davieG Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 Merc Matt Elliott believes Leicester City have enough in their locker to be promotion contenders, but said the players must learn to cope better with the huge expectation at the club. The former City defender, who is now working as a coach with the club's academy, said City had the manager, in Nigel Pearson, and the players to be successful this season. But he believes some players need to deal with the pressure better. Matt Elliot "The talent is there throughout the squad but I just get the impression the high level of expectation from the supporters, and probably the board as well, means some of the players maybe find that tough to deal with," he said. "How they deal with the situation can be crucial. One or two players may go within themselves. They need to knuckle down and be strong and, if they do that, they can be successful this season, I think. "It is not going as well as everyone would like but the potential is definitely there, both on and off the pitch. "The squad Nigel has got is strong and he is definitely the right man for the job. He was the right man the first time around. We all know that. "He is back now but there is no quick fix. You can't wave a magic wand, like a lot of people were hoping. But I would be amazed if they are not up there in the play-off places come the end of the season." Elliott has been particularly impressed with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and defender Sol Bamba, and believes both could play in the Premier League. "Schmeichel is an outstanding goalkeeper," he said. "We are lucky to have him at this level. "Bamba is also excellent. I don't just look out for centre-halves but he is high quality. He could go on and play at a higher level without a doubt. "The manager has told him to play his natural game and he does a lot of things a lot of centre-halves can't do. "There is an element of risk at times and maybe he will come unstuck on occasions. But he is a top-quality player and, if you start changing your game, you will end up making more errors than you would do otherwise."
ithuriel Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 Interesting view from a former good player who rarely waffles to the tabloid's, hmmm does the Mercury really count as a tabloid ? :xmaslaugh: Rate's Nigel, Schmeichel and Bamba and say's we have a squad of good player's but did not mention a good team. That is where the rub lies, forging a good team from what is an unbalanced squad. Remember reading Brian Littles book and he said when he first arrived the squad had some good player's in it but was unbalanced and not a good team and he shipped out player's like David Kelly, Paul Kitson etc., and replaced them with lesser player's but forged a better team. Still have that book somewhere i believe :xmaslaugh:
Jace Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 Why is he the academy coach the guy is probably still good enough to play for Scotland
martyn Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 Pleased to see him involved at the club in some capacity. Was an absolute colossus of a signing, my favourite of the o'Neill era. Looking forward to another centre half being produced who can cruyff turn past top quality defenders in a crowded penalty area before nonchalantly side footing it home.
Callabinho Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 Loved Elliott! Deserves so much more credit then he gets! Not just defending but all round footballing ability! Watch and learn Bamba!
Guest Col city fan Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 It's great to see Matt back.. Can't see much point though.. The Academy is great for creating links with the local community but modern football gives good young players little chance of coming through into the first team. It's likely to happen even less now we have money to spend. Stevie Howard is getting into the team above Schlupp is a good example.
Richard Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 It's great to see Matt back.. Can't see much point though.. The Academy is great for creating links with the local community but modern football gives good young players little chance of coming through into the first team. It's likely to happen even less now we have money to spend. Stevie Howard is getting into the team above Schlupp is a good example. So we just give up trying to develop new players? Though there is definitely an issue with developing talent, not just at LCFC but also across the country
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 Glad to see him involved. Someone who could actually walk the walk as well as talking the talk. Interesting what he says about Bamba too, I think he's quality and seems Elliott does too. Big shout I know but I think Bamba is/can be every bit as good as Taggart, Walsh and Elliott. Those three are legends but I don't think any of them could do some of the things Bamba does, granted however that Elliott's passing may have been better. On a side note: what the hell is 'that' behind Elliott in the photo?! Looks like some kind of beastly creature in a Watford shirt....
ithuriel Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 It is just The Thing but it has a taste for football now and for some reason Watford it seem's :xmasunsure:
Corky Posted 23 December 2011 Posted 23 December 2011 Epitomised that team. Not the most talented individual but worked so hard at his game and made himself a threat in the Premier League. Absolute quality and someone good to have in and around the club.
MattyFromLE Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 Loved Elliott! Deserves so much more credit then he gets! Not just defending but all round footballing ability! Watch and learn Bamba! This!
Guest Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 Stood next to him in Clinton Cards and agreed that it was the worst part of Xmas shopping. I did manage to stop myself bothering him about LCFC whilst he was Xmas shopping though!
Libertine Dream Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 I wish somebody would get Izzet back involved with the club!
Fox92 Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 Why is he the academy coach the guy is probably still good enough to play for Scotland ** Leicester
Bob Weasel Fox Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 Why is he the academy coach the guy is probably still good enough to play for Scotland But . . . even Mrs Doubtfire is still good enough to play for Scotland
Corky Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 I wish somebody would get Izzet back involved with the club! Yes
Jimmy Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 get him to work with the 1st team squad to attack headers @ corners properly
Fox92 Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 get him to work with the 1st team squad to attack headers @ corners properly I agree, and also get someone like Muzzy in to show them how to take a corner.
Bob Weasel Fox Posted 24 December 2011 Posted 24 December 2011 and Lennon to show how a holding midfield job is done
Antonio85 Posted 25 December 2011 Posted 25 December 2011 Jack Colback or lee cattermole - the new lennon? Sorry Sunderland fan here, couldn't resist. Yeah Matt Elliott was absolutely class. Big, strong, nasty. Could play football too. Better at his best than gary cahill is now and hes going for silly money.
Jimmy Posted 25 December 2011 Posted 25 December 2011 Lennon would of had them both for breakfast, on his own, forget Savage & Izzet alongside him
ithuriel Posted 25 December 2011 Posted 25 December 2011 Yeah O'niell built a team of battlers who could actually play, took him a little time to get them together and playing his style but we had a classy team in total until P. Taylor took the reign's.
Antonio85 Posted 25 December 2011 Posted 25 December 2011 aye he was class like, cant really argue with that. Thats the standards these lads need to set though.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.