On the subject of Levein being unsettled.....

[londonfox]

When levein signed he moved into a house in seagrave, village just off the A46 if any of you dont know it. My mum and dad live on the same road and my dad used to speak to him the odd morning. Apparently he had moved in with his girlfriend, and my dad got the impression that all is not well in his personal life. Girlfriend/ex wife etc.

He has now moved out of this house so im not sure where he is currently based. My guess is that he regretting his switch from hearts.

Personally I still think he could go on to be a great manager for the football club but he has got much to learn and I just dont know whether he will be given the time or that we can afford to give the time to sort out the blatent gaps in his managerial ability.

I have been hugely impressed and excited by his vision for the future, and the bringing in of younger, hungrier players. Some signings like hughes and maybury have been fantastic and im sure we will be able to add hulme to the same bracket.

HOWEVER, it has been said sooo many times that he fails in many other areas. His side has no urgency, little idea in the final third and this is costing us dear. It wont be long until this season is a write off AGAIN. If we only get say 8 pts from the next 10 games (cant really see us getting more) then we really will be quite far behind, too far. With the squad we have we should not be dropping points to the likes of cardiff, luton, hull etc.

I mean look at sheff utd. man for man our side is at least as good if not better than theirs. They however have a manager who can clearly motivate them. They play with an urgency, a desire and a mind set that they are going onto the pitch for 3 points - and nothing else will do. We look like we arent that bothered. A win would be nice but a draw will do. That mind set and attitude will guarantee we never see premiership football again at the WS.

I will end by saying i truly like CL and am so desperate for him to be succesful. He has at least changed the future outlook for the club, which needed to be done post MA.

However, above all else, I am a Leicester City supporter and if CL is doing the business, he must be replaced. I think he should be given until christmas but come on, if things still havent improved by then, something has to give.

Regards

Worried LCFC fan.

*by the way, agree with all other posts who have said they have had enough excuses post match. Sick to death of 'we arent worried yet'. bollox to that, cos I AM

[The People's Hero]

Completely agree... well said. And thanks for the support on the 'sic k of the bullsh it' thing!

I really do want Levein to do well...

BUT..

It's do or die time. No more going out there playing for draws against mediocre/poor opposition.

[Dunc]

I would argue that Sheff Utd have had a manager who has been able to mould a team over 3-4 years not 3-4 months which is where we are currently at.

Warnock has had the nucleus of his team for years not months, this year is a transitional, gelling year, next year is going to be the one where we challenge at the top.

[The People's Hero]

I remember everyone saying that last year.

[BenFilbert]

I would argue that Sheff Utd have had a manager who has been able to mould a team over 3-4 years not 3-4 months which is where we are currently at.

Warnock has had the nucleus of his team for years not months, this year is a transitional, gelling year, next year is going to be the one where we challenge at the top.

That's a very good point. Craig needs time.

[Louise]

So what is 'doing the business' by your terms? If we're not the playoffs by Christmas then he should be sacked? If we're not in the top 10?

Sacking Levein, or the fans forcing him out this season, is the worst thing that could happen to our club. What do we do then? Get in another manager from the lower leagues, although this time we won't have as much choice as we did before because we'll have the reputation of being a sacking club, having difficult fans and we'll be in a worse financial position than we were before. If we manage to get someone in he'll be unfamiliar with the set-up again, he'll want his own players in, he'll have to cope with reducing the wage budget at the end of the season again. After a year because he's not doing well we'll sack him, and our choice of next manager will again be significantly reduced and so it will continue until we're forced into getting in managers like Bassett or Kinnear because they're the only ones who will take us and we'll get relegated into League One and the fans will be saying, now why didn't we just keep Levein when we were in a good position to build for the future and we weren't under the threat of relegation, rather than calling for his head after 14 months in the job (if sacked at Christmas as you suggest) and watching our club slowly decline.

Now you might say that sounds like an extreme scenario, but it is what has happened to many clubs in this division (most recently Forest) when they continuously sack managers after a season or less because of impatience.

[TAFKA Castroneves]

But if he's already unsettled then this transitional year I can't really see working. He may need time but if he's not happy already then it's going to prove a very tough challenge for him to turn this team into Playoff contenders for next season.

[The People's Hero]

So what is 'doing the business' by your terms? If we're not the playoffs by Christmas then he should be sacked? If we're not in the top 10?

Sacking Levein, or the fans forcing him out this season, is the worst thing that could happen to our club. What do we do then? Get in another manager from the lower leagues, although this time we won't have as much choice as we did before because we'll have the reputation of being a sacking club, having difficult fans and we'll be in a worse financial position than we were before. If we manage to get someone in he'll be unfamiliar with the set-up again, he'll want his own players in, he'll have to cope with reducing the wage budget at the end of the season again. After a year because he's not doing well we'll sack him, and our choice of next manager will again be significantly reduced and so it will continue until we're forced into getting in managers like Bassett or Kinnear because they're the only ones who will take us and we'll get relegated into League One and the fans will be saying, now why didn't we just keep Levein when we were in a good position to build for the future and we weren't under the threat of relegation, rather than calling for his head after 14 months in the job (if sacked at Christmas as you suggest) and watching our club slowly decline.

Now you might say that sounds like an extreme scenario, but it is what has happened to many clubs in this division (most recently Forest) when they continuously sack managers after a season or less because of impatience.

So you think that if we replaced Levein, we would end up (this season, or next or the one after that) getting relegated?

Can't see it.

[Louise]

I would argue that Sheff Utd have had a manager who has been able to mould a team over 3-4 years not 3-4 months which is where we are currently at.

Warnock has had the nucleus of his team for years not months, this year is a transitional, gelling year, next year is going to be the one where we challenge at the top.

Spot on, with a few notable exceptions (Dowie, MON), almost every manager that gets promotion to the Prem from this division has been with his team for a few years. Levein's team at the moment is still very raw, and not just in age. He has bought in players who he thinks will do well for us but at the end of the year will probably have changed his mind about a couple, identified our weaknesses more and changed around a couple of players. Fine-tuning if you will, that makes the difference between top 12 and top 6. Also next season most of the players will have played 40 odd games together, now they've not even played 10 (or even 5 as a settled line-up).

[Thracian]

First thing to consider is what would CL say if a young trainee were having his head turned - by women, friends involved in drugs, late night revelling etc etc.

He would almost certainly say: "If you really wanna be a footballer, son, then get your priorities sorted, get football first, second and third at the top of the the list and show the commitment necessary to be a success.

I'd say the same to Levein. If he wants it enough, if he wants to become a managerial legend in the history of football, then there's no room for half-measures, no room for only 99 per cent commitment, no room for self-doubts, no room for anything that takes your eye off the ball.

Dedication. That's the only that matters if anyone is going to climb of the parapet of the ordinary and achieve any sort of greatness.

Compromise doesn't come into it. You have one life, one chance. If Craig doesn't adopt the single-mindedness needed for the challenge he'll regret it to his dying day. There's time for other things later. You spenmd enough of your life being ordinary but there's such a fleeting chance to be extra-ordinary. Don't blow it Craig.

Your Star is in the air. Make the most of it and count your blessings. Most times when they fall, they never rise again. Football is a jealous mistress. It'll accept no rivals.

[BenFilbert]

So what is 'doing the business' by your terms? If we're not the playoffs by Christmas then he should be sacked? If we're not in the top 10?

Sacking Levein, or the fans forcing him out this season, is the worst thing that could happen to our club. What do we do then? Get in another manager from the lower leagues, although this time we won't have as much choice as we did before because we'll have the reputation of being a sacking club, having difficult fans and we'll be in a worse financial position than we were before. If we manage to get someone in he'll be unfamiliar with the set-up again, he'll want his own players in, he'll have to cope with reducing the wage budget at the end of the season again. After a year because he's not doing well we'll sack him, and our choice of next manager will again be significantly reduced and so it will continue until we're forced into getting in managers like Bassett or Kinnear because they're the only ones who will take us and we'll get relegated into League One and the fans will be saying, now why didn't we just keep Levein when we were in a good position to build for the future and we weren't under the threat of relegation, rather than calling for his head after 14 months in the job (if sacked at Christmas as you suggest) and watching our club slowly decline.

Now you might say that sounds like an extreme scenario, but it is what has happened to many clubs in this division (most recently Forest) when they continuously sack managers after a season or less because of impatience.

"Sacking Levein, or the fans forcing him out this season, is the worst thing that could happen to our club." I totally agree. It would be a big big big MASSIVE mistake to sack Levein.

[The People's Hero]

It would be a mistake to sack him yeah... but how about a kick up the backside and a few stern words?

[lookwhaticando]

So you think that if we replaced Levein, we would end up (this season, or next or the one after that) getting relegated?

Can't see it.

I think the point being made was if we sacked CL, the only managers who would take us are 5th rate managers like Bassett or Kinnear. If we ended up with Bassett running the team, we'd be playing the Trees next season.

[The People's Hero]

I don't think anyone ever suggested sacking him though, which is why I find it strange that so many people are talking about what a mistake it would be to sack him!

[Louise]

So you think that if we replaced Levein, we would end up (this season, or next or the one after that) getting relegated?

Can't see it.

Not this season or the one after, but the one after that perhaps. If we get into the habit of sacking managers after a year in the job we are going to get progressively worse managers, so worse results, worse players and league positions. I don't see why it's so unbelievable to you.

[Louise]

I don't think anyone ever suggested sacking him though, which is why I find it strange that so many people are talking about what a mistake it would be to sack him!

My original post was in responce to this from londonfox:

However, above all else, I am a Leicester City supporter and if CL is doing the business, he must be replaced. I think he should be given until christmas but come on, if things still havent improved by then, something has to give.

[Babylon]

I give up, some people just have no Idea.

Once again dunc your spot on.

[Babylon]

Not this season or the one after, but the one after that perhaps. If we get into the habit of sacking managers after a year in the job we are going to get progressively worse managers, so worse results, worse players and league positions. I don't see why it's so unbelievable to you.

Exactly... look at Sheff Wed and Forest. Kept sacking people every 6 months and ended up in div 3.

[The People's Hero]

All London fox wanted to see was some improvement though...

I think this is reasonable. If (as many people, myself included believe) we are going to improve and benefit from having Levein in charge, is it not reasonable to expect to see improvement over a certain period of time. I believe that Christmas may be a bit soon and to be honest, agree with you that in any case sacking Levein would be a bad idea. I'd be extremely downbeat however if no signs of genuine improvement and progress were evident before the end of this season.

[Thracian]

People are so unrealistic. We play in The Championship.

We are not going to have perfect defenders who never make mistakes and keep clean sheets every week.

We are not going to get 25-goals a season centre-forwards who never miss simple chances.

Nor are we gonna get the finished article for a manager.

Anyone close to the above is going to be involved in Premiership football.

In a few months Levein has transformed this club from hopeless to promising.

He has vastly increased the value of the players at the club (the assets), he has fast-tracked youngsters through to the first team squad, he had much reduced the age of the side and has that team once this season found itself out of its depth. No.

We might arguably have won points in every match. Might even have won them all with the possible exception of Sheffield United.

Now that the players are a known quantity we need a settled side and a settled basic system so that team-spirit/comeraderie can evolve. We need to build confidence and self-belief.

This club doesn't need another earthquake, another upheaval.

We have a bloody good manager. Whether our coaches are good enough or whether we need a specialist motivator is something else though cos if these people are going to turn odd-goal defeats into victories they, and the team, are going to need attitude. For me they are far too quiet. Too unimaginative. But I may be wrong.

Inspiring "attitude" takes special qualities but, make no mistake, the talent is there among the players. We've just got to start believing it and proving it.

[londonfox]

THE PEOPLES HERO- at least somebody is on my wavelength!!!

My post was not simply a negative rant wanting levein out. Is a supporter not allowed to express somekind of worry at our current plight???? I just feel we cant go on month after month, game after game, disappointing result after disappointing result just saying the same thing like things will be ok. Lets leave that to the LCFC players and staff.

Things are far from ok. I said at length about how much i REALLY WANT CL to succeed. That is what I want believe me. I have been immensley excited about some things- younger squad, certain signings etc.

At the start of the season I was telling my non LCFC fans how tight are defence was going to be this season. I at least thought that CL had got that aspect sorted. But he hasnt. We concede just as many poor goals as we did under MA.

I too agree that a club will not succeed by constantly changing their manager. However, this doesnt surely grant CL an unlimited time at the helm.

Im sorry but if league progress is not being made then he is not the right man for the job.

Dismissing our performances, points total, form,and not demanding more from our manager and players just smacks of a mediocre club. THINGS HAVE TO IMPROVE - END OF STORY

[The People's Hero]

I hear ya, buddy.

My concern is that this pre-occupation with the future, is costing us dear in the present.

Nothing more and nothing less... no cries of Levein out... just that improvement needs to happen this season.. not next year or the year after that because future success is partly based on both the foundations which have been put in place and on any success we achieve in the short term.

[Babylon]

Have we not already had an improvement this season??

Maybe not points wise, but in age of squad, value of squad, youth teamers making progress, style of play, entertainment value. Everything that people wanted Micky Adams out for has been transformed for the better.

You can't have your cake and eat it.

Unless we end up in the bottom three, Levein needs two full years before we start calling for changes.

[The People's Hero]

Have we not already had an improvement this season??

Maybe not points wise, but in age of squad, value of squad, youth teamers making progress, style of play, entertainment value. Everything that people wanted Micky Adams out for has been transformed for the better.

You can't have your cake and eat it.

Unless we end up in the bottom three, Levein needs two full years before we start calling for changes.

This is a valid point and something which I'm willing to concede because I think that I DO want to have my cake and eat it.

What's bugging me about LCFC at the moment is that the things that you mention are going great, but so much of what is going wrong is the same week in and week out and fairly preventable. I have to hold my hands up and say that I haven't seen us play this season, well, only on sky and then I'm relying on match reports.

[Babylon]

This is a valid point and something which I'm willing to concede because I think that I DO want to have my cake and eat it.

What's bugging me about LCFC at the moment is that the things that you mention are going great, but so much of what is going wrong is the same week in and week out and fairly preventable. I have to hold my hands up and say that I haven't seen us play this season, well, only on sky and then I'm relying on match reports.

I know what you mean but we are 8 games in. Out of those 8 games how many times have we been able to field our best team. It's going to take time for everyone to gel. They may never gel and we may be shit, but we need time to find out.