23rd February 2000
23rd February 2000 Henry speaks from bitter experience when he explains Wembley is the worst ground to lose a football match on. "We did well with Oldham but Tranmere have got to go and try to win it now. We have to go there and perform well and if we do that we will have the bonus of winning the Cup because Wembley is not a place for losers", he said. "It is great if you win but it is one of the worst places to be if you lose. It has never been a lucky ground for me but hopefully that will all change this weekend". "At Oldham we were going into cup games thinking we weren't going to be beaten and it is the same now. The lads appreciate the importance of team work and they all get on - the spirit in the squad is fantastic".
"When you go to Wembley you either thrive on the pressure or go into your shell. We have had some big cup games this season though and hopefully those matches will stand the young players in good stead and we will shine on the day". "We are going up against some top quality international players and I know each of us will want to prove we can play at that level". "We were all disappointed to lose Sunday's game but there is no bigger match than a cup final to lift a side's spirits. I don't think anybody thought beating four Premiership sides this season would be on the cards but you have got to cause upsets if a team like Tranmere is going to get to a cup final". Henry has the utmost respect for Martin O'Neill's Leicester side and he shoots down any ideas that the Foxes will present a weaker challenge that those presented by Sunderland, West Ham, Middlesbrough and Coventry.
He commented,
"They have a very similar style to ourselves but they do it on a bigger
stage week in and week out. We know we are the underdogs and it is going
to be as hard, if not harder, than it was against Newcastle". "You never
know what will happen on the day. It is all about who performs best. We
are going there confident and aware that all the pressure is on them because
if they don't win it is the shock of the season". He added, "I don't think
the fans will ever forget this weekend. We are going there knowing we can
do it and we want to give those supporters something to shout about".
Rovers boss Ian Holloway faces the prospect of sending Pierre abroad in the hope he becomes a first team regular for his nation. And United could post him to Belgian side Royal Antwerp, who have three Old Trafford players with them. Holloway said: “He (Ferguson) said he’ll phone them (Antwerp) and get Nigel a trial set up there.” The unusual approach to getting Pierre on Rovers’ books could take months or even years to succeed but Holloway, who signed the player for £50,000 from Trinidad side Joe Public, is prepared to wait. “I’m not giving up,” he added. “If we loan Nigel out for two years and he breaks into the national team, he’ll still only be 22 when he comes back.”
Meanwhile, Jamie Shore’s recovery from knee surgery has been set back by around a month after another operation. But the defiant young midfielder is convinced he will still complete a remarkable comeback. Shore needed a minor operation to repair a small tear in the cartilage he had transplanted in to his knee in the summer. It was the 13th time the 22-year-old’s right knee has been under the knife and it means he will be back on crutches for at least the next two weeks. “I know some people will probably think: ‘He’s had another operation – is he going to play again?’ But I see this as lucky 13 for me,” said Shore, who has his sights set on a comeback next season. “It’s a setback, but the positive thing is there is nothing seriously wrong. “I know I will play again. I can’t say when it will be, but I’m convinced it’ll happen.”
Keeper Lee Jones (back) missed training yesterday and is very doubtful for Saturday’s trip to Oldham Athletic.