Making Emile of it once again

WHEN Reading striker Leroy Lita was asked which defenders he regarded as his toughest opponents predictably the name of John Terry came up. Less so was his second choice - Richard Dunne.

As a former international left back - regarded by some as the best in the world in that position in his prime - Stuart Pearce certainly should know what a defender looks like.

Conceding 33 goals in 27 Premiership matches is a fair record - Lita's Reading team, currently in seventh place, have let in more.

And it is just as well because Pearce is no judge of a striker. Georgios Samaras - six million quid, seven goals. Bernardo Corradi - big wages, three goals. Darius Vassell - only does it against Villa - three goals. Paul Dickov - too old, always injured - no goals at all.

Only Watford are more toothless and that's why City are heading towards the drop. There is a big, big vacancy for someone to turn this around but who is going to do that? Emile Mpenza, the former star of the Bundesliga but most recently spotted in Qatar?

To be fair, the Belgian came close on more than one occasion when handed his debut for the whole of the second half against Wigan.

But the man whose goal decided the game, Caleb Folan, wasn't exactly unknown to Pearce either, having scored the goal for Chesterfield that knocked City out of the Carling Cup.

Pearce dithered over spending £500,000 on him and Wigan nipped in, with inevitable consequences this weekend. In the dark days of the mid-90s it used to be City fans who popped up with winners at Maine Road. Now it is former transfer targets.