To do it all again.

[Soar Fox]

1 hour ago, MPH said:

Looks like the players themselves realize we wont win the league again ( already lost as many games as we did the whole of last season!) but they definitely look up for it in the champions league....

The problem we could end up having then is once we are knocked out the champions league and finish mid table, players like Vardy sat on £100k a week for the next 3 years with no motivation. 

[Soar Fox]

3 hours ago, Fox92 said:

Can't do it again. Certain players are ''average" who were at the top of their game and that won't happen again.

 

I look at Drinkwater, class player, and he's looked class this season so far again.

The only player who has justified a significant wage rise. 

[Captain...]

4 hours ago, lgfualol said:

There is no motivation for all the PL winners to perform in the Prem. That's gonna be a problem.

 

I'd say for this reason we should drop those looking lazy in the Prem and give Gray, Kapustka, Musa, Okazaki, Slimani and Hernandez a go together because at least they will look and should be fired up to play in the premier league. 

That  is a very good point, we need to get the players fighting again, and if they aren't fighting for the title, then we need to get them fighting for their place.

 

Chelsea will be another defeat if we don't change something, so lets change something. If it is another defeat then so be it, we can go back to the tried and trusted for the Copenhagen, hopefully with a fired up Vardy and Mahrez. If it does work, 3 in midfield, 5 at the back, whatever then we have learnt something and can build on it.

 

It is not a great surprise even the most established clubs can drop off after winning the league, look at Chelsea, and it is more evident in smaller clubs winning the league, Ateltico were well behind Barca and Madrid after winning La Liga, last season they got themselves back in the race and took it to the final week of the season.

 

Wolfsburg won the Bundesliga then finished 8th, but got themselves back to challenging for the title a few seasons later.

 

The likes of Blackburn and Hellas Verona on the other hand won the title  and defended it badly and dropped away quite dramatically. We have to make sure we are in the first group and not the second.

[Fox92]

4 hours ago, Babylon said:

One of the reasons I expected I slow start, I'm still struggling to get up for games myself, so I'm sure players are. The intensity and the buzz of last season was incredible and all consuming, knowing it's unlikely to be matched will take some time to get over.

Rubbish. 

 

They are supposed to be professionals. If they can't get up for games (as you say) then they shouldn't be here, simple as. 

 

Last season, as good as it was, is over. Look back on it, yes, but ultimately go again. The greats don't stop do they - Fergie didn't think one title was enough, Clough didn't think stop at one European Cup - so we need a different mentality then. You do too if you "can't get up for games". Fvck me I'm up for every game. I'm going to another away game in two weeks and I wish it was tomorrow. 

[ALC Fox]

The thing is, to my mind the players still have everything to prove in the PL.

 

Yes they won it, but your Sky Sports and 5 Live ex-pros and other pundits all agree it was a one-off. Spurs, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will all be stronger etc., etc.

 

They were written off this season before last season was over.

 

Why wouldn't they be motivated to prove that they can sustain a title challenge two years running? It's easier said than done, obviously, but surely winning the league multiple times is better than doing it once.

 

(By the way, I just want to clarify that I don't expect a title challenge, not at all. I'm just responding to the notion that possibly the players aren't as up for it in the league games this season.)

[Countryfox]

4 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

Rubbish. 

 

They are supposed to be professionals. If they can't get up for games (as you say) then they shouldn't be here, simple as. 

 

Last season, as good as it was, is over. Look back on it, yes, but ultimately go again. The greats don't stop do they - Fergie didn't think one title was enough, Clough didn't think stop at one European Cup - so we need a different mentality then. You do too if you "can't get up for games". Fvck me I'm up for every game. I'm going to another away game in two weeks and I wish it was tomorrow. 

 

4 minutes ago, ALC Fox said:

The thing is, to my mind the players still have everything to prove in the PL.

 

Yes they won it, but your Sky Sports and 5 Live ex-pros and other pundits all agree it was a one-off. Spurs, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will all be stronger etc., etc.

 

They were written off this season before last season was over.

 

Why wouldn't they be motivated to prove that they can sustain a title challenge two years running? It's easier said than done, obviously, but surely winning the league multiple times is better than doing it once.

 

(By the way, I just want to clarify that I don't expect a title challenge, not at all. I'm just responding to the notion that possibly the players aren't as up for it in the league games this season.)

 

Give them a break you pair ...    they played their fookin hearts out last season and won us the league ...   professionals or not they can't just do it again like some magic trick ...   they aren't robots.

[erlee]

I think Ranieri should take the boys back to the Pizza place .. this time free pizza + free beers for a clean sheet

 

[erlee]

24 minutes ago, Steve_Walsh5 said:

The only player who has justified a significant wage rise. 

not really mate - .. losing possession...stray pass   - i reckon he's off form at the moment

[Fox92]

5 minutes ago, Countryfox said:

 

 

Give them a break you pair ...    they played their fookin hearts out last season and won us the league ...   professionals or not they can't just do it again like some magic trick ...   they aren't robots.

Yes they did and they're heroes all of them. But it's a new season now... It's not an excuse to stop.

 

You know, Manchester United won it year after year. Huddersfield, Liverpool, Forest.

 

Apart from a couple of games we've been pathetic so far. Hull, Liverpool, United were embarrassing performances. Not just results but performances.

[Countryfox]

Just now, Fox92 said:

Yes they did and they're heroes all of them. But it's a new season now... It's not an excuse to stop.

 

You know, Manchester United won it year after year. Huddersfield, Liverpool, Forest.

 

Apart from a couple of games we've been pathetic so far. Hull, Liverpool, United were embarrassing performances. Not just results but performances.

Even CR admits he has maybe asked too much of them.     And with all due respect to the players we aint ManU or Liverpool.

[Soar Fox]

5 minutes ago, erlee said:

not really mate - .. losing possession...stray pass   - i reckon he's off form at the moment

I've been to 8 of our 10 games (didn't go to Liverpool or Man Utd) so I can't comment on them. But I've thought he has looked head & shoulders above any other midfielder this season including the players he has played against. 

 

Yesterday i agree he was a bit sloppy in possession but he looked like he was getting frustrated with the lack of movement up front. You look whenever Huth, Morgan & Amartey get the ball they are always laying a short pass of to Drinkwater as they don't seem to want the ball at their feet.

[Babylon]

12 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

Rubbish. 

 

They are supposed to be professionals. If they can't get up for games (as you say) then they shouldn't be here, simple as. 

 

Last season, as good as it was, is over. Look back on it, yes, but ultimately go again. The greats don't stop do they - Fergie didn't think one title was enough, Clough didn't think stop at one European Cup - so we need a different mentality then. You do too if you "can't get up for games". Fvck me I'm up for every game. I'm going to another away game in two weeks and I wish it was tomorrow. 

They might be professionals, but they are also human beings with emotions that are hard to control.

 

You go on about "greats", news flash... most of the players we have are nowhere close to being greats and they know it. But what they achieved is classed by many as the greatest sporting achievement in history. To get over that can take time, especially when if you're entirely honest you know it's never going to happen again.

 

Mentality is just a small part of it, we're also now seeing teams set up the same way against us that totally negates the system we used last season. We're struggling to counter deep defences and it's showing up the limited technical ability of quite a few of our players. We didn't win the league with great players like Ferguson, we won it with a great system.

 

But well done for being a Leicester super fan, up for every game Fox92.

[Trav Le Bleu]

5 hours ago, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

Being no expert on these matters I'd like to throw the question out there regarding the players mentality , I've wondered recently about how players who have achieved such greatness as they did last season motivate themselves to start all over again, probably already thinking they will never achieve that level of success again, this is not a criticism of the players but a realistic view that last season was a one off. 

Once the pinnacle has been reached where do you go?

I don't think anyone on here is an expert, except maybe Babs and Bilo.

 

Obviously though there are many more distractions, as well as big games too. Who wouldn't be a little daunted?

[Gerard]

7 minutes ago, Steve_Walsh5 said:

I've been to 8 of our 10 games (didn't go to Liverpool or Man Utd) so I can't comment on them. But I've thought he has looked head & shoulders above any other midfielder this season including the players he has played against. 

 

Yesterday i agree he was a bit sloppy in possession but he looked like he was getting frustrated with the lack of movement up front. You look whenever Huth, Morgan & Amartey get the ball they are always laying a short pass of to Drinkwater as they don't seem to want the ball at their feet.

 

Drinkwater is the only one who appears to have upped his level again and is arguably our most important player now.

 

I'd like to see us transition to a 4-3-3.

 

Get in full backs who are comfortable going forward.

Amartey will eventually be the man to cover the defence when the full backs go forward

Drinkwater and possibly Silva to be our midfield creativity.

Slimani as No 9 with Mahrez and Vardy along side him.

 

We need to get more bodies in midfield, 3*CM's and the two wide forwards and full backs joining in.

 

[yag101]

3 hours ago, Countryfox said:

Wise old bird old Red Nose ...   but you'd have to be careful you have some players left.

All teams have a 'cycle'. Most of the time, as results and performances start to fade, the managers get sacked or leave and a new one comes in, changing a load of things. But SAF instead ripped up the team himself from time to time, making closeouts whenever necessary.

[Countryfox]

7 minutes ago, Babylon said:

They might be professionals, but they are also human beings with emotions that are hard to control.

 

You go on about "greats", news flash... most of the players we have are nowhere close to being greats and they know it. But what they achieved is classed by many as the greatest sporting achievement in history. To get over that can take time, especially when if you're entirely honest you know it's never going to happen again.

 

Mentality is just a small part of it, we're also now seeing teams set up the same way against us that totally negates the system we used last season. We're struggling to counter deep defences and it's showing up the limited technical ability of quite a few of our players. We didn't win the league with great players like Ferguson, we won it with a great system.

 

But well done for being a Leicester super fan, up for every game Fox92.

Just what I meant to say Babs ...   but I sort of condensed it a bit.   

[MPH]

56 minutes ago, Steve_Walsh5 said:

The problem we could end up having then is once we are knocked out the champions league and finish mid table, players like Vardy sat on £100k a week for the next 3 years with no motivation. 

 

 

 

I agree completely... potentially a huge problem....

[filbertway]

Drinky's head and shoulders above any other player this year, both in terms of effort and ability. It must be frustrating for him when he seems to be the only one busting a gut every game and generally performing to a decent standard.

[Babylon]

5 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I don't think anyone on here is an expert, except maybe Babs and Bilo.

 

Obviously though there are many more distractions, as well as big games too. Who wouldn't be a little daunted?

I'm no expert, I just consider how I felt / feel about the season and coming into games. It all just felt a little after the lord mayors show.

 

Doesn't mean I or the players don't want to win things and continue to do well. But we were never a Spurs/City etc, who despite not winning the league were clearly where they were through having a good system and some technically very good players capable of playing great football.

 

We were all about a system and the players living on the edge, putting in that extra effort to make up for what they might have been lacking elsewhere... lose that edge a little bit and it can take away quite a bit from a team like us. Chuck in people being more aware of our system and them knowing how to take something away from us, it looked a potentially tough time.

 

That's why pre season I said I wanted us to try and adapt the way we play, it was obvious what was coming. I'm annoyed we've seemingly done nothing about it.

[Devonfox1884]

You know it's bad when as a fan, you're finding it tough to get 'psyched up' for the Prem games as I am currently finding it. The champions league games give me the same buzz I had for all of last season, and therefore the intensity I feel when watching the game rockets up. I can kind of understand the players apparent favouring towards the champions league.

 

Then again, if I was being paid £10,000s of pounds of week I'm sure I'd be able to motivate myself for any game in front of me

 

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

5 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I'm no expert, I just consider how I felt / feel about the season and coming into games. It all just felt a little after the lord mayors show.

 

Doesn't mean I or the players don't want to win things and continue to do well. But we were never a Spurs/City etc, who despite not winning the league were clearly where they were through having a good system and some technically very good players capable of playing great football.

 

We were all about a system and the players living on the edge, putting in that extra effort to make up for what they might have been lacking elsewhere... lose that edge a little bit and it can take away quite a bit from a team like us. Chuck in people being more aware of our system and them knowing how to take something away from us, it looked a potentially tough time.

 

That's why pre season I said I wanted us to try and adapt the way we play, it was obvious what was coming. I'm annoyed we've seemingly done nothing about it.

Okay, so just Bilo then.

[Fox92]

21 minutes ago, Babylon said:

They might be professionals, but they are also human beings with emotions that are hard to control.

 

You go on about "greats", news flash... most of the players we have are nowhere close to being greats and they know it. But what they achieved is classed by many as the greatest sporting achievement in history. To get over that can take time, especially when if you're entirely honest you know it's never going to happen again.

 

Mentality is just a small part of it, we're also now seeing teams set up the same way against us that totally negates the system we used last season. We're struggling to counter deep defences and it's showing up the limited technical ability of quite a few of our players. We didn't win the league with great players like Ferguson, we won it with a great system.

 

But well done for being a Leicester super fan, up for every game Fox92.

I'm not saying they don't have emotions but we've had a summer break since last season. What are you telling me they can't move on? Is that the excuse for our pathetic performances? I've been to 7 out of 10 games so far this season and all away games (minus Brugge) we have looked second best. Even Hull, yes that's Hull, looked better than us. I thought we brought in players to counter this problem, especially now we have too many games. Musa, a £16million player, not even in the squad. We need to rotate. It's the same lineup every game (minus a change at right back). Our poor transfer activity means we cannot really change the two aging centre backs.

 

As for "teams set up differently" and "they have figured us out", I don't agree. Teams figured us out in January. Do you really think top managers like Pochetino didn't figure us out!? It's us that have declined. Yesterday for example, we were just launching aimless pointless long balls to Vardy and Slimani which were getting mopped up by Southampton - which isn't a surprise given Van Dik and Fonte are massive - and Southampton looked better than us. They played football. They didn't just kick it long to Austin. It's us that have to change but it seems as if we don't have a plan B.

 

No need for the "super fan" response, I just find it so strange that you're a football fan and you can't get up for games. 

[Babylon]

6 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

I'm not saying they don't have emotions but we've had a summer break since last season. What are you telling me they can't move on? Is that the excuse for our pathetic performances?

I'm saying it's quite possible they haven't as yet, I certainly hadn't come the start of the season. I never said it was THE reason, I clearly said I thought it would be one of the reasons for a slow start. Along with losing out best player and teams being far wiser.

 

6 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

As for "teams set up differently" and "they have figured us out", I don't agree. Teams figured us out in January. Do you really think top managers like Pochetino didn't figure us out!? It's us that have declined. Yesterday for example, we were just launching aimless pointless long balls to Vardy and Slimani which were getting mopped up by Southampton - which isn't a surprise given Van Dik and Fonte are massive - and Southampton looked better than us. They played football. They didn't just kick it long to Austin. It's us that have to change but it seems as if we don't have a plan B.

What on earth has Pochetino got to do with it? They were all over us like a bloody rash at their place and we scraped a win through a set piece. We barely had a sniff, just like we are rarely getting in a lot of games this year as well.

 

That's exactly how we played second half of last season also because teams weren't giving us the space. We only started getting space in the dead rubbers towards the end of the season. Before that we were scraping 1-0 wins every week and not creating much.

 

[Fox92]

4 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I'm saying it's quite possible they haven't as yet, I certainly hadn't come the start of the season. I never said it was THE reason, I clearly said I thought it would be one of the reasons for a slow start. Along with losing out best player and teams being far wiser.

 

What on earth has Pochetino got to do with it? They were all over us like a bloody rash at their place and we scraped a win through a set piece. We barely had a sniff, just like we are rarely getting in a lot of games this year as well.

 

That's exactly how we played second half of last season also because teams weren't giving us the space. We only started getting space in the dead rubbers towards the end of the season. Before that we were scraping 1-0 wins every week and not creating much.

 

Pochettino was an example. I meant, top managers in this division knew how we played at the start of this year. By January time teams had figured us out. We played with the greatest confidence last season, and had a genuine World Class player in Kante to cover too.

[Babylon]

Just now, Fox92 said:

Pochettino was an example. I meant, top managers in this division knew how we played at the start of this year. By January time teams had figured us out. We played with the greatest confidence last season, and had a genuine World Class player in Kante to cover too.

I don't understand your point, it was quite clear we'd started finding it harder second half of last year as we are now. Despite picking up wins the performances were naff... and it's carried on. I didn't say it just happned this season.