The Emperor's New Clothes

Peter Gilbert. 27.2.01

Have you noticed how suddenly it's 'right on' to win the League Cup now a 'big team' has won it. Forget the mediocre opposition and their tears 'Pool are back on the track again.

I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or kick the telly in when someone on the match preview asked 'Why are these blue and white ribbons on the cup?' Well I forget the number of times Alan Birchenall has paraded that cup around at Filbert Street.

I love Robbie Savage to bits you all know that but I'm becoming rather suspicious about the number of times he is involved in a sending off situation - I think he should watch his step otherwise away fans might grow to dislike him!!!!!

Rather disconcerting to see elements of 'The Gang of Four' poking their heads above the parapet again claiming they are about to make a successful takeover bid for LCFC and having done so they will be getting rid of PT. This is exactly what we don't want at the moment.Although I did hear that Big Bazza had queered his pitch at Pompey....so who knows.

Interesting to watch PT involved in the England training session under the guidance of Sven - although the team seemed to be playing what looked like 'netball' which is fine by me of course - it will be interesting to see how we play against Liverpool on Saturday. Perhaps we'll be wearing bibs with letters on in the warm up and throwing the ball about to each other.......wearing skirts and green knickers? No that's going too far.......surely......but you know - give Robbie a perm and he could look the part as could Tags of course......in case he asks......I didn't say that.

Back to this next match - Liverpool at home. They looked very unconvincing in the League Cup Final last weekend against Birmingham. Fowler's goal was brilliant but in the second half they fell back on the ropes and were punished and by rights should have lost and I felt so sorry for the Brummies, their tears of disappointment were genuine. It was a moving and also a refreshing sight to see Trevor Francis embrace Andy Johnson in an attempt to dispel his disappointment. The record books won't register that however but the soul of football felt it.

So let's carry on where the 'Blue Noses' left off against 'The Reds' but this time we'll make sure the result is right for the boys in blue.

Liverpool are a pungent outfit going forward with our Emile making his first return since he 'moved on' to the team of his dreams a sentiment that I find quite impossible to comprehend. It will be interesting to see what sort of reception he gets both from the players with whom he still socialises, and of course the fickle Filbert Street faithful. Should we be virulent and hostile, booing his every move? Or should we be charitable in 'the boy done good' style of things. If he was your son what would you have advised? Stay at Leicester and risk obscurity? Move on develop yourself? It would appear he has done the latter, he's been quite brilliant this season which has been no surprise to me but it has been sickening to hear football pundits waxing lyrical about him as if he was nothing before. Alan Green on Radio 5 was even moved to say 'How can Heskey have come from utter mediocrity to the great striker he now is since moving to Liverpool.' Well I'm sorry but Emile has always been a star in my eyes, and the performances he turned in for us were sensational and anyone who doesn't realise that suffers from 'The Emperors New Clothes Syndrome.' We have not, will not and could not replace him - we'll just get over it - like we always have done in the past.' You could search the planet - there's only one Emile Heskey, which is why I expect him to move on to a really big club and become a world star. There's only one club big enough to attract him in England, after that it's Spain or Italy, but he'll need a lot of moral fibre to move in that direction and only the next few years will tell if he's got that in sufficient quantity. It was a year ago when he helped us win the League Cup then he played 'that game' up front with Stan against Sunderland. We took them apart and we fleetingly saw what 'might have been' but 'was not to be.'

We've done alright though in the last year and this game gives us the opportunity to kick start the latter stages of this season and end the season in the top 5 which is where we belong.

All we need really is for Ade Akinbiyi to relax, start enjoying himself and play with a smile on his face, then I'm sure he'll start to knock some goals in. And wouldn't it be the sweetest thing if Ade were to eclipse Messrs Fowler, Owen and Heskey on Saturday afternoon. Sadly though Ade doesn't enjoy a great relationship with the home crowd. It's nothing personal, it's rather like when Mark Bright was brought in to replace Gary Lineker. On that occasion the Leicester fans were accused of being racist which was nonsense, it's just galling and we've seen so much of it over the years. So when Emile comes back to town, he needn't expect a warm welcome, it will be hostile and sadly symptomatic of being a Leicester fan. But we'll see we just might send them back to Merseyside with a bloody nose - if we do it won't be the first time - although what recognition do we get? Very little and we'll have to cope with Hanson/Lawrenson whinging and whining at Gary on MOTD, with the whole of Leicester screaming 'Hit 'em Gary' from their arm chairs.

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