The mullet of Phil Gee

There seems to be this belief today that the Man City way of playing football is the one and only way. I just don’t believe that. Our own style should always be based around the players we have at the time and the strengths of our squad. If that means low possession and counter attacking then fine. Equally, if it means kicking the ball out for a throw instead of playing a hospital ball to Mads then so be it. Better that than concede a soft goal. For me there should always be different options available to win matches, rather than just the one. I just think too much importance is placed on a philosophy these days.

Deflated? No. I’m glad he’s going and here’s why. 1) I am sick of this Man City obsession. Yes, the style works for them because they are loaded and can buy the best talent available. Every other team is just a cheap imitation. Please can we adopt our own style and stop being another sheep. There are other ways to play football. 2) Enzo’s obsession with Pep is a bit creepy! Copying his philosophy is one thing, but trying to look like him too! Would it be a surprise if he had a small photo of Pep in his wallet? No! 3) How good is he really? For me, I’ve never been convinced. The question in my head last season was are we doing well because of Enzo or in spite of Enzo? We were in the Championship with the most talented squad. Yes, we won many games, but apart from a few, I never felt we were that convincing. Come the second half of the season, other managers had found a way to play against us and Enzo wouldn’t change. We lost 10 league games last season. 4) We were always going to be a stepping stone for him. Enzo has no loyalty to Leicester. Why would he? He saw a great chance to get a foothold in English club management by taking us back to the Premier. With the squad available to him, the odds of success were good. If it wasn’t this summer it would have been next. Despite his talk of seeing us as a project, he’s gone at the first opportunity. Actions speak louder than words. Who next for us? Good question! I would like us to recruit someone who puts value on building a solid and disciplined defence, which acts as a foundation for quick and decisive attacks. Not someone who is obsessed by how much possession we have. The constant playing out from the back last season was hard for my heart to cope with. Yes, every team is doing it now, but does that have to be the case? Why don’t we be brave and do something different rather than just following the crowd.

If I had to put a tenner on where I think Jamie will be playing next season it would be Como. I remember hearing an interview after our promotion was confirmed where he said he was on the phone to Dennis Wise at the time. Only Jamie will know how hard he found it in the Premier last time, and if he thinks he can still make an impact for us in what is going to be a very tough season. I suspect he’ll view helping us back up to be a good way to sign off. Wrexham has been mentioned but I can’t see him going there.

Enzo is just a Pound Land Pep. He needs to stop trying to copy Man City. They have Haaland, we have Daka. At this point he should be trying anything to get a result. Going 2 up top, throwing forward a centre back or trying a shot without the 50 sideways and back passes beforehand. We are far too predictable. Coady, Cannon, Albrighton, Nacho and Wanya must be wondering why they cannot get a game. It seems that Enzo’s philosophy and stubbornness means more to him right now than the club getting promoted.

I think what we’ve lacked for years now is players with really strong leadership skills. Those who can galvanise the team when things get tough. We’ve had a very soft underbelly for a long time and we could really use a Walsh, Taggart, Lennon, Morgan or Huth type of character to give us that bit of spite and even nastiness to see matches out. At the risk of sounding like a dinosaur with a mullet, we’re too bloody nice! Yes, football has changed, but some of those old traits of leadership, spite, grit and occasional use of the dark arts would serve us well right now.