Freeman's Wharfer Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 I was thinking recently about players breaking into the first team and when we'll next have a really top player break through at LCFC who goes on to play international football etc. Hopefully Schlupp can fulfill his potential and I certainly think he's got all the attributes to do so even if he's a little 'raw' at the moment. I was watching a few videos of the MON era (inc the Athletico Madrid one posted recently) and there is Heskey being completely unplayable in a way that I'm not sure he ever was since he left us. Obviously everyone would mention Emile as the best player to have broken through in recent times but what about Matt Piper? What are people's memories of him? At the time he broke through I remember hearing of this kid that had gone to Mansfield and done well so would be coming back to push for a first team spot. Then he did break through and to me, and I think a lot of other people at the time, it appeared we had a potentially great player on our hands. I was only about 12 or 13 at the time but I remember a game at Filbert Street against Chelsea in which he absolutely tore them apart (looked England class) and there were a few other games as well. When he scored the last goal at Filbert Street I remember thinking how fitting it was that this guy who was going to be great for us, local lad etc. had got it but then came the financial troubles. I heard Adams on the phone-in say he wouldn't sell him for less than £10million which I felt reassured by but then along came administration and he was sold for £3million. I think it was just before that 6-1 away at Ipswitch and I was gutted, would have rathered us sell anyone (bar maybe Izzet) than Piper, but obviously needs must and he was gone. I kept an eye on how he was doing at Sunderland and unfortunately it never worked out for him with injury but I think what the Sunderland fans did see they liked. So.... Was he really as good as I remember? I would be interested to hear what everyone else thought about him at the time (and not his punditry since, which admittedly was awful!)
lcfcsmith Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 I guess for this level you could class King as one of those players, made 11 international caps, scored 10+ from midfield in his first 3 full seasons... Might not be consistent internationals, nor is he "top class" but he's a fans favourite and one of the best players to come through the academy for a while I guess. We've also had Stearman, Mattock and Gradel come through as well.
Vlad the Fox Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 Wasn't it gary breen who nailed him in training at sunderland, causing the injury that finished his career. I can remember someone telling me at the time, though i'm not sure how accurate, that city sold him knowing his knees had shot it. As for a player he was good. I can remember him tearing the man u full back to pieces tight on the touch line time and again, eventually they put two on him and still couldn't stop him. Shame we had to sell him.
Corky Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 I remember his header against Spurs. That's it.
Soar Fox Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 Speak to him at the gym quite often. Also his brother Danny plays for Leicester Foxes in the alliance league.
Guest MattP Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 Nice guy, wasn't that good though. Showed promise but 3million was obsence, another example of a young attacking Englishman coming in at the end of a season and having 10-12 decent games and people thinking he must be brilliant. Who would buy a player like that for 3million........
Tielemans63 Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 Speak to him at the gym quite often. Also his brother Danny plays for Leicester Foxes in the alliance league. I used to play with Danny at Beaumont Town back in the day, his dad was our manager there as well. The big shame about Matt Piper was that he was a Leicester boy who desperately didn't want to leave the club but was shown the door anyway.
Soar Fox Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 I used to play with Danny at Beaumont Town back in the day, his dad was our manager there as well. The big shame about Matt Piper was that he was a Leicester boy who desperately didn't want to leave the club but was shown the door anyway. His dad used to referee us on Saturdays in the senior league.
Tielemans63 Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 His dad used to referee us on Saturdays in the senior league. You're not the real Steve Walsh are you? If so please ignore the comments made about you, by me, in the El Hadji Diouf thread.
Soar Fox Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 You're not the real Steve Walsh are you? If so please ignore the comments made about you, by me, in the El Hadji Diouf thread. Haha unfortantly not. The only similarities we have is that we both play/played center half.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 7 September 2011 Author Posted 7 September 2011 Nice guy, wasn't that good though. Showed promise but 3million was obsence, another example of a young attacking Englishman coming in at the end of a season and having 10-12 decent games and people thinking he must be brilliant. Who would buy a player like that for 3million........ Like I said in the original post maybe my memory is a bit hazy but I remember him making a big impression on me. When Adams said he wouldn't accept a bid under £10million I think he also said he thought he had the ability to go on and play for England. So I don't think £3million was over-priced, if anything under-priced, particularly given the amount others were going for at that time (Akinbiyi had been bought for £5million 12 months earlier!)
Ashley Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 Scored the last goal at Filbert Street. Will always remember him for that. His Dad refs down St Mags on Wednesday nights also.
Tommy G Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 His cameo pundit experience really left a sour taste in my mouth
5waller5 Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 Transfer window closed then quality of post will surely decline .... Oh sod it ..... It's Piper related!! In honour of LCFC players I've owned cats called; Walshy Muzzy Piper I ran out of luck naming them early in their leicester careers with Matty!! May have also added the weight of expectation on my current cat's namesakes .... Bamba, and her kitten Shmeichel!
accessory Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 I hear Piper has resumed his career at Oadby Town this season. If anyone sees him play can you post a report on here? Ta.
StanSP Posted 7 September 2011 Posted 7 September 2011 Can't believe he's only 29! There's one moment I remember in a match at Filbert Street while Peter Taylor was managing. He was running up and down the wings like a yo-yo, playing alright, and after around 70 or so minutes he was well and truly knackered, barely able to run anymore. Taylor had one sub left and decided to take someone else off and then Piper got quite annoyed. Other than that I can't remember much!
Raw Dykes Posted 8 September 2011 Posted 8 September 2011 I went to school with Matt and his brother Danny in Barrow and Quorn. Both thoroughly nice blokes. Danny was in my year and I spoke to him quite a lot, but Matt was a year or two above. The only time I spoke to Matt was when he saw my mate in the playground in my England shirt with number 4 on the front, and he asked us, "Who's that? Platt? Gazza?" I said, "No, it's Ince." Then he saw the back of the shirt and looked really impressed with us. Matt was a good player. I wonder how his career would have panned out if he hadn't been so unfortunate with injuries. He was bought by Sunderland for £3.5m, I think.
JmorsonLCFC Posted 8 September 2011 Posted 8 September 2011 I thought he was quality i remember being mad that he left even though I was about 9
Ross 'LCFC' Turner Posted 8 September 2011 Posted 8 September 2011 I hear Piper has resumed his career at Oadby Town this season. If anyone sees him play can you post a report on here? Ta. i seen him there watching when leicester played oadby in pre season if that helps.
crisp packet Posted 8 September 2011 Posted 8 September 2011 Yes he's at Oadby town as well as ex city player Jon Stevenson they play in the east midlands counties league....
Guest Col city fan Posted 8 September 2011 Posted 8 September 2011 Piper was simply another player who flattered to decieve. Highly injury prone too I believe
Guest Electric Yetis Posted 8 September 2011 Posted 8 September 2011 Can't believe he's only 29! There's one moment I remember in a match at Filbert Street while Peter Taylor was managing. He was running up and down the wings like a yo-yo, playing alright, and after around 70 or so minutes he was well and truly knackered, barely able to run anymore. Taylor had one sub left and decided to take someone else off and then Piper got quite annoyed. Other than that I can't remember much! Wasn't it Garry Parker who gave him his debut in the 0-6 defeat to Leeds after Taylor had left?
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