Vardy's goal celebration, clearly trolling Riyad

[SheppyFox]

Just now, Fox92 said:

I'd rather not have this attitude either.

 

Mahrez has been superb for us. He wants to a bigger club, at the end of the day if he wants to win more then okay just move him on (for the correct price of course), but now he is our player he needs to be sat down and told 'head down and work hard for your summer move' (or something like that). 

 

He is one of our best players, our most creative player, we need him. Going into a game against a better side on Saturday we need our best players.

 

Players come and go. There's no need for the abuse Mahrez gets directed at him. All that team allowed us to realise our dreams by winning the league, something we all thought we'd never see. 

We should be using the remainder of the season to build a platform for post Mahrez, which isn’t far away, we’re capable of winning the FA cup without him too, which would be a nice springboard  

[Fox92]

Just now, SheppyFox said:

We should be using the remainder of the season to build a platform for post Mahrez, which isn’t far away, we’re capable of winning the FA cup without him too, which would be a nice springboard  

Oh I understand that. 

 

But we've got a player sitting on a £100k a week contract. It doesn't make sense to waste all that money (and talent, of course).

[Wolfox]

3 hours ago, stripeyfox said:

Other way round I think. He definitely played during Taylor's spell at Filbert Street.

 

I have a weird memory of him being on the same pitch as Roberto Mancini at one time...

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, pds said:

He signed at Filbert Street and was still here when we moved.

Scored his only goal for us at KP against Gillingham.

 

39 minutes ago, Donut said:

other way around.

That’ll teach me for not Googling!

 

i stand corrected….  I was dead certain I saw him at the KP…. 

 

Gillingham/ Peter Taylor connection should’ve given me a big clue!

[Fox92]

1 minute ago, Wolfox said:

 

 

That’ll teach me for not Googling!

 

i stand corrected….  I was dead certain I saw him at the KP…. 

 

Gillingham/ Peter Taylor connection should’ve given me a big clue!

He scored against Gillingham when we went up under Adams, first season at Filbert Way.

[Electric Yetis]

3 minutes ago, Wolfox said:

 

 

That’ll teach me for not Googling!

 

i stand corrected….  I was dead certain I saw him at the KP…. 

 

Gillingham/ Peter Taylor connection should’ve given me a big clue!

As I said, unfortunately for you, you would have seen him at Filbert St & KP (Walkers).

 

[stripeyfox]

I realise we are off topic here but apparently we didn't actually get rid of him until 2004!

 

Also, this from BBC article about "Players Managers Love To Sign"

 

"For around 15 years these two were almost inseparable.

Their paths first crossed at non-league Dover Athletic in 1995 before Taylor signed the midfielder for Gillingham in 1999.

Taylor took over at Leicester City in 2000 and, with Neil Lennon having moved to Celtic, decided he needed more steel in midfield. He needed Lewis.

From there Lewis followed Taylor's nomadic career to Hull, Brighton and finally Stevenage.

Presumably much to Taylor's dismay, Lewis retired from playing in 2008, but not to fear Taylor brought him in as a coach at both Wycombe and Bradford."

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Can't we just pickle his body and stick it in a museum somewhere?

[stripeyfox]

11 minutes ago, Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo said:

Can't we just pickle his body and stick it in a museum somewhere?

who Mahrez or Junior Lewis?

[ZeGuy]

1 hour ago, Gerbold said:

You reckon Albrighton is pouring oil then?

Couldn't agree more with your summation of his personality. I'm also sure that, however pissed-off individual teammates are going to be, if he does return soon then things will settle. As to the fans, they too have to forgive and forget. A vulnerable personality, as you've inferred, doesn't need the boo-boys getting on his back. Better for the team and for its progress if the fans are wholehearted in their support for him - not for his actions but for the person. If he needs validation then let's give it - he's done nothing to any of us personally except thwart our ambitions for the Club - still only momentarily. He feels cheated, even if that's not the reality. So a bit of TLC if necessary won't be amiss.

I think what irks a lot of the guys on here is that they wouldn't get away with it - but I've known blokes who've taken a week's sick because they thought they been cheated out of a rise or a promotion - without the publicity this has received.

Got a bit lost in translation here and not quite sure what you mean. Albrighton comes off a great guy, totally devoted to the team and I think that what he said was actually meant.

 

I do sincerely hope that he won't be booed. I understand the fans, their disappointement because I firmly believe that the overwhelming majority liked him despite of his short-comings or inconsistency. They kinda feel betrayed but they'll surely forgive him, once he starts to put magic out of his hat. It won't help anyone, the team first, if boos are to be heard when and if he gets the ball.

 

Hit on the nail. I wouldn't sleep for a week if I had this kind of opportunity (in my job of course) and wouldn't get it because my boss got in the way.

 

They're on the sunny side of life and it's hard to understand how one can sulk whilst being paid 100K a week for kicking a ball, but we have to accept that it's another world with other rules. One has to put some perspective: for one player who makes it to the PL, how many fail? How many see their career broken by a bad injury or simply aren't plucked out of the obscurity? They do not set the wages and are still used and tossed up if they fail to live up to expectations.

 

Ayrton Senna said once (paraphrasing) "We have the chance to practise our hobby as a profession. Our problems are of course very small in comparison to the world's. But that's the only problems we have". There's still a man behind the footballer.

Edited 5 February 2018 by ZeGuy

[HighPeakFox]

There are some good perspectives in here. But referring to an offer of £50-65m as 'peanuts' isn't one of them! 

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

29 minutes ago, stripeyfox said:

who Mahrez or Junior Lewis?

Riad Mehrez 

[AlloverthefloorYesNdidi]

6 minutes ago, HighPeakFox said:

There are some good perspectives in here. But referring to an offer of £50-65m as 'peanuts' isn't one of them! 

Timing wise it is peanuts

[HighPeakFox]

8 minutes ago, AlloverthefloorYesNdidi said:

Timing wise it is peanuts

Disagree. Timing wise, it's insufficient, but peanuts it ain't. 

[AlloverthefloorYesNdidi]

Just now, HighPeakFox said:

Disagree. Timing wise, it's insufficient, but peanuts it ain't. 

Well, yeah, tomato tomato.  I mean, its not literally peanuts. Its just a smaller pile of cash than it should be.  As in, it may as well be a bag of peanuts they slapped us in the face with

[Bunyip]

3 hours ago, The whole world smiles said:

Erm Joe Mattock wasn't bad was he? I remember him being a very decent young left back who we had to sell to the baggies against our wishes (as fans). Don't get me wrong as a person he's a scumbag.

And as his career turned out it was also a scumbag career.

[HighPeakFox]

8 minutes ago, AlloverthefloorYesNdidi said:

Well, yeah, tomato tomato.  I mean, its not literally peanuts. Its just a smaller pile of cash than it should be.  As in, it may as well be a bag of peanuts they slapped us in the face with

Don't want to get into it further, I'm sure we broadly agree. The more I think about the whole incident, the more cross I get with his agent and cronies, and how he's actually a pawn in a game he partially created. 

 

I teach a Derby fan, who decided to tell me this morning that 'Mahrez is too good for Leicester.' 

 

I asked him how he thought Gary Rowett is, and he said he's really good. To which, of course, I said 'yeah, he's too good for Derby.' 

 

Job done. 

[KansasFox]

1 hour ago, Gerbold said:

He could have been pointing at the imaginary watch as if to say it was about time he'd scored in the match . Has Vardy said what was the reason?

The situation has done M's his head in. There have been several instances in this window where players have decided to stay put after an offer for their services, but when another club wants you and you desperately want to go and your employer says no that's all you can hear - not the intricacies of the situation. It doesn't affect Guardiola or the Manchester City decision makers. It doesn't affect Srivaddhanaprabha or the Leicester decision makers  but Mahrez is the piggy-in-the-middle and unable to influence the process. This is the lot of professional team sportsmen (and women). You're contracted, because that's the only way to assure each party has some security - but the advantage is firmly weighted with the 'employer' - big salary notwithstanding.

We've all been in the situation where, whatever our opinion or feeling, someone has told us that's the way it's happening. It might not be acceptable or right but sometimes that's the way it is. I hope he seeks sensible advice.

 

That is a great assessment of the situation.  All I would say is that although the balance of power is with the clubs at this moment (leaving the player in the middle), that balance of power switches with 18 months left on the contract.  For a four year deal, first half or so the power lies with the club, last year and a half with the player.  Maybe in terms of power balance that is about how it should be.

[Oxfordfox83]

15 minutes ago, HighPeakFox said:

Don't want to get into it further, I'm sure we broadly agree. The more I think about the whole incident, the more cross I get with his agent and cronies, and how he's actually a pawn in a game he partially created. 

 

I teach a Derby fan, who decided to tell me this morning that 'Mahrez is too good for Leicester.' 

 

I asked him how he thought Gary Rowett is, and he said he's really good. To which, of course, I said 'yeah, he's too good for Derby.' 

 

Job done. 

Agent and cronies are one thing, and no doubt the agent is a scumbag. Man City though have a lot to answer for-they knew we wouldn't sell for that much in that timescale. They dangled the carrot in front of him and tried to make him force the rest-it's not a pleasant way to conduct business, but it is very reminiscent of Pep when he was at Barca. Lots and lots of disruption to clubs' best players, and eventually scoop them up cheap. 

 

Rather than refuse to do business with West Ham over a personal slight, I'd like to see us refuse to deal without Man City over malicious last minute peanuts offers whose only purpose was to drive a stake into our first team.

[Donut]

Theres still absolutely no blame on Man City in my opinion.

 

They sensed an opportunity to buy a player and the offer was deemed too low.

 

They were not responsible for Mahrez' behaviour over the whole incident. I don't think you can say their offer was an insult either, it was a pretty generous offer, it just didn't meet or valuation.

 

Its also interesting that for all Mahrez' talent....no one really has shown an interest in him. Surprising.

[norwichfox]

5 minutes ago, Oxfordfox83 said:

Agent and cronies are one thing, and no doubt the agent is a scumbag. Man City though have a lot to answer for-they knew we wouldn't sell for that much in that timescale. They dangled the carrot in front of him and tried to make him force the rest-it's not a pleasant way to conduct business, but it is very reminiscent of Pep when he was at Barca. Lots and lots of disruption to clubs' best players, and eventually scoop them up cheap. 

 

Rather than refuse to do business with West Ham over a personal slight, I'd like to see us refuse to deal without Man City over malicious last minute peanuts offers whose only purpose was to drive a stake into our first team.

If the West ham model is anything to go by, I suspect this will happen, I just can't see Mr Srivaddhanaprabha  folding to Manchester City pressure.

[Wolfox]

1 hour ago, pds said:

As I said, unfortunately for you, you would have seen him at Filbert St & KP (Walkers).

 

So he (graced?????) both our stadiums!

 

What a wonderful legacy for Juniour Lewis…

[Alf Bentley]

23 minutes ago, Donut said:

Theres still absolutely no blame on Man City in my opinion.

 

They sensed an opportunity to buy a player and the offer was deemed too low.

 

They were not responsible for Mahrez' behaviour over the whole incident. I don't think you can say their offer was an insult either, it was a pretty generous offer, it just didn't meet or valuation.

 

Its also interesting that for all Mahrez' talent....no one really has shown an interest in him. Surprising.

 

If Man City had made their offer confidentially to LCFC, either earlier in the month or even at the last minute because of the Sani injury, I'd agree with you.

 

But there's the little matter of the offer coming to the attention both of Mahrez and the media.

 

Who do you think told Mahrez and the media about Man City's offer?

I'd be astonished and disappointed if it was LCFC as it would clearly only be in our interests if we received an acceptable offer and personal terms needed to be negotiated.

I'm guessing that his agent was involved, but who told him of Man City's interest and unsatisfactory bid, assuming we weren't stupid enough to do so?

 

If Man City had made a low offer confidentially, surely we could have rejected it confidentially, Mahrez wouldn't have gone haywire and it wouldn't have been all over the media?

 

As for the lack of interest, it is surprising. But I suppose there aren't that many clubs that would be a step up and that would have the money (Top 6 in PL, top 2 in La Liga, PSG, maybe 1-2 in Italy?) - and most of them already have top attackers.

Several of them have surprisingly rubbish defenders, but that's another issue.

[Donut]

7 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

If Man City had made their offer confidentially to LCFC, either earlier in the month or even at the last minute because of the Sani injury, I'd agree with you.

 

But there's the little matter of the offer coming to the attention both of Mahrez and the media.

 

Who do you think told Mahrez and the media about Man City's offer?

I'd be astonished and disappointed if it was LCFC as it would clearly only be in our interests if we received an acceptable offer and personal terms needed to be negotiated.

I'm guessing that his agent was involved, but who told him of Man City's interest and unsatisfactory bid, assuming we weren't stupid enough to do so?

 

If Man City had made a low offer confidentially, surely we could have rejected it confidentially, Mahrez wouldn't have gone haywire and it wouldn't have been all over the media?

 

As for the lack of interest, it is surprising. But I suppose there aren't that many clubs that would be a step up and that would have the money (Top 6 in PL, top 2 in La Liga, PSG, maybe 1-2 in Italy?) - and most of them already have top attackers.

Several of them have surprisingly rubbish defenders, but that's another issue.

Its the agent most likely telling him there is interest in the player, but the player still has the mental capacity not to act like a moron.

 

Whether he knew the offer was rejected, whether it was in confidence or whether the club had dialogue about the fee with him its irrelevant.

 

He still has a free choice to honour his contract here or be a dickhead. 

 

He chose to be a dickhead instead of seeing the clubs position on the situation and he has a contract. Its about time a contract meant something

 

[Alf Bentley]

2 minutes ago, Donut said:

Its the agent most likely telling him there is interest in the player, but the player still has the mental capacity not to act like a moron.

 

Whether he knew the offer was rejected, whether it was in confidence or whether the club had dialogue about the fee with him its irrelevant.

 

He still has a free choice to honour his contract here or be a dickhead. 

 

He chose to be a dickhead instead of seeing the clubs position on the situation and he has a contract. Its about time a contract meant something

 

 

I completely agree with you about Mahrez and about contracts.

 

All that I'm querying is your belief that Man City bear no blame.

Until such time as Man City had made an offer acceptable to LCFC (which they never did), there was surely no need for Mahrez or his agent to know about Man City's interest?

 

Mahrez had been playing well and causing no trouble until he was informed of Man City's interest - and he had no need to be informed.

Of course he bears responsibility, but so does whoever informed him (his agent?) and whoever disclosed Man City's interest (er, Man City?).

 

I know I'm being naive in expecting honourable behaviour between agents and clubs. I'm an idealist, I suppose.

[Vardinio'sCat]

16 hours ago, Kitchandro said:

I've not really seen the celebration but I'm not sure what it has to do with anything or why this needed it's own thread....

 

Anyway, I'm not sure why I need to point this out but I will regardless: The issue isn't that Mahrez wants to play in the Champions League, the issue is that he has refused to train or play for us, has publicly kicked off and just generally acted like he's more important than the club every time he doesn't get sold for peanuts.

 

Got it? Ok, next Mahrez thread that misses the point, please.

 

If you don't post it is more likely you won't see the thread in future. I saw that JV's pointed celebration didn't seem to have been noticed, so I thought I would see if any one agreed with me about what JV meant.

 

The sniping about RM (in my OP) is probably a bit generalised, I'm not happy about the situation either, but we don't really know what has been said to him, so I think some of the wilder condemnation on FT is a bit previous.

 

Thing is Kitch, you love negativity, it is your raison d'etre, you are the FT king of gloom. I don't know what ails you, but I'm sorry, it must be pretty bad.