It's probably only going to get worse before it gets better...

[Captain...]

...but it will get better, there is no reason to lose faith. We are still on course for a great finish, so don't lose faith in the players and manager that have brought so much joy in the last 10 months.

 

Why it is probably going to get worse:

 

Next 4 games are Stoke, Liverpool at home and Man City, Arsenal away that is 2 tough home games, and the 2 hardest matches on paper, away to the best 2 teams in the league. In the reverse fixtures we got 2 points from those 4 games. If we stick to form and get 2 points from those 4 games, then we will only have 7 from the first 7 games of the second half of the season...

 

Reasons to be optimistic:

 

...but if we compare that to the 7 reverse fixtures, they only yielded 7 points, and nobody has any complaints about our points tally from the first half of the season.

 

After this run we have a 2 week break and then it will get better, the last 12 fixtures are all winnable on paper, with the exception of Man U away, and from the reverse games we won 32 points from 36. If we match our first half of season points return it will mean we miss out on 79 points target by 1 point, but it will still be a great season.

 

What I am saying is keep the faith, we are still on target to match our points total from the first half of the season, and we have a season defining run of games coming up, starting on the 27th Feb. What we need on 27th Feb is to have everyone full of confidence and with the full backing of the supporters and not fans jumping on their backs because we have slipped to 4th or even 5th after a tough run of games. (Imagine that fans being pissed off at being 5th in the League). We don't need to win the next 4 games, we don't even need to be undefeated, what we need is to be in a great position physically and mentally to launch a late surge up the table while everyone around has a much harder end to the season with European and domestic cup distractions. 

 

So and lets not start acting up and getting ideas above our station, we are little Leicester, we have no right to be in the upper echelons of the Premier League and mixing it with the big boys, so just enjoy it. Remember it is probably going to get  worse, but it will get better.

 

Smile and the whole world smiles with you.

 

 

 

[Xen]

We could average 1ppg for the rest of the season and this year would still be amazing.

[Guest Sharpe's Fox]

Will keep the faith if the style of play improves in the home games. Play Pulisball at Arsenal and Citeh, no one can blame you but if we try to nick it 1-0 against Stoke or Liverpool it won't work. They are good enough defensively to hold us off the few times we venture forward and good enough offensively to prise us open at least once.

[Guest Col city fan]

Good OP as usual this..

However, doubt many will have your patience and sense.

Lose tomorrow and watch the forum go..

If it happens, it'll happen.

[HighPeakFox]

Agreed. Massive match tomorrow, and I don't think it's unreasonable to be worried that a win feels somewhat less than a certainty.

[Alf Bentley]

...but it will get better, there is no reason to lose faith. We are still on course for a great finish, so don't lose faith in the players and manager that have brought so much joy in the last 10 months.

 

Why it is probably going to get worse:

 

Next 4 games are Stoke, Liverpool at home and Man City, Arsenal away that is 2 tough home games, and the 2 hardest matches on paper, away to the best 2 teams in the league. In the reverse fixtures we got 2 points from those 4 games. If we stick to form and get 2 points from those 4 games, then we will only have 7 from the first 7 games of the second half of the season...

 

Reasons to be optimistic:

 

...but if we compare that to the 7 reverse fixtures, they only yielded 7 points, and nobody has any complaints about our points tally from the first half of the season.

 

After this run we have a 2 week break and then it will get better, the last 12 fixtures are all winnable on paper, with the exception of Man U away, and from the reverse games we won 32 points from 36. If we match our first half of season points return it will mean we miss out on 79 points target by 1 point, but it will still be a great season.

 

What I am saying is keep the faith, we are still on target to match our points total from the first half of the season, and we have a season defining run of games coming up, starting on the 27th Feb. What we need on 27th Feb is to have everyone full of confidence and with the full backing of the supporters and not fans jumping on their backs because we have slipped to 4th or even 5th after a tough run of games. (Imagine that fans being pissed off at being 5th in the League). We don't need to win the next 4 games, we don't even need to be undefeated, what we need is to be in a great position physically and mentally to launch a late surge up the table while everyone around has a much harder end to the season with European and domestic cup distractions. 

 

So and lets not start acting up and getting ideas above our station, we are little Leicester, we have no right to be in the upper echelons of the Premier League and mixing it with the big boys, so just enjoy it. Remember it is probably going to get  worse, but it will get better.

 

Smile and the whole world smiles with you.

 

 

Completely agree with your general point.

 

Can't imagine that the usual fickle whingebags will take a blind bit of notice....but who cares, so long as they don't infect the general mood?

 

Claudio & co might have to earn their corn a bit more, bolstering morale, but that should certainly be achievable. if necessary, given our extraordinary record over the past 10 months or so.

 

I'd certainly see 4pts from the next 4 fixtures as a decent haul (draw v Stoke, who are on the up; win v Liverpool, who are erratic; anything from the other 2 would be a massive bonus).

Always hope for better, of course, but wouldn't expect it - and 2 draws followed by 2 defeats would probably still leave us 4th with a decent run of matches to come.

 

As a team that plays on the break a lot, we could nick a result at Arsenal or Man City (and certainly at Man Utd, if they remain so toothless up front). But we'd have to return to our best form and/or get very lucky.

 

On the other hand, we'll need the tactical flexibility to outwit teams that come to Filbert Way and try to sit deep and hit us on the break or defeat us via set pieces. We probably remain a better away team than home team.

 

What looks certain is that we'll go into the last 10 matches at least in contention for the Champions League.

 

Exciting times and an extraordinary performance so far this season.

[filbertway]

Good OP as usual this..

However, doubt many will have your patience and sense.

Lose tomorrow and watch the forum go..

If it happens, it'll happen.

 

For me it's all about the manner in which we go about it rather than the results. If we've given it out best effort and come short then fair enough - I don't see how anybody can be annoyed or critical of the team.

 

If we finish the season with a whimper playing in the manner we have the previous 5/6 games it'll feel a bit disheartening and that we've taken steps backwards.

 

I really do feel we'll see an energised end to the season with Amartey and *Striker X* coming in to help the lads over the finish line. We've seen what this team is capable of, over the past 10 months. I have every faith that we will see a return to the form that has put us in this position. 

 

As the OP says, it's about trying to see the bigger picture, but at the same time I see no problem with people stating valid concerns. Seeing the team playing the same way but 15 yards further up the pitch would be a good start. With Vardy getting stronger and fitter by the day we should start seeing some chaos in the opposition's half again. I'm quietly optimistic!

[The Guvnor]

With regards the league I haven't really had too many concerns, and the cup we played virtually a B team. Vardy's dip in form was most likely due to his groin injury, during his cameo against spurs he looked sharp again, Mahrez hasn't quite been so dynamic,(I just hope being relieved of his pen duties will not affect him too much) and you could possibly say the same for Kante.  Injuries and dip in form are to be expected during the season unfortunately the three mentioned have appeared to happen simultaneously which has been reflective of a few recent league performances because they are so pivotal to our team.

I do expect things to click again, and I hope players coming back to form allow us to  adopt our style of play  with which we have the most success pre 40 points.

 

Four of us tomorrow will be doing our bit to cheer the boys on COYB.

[sly1]

Yeah just seem to gone off the boil abit but foxes never quit

[Captain...]

For me it's all about the manner in which we go about it rather than the results. If we've given it out best effort and come short then fair enough - I don't see how anybody can be annoyed or critical of the team.

 

If we finish the season with a whimper playing in the manner we have the previous 5/6 games it'll feel a bit disheartening and that we've taken steps backwards.

 

I really do feel we'll see an energised end to the season with Amartey and *Striker X* coming in to help the lads over the finish line. We've seen what this team is capable of, over the past 10 months. I have every faith that we will see a return to the form that has put us in this position. 

 

As the OP says, it's about trying to see the bigger picture, but at the same time I see no problem with people stating valid concerns. Seeing the team playing the same way but 15 yards further up the pitch would be a good start. With Vardy getting stronger and fitter by the day we should start seeing some chaos in the opposition's half again. I'm quietly optimistic!

 

The  performance only matters when we lose, we weren't great in a number of games leading up to this "bad run", Bournemouth A, Spurs H, Palace H, Stoke, Southampton and Villa all went 2-0 up against us, even West Brom took the lead and Sunderland scored twice.

 

We have also been fortunate with goals that perhaps shouldn't have been, Mahrez was offside against Swansea, Vardy offside against  Newcastle, Gomes' horror show vs Watford, Palace Goalkeeper gifting us the winner. 

 

We have been brilliant, but the performances haven't always been, what we have done is take advantage of every chance and that has been the difference recently. We had a great chance to score to beat Man City, we missed 2 penalties, had one incredibly harsh penalty given against us in the cup. it goes back  to those fine margins, and we have been on the wrong side of them recently. Mahrez scores those pens, Gestede is penalised for handball, the ref doesn't give the penalty vs Spurs...

 

We could be 4 points clear and still in the cup, but we didn't take those chance, whereas we did earlier in the season and regards performances those key incidents were the only real difference.

[David Guiza]

Good OP as usual this..

However, doubt many will have your patience and sense.

Lose tomorrow and watch the forum go..

If it happens, it'll happen.

You've somehow managed to make this post look like spoken word poetry, impressive.

[Rincewind]

I'm just happy we are not bottom

That honour belongs to Villa.

That is my level of optimism.

Here we go, here we go

Come on you blues.

Foxes never quit.

[Guest]

We're far exceeding expectations.

 

Next 4 games are ultra hard and could bring 0 pts.

 

I still reckon we'll pick up 7!

 

I won't turn on CR or the team if we get 0 pts but I really hope that we show more positive intent than a couple of recent half matches - in particular the first half of the cup replay.

[sylofox]

The usual over reaction in this place.

In August most where happy with 10th to 14th.

So now we are in this position only top 4 will do now.

The season is Aug to May and your final position is worked out over a full season not 5 months.

[fuchsntf]

...but it will get better, there is no reason to lose faith. We are still on course for a great finish, so don't lose faith in the players and manager that have brought so much joy in the last 10 months.

 

Why it is probably going to get worse:

 

Next 4 games are Stoke, Liverpool at home and Man City, Arsenal away that is 2 tough home games, and the 2 hardest matches on paper, away to the best 2 teams in the league. In the reverse fixtures we got 2 points from those 4 games. If we stick to form and get 2 points from those 4 games, then we will only have 7 from the first 7 games of the second half of the season...

 

Reasons to be optimistic:

 

...but if we compare that to the 7 reverse fixtures, they only yielded 7 points, and nobody has any complaints about our points tally from the first half of the season.

 

After this run we have a 2 week break and then it will get better, the last 12 fixtures are all winnable on paper, with the exception of Man U away, and from the reverse games we won 32 points from 36. If we match our first half of season points return it will mean we miss out on 79 points target by 1 point, but it will still be a great season.

 

What I am saying is keep the faith, we are still on target to match our points total from the first half of the season, and we have a season defining run of games coming up, starting on the 27th Feb. What we need on 27th Feb is to have everyone full of confidence and with the full backing of the supporters and not fans jumping on their backs because we have slipped to 4th or even 5th after a tough run of games. (Imagine that fans being pissed off at being 5th in the League). We don't need to win the next 4 games, we don't even need to be undefeated, what we need is to be in a great position physically and mentally to launch a late surge up the table while everyone around has a much harder end to the season with European and domestic cup distractions. 

 

So and lets not start acting up and getting ideas above our station, we are little Leicester, we have no right to be in the upper echelons of the Premier League and mixing it with the big boys, so just enjoy it. Remember it is probably going to get  worse, but it will get better.

 

Smile and the whole world smiles with you.

I SEE what your trying to say, Dont disagree.

I am being more than most on this forum, very positive, no grumbling old man searching for negatives.

It goes that far, that its the topic headline I do disagree with, I just dont believe it will be so bad.

Unlike some I dont believe the preverbial bubble has even been threatened, Febuary is interesting not

something any fan should be fearfull of.We are in our best position for years, thats all,!! there are no guarantees or

promises written down on promised form.

Might be my imagination, but some seem to be ruining their own seasons enjoyment, looking too far ahead, and

as one previous poster already mentioned..'losing Perspective', dreaming, painfully hoping of PL title or top 4,

that spitefull posting becomes the norm.

Yes I want this Title, I want the top 4, but hell my 1st priority is just to enjoy the weekly games, and the times

of these small periods.If in the end my dream is not realised, I've bloody well enjoyed the season.

Because thats what its about. Posters even going crazy with...4pts dropped Penalties missed from Mahrez.

If we missed 4th or title because of it, naaaa thats too extreme.

This group of players, is giving us an exceptional ride, jouneys end is not my target, as a fan I enjoy the moment.

I refuse to make my own town club, out to be more than they are, I wont diss the players or managers off, on

silly expectations.If money is put on the table, we spend for so called high quality players, then I will up my

expectations, and add hard criticism.Not now ,we just maybe at a kickstart to something big, we are definitly

not yet in the middle of something special......The owners are giving us a chance, the players so far have touched

on something, which shows progress.

.

[CharlieCharles]

CR needs to get his tactics and starting 11 spot on tomorrow, times this season he has totally messed it up first half, then adjusted and saved us second. (the reason we kept coming from behind)

 

Playing Ulloa on his own wednesday was a plan destined to fail before a ball had been kicked, even someone with half a footballing brain could tell you that. He got it massively wrong, second half he improved but Tottenham were the better team over 90 minutes.

 

Do not get me wrong CR has done wonders this season, but i have to question some of his selections and formations. Hopefully we play the football we did pre 40 points tomorrow. If we do im confident we will win.

 

Its certainly a massive game, especially with the run we have. On paper 1 or 3 points from the next 4 would probably be expected. We know it never pans out that way, for all we know we could get beat tomorrow, then put 4 past Liverpool. Which i would not entirely rule out.

 

The next month is massive though. Will define our season. Im hoping for 5 points from the next 4 (Stoke Win, LFC Draw, Man City Lose, Arsenal Draw)

[whoareyaaa]

Good post. spot on.

[fuchsntf]

CR needs to get his tactics and starting 11 spot on tomorrow, times this season he has totally messed it up first half, then adjusted and saved us second. (the reason we kept coming from behind)

Playing Ulloa on his own wednesday was a plan destined to fail before a ball had been kicked, even someone with half a footballing brain could tell you that. He got it massively wrong, second half he improved but Tottenham were the better team over 90 minutes.

Do not get me wrong CR has done wonders this season, but i have to question some of his selections and formations. Hopefully we play the football we did pre 40 points tomorrow. If we do im confident we will win.

Its certainly a massive game, especially with the run we have. On paper 1 or 3 points from the next 4 would probably be expected. We know it never pans out that way, for all we know we could get beat tomorrow, then put 4 past Liverpool. Which i would not entirely rule out.

The next month is massive though. Will define our season. Im hoping for 5 points from the next 4 (Stoke Win, LFC Draw, Man City Lose, Arsenal Draw)

Now I know what my problem is.....I've got only half a football brain.What makes it worse my other side is totally

useless, ask my wife she tells me Ive only got half a brain.....

Why do you put down threats, to try and prove a point.??

If Dyer, and Gray had pushed forward, with King and DD in support....what then.

I would say execution was wrong, not the selection.but you see that is what forums are all about, opinions.

last week everybody seemed to be saying D.Drinkwater was missed, we drew.He played on Wednesday we lost. The shouts were bring Vardy on, we lost.Soon as there is a negative, the clever know-alls, come out of the closet.

Claudio decided to go with the fringe and 2nd choice players, fair dues.He decided on his set up with 3 midfielders and 2 wingbacks, with Dyer playing narrow.It didnt work a better group of players, were better than our 2nds.

They played the better football.We as a club are far behind Spurs, in developement and finance oh and experience at this level. Our first teams in comparison exactly the same.

What is strange our own fans are forgetting this very reason, why what we have achieved so far is bloody marvellous because, our players as the whole have never played at this top 8 level, it does need something special, teams like Spurs are building and progressing with a couple of quality players and seasons in their back locker.

Chelsea fans have this right to complain and criticise at this level.

>>We have not yet done or achieved enough to warrant this type and level of arrogant criticism from the fans..<<<..

[Mike Oxlong]

If we lose or even draw some twat will be ringing RL to say Ranieri Out

[Alf Bentley]

If we lose or even draw some twat will be ringing RL to say Ranieri Out

 

 

Just as well that our manager isn't Julian Dicks, then.

[Mike Oxlong]

Just as well that our manager isn't Julian Dicks, then.

as in the famous Sun headline "Swollen Dicks Out"

Didn't have you down as a Sun reader Alf

[Alf Bentley]

as in the famous Sun headline "Swollen Dicks Out"

Didn't have you down as a Sun reader Alf

 

 

This is my most disappointing moment in comedy since, aged 7, I genuinely invented the "Knock, Knock....Dr. Who" joke, but everyone already knew it.

 

I'm not a Sun reader, but obviously have a Sun reader's mentality, Mr. Oxschlong.

[Mike Oxlong]

This is my most disappointing moment in comedy since, aged 7, I genuinely invented the "Knock, Knock....Dr. Who" joke, but everyone already knew it.

I'm not a Sun reader, but obviously have a Sun reader's mentality, Mr. Oxschlong.

Damn you Bentley. I google imaged Swollen Dicks Out for the headline

It isn't there but my brain and internet history need a clean

Just relieved Mrs O didn't come in the room whist I was searching.

[Spence]

We will beat stoke tomorrow I'm confident. 

 

I think both teams will go for it, Stoke can play attractive football and i think we will match them. 1-0.

 

The next few we'll have to show our ambitions. I think we'll get a point with Liverpool and then a point from City but Arsenal look very good and will really want to make a gap at the top from us! 

 

KEEP THE FAITH

[st albans fox]

We will beat stoke tomorrow I'm confident.

I think both teams will go for it, Stoke can play attractive football and i think we will match them. 1-0.

The next few we'll have to show our ambitions. I think we'll get a point with Liverpool and then a point from City but Arsenal look very good and will really want to make a gap at the top from us!

KEEP THE FAITH

If we both go for it and it's 1-0 there's going to be some impressive keeping or desperate finishing