Pearson slams 'negative' critics

[davieG]

Nigel Pearson slams 'negative' critics 'revelling' in Leicester City's poor Premier League form

By Mercury_Sport  |  Posted: November 10, 2014

By Rob Tanner

Nigel Pearson has hit back at current "thirst for negativity"

 Comments (9)

Nigel Pearson has hit back at the critics who he says are ‘revelling’ in Leicester City’s poor run.

The defeat at Southampton on Saturday was City’s fourth consecutive reverse and fifth in six games.

Pearson said there were some who were enjoying the negativity about City’s situation.

However, the City boss said he knew what was required to get his side out of their slump and would be focused on improving their fortunes.

“People seem to revel in the fact that we are on a poor run,” he said.

“There seems to be a thirst for negativity. I don’t buy into that.

“I am never a believer in listening too much to that stuff.

“For me, there is too big a shift in terms of the negativity which then surrounds us.

“I am responsible for my team and happy to accept the responsibility, but the bottom line is I have a pretty good handle on where we are at and what is required.

“Becoming a Premier League side that is capable week in and week out doesn’t happen overnight.

“Getting here is tough and staying here is even tougher, but I believe we can still be competitive.”

One criticism aimed at Pearson in recent games is that his diamond midfield has reduced City’s creativity in wide positions and, as a result, top scorer Leonardo Ulloa has been starved of service. But Pearson said City needed to avoid being over-run in central areas.

“I accept there is going to be criticism at times and people question why there is no wide player in there,” he said.

“When you have the strength of midfield we had, it was key to stay in the game without allowing a very good team like Southampton to boss possession.

“Unfortunately for us, we didn’t quite find the answers.

“I think the players worked exceptionally hard and we defended with an awful lot of commitment and sprit, and that came from front to back.

“But the quality side of it is costing us quite severely at the moment.”

Pearson admitted he had some sympathy for Ulloa and his lack of goalscoring opportunities.

“He has had a good season so far but what he hasn’t had is a lot of chances recently,” said the City boss. “Strikers score goals from chances.

“His contribution to the side remains very positive, but he has to continue to work hard.”

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Nigel-Pearson-hits-negative-critics-revelling/story-24508881-detail/story.html?#ixzz3IknSE2lN 

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[Tom's Pasta]

I'm still very much behind this man, I don't care what anyone else thinks

[Fatty Arbuckle]

Sounds like it's not Pearson's tactics that are wrong then, they are spot on according to him. It's the players that aren't good enough!

[foxinsocks]

None of us are revelling in the poor results - I am sure we all want to see LCFC back winning.  Fans are worried and unable to understand the management decisions - perhaps if he explained the logic he would get more support.  WE all agree the player are working hard - but we want to see more changes to score created.  Letting in two goals at Southampton or Swansea is hardly a shock - having just one shot on goal is a disappointment to fans

[foxinsocks]

Sounds like it's not Pearson's tactics that are wrong then, they are spot on according to him. It's the players that aren't good enough!

It's sad if that really is Nige's view - he will not sort out the tactics until he gets  out of denial... nurse!

[DennisNedry]

Can't Pearson see that it's HIS negativity regarding team selection and tactics that have caused our slump?

 

Sunderland can't come soon enough.

[Corky]

He's right that there are people who revel in negativity and have waited a while to really complain, but I don't think they are huge in number. A fair few admirers of the manager aren't happy either with what we are producing currently.

 

Could it possibly be a dig at Stringer, who we all know loves to stir up debate and, let's be honest, struggle and failure stoke up more emotion than serenity?

[Guest MattP]

He's right with a lot of our fans, some seem to have been waiting for this for a long time.

 

The bloke who sat behind me last season had the arse non stop as we kept winning, had to resort to slagging off the fans and Pearson's position in the stand by the end of it as results on the pitch were so good.

 

He really perked up at the West Brom game, he could call everyone shit and tell everyone in earshot we were already down.I don't understand why these people even bother.

[Cal]

Team Pearson.

[Guest ttfn]

Totally understand his comments about the Southampton game; it's not how I would have liked us to "stay in the game" and it was very, very negative but it almost got us an unlikely point.

What this doesn't explain is the diamond at home to West Brom. It also doesn't explain our approach away at a winless Newcastle and at home to a Burnley side missing many key players.

[sylofox]

He's right that there are people who revel in negativity and have waited a while to really complain, but I don't think they are huge in number. A fair few admirers of the manager aren't happy either with what we are producing currently.

 

Could it possibly be a dig at Stringer, who we all know loves to stir up debate and, let's be honest, struggle and failure stoke up more emotion than serenity?

 

He's right that there are people who revel in negativity and have waited a while to really complain, but I don't think they are huge in number. A fair few admirers of the manager aren't happy either with what we are producing currently.

 

Could it possibly be a dig at Stringer, who we all know loves to stir up debate and, let's be honest, struggle and failure stoke up more emotion than serenity?

It may be but Nige could put a stop to stringers games with one phone call.

Ban him from  all interviews.

[lgfualol]

He really SLAMMED the critics there

[ImBlue]

This just makes him sound more clueless.

So he played 4 centre midfielders so Southampton didn't boss possession? We had 35% Nigel.

Oh and strikers need chances, for chances you need creativity. #Denial

[justfoxes]

It's so shockingly disappointing the diamond isn't working our strikers are not up to the job I know I'll probably get shot down for saying this,but what about some of the hungrier young lads from the u21 squad give them a go you never know we might find a real gem who will relish his chance and prove he deserves his chance?

Surely at this time before the transfer window opens we could try other options because those lads are scoring goals 5 or 6 at a time in some games against very good opposition !!

[foxinsocks]

I am worried if he is in denial - my observation is that some managers (at work or in power of any sort...) avoid having people round them who are a challenge - they go for people who they can "manage" - (NB: this is a mistake - it is always best to hire in the best you can and encourage them to do great things).... But I am wondering if this is one of Nigel's traits - has he got guys around him who can challenge him? How would he respond to that?

[Captain...]

FFS, I wish Pearson would just stop speaking to the press, he doesn't want to talk to them and because of that never really explains himself, and it just leaves him open to criticism.

 

That article says fvck all, but says it in such a way that anyone looking to criticise Pearson will get the ammo they are looking for. It is the same after every poor game and why I never bother listening to his post match comments as they are crap.

[Guest Col city fan]

As I said in another thread, he needs to be careful with this. If we had clearly made some very good signings (IMO we haven't) AND if we were clearly showing signs of improvement (we aren't), then he could could tell his critics to shut up.

Actually and slowly, he's starting to grate a little.... Football is about fans, it's about opinions.. And many of us, I would suggest, feel he's getting it wrong currently. We need to see ideas, no denial and most importantly, results.

Essentially, he needs to start backing up his dismissal of 'negativity' with 'positivity'. Then, we'll all be going home happy. The Sunderland game is a biggy.

[davieG]

Well here's some more for you Captain......

 

From the OS to boot!

 

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson believes his side must retain their identity throughout the entirety of the season in order to impose their style of play on opposition teams.

The Foxes boss has played a number of formations so far this season, most recently fielding Esteban Cambiasso, Matty James, Danny Drinkwater and Andy King in a midfield diamond in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League loss to Southampton. 

City produced a defiant display and managed possession well on occasions as Pearson looked to exploit a side who are known for their ability to retain the ball. 

Finally succumbing to a five-minute double from Shane Long, City returned to Leicester empty-handed, but will take plenty of positives from the game after facing a side that sit second in the league. 

“You’ll find most teams play with an extra man in the middle of the park,” said Pearson. “Most good Premier League sides are passing teams. You need to have the ball enough. Key areas in midfield remain the central areas. 

“We have players that are capable of performing well in wide areas but what you can’t do is set up in a way which concedes too much possession to sides who can potentially out-manoeuvre you. 

“I always feel it is the same process – who is best suited to try and get a win in this game. People want to look at systems a lot but we played 4-4-2 a lot last season but played about five different systems. 

“What is important is you retain your own identity in terms of the type of team that you are. Our game is all about a good, collective work ethic playing at a good tempo regardless of the system. 

“I’ve been told we’ve played 4-4-2 sometimes this year and it’s not actually been that. It’s how you perceive it. 

“If you’re the best side, generally speaking you can impose your system of play on other teams – the top teams in the Premier League do it. You could argue last season we did that. We have to be a bit more streetwise."

Read more at http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/111114-pearson-we-must-retain-our-identity-2076578.aspx#XgwHzrj77Y7j6RAT.99

[AyewJoking]

Negative Pearson slams negativity.

 

A double negative which coincidentally is the same threat we pose to our opponents.

[Captain...]

Well here's some more for you Captain......

 

From the OS to boot!

 

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson believes his side must retain their identity throughout the entirety of the season in order to impose their style of play on opposition teams.

The Foxes boss has played a number of formations so far this season, most recently fielding Esteban Cambiasso, Matty James, Danny Drinkwater and Andy King in a midfield diamond in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League loss to Southampton. 

City produced a defiant display and managed possession well on occasions as Pearson looked to exploit a side who are known for their ability to retain the ball. 

Finally succumbing to a five-minute double from Shane Long, City returned to Leicester empty-handed, but will take plenty of positives from the game after facing a side that sit second in the league. 

“You’ll find most teams play with an extra man in the middle of the park,” said Pearson. “Most good Premier League sides are passing teams. You need to have the ball enough. Key areas in midfield remain the central areas. 

“We have players that are capable of performing well in wide areas but what you can’t do is set up in a way which concedes too much possession to sides who can potentially out-manoeuvre you. 

“I always feel it is the same process – who is best suited to try and get a win in this game. People want to look at systems a lot but we played 4-4-2 a lot last season but played about five different systems. 

“What is important is you retain your own identity in terms of the type of team that you are. Our game is all about a good, collective work ethic playing at a good tempo regardless of the system. 

“I’ve been told we’ve played 4-4-2 sometimes this year and it’s not actually been that. It’s how you perceive it. 

“If you’re the best side, generally speaking you can impose your system of play on other teams – the top teams in the Premier League do it. You could argue last season we did that. We have to be a bit more streetwise."

Read more at http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/111114-pearson-we-must-retain-our-identity-2076578.aspx#XgwHzrj77Y7j6RAT.99

 

At least he is actually giving some insight into his thought processes there.

Negative Pearson slams negativity.

 

A double negative which coincidentally is the same threat we pose to our opponents.

 

Double negative = positive.

[Spicer]

I think there is a ligitimate argument in saying that being overly cautious and focusing so much on stopping the opposition is a bad tactic. His comments on stopping the opposition dominating possessition don't make much sence as Everton and Arsenal dominated the ball against us, yet we drew whilst posig a threat as well as playing with wingers. I am not opposed to the diamond as any formation can win you a match but the players playing in the diamond don't look comfortable at all doing so. At the top of the diamond you need somebody to attack like a Knocky or Mahrez, King just doesn't fit in at the top of it.

[NewquayFox]

In Pearson we trust, never going to be easy in the Premier League and we got off to a great start and we are just having a wobble, just wish all the 'Cov' fans on here would feck off to their own boards...

Same old posters on here just waiting for Pearson to stumble.....

[Babylon]

He's right that there are people who revel in negativity and have waited a while to really complain, but I don't think they are huge in number. A fair few admirers of the manager aren't happy either with what we are producing currently.

 

Could it possibly be a dig at Stringer, who we all know loves to stir up debate and, let's be honest, struggle and failure stoke up more emotion than serenity?

Pearson doesn't often talk to a load of fans to gauge opinion, but to Stringer he does. So I would imagine that has an impact on his opinion. Follow Bourne or Stringer and the only questions they ever ask are negative at the minute.

 

Well here's some more for you Captain......

 

From the OS to boot!

 

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson believes his side must retain their identity throughout the entirety of the season in order to impose their style of play on opposition teams.

The Foxes boss has played a number of formations so far this season, most recently fielding Esteban Cambiasso, Matty James, Danny Drinkwater and Andy King in a midfield diamond in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League loss to Southampton. 

City produced a defiant display and managed possession well on occasions as Pearson looked to exploit a side who are known for their ability to retain the ball. 

Finally succumbing to a five-minute double from Shane Long, City returned to Leicester empty-handed, but will take plenty of positives from the game after facing a side that sit second in the league. 

“You’ll find most teams play with an extra man in the middle of the park,” said Pearson. “Most good Premier League sides are passing teams. You need to have the ball enough. Key areas in midfield remain the central areas. 

“We have players that are capable of performing well in wide areas but what you can’t do is set up in a way which concedes too much possession to sides who can potentially out-manoeuvre you. 

“I always feel it is the same process – who is best suited to try and get a win in this game. People want to look at systems a lot but we played 4-4-2 a lot last season but played about five different systems. 

“What is important is you retain your own identity in terms of the type of team that you are. Our game is all about a good, collective work ethic playing at a good tempo regardless of the system. 

“I’ve been told we’ve played 4-4-2 sometimes this year and it’s not actually been that. It’s how you perceive it. 

“If you’re the best side, generally speaking you can impose your system of play on other teams – the top teams in the Premier League do it. You could argue last season we did that. We have to be a bit more streetwise."

Read more at http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/111114-pearson-we-must-retain-our-identity-2076578.aspx#XgwHzrj77Y7j6RAT.99

 

100% agree with him... the problem is we aren't just setting up like this against top teams. If we were I could understand it, we're setting up like it against the teams we're meant to be around in the table as well.

[AyewJoking]

He's right with a lot of our fans, some seem to have been waiting for this for a long time.

 

The bloke who sat behind me last season had the arse non stop as we kept winning, had to resort to slagging off the fans and Pearson's position in the stand by the end of it as results on the pitch were so good.

 

He really perked up at the West Brom game, he could call everyone shit and tell everyone in earshot we were already down.I don't understand why these people even bother.

[AyewJoking]

In Pearson we trust, never going to be easy in the Premier League and we got off to a great start and we are just having a wobble, just wish all the 'Cov' fans on here would feck off to their own boards...

Same old posters on here just waiting for Pearson to stumble.....

 

Waiting??? Were on our árse