Two top bosses, but one of them has problems
IT was a tale of two managers at the weekend – and two of the best there are, as well!
When I record what happened to Leicester City at home to league leaders Chelsea, and to Leicester Tigers at Coventry in a Premiership Cup game against Wasps, it will be very clear which of the managers was the happier.
We are led to believe that City manager Brendan Rodgers is being chased by Manchester United and a few other sides, which is unsettling, and is also struggling with an injuryhit squad. He had to take on Chelsea, a side firing on all cylinders, with Youri Tielemans, City’s star player, unavailable.
In a one-sided first half, Chelsea dominated the game and scored twice, the second a real cracker! Leicester, I’m afraid, rarely saw the ball and never looked like replying.
They were slightly better in the second half and there was a brief chance or two of a goal, but eventually Chelsea added a third and had two more disallowed for offside.
So, a headache or two for Brendan after several good seasons. There was little creative ability and the defence found it hard to cope with the speedy Chelsea attack. A disappointing 3-0 defeat for City.
Now if we turn to Steve Borthwick at Welford Road (not forgetting Brett Deacon who handled this weekend’s team), Tigers had very little trouble thrashing Wasps 55-7, taking their outstanding unbeaten run into double figures.
A disappointing first half of 10-0 was soon put into perspective with seven second half tries, Wasps only replying once. The game produced some very fine performances and unearthed more useful squad members.
Jack van Poortvliet at scrum half is a real find – look out, Youngs! Dan Lancaster (fly-half), Kini Murimurivalu (full-back) and Ollie Chessum in the forwards added to their status.
Unlike Mr Rodgers, apart from having to sort out a replacement for George Ford next season, Mr Borthwick has few headaches, in charge as he is of the best-looking Tigers squad for some years. Still unbeaten – what an achievement!
How will they both fare over the rest of this season?
Mike Ross, Wigston