The dreaded question

[Samilktray]

Col will bring this thread up in 9

years time when we get relegated from the European super league and start telling everyone he told us so. 

 

Ban him him now to prevent these atrocities. 

[fuchsntf]

4 hours ago, Col city fan said:

Right then...cards on the table...

During today's match thread one or two people were posting we will find ourselves in a relegation battle this season.

Away from home, we've conceded already an alarming amount of goals. And today, I see Sunderland are beating Palace, and Bournemouth are beating Everton...

Knee-jerk or has this some substance?

 

Personally, I think we'll be fine due to the Fortress KP... Even the better sides will struggle against us at home I think.

 

So.. Relegation.....rubbish or potential reality?

 

Discuss.....

A post and question well picked out and worth asking in  this shakey period we are going through. For the fans somebody had to ask , it deserves and has its right alone to be posted this early, simply because how many 4 goals against, we have had in such a short time.

Mainly not because of the losing, its been the real poor performances through the team..

The league games losses one can usually find something positive, within our play.IMO there has been nothing, because we are the reigning PL champions one has the right to expect certain standards, its the non tackling, not competing for the ball, and poor heading, non commitment when chasing a player, thats been missing, what made us so strong and awkward to play against.Its gone missing...

Its not the lack of form, or misfiring Mahrez but the whole ethos is totally absent away from the KP....

 

Have this group inwardly collapsed as a group or within themselves, because they gave their all last season, and not because of lack of want but that Superseason was all they had.

I noticed tonight on the various replays, how for the 1st time in v 4 seasons how many of the players, were gestilating with their arms, blaming all and sundray, except themselves..

 

THIS squad is not like Chelseas, who last year couldnt just pick it up again after their successfull title win...We dont have their squad or individual skills or quality, ours was

the balls for a/the fight. Vardy will still have it, do the others...?? 

Its not laziness or not wanting, its the inner beast x and the underlaying unknown how of the bloody mindnessness.

Plus obviously King Richard seems to have said..ok I got what I wanted...I'm orff, you are  

Left on ya own now.

Mind you top 8 and Champions league will do me fine..

We are ok, at least we are not in Pearsons shoes...

[Guest Col city fan]

5 minutes ago, fuchsntf said:

A post and question well picked out and worth asking in  this shakey period we are going through. For the fans somebody had to ask , it deserves and has its right alone to be posted this early, simply because how many 4 goals against, we have had in such a short time.

Mainly not because of the losing, its been the real poor performances through the team..

The league games losses one can usually find something positive, within our play.IMO there has been nothing, because we are the reigning PL champions one has the right to expect certain standards, its the non tackling, not competing for the ball, and poor heading, non commitment when chasing a player, thats been missing, what made us so strong and awkward to play against.Its gone missing...

Its not the lack of form, or misfiring Mahrez but the whole ethos is totally absent away from the KP....

 

Have this group inwardly collapsed as a group or within themselves, because they gave their all last season, and not because of lack of want but that Superseason was all they had.

I noticed tonight on the various replays, how for the 1st time in v 4 seasons how many of the players, were gestilating with their arms, blaming all and sundray, except themselves..

 

THIS squad is not like Chelseas, who last year couldnt just pick it up again after their successfull title win...We dont have their squad or individual skills or quality, ours was

the balls for a/the fight. Vardy will still have it, do the others...?? 

Its not laziness or not wanting, its the inner beast x and the underlaying unknown how of the bloody mindnessness.

Plus obviously King Richard seems to have said..ok I got what I wanted...I'm orff, you are  

Left on ya own now.

Mind you top 8 and Champions league will do me fine..

We are ok, at least we are not in Pearsons shoes...

Of course it's worth asking the question, if not for anything else than its been mentioned more than once today. It's of no surprise the usual suspects have shunned the question.

The concern is not losing...all teams lose football matches, it's more the manner of the losses. To be conceding four goals on more than one occasion, brings with it questions. Rightly so. Im glad some of the responses have been worth reading. Like this one.

[MC Prussian]

5 hours ago, AlgerianFox said:

You are playing for 40 pts...and I think you ll achieve just that. 

We'll get more than 40 points - possibly 50, if not 60.

 

But it's going to be a rocky season, with emphatic wins followed by depressing losses on a regular basis. We're on the lookout for consistency, and with a newly-assembled starting XI, it'll take some time until we've got that sense of unity and teamwork again that made last season so enjoyable.

[Guest Col city fan]

5 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

We'll get more than 40 points - possibly 50, if not 60.

 

But it's going to be a rocky season, with emphatic wins followed by depressing losses on a regular basis. We're on the lookout for consistency, and with a newly-assembled starting XI, it'll take some time until we've got that sense of unity and teamwork again that made last season so enjoyable.

I guess that the weirdest part. It's not a 'newly assembled' first 11. Today's team saw just two changes from the side that finished last season. Slimani and Amartey.

Youre talking like we ripped the team apart in the summer and are having to almost start again.

We didn't.

[woznotwos]

I think having one eye on the Champions League is something to do with it and Drinky playing for 120 minutes midweek. The lads will bounce back .

[MattCan]

The 4th spot is still only 6 points away and the CL group seems winnable. We are still OK.

[Clever Fox]

No need to panic unless the players throw in the towel. It was always going to be difficult to maintain last seasons success. I believe we're suffering from the lack of a proper preseason. We're paying the price for it now as we're having to ttry and integrate players in competitive matches instead of having things worked out in preseason.

We've had a tough starting league program along with Chelsea in the EPL. It also seems whether intentionally or not that the players have an eye on the Champions league which is understandable. While we may struggle against the top sides until we sort out the midfield, we should have enough to beat the rest and make the top ten.

[fuchsntf]

38 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

I guess that the weirdest part. It's not a 'newly assembled' first 11. Today's team saw just two changes from the side that finished last season. Slimani and Amartey.

Youre talking like we ripped the team apart in the summer and are having to almost start again.

We didn't.

Good response. The players from Last season should be holding up the style and character of the team. Slimani s second game, and Amartey needs support from within, hes a work in progress. It took again another  youngster today, to try and bring some character in todays team

Super sub Gray...

Its our now experienced and older heads, that away from home this season, have really fallen short. The preverbial kick up the backside from the L'pool game, wasnt hard enough.

I am frustrated because our 2 rocks from last season Huth n Morgan, have been pss poor

when competing for the ball in THEIR areas across the back.Also how many high balls they have slipped under and done consistently their Okazaki impressions, by finding the floor more

thanthe  ball.At least Shinji is in full  flow, when he smells grass..

Sorry CBs should stand tall and hold their space.It c seems we have forgot basics.

[jayfox26]

We have got some sorting out to do but there are much worse teams than us. Even with our heavy defeats to Liverpool and United I feel there are only 6 maybe 7 if you include Everton teams that are better than we are. We can still finish top 10 easy. We need to sort the defence out, change system against bigger teams, get slimani bedded in and get Mahrez back on form and we will be fine. The Hull game was a blip, United and Liverpool are better than us and have a lot more money than us and we hammered Burnley and Swansea, although the scoreline didn't reflect the performance against Swansea. We will be fine. We also destroyed the Belgian champions 

[Twitcher]

Of course it's too early to be getting concerned about relegation.  However, there are some frailties that we can all see and have been mentioned earlier that CR needs to address.  We lack pace at the back.  When teams play it quick through us, we can't handle it.  Wes is starting to remind me of the Wes under Nigel Pearson in our first year back.  The new centre half that should be pushing them and making them fear for their place is possibly not good enough to do that, whilst acknowledging it's early days for him.  We should have bought someone that makes both Wes and Huth think their days are numbered, but we haven't done that.  Hernandez didn't even feature ahead of Was mid-week.  Simpson is giving wingers far too much room to work in and cross when and where they like.  He did it against Pedro mid-week and again today.  It feels too easy for teams to score, as it did under NP when we came up.  If the local Sunday team I watch let a goal in tomorrow, as bad as the third today, I'll be surprised and disappointed.

We are then too weak in central midfield.  Can you imagine what an injury to Drinkwater would mean to that midfield?  A central midfield player has to be our late Christmas present in the transfer window.  Gray also has to start on current form.  I think it has to be at Albrighton's expense. 

Not too many concerns up front other than CR making sure Slimani fits in.  I've heard he can be quite critical of his teammates if passes go astray etc.  I hope I'm wrong but just something about his body language makes me think he doesn't really want to be with us, but it was a financial no-brainer not to join. 

In summary I think we'll finish round about where we are now.  We'll win enough games, but we'll also concede enough goals to ensure we don't finish much higher.  We'll get through the group stages of the CL, but get knocked out in the next round, and we'll do okay in the F.A. Cup but not win it. I'll be okay with that season, but a worry is that Drinkwater and Mahrez won't be and will move on.

It's a bit of a crossroads for the club in my eyes.  Are we going to be a Blackburn Rovers and live off that title win, as we find our natural level, or can we really push on and be a regular top 5th-8th position club?  Ultimately it will come down to the ambition of the owners and the money they are prepared to spend. 

As for Tuesday, I think Porto will feel, and be on the wrong end of a backlash.  They always defend high and that will play in to our hands.  Our defence will need to concentrate and improve though. 

[Donut]

2 hours ago, MC Prussian said:

We'll get more than 40 points - possibly 50, if not 60.

 

But it's going to be a rocky season, with emphatic wins followed by depressing losses on a regular basis. We're on the lookout for consistency, and with a newly-assembled starting XI, it'll take some time until we've got that sense of unity and teamwork again that made last season so enjoyable.

Why should it be rocky? why should it take much time at all to bed in new signings, if theyre well thought out and tick all the boxes they will slot in easily.

 

Its not even a newly assembled team, its mostly the same team and the same style that is letting us down.

[Grewks]

More chance of me putting a bet on Nugent winning the Golden boot.

[maxwelld_]

I consider us to be mid table like Southampton and Everton.  Just want us to build on last season and push for Europa league as brugge away was amazing and I want many more European away days to come hopefully. 

 

Just need to be more savy away from home. Teams have worked us out now we need to bolster the midfield as we are getting overrun 3-5-2 and we need to sign a Kante replacement or try and resign him as he doesn't look happy currently 

[CosbehFox]

Realistically other than the Hull game, the results (not neccesarily the margins) have gone completely as expected. 

 

The big clubs have hit back - reputations to restore and we have a target on our backs. 

[roblcfc84]

Relegation - after 6 games! Having played Arsenal, Liverpool and Utd away. I go to Sunderland quite a bit with my mates, as I l live in the north east now - they are so poor and no comparison to us and the most of the bottom half is similar. We deserved to beat Arsenal in fairness - and Hull in fairness. So after two poor away performances which in fairness we really only blew in 20 minute spells of madness - we are in the mix for the drop. For me, top ten and out of the group stage of CL would be a good season - Top 4 is not on the table and  I'm not sure it ever was after last year. 

[sylofox]

I so hope some of you lot don't have any rope laying around at home. We have lost away to two of the sides I would expect to be top 4/6. Not saying I am happy about it but it happens. The only result that is bad is the hull game the Chelsea game did not matter this season.

[Chico1958]

It happens, get over it and move on

 

We'll be fine

 

Just think how Chelsea Fans must be feeling this morning. That might brighten your day up

[MC Prussian]

6 hours ago, Donut said:

Why should it be rocky? why should it take much time at all to bed in new signings, if theyre well thought out and tick all the boxes they will slot in easily.

 

Its not even a newly assembled team, its mostly the same team and the same style that is letting us down.

Why shouldn't it be rocky? Football isn't like Football Manager where you can sign players and then hit "Quit" and start anew when things don't work out like you want them to.

The human factor also comes into play. Slimani was signed when the season was already underway and has had one good game out of three so far, and that was against Burnley.

 

I didn't say a newly-assembled team, I said "newly assembled starting XI". Last season saw us come out of the tunnel with a pretty much unchanged starting XI for most part of the campaign. We have added Slimani up front now and are aching a bit in central midfield. Some will say the loss of Kanté hit us big-time, others will state that his replacement(s) can't live up to expectations because they are either too erratic still (Amartey) or injured/recovering (Mendy).

 

Other teams have also figured out the way to play us. And some of our key players look a bit jaded and lacklustre, and that can't be solely down to fatigue.

[Old Fox]

9 hours ago, Col city fan said:

I guess that the weirdest part. It's not a 'newly assembled' first 11. Today's team saw just two changes from the side that finished last season. Slimani and Amartey.

Youre talking like we ripped the team apart in the summer and are having to almost start again.

We didn't.

I think it's a fair question you ask Col as I am sure lots of fans are thinking it so ignore the usual abuse fella!

 

i really believe that 3 of our back 4 peaked last season by playing every game like it was their last at a time in their career where there legs could just about carry their minds....Fuchs, Huth and Morgan. Can they replicate that intensity, concentration and physicality at such a high level of consistency again....it appears not but maybe they will in the Champions League?

 

it is undoubtedly not helped by losing the little man but as Claudio says we need to adapt and I think he does too...our midfield can't cope with the re-energised big boys in a 4-4-2 away from home plus Mahrez, Vardy and Albrighton don't look anything like they have hit their straps yet....

 

Inadequate quality and quantity recruited imo but that's because I believe we could have made strides towards the Top 6 clubs but feel we missed a bit of an opportunity but I still think we should be mid table which 18 months ago we would all have been delighted with.

[foxfanazer]

To me we look well short in key areas and it's worrying. Our defence is a shambles and we have no quality next to Drinky. The new contracts seem to have taken some of the hunger away from the likes of Vardy and Mahrez

 

I think we'll stay up but it won't be comfortable by any means and changes will be needed. I love Claudio but I'm not sure how he'll be when things ain't all rosey

[Crinklyfox]

I can see this thread being open for some time.

 

It's too early in the season for predictions so far as I am concerned.  We've started badly, didn't look like we cared at Hull, overpowered by Liverpool and disorganised against Man Utd.  Confidence has always been high in the squad but much more of this and it will start to slip away and take results with it; conversely if we 'click' in a few games we could get back to the form of last season which would lead us to a comfortable league position at the end of the season.

 

We have a larger squad with more strength in depth than last season which should help when certain players aren't performing to their potential.  At the moment I don't know what our best team looks like as some of the stalwarts last year aren't at their best right now.  Ranieri has to manage that situation and move us forward, something I believe he's well capable of.  So I'm frustrated and disappointed but not yet fearful of relegation.  

[justfoxes]

I'm still keeping to my top six Finish end of season,we are struggling away from home and that is one hell of a worry hoping this is just a blip and the management and lads can sort it out!

Also Slimani is getting use to the premier league at times he looks a little out of place but that will come the other lads have new players in the squad to get used too hoping that will sort out soon too !!

Does Claudio really know yet his definitive first team and formation yet?

Home form is superb pity we can't carry this away from home but so long as we can pick up the results at home and start grinding out results away from him we will be ok we were spoiled last year with our form etc and as far as I'm concerned the bubble hasn't burst it's still fine !!

On the Positve side Demari Gray looks a real promising young lad and can see him only getting better hoping he can become a great asset for us ?

Next up a change from the EPL and an important Champions League game against Porto at home so let's hope we can have a great performance from the lads and pick the spirits for our next EPL Gama Saturday !! I'm 

[MC Prussian]

11 hours ago, Col city fan said:

I guess that the weirdest part. It's not a 'newly assembled' first 11. Today's team saw just two changes from the side that finished last season. Slimani and Amartey.

Youre talking like we ripped the team apart in the summer and are having to almost start again.

We didn't.

Any changes to a starting line-up that boasted such immense consistency is a massive change. You add two new players to two new starting slots, you're basically starting from scratch again, because you need to implement those players individually and as part of a collective, hence "newly-assembled".

Amartey influences many of his Leicester players around him, be it up front, in the back or left or right of him. Central midfield is a crucial position. As much as I like our players to develop and getting better, Amartey still looks a bit shaky (could be down to his age, I guess) and inconsistent. Slimani also just needs time to find his feet, as he's had one great game and two rather forgettable appearances.

I have hope that we'll improve in terms of consistency once Mendy is back, but just a little.

 

Some of our fans have this odd assumption that you can take two players out of the equation and expect everything to work as well as it did last season.

I'm sorry, honeymoon's over and things aren't that simple - time to face the fact that 2015/16 was a one-off (albeit a brilliant one) and that the real work starts here.

If we want to confirm our holding in the league, we should've/could've strengthened a bit better over the summer.

Our signing policy to me suggests we've either failed in bringing more talented and experienced players to the club or that the management's happy the way it is, not feeling like pushing to the top again like last season. Which is ok, I guess. Leicester City being a Top Ten PL club still sounds fine to me, especially given the competition.

 

 

[Guest Col city fan]

59 minutes ago, Old Fox said:

I think it's a fair question you ask Col as I am sure lots of fans are thinking it so ignore the usual abuse fella!

 

i really believe that 3 of our back 4 peaked last season by playing every game like it was their last at a time in their career where there legs could just about carry their minds....Fuchs, Huth and Morgan. Can they replicate that intensity, concentration and physicality at such a high level of consistency again....it appears not but maybe they will in the Champions League?

 

it is undoubtedly not helped by losing the little man but as Claudio says we need to adapt and I think he does too...our midfield can't cope with the re-energised big boys in a 4-4-2 away from home plus Mahrez, Vardy and Albrighton don't look anything like they have hit their straps yet....

 

Inadequate quality and quantity recruited imo but that's because I believe we could have made strides towards the Top 6 clubs but feel we missed a bit of an opportunity but I still think we should be mid table which 18 months ago we would all have been delighted with.

Genuinely mate, I could have predicted the type of responses to the OP from the people on here they came from....so no, I'm not bothered.

The question was being raised in the match thread, so I threaded it.

And also said I thought we'd be fine.

In some way that equates to me saying 'I told you so'...

What am I meant to be 'telling'? That we'll be fine? Ok then...