Where's Nigel?

[ThaiFox]

I don't care what anyone says, NP was brilliant for us. Just read the BBC football report about beetroot ice chambers and the science behind Leicester City. This was mostly put in place by NP and the team Ranieri took over was mostly put together by NP. I totally agree that Ranieri has shown much greater tactical awareness, and has kept the backroom team together, not to mention his man management, but to dismiss NP's contribution is disappointing. I, for one, will always hold him in the highest regard for what he did for our club and I do feel a little sad he isn't around to join in the celebrations.

[Jazzy_Jeff]

Who's Nigel??

 

On a serious note, I'm very grateful he took us from League 1 to the Prem but what Claudio has achieved is different gravy.

[murphy]

Did we ever celebrate Brian Little for laying the foundations O'Neill had to work with, or Mark McGhee for clearing off and causing O'Neill to come in the first place? Micky Adams got promoted with a squad that was inherited from Peter Taylor but do we give Taylor credit for that?

Of course we don't, Pearson was up there with the best managers we've ever had, but he's gone and that was his fault and no one else's.

This title is down to Claudio and no one else.

 

Little did not lay any foundations for O'Neill, that's absolute nonsense.  We were a championship side when MON arrived and the only player that played in both teams was Steve Walsh, signed by Hamilton.

[NeilLCFC]

Did we ever celebrate Brian Little for laying the foundations O'Neill had to work with, or Mark McGhee for clearing off and causing O'Neill to come in the first place? Micky Adams got promoted with a squad that was inherited from Peter Taylor but do we give Taylor credit for that?

Of course we don't, Pearson was up there with the best managers we've ever had, but he's gone and that was his fault and no one else's.

This title is down to Claudio and no one else.

What a load of rubbish.

[foxfanazer]

Funny how differently fans see things.

Much of his antics last season I think were anything other than 'honourable'.

It still amazes me how many people on here were applauding him for his behaviour. Off the field, he was arrogant and naive. On the field we were pretty much pants until the final 7 games.

I do thank him for getting us back up and for laying the foundations. But we've moved on. I'm not continuing to bleat on about Pearson.

It's a thread about Nigel Pearson. I'm hardly bleating on

[Monsell1976]

Who cares, he's isn't part of the club now

[Dodgy Bob]

I don't care what anyone says, NP was brilliant for us. Just read the BBC football report about beetroot ice chambers and the science behind Leicester City. This was mostly put in place by NP and the team Ranieri took over was mostly put together by NP. I totally agree that Ranieri has shown much greater tactical awareness, and has kept the backroom team together, not to mention his man management, but to dismiss NP's contribution is disappointing. I, for one, will always hold him in the highest regard for what he did for our club and I do feel a little sad he isn't around to join in the celebrations.

Pearson is a physio as well now? Dave Rennie is the head physio and he has been at the club since 1999, a full decade before Pearson came on the scene. With the backing of the owners he has been able to invest in cutting edge equipment like the cryo chamber. That is categorically nothing to do with Nigel Pearson. Rennie is one of the many people who should be getting credit for his excellent work well ahead of Pearson.

[Fox92]

Little did not lay any foundations for O'Neill, that's absolute nonsense.  We were a championship side when MON arrived and the only player that played in both teams was Steve Walsh, signed by Hamilton.

 

Yes he did. Little turned us from mid table/relegation threatened into a side that competed for promotion (and ultimately finished top 6 on three occasions). And while O'Neill did eventually sign his own spine (Lennon and Izzet in particular) he also inherited quality in the likes of Walsh and Grayson.

[ajthefox]

I wish everyone could all just stop banging on about him.

[Guest Col city fan]

It's a thread about Nigel Pearson. I'm hardly bleating on

That's my point mate.

ANOTHER thread....

[dylanlegend]

Did we ever celebrate Brian Little for laying the foundations O'Neill had to work with, or Mark McGhee for clearing off and causing O'Neill to come in the first place? Micky Adams got promoted with a squad that was inherited from Peter Taylor but do we give Taylor credit for that?

Of course we don't, Pearson was up there with the best managers we've ever had, but he's gone and that was his fault and no one else's.

This title is down to Claudio and no one else.

To compare the two is a joke. Basically the league cups wins were all O'Neills signings. The team that won us the league this year we're nearly all signed by Pearson (and his staff), it's pretty obvious that Inler and Benny are CRs only signings for us. I think CR has realised that SW is the man to identify the signings for us, SW would not be at the club without Pearson. The players 'team spirit' was also mounded by NP- he deseves as much credit as anyone.

I do however believe without CR tactics we would not have won the league with anyone else in charge (inc NP)

[dylanlegend]

FACT: We wouldn't have won the PL with Pearson in charge this season, however, we also wouldn't have won the PL this season if Ranieri had taken over from Sven in 2011.

[sly1]

Get over it we've moved on champions of England

[howlinmadmurfdoc]

To compare the two is a joke. Basically the league cups wins were all O'Neills signings. The team that won us the league this year we're nearly all signed by Pearson (and his staff), it's pretty obvious that Inler and Benny are CRs only signings for us. I think CR has realised that SW is the man to identify the signings for us, SW would not be at the club without Pearson. The players 'team spirit' was also mounded by NP- he deseves as much credit as anyone.

I do however believe without CR tactics we would not have won the league with anyone else in charge (inc NP)

In 97 Poole, Whitlow, Grayson, Walsh, Heskey and Robins were all played under little. And Kamark was signed by Mark Mcghee.

The only person that should have any feeling towards NP now with regards to the title win is him, he should be kicking himself that he cost himself his job because his son is a moron.

[foxsake123]

The guy is a mentalist. And as for keeping us up it was his fault we were down there. We were far better than the 3 that went down + Newcastle & Sunderland.

He refused to put 5 across midfield until the very end and refused to play Albrighton and from a personal point of view didn't give Wood a chance either.

Couldn't handle how things were going so petulantly argued with journos and even turned on LCFC fans.

And then finally said this season he wouldn't be pleased for everyone at LCFC if we won't the title. Yet some dipsticks want him on the parade bus.

[inckley fox]

It's hard to digest so much misinformation.

 

O'Neill inherited almost the entire defence from the Little era - Poole in goal, Grayson right back, Whitlow left back, Hill and Walsh in the middle. He also still had Carey on the books when he first came. Of those players, only Walsh was signed by another manager, though Walsh himself would say that Little was the making of him. Then there was Lewis on the left, Joachim on the right - both youth team products brought on by Little. The sale of the latter would fund the purchases of Claridge and Lennon. Up front there was Roberts. 

 

Walsh was a key part of O'Neill's success in the top flight. Grayson and Whitlow played significant roles too. Poole and Roberts also had a big say in us going up in 1996, which made it all possible. And, of course, when Little took over us in 1991 we were considered a comparable or smaller side, with comparable or lower attendances than all sorts of clubs - Luton, Notts County, Port Vale, Plymouth, Bristol Rovers, Southend, Swindon, Grimsby, Oxford, Cambridge - who would have been long since left behind by the time O'Neill arrived. It was because of Little that we didn't go the same way as them.

 

As for saying Pearson has no part in this, well, that's just laughable. The only first team regular this season who wasn't signed by Pearson, had been a major target of Pearson. The scouting for the squad was done by the network installed by Pearson. He was the guy who brought the team up from the third tier to the first, kept them there, and actually began the run of form which ended in a title. Most of the backroom staff, as well as players, were appointed by him.

 

As for 'refusing to play Albrighton' - well, he signed him and had him as a fixture in the side by the end of the season. And 'refused to play five across midfield until the end' - well, he did actually do that, didn't he? And we finished 14th. Whether the wins came in April or October hardly matters.

 

If you read the various histories written about our club, the man generally credited with being the first ever to craft a quality team was Peter Hodge. His highest league finish was 17th, his successor made it to 2nd with the same side, and was relatively unpopular because people were so keen to credit Hodge, much like Clough was still getting credit when Derby won their second title.

 

Ranieri is our best ever manager, that's clear. But to say Pearson has nothing to do with this would be ungrateful beyond words. And I, while we're at it, got accused of being ungrateful to Pearson more than once. Yes, he may well only have himself to blame for having left, and I'm sure we wouldn't have won the title had he been in charge. But credit where due, surely - his contribution to this was immense.

[filbertway]

 

If we're mid table next season I definitely expect people to be saying "Ranieri has done all he can, he's deteriorating, we beed fresh blood".

 

From a purely objective view, not one person can say they don't respect and appreciate what Pearson has done for this club. I can see why people didn't care much for his personality, but to attack him for that and ignore his incredible work at this club is pretty pathetic.

 

It's about time he got back in employment, he's in danger of becoming the new Curbishley.

[dylanlegend]

It's hard to digest so much misinformation.

O'Neill inherited almost the entire defence from the Little era - Poole in goal, Grayson right back, Whitlow left back, Hill and Walsh in the middle. He also still had Carey on the books when he first came. Of those players, only Walsh was signed by another manager, though Walsh himself would say that Little was the making of him. Then there was Lewis on the left, Joachim on the right - both youth team products brought on by Little. The sale of the latter would fund the purchases of Claridge and Lennon. Up front there was Roberts.

Walsh was a key part of O'Neill's success in the top flight. Grayson and Whitlow played significant roles too. Poole and Roberts also had a big say in us going up in 1996, which made it all possible. And, of course, when Little took over us in 1991 we were considered a comparable or smaller side, with comparable or lower attendances than all sorts of clubs - Luton, Notts County, Port Vale, Plymouth, Bristol Rovers, Southend, Swindon, Grimsby, Oxford, Cambridge - who would have been long since left behind by the time O'Neill arrived. It was because of Little that we didn't go the same way as them.

As for saying Pearson has no part in this, well, that's just laughable. The only first team regular this season who wasn't signed by Pearson, had been a major target of Pearson. The scouting for the squad was done by the network installed by Pearson. He was the guy who brought the team up from the third tier to the first, kept them there, and actually began the run of form which ended in a title. Most of the backroom staff, as well as players, were appointed by him.

As for 'refusing to play Albrighton' - well, he signed him and had him as a fixture in the side by the end of the season. And 'refused to play five across midfield until the end' - well, he did actually do that, didn't he? And we finished 14th. Whether the wins came in April or October hardly matters.

If you read the various histories written about our club, the man generally credited with being the first ever to craft a quality team was Peter Hodge. His highest league finish was 17th, his successor made it to 2nd with the same side, and was relatively unpopular because people were so keen to credit Hodge, much like Clough was still getting credit when Derby won their second title.

Ranieri is our best ever manager, that's clear. But to say Pearson has nothing to do with this would be ungrateful beyond words. And I, while we're at it, got accused of being ungrateful to Pearson more than once. Yes, he may well only have himself to blame for having left, and I'm sure we wouldn't have won the title had he been in charge. But credit where due, surely - his contribution to this was immense.

Very good points well written. I disagree with saying Ranieri is our best ever manager though. Yes what we have achieved is unthinkable but I also think Ranieri didn't for 1 second believe we would win the PL this year, in the respect of inheriting the players and setup he did, he has to count himself a bit lucky, on the other hand, we as LCFC fans have to count ourselves lucky that Ranieri was the perfect fit for us at the time. I still think it's a little early to be calling home our greatest ever manager after 1 season

[MPH]

oh a thread about Nigel that's descended into a an argument about him. Such a surprise....

[foxfanazer]

That's my point mate.

ANOTHER thread....

That you choose to comment on

[The Horse's Mouth]

I bet he's proud but I do think there is a bit of jealousy that he couldn't continue on, especially considering that April run can be attributed to this success. 

[AKCJ]

You really do have to despair.

 

Why can't people just appreciate that he's laid the perfect foundations for a better manager to come in and take us to the top of English football? It really does make me shake my head.

 

Nigel Pearson was the perfect man for us at the perfect time and he's one of the main reasons we've had an absolutely wonderful half a dozen years or so.

 

Some of you lot really do need to get a hold of perspective.

[David Hankey]

For God's sake let's move on!! Pearson probably wrestling with some opposing player somewhere or sitting a stand well away from the touchline.

 

Yes he did well, as did MoN, Bloomfield and Gillies but as to where they are now I couldn't give a diddly squat.

 

LOOK FORWARD NOT BACKWARDS!!

[ErNanna]

Kicking his son in the ass all day long. Just missed "once in a lifetime"!

[Monsell1976]

These Pearson threads and Pearson should take some credit for this season, are pathetic

I appreciate that Pearson got us in the premier league, recruited a lot of the players, and kept us up( Esteban allegedly had a lot to do with the tactics).

But to keep bringing his name up for me is insulting and undermining of Claudio's achievement.

Pearson played no part in this season, and I believe if he was still here, we would be nowhere near the top.

Claudio, Shakespeare and the CURRENT staff, have got it tactically got it spot on all season.

So I have as much interest in hearing Pearson's opinion, as I have any other pundit, none.

So can we leave Pearson in the past, and talk about Claudio and his achievements, he is the present and hopefully the future, and the man who has gave us something we have never achieved before.

It's all about Claudio now