An open letter to Jamie Vardy ( and any other player who thinks the grass is greener elsewhere

[WigstonWanderer]

Some of you guys need to take a big step back and look at the reality here.  We have had an amazing season, truly amazing.  Everything has been aligned.

 

Claudio came in at just the right moment after a brave call by the owners. 

Our backroom team have stuck around and built on what they already put in place. 

We lost hardly anyone from that amazing fight to stay up last year. 

We signed Kante, who have been far better than we could have imagined.

Vardy & Mahrez stepped up big time, as did everyone else around them.

We had hardly any significant injuries.

The team spirit has been incredible, helped by the dismissal of our title chances by just about everyone.

Other teams have not had our level of focus, or missed key players, or prioritised the Champions League, or announced their manager was off half way through the season.

 

We have not become a big club overnight. 

Our prospects of winning the league next season remain lower than at least 4 or 5 other teams including Arsenal

Our prospects of doing well in he Champions league next season remain lower than at least 2 or 3 other teams including Arsenal

We still have a 32k seater stadium, half of those 4 or 5 teams

We have a smaller fan base than those 4 or 5 teams

We will still have less TV money, and players will consider us a lesser team than those 4 or 5

We will not be in a position to match their wages.

We are still in Leicester, which is not a world city like London

 

Sadly for us, this means that it is highly likely that 1 or all of the 3 biggest stars of our team could leave over the summer.  And we should wish them well, for they are legends.  They pulled if off, and we will never ever forget this season.  Lets not spoil it by getting silly and bitchy, and pretending these guys owe us or the club some kind of loyalty.  This is the ultimate leaving on a high.  They earned the chance to prove themselves on the very highest platform, and I for one would love to see them win the Champions league, and know that we helped make those superstars.

 

It is time to look forward, to bring on the next round of legends, to use our profile and our fame to build to a club that can be a constant in the top half, and to challenge for Europe while we build our stadium, our fan base and our future.  Don't give up my friends, for these are the greatest of times.

Well put.

Still disappointing though.

[flibert84]

He's gone. Reading that Mahrez is also a target!

 

Probably turn out like Franny Jeffers!

[Shelf Side Spurs]

If the Vardy rumours to Arsenal are true and it seems they have some foundation......I think it would be a great shame on the grounds that the fantastic squad and mentality shown last season doesn't stick together to have a pop at the Champions league. I fear if Vardy goes he may be followed by Mahrez, Kante and others.....?

 

What do these guys want for christ's sake? they are PL winners, are playing Champions League football next season, can demand and receive much higher wages (on the back of TV, CL and prize money) Arsenal are allegedly offering £120k a week...is that all there is to it? I would imagine that the team is worshipped in Leicester....if this happens, I feel sorry you fans and it just highlights the mercenary nature of football.

 

Leicester City 'made' these three players last season, it seems the thanks for their life changing career-change is non-existent. If they leave I hope they fail elsewhere and regret the decision, however much money they earn. Its a disgrace.

[David Hankey]

The fact of the matter in football is anyone has their price and contracts don't mean a damned thing.

 

Thank agents for this squalid side of football.

[Aus Fox]

Heard from a friend over there that he has turned down Arsenal and signed better terms with us, after a late offer to match Arsenals terms.

Can't find anything online about this anywhere, anyone closer to the action heard this??

[fuchsntf]

England team taking off... strange no info from media outlets.Grabbing at straws, I know but

if he had signed for the Gunners, wouldnt it have been all over TV tickers or Skysports and BBC.

[fuchsntf]

The fact of the matter in football is anyone has their price and contracts don't mean a damned thing.

Thank agents for this squalid side of football.

I dont like the agents, just like estate agents...

but The jimmy hill move of counter-acting the players being a clubs slave,

had to be done.Footballers needed someone who could

argue their side, on contracts.

Agents were the answer , majority of times it works, they do keep the balance, especially

for the youngsters who clubs and functionaries would take advantage of.

Sort of choice between 2 evils. Football authorities after all these years still are

brash and aroggant over their charges. Agents imo, have been allowed too much room.

But hey, I used headhunters to get me a job and good wage....who am I to judge!!

[AyewJoking]

It obviously doesnt does it, because if youre in the top 4 consistently, youre consistently close to the top of the league.

 

People on this forum just deliberately try to anal

 

yes i like picking up on certain things and replying sarcasticly, no offence intended.

 

i do stand by my opinion that just being a top 4 team is as close to winning the league as someone in mid table though.

 

i know points and odds would suggest otherwise and when do the bookies ever get it wrong heh?

[erlee]

latest update from Telegraph:

>>Try not to snigger at the back, but apparently Manchester United couldn't go for Vardy because the release clause could only be met by a club in the Champions League.

Still, this transfer has well and truly entered Fergie time. Vardy didn't meet his reported 11.30am deadline to decide his future, but why? Here are some theories:

• Vardy wants to save face with Leicester fans by pretending it was more of a dilemma than it really was
• He's genuinely torn between remaining a hero at Leicester or pursuing Champions League football with Arsenal
• Leicester are being played for a bigger contract offer
• Claudio Ranieri has made him an offer he can't refuse - or at least asked him to stay one more year
• Arsenal's marketing department screwed things up and the club needs to do a new photoshoot <<<

[shade]

Yet he comes across as fiercely proud of his roots – “That’s made me the person I am” – and says that the former Fleetwood team-mate who described him as someone “who doesn’t care whether he’s on two grand or two quid” was spot on.

 

“That’s true,” Vardy adds. “My life has changed, but I’m not money-motivated at all; that’s the last thing on my mind. I just want to play football and that’s how I’ve always been. To be honest with you, that shows in my performances, that I’m in a happy place, knowing that I’m doing the job that I love.”

 

no chance he'll go after saying that!

[leicesterlad1989]

_{Dear Vardy, I wrote you but you still ain't calling
I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom
I sent two letters back in autumn, you must not-a got 'em
There probably was a problem at the post office or something
Sometimes I scribble addresses too sloppy when I jot 'em
but anyways; **** it, what's been up? Man how's your daughter?
My girlfriend's pregnant, too, I'm bout to be a father
If I have a daughter, guess what I'ma call her?
I'ma name her Bonnie
I read about your Uncle Ronnie, too, I'm sorry
I had a friend kill himself over some bitch who didn't want him
I know you probably hear this everyday, but I'm your biggest fan
I even got the underground shit that you did with Skam
I got a room full of your posters and your pictures man
I like the shit you did with Rawkus, too, that shit was phat
Anyways, I hope you get this man, hit me back,
just to chat, truly yours, your biggest fan
This is Stan}
 

[flibert84]

It's definitely happening and it's fair to say "Lets all laugh at leicester"

He's on his way to Arsenal, next will be Mahrez and Kante. HA HA HA you've had your 15 minutes, but next season you'll be right near the bottom of the league.

 

LOLOL

[Manwell Pablo]

It's definitely happening and it's fair to say "Lets all laugh at leicester"

He's on his way to Arsenal, next will be Mahrez and Kante. HA HA HA you've had your 15 minutes, but next season you'll be right near the bottom of the league.

 

LOLOL

Laugh at us all you want mate. Trophy is in the cabinet.

[TAFKA Castroneves]

Football really messes up your emotion sometimes haha. There are times I try to remove my "Leicester fan" head and think about things impartially in order to make sense of things - but on this occasion i'm generally quite shocked at what seems to be happening here even despite that.

 

All I can say is either - Vardy didn't himself say the things quoted about how awesome the team are, the love etc (which is unlikely as he's been on camera saying certain parts) and it was all a PR excercise orchastrated by his advisers and agents? or he was advised to say it when he didn't believe it. I don't particulary want to question if it was all BS or not - and ultimatly us feeling like that is probably just the reaction to the situation.

 

I'm pretty sure Vards himself never expected the offer to come in from Arsenal, even the press were surprised as its not a typical Wenger move. I don't mind him entertaining the idea, Wenger has quite a history as do the Gunners. Of course it would hurt as **** but the difference here is Vards isnt 23/24, he's 29/30 - how many moves do you have left at this age, especially for that sort of money.

 

However despite saying that, the fact to me the owners have made a counter-offer shows me that Vards - you should stay.

 

My reasoning is on numerous levels taking into account many factors. Firstly lets get down to money, I think personally the owners coming back with a counter offer is a strong showing of intent (and with the greatest of respect if the problems with drinking at the start of your career with City are true then to me it's an even BIGGER show of support, they now TRUST you with that money - it would be easier now to let you go if they didn't for that sort of money for the club), of course we don't know what the exact financial details are but I very much doubt we'd return with a stupid offer against theirs. Of course you could always go back and get an extra 10k a week from Arsenal, but I guess i'd like to think you'd gain more than 10k a week from being around the guys you get on with and play to help you get to be the best you can be.

 

If you leave - you're giving up the opportunity to go on and create some UNBELIEVABLE history. What group of players has EVER taken a whole football club up to another level and solidified that? I know with you, Kante, Mahrez you guys can scare the European sides in the Champions League at least, next year really is only year 3 of a plan. First year we stayed up, second we were champions, third? there is something there for us - be it the FA Cup, Carling Cup, Champions League - whatever, I know with this team and with the right work on the squad we can compete next year.

 

Hey it sucks if Mahrez and Kante leave and you stay, I get that - but talk about it! Throw Riyad a text and see where everything lies. It'll be more difficult if one of you goes of course.

 

It's almost an impossible decision, I get it. But the BIGGER prize for me is here, not over there.

[Webbo]

It's definitely happening and it's fair to say "Lets all laugh at leicester"

He's on his way to Arsenal, next will be Mahrez and Kante. HA HA HA you've had your 15 minutes, but next season you'll be right near the bottom of the league.

 

LOLOL

He's probably hoping if he has a good season for Arsenal you'll sell him to Man City like you do all your best players.

[Webbo]

 

We lost hardly anyone from that amazing fight to stay up last year. 

 

It occurred to me today that if we had finished around 8th that season, like we really should have with the players we had, Vardy and Mahrez would have probably left then. Maybe not to Arsenal, but Liverpool or Spurs, for 10 or 15 million if we were lucky. Staying at the bottom for half a season is probably one of the main reasons we won the league.

[ImBlue]

It occurred to me today that if we had finished around 8th that season, like we really should have with the players we had, Vardy and Mahrez would have probably left then. Maybe not to Arsenal, but Liverpool or Spurs, for 10 or 15 million if we were lucky. Staying at the bottom for half a season is probably one of the main reasons we won the league.

So Pearson is one of the main reasons we won the league.

[Webbo]

So Pearson is one of the main reasons we won the league.

In more ways than one.

[Donut]

Yet he comes across as fiercely proud of his roots – “That’s made me the person I am” – and says that the former Fleetwood team-mate who described him as someone “who doesn’t care whether he’s on two grand or two quid” was spot on.

 

“That’s true,” Vardy adds. “My life has changed, but I’m not money-motivated at all; that’s the last thing on my mind. I just want to play football and that’s how I’ve always been. To be honest with you, that shows in my performances, that I’m in a happy place, knowing that I’m doing the job that I love.”

 

no chance he'll go after saying that!

 

Do you actually believe a footballer?

[Bluetintedspecs]

Open letters on here and reddit, abusing Vardy's Mrs, outpourings of doom and gloom on here all sad and pathetic!

As the Don said anyone who is unhappy or wants away for whatever reason we should let them go and move on to pastures new!

Keeping an unhappy player is disruptive.

Some of you need to seriously get a grip.

[Sharpe's Foxes]

I think it's finally dawned on Vardy that moving to Arsenal would kill his Vardy movie and make him one of the most hated men among all the neutrals worldwide who were rooting for Leicester and also hate Arsenal because of allegiance to their own teams.  They are basically committing suicide on his movie and attempt to become the next Posh and Becks.

[blue army 1988]

Maybe Vardy has given us all a sign of what's happening by changing his Twitter picture.

[jbloggs]

Agreed, but he already has more money than he can spend in a lifetime so what is the point?

 

One can never have too much money

 

 

Maybe Leicester can sell Vardy look-alike, they'd never know the difference until it's too late

[Manwell Pablo]

I think it's finally dawned on Vardy that moving to Arsenal would kill his Vardy movie and make him one of the most hated men among all the neutrals worldwide who were rooting for Leicester and also hate Arsenal because of allegiance to their own teams.  They are basically committing suicide on his movie and attempt to become the next Posh and Becks.

Dunno why his missus cops so much flack to be honest. Seems to have played a pretty big role in him settling himself down concentrating on his football and delivering the goods. They've been together long before he was a superstar.

In return she gets opposing fans telling her they want to lynch and rape her toddler, a barney with a look alike and a load of fans giving her abuse over a decision that a) hasn't been made yet b) isn't hers. Yeah she probably does want a decent wag lifestyle so what she's not alone there is she.

[Raj]

I don't want us playing into the hands of players and paying ransom wages.

They are already well paid and fair enough The may well deserve morecfor the heroics of last season BUT

This is what got us into trouble last time. I realise we now have mega rich owners but still we need to beware. Once we pay £120k a week they will all want a piece of the pie.

I also think whilst hes with England the London boys will have a field day turning his mind to how great the metropolis is.