davieG

But it's on a well used golf course seems counter productive to build new houses and take away a well used local facility.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/how-leicester-city-deserted-identity-9474388 How Leicester City deserted their identity as duo's bewildering omissions raises questions Analysis from Leicester City's 3-0 loss to Lens, looking at the performance, the starting line-up, Ricardo Pereira and Stephy Mavididi's omissions, out-of-position players, and more ByJordan Blackwell 11:20, 11 AUG 2024 Leicester City know pre-season results don’t matter. Last summer, they lost their final summer friendly 4-0 to Liverpool and yet still won the Championship. However, performances do matter. City took heart and positivity from the loss to Jurgen Klopp’s side. There were moments in the game that showed they were on the right path. They took confidence into the start of the competitive season. While the scoreline at Lens on Saturday was not quite as bad, the mood could not be more different. City were outclassed in every aspect of the game. Even for optimists, there was nothing to cling on to. Lens scored three and could have had more from their 17 efforts on goal. For City, the starting 11 had not scored a single pre-season goal between them and at no point did that look like changing. They mustered just two shots, both from outside the area. Even the club’s own 12-minute highlight package did not feature a single City attack. When City lost to Liverpool, there was a clear identity on display. That enthused supporters, players, and staff alike. The plan was plain to see. In the aftermath of City’s defeat to Lens, fans have questioned whether Steve Cooper has a plan he’s working to, or an identity he is trying to build. Take the match in isolation and that’s understandable. But in previous pre-season games, the idea was there. They are attacking in the same shape as last season, tweaking the system slightly to have a full-back move forward to the wing instead of into midfield. They are building up with the same methodical play, working it forward from a back three. They had just lacked creativity and threat in the final third. So it would be unfair to say they don’t have an identity. The problem at Lens was they were either not good enough to carry it out, deserted the plan too readily, or a mixture of both. Lens hunted in packs and City could not cope with their press. Under pressure near their own box, City launched aimless balls forward. It meant they enjoyed just 37 per cent of the possession, gifting the ball back to Lens for them to build attack after attack. City very rarely completed passes in the opponent’s half. Cooper’s forthright assessment suggested City’s hoofs up the pitch were not part of his instruction to the players. He said after the match: “In terms of the performance, there was nothing good about our in-possession game. There was no doubt about that. The game demanded a much more intense in-possession game than what we gave.” So while it did feel like Lens’ press forced them to play in such a way, it also feels unimaginable that they would react how they did if they had been playing under Enzo Maresca. His stubbornness and commitment to the idea would have seen City players look for the short pass to feet even if surrounded by three Lens players. There may have been more mistakes at the back, but they may also have progressed up the pitch more often. Whether City lacked the quality to carry out the plan, abandoned it too quickly, or both, none of it bodes well. The final result is the same: they will head into the Premier League campaign sapped of morale and confidence. Dress rehearsal line-up fails to inspire This was the dress rehearsal and so the side fielded by Cooper could have been the one he had in mind for Tottenham. If so, what have we learned? Conor Coady’s injury at centre-back paved the way for a new partnership in Wout Faes and Caleb Okoli, but how long that will last remains to be seen. If Coady’s not available, it feels like Jannik Vestergaard needs to be in the side, City craving a defender with vision and passing ability. It still feels like City need a ball-player next to Harry Winks. Hamza Choudhury was the latest to be paired with the former Spurs midfielder, and just as with Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare, it didn’t work. Between the two of them, they did not provide an outlet for the defenders, leading to some of those launched balls. Victor Kristiansen still doesn’t feel like the right fit for this team. Even with more space in behind in which to stretch his legs, the Dane did not have an impact from an attacking perspective. Ndidi lacked composure in attacking midfield, as did Bobby De Cordova-Reid, despite some promising moments the weekend before. Patson Daka was isolated up front. Perhaps this was not the 11 Cooper plans to use against Tottenham, and instead was just another 90 minutes in which to allow players to build fitness. But that feels detrimental to the cause. Yes, players need to be fit, but they also need to understand their roles in the team and build chemistry with their team-mates. They need to learn the runs they make and the passes they play. If this was not the line-up Cooper intends to name a week on Monday, then City will have learned less than they ought to. Ricardo and Mavididi omissions prompt questions Speculation over whether this is the team Cooper has at the forefront of his mind for Spurs persists because of some of the big names he left on the bench. For supporters, it would be odd to leave out Stephy Mavididi when the team craves attacking threat, and it would be almost unfathomable to omit Ricardo Pereira given his quality. That’s now two games in a row that Ricardo has not started and while he didn’t enjoy the best of outings against Palermo, one poor showing should not be enough to have him dropped, especially when the team is struggling. The picture remains the same as it did after the defeat to Augsburg. It feels like Ricardo either needs to play next to Winks so they can resume their partnership from last season, or he needs to play as the attacking full-back, where he can help the frontline with his dribbling ability and interplay in tight spaces. Surely there has to be a role for him in this team. Mavididi has been City’s best attacking player this pre-season and his omission from the starting line-up at Lens is intriguing, particularly amid interest in Wilfried Zaha. They both play in the same position but City’s long-time tormentor has Premier League pedigree. The club would not be signing Zaha for him to sit on the bench, and so perhaps Mavididi’s place among the substitutes was in preparation for where he may find himself at the start of the campaign. It would be harsh on Mavididi if that were the case, but harsh decisions have to be made if City are to stay up. However, if there are no winger signings before next Monday, it would be a little bewildering if Mavididi was still sitting on the bench. Benefits of out-of-position players minimal Cooper’s frustration over transfers has been bubbling away throughout pre-season and he appears to be showing more impatience as the days go by. Facundo Buonanotte became City’s fifth signing of the window ahead of the game at Lens, but came in three weeks after the club’s previous arrival. The Argentinian attacking midfielder operates in a position City have long been short in, and Cooper seemed to be asking what has taken so long. “We’re all crying out for some fresh blood,” he said. “Let’s hope we can strengthen sooner rather than later. In certain areas of the pitch, we’re desperate for it and have been for a while.” City have financial constraints to deal with, and that slows business. But they have been aware of where they needed new recruits for a while, especially in attacking midfield, knowing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had to be sold. Cooper has said the lack of signings has forced him to play players out of position in pre-season, giving them minutes in areas they won’t feature during the competitive campaign. But that was still a choice. He didn’t have to do that. If Ndidi is not going to play as an attacking midfielder this term, why not give Will Alves a proper chance? Playing Ndidi further forward so that Choudhury can get minutes and build his fitness works as a plan if Ndidi gets injured, as then Choudhury can come into the team and is in a better place to hit the ground running. But what if Buonanotte picks up an injury? Does Alves not need game-time so that he might be able to come into the team? Equally, should Tom Cannon, as the only fit striker left, not be coming on for the injured Daka, rather than Mavididi? When players are used out of position, they do learn. There will be titbits they pick up about how their team-mate has to play and that may help their game going forward, but that still feels like a less effective way to improve the team than simply putting players in the positions they will play when the real thing kicks off. Shellshocked or alert to the situation? Monday will answer Cooper’s one positive was that the game can be a wake-up call, and it’s better to have such an alarming moment when there aren’t any points on the line. He told his players that Spurs would be even tougher, and so they needed to buck up their ideas sharpish. Now the City players may respond. But they could also be left shellshocked. They’ve just been comprehensively beaten by the seventh-best French side and told it only gets more difficult from here. It will take a lot of determination and self-belief from the players to not be overawed by the task they face. They came through periods of adversity last season. Hopefully, those will leave them in a better place to tackle what, right now, looks like being a nine-month slog for survival.

Actually this season is starting to reminds me of this Different manager and boat name but the sinking feeling is there or this Never thought we'd be reliving this mess

Yeah but at least they have a nice beach.

In that case, City have just Tom Cannon as their only senior striking option. Albeit, Cooper chose not to bring on Cannon as a direct replacement for Daka, instead using Stephy Mavididi up front before bringing on the Republic of Ireland international late in the game. “We’ll see how Patson is,” Cooper told BBC Radio Leicester after the 3-0 defeat. “He’s in a boot at the moment. Conor’s going to be out for at least a month. “Vards is still rehab-ing. He’s not back yet with the team and I think it will be a little while until that is the case. So we’re planning without those guys at the moment.”

Who new Chat GPT had an optimistic persona. Sport Trove · We asked Chat GPT to predict the final Premier League table for 2024/25

Overly generous to the players and approving unsustainable wages which we're still struggling with.

But surely playing inexperienced younger players with a need to prove themselves in the correct positions was worth trying than all those square pegs and would still have demonstrated our shortage of quality attacking players if that was Cooper's intent.

Maybe but changing them wont alter the foundations, even a new owner can't just pump money in. Not That I'm suggesting we shouldn't.

As much as Rudkin, Top et al might be culpable I think the problem is deeper than that now. We're a PL team in name only our reputation now stinks even in the past when we we're able to attract decent players with potential and sell on value it wasn't because we were the mighty LCFC in the PL it's because we were throwing pound notes around we can't do that now. Unattractive status and no money = We can't pay and no one wants to come here.

That as well and said so at the time, horrendous.

Hamza Captain what does that say about the direction we’re heading

Cooper: "We’re all crying out for some fresh blood, especially the players. Today it showed that. We had players playing out of position. Let’s hope we can strengthen sooner rather than later. In certain areas of the pitch we’re desperate for it and have been for a while."

What’s a goal I can’t remember

Woeful sprang to mind

Angry today damn useless internet it went and found a stream for the Lens game felt I had to watch it out of loyalty.

2 shots 1 on target 74 passes in the opposition half

Well he's not going to regain it sitting on the bench and he needs Cooper to play to his strengths when he does get the rare opportunity.

Looks like he doesn't fancy Ricardo in his set ups.

I'd guess that 99% or there about of linked players are false links. After that it's not always that easy especially now as a PL Club we stink the place out. https://sportwitness.co.uk/leicester-wanted-me-so-much-player-says-he-was-almost-convinced-to-join-foxes-this-summer/ “Leicester wanted me so much” – Player says he was almost convinced to join Foxes this summer By Kaustubh Pandey - 9th August 2024 AS Roma have had a busy summer transfer window so far and the signing of Matias Soule from Juventus is seen as a real positive for the club. It took some effort for them to seal the move, as it did seem initially that Leicester City were leading the race for the Argentine. But the Foxes were beaten in the chase, securing the will of the player. With Soule now settling in at Roma, he recently spoke to Corriere dello Sport in an insightful interview. He was asked about his decision to join the Roman giants and about interest from Leicester. He revealed that initially, it was his dream to play in the Premier League but he later felt the affections of Roma and manager Daniele de Rossi, which swayed him into the move to the Giallorossi. “Initially it was mine [Premier League dream] too. Leicester wanted me so much, both the coach and the sporting director called me to convince me of their project. “But then I felt the affection of De Rossi, of Roma, of the teammates who contacted me and I decided from that moment to say no to all the other clubs and to think only of Roma for all these reasons plus one.” He also revealed that the charm of the Roma fans proved too good to turn down, having previously been left stunned by the passionate fanbase during a game that he witnessed from the stands. “They are a spectacle, and I’m not just saying that. Last season Paulo [Dybala] and Leo [Paredes] invited me to the Olimpico to watch the Europa League match against Feyenoord. I went in, I heard 70 thousand people singing from the anthem until the end of the match. “Once I came out I told my brother that I had never seen such passionate fans. An incredible emotion, thrilling. Honestly, I had already thought of Roma, when I still didn’t even know if I would continue at Juventus.” The youngster went on to state that he hadn’t thought of leaving Juve until they wanted to sell him to a Saudi Arabian club, which was rejected by the player. And over time, Soule made peace with the fact that his future doesn’t lie in Turin.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/m69-leicestershire-shut-two-weekends-9470357 Drivers are being warned that two weekend closures of the M69 in Leicestershire will be taking place this month while resurfacing work is carried out. Each weekend closure will begin at 9pm on the Friday and continue until 6am on the Monday, affecting the southbound side only - for traffic heading from Leicester towards Hinckley and Coventry. The scheme is already under way, with night-time closures happening regularly to allow work to take place. The project by National Highways will lead to a smoother road surface from the M1 at Leicester to the M6 near Coventry. As well as resurfacing, the white lining will have to be repainted and road studs replaced where necessary. National Highways said the weekend closures were necessary for the safety of the workers during the main resurfacing job, which could take more than just the two weekends scheduled. The full closures of the southbound carriageway will take place: From 9pm on Friday August 16, until 6am on Monday, August 19 From 9pm on Friday August 30, until 6am on Monday, September 2 A third weekend closure may also be required on a date to be confirmed. Fully signed diversion routes, agreed with the local authorities, will be in place during the closures.

Seems the only real reason for 'specialised Training Kits' is to make them saleable to the fans whether this has an impact on this I don't know I presume the club and Adidas don't think so.

https://sportwitness.co.uk/leicester-wanted-me-so-much-player-says-he-was-almost-convinced-to-join-foxes-this-summer/ “Leicester wanted me so much” – Player says he was almost convinced to join Foxes this summer By Kaustubh Pandey - 9th August 2024 AS Roma have had a busy summer transfer window so far and the signing of Matias Soule from Juventus is seen as a real positive for the club. It took some effort for them to seal the move, as it did seem initially that Leicester City were leading the race for the Argentine. But the Foxes were beaten in the chase, securing the will of the player. With Soule now settling in at Roma, he recently spoke to Corriere dello Sport in an insightful interview. He was asked about his decision to join the Roman giants and about interest from Leicester. He revealed that initially, it was his dream to play in the Premier League but he later felt the affections of Roma and manager Daniele de Rossi, which swayed him into the move to the Giallorossi. “Initially it was mine [Premier League dream] too. Leicester wanted me so much, both the coach and the sporting director called me to convince me of their project. “But then I felt the affection of De Rossi, of Roma, of the teammates who contacted me and I decided from that moment to say no to all the other clubs and to think only of Roma for all these reasons plus one.” He also revealed that the charm of the Roma fans proved too good to turn down, having previously been left stunned by the passionate fanbase during a game that he witnessed from the stands. “They are a spectacle, and I’m not just saying that. Last season Paulo [Dybala] and Leo [Paredes] invited me to the Olimpico to watch the Europa League match against Feyenoord. I went in, I heard 70 thousand people singing from the anthem until the end of the match. “Once I came out I told my brother that I had never seen such passionate fans. An incredible emotion, thrilling. Honestly, I had already thought of Roma, when I still didn’t even know if I would continue at Juventus.” The youngster went on to state that he hadn’t thought of leaving Juve until they wanted to sell him to a Saudi Arabian club, which was rejected by the player. And over time, Soule made peace with the fact that his future doesn’t lie in Turin.

They have sold a few last season ?

I’d believe that if he was getting decent minutes now but he isn’t and yet seemingly we have a vacancy for this position if we need this guy