Former Linfield star dismisses 'ridiculous' David Healy criticism after shock Irish Cup exit
Former Linfield star Stuart King has labelled criticism aimed at David Healy as “ridiculous” – and believes he’s the man to turn the club’s fortunes around after a tough run.
The Blues were dumped out of the Irish Cup by Limavady United on Friday night, and with a Premiership title defence looking extremely unlikely, next month’s BetMcLean Cup final against rivals Glentoran provides the last chance for silverware this season.
Linfield’s league struggles have been largely down to their poor away record – only basement club Glenavon (seven) have scored fewer goals on their travels this season than Healy’s men (10), who have collected 14 points from a possible 36.
The reigning Premiership champions have scored one goal or less in six of their last seven matches across all competitions, failing to find the net on three occasions, and will hope to get back on track against Dungannon Swifts on Tuesday night.
Northern Ireland legend Healy, who has collected six Gibson Cup crowns across his decade in charge at Windsor Park, has come in for criticism on social media, but ex-Blues winger King believes it’s unjustified.
"It's ridiculous,” said King on BBC Sportsound. “It's football these days, it's nonsense.
"There's other managers in the league getting the same and they're doing fine.
"Yes, Linfield should be up there or thereabouts, but if we're being brutally honest, there's two or three clubs who are getting better players in than Linfield and there's teams in the Irish League who are getting the best players on the whole island of Ireland.
"Linfield can't cope with that, that's my opinion on it, and people need to be a bit more realistic.
"It's not only David, armchairs fans are giving their opinions, which they're more than welcome to do, but it's ridiculous with his record and what he has done for that football club over the last 10 years and the trophies he has won that he's getting so much grief."
Linfield have also won three League Cup crowns alongside two Irish Cups during Healy’s reign, which surpassed 500 matches last summer.
They currently sit fourth in Northern Ireland’s top-flight, 16 points adrift of leaders Larne and eight behind Coleraine in the race for an automatic European spot, but have played two fewer matches than the Bannsiders at this stage.
Despite current struggles, King believes Healy is the ideal man to find solutions.
"I think their confidence is just gone,” he added. “There's a real negativity about the football club at the moment.
"I'm sure David's pulling his hair out, he's getting it tight, of course he is, but he's always got through it.
"When he has had pressure or people questioning him, his club or his team, he has always found answers.
"He can't seem to find the answers at the moment to what's going wrong. Linfield always score goals, to have scored that few goals away from home is not like Linfield at all.
"The best man is in charge, he has been there and done it, he knows how to get the best out of the players. It's not happening at the moment but I'm sure he will turn it around."