Admit it, who thought Ranieri was a disastrous appointment?

[enmac]

I was quite excited about Mr Ranieri as our manager thought we would finish 8th (hopefully I was wrong) my spurs supporting manager at work took the piss at the time saying how can you appoint a manager whose team lost to the Faroe Islands and I've took great pleasure this week of reminding him of this statement

I once had a Spurs fan as boss- there was a mutual dislike. Before him, I had nothing against Spurs but ever since they have been my favourite team to beat. If City don't win the PL, then please let it be Arsenal.

[hackneyfox]

I was excited due to his club record, wasn't bothered by Greece as there are some jobs you're just doomed to fail in.

Never at any point doubted the owners.

I hoped for a mid table finish, never believed we touch top six let alone what is currently happening.

 

Whatever happens now, for the fun and deep joy that he's given us in 21 games he's almost up there with MON, almost certain to be our highest ever finish in the PL.

[hackneyfox]

Not about Ranieri, more about the direction the club would take. They have done pretty much what I was asking at the time, they've made the scouting and sports science people Leicester fixtures. Rather than them coming and going with every manager.

The managers can come and go be we keep the same successful setups in place.

This excites me so much, keep this in place and we can attract managers from Europe who won't expect to turn up with an entire back room staff.

[Sharpe's Fox]

Yup I did. Maybe disastrous is too far because I never thought we'd be going down but I didn't think we'd reach the level we played at the end of last season under Nige.

[Webbo]

I wasn't over excited but I never doubted that he was at least  competent. I think most of the negativity was just silly lashing out at the owners after the sacking of Pearson. If the owners had appointed Guardiola  some would have called it a disaster. 

[hackneyfox]

Now, let's face it most thought this was going to turn out a disaster, and it still could, it still could   one swallow does not a summer make, anymore than one half season secures a legacy in this game. 

 

It just seems too good to be happening, to be true, to last. And I'm sure the man who actually decided on him didn't even dream this, or Ranieri either.

 

Lest we forget how their respective & unexpected European campaigns worked out for similar provincial and or unfashionable outfits such as, Bolton, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Hull, Birmingham, Fulham, Leeds .............. Wigan.

 

Does anyone else fear the running before walking cliche here ?   Squad over stretched, club over reaches, topples, tumbles, falls, spirals, into an abyss so all consuming none of us can face getting up in the morning anymore.

 

Is anyone else scared to fully enjoy and embrace this because of the lingering fear in the back of your minds of how horrific the flip side and payback for these moments could yet be ? 

 

Ranieri on BBC twitching and flustered, unable to explain the demise, and tinkering furiously as he seeks answers, to questions beyond his reach.

No

And that's from a seasoned paying fan of 39 years, after that you always expect the worst as we're Leicester.

[BoyJones]

Wasn't too bothered. Managers come and go, whoever is in charge will always support Leicester whatever division we play in. After experiencing McLintock, nobody will ever be as bad as him, not even Taylor!!

I was sorry to see NP go, had a lot of respect for him, but was always going to happen sooner or later. Same if Shakey or Walsh go, would be disappointed but you just move on. Nobody is indespensable. Why dwell on the negatives.

I knew Ranieri had done well in previous domestic leagues, so obviously no donkey. Expected a top ten finish because we had a system that worked (at last!) and very good defenders. All teams are built on a firm defence.

I never expected us to be relegation fodder, but obviously very happy with the difference CR has made. What I like about him is he is decisive in making changes if things are not right. Perhaps my only adverse comment about NP is that he never made changes until about the 60-70 minute mark, unlike CR who does change things a lot earlier if needed.

[Countryfox]

This excites me so much, keep this in place and we can attract managers from Europe who won't expect to turn up with an entire back room staff.

Saw Walshy, Shakey and the entire sports science team with their bags packed boarding a coach for Bristol.

The driver was having trouble strapping that big cryo unit on the top.

[Samilktray]

Think I said we'd win the league under him, and low & behold.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Remember that William Hill were offering that bet predicting the finishing positions at the end of the season?

I'd say their millions are safe

[Conscript Fox]

No

And that's from a seasoned paying fan of 39 years, after that you always expect the worst as we're Leicester.

 

Good man, so where do you reckon it is heading from here ? Do you favour CL qualification ?  Do you favour missing out on Europa League if that isn't achieved ?   Or is any Europe good Europe ?   

[Len Finsbury]

I was excited. He's a big name despite the Greece fiasco.

You don't manage the clubs he's managed without knowing what you're doing.

 

However, I still like Sven and was equally excited when he joined us, so what do I know?

[Countryfox]

Think I said we'd win the league under him, and low & behold.

Low and behold ...... ?

[stevelcfc]

I was absolutely gutted that we sacked Nige, as I had totally bought into the continuous improvement approach and what he was creating. I was scared he would just rip everything up and that would be where our problems came from. Thought his appointment couldn't have been any more 'meh' if we tried. But humble pie eaten and well done Claudio, you've proven the world wrong. 

[Guest Col city fan]

I was underwhelmed when we were linked with him, following Greece. But kept saying 'let's just see', amidst a see of negativity.

We've seen!

I seem to remember Mark w saying we'd finish bottom though. Where's he gone btw?

[hackneyfox]

Saw Walshy, Shakey and the entire sports science team with their bags packed boarding a coach for Bristol.

The driver was having trouble strapping that big cryo unit on the top.

bugger

[Bluetintedspecs]

I was underwhelmed when we were linked with him, following Greece. But kept saying 'let's just see', amidst a see of negativity.

We've seen!

I seem to remember Mark w saying we'd finish bottom though. Where's he gone btw?

Lets face it Col, football is emotive and the levels of kneejerk rwactions on herw were stupid as usual, and incredulously we still getvit to a degree recently!

[Dan]

I was scared that it would be Sven all over again, I won't lie.

 

Was I afraid of change? Possibly, although I don't regret being cynical, and I will be again in future I'm sure. I mean lets be honest here, they didn't have a glittering record with picking managers here. I'm not sure we could put Sousa on them but it all seemed a bit convenient. Sven was a bit of a disaster which set us back rather than progressed us, and for all Pearson was the right man, would we have gone near him if we had no ties to him before? I highly doubt it.

 

I thought back to when we played Monaco in the friendly that time. Monaco were very good, but they were the polar opposite in terms of their style of play to what we'd proven ourselves to be effective in. I thought we were going to have another clash of styles and another season of upheaval. I initially thought we would go down although I slowly changed that and said we'd stay up, although nothing even close to this.

 

I think a big thing this time around has been the fact Pearson's staff never left. I cannot help but feel they've helped a lot with the transition and that isn't a pop at Ranieri in the slightest. I think it's quite admirable that someone of his standing and reputation chose to listen to them and chose to keep faith in the set up rather than rip it up and do his own like he so easily could have done, but he seems to be a very good judge of what works and how can you complain at that?

 

Add in his likeable character, his tactical know-how and experience and I think we may have just stumbled across the ideal man. He's been excellent and I'd happily have him here for the foreseeable future.

[Guest Col city fan]

Lets face it Col, football is emotive and the levels of kneejerk rwactions on herw were stupid as usual, and incredulously we still getvit to a degree recently!

Have you been at the real ale mate?

[Mike the Metal Ed]

I always try to keep a "wait and see" perspective, but I honestly thought we'd be lucky to stay up.

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Though was an OK appointment but not exciting.

Was just fearful of him doing a Sven. But he's done the opposite and fair play to him.

[Bluetintedspecs]

Have you been at the real ale mate?

Maybe, you get the gist though?

[Guest Col city fan]

Maybe, you get the gist though?

[Weller in Tights]

I looked at his club record rather than a Greece side that are just atrocious, and believed he would do well here. He is an underrated manager always was

This

I couldn't believe the pundits were writing him off because of the Greece job.

Greece was a disaster waiting to happen for any manager.

His record at club level across Europe meant for me he was definitely worth a go, it's a risk no matter who you get, but this punt looks like it could well pay off.

Love him.

[Carl the Llama]

Pretty sure my first comment was something along the lines of him having a decent club record and being the best choice of the managers we were being linked with.  Predicted a comfortable mid-table finish.

 

He's probably getting sick of this now but shout out to @@Mark_w for the best over reaction on the board (in his defence man clearly has a lot of common sense but Pearson going broke him just a little bit).