davieG Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 From the Merc - The Ben Jacobs Column It wouldn't surprise me if Leicester City re-sign Emile Heskey before 2010 is out. His days at Aston Villa are arguably numbered after manager Martin O'Neill publicly questioned his resilience. "Emile has always seemed to have had niggles – ever since he was a kid at Leicester," said O'Neill. "I remember him coming off in some of the matches there – important games too – and, perhaps, it's part of his make-up." Of course, Heskey's contribution to Leicester must never be under-estimated. In 1996-1997, he scored 10 goals in his first Premier League season. He also cancelled out Fabrizio Ravanelli's goal in extra-time to dramatically earn City a League Cup final replay with Middlesbrough. Fervent fans will not need reminding that Steve Claridge popped up with the winner. Heskey went on to score 46 goals in 173 starts for City before an £11m move to Liverpool in March 2000 – the best bit of financial business Leicester ever did. During his time there, Heskey never forgot his Leicester roots, donating a six-figure sum to help Gary Lineker's consortium stave off administration in 2002. After Liverpool, Bruno went on to Birmingham and then Wigan before teaming up again with O'Neill last year. Despite forcing his way back into the England squad, Heskey has struggled for goals at Villa Park. He has scored just five in 25 starts, again drawing a blank in Sunday's 2-1 League Cup final loss to Manchester United. He has never been prolific – he averages a goal every four games, but has almost as many assists as Wayne Rooney. Clearly he is a valuable team-player, but O'Neill appears to be getting frustrated because minor knocks are forcing him to limp off. Heskey has only finished five games this season. "It's been frustrating in many aspects because Emile has had to come off the field with these niggles," says O'Neill. Heskey does need to toughen up if he is to play a key role during the World Cup in South Africa. O'Neill said: "I'm sure he is still in Fabio's plans, but if he wants to be a starting England player it's very important he stays on the field." To ensure this, Heskey did toy with a January move so he could play week in, week out. Stoke, Burnley and Portsmouth all enquired but, after O'Neill failed to bring in a new striker, Heskey chose to stay and fight for his place. Leicester did not approach, or even consider him, because Villa wanted about £5m. And Heskey knew dropping down a division would end his World Cup dream. A source close to Heskey told me that a return to City would depend on them gaining promotion. "Emile still sees himself as a Premier League player," said the source. "Leicester is his home club, and one he remembers with great fondness, but he is happy at Villa. "He will re-assess his future at the end of the season because regular first-team football is important to him, and he will fight to achieve that at Villa in the short-term. "Sentiment rarely plays a big role in any transfer, but if Emile does move on Leicester would naturally be a club he would be keen to talk to, but who says Nigel (Pearson) will want him? Leicester didn't want Robbie Savage back.
Fosse Boy Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 I'd love to see him back here, but only if the move was right for Pearson.
lcfcsnow Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 No, never go back especially when they are coming towards the end of their careers - see Dickov. He has been far too immobile for the past 3-4 years, the pace that made him a success here and Liverpool is no longer there, shouldn't be getting near the England squad never mind starting.
James. Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 I don't give a shit if he's slow, crap, never scores, whatever. I would fucking love it if Ivanhoe came back to Leicester.
purpleronnie Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 For such a big bloke he spends most him his time rolling about on the floor, and his goal scoring record is pretty crappy.
Leicester Rule! Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 Good at holding up the ball, and winning the ball in the air. Yes I would want him back. Only if Pearson wnats him back though.
hairy Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 Are they saying he would only come back if we were in the Championship to get first team football?
Guest Bilo Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 Heskey is still in and around the England squad and would be excellent for holding up the ball up front. He doesn't score many but look how well Rooney has played for England since Heskey made a return to the fold under Capello. I'm not suggesting for a second we have anybody even close to Rooney's ability, but Heskey generally being a pain in the arse gives more technically able team-mates the time and space to do their thing. So long as Villa didn't want ridiculous money, I'd love to see him make a return.
maddog Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 If MON thinks that about him i certainly don't want him at City because he will still struggle to score goals and have niggles. He will turn into the black Steve Howard.
Samilktray Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 Steve Howard doing fuck all, or Emile Heskey doing fuck all. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
dandannieldanok Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 Why would we want someone who is clearly not fit enough (if we are to beleive the insuation of this article and the words of Martin O'Neill). It's 2010 not 1997, Heskey would soon be found out in this division if he's not fit enough, the defenders aren't exactly saints. I personally wouldn't take a fully fit 2010 Heskey anyway.
Corky Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 I'd love him back at the club, maybe later towards the end of his career in a Chris Powell-type move so he go into coaching.
Hitesh Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 Where the heck did that story come from - def out of the blue. Not sure if I'd want him back or not. He will always be a city great in my eyes as I grew up watching him as a kid but I dont want that to be ruined with an average come back. Would be a good replacement for Howard though...
foxoffderby Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 Emile is actully a really nice guy. I know him from our days at school together. He has always been a shy introvert ever since he was a kid and thats his main problem. He lacks that arrogence which many top strikers have had over the years. Even when he was a kid if you went in hard on him he would fall down like a sack of potatoes and then struggle and lose interest. One interesting fact about him which a lot of people dont know he played centre midfield for us in our school team. When LCFC signed him and he turned pro they changed him to a striker. The words natural striker are often branded about in football, Emile is not. He never played that position until he was about 16 or 17. This is also why the media often label him as support striker and critique him for not scoring enough goals he simply had to learn the role. For all his bad points I would love to see him in a City shirt again...even though he is a Liverpool fan.
Sods Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 BRUUUUUUUUUNO! Always we will be remembered he and spoken of highly, the amount of times he used to frighten the opposition by running with the ball, skinning players. He had right strike on him as well and it was fantastic to watch a lad coming from the youth team. Martin got the best out of him, I don't know if I would want to see him back however, yes I would love him to come here and bang in 15 goals but hes a different player now completely, I don't want to end up disliking the lad.
martinkop1 Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 No, never go back especially when they are coming towards the end of their careers - see Dickov. He has been far too immobile for the past 3-4 years, the pace that made him a success here and Liverpool is no longer there, shouldn't be getting near the England squad never mind starting. leeds united think dickov still has some miles left in him , shows how low leeds have become .
Bryn Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 That article is a wild exaggeration based on fook all, Heskey has played a prominent and successful role in Villa's recent upturn in form. There's nothing majorly wrong with his fitness, O'Neill is probably just frustrated.
orod Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 right........one of our best players in living memory, saved our club when we nearly went out of existance, still in the England squad (arguably might start) and you lot all think hes not good enough for a championship club who was in league one last season and hasnt been in the prem for 6 seasons. Even if you dont think he is good enough, at least show the courtesy and respect that this man deserves!!!!!! what a loada boll*cks heskey is a leicester hero and it would be my honour if he played for us in his last season as a pro
DeclanMC Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 I wonder if there was a thread like this when dickov rejoined, yes he was a Leicester legend, but I wouldn't want him to come back to do anything but a chris powell i.e. cover for first team, earning coaching badges. The moment dickov came back and we saw that he was long past it, some of his magic died, I'd hate it to be the same with classic Emile
StanSP Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 If it works for Pearson, I'd welcome him back. I think it will work out better than Dickov's return, as Bruno has more of an affinity towards the club and essentially a better player than Dickov.
Isopen Posted 2 March 2010 Posted 2 March 2010 But everybody is missing the vital football issue here which means he simply can't return....... .... you can't have 2 players in the squad with the same chant
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