An Open Letter To Steve Howard

[bluesbrothers]

Dear Mr Howard,

I have followed Leicester for many years, and have seen many players come and go. I have been more disappointed to see some go than others - for every Heskey, there was a Ricardo. However, I've always felt that as long as I support my club, I will endeavour to support the players within it.

You, as a professional footballer, are one of a select commodity these days - namely, a big bugger who wins the ball in the air and holds the ball up in an attacking position. Granted, you are getting on in years now and even you would admit that you're not the player you were say, 2 years ago. However, you are the only striker we have at the club with enough beef to send up front when the going gets tough without having to sacrifice the stability of our back line.

That's why I myself was disguisted on Tuesday to hear some booing coming from the Kop when you were brought on in the closing stages in a game where, lets face it, we were winning sod all in the air outside our own box. I'm sure you yourself would have heard it - it was fairly audible. You then came on and did indeed win the aerial duel but, with nobody playing off of you to pick up the ball and push forward, it was a futile exercise.

You have on occasion this season proven that you can still be an effective player. The match against Derby speaks volumes - at a moment where Derby were starting to get a foot in the game and threatening a comeback, you set up 2 goals in 10 minutes for Schlupp and Dyer respectively, and we won the game comfortably.

Now I have always supported you as a player, and continue to do so. But the reaction of the crowd to your introduction on Tuesday shocked me. You have been an excellent servant to the club and given us many memorable moments. In an ideal world, with your retirement likely at the end of next season, I would extend your contract at a moment's notice and allow you to go out in style with a testimonial match for a club you've given a lot to. You could even go out on loan at a lower league club and get some more game time.

However, last night changed my mind. Frankly, I think it is now time for you to move on. Not because I particularly want you to, but because this fickle bunch of one-dimensional idiots don't deserve to hold onto a player they boo onto the pitch. Any fool could see we needed an aerial prescence up front last night against a Forest defense clearly content with a point, and with supporting strikers playing closer to you (Schlupp and Beckford were nowhere near, hidden on the wing last night) you provide valuable assists. That's how Fryatt played off you in League 1, and he broke club scoring records. Until his nasty injury the next year in the Championship he was scoring freely.

Yes, I would search for a new "target man" sooner rather than later, preferably in the summer, but the fact is that you are the only one we have for now, and you provide options. Options change games.

I wish you the best in the closing stages of your career

Forever a fox,

BluesBrothers

[StanSP]

Contract extension?

Testimonial?

.

[Libertine Dream]

Super Super Steve. I dont see why people would boo, tries his best and is a likeable chap, hope he gets a decent send off but it appears unlikely.

[Austin]

Well said!

[Happy Fox]

Contract extension?

Testimonial?

.

No just send him back to Dierby please

[FuriousFox46]

If NP asks him to play. He plays.

It's not his fault he keeps being brought in to the games.

[stourbridgefox]

I don't get booing players either.

[caz05]

Dear Mr Howard,

I have followed Leicester for many years, and have seen many players come and go. I have been more disappointed to see some go than others - for every Heskey, there was a Ricardo. However, I've always felt that as long as I support my club, I will endeavour to support the players within it.

You, as a professional footballer, are one of a select commodity these days - namely, a big bugger who wins the ball in the air and holds the ball up in an attacking position. Granted, you are getting on in years now and even you would admit that you're not the player you were say, 2 years ago. However, you are the only striker we have at the club with enough beef to send up front when the going gets tough without having to sacrifice the stability of our back line.

That's why I myself was disguisted on Tuesday to hear some booing coming from the Kop when you were brought on in the closing stages in a game where, lets face it, we were winning sod all in the air outside our own box. I'm sure you yourself would have heard it - it was fairly audible. You then came on and did indeed win the aerial duel but, with nobody playing off of you to pick up the ball and push forward, it was a futile exercise.

You have on occasion this season proven that you can still be an effective player. The match against Derby speaks volumes - at a moment where Derby were starting to get a foot in the game and threatening a comeback, you set up 2 goals in 10 minutes for Schlupp and Dyer respectively, and we won the game comfortably.

Now I have always supported you as a player, and continue to do so. But the reaction of the crowd to your introduction on Tuesday shocked me. You have been an excellent servant to the club and given us many memorable moments. In an ideal world, with your retirement likely at the end of next season, I would extend your contract at a moment's notice and allow you to go out in style with a testimonial match for a club you've given a lot to. You could even go out on loan at a lower league club and get some more game time.

However, last night changed my mind. Frankly, I think it is now time for you to move on. Not because I particularly want you to, but because this fickle bunch of one-dimensional idiots don't deserve to hold onto a player they boo onto the pitch. Any fool could see we needed an aerial prescence up front last night against a Forest defense clearly content with a point, and with supporting strikers playing closer to you (Schlupp and Beckford were nowhere near, hidden on the wing last night) you provide valuable assists. That's how Fryatt played off you in League 1, and he broke club scoring records. Until his nasty injury the next year in the Championship he was scoring freely.

Yes, I would search for a new "target man" sooner rather than later, preferably in the summer, but the fact is that you are the only one we have for now, and you provide options. Options change games.

I wish you the best in the closing stages of your career

Forever a fox,

BluesBrothers

[Guest Col city fan]

Couldn't agree more. The booing of Steve Howard when he came on disgusted me and made me think even more than many 'fans' down at City are nought but a bunch of pussys.

I don't boo any player. Never have done.

And what the Fook do people expect Steve to do in ten minutes when we are chasing a game and playing with strikers that could not read anything he was doing last night.

Time for Steve to go yes, but booing him?

Pussys...

[Simmo86]

Erm.....we still didnt win anything in the air after he came on!

Awful

[Out Foxed]

the players must have a right old laugh at sentimental drivel like this. the english love a "trier" don't they.

[UpTheLeagueFox]

Doesn't deserve to be booed. He's one of ours and he tries.

That said, I think he's been a total let down given what he was like before he joined us. Such an incredible disappointment. His level was league one a couple of years ago and he's got no better.

Four years at the club and only a handful of memorable moments.

[Happy Fox]

An open letter for Gallagher and Wellens would be applicable as well...

Dear Mr Gallagher and Mr Wellens

Can you please F**k off

Regards

City fans all over the world

P.S wherethefoxhat might get pissed off

[FuriousFox46]

Doesn't deserve to be booed. He's one of ours and he tries.

That said, I think he's been a total let down given what he was like before he joined us. Such an incredible disappointment. His level was league one a couple of years ago and he's got no better.

Four years at the club and only a handful of memorable moments.

You can thank Super Steve for this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYqUoL0DmU

[Guest Col city fan]

the players must have a right old laugh at sentimental drivel like this. the english love a "trier" don't they.

Absolutely right.

It's quintessentially English. And I'm proud of it.

For the record, I've always though Stevie Howard has been only an average player for us. His goal scoring record ain't good. But I respect him for the effort he has continually put in a lot of effort and passion. And was an excellent foil for Fryatt.

[Hirsty The Blue 94]

Dear Mr Howard,

I have followed Leicester for many years, and have seen many players come and go. I have been more disappointed to see some go than others - for every Heskey, there was a Ricardo. However, I've always felt that as long as I support my club, I will endeavour to support the players within it.

You, as a professional footballer, are one of a select commodity these days - namely, a big bugger who wins the ball in the air and holds the ball up in an attacking position. Granted, you are getting on in years now and even you would admit that you're not the player you were say, 2 years ago. However, you are the only striker we have at the club with enough beef to send up front when the going gets tough without having to sacrifice the stability of our back line.

That's why I myself was disguisted on Tuesday to hear some booing coming from the Kop when you were brought on in the closing stages in a game where, lets face it, we were winning sod all in the air outside our own box. I'm sure you yourself would have heard it - it was fairly audible. You then came on and did indeed win the aerial duel but, with nobody playing off of you to pick up the ball and push forward, it was a futile exercise.

You have on occasion this season proven that you can still be an effective player. The match against Derby speaks volumes - at a moment where Derby were starting to get a foot in the game and threatening a comeback, you set up 2 goals in 10 minutes for Schlupp and Dyer respectively, and we won the game comfortably.

Now I have always supported you as a player, and continue to do so. But the reaction of the crowd to your introduction on Tuesday shocked me. You have been an excellent servant to the club and given us many memorable moments. In an ideal world, with your retirement likely at the end of next season, I would extend your contract at a moment's notice and allow you to go out in style with a testimonial match for a club you've given a lot to. You could even go out on loan at a lower league club and get some more game time.

However, last night changed my mind. Frankly, I think it is now time for you to move on. Not because I particularly want you to, but because this fickle bunch of one-dimensional idiots don't deserve to hold onto a player they boo onto the pitch. Any fool could see we needed an aerial prescence up front last night against a Forest defense clearly content with a point, and with supporting strikers playing closer to you (Schlupp and Beckford were nowhere near, hidden on the wing last night) you provide valuable assists. That's how Fryatt played off you in League 1, and he broke club scoring records. Until his nasty injury the next year in the Championship he was scoring freely.

Yes, I would search for a new "target man" sooner rather than later, preferably in the summer, but the fact is that you are the only one we have for now, and you provide options. Options change games.

I wish you the best in the closing stages of your career

Forever a fox,

BluesBrothers

Agree with pretty much all of this to be honest, although I was sitting in the Kop and didn't hear many signs of booing. Great servant to the club and still offers something that none of our other strikers do, a physical presence.

Could and probably should have been introduced EARLIER last night than he was. We showed absolutely no creativity for 80 minutes so playing more direct seemed like the logical change. He clearly did win quite a few headers to those saying he did fook all and even when he didn't the forest player twice missed it due to be challenged and we won the second ball, something that Beckford/Nugent failed to do all game.

[Libertine Dream]

Erm.....we still didnt win anything in the air after he came on!

Awful

Well you're not going to when you bring on a target man and then lump the ball up to the opposite side of the pitch so he has to run 30 yards to get near it.

[ballisimo]

Some city fans know how to keep the morale of some players up ay, I can't see how a player gets booed for coming on, wake up fellow city fans it's not like we can bring Ibrahimovic off the bench!

[Corky]

He might be past it and should move on, but he's done nothing to justify being booed ON to the pitch.

Some of our fans need to get a grip.

[LCFC_FAN_1995]

I think he will have another season, whats the harm in that? He must get on well with Pearson and I thought he played on when he came on, chased down, won mostly every header aswell, I hate it when people moan saying give hopper a chance, not being funny but most of you seen him play for what 10 minutes against Swindon and that was it?

[Moto Hello]

He wasn't booed. It was people going "Steeeeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvveeeee!" just like when we had Iain "Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmeeeeeee!" it sounds like booing but isn't. People say this to Howard when he come son every game.

[ryanlcfc]

I also heard some booing after the game which i thought was absolutely stupid. We got a draw and are unbeaten in 4 games, some of our fans think that whenever we play we have a right to win. forest parked the bus and had one shot on target all game, we tried but just couldnt break them down but booing is not gunna help the players

[ryanlcfc]

He wasn't booed. It was people going "Steeeeeeeeeeeevvvvvvvveeeee!" just like when we had Iain "Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmeeeeeee!" it sounds like booing but isn't. People say this to Howard when he come son every game.

Yes i think it is just people saying 'steeeeveee' as well and they sound similar

[armstonfox]

Yeah Howard is a fan favourite but the thing is he is to old now. I dont agree with him being booed because at least he puts his body around unlike others i.e Gallagher. The only game i saw him change was against West Ham because they somehow didnt know how to deal with him. I think its time to look for another 'target man' in the summer and give Howard either a coaching role or release him.

[Walker]

As others have eluded to, he's contracted to the club and plays when told to by his manager. Bizarre you'd boo a player for literally doing what he's paid/ instructed to do.