components we have perfectly reasonable bits but from all sorts of vehicles rather than parts that can be easily fitted together to produce a nice, smooth-running car.

eh??

[eaststandtom]

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 disagree

hume can still attack from the wing

he can cross and get involved in the midfield too. he can run with the ball still in this position(i wish he'd do this more)

i think it is more beneficial for the team with him playing in the wing as he gives us more attacking options when going forward but more defensive options too with his natural determination and running.

i see howard and campbell as the long term strike partnership

[Ric Flair]

i disagree

hume can still attack from the wing

he can cross and get involved in the midfield too. he can run with the ball still in this position(i wish he'd do this more)

i think it is more beneficial for the team with him playing in the wing as he gives us more attacking options when going forward but more defensive options too with his natural determination and running.

i see howard and campbell as the long term strike partnership

When have you ever seen Hume on the right wing, get the ball out wide, beat his man and put in a decent cross like wingers are supposed to do? Instead what happens is, Hume get's the ball on the half way line, hasn't got much time or space that he's used to, so he invariably chops a pass across field to nobody or goes inside to a position he's more familiar with. That often happens and then the ball from defence tends to go straight down the middle because we aren't strecthing teams with our width.

Hume should play up front or not at all, we have enough trouble as it is, getting our team to use wingers as outlets when they have the ball.

[Jimmy]

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.

he also said he hasn't said anything he hasn't already told the players

[Jimmy]

Bori must look seriously crap in training then because from what i've seen of him in the first team he's looked good.

Ollie aso made a point about Bori's lack of English which may be the main reason for his absence atm

[Churchill]

Just been reading through and seen something about the watford game tbh if the you think about it the goals were quite lucky Shush!'s free kick hit the wall wrong footed the keeper, Campbells goal was a tap in that had come off the wall Hume's goal was quality, MDV can't really say bad defending but some good play from MDV. So could of only been 2-1 might of finished different.

[Mark]

Just been reading through and seen something about the watford game tbh if the you think about it the goals were quite lucky Shush!'s free kick hit the wall wrong footed the keeper, Campbells goal was a tap in that had come off the wall Hume's goal was quality, MDV can't really say bad defending but some good play from MDV. So could of only been 2-1 might of finished different.

We hit the post twice though just after the break before that free kick, we certainly had alot of attempts that came close to goals.

[Dr The Singh]

I wish someone would ask Holloway, why he still plays players out of position, I agree with what most say that it will take time. I think Holloway choices show that he is not overly confident with his new team and wants to 'sure' things!!

[Babylon]

I wish someone would ask Holloway, why he still plays players out of position, I agree with what most say that it will take time. I think Holloway choices show that he is not overly confident with his new team and wants to 'sure' things!!

They did and he answered.

The ONE player we played out of position was Hume. In brief, Holloway said Hume currently loses the ball too much with his back to goal, which causes us problems (especially away from home) and that Bori has communication issues... but they are trying to put both of them right and are working on it.

[James.]

Sorry if this has already been asked but is the interview still available online or something? Aside from all the morons phoning in it sounds as if it was quite an interesting insight into Holloway and our current problems.

[Dr The Singh]

They did and he answered.

The ONE player we played out of position was Hume. In brief, Holloway said Hume currently loses the ball too much with his back to goal, which causes us problems (especially away from home) and that Bori has communication issues... but they are trying to put both of them right and are working on it.

Thanks for info Babs, I couln't be arsed reading 15 pages to find the reason but did he mention why he played Hayles on the wing????

[Babylon]

Thanks for info Babs, I couln't be arsed reading 15 pages to find the reason but did he mention why he played Hayles on the wing????

Thought he played up front?

The general feeling was that the Hungarians aren't ready yet in his opinion.

[Cat Burger]

Hume and Fryatt have both gone backwards since they joined, Hume is NOT a striker and his attitude is suspect at right mid (as IH alluded to yesterday) He doesn't want to play there anymore? Well Iain, try playing on the shoulder of the last defender, bending your runs and applying slide-rule finishes.

Campbell > Hume

[MikeyT]

I thought Ollie was the right man for the job when he arrived, and last nights interview with him just assures me my thoughts were correct. The more i hear from him the more i like this guy and think he is most certainly the one to take this club forward. He tells the truth and he doesnt seem to take any crap. Bring on the Ollie revolution!

[MikeyT]

Sorry if this has already been asked but is the interview still available online or something? Aside from all the morons phoning in it sounds as if it was quite an interesting insight into Holloway and our current problems.

Go to the following link and where it says on the right of the page "Listen again". Click on that and you should hopefully find it mate!

The piece first starts with the news and then goes to the interview!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/local_radio/

[eaststandtom]

When have you ever seen Hume on the right wing, get the ball out wide, beat his man and put in a decent cross like wingers are supposed to do? Instead what happens is, Hume get's the ball on the half way line, hasn't got much time or space that he's used to, so he invariably chops a pass across field to nobody or goes inside to a position he's more familiar with. That often happens and then the ball from defence tends to go straight down the middle because we aren't strecthing teams with our width.

Hume should play up front or not at all, we have enough trouble as it is, getting our team to use wingers as outlets when they have the ball.

against watford for one when he played under allen

he has the ability to do all of those things and work in tight situations. trouble is the guy is inconsistent.

but yeah you are right that he does give the ball away too much. he can still find a blue shirt if he is playing left back couldnt he or does that mean he looses the ability to pass

if he perhaps wasnt so vocal in expressing his disappointment at having to play 'out of position' all the time it wouldnt be such an issue.

huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmeeeee

[Jonezy]

Reading through this thread there are a couple of things I don't understand.

Thrac is slating Ollie for going with experience.

Alnwick - 21

Mattock - 17

Stearman - 20

McAuley - 28

Kisnorbo - 26

Lazcko - 21

Hume - 24

Clemence - 29

Oakley - 30

Howard - 31

Hayles - 35

Thats an average age of 25,6, and thats with Hayles innit...... And you want more of our kids in the side????

About Hume on the right.

I do believe, that Ollie is looking for a right winger and had this position addressed in the window, but it just didn't happend. Don't know if Ollie was hoping for Norris. Right now he clearly feels that Hume is the best choice out there, as he properly tracks back better and communicate with Stearman better than Bori. I think Ollie wants Hume up front alongside Howard, and then have DJ and Hayles to come from the bench, but basically is about options upfront and what kind of striker you need for a certain match.

About Gradel.

Maybe it is not the right time to be introduced to first team football at this club. The fans are nervy, and will get on his back quick if he fails to impress. Ollie wouldn't make him first choice anyway, so he might be better off at the South Coast and helping Forest NOT to get automatic promotion.

About Fryatt vs Hayles

As long as they score goals in a Leicester shirt I love them both, but honestly Fryatt doesn't have Hayles' luck does he...?

About dire performances with Ollie in charge.

This is a dire division, this club is a dire mess, we signed 14 players in the summer - 2 plays and most of the rest are paid to leave us again, Rome wasn't built in one frickin day, we spent 4 seasons to get in this mess and not even Saruman with a wand could fix this dire mess in 10 weeks. We dont have 3 rightbacks in midfield anymore at least, cheer up.....