Ian Holloway Shows Players Foxestalk Images

[macfox]

Guardian Interview

'Statistically, I'm the worst Leicester City manager in history, and that doesn't sit well'

Ian Holloway needs a win at Stoke tomorrow or he could be looking for a new job

Daniel Taylor The Guardian, Saturday May 3 2008

By his own admission, Ian Holloway is tense. His team are one bad result away from being relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time and, if the worst happens to Leicester City, it threatens to have serious repercussions for one of the most passionate and entertaining managers in the business.

This is an era of impatient chairmen and intolerant supporters and, in the law of the football jungle, Holloway could be forgiven for wondering how many out-of-work managers have already made discreet inquiries behind his back. His chairman, Milan Mandaric, is currently on his fifth manager in 16 months, a trigger-happy run that makes Doug Ellis, of years gone by at Aston Villa, look like an old softie.

Many fans have sympathised, but others have made it clear that they want him out and when he clicked on a supporters' website this week he found a picture of himself mocked up as a clown. "My wife found it actually," he says. "She likes to have a look through these sites to see what the fans are saying. I suppose it was meant to be amusing. But I didn't find it funny. It's not a time for jokes."

To describe it as a difficult week does not do it justice. Last Saturday, his team lost 3-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday to leave themselves 21st in the Championship, facing a final game tomorrow against a Stoke City side gunning for automatic promotion. After the defeat, Holloway and his players had to grit their teeth and sit through a dinner with sponsors and supporters. "We were supposed to be having a nice time," he says. "The truth is we looked as though we were all going to hang ourselves - and some of the people who write on the websites probably wish we had."

On Monday it was the player of the season dinner and, again, Holloway sat at the top table with a face like thunder. On his way there he had tuned in to BBC Radio Leicester's phone-in and heard himself being blamed for everything, it seemed, apart from the half-time oranges being too sour. One particularly embittered caller asked why so many of the players who had capitulated against Wednesday were drunk in a Loughborough nightclub on Saturday night.

"I didn't like what I heard," says Holloway. "Since I've been here these poor Leicester fans have had to put up with all sorts. Right now, it just seems that the fear factor and negativity has taken over. There aren't many people who give us a chance in hell. Some of our fans have already got us losing. I switched on the radio thinking, 'They can say what they like, it isn't going to affect me.' But it hurts."

The sums are simple: Leicester are a place above third-bottom Southampton on goal difference and a win at Stoke virtually guarantees safety. Anything else, however, leaves them vulnerable and Southampton have the easier game, at home to Sheffield United. "The only way we can look at it is that we have to win," says Holloway. "We've got to go there and tweak the nose of fear and stick an ice cube down the vest of terror. That's not an Ian Holloway quote, by the way. It's Blackadder."

He hasn't lost his sense of humour then, although it must be difficult at times. Holloway is a believer in positive thinking but is also realistic enough to appreciate that managers who get relegated usually find their P45 is not far behind. "If Sven-Goran Eriksson can get the sack after the results he has had, then who am I? If Jose Mourinho can be sacked and Avram Grant is in a European Cup final and might be sacked, then who am I?" He had answered the question himself a few moments earlier. "Statistically, I'm currently the worst Leicester City manager in history and that doesn't sit well with me." Not that he is giving up. "On my gravestone it will say, 'Here lies Ollie - he tried.' I will never give up."

As well as Leicester and Southampton, another three clubs - Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool - could all go down tomorrow. It promises to be a nerve-shredding climax to a peculiar Championship season and Holloway has already brought his players together for "a speech that could have roused the dead".

He also showed them some more internet images. "There was one website asking supporters to send in pictures that summed up Leicester's season. There were pictures of boats going down and a photograph of the Freight Rover thing, or Johnstone's Paints, whatever it's called. You can protect people sometimes but on other occasions you can use these things. Maybe that's what the players needed - that kind of stinging criticism."

He describes himself as "devastated" that things have worked out so badly since he took the job in December. His was an acrimonious split from Plymouth, leaving a lot of bad feeling, as his wife, Kim, found out when she was shopping one afternoon in Morrisons. "She was pushing her trolley along and someone came up behind her and said, 'What's it like being married to a fooking liar?'" says Holloway. "I never lied once; in fact, I don't think I've told a lie in my life."

His eyes smoulder with anger. When Holloway was struggling at Wimbledon and Brentford in the mid 1980s, Kim developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had to have chemotherapy. To their delight, Kim recovered so well that she gave birth to a son, William. Identical twins, Chloe and Eve, followed and are profoundly deaf, as is a third daughter, Harriet.

"It gives you a sense of perspective," he says. "This game against Stoke is the biggest of my life. It is vital, it is critical, but when you've seen a member of your family dying it does put things into perspective. I've got three deaf kids. I don't want to belittle anyone, and I know why the supporters take it so personally when we're losing. But life's about perspective."

A word that is often used to describe Holloway is madcap but, as he frequently points out, he is neither mad nor wearing a cap. "Maybe people would see me in a different light if they asked me how I coped with having a wife who has cancer, how I cope with the deafness, how I helped one of my daughters yesterday when she was having a panic attack because she had a headache and was being pushed hard at school."

The conversation turns to Frank Lampard's performance for Chelsea against Liverpool on Wednesday. "It's about courage," says Holloway, nodding appreciatively. "I've been in a similar position. I saw my dad take his last breath at 8.30 in the morning and that night I played [for Bristol Rovers] against VS Rugby."

Holloway being the unique character he is, then goes off on a typically amusing speech about a scene from Apollo 13 and, even after listening to the tape a dozen times, it is still difficult to know exactly what he means. He is clear, however, about the task that lies ahead. "I know we haven't got two decent games in us," he says. "Sadly, we have proved that [Leicester have not won successive games all season]. But I think we've got one."

[Guest]

Is that davieG's sig they're talking about with the sinking boat?

[Messi]

Many fans have sympathised, but others have made it clear that they want him out and when he clicked on a supporters' website this week he found a picture of himself mocked up as a clown. "My wife found it actually," he says. "She likes to have a look through these sites to see what the fans are saying. I suppose it was meant to be amusing. But I didn't find it funny. It's not a time for jokes."

says the willy puller himself

[volpeazzurro]

It's quite a thought provoking article isn't it! As one of those who has voiced my opinions regarding the sacking of 'Ollie' it does serve to get things into perspective a bit. Yet many of us have problems outside of football, some greater than others and have to cope with them. I think to some extent, football to many people,, as well as entertainment, is their bit of fantasy and escapism from sometimes humdrum jobs or even the sadder type of incidents as Ollie has experienced. It is very difficult not to get personally get involved with a club when you've been going for many years and experienced the highs and the lows, sometime with friends or family that are no longer with us. Theres the Tony James goal and Walshies goal against Deby to name but a couple.

In normal life you don't call for someone to be sacked from there job every day and I'm sure if any of us got to meet Ollie and got to know him, he's probably a really decent chap. However, the aloofeness of managers and players is perhaps at an all time high (not paticularly Ollie in fairness). Having said that, 'the sack' is something we all face if at work we either don't put the effort in or don't perform adequately. I've never got the impression in fairness that Ollie lacks commitment but have questioned some of his decision making i.e. constant changing of the team, tactics and formations, persistantly playing players out of position etc.

As for the players, I hope by looking at some of the cartoons on this site, that some of them do get a pang of conscience. Unlike many of us they earn a lot of money which I personally neither despise or envy them for, good luck to them! But with such money comes expectation. I think we are quite a realistic set of supporters in general and don't see ourselves vying for a Champions League spot! We are however proud of our club and expect a bit of fight, sweat and effort. We can forgive a players lack of footballing ability if we can see that he's giving of his best like messrs Walsh, Taggert and Savage to name but three in recent times.

Go on Ollie and the team, one last big effort for us, make us proud!!

[Father Ted]

Even more reason to beleive that Ollie is knowitall

[davieG]

Feeling sorry for himself is my overall impression. Doesn't sound like someone who thinks they're going to win.

[Zingari]

hes like one of those contestants on "Britain's got talent "

if the judges look a bit undecided , give them the old sob story

[Father Ted]

Hopefully now he will also realise that he is tactically inept as 32000 fans found out on Saturday and that he should not be playing donkey's like Clapham and Howard!

[MC Prussian]

Either he's not telling the entire truth or he's dumb as a donkey - this statement comes about 10 games too late.

[morris1234]

hes like one of those contestants on "Britain's got talent "

if the judges look a bit undecided , give them the old sob story

maybe but you know id prefer if people dont joke about cancer and deafness for that matter, i know you didint bring it up and no offense was intended but i personally (not just to you) think nobody should really joke about that part of his comments!

[Daggers]

maybe but you know id prefer if people dont joke about cancer and deafness for that matter, i know you didint bring it up and no offense was intended but i personally (not just to you) think nobody should really joke about that part of his comments!

Yea.

If anyone tried making a joke we should all cock a deaf'un to it.

[Kilworthfox]

maybe but you know id prefer if people dont joke about cancer and deafness for that matter, i know you didint bring it up and no offense was intended but i personally (not just to you) think nobody should really joke about that part of his comments!

I don't know where that came from. No one mentioned it but you!

[Corky]

Like I've said before, I have nothing against Holloway the person, just the manager. I do feel sorry for him in his personal life, it must be awful to deal with, and I admire him for that. My criticism of him is not personal, it's against his management style.

[breadandcheese]

Ollie as a person is a good bloke, no-one can really say differently. The question is whether he is the right man to lead the club. Well all that chat can wait till after Sunday.

[Kilworthfox]

Like I've said before, I have nothing against Holloway the person, just the manager. I do feel sorry for him in his personal life, it must be awful to deal with, and I admire him for that. My criticism of him is not personal, it's against his management style.

Good point, people on here go way too far with this name calling. Tell him to his face!

It is 1 thing to dislike the job he is doing but calling the bloke an ...... is not on just because youy are frustrated with LCFC and our points accumulation over the whole season not just since Holloway has been in charge.

[Zingari]

maybe but you know id prefer if people dont joke about cancer and deafness for that matter, i know you didint bring it up and no offense was intended but i personally (not just to you) think nobody should really joke about that part of his comments!

i take your point

[Corky]

Good point, people on here go way too far with this name calling. Tell him to his face!

It is 1 thing to dislike the job he is doing but calling the bloke an ...... is not on just because youy are frustrated with LCFC and our points accumulation over the whole season not just since Holloway has been in charge.

Exactly, if I saw Holloway in the street, I wouldn't go up to him and start shouting, calling him every name under the sun and abusing him about his family. I'm not that sort of person anyway, and his family is nothing to do with Leicester City. I would tell him where I think he has gone wrong as a manager of my football club in a calm manner, and listen to his response.

I want the bloke to do well, I hope it is with us, I like him. I'm not sure it will be though.

[Kilworthfox]

Exactly, if I saw Holloway in the street, I wouldn't go up to him and start shouting, calling him every name under the sun and abusing him about his family. I'm not that sort of person anyway, and his family is nothing to do with Leicester City. I would tell him where I think he has gone wrong as a manager of my football club in a calm manner, and listen to his response.

I want the bloke to do well, I hope it is with us, I like him. I'm not sure it will be though.

I wish everyone could be a bit more patient like this with him. What I can not understand is:

Why is it so easy for the Holloway haters to believe what he has done at Plymouth, QPR and Bristol was a fluke

Why has he suddenly become an Idiot as we are not doing well?

Why will someone else obviously make this season after season under performing side win many matches?

Why is he being accused of having his own side when he has brought in 8 players?

Did he not identify the areas of the side that needed attention and do his best to balance the side?

If the haters could tell me and give me facts and no frustrations with our current position (still not down, in our hands) then I may change my position but I don't see how you can change my opinion?

[Corky]

I wish everyone could be a bit more patient like this with him. What I can not understand is:

Why is it so easy for the Holloway haters to believe what he has done at Plymouth, QPR and Bristol was a fluke

Why has he suddenly become an Idiot as we are not doing well?

Why will someone else obviously make this season after season under performing side win many matches?

Why is he being accused of having his own side when he has brought in 8 players?

Did he not identify the areas of the side that needed attention and do his best to balance the side?

If the haters could tell me and give me facts and no frustrations with our current position (still not down, in our hands) then I may change my position but I don't see how you can change my opinion?

Our problem is not having back-to-back wins. If we'd have won two in a row, the third would have arrived, and the players would have grown in confidence. Holloway has to take some of the blame for our position, of course he does, but he wasn't helped out by previous managers.

I just want people to put any bad feelings for the players or the manager aside for tomorrow, get behind the lads for 90 minutes. If we go down, then berate them all you like, but between 2-4pm, we have to support them, and I'm sure we will.

[Kilworthfox]

Our problem is not having back-to-back wins. If we'd have won two in a row, the third would have arrived, and the players would have grown in confidence. Holloway has to take some of the blame for our position, of course he does, but he wasn't helped out by previous managers.

I just want people to put any bad feelings for the players or the manager aside for tomorrow, get behind the lads for 90 minutes. If we go down, then berate them all you like, but between 2-4pm, we have to support them, and I'm sure we will.

That's exactly what I will do and I am sure another 1000' ish will do also. Let's get behind em tomorrow

[breadandcheese]

"My wife found it actually," he says. "She likes to have a look through these sites to see what the fans are saying."

Personally, I think Mrs. Holloway should join Foxestalk.

If you're reading this, hello Mrs Holloway, can you give Ian some weetabix for breakfast tomorrow. It'll set him up nicely hopefully for a famous Foxes victory.

[Corky]

"My wife found it actually," he says. "She likes to have a look through these sites to see what the fans are saying."

Personally, I think Mrs. Holloway should join Foxestalk.

If you're reading this, hello Mrs Holloway, can you give Ian some weetabix for breakfast tomorrow. It'll set him up nicely hopefully for a famous Foxes victory.

She could already be on these messageboards. We don't know

[Webbo]

"My wife found it actually," he says. "She likes to have a look through these sites to see what the fans are saying."

Personally, I think Mrs. Holloway should join Foxestalk.

She could call herself AnotherofHollowayswomen.

[Daggers]

"My wife found it actually," he says. "She likes to have a look through these sites to see what the fans are saying."

I hope she has broad shoulders considering the brainless crap half this board have been trotting out.

[MC Prussian]

Good point, people on here go way too far with this name calling. Tell him to his face!

It is 1 thing to dislike the job he is doing but calling the bloke an ...... is not on just because youy are frustrated with LCFC and our points accumulation over the whole season not just since Holloway has been in charge.

Why on earth would one go and shout at him? Bang out of order, that's for sure.

Keep it on a civilized basis.

But at least, I'd discuss this abysmal season and ask for an explanation from him, if I had the chance.