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Holloway column

Ian Holloway
The Leicester manager gives his inimitable views on football and life in general in his weekly column.

This week he talks about Leicester's relegation crunch match against Sheffield Wednesday and John Arne Riise's last-minute own goal.

He also answers questions on the top 100 hottest women in the world and why he hates speed cameras.

LEICESTER'S BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP PART II

We needed to win two of our last three games, so the win away at Barnsley was massive.

I was fairly pleased with what we were doing first half, second half Barnsley had a go at us - and rightly so. We had a bit of fortune when they hit the post twice.

But generally, on the whole, I thought we played really well.

What you need to do in our position - and anybody who's a manager will know - is to try and show you believe in your team.

A rotund Leicester City fan shows off his Foxes tattoo on his back
Picture says a 1000 words

But the next two games are vital to what Leicester City are going to do over the next few years.

I don't want to be the only manager to have taken Leicester to the division below the Championship, I don't want that, the players and fans don't want it, but we've got to fight to do something about that.

We've got Sheffield Wednesday, who are fighting to stay up, and the week after we have Stoke, a team trying to go up to the Premier League.

LEICESTER CITY FANS

I was stood in the dressing room before the Barnsley game and I heard fans singing very, very loudly: 'we're not going down, we're not going down'.

"I thought 'Christ, the Barnsley supporters are up for it' and when I walked out I saw it was Leicester fans who were singing.

Goosebumps ran up and down my back - it was fantastic and my lads responded to that.

We've got 24,000 at home every week - and we haven't been doing very well, which speaks volumes for the passion they've got.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAMES

I thought Liverpool were very, very good. On the balance of play they could've won by a couple, but Chelsea are a very difficult side to beat.

Cristiano Ronaldo cannot believe he just missed a penalty at the Nou Camp
Cheer up son, there's always the second leg

There were some people on Five Live after the Manchester United game going on about Fergie and Rooney not being very good. OK, the game wasn't as good as it was hyped up to be.

I thought Alex set his stall out, I heard him say after maybe he had put Park and Rooney on the wrong side, but I thought their game plan was fine.

Some of their players on the night didn't pass anything like as well as they can, but what can the manager do about that?

The fact is, after 90 seconds, you have a chance in a game of that magnitude against Barcelona, a penalty taken by Ronaldo, a bloke who is on fire this season. It must have rocked the team when he missed.

Mind you, it's pleasing to see he is human after all.

But nothing's decided after the first game - it's only half-time.

You're telling me Liverpool can't score at Chelsea? I think they can - and I think Barca can score at Man United.

There's an awful lot of football left in these games.

JOHN ARNE RIISE'S OWN GOAL AGAINST CHELSEA

If he tried to do that again, I don't think he would ever get the ball where it actually went.

Funny things happen in football. I remember a horrific game when I was Bristol Rovers manager in 1998.

John Arne Riise reacts to scoring an own goal against Chelsea
Riise above it John

We were 3-0 up in the first leg of a play-off semi-final (old Division Two against Northampton). We hit the post which would've put us 4-0 up, but they went up the other end and scored.

Before you know it, the second leg galloped out of our control and we ended up losing 3-0.

I've had some terrible things happen, but you've got to be strong, keep your dignity and keep going.

You've always got to believe one of your players is going to be your hero and turn it around for you.

HOT 100 WOMEN IN THE WORLD

What do you mean by hot? Are these middle-aged woman having hot blushes? Or hot as in nice looking?

(Ed: the voters are most probably teenage boys voting for women they fancy) Don't trust what they say!

Actress Megan Fox, voted number one in the FHM top 100 sexiest women in the world
Megan Fox: Not a patch on Mrs H

They'll have a hoodie up over their eyes, they won't be able to see 'em properly!

All these lads voting on these women, I just want to wake them up and say 'look, they wouldn't fancy you anyway, you're just wasting your time'.

It's no good us rating them with our fat bellies and big, hanging jowls, good gracious me.

My number one? My good lady. I've never seen anyone who I think is nicer than her, and that's the gospel truth.

And that's not cos she's right next to me scowling. I genuinely mean that.

I only liked football 'til I was late for school one day, I saw her on a bus and I thought 'who the hell is that?'

All girls did was get in the way of playing football in the playground.

PUNTER'S QUESTION I

DDenmark: Hello Mr. Holloway, I'm an American fan of the beautiful game. I'm a West Bromwich Albion supporter who has followed the Baggies for about 12 years since the days of Super Bob Taylor. I've followed all the ping pong ups and downs of my team since then.

My question is can someone be a true supporter of a team if they come to it later in life, or must they be born to it?

What I don't think you can do is change allegiance.

As a player and manager you have to do that, you rarely stay with one club all your life these days.

606: DEBATE

But as a football supporter, one team is what it's all about.

You've got to go with the flow and if you've just started to be a West Brom fan, fantastic.

But what I don't want is West Brom one week, or Man United the next just cos they're winning.

It's got to mean something, as long as you've got that I would say you're a true supporter whether you've just started or whether you have been a fan all your life.

PUNTER'S QUESTION II

GraymeadYNWA: Hi Ollie, I was watching a London mayor debate the other day and Boris Johnson was asked if there was a law he would break.

He said he would not obey the ID card if it came in. Is there a law you find so ridiculous that you refuse to abide by it?

I just keep having trouble with speed cameras. You've got an empty road with no-one behind or in front, then a flashing light goes - it just drives me crazy.

Ian Holloway was talking to Sam Lyon


see also
Holloway column
18 Apr 08 |  Football
Barnsley 0-1 Leicester
19 Apr 08 |  Championship
Holloway hails Foxes supporters
22 Apr 08 |  Leicester City
Foxes freeze season ticket prices
25 Apr 08 |  Leicester City
Riise vows to come back stronger
24 Apr 08 |  Liverpool
Transformers star 'sexiest woman'
24 Apr 08 |  Entertainment


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