No pressure, you must be joking – Leicester City caretaker manager Mike Stowell
Leicester City coach Mike Stowell has debunked the theory that caretaker managers do not feel the pressure when they are handed the temporary reins.
Stowell, along with Academy director Jon Rudkin and development coach Steve Beaglehole, is in charge of team affairs for today's Championship clash at West Ham.
-
Mike Stowell
But Stowell insisted: "I can tell you this for sure, this is not a day out with us playing as managers. This is about getting a result.
"I don't see this as not being under pressure, I want to win every game in which I am involved."
Stowell questioned that, if he was not under pressure, then "how come I was up at 4.45 on Thursday morning writing down training drills because I could not sleep".
Stowell says City will go to West Ham as underdogs.
"At the start of the season we would have probably been level-pegging but, after the results we have had, that's not the case. But that might suit us," he said.
As with the methodical Rudkin, City have done their homework on the Hammers, who are currently second in the Championship.
Sam Allardyce's side, unlike the West Ham of old, may have replaced flair with fortitude, and they will be a tough nut to crack. That was well in evidence during their midweek 1-0 win at Brighton, and Stowell said: "Any team who wins there has done well.
"There's a fine line between playing pretty football and getting three points to help get you out of the league.
"Ask the fans what they want and they'll say they want the three points. You can save your pretty football for the Premier League."
City will be missing skipper Matt Mills as he completes the final game of a three-match suspension for his sending-off at Birmingham.
Striker Paul Gallagher comes into contention after completing 70 minutes of a reserve-team run-out against Coventry at Belvoir Drive earlier in the week.
Gallagher has been out for more than a month with an ankle injury he picked up in the 1-1 draw at Barnsley.
"He's trained but it's been a while since he played and he was a bit stiff after the Thursday session, so we'll have to see how things are," said Stowell.
Allardyce, in contrast to City, has injury problems ahead of the Upton Park clash.
Knee-injury victim Henri Lansbury and Matt Taylor, who has a calf problem, have joined a lengthy list which also includes Robert Green, Carlton Cole, James Tomkins and Gary O'Neil.
3 Comments
by ghostof66
Sunday, October 30 2011, 6:17PM
“Does not matter who is manager, the leicester folk will give him stick if the results arn't win win win!
Even MON had 10 disastrous games and a run in with fans before results saved him!
Lots of folk stating Sven had to go. It will be the same for the next one who takes the hot seat!
The expectations will still be win win win straight away as the fans think that we are the rich kids of the Championship.
I made the statement during the circus of the transfer window that Sam Allardyce made the best signing when he bagged Nolan. Against a lot of Hammers fans he made plans to take on this division and not entertain. He knew his job was to get promotion.
We could learn from him!”
by grobyken
Sunday, October 30 2011, 12:35PM
“Its interesting when you look at the managers we've had since Mon. Eleven in total. Most were around for less than a season. Mon was manager for 5 years and brought the club a lot of success. Only two managers since him have brought any success - Adams took us back to the Premier League and Pearson brought us straight back up from the First Div and nearly gained back-to-back promotion. They enjoyed the longest periods in charge since MON. OK we lasted one year in the PL with Adams but success is success.
So my point. Perhaps its not just the guy in charge but how long he is in charge. Football is about teamwork. On the pitch and off it. Team building takes time. Each manager wants his own team, each team works for a manager.
So, how about a little bit of permanency and a longer-term view. Chopping and changing managers and team members means we will never have a team. Think back to the Mon days, permanent manager, permanent team. Now we have a new manager coming in and the owners say there will be money to spend on new players.
All change.”
by Chappy1884
Sunday, October 30 2011, 10:57AM
“Mike take heart, you are only judged on you last result this early on,
Your team went out in the first half (Svens Team) unsure of themselves and let in 2 soft goals,
whatever you said and did after that half was your doing, and lo and behold your decisions managed to win the second half convincingly and only an unlucky goal prevented you getting something out of the game.. If you are still in charge for the next match, set your stall out with a view to repeating the second half performance, and no matter how much it upsets the players let them know why some are being preferred over others.
If they don't like it, they know what they can do, your appraisal of the players to the new management team may be their first contact with many of them, it's in the players interests to turn in a good shift.
This team should be based on a statutory wage and performance based wages,
it's harsh in a big squad and some will moan about not getting picked, my answer to that is,
get of your ar se and get yourself noticed in training then.
Good luck Mike.. the only way is up mate, and hopefully you've turned the corner.”
by belgraveboy
Sunday, October 30 2011, 10:44AM
“mike stowell is right to fell pressure it shows cimmitment. dont be afraid to rest the big money prima donnasand go back to our strengths.shame lloyd dyer is injured ,he could have been your trump card. with big steve.good luck on tuesday to the lads”