How much longer does Claudio get a pass?

[inckley fox]

If he doesn't come up with answers and we're faced with a likely choice of going down with Ranieri, or having a decent stab at staying up without him, then we should go for the latter. Do you ever know when that decisive moment comes? With Pearson in 2015 it didn't click until April. Normally you can't wait anything like that long.

 

The difference between now and that long winter of 2014-15 is that we're not newly promoted, we know there's under-performing quality at our disposal, and we should be setting the bar higher than back then. So maybe Ranieri won't even get the opportunity to flex his transfer market muscles again. And if they want someone else to do that, people have to move fast. December 17th-18th-ish.

 

If it is the case that he's lost his sense of drive, and his grip on the job - and people at the club can see this - then in that scenario, yes, they should act. If it needs to be done, I hope it's handled sensitively - a move upstairs perhaps. If, on the other hand, he still has the same drive and ambition as before and things are just taking a while to re-settle (as I suspect) then he's earned a few further cracks of the whip. But whether it's Ranieri who has the fire in his belly, or someone else, new solutions are needed for new problems. The towel can't simply be thrown in on the grounds that it's Ranieri who's giving up.

 

And I wish people would stop saying things like 'can't you just be grateful that we won the title' though. We can't spend the rest of our lives in May 2016, imagining our beautiful future in the EU, wondering at future foreign relations with a Clinton administration, guessing at when Leonard Cohen will next go on tour and constantly being reminded that you're caught up in a fairy-tale. I don't think that'd be wise.

 

We still shouldn't get rid of Ranieri either. At least I think we shouldn't.

[STUHILL]

I think he deserves the January window to try and make some key signings and change our results. If we come out of January and are still seeing such flat performances and poor results, then we need to consider that a change may be the only chance to stop the downward spiral. Dare I say it, a Sam Alladyce relegation avoiding specialist might be needed. I really pray we won't need to and I believe that there is still enough spirit in this team to keep us safe, even though we are a shambles currently. If a formation and player change, plus 2-3 signings in January, doesn't change our fortunes though, then we have to seriously start thinking if a change is needed. Crazy to think, after what we achieved last year, but staying in the Premier League is more important than loyalty to a failing management. I still don't think it will come to that though, but he has to change things now and stop persisting with this failing formation and playing players who clearly are way out of form. 

[ST20]

2 hours ago, Donut said:

Carlo Ancelotti was lucky inheriting Bayern Munich. World class players with absolutely no competition (and managed to lose to Rostov and not have Bayern top of the league).

 

Zinedine Zidane was lucky to inherit Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

 

How the actual fvck can you say that Ranieri was lucky to inherit Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Andy King and basically all the players you are now like the others slagging off as completely useless?

 

Your logic and anyone who thinks Ranieri was lucky is ridicuolous. By your logic West Ham would have had a realistic title shot because Curbishley won a few games at the end of a season once. Do you realise how ridiculous that sounds?

 

There was no incredible team spirit till those last games. Look at some of those away games. Look at that Hull game where we were desperate for a win and pissed about like clueless twats.

 

Every other top team were off the pace? We went to Man City away who fielded Silva, Fernandinho, Aguero and won 3-1. We played Chelsea who fielded Costa, Hazard, Fabregas and beat them too.....they were off the pace because we were tonking everyone.

 

Anyone who discredits the achievement of last season can royally fvck off because youre a complete idiot

 

 

Bravo.

[EnglishOxide]

I still hold hope that he can turn it around, despite his stubbornness with formation, he is trying all the players. Nobodys position is truly safe. Mahrez and Vardy regularly get taken off and considering how good they were for us last season in terms of being match winning players it's a big move to actually do that.

 

I'd be intrigued to see how we get on with Kasper, Mendy and Drinkwater back in the team.

[Barky]

5 hours ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Yet the fact remains he was incredibly lucky. inherited a team where years of planning and hard work had just clicked, with an incredible team spirit and bond not forged by him. We just won 9 out of 12 games and were on a huge high, hardly relegation candidate form! inherited Kanté. managed during a season where every other top team were off the pace. last season was a perfect storm and he was the lucky beneficiary, and like it or not what we are witnessing now is the real work of Claudio and it's not good enough.

Pearson inherited a derby team who had picked up 14 points from 7 games prior to his arrival and have an even better record since he left (7 wins and 1 defeat in 10). Yet he actually had them in the relegation zone, and then punched the owner for wanting to see what was happening in training. 

 

Ranieri this season in the league - not good enough. In the champions league, our clear priority - impeccable. Pearson - a shambles of a manager. 

[Leicester_Numan]

8 hours ago, Donut said:

I do think to be honest this will be Claudio's last season, probably ever.

 

The pressure he must be feeling now would be taking a huge toll at his age. And hes had a stellar career, there isnt a lot left for him to really achieve now.

 

Hes still the man to manage us of that i have no doubt at all, but i do feel like this season will have aged him a lot.

 

We can all bemoan the signings, the tactics, the preseason. But this is all with hindsight.

 

At the time, the prospect of such high profile friendlies was genuinely exciting and we were all up for them. The vast majority of us. We were all happy with the players that were coming in mostly. Of course, we could have added more depth to the back 4 but Morgan and Huth seem to have aged over night so badly, but generally, we were happy with Hernandez who Simeone regarded so highly, Musa we thought would be direct and tricky.

 

Hes still going to deliver us the biggest game in our history, a knockout champions league game against, who knows, Bayern Munich? Sevilla? Borussia Dortmund?

 

I dont think ive ever wanted a man to turn a situation around so badly.

Well some of us were moaning about the pre-season with foresight. I never thought it was a good idea to be swanning around playing glamour friendlies on what amounts to a goodwill tour and a chance to show off the trophy while the players suffered from travel fatigue and lack of games and therefore fitness.

In both foresight and hindsight, we should have sent the under 23s and done a proper pre-season away at non league grounds and kept our feet firmly planted on them rather than our heads in the clouds.

[Merging Cultures]

1 hour ago, EnglishOxide said:

I still hold hope that he can turn it around, despite his stubbornness with formation, he is trying all the players. Nobodys position is truly safe. Mahrez and Vardy regularly get taken off and considering how good they were for us last season in terms of being match winning players it's a big move to actually do that.

 

I'd be intrigued to see how we get on with Kasper, Mendy and Drinkwater back in the team.

??

[NeilLCFC]

10 hours ago, Barky said:

Can't believe people are still talking about Pearson. Did you not see the absolute state of a job he did at derby?? The man is nothing without Steve Walsh.

Considering how huge a role Pearson has played in the clubs most successful era ever, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why people still talk about him.

[NeilLCFC]

9 hours ago, Donut said:

I do think to be honest this will be Claudio's last season, probably ever.

 

The pressure he must be feeling now would be taking a huge toll at his age. And hes had a stellar career, there isnt a lot left for him to really achieve now.

 

Hes still the man to manage us of that i have no doubt at all, but i do feel like this season will have aged him a lot.

 

We can all bemoan the signings, the tactics, the preseason. But this is all with hindsight.

 

At the time, the prospect of such high profile friendlies was genuinely exciting and we were all up for them. The vast majority of us. We were all happy with the players that were coming in mostly. Of course, we could have added more depth to the back 4 but Morgan and Huth seem to have aged over night so badly, but generally, we were happy with Hernandez who Simeone regarded so highly, Musa we thought would be direct and tricky.

 

Hes still going to deliver us the biggest game in our history, a knockout champions league game against, who knows, Bayern Munich? Sevilla? Borussia Dortmund?

 

I dont think ive ever wanted a man to turn a situation around so badly.

Hi Claudio. 

[NeilLCFC]

4 hours ago, Struwwelpeter60 said:

And before the  "greatest escape ever recorded" took place , " the greatest downfall ever recorded" happened.

For Christ's sake, thanks to Pearson, we spent 145 days at the bottom of the table. 

That is something you seem to forget. 

A newly promoted side to sit at the bottom of the table is hardly 'the greatest downfall ever recorded'. Even when we did go through that horrific run, we still played some good football, the players looked like they gave a shit and we were unlucky a lot of the time and there was always belief that we would turn it round - the total polar opposite of this season.

[Guest Col city fan]

Other than the theory that last season's success is down mainly to Pearson (or Cambiasso?), I can see no point in bringing Nige up again UNLESS people want him to replace the Don?

Is that the case?

[Kinowe Soorie]

9 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

Other than the theory that last season's success is down mainly to Pearson (or Cambiasso?), I can see no point in bringing Nige up again UNLESS people want him to replace the Don?

Is that the case?

Yep! I love Nige. 

[Guest Col city fan]

2 minutes ago, Gerbold said:

You all have your opinions and recommendations - some of them are more perceptive than others though. Turns out that Kante was the most important player in the squad and I wonder now if he knew full well himself that that was the case. Cambiasso turned his back on City as well.

We're now one of the thirty most expensive squads in the world - so money ain't a problem. Except that it has been spent on attackers - the most unreliable and inconsistent players in any squad. I'm coming to the conclusion that midfield is where any team should be concentrating its attentions and cash, because that's where the games are won or lost.

I've also concluded that, if players want to go, then let them. Also, if their continued presence is disruptive, whatever the reason, then show them the door. All the great managers had and have two qualities -  ruthlessness and great motivational skills. All this talk about systems is meaningless when you have intelligent, determined, self motivated and focused players on your books. I see Kaspar Schmeichel, Christian Fuchs, Danny Drinkwater and Shinji Okazaki fulfilling those criteria. What Mendy might bring could be stablisation but it can't be relied on. That's just grasping at straws.

We had the Steve Walsh method - we even had the Leicester ethos -  buy the right player. Then it seemed we got carried away with the big signings. It's not worked...but int the chaos surrounding the title win was anything going to work?

Ranieri might be soft and sentimental - however, he's had to manage an eruption of unprecendented events in Leicester's history. Of course there are those of you who want him gone - but I don't want Sam Allardyce or Ryan Giggs coming within eighty miles of my club.

Sometimes you have to endure because it's the right and honourable and mature thing to do. Knee-jerk reactions are a sign of petulance and immaturity. I despise Man Utd and their supporters for demanding success - talk about the exodus of our recent converts doesn't concern me whatsoever -  it means I can get to see the team play and I'm used to mediocrity anyway as far as City are concerned :-).

If the Sris are committed to City then this drop in form will be a blip. Money will continue to be available to consolidate the clubs position. Even if we're relegated I don't believe it would be for long. I don't want that - I'm as proud of my team as any other Leicester fan yet this 'meltdown' was almost inevitable given the circumstances.

I wrote this as a vague overview - not as a plan to put things right. I want City to play attractive and competent football and for no other club to come to the KP and think it's going to be a doddle and find out they're right.

 

 

Good post. Especially the bit about midfields. Crucial to any team. Ours is rank.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

1 hour ago, Col city fan said:

Other than the theory that last season's success is down mainly to Pearson (or Cambiasso?), I can see no point in bringing Nige up again UNLESS people want him to replace the Don?

Is that the case?

No Col **** no

[shen]

16 minutes ago, Gerbold said:

You all have your opinions and recommendations - some of them are more perceptive than others though. Turns out that Kante was the most important player in the squad and I wonder now if he knew full well himself that that was the case. Cambiasso turned his back on City as well.

We're now one of the thirty most expensive squads in the world - so money ain't a problem. Except that it has been spent on attackers - the most unreliable and inconsistent players in any squad. I'm coming to the conclusion that midfield is where any team should be concentrating its attentions and cash, because that's where the games are won or lost.

But we signed Amartey, Kapustka and Mendy. We extended the contracts of Drinkwater, Mahrez and Albrighton. The only one who left was Kanté! If anything, our midfield had been strengthened in numbers with young midfielders who were pulling up trees in their respective leagues. By all accounts, Mendy looked a tidy player at Nice, Amartey was a fully fledged international for one of Africa's leading sides and a key member or Scandinavias leading club while Kapustka was linked and pursued by clubs with far bigger reputations than ours.

On paper, the recruitment and the targeting looks good.

But Kanté is Kanté. We are not able to repeat the success of our style of play without him.

[elvisfmcfly]

Just putting it out there but with Ranieri's signings for us so far,who actually trusts him to get it right in January? Cause I absolutely do not.

[norwichfox]

To stay a Premier League side, something has to change quickly. We can hope that Mendy will be the catalyst that makes the team "gel" again, but he's an unknown quantity as far as LCFC are concerned. I watched last seasons Everton game again for the upteenth time and now I've calmed down after the awful result on Saturday. Knowing that we are in an almighty struggle to stay up, I really don't want us to throw away the man that was at the helm when the best thing ever in our club's history happened, and nothing the club ever will trump that....not even winning the CL.

 

He's an absolute Gentleman on TV interviews, but just for once I'd like to see him ranting and raving at what is an unacceptable level of play and application from any team in the Premier League, let alone the current Champions. From what I've read in the preceding pages there are some good logical arguments for both of the 2 options of "out the door" or "carry on regardless" and a lot of knee jerk posts (including my own).

 

There is a third option which would fit both sides of the discussion....to move him upward away from the managers position and keep him within the club with a Directors role, a created position him worthy of a legend "God of Leicester City" will do nicely....

 

This would allow changes to team and formation be taken quickly and without pandering to a team choice and tactics based on "they played good last year". We are in a position where we have to average 1.125 points per game for the rest of the season to stay up and on current form I only see Boxing Day and New Years Eve as games we might pick up any points before the transfer window opens. I don't think we have the luxury of "wait and see what happens in the transfer window" to decide.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

9 hours ago, Donut said:

Carlo Ancelotti was lucky inheriting Bayern Munich. World class players with absolutely no competition (and managed to lose to Rostov and not have Bayern top of the league).

 

Zinedine Zidane was lucky to inherit Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

 

How the actual fvck can you say that Ranieri was lucky to inherit Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Andy King and basically all the players you are now like the others slagging off as completely useless?

 

Your logic and anyone who thinks Ranieri was lucky is ridicuolous. By your logic West Ham would have had a realistic title shot because Curbishley won a few games at the end of a season once. Do you realise how ridiculous that sounds?

 

There was no incredible team spirit till those last games. Look at some of those away games. Look at that Hull game where we were desperate for a win and pissed about like clueless twats.

 

Every other top team were off the pace? We went to Man City away who fielded Silva, Fernandinho, Aguero and won 3-1. We played Chelsea who fielded Costa, Hazard, Fabregas and beat them too.....they were off the pace because we were tonking everyone.

 

Anyone who discredits the achievement of last season can royally fvck off because youre a complete idiot

 

 

This

[Ric Flair]

I'm getting very frustrated with Ranieri at the minute, he's waiting far too long to change personnel and formations which has now ripped through our winning mentality and confidence so that when he does eventually change it, the damage will already have been done and it'll be so much harder to implement a positive change. I know it'll never happen but I'd love an explanation off him regarding his tactics this season, how on earth can he continue week in, week out with this chronically ill equipped formation that bleeds goals against the best sides and is still so weak against the dross as well, you just wouldn't stand for it and you'd work day and night to find an alternative. The summers transfers have left us massively unbalanced, where we've so many wingers and forwards and hardly any reliable alternatives in defence or midfield, it's pretty much a disgrace.

 

We all knew Kante was a massive loss, the whole of football knew he was the reason we could play 4-4-2 so easily and yet Ranieri brings in one midfielder who does his best work in a midfield 3 and then waits until the final few weeks of the transfer window to maybe bring another one in, he's fcuked up and rather than swallow his pride and do something about it he's just stubbornly stuck with the same rigid formation and it's produced pitiful displays.

 

You can see the winning mentality draining away from us. At least at the start of the season we were struggling badly against the best in the league but when we played Swansea, Burnley etc we could still inflict our way of playing and hurt teams. Now we are the bins at the back, anonymous in midfield and completely devoid of any creativity or threat up front. It's an absolute embarrassment and we are bang in trouble. Ranieri can chunter on all he wants about staying calm and what not but how can you be calm when you make the same horrific and basic mistakes every week. It's beggars belief.

 

It's a huge few weeks for him. The man is a legend for winning us the league and it was he who mastered this, not Pearson but right now he's off his head. He needs a fcukin dilly ding round his canister to wake him up, get back to reality and sort it out. Swallow his pride and change the way we play before it's far too late.

 

I am furious with him right now. Prat.

[NeilLCFC]

1 hour ago, elvisfmcfly said:

Just putting it out there but with Ranieri's signings for us so far,who actually trusts him to get it right in January? Cause I absolutely do not.

I most definitely do not.

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, elvisfmcfly said:

Just putting it out there but with Ranieri's signings for us so far,who actually trusts him to get it right in January? Cause I absolutely do not.

His transfer record prior to coming here was one of his best assets, he's often done very well in this department but you look at us and it's very, very iffy right now.

[RonnieTodger]

The day Claudio leaves Leicester will be a very sad day for this club, but not nearly as said as going from champions to Championship. He's more than earned enough time to change things, but there's absolutely no sign of it right now. I'm holding onto the possibility of Mendy and Drinkwater being in the same team, but more out of hope than expectation. Something drastic has to change. He's showing a lot of loyalty to players that are quite simply letting him down at the minute. That's his fault as much as theirs.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

5 hours ago, Barky said:

Pearson inherited a derby team who had picked up 14 points from 7 games prior to his arrival and have an even better record since he left (7 wins and 1 defeat in 10). Yet he actually had them in the relegation zone, and then punched the owner for wanting to see what was happening in training. 

 

Ranieri this season in the league - not good enough. In the champions league, our clear priority - impeccable. Pearson - a shambles of a manager. 

If you are a Derby fan fair enough. If you're actually a Leicester fan that statement is a disgrace and you should be ashamed of yourself

[Guest]

My theory is that he is so traumatized about being called the tinkerman that he doesn't have the ability to change the team. 

 

From now on he shall be called 'Sir Samealot'

 

At this point I don't care if we stick out a random team and lose, at least it would look like he is trying to do something. I just hate seeing the same team being put out and the same team loosing and a team that I can predict will be put out and the subs that will come on. If I can do it then the opposition surely know also. On the surface it looks like he is doing absolutely nothing (which i'm sure isn't true) but it's all about perception I guess. One you start to lose the supporters, you begin to lose the players, once you lose the players you loose the owners and that is bye bye Mr Manager.

[elvisfmcfly]

16 minutes ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

If you are a Derby fan fair enough. If you're actually a Leicester fan that statement is a disgrace and you should be ashamed of yourself

I hated Pearson as a Bloke but anyone calling him a shambles is an embarrassment,we wouldn't be premier league without him let alone champions.