The Waiting Game.

By Peter Gilbert 15.8.00

So Aston Villa it is then……….a nice little opener I'd say…..something real for us to get our teeth into after weeks and weeks of speculation.
A lot has happened since last season finished, but we are entitled to feel positive.
i) We have lost no significant players.
ii) We have new players where once there were shortcomings i.e.      fullbacks and extra strike power.
iii) We have a new manager.
iv) We have money in the bank.
v) The board is settled ( for now)
vi) We are in Europe again.

With Messrs. Lennon, Izzett and Elliott signing for us we have not lost the heart and soul that is Leicester City. We have wingers, tacklers, full backs, strikers, defenders, midfielders and goalkeepers. We are all dressed up and now all we want is somewhere to go.

First of all I'd like to mention the new manager. I have heard him interviewed several times and he comes over really well, very open, direct and honest. He speaks sense and it would appear he was elected to the post with his manifesto being: 'Football, Football, Football.' He has said he'll be spending a lot of time in his track suit on the training ground. I also suspect that board room intrigue would be of no interest to him. Given a fair wind I expect him to do well. I have the sneaky feeling that this could be our best season ever…………then again………we won't go there.

Aston Villa then……..well they're in total disarray aren't they. The list of dissatisfied players on their books appears to be quite lengthy. Is it John Gregory? Is he too abrasive? Too bossy? Or is he simply incapable? Whatever it is, their problems are real and are there for all to see.
So it'll be a walk over then? No it won't!!! Footballers are funny people, they have pride and when push comes to shove they will fight that extra bit more when they're pushed into a corner.
Last year Villa finished above us, they have a couple of competitive games under their belt and they have some new signings.
As for us……can our new players be introduced into the team? Will the old players react positively to a new regime? Will players fully understand any new systems?
What system will PT play?
He's bought two full backs and two physical strikers, that must tell us something but we won't know too much until the game is under way and we are unleashed under a new set up. It would be nice to think we can just carry on as if nothing has happened but it can't be like that. If we hadn't changed managers then I would be very confident of winning this one, but under a new set up we can't expect too much and that is no criticism of PT&Co. it's just realistic that's all.
On the other hand Stan Collymore is there in the equation, he might well feel like putting one over on Mr Gregory, if that is the case then quite honestly anything could happen and wouldn't Stan like to run past the bench with 'I told You So' written all over his face.