Foxes Talk

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:12 pm

He's unemployable I'd have thought as well.

Vardy was a diving shithouse under Pearson, he was the most feared striker in Europe under Ranieri, ditto Mahrez

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:12 pm

Lancasterclaret wrote:He won you the title in the premier league.

It sounds like you have a bad case of "its all thanks to Cotts" syndrome to be perfectly honest. Pearsons record isn't stellar anywhere, and he's as mad as a box of frogs to boot.

I find it odd that we're meant to sit back and accept relegation (because if he stays we're absolutely nailed on). It was glorious and the stars aligned for that season, but if it's clear someone isn't up to the challenge and they are dismantling 70% of what made us good, then when are we meant to draw the line?

One year, two years, three years?

claretblue · Post by **claretblue** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:14 pm

'...One year, two years, three years?...'

Five!

claretdom · Post by **claretdom** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:14 pm

Think your 2 biggest issues this season have been Huth unable to go all WWE at every corner and cheat and also Vardy unable to run into players dive (as seen as recent as in our game) and be awarded a penalty.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:15 pm

foxedup wrote:Unless you understand what's gone on here over say 5 years you'll probably never understand why the fans are unhappy with Ranieri.

Not only is he making utterly bizarre decisions this year, he's made awful signings and most importantly all the infrastructure that Pearson left behind is crumbling. Off the fielding we were innovators under Pearson, with the best sports psychologists, excellent scouting setup, incredible sports science department.

What we all wanted when Pearson left was someone to take on board all our excellent setup and run with it. Last season he was told to leave alone and he did to his credit in the main. For whatever reason this season he has decided to sack the psychologists, ignore the sports science departments to make changes in training and what people eat. He'd already started ignoring our scouting department last season and needed them to plead with him to sign Kante instead of his own target.

Recruitment has been a total mess, we've got an unbalanced squad and the obvious areas that needed sorting were left alone completely. With areas we had plenty of players getting filled up. Chuck into that his man management has been awful, promising people new contracts or that they could leave and then them not appearing.

We'll have respect for the bloke forever, but when you see the club you love starting to crumble you can't just sit back and do / say nothing. Nobody was expecting to challenge for the league again. What we expected was to make the most of the best opportunity we'll ever have to establish ourselves for a good number of years.

It's not just down to Ranieri, the players and the director of football also share the blame. But at the end of the day the manager will always be the fall guy. It's easy to say he should have a job for life, but when it's your club about to go down the shitter you wouldn't be saying that. He didn't build everything that made us good, that work had already been put in.

Imagine Dyche leaving, the next manager comes in and for one season is great... but then you see all the great work Dyche did crumbling. Would you really happily accept that man as untouchable because he gave you one great season? Of course not. Last season was glorious, but it doesn't mean I should flush the next 40 years of supporting Leicester down the drain because of it.

1- He's not called the Tinkerman for nothing.
2- in regards to your back room stuff, you're not the innovators, managers like Big Sam have been pushing that stuff for years.
3 - If the set up was that important why didn't the board put a stop to it?....Southampton don't change much in the background just the manager and a couple of coaches.
4- We can all see you didn't replace Kante, a bland man on a galloping horse could see it, but you probably should've pushed Vardy out of the door and replaced him along with one or 2 others.
5- We do have the same concerns about Dyche, but the board upgraded on Howe and with the position we're in we should upgrade on Dyche should he leave.
6- Sacking Ranieri now would be odd, but who's going to replace him and keep you up because the usual suspects are currently employed and anyone else is a gamble?

ksrclaret · Post by **ksrclaret** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:16 pm

If Ranieri has become so inept this season, why is the owner standing by and letting him ruin the good work done at your club over the last few years?

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:17 pm

You are not down yet

You need to tell your players to start performing to give your manager a chance

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:20 pm

martin_p wrote:If that next manager won us the biggest prize in football I certainly wouldn't be calling for his head. It's over dramatic to say the least to say that Ranieri is flushing the next 40 years down the toilet. Would you have preferred Pearson to stay, still have your marvellous infrastructure but still possibly be in a relegation battle (as you were before he left) but with no unbelievable season to look back on?

There are no guarantees that we'll ever get back to this level, it wasn't long ago I was watching us in league one. I know what a nightmare relegation from the premier league can be if you're mismanaged (and we are being currently).

What I'd have preferred is exactly what happened, without them mucking it all up this season and starting to dismantle most of what made us good, especially when there was no reason to. There is far too much to go into detail about, but it has been a right royal co*k up from the very start. Relegation would tarnish last season for a lot of people, as it's seen as a totally avoidable mess.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:20 pm

Obviously you know more about your club than me but I thought Ranieri was head coach not manager so had no dealings with transfers?
You are still in a higher position than Pearson had you in for most of his season in the premier league and let's be honest if you had been offered the chance to win the league and then go back to your natural position this year you would of snapped their hand off.

If you sacked him today he would go down as the best manager you have had in modern history. Winning the league and getting you through the group stages of the premier league is mind bogglingly good. Fans in 50 years time will look back at this period as the best of Leicesters history.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:23 pm

Lancasterclaret wrote:You are not down yet

You need to tell your players to start performing to give your manager a chance

Mate, I've accepted it honestly. I've never seen us as bad for the best part of a decade.

The manager needs to send them out with a game plan. I couldn't tell you what we're actually try to do most of the time. I watch you guys and the game plan is as clear as day and executed brilliantly.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:26 pm

I think you need to drop Mahrez, and just concentrate on covering Huth and Morgan as much as possible.

You should be ok

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:27 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:Obviously you know more about your club than me but I thought Ranieri was head coach not manager so had no dealings with transfers?
You are still in a higher position than Pearson had you in for most of his season in the premier league and let's be honest if you had been offered the chance to win the league and then go back to your natural position this year you would of snapped their hand off.

If you sacked him today he would go down as the best manager you have had in modern history. Winning the league and getting you through the group stages of the premier league is mind bogglingly good. Fans in 50 years time will look back at this period as the best of Leicesters history.

He's definitely been involved. Signing old players and signed / tried to sign a load from Italy. I believe part of the reason Steve Walsh left was because Ranieri didn't trust him like Pearson. He had to beg him to sign Kante instead of Mendy (an ex Ranieri player).

We're in a higher position, but we've also spent about £110m more than Pearson did, yet playing far worse football and getting worse with each game.

Of course I'd have snapped their hands off, but I didn't have to make that choice.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:41 pm

Sidney1st wrote:1- He's not called the Tinkerman for nothing.
2- in regards to your back room stuff, you're not the innovators, managers like Big Sam have been pushing that stuff for years.
3 - If the set up was that important why didn't the board put a stop to it?....Southampton don't change much in the background just the manager and a couple of coaches.
4- We can all see you didn't replace Kante, a bland man on a galloping horse could see it, but you probably should've pushed Vardy out of the door and replaced him along with one or 2 others.
5- We do have the same concerns about Dyche, but the board upgraded on Howe and with the position we're in we should upgrade on Dyche should he leave.
6- Sacking Ranieri now would be odd, but who's going to replace him and keep you up because the usual suspects are currently employed and anyone else is a gamble?

Can't go through everything... I need to do some work ha.

2) They were innovative - creating our own scouting software, embracing new technology before others. Of course we weren't the first to start embracing new things, Pearson was Sam's assistant and that's where he first saw it all working. But a lot of the stuff we embraced we were the first to do so.

3) I suppose they thought what you guys did. Ranieri is untouchable and what he wants he now gets. We've not particularly been keen on our director of football. People who know him or had dealings with him think he's a complete fraud. He's an academy coach who's managed to get the owners ear and get promoted into control of the club

6) Anyone, I'd accept someone with a long term view as well. Rowett has been impressive in what he's done so far in management... we're reaching the point of them not being able to do any worse than we currently are.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:42 pm

Lancasterclaret wrote:I think you need to drop Mahrez, and just concentrate on covering Huth and Morgan as much as possible.

You should be ok

A mass cull is coming by the sounds of it. The likes of Vardy, Drinkwater, Morgan, Mahrez all about to be chopped.

martin_p · Post by **martin_p** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:45 pm

I think Leicester's biggest problem is that the players realise their best years at the club are behind them. They've nothing to motivate them anymore.

andyh · Post by **andyh** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:56 pm

They remind me of us under Brian Laws.

Difficult to put your finger on it but no "Ommmph".

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:56 pm

foxedup wrote:There are no guarantees that we'll ever get back to this level, it wasn't long ago I was watching us in league one. I know what a nightmare relegation from the premier league can be if you're mismanaged (and we are being currently).

What I'd have preferred is exactly what happened, without them mucking it all up this season and starting to dismantle most of what made us good, especially when there was no reason to. There is far too much to go into detail about, but it has been a right royal co*k up from the very start. Relegation would tarnish last season for a lot of people, as it's seen as a totally avoidable mess.

Your owner threw a lot of money at getting the club promoted, I'm sure he will do it again.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:57 pm

foxedup wrote:Mate, I've accepted it honestly. I've never seen us as bad for the best part of a decade.

The manager needs to send them out with a game plan. I couldn't tell you what we're actually try to do most of the time. I watch you guys and the game plan is as clear as day and executed brilliantly.

For the best part of a decade?
You spent most of that outside of the PL....

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:59 pm

You sound like a reasonable guy, Foxedup, so it does pain me a little to write this, but I can't help but find Leicester City's current predicament utterly hilarious.

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:05 pm

fosedup, thanks for those interesting insights.

Can you tell us why Pearson was sacked after turning things round so well late the previous season?

BennyD · Post by **BennyD** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:09 pm

foxedup wrote:A mass cull is coming by the sounds of it. The likes of Vardy, Drinkwater, Morgan, Mahrez all about to be chopped.

If that are, It'll be interesting to see who takes them. Personally, I wouldn't have Vardy anywhere near us, however cheap he is.

Sleeping Cat · Post by **Sleeping Cat** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:23 pm

I'm not sure if Leicester's performances this season are so surprising.

It's pretty much the same group of players who won promotion to the prem in 13/14 and then just about avoided relegation in 14/15. Two seasons later they are involved in a another relegation battle again.This seasons form is exactly what I & most other people expected of Leicester last season so the surprise is how Leicester won the league last year, not the other way around.

HendricksHair · Post by **HendricksHair** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:24 pm

Hipper wrote:fosedup, thanks for those interesting insights.

Can you tell us why Pearson was sacked after turning things round so well late the previous season?

Wasn't there the thing with his son and the Thai prostitutes? Not sure whether that got him the sack or not though?

jedi_master · Post by **jedi_master** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:27 pm

I find the Leicester situation pretty much what I expected.

Last season was an absolute freak, let's be honest. You had the entire top 6 (aside from Spurs and Arsenal) have an absolute mare all at the same time - somebody had to capitalise. Leicester got on a good run, rode their luck in a few games I saw, were superb in others, got some good decisions from ref's etc, the stars aligned is what I am basically driving at here.

Then to this season, all of the players who were playing out of their skins have reverted to the true trajectory of their careers. This is what happens in any workplace when the guys who have slogged their guts out have achieved the impossible, and then been rewarded handsomely with both security (new contracts) and money (massive wage increases). They have essentially fulfilled everything they reasonably could ever have hoped for, whatever their age, and anything to come is downward. However, because of their new salaries, they don't really care anymore - it doesn't affect them.

The likes of Vardy, Morgan, Albrighton, Simpson, Huth, Fuchs, Drinkwater were always middling to poor players at this level of football when taken on their career histories thus far and their age. They played so far beyond themselves last season, riding a crest of a wave - this time all of that desire, hunger and passion has gone, replaced with a sense of impending defeat and general apathy.

The one I will put outside of that is Mahrez. Mahrez is clearly someone who has absolutely masses of ability, and could (for me) easily play at a top 6 side, even now. However, his desire and attitude this season have been a disgrace. He has downed tools as he knows that if Leicester go down, he will get a really decent move based upon last season (I don't like to say it, but with him, I genuinely feel he is banking on relegation as it will help him get a move sooner).

The other point to consider is that Leicester's transfer activity has been abhorrent. Rather than tinkering with the squad slightly (evolution rather than revolution) and signing more British players to supplant the already vibrant British core to the title winning squad, they have gone all Redknapp/Hughes era QPR and signed a bunch of mercenaries (who aren't actually any good). Why any manager would look at that team, see that the fabulous anchorman Kante has left, and decide that Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa are the requirements is beyond anybody. They both look a fish out of water in this league, are probably on an absolute ton (wouldn't be surprised at 100k a week minimum) and cost a fortune. They never replaced Kante properly and instead play Andy King who has only ever been a Championship standard central midfielder who gets a run out due to being the home grown lad done well (in my humble).

I think Ranieri should have a statue outside of the King Power stadium for his achievements last season, but you can't continue to look back in football for too long. If Leicester go down with the contracts they have handed out, they will be in an absolute world of trouble I should think. I can understand - to an extent - the concern Foxes fans have, even inspite of what they achieved last season.

Sleeping Cat · Post by **Sleeping Cat** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:36 pm

I think Jedi has it pretty nailed on with that post.

I disagree about Slimani, who I think is a very good player, certainly an upgrade on Ulloa (who I have never rated tbh) I just don't think he fits Leicester's style of play. Kante is the obvious hole in that midfield. he was the player who broke up the opposition play and started the breathtakingly swift counter attacks that were Leicesters signature move last season.

PWBFC · Post by **PWBFC** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 6:40 pm

I suspect that the first day of pre season would've been very revealing with much back slapping and general p*ssing about rather than a steely focus on their title defence.

No room for sentimentality for me. Unbelievable season but I don't think Ranieri can win back the players or fans respect from here. Dead man walking unless he survives until summer and then has a mass clear out.

mkmel · Post by **mkmel** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 7:38 pm

Vegas Claret wrote:to be fair, there are plenty on there tonight saying that we battered them and deserved to win so some of them are ok

Gary Lineker wasn't one of those as he seemed bitter and of the thought that Leicester were unlucky against us and were the better team

willsclarets · Post by **willsclarets** » Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:48 pm

There's alot of talk about certain fans of certain clubs; fake, fair weather fans etc but all in all the football fan is the same fickle beast.
There were definitely fans calling for sd's head only months ago, lets not pretend bfc is immune from this nonsense. I have no doubt in my mind that if we'd won the premier league, and then mirrored Leicesters performance this year some people would be calling for the manager's head.
We're as reactive as any other set of supporters, and when the going is good we pretend we aren't.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:52 am

Lord Beamish wrote:You sound like a reasonable guy, Foxedup, so it does pain me a little to write this, but I can't help but find Leicester City's current predicament utterly hilarious.

Thankfully last season had made me not really care what others think so much any more, I've got the football equivalent of the best card in top trumps thanks to last season.

Before you say why are you here then, I just like talking footy... and it kills some time at work!

What's happening is so Leicester, must be one of the most mental teams for ups and downs. I suppose i'd rather have a few years of mental **** going on over a decade of boring midtable finishes... but I've rather have last season and then the 10 years of midtable!

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 12:04 pm

Sleeping Cat wrote:I'm not sure if Leicester's performances this season are so surprising.

It's pretty much the same group of players who won promotion to the prem in 13/14 and then just about avoided relegation in 14/15. Two seasons later they are involved in a another relegation battle again.This seasons form is exactly what I & most other people expected of Leicester last season so the surprise is how Leicester won the league last year, not the other way around.

I could accept a struggle, but we're worse than the team that was at the foot of the league containing players like Dean Hammond and Gary Taylor Fletcher! In all honesty, we should never have been bottom that season anyway. We always should have been the team that started and finished the season, the part in the middle was down to Pearsons negative tactics.

We were always better at attacking that defending and when we did that we were a match for anyone that season. It was only when he filled the team fill of central midfielders and went all defensive did it all go to crap. It was only towards the end that he threw the shackles off again.

Bit similar to our situation now, over the course of last season you could see us get more and more negative the more Ranieri changed us. It worked brilliantly then as it meant we saw the season out. But we ended it negative and on the back foot and we've never really got going again as an attacking force.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 12:10 pm

jedi_master wrote:I find the Leicester situation pretty much what I expected.

Last season was an absolute freak, let's be honest. You had the entire top 6 (aside from Spurs and Arsenal) have an absolute mare all at the same time - somebody had to capitalise. Leicester got on a good run, rode their luck in a few games I saw, were superb in others, got some good decisions from ref's etc, the stars aligned is what I am basically driving at here.

Then to this season, all of the players who were playing out of their skins have reverted to the true trajectory of their careers. This is what happens in any workplace when the guys who have slogged their guts out have achieved the impossible, and then been rewarded handsomely with both security (new contracts) and money (massive wage increases). They have essentially fulfilled everything they reasonably could ever have hoped for, whatever their age, and anything to come is downward. However, because of their new salaries, they don't really care anymore - it doesn't affect them.

The likes of Vardy, Morgan, Albrighton, Simpson, Huth, Fuchs, Drinkwater were always middling to poor players at this level of football when taken on their career histories thus far and their age. They played so far beyond themselves last season, riding a crest of a wave - this time all of that desire, hunger and passion has gone, replaced with a sense of impending defeat and general apathy.

The one I will put outside of that is Mahrez. Mahrez is clearly someone who has absolutely masses of ability, and could (for me) easily play at a top 6 side, even now. However, his desire and attitude this season have been a disgrace. He has downed tools as he knows that if Leicester go down, he will get a really decent move based upon last season (I don't like to say it, but with him, I genuinely feel he is banking on relegation as it will help him get a move sooner).

The other point to consider is that Leicester's transfer activity has been abhorrent. Rather than tinkering with the squad slightly (evolution rather than revolution) and signing more British players to supplant the already vibrant British core to the title winning squad, they have gone all Redknapp/Hughes era QPR and signed a bunch of mercenaries (who aren't actually any good). Why any manager would look at that team, see that the fabulous anchorman Kante has left, and decide that Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa are the requirements is beyond anybody. They both look a fish out of water in this league, are probably on an absolute ton (wouldn't be surprised at 100k a week minimum) and cost a fortune. They never replaced Kante properly and instead play Andy King who has only ever been a Championship standard central midfielder who gets a run out due to being the home grown lad done well (in my humble).

I think Ranieri should have a statue outside of the King Power stadium for his achievements last season, but you can't continue to look back in football for too long. If Leicester go down with the contracts they have handed out, they will be in an absolute world of trouble I should think. I can understand - to an extent - the concern Foxes fans have, even inspite of what they achieved last season.

A fair reflection.

We did sign Mendy to replace Kante but he picked up a serious injury in his first half a game and that threw a spanner in the works, along with Matty James not recovering from a long injury as we thought he would. So we went into the season with Amartey and King in CM (Drinkwater was injured and then suspended). That's where people lost it with Ranieri as it was obvious we'd get killed in the middle of the park playing a kid and King, who should only be about 5th choice. Yet he kept sending us out in 442 with no extra support and people ran riot.

We did try to buy British at the start, it was something I wanted us to do and something we used to do. This is where Pearson's and Walsh's influence where missed and Ranieri got too much say. It was obvious we were flooding the team with too many foreign players. But we wouldn't pay the money for the British players we wanted. Keane, Deeney, Brady all players we wanted but wouldn't stump up, then Walsh went and nobody stood up to Ranieri being happy with a load of foreign players.

brigante · Post by **brigante** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 12:17 pm

I remember the days of opposition fans coming on our board to be unpleasant and unreasonable.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 12:49 pm

Sidney1st wrote:Your owner threw a lot of money at getting the club promoted, I'm sure he will do it again.

The irony of that being we only got promoted once they'd stopped that spending and were trying to run it sensibly.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 12:51 pm

brigante wrote:I remember the days of opposition fans coming on our board to be unpleasant and unreasonable.

I can be if you want!!

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 12:53 pm

foxedup wrote:The irony of that being we only got promoted once they'd stopped that spending and were trying to run it sensibly.

The only reason you didn't fail FFP though is because he wrote off a ridiculous amount of money first.

boiledclaret · Post by **boiledclaret** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:12 pm

I think Ranieri should have a statue outside of the King Power stadium for his achievements last season, but you can't continue to look back in football for too long. If Leicester go down with the contracts they have handed out, they will be in an absolute world of trouble I should think.

Here lies the problem, its easy for outsiders looking in but from a business perspective a decision needs to be made. Watching a champions league squad drop to the Championship would be the equivalent of shovelling money onto a bonfire.

The Swansea game was a worry, not just because you lost but how you lost. Second best to a team that only a month ago was bottom and woeful but now look like a completely different side.

I think a serious clear the air rant was needed. You have two home games coming up against Liverpools back four charity shop and Hull (who despite improvement are away and below you)

I think these next two games are crucial, 4 points and the tide might turn in your favour, Leicesters biggest opponent is pressure and lack of confidence. No points and no improvement and drastic action could happen.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:23 pm

Sidney1st wrote:The only reason you didn't fail FFP though is because he wrote off a ridiculous amount of money first.

That didn't really have anything to do with FFP. The massively iffy deal we did with Sir Dave Richards company did though.

Stupidity of it was really was most of that money we were paying out in wages was to players not even at the club any more, thanks to the utterly bonkers recruitment under Sven. The team we went up with was but together relatively cheaply and on regular wages thanks to Pearson.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 1:26 pm

boiledclaret wrote:I think Ranieri should have a statue outside of the King Power stadium for his achievements last season, but you can't continue to look back in football for too long. If Leicester go down with the contracts they have handed out, they will be in an absolute world of trouble I should think.

Here lies the problem, its easy for outsiders looking in but from a business perspective a decision needs to be made. Watching a champions league squad drop to the Championship would be the equivalent of shovelling money onto a bonfire.

The Swansea game was a worry, not just because you lost but how you lost. Second best to a team that only a month ago was bottom and woeful but now look like a completely different side.

I think a serious clear the air rant was needed. You have two home games coming up against Liverpools back four charity shop and Hull (who despite improvement are away and below you)

I think these next two games are crucial, 4 points and the tide might turn in your favour, Leicesters biggest opponent is pressure and lack of confidence. No points and no improvement and drastic action could happen.

Yeah there is still time.. we have two games against Millwall and Seville before the next home game. So fingers crossed a couple of positive performances (not expecting anything in Seville, but an effort would be good).

From what we know all the players have relegation clauses, so hopefully the damage won't be as bad as if we went down with them all on the same wages.

charlyt · Post by **charlyt** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 4:06 pm

Buxtonclaret wrote:85%!
That's unbelievable!

That's Cammy talk...?

Foshiznik · Post by **Foshiznik** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:36 pm

foxedup wrote:Yeah there is still time.. we have two games against Millwall and Seville before the next home game. So fingers crossed a couple of positive performances (not expecting anything in Seville, but an effort would be good).

From what we know all the players have relegation clauses, so hopefully the damage won't be as bad as if we went down with them all on the same wages.

Need to just go back to basics. It's worked for us this season and it can work for Leicester too. Just need to drop Mahrez, play a big man with Vardy sniffing for the flick ons or something similar. Too many below average Premier League players thinking they are better than they are after last season's success and now you are hurting for it. Not sure Ranieri is the main problem, although it is starting to look like he isn't the solution either.

dougcollins · Post by **dougcollins** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 10:02 pm

My view is that Ranieri had little idea what was going on last season. The team picked itself, they won the title despite him, not because of him.

No change this season.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:44 pm

I like Ranieri, I'm glad Leicester won the league but deep down I still hate the club and will do until they pay off their administration debts. There are a few clubs similar mind you.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:28 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:I like Ranieri, I'm glad Leicester won the league but deep down I still hate the club and will do until they pay off their administration debts. There are a few clubs similar mind you.

Have you seen the list of teams who have gone into admin? I do laugh at Leicester continually getting fingered about it when there are so many others who it also happened to. Middlesborough, Bournemouth twice, Palace twice... it's happened 60 times to various teams.

Anyway, it's got sod all to do with the fans. Going into administration helped nobody, the people who owned the club had to leave so they gained nothing.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:32 pm

dougcollins wrote:My view is that Ranieri had little idea what was going on last season. The team picked itself, they won the title despite him, not because of him.

No change this season.

He was definitely part of it last season, nobody can deny that.

It's a crappy analog and I apologise for it, but it's like Pearson was the chef who did all the hard worked, chopped all the ingredients, did all the prep work, put it all together and the food was ok... but it was missing something. Ranieri came along and added some salt and the combination of the two was fantastic. But Ranieri continued to add salt to the recipe, and after a while it turned perfection into inedible crap.

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:32 pm

foxedup wrote:Have you seen the list of teams who have gone into admin? I do laugh at Leicester continually getting fingered about it when there are so many others who it also happened to. Middlesborough, Bournemouth twice, Palace twice... it's happened 60 times to various teams.

I agree with you and it's not just Leicester, but when you throw money around like confetti it makes things a lot worse.

foxedup · Post by **foxedup** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:38 pm

Quickenthetempo wrote:I agree with you and it's not just Leicester, but when you throw money around like confetti it makes things a lot worse.

Unfortunately it was just a perfect storm, it's a long and boring story and one very different to that portrayed in the press at the time that's all I'll say. There are some articles by people who actually reported the facts, I think it was the times who were just about the only ones to tell the real story.

Our current owners have been fantastic, they purchased the ground back from the banks. They have also donated millions and millions to local charities large and small. The local hospitals were trying to raise £2m to build a new Children's hospital and they just wrote them a cheque for the full amount. They've done their bit to give back to the community, can't ask much more than that.

Ric_C · Post by **Ric_C** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:50 pm

Southampton are another one that did it, but they seem to get off lightly

Quickenthetempo · Post by **Quickenthetempo** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:50 pm

foxedup wrote:Unfortunately it was just a perfect storm, it's a long and boring story and one very different to that portrayed in the press at the time that's all I'll say. There are some articles by people who actually reported the facts, I think it was the times who were just about the only ones to tell the real story.

Our current owners have been fantastic, they purchased the ground back from the banks. They have also donated millions and millions to local charities large and small. The local hospitals were trying to raise £2m to build a new Children's hospital and they just wrote them a cheque for the full amount. They've done their bit to give back to the community, can't ask much more than that.

Maybe pay the local companies back what they were owed?

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:51 pm

foxedup wrote:He was definitely part of it last season, nobody can deny that.

It's a crappy analog and I apologise for it, but it's like Pearson was the chef who did all the hard worked, chopped all the ingredients, did all the prep work, put it all together and the food was ok... but it was missing something. Ranieri came along and added some salt and the combination of the two was fantastic. But Ranieri continued to add salt to the recipe, and after a while it turned perfection into inedible crap.

It's strange for an Italian, who are renowned for their fine cuisine, to over-season to such a degree.

duncandisorderly · Post by **duncandisorderly** » Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:16 pm

Too much spag in the bol