A bit about you:
Name:Bob Asprey
Current home town:Now living in Aylesbury Birthplace:Sidcup
How long have you supported your team?Since 12th April 1966 when we beat Bournemouth 1-0. This was during the run of 59 home matches unbeaten, which took us from the old 4th Division to the 2nd.
Overview of your club:
Favourite thing about your home ground:Not surprisingly many fans miss our old ground, I’m sure it’s the same at Leicester. Best thing about our ‘new’ place (it’s 17 years old now) is that it’s not a sexy warm surroundsound arena like yours and many others. It’s stark utilitarian and cold, just how we like it.
Favourite match played by your team & why:This has to be the FA Cup Semi Final v Sunderland at Old Trafford in 2004. The greatest moment in our history, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, not at our end anyway. We’d been in three FA Cup semi finals before, all before the war, and lost them all. The 2004 final itself was a great day out, but was like a trip to the FA circus compared with the raw emotion of the semi. Much like Leicester, we are now back on the up after some lean years. A quick mention for the 2010 League 1 Play Off Final – at the fifth attempt we finally won a big final…..
Favourite player of all time who played for your club:Harry Cripps. Not the best or most talented of players but his big heart and uncompromising style epitomized the club and he became a Millwall legend in the sixties and seventies. ‘Arry Boy’s teammate Keith Weller, will be fondly remembered by many Leicester fans. RIP Keith. Other heroes are Terry Hurlock, Teddy Sheringham (possibly the best player we’ve ever had, although he blotted his copy by going and playing on the other side of the river) and more recently Tim Cahill. An honourable mention too for Steve Claridge, the type of 100 per center loved by fans everywhere. Which is where he played.
About our forthcoming match against you:
Your favourite current player in your squad and why?I’m not really one for favourite players but the most popular current players are Steve Morison, last season’s leading scorer, and Tam Mkandawire, who signed in the summer from Leyton Orient as a centre-back but has made a place in our centre mid his own. Currently injured though. Another popular figure is man mountain Danny Shittu. Yakubu v Shittu could be a case of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.
Player in your squad we should most fear and why?After a couple of successful loan spells from Reading James Henry finally signed for us in the summer. A talented winger who is quick, can beat a man, is a good crosser of the ball and has a good shot. Unfortunately he is not playing for England because he is very inconsistent. He could tear you apart but might spend the afternoon giving the ball away.
Player in our squad you most fear and why?Apart from Millwall reject Lloyd Dyer, the obvious answer is Darius Vassell. When Leicester pitched up to the Den 3 and a half weeks ago, we were surprised and delighted to see him left on the bench whilst mindless long balls were pumped at Roman Bednar. At half time Vassell came on for Bednar and for the first time Leicester looked dangerous. Inexplicably Sven then brought on Steve Howard, reverted to long ball and we had a comfortable victory.
Up and coming prospect in your squad?Kiss of death time. The obvious prospect is Northern Ireland Under 21 Josh Mcquoid, who finally signed for us this month after a loan spell from Bournemouth. A prolific scorer in his short League One career he is now making the step up to the Championship and we have high hopes for him. Currently out with an injured ankle.
Where do you think you’ll finish this season?We are possibly at the turning point of the season. It is the January window silly season and there is a lot of traffic in and out of the Den. We have been on a great run of form and if we can emerge at the end of the window with a squad as good or better than we’ve had over the first half of the season we should be able to go on and be close if not in the play offs. Two or three defeats, however, can put any team in this division in or near the relegation zone.
The key man for us is Kenny Jackett. A true professional who gets much more right than wrong and has consistently improved our squad in the three and a bit years he’s been with us. We hope there are no big departures this month. In Kenny we trust. We’ve played every team in this division now and the only two to really impress were Reading and Watford.
How do you think you’ll do against us?If I remember correctly on our last visit to the Walkers Tresor Kandol was sent off stupidly but we won it 1-0 with a Gary Alexander wondergoal. Both teams are on the up now and it could be a tight game. We’re a bit injury struck at the moment but I’m sure Kenny will put out an organized if patched-up team. Hopefully we can get the first goal and go on to win. Form suggests 1-0 Leicester though.
Any other comments?Not one of the away trips I particularly look forward to – a bland stadium, no pubs near the ground, a terrible view from behind the corner flag, and probably no points.