Can we establish ourselves as a top 6 side?

[MPH]

What has happened recently, i am sure we will all agree, has been nothing short of phenomenal. But how lasting will the effects be? I certainly don't expect us to win the league again this coming season.... But how long with the Thais hang around for? How long will Ranieri?  Can we unearth more players like Kante and Mahrez or is it really that rare for us to sign players like that?

 

 

Whats stopping us becoming an established top 6 side?

[filbertstreet]

it's what the thais wanted when they bought leicester, can't see why not

[Thracian]

Although what has happened might have surprised people there were perfectly good reasons for it. We were the best team - by a distance and were the best team or thereabout for the last few months of last season.  

 

So quite why we should find it hard to maintain a "top six" status I've no idea.

 

Surely our aim now should be to improve on specific weaknesses. Like an additional striker or two,  another right-back, improved goalkeeper cover, goalscoring midfield player and so on.

 

Winning the Premiership shouldn't be regarded as an end, but a beginning.    .   

[leicesterseddon]

With careful investment, I think its certainly possible we could become a more established side. 

 

On the pessimistic side, the things that *might* prove hindrances:

 

1. Inability to pay the wage bills of top quality players without disrupting squad harmony

 

2. Losing players who want to live in bigger/more exciting cities 

 

3. It will become harder (if not impossible) to keep our transfer targets under the radar

 

4. There are other clubs (Spurs, West Ham, Southampton) hoping to gatecrash the 'establishment' too 

 

Having said that, these things can be managed and overcome...let's hope so anyway 

[AKCJ]

Why not?

[richardsfoxes]

After this season anything is possible. 

[Tinder_Fawx]

With careful investment, I think its certainly possible we could become a more established side. 

 

On the pessimistic side, the things that *might* prove hindrances:

 

1. Inability to pay the wage bills of top quality players without disrupting squad harmony

 

Why do wages have to be so high for players..? I mean look at our team right now, not that high compared to others.

 

2. Losing players who want to live in bigger/more exciting cities 

 

Make Leicester an exciting city with a team, everyone will want to play for you.

 

3. It will become harder (if not impossible) to keep our transfer targets under the radar

 

I agree here.

 

4. There are other clubs (Spurs, West Ham, Southampton) hoping to gatecrash the 'establishment' too 

 

Wankers, but true

 

Having said that, these things can be managed and overcome...let's hope so anyway 

[ousefox]

If we keep our players, make sensible additions, and don't get too tired from Europe and going far in domestic cups, there is absolutely no reason why we can't get top 6 next season.

[Koke]

If we spend wisely then yes we can. We are currently a much better side than West Ham and Southampton and with CL we will get better calibre players coming in so we should be able or keep those sides at arms length.

Yes we will lose players, that's inevitable. But if we replace them wisely like Southampton have done to the players they lost then we can. Be a top 6 wide.

[Foxxed]

Regarding Leicester not being an exciting city, do what Drinky does and commute from Manchester or wherever.

Besides, look at Green Bay Packers. Everyone wants to play for them, despite the fact Green Bay itself is shite. So it's not impossible.

We need to do what we've been doing for a while longer, then reputation and new players will be a lot more eager.

[fuchsntf]

Good thought on the thread..

I reckon the whole of the sporting UK, are waiting for the next task and question to

be asked, the next hurdle that not only the pundits/public will be asking but our nevous fans

who will be waiting with baited breath , how will we start, how will it look in november/xmas etc..

My opinion...none ! I am going to sit back and enjoy, knowing we will be PL champions at

least for 9 months.We still have some positive suprises to come.

one wish, like Claudios...Keep our special players.Find a couple more of gems, plus younger

squad players, that show they want it.!!

I am positive we wo'nt implode.Nerves have been banished , last seasons journey supplied

the tickets, which rides we enjoy are the suprises we are dying to test.

ALL is to experience...We are the Leicester, we know what we are......

[leicesterseddon]

 

With careful investment, I think its certainly possible we could become a more established side. 

 

On the pessimistic side, the things that *might* prove hindrances:

 

1. Inability to pay the wage bills of top quality players without disrupting squad harmony

 

Why do wages have to be so high for players..? I mean look at our team right now, not that high compared to others.

 

I'd say it's linked to point 3 - now we are a more successful (and richer) club, agents will inevitably drive up the wage demands of the players we target. 

 

Also I take your point about this season - but it may turn out just to be an exception that proves the (longer-term) rule. 

 

2. Losing players who want to live in bigger/more exciting cities 

 

Make Leicester an exciting city with a team, everyone will want to play for you.

 

True this would help - but not much LCFC can do about this in the short term. 

 

Also to be clear I'm not worried that much about competing with other English provincial cities - just London/big cities in Europe. 

 

3. It will become harder (if not impossible) to keep our transfer targets under the radar

 

I agree here.

 

4. There are other clubs (Spurs, West Ham, Southampton) hoping to gatecrash the 'establishment' too 

 

Wankers, but true

 

Having said that, these things can be managed and overcome...let's hope so anyway 

 

[GaelicFox]

The likelihood is the next round of TV money will have Amazon/Netflix bidding that's going to bring more stupid levels of cash to our league , so I think the era of medium size teams cementing top 6 places might be challenged , year on year it will come down to who is best coached and motivated and Those variables are very powerful as we have seen this year , that Should bring quite a few changes in the order year on year , I think it's unrealistic to expect us to be there every year but a regular enough top 6 team should be achievable

[Koke]

Does anyone think we can finish top 6 next season with this style? I look at the success of Atletico and I think yes, but then I think we might want attacking full backs and at least one ball playing CB. Next year many bottom half teams will come here and park the bus, and like we struggled against Newcastle and Norwich at home, I think more teams will park the bus. I hope Ranieri is prepared for that cos we won't go half the season again where we score at will due to the opposition coming at us.

This why I want us to sign a quality #10 who's good on the and create chances to break teams down who put ten men behind the ball.

[davieG]

Who knows but I'd much rather the league wasn't made up of a top six and that any team could genuinely have a chance of winning it.

 

Pipe dream maybe.

[Stan]

With careful investment, I think its certainly possible we could become a more established side. 

 

On the pessimistic side, the things that *might* prove hindrances:

 

1. Inability to pay the wage bills of top quality players without disrupting squad harmony

 

2. Losing players who want to live in bigger/more exciting cities 

 

3. It will become harder (if not impossible) to keep our transfer targets under the radar

 

4. There are other clubs (Spurs, West Ham, Southampton) hoping to gatecrash the 'establishment' too 

 

Having said that, these things can be managed and overcome...let's hope so anyway 

 

This factor is over-stated.

 

In any case, I think any footballer who bases a career move on which 'exciting' city he wants to live in should be avoided at all costs.

[Kitchandro]

Sure but we'll need to keep the core together. I mean Claudio, I mean Shakey, Walshie, and the majority of our better players, at least for the short term. Maybe all of them can be replaced when they move on, to an extent, but it needs to be slow transitions rather than mass overhaul.

 

As we all know things can go tits up just as quickly as they can go right. The proof is embedded in our history. Look at the late 70s, early 2000s.....

 

I've always had a theory that eventually everyone goes back to their level. Football works in cycles. But maybe we'll stick it out for a little longer

 

Hopefully we've hit the jackpot at just the right time and that will be a help for the next few years, but as we've proved, it's more about the club being managed properly from top to bottom than having money to burn.

[GaelicFox]

Who knows but I'd much rather the league wasn't made up of a top six and that any team could genuinely have a chance of winning it.

Pipe dream maybe.

I'm not sure it is anymore ... I'm not sure any team but I think we could arrive at a stage where anyone of 10 could win

[Number 6]

Our chances of establishing depend more on the next season than this one for me. Still be some players who regard it as a one off and expect us to drop to mid table next season, which is why recruitment could still be tough. If we have a good run in CL and challenge for top 4 next year then we'll be looked upon more seriously, making recruitment easier.

[Guest CityFan 06]

I do think there is genuine opportunity for us to be established as a top 10/6 club in the Premier League. The current foundations of the club are excellent, and every aspect of the club is ideal (scouting, tactical management, wages, owners, fanbase etc). I almost feel we're all set for becoming a recognised big club in the top flight. I'd say currently we're medium sized-fairly big at the moment, but we have potential to become proper big.

[foxfanazer]

Huge task but its not beyond us by any means. With all the excitement of Champions League football next season I hope we don't take our eye off the ball with regards to domestic success

[Guest CityFan 06]

Potential for cup success is good. Another cup next season would be a superb development following this season.

[Dodgy Bob]

There's no reason why we can't finish top-6 for a few seasons. Our status there will always be a bit precarious though. The likes of Man Utd can withstand a few bad seasons and still be able to attract elite managers and give them hundreds of millions to spend on elite players. When we do eventually have a bad season we'll find it much more difficult to recover without those inherent advantages.

[Wolfox]

Although what has happened might have surprised people there were perfectly good reasons for it. We were the best team - by a distance and were the best team or thereabout for the last few months of last season.

So quite why we should find it hard to maintain a "top six" status I've no idea.

Surely our aim now should be to improve on specific weaknesses. Like an additional striker or two, another right-back, improved goalkeeper cover, goalscoring midfield player and so on.

Winning the Premiership shouldn't be regarded as an end, but a beginning. .

I agree with you (almost) completely

I just want to challenge one point...

Improving the right back... In Danny Simpson we have the best defensive right back in the league.... We don't play full backs that play on, they sit and defend... This is completely critical to our style of play and why (latterly) we have kept so many clean sheets

I like the way we play... So does Claudio...

Simpson will play as many games at right back as he is fit for next season... I don't doubt this one bit

EDIT - if you mean we need cover, then fair enough - carry on!!!

[MPH]

Although what has happened might have surprised people there were perfectly good reasons for it. We were the best team - by a distance and were the best team or thereabout for the last few months of last season.  

 

So quite why we should find it hard to maintain a "top six" status I've no idea.

 

Surely our aim now should be to improve on specific weaknesses. Like an additional striker or two,  another right-back, improved goalkeeper cover, goalscoring midfield player and so on.

 

Winning the Premiership shouldn't be regarded as an end, but a beginning.    .   

 

 

And the chaps below have touched on the potential hindrances... In other words, it's not just up to us...

 

 

Will we be able to find as good players as the ones who will possibly want to move... And even if we do find players with the potential of Mahrez and Vardy in the future, will we be able to afford them the time to settle in and get in their rythm? It isn't the top half of the championship we are talking about but the top of the prem..

 

If we keep our players, make sensible additions, and don't get too tired from Europe and going far in domestic cups, there is absolutely no reason why we can't get top 6 next season.

 

 

With careful investment, I think its certainly possible we could become a more established side. 

 

On the pessimistic side, the things that *might* prove hindrances:

 

1. Inability to pay the wage bills of top quality players without disrupting squad harmony

 

2. Losing players who want to live in bigger/more exciting cities 

 

3. It will become harder (if not impossible) to keep our transfer targets under the radar

 

4. There are other clubs (Spurs, West Ham, Southampton) hoping to gatecrash the 'establishment' too 

 

Having said that, these things can be managed and overcome...let's hope so anyway