steflcfc

Was thinking myself not so much about having Academy players and are unable to sign new players or renewing contracts. But more the fact maybe 2-3 players were going to sign new deals at the end of the season, and now are told they can’t sign due to the sanctions, and now their future may be to look elsewhere, and this may coincide with our drop off in form and not giving 100% and risk injury?

When the season started and Enzo came in he looked fresh and exciting by the plan of getting us straight back up and playing a certain style of football under him. Im sure the change of voices on the training ground and new training schedules mixed with a few players coming in gave everyone a bounce and first half of the season we were well on top. Fast forward to now and it looks like they are over coached, too rigid and an are not playing with smiles on their faces like earlier in the season. Over the last couple of months tho it looks to have gone a stale very fast, which I’m putting down to a few factors that are massively weighing the club down. The Hierarchy of the club being a mixed bag of good people with best interests at heart, hangers on and those who just are not good enough in powerful positions. Unfortunately Top has let too many things spiral out of control, he isn’t really upto the job of running the football club effectively, especially when the pressure is on and BIG decisions need to be made. His father as we know was more ruthless when he needed to be. Certain Players contracts coming to an end and those on top who more than likely know they won’t be here next season which probably equates to a fair amount of the first team squad, so are they now 100 percent committed. Enzo seems now to be at loggerheads with those above him and prob doesn’t feel upto the challenge of a massive rebuild next season regardless of what division we are in, I think he was promised X and being given Y and he isn’t happy and think he is now just running down to the end of the season the spring in his step has well and truly gone. Its no wonder we are starting to crumble and fall apart, it just all looks to be a perfect storm again, the same as last season where everyone can see what’s happening apart from the club, and then are surprised when things don’t go the way they wanted. I don’t really know what last going to happen next season from those at the top/manager/players. I think it’s going to be a thrown together plan as I don’t trust those at the top to get it right, feel we’re going to be in the Champoinship for years to come.

I think complacency is certainly setting in with the players. It’s not the best idea that we only have one style of play, as when it’s not working like tonight, we have zero other ideas. We’re coasting through games and luckily our quality has been seeing us through to top spot so far. It’s ok having possession but 85 percent of it is around the back and into winks and back again. I can see why some of the attacking players get frustrated as they have made runs tonight and we pass sideways/backwards. Some of the chances we are giving away we are going to take some hammerings once we go up as the quality is a million times better…..I’m actually shocked how poor this league is, I dont remember it being this bad. Don’t let our league position cloud judgement we have a massive amount of work still to do on our general play if we’re to be competitive in the Premier League as Burnley are finding out

I’m coming round to thinking that Maresca will be looking at playing how Liverpool did when they went with front 3 of Salah, Firmino and Mane. None were out and out strikers but could all link play, interchange positions along the wings or up front and all had a good work rates pressing/defending Is he eventually going to move to this type of system with players that fit that style more than a Daka or Vardy who are looking to sit on the shoulders of the last defender? Hence why Kel is preferred for his link play and has better play in and around the 18 yard box.

Yes your correct, hopefully with the support of the right players around him and getting a better understanding with Mavididi he will start to flourish more 👍

Ground out the win and like a few other have said fitness and that extra bit of quality throughly the squad, will see us through these sort of games whilst everything’s not completely upto scratch. Winks came into his own once Casedei came on. He is holding the midfield together, once we get a proper midfielder who is on the same wavelength as him (Ndidi isn’t that player and I feel Dewsbury-Hall will need to sharpen his same up with his passing and decision making else his position could be under threat) with Casedei in front we will see them start to create more opportunities for Iheanacho/Vardy. Still issues with starting the second half again slow and sloppy, hopefully this starts to get resolved soon, Signs are encouraging tho and 4/4 in the league with teams trying to sit back and frustrate us is a testament to the psychology and belief Enzo and I say Winks and Cody are installing once a few square pegs in round holes are sorted in the starting 11 we will see us really kick on. The board need to back him 100 percent and go with who Enzo deems good enough and not needed and push on with the new transitioning of play and clear the deadwood who dont fit regardless of money/sentiment.

He is doing pretty much what is asked of him, it’s just a shame at this moment he has very little around him from a creative perspective. I can see why we brought him in, it’s going to take a few better attacking players around him tho. Yes I agree on the Brendan comparison from what seen so far even tho it’s early days.

Pretty much the same as what we were seeing in the Premiership. A goal down a lot of tippy tappy and no urgency with little ideas on the pitch how to change it. A lot of the same issues still recurring wether it’s the first game or not, it’s not a good sign. Maybe mentally some of the players we were not looking to move on are just not up for a championship fight? Winks having a good game but the midfield second half is getting walked over. I don’t think 1/2 players are going to change this weak mindset they have, I think a huge rebuild is needed over the next 2 seasons.

One thing I would say is the system that he is looking to play with players getting into the box and playing cutbacks etc that the goals should be scored/spread more throughout the team rather than a reliance on 1 man getting the goals.

Think we’re another perfect storm at the moment. No Manager - Going to come into a depleted squad and maybe still some hangers on if we don’t manage to shift any of the deadwood or still holding on to Maddison/Barnes if we’re not getting the right offers as teams will know we need the money. Also won’t have a huge amount of time to assess what we are left with and identify who they need to bring in - any signings will be made without their agreement? would they even want any signings they haven’t looked over if they are signed before a manager comes in? Also a trip overseas to a tournament we don’t really need with a massive pre season at stake with incomings and outgoings and getting settled in Seagrave. Players will leave who are still under contract - arguments could be made for a vast majority wanting to play Premier League or playing abroad, a good proportion of this side are good enough in the top leagues in France/Italy/Germany (although collectively we haven’t shown it this season) We obviously struggled with money this season in the Premiership and owing Macquarie Bank for the next few years and running costs of Seagrave and reduced Sponsorship and Matchday revenue are certainly going to hit the club with the money being in the Championship brings. Think next season we will struggle around mid table in The Championship to begin and it’s going to take a new manager 3/4 transfer windows to get everything into place to challenge at the top of the league. That’s just my 2 pence worth of our current situation. Hope to be proved wrong and we come up at the first attempt, and happy to be called out as getting it completely wrong at the end of next season if we are promoted 👍

I think we have missed our chance of properly pulling away from the relegation places. Bournemouth and Everton at home and Leeds away should have been the perfect set of games to get us clear, and pull away from the same teams we’re fighting with, but a loss and 2 draws sees us still in the mix Hope I’m wrong but I don’t see us getting any wins from the last 4 games maybe 2 draws at best. Think we have conceded in the last 18 games if I remember right and cannot see that stat going away as we’re so fragile at the back. The only way I see us staying up is by goal difference if those around us have poor results also! It was in our hands to get the job done, changes made too late in getting rid of Brendan. Whoever comes in permanently has a massive job on their hands.

Our main issue which has been left to foster which we all know is there, are a cocktail of players not wanted - players out of contract- players who want a move away at the end of the season and the odd few that are happy to stay. We are no longer a team, just a group of 11 individuals that are thrown out to put a performance in, and out the 11 a good half don’t have the heart for a battle and are just doing the bare minimum. all have there own interests at the forefront and Leicester City as a result are suffering as the Board and Top has let this situation happen. Like in any job (which it is to them) if u we’re looking at your future away or know your not wanted and have 6 months left before you are leaving would you give 120 percent to the cause, potentially not, which is what we are seeing on different levels on the pitch and the ones that do care enough are few and far between. Take Maddison out this side and we have absolute Zero creativity running through this side, it’s no wonder we can’t create chances from open play, doesn’t really matter if we have 1-2-3 or 4 strikers on the pitch if the players behind them don’t have the attacking mindset Maddison has, I can see why he is crumbling under the pressure as it’s all on his shoulders as he must look around and know the other 9 players can hardly create the square root of 0. I was hoping to go today to the match with a rejuvenated opinion that we would turn up today and show a bit of fight, how naive was I. that performance and urgency level especially after a goal down was nothing short of abysmal. They have sadly accepted that they are not good enough to keep us up, whoever is in charge has a huge rebuild on their hands and it’s going to take a good 3/4 seasons to get things right on and off the pitch. Good luck to whoever gets that task as they are going to need it as the club has fallen apart the last 18 months and I don’t know if they know at the top how to stop this slide

The whole mentality on us seeing games out is extremely poor, How many times this season have we conceded goals in the last 5 minutes of games. Our home form is awful and we still have 5 or so games to play at the KP, it’s your home form that keeps you in this league and I can’t see anything changing between now and the end of the season of a massive upturn in fortunes. Its still the same players that are low on confidence and just ain’t sure what to do or how to handle the pressure in a relegation scrap, Bournemouth will be up for this Sat more than we will. I really ain’t sure what manager is going to want to come here with only around 8 or so games left, so I feel we’re going to be stuck with Stowell and Sadler…extremely bad management from board level if no one is lined up in time for Sat as these 2 are not good enough to lead us in these remaining games. If it’s a short term manager is the way to go then, whoever is going to take over next season what ever league we are in, is going to have a job and a half on their hands with turnover of players out of contract/wanting to leave potentially getting the wage bill down….I think next season is going to be similar to this one…a huge struggle.

I think Top was hoping we would regularly be fighting for top 6/8 on a regular basis without too much tweaking or intervention at board level on the day to day running of the club, leaving Whelan and Rudkin pulling most the strings. Giving him the time to per-sue other agendas in KP/Horses and various Hotels. Getting back to how he was with his late father, coming as a Fan. Whilst we were riding the wave of winning the league and FA Cup and top 6 finishes he didn’t have many issues to face as the heat wasn’t on or questions about his ownership skills. Fast forward to now and we’re falling apart on and off the pitch, he now has to make big decisions and he has gone hiding as I don’t think he honestly knows what to do. Now we’re going to have a tough next few months and he has to face a very distinct possibility we’re going down and make changes accordingly He now has to show his metal and start making the correct decisions as the owner and make the tough and unpopular decision’s that may ruffle feathers but needs doing as with the loans etc we have taken out Relegation would be a dire conclusion.

Just watching the players walking out, the amount just looking at the floor, so many look lost and just going through the motions. Lose this and I honestly think we’re down and the slide really starts. we have no fight and the teams around us seem to have a bit more passion than we do. We play a fair few around us and I can’t see us being up for it.

This is the Barnes I’m used to seeing Doesnt take his man on, sloppy on the ball and can’t pass and just looks uninterested. All he has when he wants to use it is pace that’s about it

Think Vardys main problem is Barnes is piss poor at the moment and also with having no right winger or Maddison as outlets he is having to drop too deep to see anything of the ball. As much as he looks to be struggling, a confident Barnes, Maddison sitting in the hole and a proper right winger pushes Vardy another 20 yards higher up the pitch and back on the shoulder of defenders doing the things we know he is great at.

I think Rodgers is unsure of how to stop the slide at the minute without additions to the squad. Is the money available still remains to be seen. If we look at the squad today there are 5 players who really ain’t first team starters in Ward Thomas Amartey Albrighton and Mendy… we can carry 1/2 players but not half a team. And to add a woefully out of form Vardy Barnes and Ndidi it’s no wonder we look a car crash. Then you look to the bench and there is nothing available who can come on and change a game. Daka and Iheanacho are are too hit and miss at the moment to rescue anything. I know Rodgers doesn’t help himself with some of his tactics but because of our appalling injury record this season he is working on bare bones. Top probably isn’t going to give a temporary manager some cash to spend if they ain’t going to be here after this season if Rodgers was to get the sack. We just look a perfect storm for Relegation, any incoming manager will still have this group of players available and the harsh reality is they just ain’t good enough. A healthy fully fit squad we had a decent side. Take away 3/4 of our quality players and we’re distinctly average, which is what we are seeing at the moment. Top has hoped that the Club will run itself keep the £££ coming in and not have to intervene much with all his talk of the club being self sufficient. When I hear him speak like that it just screams to me of mediocrity, and that he wants to follow another passion as he doesn’t want to give his time and money towards the running of the Club in the long term. I hope I am wrong with my last 2 paragraphs, and at the end of the transfer window eat humble pie with the changes or additions he makes but nothing over the last few months fills me with confidence

Could you sell enough shares to get back your original investment, so you’re just watching what happens with the profit? Worst case then if it does go down again you will still be in profit, just not as much, and if it does rise more, if they do get a buyer then even better.

Been listening to a podcast called True Spies by Spyscape. True stories of Espionage etc at home and abroad. Narrated by Hayley Atwell and Vanessa Kirby. Around 130 odd Episode's and new episodes released every Tuesday. I have enjoyed a good 3/4 of them, they are usually about 45 mins long.

They usually say 10 games in gives you a bit of an idea where you are going to be bar either an extreme turnaround of form or a complete collapse. It certainly isn’t looking good at the moment. Will Rodgers turn it around, I’m unsure, unless things have been agreed for investment in the playing squad in Jan. The real worry is when teams in the bottom 6/8 start scrapping for there lives in the New Year, I will start to worry more as we just don’t have any fight in us at all by the looks of things at the minute.

Like a few others have mentioned we are a perfect storm for relegation, We have a manager making awful in game decisions, and doesn’t know his best team or formation that now doesn’t suit these players and they look lost. A squad that has one class player in Maddison who goes once a bid comes in from a top 6/8 team, 3 good players in Youri (who is leaving) Barnes (who is very hot and cold) and Timmy, and the rest are extremely average. Confidence is extremely low even after a win against Forest and they capitulate like they did, for the 4th time with only 9 games played. It’s all signs of a fragmented club from the board down not all pulling in the same direction. Top and the board have lost control of the club once we moved to Seagrave, instead of improving and pushing on we have got worse on and off the pitch. A re-evaluation of our situation needs to come from above, Maybe the improvement of the stadium needs shelving for a few seasons, and money going towards investing in the squad in Jan, as things stand at the moment we’re going down, as a playing squad we’re standing still and you can’t do this any season in the Premier League.

If we lose the next couple and Brendan does get the boot, it will show what state the board is in, as to pay him a wedge to leave, is lunacy when they are saying money is tight. Sticking him on Gardening leave and pay his wage is the most sensible option till a new club takes him off our hands and gives us money to get a new guy in if this does come to fruition.

Soumare for me looked to have had a decent half and is wanting the ball in all areas of the pitch. Maddison trying but has nothing in front of him as Vardy anonymous again. Thomas was way out of position and only he knows what he was doing, he has a lot to still learn for me I’m still unsure if he will make it here, taking my blue tinted specs off. one thing I have noticed more and more is how unfit we look as a squad we had players jogging back at 20 mins, the application and desire of the whole squad looks wanting and devoid of any ideas. hopefully they get a rocket at half time to give them a push as Man U look nothing special and pounced when Thomas went walk about, which at this level gets punished as shown. Im struggling for many positives and have to go 2 up top to try and rescue anything from the match