Yak Not Young Enough
Former Leicester City striker Alan Young has never been one to mince his words.
His punditry style on BBC Radio Leicester has been enjoyed by Leicester fans all over the World, from Beaumont Leys to Los Angeles and the Scotsman is relishing his new role.
The man signed by Jock Wallace in 1979 is reigniting his relationship with the fans that watched him then forging new ones with the next generation of fans that listen to him now.
“We’re live all over the World. Czech Republic, Australia, Los Angeles, Canada, it’s unbelievable. I have a Facebook site running now and the comments of support have been brilliant”
Young’s expert commentary is based on his experiences as a hard working centre forward, a fashion of striker that isn’t seen often enough these days, especially at Leicester City.
Nigerian striker Yakubu was the usual choice to lead City’s frontline last term and his work rate raised issues with many fans, one of them being the big feller in the press box. Young’s concerns over the Nigerian’s fitness stem from the player’s attitude toward it.
“I watch his warm up and it’s a disgrace. When you warm up your preparing yourself for combat. You need to get your muscles warm, your blood pumping and your heart beating so you’re ready for the game. He doesn’t do that. I look at him and he looks like he has hamstrings worse than Eddie Kellys!”
Young may have finished his rant on a light-hearted joke but the point he makes is one that was clearly evident in the strikers work rate, or lack of it, last season. The Scot wouldn’t mind a pre season session with Yakubu either to help amend his flaws.
“If I could get him into a pre season I’d tell Derek Fazackerley to run his bollocks off. When he’s on the floor and being sick, pick him up and make him run again” “Fitness was a big thing in my time at Filbert Street. Jock used to say if you can’t run you can’t play. Fitness is such a huge, huge thing in football”
It’s an area of the game that Young knows all too well is imperative to a professional footballer.
“In my first game at home to Watford, we won 2-0, I scored both goals. I felt so fit and strong. When you feel like that you want to impose it on others. I had Steve Sims marking me that day so when they won a corner I’d shout to him, Simmsy you lazy bastard, come on I’ll race you back”
The no nonsense, tough tackling striker is sadly a rare breed in English football these days but on 104.9fm on a Saturday afternoon you’ll find one screaming down your headphones.
Young himself claims he’s very optimistic about City’s chances of promotion next season and the fans will be hoping he has a lot more to shout about in his coming commentary sessions.
David Cockcroft, June 2011
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