davieG

Apprentice

Coady will probably end up as captain next season

https://www.leicestercity.news/news/leicester-city-star-says-it-was-a-dream-come-true-after-what-he-did-against-brighton/ Jake Evans reacts to making senior debut for Leicester City After Jeremy Monga became the second-youngest Premier league debutant of all time, it wasn’t going to be long before Jake Evans got his opportunity. Evans has been labelled the ‘heir’ to Jamie Vardy’s throne and although only brief, the 16-year-old was substituted on in stoppage time at the Amex Stadium. It was a day the 16-year-old will never forget and he posted a touching message in which he thanked people in his journey on Instagram. He said: “A dream come true to have made my premier league debut. Grateful for the opportunity hopefully many more to come. “A personal note: I would like to thank all of my family and coaches involved in my journey so far that have pushed me when times got tough from nearly getting released at a young age to playing in the premier league. who have got me to the places and become the player I am today.”

More than I was on.

So deluded then?

Stats v Brighton Bilal El Khannouss stats vs Brighton 90 minutes played 1 assist 44 touches 22/28 (79%) accurate passes 4 key passes 2/2 successful dribbles 2 accurate crosses 3 ground duels won His pass rat could be better but some of that is down to him trying more difficult passes and the receiver anticipating them. Did he not make the final pass to Mavididi or does it not count as it was Mav's second attempt?

He's either deluded, been hoodwinked by the management or he's guaranteed to stay. Either way he talks as if he'll be here. https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ruud-van-nistelrooy-explains-new-10102708 Ruud van Nistelrooy explains new Leicester City priority as players set Championship task The manager gives his thoughts after his side ended their goalless and losing runs with a 2-2 draw at Brighton, Stephy Mavididi and Caleb Okoli getting the goals at the Amex ByJordan Blackwell 18:52, 12 APR 2025 R Leicester City have “changed course” with greater importance now given to preparing for next season in the Championship, Ruud van Nistelrooy has admitted. City put an end to their losing run by twice battling back to draw at Brighton, but the point is not enough to give them hope of a survival miracle. If Wolves win their next two games, against Tottenham and Manchester United, City will be relegated before they kick off against Liverpool. Van Nistelrooy abandoned the back-five system and made three changes to his 11 at the Amex Stadium, with two of those fresh faces on the scoresheet, Stephy Mavididi ending the long goal drought and Caleb Okoli heading in a late equaliser. The change of system and change of personnel were partly with a view to next season, van Nistelrooy said, with players now tasked with showing they want to remain at the King Power Stadium. It’s why teenagers Jake Evans and Bade Aluko were included in the squad too. That change in approach led to greater fight in the display, earning City their first point since January. Van Nistelrooy said: “It was an excellent performance where two cycles have been broken, thank God, on the goals and on the result. It was a spirited performance and it was a performance I like to see. “We haven’t seen enough of it over the past weeks. I think the Chelsea performance was the last one. The others, we weren’t able to compete. “We talked a lot on how to move forward with the six or seven games, how to use them, how we want to break the cycles. Today was a great reaction from the players. “It’s very clear (there was more fight). We talked a lot about how to break a negative cycle, because when you’re in there, you think it’s never going to end. “It starts with changing your behaviour. You have to act now, you can’t wait in difficult moments, in adversity. You can’t wait for something to change, you have to start acting. We spoke about it a lot. “We also spoke about how to use the next six weeks for the absolute benefit of every individual in the squad to prepare in the best way possible for the next season, without stopping the fight until it’s mathematically over. “That’s including new players in the squad, shaping the future in that way. It’s a change of course since the Newcastle game and is definitely the way forward if I look at this performance today.” Mavididi was the spark behind the performance, the winger determined and full of intent as he dribbled at the Brighton defence. He lashed in City’s first goal in 789 minutes too. “He was excellent,” van Nistelrooy said. “He showed he wants to play for this club, he wants to fight for this club, like Kasey McAteer. Those are the players with these kinds of performances that you’re building on, shaping the future. “That is the most important to help the players develop. They’re young, they’re talented, they’re gifted. Whatever happens this season, there’s a new season and that’s the focus for now.”

Brighton missed a couple of sitters to make it 3-0.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/free-activities-families-leicester-over-10096960 Free activities for families in Leicester over Easter Fire-breathing dragons, stilt-walking jesters, magical wizards and a trio of clumsy knights will be on hand to entertain visitors ByTess RushinLocal Democracy Reporter 14:30, 12 APR 2025 Free activities for families are taking place in Leicester over the Easter holidays. Fire-breathing dragons, stilt-walking jesters, magical wizards, Roman theatre and a trio of clumsy knights will all be taking part in the festivities. Everyone is invited to the Old Town Festival, taking place in Jubilee Square and the Old Town area of the city centre on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. From Easter Monday, April 21, until Friday, April 25, visual artist Olivier Grossetête will be creating an enormous cardboard reconstruction of the entrance to Leicester’s Roman forum for the festival. A series of free drop-in workshops will be held for children aged 9+ and their families at Highcross, running from 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm each day. Families can join Olivier Grossetête in Jubilee Square on the Saturday to help tape the cardboard sections together, and returning on Sunday, April 27, to take part in the artwork’s "dramatic dismantling". Other activities across Jubilee Square, Cathedral Gardens and the Guildhall include an urban mosaic workshop at the Guildhall, a 'living history' Roman camp, hands-on archaeology and Roman theatre in Jubilee Square, and an artisan craft market, themed storytelling aboard the children’s bookbus, craft activities and Morris dancing, along with face-painting and a dress-up booth to turn young festival-goers into gallant knights, fearsome dragons and magical maidens, all taking place at Cathedral Gardens. A fire-breathing dragon will also be roaming the cathedral's gardens, alongside stilt-walking jesters, magical wizards and a trio of clumsy knights taking on daring quests. At Jubilee Square, you can take part in Roman warrior training, where you can learn to march like a legionnaire, wield a sword like a true centurion, or raise a shield to victory. The Haymarket shopping centre will also be hosting a free fun day on Thursday, April 24, with a dragon on the loose, mosaic and toga making, and fun arts and craft activities. Leicester City Council's assistant city mayor for leisure and culture Councillor Vi Dempster said: “The Old Town Festival is a new event for 2025, bringing together our traditional St George’s Day celebrations and Leicester’s rich 2,000-year history and Roman heritage. Ahead of the festival on the 26th and 27th April, we’re really pleased to be offering these free workshops. "They’re a great chance for families who are out and about in Leicester over the Easter holidays to do something free and creative together, as well as learning more about the city’s fascinating Roman history.” Michelle Menezes, centre director at Highcross Leicester, said: “We’re delighted to be playing host to the Old Town Festival workshops here at Highcross. Help us bring history to life as we aim to rebuild a full-scale Roman monument - right in the heart of Leicester - across a series of free workshops, each led by Olivier Grossetête, who is known for his impressive cardboard constructions. We’ll travel back in time together to relive what life was like in the shadow of a Roman forum.” Support for the Old Town festival has come from the council’s partners BID Leicester, Global Streets, Arts Council England, Highcross Leicester, Haymarket Shopping Centre and Hidden Histories. Simon Jenner, from BID Leicester, said: "The Old Town Festival is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate Leicester’s rich history while bringing exciting, free experiences to the city centre. Events like this create a real buzz, attracting visitors and benefiting local businesses." You can find out more by going to the visit Leicester website and searching for "Old Town Festival". Festival brochures are available from the Visit Leicester information centre, within the KRIII Visitor Centre at 4A St Martins, Leicester.

Takes the pressure off him the next time he comes on

Soumare

Do any of these still exist as groups Rockers, Mods, Teddy Boys and Skinheads

How about this one, probably from a Forest fan. Football Away Days · Follow This is what the Premier League table would look like if games finished after the first goal…

Losing 2-0 HT

That's why I said if.

Ndidi plays too far forward. If they are both going to play I'd sooner Soumare was the more forward player as his lapses into dreamland would have less devastating effects.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-predicted-xi-v-10098762 Leicester City predicted XI v Brighton with hints dropped over four changes and new formation How Leicester City could set up against Brighton on Saturday afternoon, when they will be trying to end a run of eight losses and a run of eight matches without scoring ByJordan Blackwell 07:00, 11 APR 2025 Ruud van Nistelrooy wants his Leicester City team to “play free” at Brighton this weekend, and that could lead to four personnel changes plus a new formation. City have set up with a back five for the past four matches but it has not turned around their form, the losing and goalless runs extended to club records of eight. Ahead of the trip to the south coast on Saturday, van Nistelrooy has dropped some hints that he may revert to a back four. He has said that Ricardo Pereira is now a contender to start, and spoke enthusiastically about his role as an inverted full-back and how his qualities in that position help the team drive forward. Van Nistelrooy also drew positives from the second-half display in the 3-0 defeat to Newcastle, having changed to a back four and introduced Stephy Mavididi and Facundo Buonanotte to the wings. It seems, with City’s relegation almost confirmed and a miracle needed for survival, that he is going to give the players more freedom. “It’s important to play free,” he said at his press conference on Thursday afternoon. “The players worry too much, which is normal, so they’re not free enough to show their qualities. “That is something where the character comes in, to put that (worry) aside and force yourself to be at your best, keep up that confidence and mental toughness. “When you go to a back five to survive, to get results, that could be something to change. It could be something against Brighton to go back to a back four. “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t think it’s in tactics or in systems, it’s more about the emotional and mental part.” In that case, he could opt for a back four with an inverted full-back, selecting two of the players he brought on as subs against Newcastle. Ricardo would come in for James Justin at right-back, and it would likely be Patson Daka and Victor Kristiansen who make way for Mavididi and another winger. Jamie Vardy will win any selection battle against Daka with only one striker berth now available, while van Nistelrooy has praised Luke Thomas recently, and so he is more likely to move to left-back, with Kristiansen dropping out. Mavididi would take the spot on the left and then there’s a choice to be had on the right side. It can’t be Buonanotte, with the Argentinian loanee ineligible to face his parent club. It would be a surprise, although it’s not out of the question, if 15-year-old Jeremy Monga was to be handed a start, so Jordan Ayew, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Kasey McAteer will be in the frame. Ayew is perhaps the leading contender at the moment, with McAteer unable to even make the bench against Newcastle. But the academy graduate does offer pace and off-the-ball running, and those qualities may see van Nistelrooy turn to him. The final potential change could be at centre-back, where Wout Faes is struggling with injury. Caleb Okoli, used as a substitute against Man City, would be the favourite to take over, with Jannik Vestergaard unable to make the bench for the past few matches. Predicted City line-up (4-2-3-1): Hermansen; Ricardo, Coady, Okoli, Thomas; Ndidi, Soumare; Ayew, El Khannouss, Mavididi, Vardy.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/exciting-jeremy-monga-revelation-ruud-10100693 Exciting Jeremy Monga revelation as Ruud van Nistelrooy explains plan for 15-year-old The winger is in line to make the City squad for the trip to Brighton after becoming the Premier League's second-youngest player with his senior debut against Newcastle ByJordan Blackwell 15:09, 11 APR 2025 Jeremy Monga’s training levels have reached new heights following his senior Leicester City debut with the 15-year-old winger in line for more appearances this season. Monga became the second-youngest player in Premier League history and City’s own second-youngest appearance maker when he played the final 15 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Newcastle. Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has confirmed that Monga will be considered for selection for the remaining seven Premier League matches and suggested he was keen to get him involved, saying “within reason we have to use him as much as we can”. There is balance to strike with managing a player so young and ensuring they’re not overwhelmed. But van Nistelrooy believes Monga already possesses the physical and mental attributes he needs alongside his talent. And Monga is pushing for more. He has raised his performance levels in training this week and will be a contender to feature at Brighton on Saturday. “We have to respect his age and not go too quickly for him,” van Nistelrooy said. “We have to protect him in the best way. That’s the realistic part of it. “But you could see the way he trained this week, after he made his debut, it’s already lifted him and showed an even higher level, so it’s going quickly really with him. “We have to stay close and be in touch with him. We are, many coaches are, together with him. “You have to look after these players, mentally and physically. You can’t go too quick too soon. But within reason, we have to make the most of it and use him as much as we can.” Van Nistelrooy said that first-team coach Andy King, another player who graduated from the youth ranks at City, is taking on special duties to aid Monga’s transition from youth-team player to first-teamer, having worked with him in the Under-18s earlier in the season. “At such a young age and being the second youngest ever in the Premier League, it says something about how early he has developed,” van Nistelrooy said. “He has the physical capability also and the mental capability to handle this. But we have his pathway ready for him and we’re going to guide him through that. “We don’t want to go too quickly, neither too slowly. That’s a careful communication with the coaches at the club. “We have Andy King, who worked with him in the youth teams and who is guiding him in a great way, helping him to develop to his fullest, because the talent is there.” City hope that these next seven games are not the final matches for which Monga will be at the club, with Manchester City the leading contender among a host of clubs looking to sign the winger. If Monga departed this summer, his transfer fee would likely be decided by tribunal. Players can only sign professional contracts once they turn 17, which Monga won’t do until July 2026.

https://sportwitness.co.uk/director-leading-pursuit-for-leicester-player-club-showing-concrete-interest-ready-to-seize-opportunity/ Director leading pursuit for Leicester City defender – Concrete interest, ready to seize opportunity By Naveen Ullal - 11th April 2025 Bologna are keen on signing Leicester City’s Caleb Okoli in the summer window. The centre-back left Atalanta to join the Foxes last summer and could return to Serie A next season. That’s according to Tutto Atalanta, who cover Bologna’s interest in the Leicester player. Sporting director Giovanni Sartori spent eight years with La Dea before joining Bologna in June 2022. He knows the defender well from his time at Atalanta and now sees him as an ideal profile for his current club. Okoli played over 1,000 minutes from 17 Premier League games this season. He had lost his place in Leicester’s starting line-up after Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge in November. Leicester are now 19th in the table and likely to be relegated. Bologna can take advantage of the 23-year-old and the club’s situation and Sartori is ready to seize the opportunity to sign him. Okoli would fit perfectly into Bologna’s strategy of signing young but experienced players. His contract lasts until 2029, and the Italian club have to negotiate with Leicester for an agreement. The English club’s stance on sanctioning Okoli’s move is unclear, but what’s certain is that Bologna have a concrete interest in him.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-women-history-maker-10099252 Leicester City Women history-maker needs contract decision as milestone win on table at Arsenal Janice Cayman became Belgium's leading appearance-maker and shows no signs of slowing down, suggesting there is a call to be made when her contract expires this summer ByJordan Blackwell 10:19, 11 APR 2025 Survival is now within touching distance for Leicester City Women, as is a milestone mark of their progress. Solid form in the second half of the season has seen City move clear of the WSL’s relegation spot and victory at Arsenal on Tuesday night would move them to the brink of safety. Beating the Gunners would lift City 10 points clear of Crystal Palace, with survival then confirmed if the division’s bottom club lose to Chelsea the following Wednesday. They cannot get complacent while they are mathematically at risk of falling into the second tier but they are perhaps comfortable enough to start looking up. A win at Arsenal would be momentous, mostly for getting the better of a side on a six-game winning run in the WSL, who still have a shot at the title and who are in the semi-finals of the Champions League. But three points would also take City to 19 and would see them eclipse last season’s tally of 18 with three matches to spare. City have improved year on year since being in the WSL and for a long time it seemed like manager Amandine Miquel would not be able to keep that upward trend alive. But the return of attacking players from injury has helped form improve, and they’re now looking good to achieve a personal best. Record-breaker Cayman not slowing down Speaking of milestones, City’s Janice Cayman became the most-capped Belgian player of all time over the international break. She was already Belgian’s most-capped female player, but has now overtaken the men’s leading appearance-maker Jan Vertonghen, picking up her 158th and 159th caps as the Red Flames lost 5-0 to England, but then earned their revenge with a 3-2 victory. Cayman has been in the Belgium squad for 18 years and there are very few signs that her role is going to decrease in importance any time soon. It’s the same at City. Cayman is 36 but is one of 31 players in the WSL to have played in every game so far this season. For context, Cayman is three years older than the next oldest player to have been ever-present, Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly. Especially in a squad hit by injury, Cayman’s fitness and consistency has been a huge help for Miquel. With her deal running out this summer, it feels like there should at least be an offer on the table to keep her at the King Power for another year. She’s not thinking about winding down. Speaking in Belgium last week, Cayman said: “I know the end of my career is coming closer, but I still enjoy it too much and I still feel good physically. “At some point, the physical aspect could become a factor, but that is not the case yet. I am not thinking about quitting at all.” Torres on target for Colombia Hannah Cain netted for Wales and Yuka Momiki was on the scoresheet for Japan, but perhaps the biggest City goal of the international break went to Karla Torres, who scored her first senior goal for Colombia. The teenager rose high and got plenty of power on her header to flick in a cross in a 1-1 draw with Japan. She’ll now be hoping to get off the mark for City too. So far, the winter signing has made three WSL appearances, all from the bench.

We used to have the largest single floor bowling alley in GB, 36 lanes at the back of Lee Circle and it was always packed out and where you could find somewhere to go after the pubs all officially shut at 11pm. Then they started charging for entry and that seemed to kill it off. You'd go there for a late coffee and snack not really intended to play but ended up playing anyway. At the front was the largest supermarket, Tesco outside London. Both sadly gone along with the Granby Halls, roller skating, exhibitions, top line pop acts, top line boxing. Town Centre swimming pool although they messed up with that making it imperial not metric so no good for official events.