ALC Fox

I'm not going lie, that has a Champions of England feel about it.

I guess so. But three successive Leicester managers have used Gray sparingly. If that doesn't tell Demarai something, nothing will. Chilwell replacing the former captain of Austria would be a great incentive for a young player like Maddison to think he can make the step up and play regularly in the Premier League.

I don't know much about him but the clubs that are after him are convincing me that he's the real deal. Puel's record of putting his faith in young players will hopefully work in our favour somewhat

It's a bit of a catch 22 situation. If a player 'needs development' but they're constricted to U23s football, then they're missing out on an opportunity to develop. As his parent club, Leicester should either give him a chance to get some first-team appearances under his belt or send him out on loan like we did with Barnes, Chilwell and Choudhury. If Johnson isn't being told that either of those things will happen, then he's not getting assurances about his progression to the first team and I wouldn't blame him for considering his options. If all the coaching staff at the club don't think he's ready to progress, even to a League One or Championship side on loan, then it's probably best for us and him to let him go and prove himself elsewhere. If he ends up being a world beater, it wouldn't be the first or last time a club has failed to predict how one of their youth players would turn out. However, I would be a bit annoyed if the U23s had kept him in order to prioritise their PL2 campaign, rather than sending him out on loan. The PL2 means diddly squat, and stifling a player's development would be bad for both parties.

I think with the signing of Diabaté and the potential signings of Ben Arfa and Maddison, yes I'd trust him with my money. We're evolving our playing style. There will be hiccups along the way, but there will also be games where it comes together. The 1-4 against West Brom, the 1-4 against Southampton and the 0-0 at Stamford Bridge spring to mind. Puel has done really well to lift us up the table. The more players we get who can suit his style of play, the better. We have some who can do it already. But unfortunately the blood and thunder days of Pearson, Ranieri and Shakey got sussed out.

A recent rumour was that West Ham were after Macia. If that move was to happen, I'd gladly have Walsh back in a Chief Scout role. He had some misses but his record was mostly excellent. As DoF, who knows? His time at Everton hasn't gone smoothly, but then I imagine he was at odds with Koeman and who knows else over some transfers, which would explain why they brought in Siggy, Rooney and Klaasen in one window. Plus the way Everton are run is an absolute shambles. Look at how long it took them to replace Koeman. They also appear to have no idea of what kind of team they want to be. The DoF question is moot anyway. I reckon the Thais are very loyal to Rudkin, especially as he's involved with other aspects of their businesses as well now. I don't see Rudders leaving that post anytime soon.

Pearson would be absolutely superb for them. Depending on the size of the rebuilding job, they might not bounce back straight away. But he'd cut the wage bill, trim the squad and bring in round pegs for round holes. It wouldn't be long before they're stabilised for the long term and back in the big time again. The only problem would be their owners may demand instant success.

The romantic in me would like to see the likes of Eppiah given a go from the U23s. Puel likes to give a kid a chance as well. Maybe he will if there's nothing to play for at Wemb-er-ley on the last day.

Austin: good player, terrible injury record. I'm not sure he'd have a significant impact during a season. I wouldn't bother. We're being linked with a few of Puel's old charges, namely Austin from his time at Southampton, and Ben Arfa (now PSG), Dalbert (left-back now at Inter), and Ricardo Pereira (right-back now at Porto) from his time at Nice. Is there really anything to these rumours or is it just lazy journalism to link a manager with his former players?

Walshy would nod the fvcker into the bottom corner!

I feel for Ndidi. We're going to miss him badly. I agree we could see Hamza on the bench as a result. He's the closest we have an Ndidi type player though I think. Perhaps we could go like this: Kasper Dragovic Morgan Maguire Albrighton Iborra Choudhury Silva Chilwell Mahrez Vardy

Whata great servant he's been for us. Personally I don't think he's been good enough to start regularly for us since before the promotion season. Simply, James, Drinkwater et al have been better than him. But that doesn't mean he's not good enough for a bottom half Prem team in a system that suits him. He's seen some amazing times here and he's been a huge part of the best period in our history. I'll have some fond memories of seeing him in a blue shirt. I think a move to the Swans suits him, us, and them. We need to give him a proper send off in the form of a testimonial this summer though. It'd be a sell-out I'm sure.

Poor first half, excellent second half. If we'd have nicked it in normal time I'd say we deserved to win. But, it was a very close, hard-fought game. I know we're a bit up and down but it's so good to see us play the way we did in the second half and dominate against a top side. I think our weaknesses lie in the final ball and how we're not really that capable of recycling the play when there's no way through. We're not quite able to pull defenders around and find the gaps. But we're getting there. Before Shakespeare was sacked we were playing the worst football in the league. The away fixture against Bournemouth was the spawniest point we've gained this season and probably the worst I've seen us play since we were promoted. Puel has simultaneously changed our style of play, led us to comfortable safety in the league, take us to the quarter final of the FA Cup, and give us the genuine belief that we're just a few signings away from being a real force in the division again. Just one man's opinion, but I think much of the criticism is highly unwarranted. I think we're going places.

You're right it was against Preston. I think I was muddling it up with the happy memories of Geoff Horsfield's brace against Cov. Weird that the thread's title changed.

Yep, brilliant in League One. Mixed fortunes with us but did well in the Championship in the end. I remember him scoring after a few seconds at home to Coventry. I'm sure that was our quickest goal ever. Is it still the case? He always seemed to play better after he had his head shaved as well

Imagine if we win with Diabaté getting the decisive goal

There's a lot of doom and gloom right now and I think a little perspective is needed. We weren't that bad overall on Wednesday. We bossed the game until they scored because of a defensive error. We then wrestled control of the game midway through the second half but it just wasn't enough. Iheanacho was so close to grabbing an equaliser. My concern would be our reaction to going a goal behind because we were abysmal until part way through the second half. But, credit to Everton, that goal from their new signing galvanised both their players and their fans. Prior to them taking the lead, I don't think it would have been long before we'd have heard boos from the home support. They were a very different team after they scored (as were we) and they fully deserved the second goal. For Swansea, I think we only need a few minor tweaks. As much as I love Shinji, I don't think he links the play enough. He runs and he tackles and he wins important free kicks. But, Vardy was so isolated at Everton. As the front 4, I'd go with: Diabaté -- Gray -- Albrighton Vardy A more attacking three behind the striker was fluid and dangerous against Peterborough. I know they're League One, but I think that style would suit a home game against Swansea. I know they've improved massively but the way we play now could be too much for them if we can actually give more support to Vardy and get others into more dangerous areas. Puel's evolution of this side will take time and there will be setbacks along the way, but I have faith he can turn us into a more consistent, good footballing side that can challenge in the upper reaches of the league.

No need to overreact. We were good for the first 20 mins or so. Their first goal was against the run of play but we couldn't get a grip of it since then. They deserved the second. A good team talk is needed and we need to bring Vardy into the game. If we start the second half like we did the first and manage to pull one back, I can see us eventually gaining a point minimum.

Everton's form is atrocious but they're starting XI looks strong. Upside, I think their defence is ropey. Coleman will be energetic but is likely to tail off, I'd say. If we channel our last away league performance against Chelsea, we should beat these. Fingers crossed. It's the right line-up for me. The cup game was excellent but this game comes too soon for Silva, Iborra etc to start. Hopefully we see Diabaté get some league minutes under his belt and show us something to get excited about.

Considering his age, where we are in the league, and all he's done for us, I wouldn't begrudge him a move to a CL club. If I had my way, it wouldn't be Chelsea because of Kanté and Drinkwater and it would definitely be in the summer, not in Jan. I'd also want a big signing to compensate. Everton are ridiculous. The only way he'll end up there is when he's 36 and his agent fancies one last payday out of him.

I just completed this quiz. My Score 80/100 My Time 100 seconds  

"If he's half the player Knockaert is, I'll be very happy"

I can't bring myself to vote. All of them would be too unbearable. Barcelona, PSG or hell, bloomin' Dynamo Kiev before any of that lot.

Sounds like a goon in a mob film. GERRIMIN!

I believe Darnell Johnson has played there before. I think Josh Knight has too but he's primarily a centre-back. I'm not totally sure but I think Alex Pascanu is mainly a right-back, although I don't know whether he's highly thought of in the U23 set-up or not. I like Puel's tendency to bring the young players through but I can't see it happening at right-back for us currently. I think we'll go 3-5-2 with Albrighton at RWB. Unless Puel thinks Chilwell or Fuchs could fill in on that side and we stay with 4 at the back?