Vassell; Forget The Expectation.

[Matt]

Forgetting the weight of expectation will be the key to City climbing the npower Championship table in the coming weeks, according to striker Darius Vassell.

The England international admits the squad became a little tense after some disappointing early-season results, but feels last week's win over Southampton could serve to kick-start the Foxes' campaign.

Vassell was on-target in the 3-2 victory over the Saints - City's first home success of the season following defeats to Bristol City and Reading at King Power Stadium.

And the Foxes flyer expects plenty more points to be delivered, once City can limit the mistakes brought on by the level of expectation surrounding a new-look squad.

He said: "There was tension because in past games we let victory slip in the last few minutes, but the sooner we start to limit the mistakes we've been making, the sooner we'll start to win games more comfortably.

"We'd prefer to win games comfortably than win them as we did against Southampton.

"The way we're perceived as a team has changed because of the players we've brought in, but that's to be expected. We have to try not to worry about that so much - we're all good players, we believe in our abilities, we just need to gel as a team and prove to everybody that we should be up there.

"The goals we have conceded are the kind we really feel we shouldn't be letting in. It's cost us a few points already this season, but the quicker we sort that out as a team the quicker we'll start climbing the table."

Vassell and his City team-mates will have the chance to build on their win over the Saints when npower Championship action resumes at Barnsley on Saturday, following the current international break.

The Foxes return to King Power Stadium on Saturday 17 September when they host league leaders Brighton.

http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~2440043,00.html

Yes i'm sure the owners can forget spending that much money just laugh, and forget expectations, aswell as the fans forking our money of their own.

And I thought pretty much most of the players in interviews pre-season were saying the pressure and expectations on them wasn't a problem and they felt none.

Oh well, like i've always said when results/performances are dissapointing, I don't wanna see these kind of standard statements on the OS, do the talking and make statements on the pitch.

[ajthefox]

To be fair to Vas, I don't think he's saying that anyone else should forget their expectations. More that if the players can take their mind off the expectations and just play that we will do better.

I think thats quite a sensible train of thought and certainly isn't an unacceptable thing to say.

[tomtom]

Perfectly acceptable and understandable statement

[Cat Burger]

A footballer using the word 'perceived' is in no way standard from my point of view. A better than usual OS story IMO.

[Yojoe36]

Let's pretend we didn't spend £15 million, and that we're favourites to go up.

Jokes. I know what Vassel is saying, I i do agree to a certain extent

[Dan]

It definitely lifts the pressure a bit. Sadly, our fans are as bad as anyone when things go wrong.

[Kent]

To be fair to Vas, I don't think he's saying that anyone else should forget their expectations. More that if the players can take their mind off the expectations and just play that we will do better.

I think thats quite a sensible train of thought and certainly isn't an unacceptable thing to say.

Exactly, I was going to say that earlier. The OP has misinterpreted what he's said and basically thought he meant that the fans should wave goodbye to automatic promotion when really he meant that the players should forget about it whilst playing to inevitably improve the performances.

The problem is when we're at home the players can sense the tension and unrest in the crowd from the first whistle. I expect us to actually perform better away this year at least until we hit a good run.

[Matt]

Well, I like this new approach, seems to be working quite well...

[accessory]

The only expectation I have as far as Vassell is concerned is that he won't score.

And nine games out of ten, I'll be right!