stingray Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 l It is the best story about Nigel Pearson, perhaps the best story about any Premier League manager, and it concerns the man still in charge of Leicester City and a pack of wild dogs that he encountered while hiking alone in the Carpathian mountains. Pearson’s most detailed account of the incident came in a documentary Sky Sports made about the newly promoted Leicester last summer. “There was five of them,” he recalled, “and what they do is that one goes for you and the others [circle] around until one of them can bring you down – what they essentially do is rip the throat out.” He said he had escaped them first time by throwing himself into a “patch of brambles and nettles” where he knew the dogs would not follow. When they attacked a second time he had only his walking poles to defend himself. “I backed myself against a tree,” Pearson said. “I thought ‘I don’t want to get attacked from behind’. I was absolutely goosed by this point.” He did not go into details about how he survived, saying only that he “managed to get rid of them”. A man not given to hyperbole, Pearson reflected on the incident – he is a keen walker, who sought out the Carpathians having conquered most of Britain’s mountains, peaks and trails – as if he was looking back on a bad home defeat. “It was,” he said, “not a nice experience.” As football managers’ holidays go, Pearson’s adventure stands very much alone. Certainly, a good deal more adventurous than anything the profession is likely to encounter in its favoured haunts of Dubai or Florida. One would struggle to imagine, for instance, Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce being forced to fight wild animals on their annual Portugal golf jaunt together – although it is best never to rule it out. A man not given to hyperbole, Pearson reflected on the incident – he is a keen walker, who sought out the Carpathians having conquered most of Britain’s mountains, peaks and trails – as if he was looking back on a bad home defeat. “It was,” he said, “not a nice experience.” As football managers’ holidays go, Pearson’s adventure stands very much alone. Certainly, a good deal more adventurous than anything the profession is likely to encounter in its favoured haunts of Dubai or Florida. One would struggle to imagine, for instance, Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce being forced to fight wild animals on their annual Portugal golf jaunt together – although it is best never to rule it out. Above all, it certainly suggested a man with an interest in the wider world and a life outside of football who is unprepared to allow his job, and all it encompasses, to consume him. Having listened to the wild dogs story, the interviewer in the documentary ventured that it must make dealing with chairmen and owners feel easier by comparison. “Life,” Pearson replied, “is about perspective.” Amen to that. Yet come Saturday against Crystal Palace, Pearson seemed to have lost most of his. When he pinned James McArthur to the ground, and then refused to let go with the sleeve-tugging persistence of a parent with a three-year-old, the question again presented itself. What is it that pushes experienced managers into self-destructive acts when a carefully built career can be shattered in a moment’s misjudgement? In his 2006 autobiography, Gordon Strachan, never a manager who could bury his feelings, gives one of the most vivid insights into the job in the first chapter, “The Pressure Game”. He talks of an evening in the 1980s when he was at Manchester United and his manager, then just plain Alex Ferguson, broke down in tears in the Strachans’ front room. They had been caring for Ferguson’s three sons while his wife, Cathy, recovered from an illness. “While talking about not having given her and his children enough attention, he [Ferguson] became so emotional that he burst into tears,” Strachan wrote. “The very last thing you would have expected of someone with his image.” As for his own career, Strachan cannot forget the sheer relief he felt during his periods out of work when his wife, Lesley, could take down the sign in her kitchen that reads: “We interrupt this marriage to bring you the football season.” Those who cover Leicester regularly would say Pearson has a relationship with the press as prickly as that patch of brambles he escaped into. That is his choice, but of late it has been the rest of his behaviour that is suggestive of a man needlessly in danger of chucking everything away. There was no climbdown over the McArthur incident which, whatever might have happened with the player’s aborted transfer to Leicester last summer, required an apology from the Foxes manager. He should not have grabbed McArthur as he did, and a simple acknowledgement, regardless of what the player said later, would have eased some pressure around his position at the club. More than ever now it seems that his job was only just saved over the course of Sunday evening when, after he had reportedly been sacked by one member of the Srivaddhanaprabha family who own the club, there was a move to reverse the decision. Pearson might feel that, having twice won promotion at the club he has served over two – is it now three? – spells, he needs to give no explanations for his behaviour, and if so it is a strangely self-destructive impulse. It is a romantic notion that a modern-day Premier League manager can live independent of the scrutiny that engulfs the game these days, but the reality is that it exists and, whether one approves of it or not, it has to be handled. With his refusal to apologise to the fan he told to “**** off and die”, and now the McArthur incident, it feels like Pearson is retreating further into a bunker from which he might not emerge. He is at pains to present himself as a man who lives in blissful ignorance of the 24-hour news cycle and Twitter – and good for him – but that seems increasingly matched by an impulse to fight the world. You wonder if there is anyone on his staff in a position to advise him to take a deep breath and concede a little ground. There is a reason why the Uefa Pro Licence courses teach modules on dealing with the media and, while it might offend the sensibility of the old school to which Pearson belongs, there is no doubt that it is an integral part of the job. The best managers turn it into an advantage rather than a chore and the most accomplished – Ferguson, Jose Mourinho – use press conferences as a way of addressing their own players, as well as the opposition. Pearson said in the summer he was contemplating changing his approach but that plan seems to have been abandoned. Insistent that he had not known about the reports of his sacking on Sunday, he said yesterday: “Have you ever tried ringing me? You can’t get me. My cat was sitting on my knee all [sunday] afternoon, I was like Blofeld. You can keep trying all you want but I am not going to elaborate any further on this story.” That at least shows a glimpse of the sense of humour that can be useful in these situations. This season he has divided Leicester fans between those whose remain loyal after those two promotions and those who think he has made too many mistakes. In some respects, it is admirable that he is so unwilling to change but he need not betray his principles to give himself a better chance of survival. British managers fall out of this game at an alarming rate. A glance back over Pearson’s CV reminds you that at Newcastle he was assistant to Glenn Roeder, who managed two Premier League clubs but has not had a job since 2009. Roeder is a well-regarded coach and his story, along with countless other managers, tells you that this is a game that is very quick to forget. Especially those who find themselves on the outside. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/sam-wallace-nigel-pearson-has-outfought-wild-dogs-but-if-he-takes-on-the-world-hell-lose-10035080.html
yorkie1999 Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 Like a lot of former players who become managers, when under the cosh or on the defensive they revert to the aggression they showed on the pitch.
Guest Sharpe's Fox Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 This is essentially an attack on Nigel's media capabilities. I myself, and I would hope this is the case for other supporters, don't care about how well Nige can spout bullshit, only how well he moves the club forward. So far he has done excellency in getting us from League 1 to here.
Jon the Hat Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 I am really looking forward to not being in the press for things not related to the actual football.
Callabinho Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 I can't for the life of me think what has changed, I can't imagine Nigel acting like this last season, all I can think is that he's got a bug up his ass about something, and I don't think it's related to the pressures of the job? Something else?
shailen Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 I can't for the life of me think what has changed, I can't imagine Nigel acting like this last season, all I can think is that he's got a bug up his ass about something, and I don't think it's related to the pressures of the job? Something else? I think he is being clever and trying to take the pressure off the players. Not many people have spoken about the Palace game, which was a massive loss for us, and the media seem to have completely overlooked that and are focusing more on Pearson. Pearson, from what I know is not the kind of manager to get rattled, and stays calm most of the time. Think he's being clever.
Fox Ulike Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 I think he is being clever and trying to take the pressure off the players. Not many people have spoken about the Palace game, which was a massive loss for us, and the media seem to have completely overlooked that and are focusing more on Pearson. Pearson, from what I know is not the kind of manager to get rattled, and stays calm most of the time. Think he's being clever. That is the most hopelessly optimistic "blue-tinted specs" thing I think I've ever heard! You think he mock-strangled an opposition player, then refused to apologise and instead blamed Gary Lineker...to take the pressure off his own players? Why didn't he strangle someone after the Stoke loss?!
Donut Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 I think he is being clever and trying to take the pressure off the players. Not many people have spoken about the Palace game, which was a massive loss for us, and the media seem to have completely overlooked that and are focusing more on Pearson. Pearson, from what I know is not the kind of manager to get rattled, and stays calm most of the time. Think he's being clever. His comments yesterday were anything but clever.
HankMarvin Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 This is essentially an attack on Nigel's media capabilities. I myself, and I would hope this is the case for other supporters, don't care about how well Nige can spout bullshit, only how well he moves the club forward. So far he has done excellency in getting us from League 1 to here.The media bullshit is a big part of the role, don't forget the premier league is huge business around the world, the way the manager is percieved has a huge knock on effect not just for global sponsorship but future player relationships - given the choice would you want to come and work with a manager that is starting to be percieved the way he is in the media?. If you wasn't a Leicester fan, you and the majority of his backers would be ridiculing his actions. It's a shame the palace board didn't share the same low expectations as you do with being bottom when they come up last year, otherwise I doubt this fixture would've even have happened.
Master Fox Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 I really hope Nigel can turn it around for us and shove all this criticism from the media up their arses.
Fox Ulike Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 The media bullshit is a big part of the role, don't forget the premier league is huge buissness around the world, the way the manager is percieved has a huge knock on effect not just for global sponsorship but future player relationships - given the choice would you want to come and work with a manager that is starting to be percieved the way he is in the media?. If you wasn't a Leicester fan you and the majority of his backers would be ridiculing his actions. It's a shame the palace board didn't share the same low expectations as you do with being bottom when they come up last year, otherwise I doubt this fixture would've even have happened. Very good point. If Steve McClaren had strangled an opposition player, refused to apologise and snidely implied that Gary Lineker was a tax fraud, we'd all be loving it. We'd be calling for the white vans to take him away. He's Nigel Pearson not Russell fvcking Brand.
Mark_w Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 An interesting well written article You must have a very strange definition of interesting, I thought it was incredibly dull and uninformative.
MrSpaM Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 "Pearson is making us look like idiots, let's put out a semi threatening story about his future in management"
AyewJoking Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 Recent events have endeared me to Pearson. We're going down and of that I have little doubt but for a manager previously thought of as boring and monotone, he now has an edge (on the edge) about him.
HankMarvin Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 Very good point. If Steve McClaren had strangled an opposition player, refused to apologise and snidely implied that Gary Lineker was a tax fraud, we'd all be loving it. We'd be calling for the white vans to take him away. He's Nigel Pearson not Russell fvcking Brand. Let us also not forget telling a fan to **** off and die
HankMarvin Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 You must have a very strange definition of interesting, I thought it was incredibly dull and uninformative. A Horse with blinkers on can only see straight, does that mean there is nothing around him???
Fox Ulike Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 Let us also not forget telling a fan to **** off and die Yeah! It's actually like being managed by Shane MacGowan at the mo... Mind you if it gets results who gives a flip?
HankMarvin Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 Yeah! It's actually like being managed by Shane MacGowan at the mo... Mind you if it gets results who gives a flip? Agreed, but his not getting results hence he is being put under the magnifying glass for his unprofessional actions.
artursteppe Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 I think he is being clever and trying to take the pressure off the players. Not many people have spoken about the Palace game, which was a massive loss for us, and the media seem to have completely overlooked that and are focusing more on Pearson. Pearson, from what I know is not the kind of manager to get rattled, and stays calm most of the time. Think he's being clever. I wish he'd be clever with team selection and tactics.
Haydos Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 That is the most hopelessly optimistic "blue-tinted specs" thing I think I've ever heard! You think he mock-strangled an opposition player, then refused to apologise and instead blamed Gary Lineker...to take the pressure off his own players? Why didn't he strangle someone after the Stoke loss?! Mourinho pulls shit like this all the time and nobody gets in a tiz over it.
HankMarvin Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 Mourinho pulls shit like this all the time and nobody gets in a tiz over it. How can the press question Mourinho ethics, he would just point them in the direction of the trophy cabinet. That said I don't think I have ever seen him do the things Nigel has.
shailen Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 That is the most hopelessly optimistic "blue-tinted specs" thing I think I've ever heard! You think he mock-strangled an opposition player, then refused to apologise and instead blamed Gary Lineker...to take the pressure off his own players? Why didn't he strangle someone after the Stoke loss?! We are talking about it, aren't we. What happened to the massive outrage that we lost the most important game of the season. That would put more pressure on his job and team, then this would. I'm not saying that he strangled the player on purpose, but when the opportunity arose he took it. Mourinho does the same thing as well, especially when his teams are losing. He will find some way to make himself the story and not the teams performance
Donut Posted 10 February 2015 Posted 10 February 2015 Mourinho pulls shit like this all the time and nobody gets in a tiz over it. So you think he made a calculated ploy to strangle someone and get into a media row with a club legend?
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.