LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK - LIVERPOOL

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK

LIVERPOOL DECEMBER 2^ND 2014

LOOK FORWARD - I think I would probably need to write a book to justify writing a blog about our next visitors to The King Power Stadium because games against Leicester and our visitors are always special, welcome Liverpool.

Liverpool put in a serious challenge for the Premier league title last season and it was mainly thanks to the exploits of Luis Suarez. I am positive that if Suarez could have curbed his cannibalistic tendencies‘! he would still be a Liverpool player and they would be competing for the title again this season. However Suarez has moved on and Liverpool have done some rebuilding, but unfortunately they have lost their way a little and are struggling to make an impact as dramatic as last season.

Following the departure of Suarez, Liverpool splashed the cash to bring in Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana from Southampton and Emre Can from Bayern Leverkusen and they have also recruited Mario Balloteli to the ranks. Unfortunately the gamble of Lambert and Balloteli hasn’t paid off so far, with Lambert being stuck on the bench and Balloteli looking far from impressive in a Liverpool shirt. But you can never right off Liverpool and they have enough quality and strength in depth to turn things around, plus although Steven Gerrard is getting on a bit!!! He epitomises everything about Liverpool Football Club with his never say die spirit.

LOOK BACK- Football matches between Leicester and Liverpool always seem to have something special about them ( for me anyway! ) and over the years we have had some fantastic games against them. My memories go back to the days of Bill Shankly and it was Shankly who was manager of Liverpool when I made my first visit to Anfield all the way back to the 7^th February 1970. City were playing in the second division following relegation the previous season and were enjoying another FA Cup run; and after disposing of Southampton at Filbert Street in a fourth round replay winning 4-2, the reward was a tie at Liverpool in round five. I remember standing with the large contingent of Leicester supporters in the away end, and just looking across at the famous kop at Anfield was awesome! And despite Liverpool being favourites to progress to the next round City gave a good account of themselves and the game finished 0-0

Liverpool were still fielding some of the famous names I grew up with being a football supporter, Tommy Lawrence, Chris Lawler, Ron Yeats, Ian Callaghan, Peter Thompson and Ian St John to name a few of them, a memory I will always cherish.

In the replay at Leicester I remember standing in the kop at Filbert Street and there was so many packed in to see the game, without a doubt the biggest crowd I have ever been in at Leicester 42,100 were crammed into Filbert Street that night; and once again City gave a good account of themselves and it took Alun Evans to come on as substitute for Liverpool to score two goals past us to end our cup run. But great memories.

 

We faced Liverpool again in the FA Cup in 1974 and once again following a 0-0 draw City lost in the semi final replay 3-1 at Villa Park.

More memories for me was seeing Keith Weller score a hat trick in 1972 as we won 3-2 at Filbert Street, John Toshack scored both Liverpool goals; and when Jock Wallace got us promoted in 1980 we enjoyed one season in the first division before being relegated again but we managed to beat Liverpool home and away that season, who could forget Andy Peake’s screamer at Filbert Street and Alan Young’s own goal at Anfield!

Probably though one game in particular stands out in my memory, the day Leicester won the charity shield for their first and only time.

Saturday 7^th August at Filbert Street and Leicester played Liverpool in the charity shield final. Arsenal had won the league and FA Cup double in 1970/71 and declined to take part in the charity shield, and so with Liverpool being beaten FA Cup finalists and City being second division champions it was Leicester v Liverpool in the charity shield final. I was one of the 25,104 crowd that saw a Steve Whitworth goal win the charity shield for Leicester. Good times and great memories.

LOOK FORWARD - Hopefully Leicester can re-ignite the passion I saw many years ago in Leicester v Liverpool games and we can witness another memorable night at The King Power Stadium

Shout loud for the foxes

Alan ’ meashamfox ’ Bennett

Leicester Till I Die

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK - SUNDERLAND

LOOK FORWARD - LOOK BACK

SUNDERLAND - NOVEMBER 22nd 2014

LOOK BACK- Since our last home game and a disappointing defeat to West Bromwich Albion, that incidentally caused me some grief! More misery followed with another disappointing 2-0 defeat at Southampton that had fickle supporters questioning Nigel Pearson’s tactics and ability to manage in the top flight.

I am not going to jump on the Pearson out bandwagon because to me he has nothing to prove and although I have concerns why we have suddenly forgot how to shoot at the goal never mind score. I believe that Nigel Pearson is still the right man for Leicester City.

LOOK FORWARD - Next up at The King Power Stadium is Sunderland who themselves have been finding life tough recently. And with us bemoaning that 2-0 defeat at Southampton let’s not forget how good Southampton are as they put 8 past our forthcoming visitors! Sunderland appear to have steadied the ship a little in their last two fixtures with an impressive 3-1 win at Crystal Palace followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Everton.

Looking at the Sunderland team they have some quality players and I personally thought that they would be ok this season under the guidance of Gus Poyet. In goal they can call on Vito Mannone who I rate highly, but who no doubt had his confidence rattled after conceding eight at Southampton. If Mannone is still feeling shell shocked, then Costel Pantilimon will be on hand to step up to the plate.

In defence Sunderland have the Manchester United connection with former reds Wes Brown and John O Shea at the heart, and also former fox Patrick Van Aanholt may be included. Van Aanholt spent a loan period at The King Power Stadium from Chelsea when Sven was manager!.

In midfield Sunderland have some quality with Jack Rodwell, Jordi Gomez, Seb Larsson, Adam Johnson and Lee Cattermole all in contention and Steven Fletcher, Connor Wickham, Jozy Altidore and Danny Graham will be vying for a place up front.

LOOK BACK - Once again my first game looking back is to the 1969/70 period, as you are probably aware this is one of my favourite times being a fox, and on January 3^rd 1970 Leicester who were playing in the second division following our relegation in the previous May, were at home to first division Sunderland in the third round of the FA Cup. Once again I was sitting in the double decker stand (what a great view that was ) and my brother Roy was with me and he was celebrating his sixteenth birthday on that day, he even had a request played on Richard Thompsons ‘sound off ’ before the game. I remember it being Susan Maughan singing Bobby’s Girl and fittingly it was captain Bobby Roberts who scored the only goal of the game that day to send us into round 4. We enjoyed a decent cup run until being knocked out in the fifth round after a replay by a star studded Liverpool team and unfortunately we just missed out on an instant return to the first division by finishing third in the table that season.

Fast Forward to March 5^th 2000 and Leicester were playing Sunderland at Filbert Street in the days of Martin O Neill, and one Stan Collymore was making his home debut.

City were still basking in the glory of winning the Worthington Cup against Tranmere Rovers as they faced Sunderland that day and Collymore could only have dreamt how his debut would unfold.

Leicester were kicking toward the family stand as we won a free kick well inside our own half, and following a headed flick on from Heskey, Collymore superbly smashed the ball home from outside of the box to make it 1-0. City went 2-0 ahead when Neil Lennon won a challenge on the half way line and sent a precise pass into Heskey who scored from the edge of the area. Sunderland pulled a goal back with a superb finish from Kevin Phillips ( who we hope will now be plotting the downfall of our visitors ) but Leicester restored their two goal advantage when Collymore scored his second with a powerful header from seventeen yards out. Niall Quinn scored another brilliant goal to make the score 3-2 but Stan Collymore stole the show when he scored from close range from a superb Emile Heskey cross. Oakes completed the scoring by lashing home a free kick from from some distance that was deflected into the Sunderland net. An impressive performance by City and in particular from Stan Collymore.

Unfortunately Stan broke his leg against Derby County and only played a few games for us when he returned from injury before moving on to Bradford City.

Let us hope that we can put an end to the illness that has swept through The King Power Stadium and after being diagnosed with ‘ post traumatic Manchester United disorder ‘ the foxes will rise to the challenge and get us back to winning ways.

Shout loud for the Foxes

Alan ‘ Meashamfox ‘ Bennett

Leicester Till I Die