Old pal backs Chris Weale to star in goal for Leicester City
Chris Weale is going to be a big hit at Leicester City, according to one of his former team-mates.
Adam Lockwood, who was in the same Yeovil team as Weale for five years, says the 27-year-old goalkeeper will be desperate to prove himself in the Championship after a difficult spell at Bristol City.
-
City's new keeper Chris Weale
Weale was kept out of the picture at Ashton Gate by Brazilian Adriano Basso, as well as suffering back and wrist injuries.
But Lockwood, 28, and now a Doncaster Rovers player, said: "Chris is a very good keeper, a top professional and he will do just fine at Leicester.
"He has had injuries that have set him back and then he couldn't get in the team because of Basso, who is another very good keeper.
"But he'll work as hard as he can to do well at Leicester, and I'm sure he'll be fine, except when he plays against Doncaster I hope!"
Lockwood added: "Leicester are a big club and they are getting a very good keeper. Chris prepares himself to the max for every game and he is the kind of guy who does everything right."
Weale and Lockwood were team-mates at Yeovil as the West Country club climbed out of the Football Conference in 2003 and won the League Two title in 2005.
Lockwood said: "We were all young lads and we knocked down the idea that you don't win anything with kids.
"A lot of us had been with bigger clubs when we were youngsters so we had a lot to prove."
Lockwood has also offered hope to Leicester if they do not get off to a flier to the Championship campaign by insisting: "Don't press the panic button."
Doncaster got into the Championship last season after winning promotion through the League One play-offs, but made a dreadful start and were in bottom place just before Christmas.
"We were playing well but little things were going against us and we didn't get the results the performances deserved," said Lockwood, who has made nearly 100 league appearances for Doncaster.
"But we decided as a group that we would not change our style of play and we certainly would not panic. We turned things around by killing games off."
Doncaster eventually finished in 14th spot and Lockwood added: "Leicester have to do the same if they don't get the start they wanted. You have to believe in yourselves and things will turn out okay."
City will discover their first-round opponents in the Carling Cup today.
They are included in the top-ranked 35 clubs and will be drawn against the remaining 35 teams. The draw is at 9.30am and the details will be on our website:
www.thebluearmy.co.uk
City are again in the Northern section where last season they defeated Stockport in the first round before falling to Fulham in the second round.
Tomorrow sees the announcement of City's Championship opponents with the release of the 2009-10 fixtures, which will also be on our website.
National newspaper speculation is linking City with a loan move for Manchester City left-back Ryan McGivern.
The People says McGivern, a 19-year-old Northern Ireland international, could spend a full season at the Walkers Stadium.
McGivern is still to make his senior bow for Mark Hughes' team.
11 Comments
View all
by Wayne Calver, Glenfield
Wednesday, June 17 2009, 11:38AM
“I Really Dont Get Why Nigels Opting For A New Kepper Thats Never Played For Us Before. Why Not Get Stockdale Or Martins They've Proved They Got Potential In The City Goal. Bit Unsure About That Transfer.”
by Alex, Leicester
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 12:59PM
“As most people have said, hopefully we'll sign Stockdale who did a great job for us.
"Alex you have got to have to be live in them (NP & MM ) which YOU have not". I have no idea what that sentence means. Hello Blue Fox by the way, it's obvious it's you. ;) Why "Thank god" that we won't sign Simon Cox?”
by Blue Fox, England
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 12:53PM
“Stockdale was not that good.
Rummor has it were in the hunt for a keeper from boro”
by Leicester till I die, England
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 12:14PM
“Hey up
Just leave it to NP & MM they know who they want, and if the gripre line can be trusted Coxey is not one of them any moore ( Thank God ) Alex you have got to have to be live in them (NP & MM ) which YOU have not”
by Brewfox, Loughborough
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 12:02PM
“I share some of Lester Blue's anxiety at the lack of activity coming from the Walkers outside of our defensive unit. It is clear that we will have plenty of cover in this area come the new season.
The concern for me is around centre midfield and in attack. If we finally get N'
Guessan, I think we will have plenty of options on the wings with Oakley, N'Guessan, Nicky Adams, Lloyd Dyer, Porter, Mattock etc.. Where we are clearly lacking is in the middle of the park where King, Oakley, Clemence or Bruno are just not dominant enough at Championship level.. a tenatious linking midfielder is a must.
Up front, Howard and Fryatt will do ok but they have no pace and there is no serious cover if either are injured. I am sorry but Dickov was past it in League One never mind stepping up to the Championship. We need a strong attacker with pace to add another dimension... Simon Cox fits the bill, he gives it 110% everytime... spend that £2million asap..”
by Stuart, Leicester
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 11:51AM
“Two things that you may have overlooked Lesterblue. 1, The mnagement and playing staff at city are on their holidays still, as are officals and players at most clubs. 2, The transfer window dosnt open again till july1st. Just be patient and wait till the end of the month, as by then the deathly silence would have been lifted.”
by John Harmer, Barwell
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 11:19AM
“With regards to Weale being a second choice keeper. I remember a certain P Shilton being a second choice keeper to a G Banks. Turned out all right though didnt he.
Give the guy a chance. The management know what they are doing, and Milan will no longer spend money on wages for second rate players.”
by Alex, Leicester
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 11:12AM
“Every day I wake up and think, 'is today the day'. We're not doing anything. Apart from Neilson we haven't made a significant signing and our pre-season games are looking empty at the moment. But I have trust in Nigel and am sure he knows what he's doing. But surely soon we're going to get busy.”
by myron hack, norwich
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 10:52AM
“willing to give the keeper a chance but, i don't think he will be as good as stockdale and i think we shud sign stocky becos he was great”
by Lester Blue, Leicester
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 10:40AM
“I am now getting slightly concerned, are we to presume that our first choice goalkeeper is to be an ex second choice championship keeper when during our time in League One we were playing Premiership standard keepers.
In addition why is an untried & unknown left back being looked at when we already have two (Mattock & Berner) or are about to lose one of them? Incidentally I don't recall any news concerning Chris Powell retiring or being released with the other rejects.
Pre-season starts in just 2 weeks time and we are still 4 players short of MM's quest for 6 new players without yet a penny in transfer fees being paid so there should be money still in the kitty.There has been deathly silence from the Walkers at all for nearly 3 weeks now hence we keep getting these worthless space filling stories from the LM. My old mother used to say 'if you have nothing worth saying, then say nothing at all'.”