Pre Match Report

Leicester City v . Sheffield Wed. Saturday  30th October,1999.

Back to winning ways?

Peter Gilbert 26.10.99

So........it's back to the drawing board really after our performance at Bradford when we were beaten by a team that seemed more hungry and who's sharp finishers showed our defenders to be rather flat footed.
Following the Izzett/Lennon interview on football preview it appears that the team, the very wonderful team, the best team we've ever had is held together by the persuasive powers of a certain Martin O'Neill.    It's fragile stuff indeed as far as Leicester City fans are concerned MON is our saviour, he can lead us to the promised land but, he himself is fragile and sensitive and that's why we support him and his team so loyally.   Basically 'real' football fans don't give a stuff about the rest, so Goldwing pulling out of building our stadium is small fry compared to the breaking up of MON and his team.

Sheff Wed are totally different to us, they have a massive ground , good financial backing -everything is settled. They're totally opposite to us especially as far as the team is concerned which is basically ropey to put it mildly.   Inconsistency was their hall mark last season but this season that has been built on to make them .....well how can you put it politely. You can't. Their own fans, and I know several, are resigned to their mediocrity like condemned men on death row waiting for a reprieve. To make things really interesting it would be nice to see Barry Pierpoint and friends launch a take over bid at Hillsborough.   Then they'd really know what problems are.    I don't see any players in the Sheff Wed line up to cause us any problems, and City are particularly good after losing a game so I expect The Post Horn Gallop to herald a really good performance and with Keegan not watching this week I expect our 'England Wannabe's' to play a blinder. Life's like that isn't it?
Potentially they have a good defence albeit an aging one. They have erratic goalkeepers. They have an anonymous midfield and an ineffective strike force.
But wait a moment - they have scored some good results lately so they'll be looking to this match to get at a club in turmoil which might be affecting the players' performances.   Somehow though I don't see us slipping up.

They've lost Carbone their best player, their manager is a decent bloke but he appears to lack some tactical guile. We were linked with buying Andy Booth and Kevin Pressman from them, but I think that must have been one of Barry's ideas.

They'll come here hoping for a point, we will be desperate to win.

Forecast: Narrow home win.

Did You Know????

1. Sheff Wed were founded in 1867 by members of the Wednesday Cricket Club. They are the 5th oldest club in the football league.
2. The founders of the Wednesday Cricket Club were local craftsmen who had a half day in the week which was a Thursday -oh no sorry- a Wednesday, and they used that half day for a bit of sport.
3. Sheff Weds first ground was Olive Grove where they played their first game against Blackburn Rovers in Sept. 1887. In 1889 they moved to Owlerton which was renamed Hillsborough in 1913. Hence their nickname The Owls although they were once called The Blades, mmmmm interesting.
4.They've won the FA Cup 3 times and been league champions 4 times. They've won the league cup once.
5. They've played in Europe 3 times.
6.I remember losing 8-1 to them at Hillsborough, a result I personally avenged when playing for LCFC supporters against Sheff Wed supporters in Sheffield when we beat them 5-2........just thought I'd mention that.