HOWE’S HOOPING FOR BIG CHERRIES FINISH
FOXES STAR CAN BE NEW WRIGHTY, SAYS RODGERS
JAMIE VARDY can follow in Ian Wright’s footsteps – and become a Premier League goalden oldie.
Leicester City’s striker this week joined that select group with 100 goals to their name – after collecting three more against Crystal Palace and Arsenal – and Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers says he will be banging them in ‘for years to come’.
Former Gunners legend Wright (below) was the only player older than Vardy to crack the century.
The current BBC pundit was still finding the net in the top flight just weeks short of his 36th birthday.
And Rodgers says there is no reason why Vardy can’t do the same. He said: “The journey through non-league was similar for both Jamie and Ian – and both play with a hunger and devilment. Ian was someone I loved watching. His enthusiasm, quality and all those different finishes.
“And Jamie is the same. I see the same with him – that enthusiasm and love for the game.
“Ian was scoring goals throughout his career and Jamie will too. He’s got plenty more goals in him.
“He’s been electric. In the last couple of games you’ve seen a fight in his game. He’s a master of the lost cause, a guy who comes to the fore.
“There’s never a lost cause in his eyes, such a sensational player.
“Hopefully, that will continue for a
EDDIE HOWE says that Bournemouth worked too hard to get to the Premier League to ever surrender to the mood music... and let the next fortnight be their Last Dance.
In 1996, the Cherries came within 15 minutes of extinction but were saved by a supporters’ trust.
And they were still a number of years to come.” Vardy will celebrate his 34th birthday next January and his boss says that it will be up to him to find ways of feeding his star forward as his speed naturally declines over the next few years.
However, there is no sign of the Yorkshireborn striker slowing down and he remains two ahead of his nearest challenger, PierreEmerick Aubameyang,
League Two team as recently as 2009-10.
They were a League One side when Howe returned for a second spell as manager in October 2012 but within three years he had led them through the Championship and into the Premier League.
Howe (right) said: “The players know what the prize is. We know how good in the race for the Golden Boot.
“He will change as he gains experience,” added Rodgers. “It’s something we have looked at and worked on since we have come in.
“We have had to look at other ways of feeding him. Look at his goal against Arsenal – they sat deep – but he doesn’t need to be impatient and come wandering, looking for the ball.
“It’s our job to serve him and get crosses in. He’s got all types of finishes. There’s not many this league is, we know how tough this league is.
“But we worked so hard to get into the Premier League.
“The journey here was enjoyable, of course, but it was tough and there was an incredible amount of effort better. His signature goal is the one where he spins off at speed, that’s the trademark. He’s got others.
“But he relies on service. He’s not going to beat five or six players. That’s not his game. He will adjust. He’s clever enough to do that. He’s still going to be a major threat.”
Rodgers heads to the south coast with sympathy for the plight faced by Cherries chief Eddie Howe.
Asked if Howe had become a victim of his own success, that went into it –we don’t want to give that up easily.”
Bournemouth have arguably the most difficult run-in of the relegationthreatened sides, starting with Leicester today, but Howe added: “We have performed better against the the Foxes boss said: “There’s nothing like short-termism in football, is there?
“If you look at his longevity – both him and Sean Dyche at Burnley – it’s outstanding.
“They don’t have the biggest crowds, he’s always looking for different ways to galvanise them. He never takes short cuts, he’s diligent and his teams are well set up.
“They are well-organised and play a good brand of football. There’s no doubt he’s been unlucky with injuries.
“I have a huge amount of respect for him. He’s an exceptional coach.” bigger teams, our results have been better and more consistent.
“We know we can lift our game against the top teams, we can perform against the elite and get results.
“All we can control now are the next four games and hope that our ability to lift ourselves and compete against the elite teams is going to be there.”
Apps in all comps
Goals in all comps
Howe has been watching The Last Dance, the Netflix documentary which charts basketball legend Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls.
Howe said: “I wouldn’t call that switching off – if I am going to spend the odd 45 minutes taking myself away thought-wise, I have to come back uplifted and energised, and that is what