Ben Chilwell's Message for Leicester Fans

[murphy]

5 minutes ago, Xen said:

I'd go back even further than that.

 

United - Early mistake cost us, deserved at least a point.

Liverpool - Well deserved draw.

Wolves - Strong attacking display, would have been a draw were it not for a last minute lapse.

Southampton - Error made us fall behind, they defended resolutely. Had we not made those mistakes and kept it 0-0 we looked more likely to score first, in which case I think we'd have won comfortably.

Newport - Same as Southampton.

Cardiff - Drawing until a lapse in concentration at the end. Good strike. Should have won but for a poor Maddison penalty.

This is true.  Fine margins and all that.

 

We have not had a lot of luck of late yet still sit mid table.  The future's bright and things are really not so bad.  For me it just makes all the vitriol on this forum so over the top and such uncomfortable reading.

[filbertway]

The football isn't going to change or improve a lot for the remainder of the season, the sooner fans accept that the better all round. We'll hopefully see a small improvement with the introduction of Tielemans, but he's got to hit the ground running for that to happen.

 

 We'll continue to improve each summer - this bunch of young lads will be a year older and year better next year. We'll also move on some more dead weight and bring in better players.

 

You just need to look at the bigger picture really. The football isn't going to magically improve with no change to the squad. It's a long term project and we're at the awkward part now. We've managed to do the first bit without putting the club in any real danger of relegation and from this point on, we should be looking at incremental improvement each season.

 

I don't think people realise what a good position we're in at the minute and how we're really at the start of a long term project that should see us continue to improve and develop top class young talent.

[Toddybad]

Wish the moaners would just not go or watch the games and leave the rest of us to support the team tbh. 

 

They can dress it up any way they want, talk about the boring football etc, but they've been like this since the middle of last season and won't be mollified even when we play well. 

 

We're Leicester not Barcelona. Go and support somebody else if you can't do anything but hurl abuse or boo our manager and players. 

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, AlloverthefloorYesNdidi said:

A good post and i'm loathe to pick out one line from up because it looks like i'm dismissing the rest, which i'm not, having said that  ......

 

Is it not possible that one good home performance against a team around us or below us could do that? 

 

We have been so close to getting results in so many games, we just need a few moments where everything clicks, we get the needed goal, get a good win at home and things could turn around for the end of the season

 

Those screaming for Puel's head dont see it that way of course, but in reality we are not far off turning some of these losses into draws and wins.  It has always been fine margins

I'm not saying it won't, that's kind of the point. I am a firm believer that getting a win or two at home will do the whole club the world of good. But it's been so long in the making that it has reached breaking point and that's where this supposed wall of discontent from the fans has come from during matches. I still don't think the atmosphere in terms of booing and jeering is anywhere near as bad as it has before, I think back to the back end of last season it was way worse and likewise during the latter part of Ranieri's demise here and Pearson's run at the bottom of the table.

[tsintskaro]

no one is asking them to get in top 6,but right now they are 11th with west ham

[Ric Flair]

30 minutes ago, Toddybad said:

Wish the moaners would just not go or watch the games and leave the rest of us to support the team tbh. 

 

They can dress it up any way they want, talk about the boring football etc, but they've been like this since the middle of last season and won't be mollified even when we play well. 

 

We're Leicester not Barcelona. Go and support somebody else if you can't do anything but hurl abuse or boo our manager and players. 

You're living in a dream world if you think a collection of supporters running in to 30,000 are going to be happy with this last year of dross at home. Please do a fan cam of yourself for the 90 minutes during our next home game as i'm keen to see how fans like yourself actually behave. I sense quite a lot of fans who are taking the moral high ground here are probably not painting the true picture. The booing is pretty pathetic, it serves no great purpose during a game and will have a negative effect but the atmosphere being a bit partisan and fans getting frustrated etc is going to happen when what is being served up shows no sign of changing. Where is this learning and improving that Chilwell and Puel have talked about? It's pure fallacy. I tell you what though, if Tielemans does what he's capable of doing and we finally break down stubborn defences then you watch the atmosphere change. So it goes hand in hand, it's a two way thing. Fans as well as the players and manager can't expect there being no give and take.

[AlloverthefloorYesNdidi]

12 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

I'm not saying it won't, that's kind of the point. I am a firm believer that getting a win or two at home will do the whole club the world of good. But it's been so long in the making that it has reached breaking point and that's where this supposed wall of discontent from the fans has come from during matches. I still don't think the atmosphere in terms of booing and jeering is anywhere near as bad as it has before, I think back to the back end of last season it was way worse and likewise during the latter part of Ranieri's demise here and Pearson's run at the bottom of the table.

We could say though that at least we were fighting relegation in those seasons.

People have been talking about relegation form this season, but we havent been anywhere near the bottom 3

[Nick]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

I suppose the sub plot to this is, do fans have the right to " expect " being entertained or at least get some form of value for money, or as supporters should it remain unwavering? I've always struggled to relate the torment  I go through being a football fan to anything else, analogies like " the customer is always right " does that have any relevance in football or team sport in general? In most other cases such as paying for a service or going for a nice meal, to watch a live music concert there's a real element of consumer choice. However, in football unless you are a complete piss ant, you shouldn't or can't pick and choose. So we soldier on, with unquestioning loyalty and have to try and remain positive at all times.

 

I know how much of a disgrace I am at that last line above, remaining positive or curbing my abuse of my club is a pipe dream on my part. I wear my heart on my sleeve and the high and lows are acted out in a frenetic manner, wildly going over the top. In fact I come alive when we are struggling or there's uproar with the establishment, it's what i'm used to. The title win was almost alien and I loved it, but was so nervous and petrified to believe or not stay in the moment.

 

I've been part of this forum since 2004/05, what we are witnessing under Puel and how the fans are growing inpatient and angry is nothing new. I think what's slightly different right now is the dismay has been rife for bordering on a year now and we aren't used to that without there being a new dawn, however false to kid ourselves it'll be different this time. Go back to 2010/11, we'd had 2 years of what felt like a new era after a poorly managed club from top to bottom for nearly a decade. I would class the fanbase as pretty much all on Pearson and Mandaric's side. There was a feelgood factor finally at our new ground that had barely seen any joy since we moved in. The heartbreak of the playoffs then led to Pearson either being " allowed " to leave or being pushed, in came Sousa. It was a disaster and the fans were up in arms, the atmosphere in such a short space of time was horrible. I remember the level of abuse in the first game vs Palace away and it was unreal, we were 3-0 down and it was evil.

 

This is why I find it bizarre that anyone is surprised by fans venting their anger, it's been happening for years and will continue to happen. We aren't alone in this supposed national disgrace. Carrying on, Sousa was quickly disposed of and in came Sven. The atmosphere picked up and we were hoping that what we were seeing was the start of an exciting champagne era under the sex pest swede. Then barely a year later it had turned again and there will have been some in game toxic atmosphere that we are witnessing now, what changed? Sven was quickly removed when there was a point of no return. The same can be said for nearly every manager we've had since, when it's going badly then it's not a nice place to be. I baulk at anyone who would expect it to be any different. Even the year of the great escape, after being under the stewardship of our best manager for years who had created an unbelievable team spirit between all facets of the club, the atmosphere was atrocious as the rot set in and we were rooted to the bottom of the table. Expectations were much lower then, we'd been a decade out of the top flight and we were heading straight back out of it, yet there's no legislation for failure as fans when you're being subjected to the pain of something you love and can't walk away from. We are emotional beasts and even as grown men, we let it get the better of us. But what this era showed and what then became of it, was how quickly we as fans will be revitalised by just a small spark from the playing field. That scrappy win vs West Ham and we never looked back, the King Power became a fortress and all anger and vitriol was gone and replaced by encouragement and pride. I wish it was so easy to always maintain that encouragement and pride regardless of what is being played out on the field but you are off your pickle if you think there is any collection of humans that will do that.

 

We might not be in the relegation zone like we were under Pearson for a large chunk of that season, or Ranieri the season after we won the league when the atmosphere also turned way more poisonous than this but our home form the last year isn't far off relegation form and that is a big reason for the in game hostility. The majority of our fans only get to see us at home, so to be subjected to the last year of home performances like this is up there with any of the other terrible eras we've had in the last decade. It's just the way it is.

 

 

 

[cropstonfox]

18 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

You're living in a dream world if you think a collection of supporters running in to 30,000 are going to be happy with this last year of dross at home. Please do a fan cam of yourself for the 90 minutes during our next home game as i'm keen to see how fans like yourself actually behave. I sense quite a lot of fans who are taking the moral high ground here are probably not painting the true picture. The booing is pretty pathetic, it serves no great purpose during a game and will have a negative effect but the atmosphere being a bit partisan and fans getting frustrated etc is going to happen when what is being served up shows no sign of changing. Where is this learning and improving that Chilwell and Puel have talked about? It's pure fallacy. I tell you what though, if Tielemans does what he's capable of doing and we finally break down stubborn defences then you watch the atmosphere change. So it goes hand in hand, it's a two way thing. Fans as well as the players and manager can't expect there being no give and take.

Puel has done one thing right involving improving young players-Sending Barnes to WBA.He's came back a far better prospect.

Please send Gray and Nacho cause we can't seem to improve them.

[Toddybad]

20 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

You're living in a dream world if you think a collection of supporters running in to 30,000 are going to be happy with this last year of dross at home. Please do a fan cam of yourself for the 90 minutes during our next home game as i'm keen to see how fans like yourself actually behave. I sense quite a lot of fans who are taking the moral high ground here are probably not painting the true picture. The booing is pretty pathetic, it serves no great purpose during a game and will have a negative effect but the atmosphere being a bit partisan and fans getting frustrated etc is going to happen when what is being served up shows no sign of changing. Where is this learning and improving that Chilwell and Puel have talked about? It's pure fallacy. I tell you what though, if Tielemans does what he's capable of doing and we finally break down stubborn defences then you watch the atmosphere change. So it goes hand in hand, it's a two way thing. Fans as well as the players and manager can't expect there being no give and take.

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I have time where I'm frustrated or question individual decisions, but I don't boo or shout abuse and, because I can see we're going in the right direction (my opinion) I accept the mistakes. Perhaps having coached in kids football for years allows me to be more phylisophical about young players making mistakes. 

[Babylon]

27 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Please do a fan cam of yourself for the 90 minutes during our next home game as i'm keen to see how fans like yourself actually behave.

We cut to the fans...

 

[MPH]

I apologize for the comparison but it’s literally like asking Hitlers right hand man if Hitler was a good leader.

 

Chillwell has benefited in every way possible from Puel being in charge so what else is he going to say?

 

 

and the problem is not the youngsters and them growing, the problem is the god awful  football that we have had for so many games and the terrible home record/ performances.

 

 

thats a completely different issue than wether the young players are blossoming..

 

 

to me, it’s a bit like saying let’s keep theresa may’s Brexit deal because the trains are running on time.

 

 

[AllGoneTitsSchlupp]

2 minutes ago, MPH said:

I apologize for the comparison but it’s literally like asking Hitlers right hand man if Hitler was a good leader.

 

Chillwell has benefited in every way possible from Puel being in charge so what else is he going to say?

 

 

and the problem is not the youngsters and them growing, the problem is the god awful  football that we have had for so many games and the terrible home record/ performances.

 

 

thats a completely different issue than wether the young players are blossoming..

 

 

to me, it’s a bit like saying let’s keep theresa may’s Brexit deal because the trains are running on time.

 

 

 

[HighPeakFox]

3 minutes ago, MPH said:

I apologize for the comparison but it’s literally like asking Hitlers right hand man if Hitler was a good leader

For Godwin's sakes.....  

[Babylon]

2 minutes ago, MPH said:

and the problem is not the youngsters and them growing, the problem is the god awful  football that we have had for so many games and the terrible home record/ performances.

I know a few games have been bad, but do you think it's really been that bad often? It's just a bit 'meh' and missing a bit of "umph" for me, I tend to walk away frustrated more than anything because I don't think we're far away from getting things right. We are often more in control, having more shots etc than the opposition but just lack that little bit extra to make it count. The opposition often walk away with the points, but I couldn't say they played the better football too often tbh.

[MPH]

3 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I know a few games have been bad, but do you think it's really been that bad often? It's just a bit 'meh' and missing a bit of "umph" for me, I tend to walk away frustrated more than anything because I don't think we're far away from getting things right. We are often more in control, having more shots etc than the opposition but just lack that little bit extra to make it count. The opposition often walk away with the points, but I couldn't say they played the better football too often tbh.

i really do think it’s just been the few top teams we have played well against... i know i live in the states but i have seen every single game live and the large majority have been painful to watch... the commentators on the majority of games have been far from complimentary...

[Babylon]

3 minutes ago, MPH said:

i really do think it’s just been the few top teams we have played well against... i know i live in the states but i have seen every single game live and the large majority have been painful to watch... the commentators on the majority of games have been far from complimentary...

No denying that, I just think we fall more into the middle ground somewhere rather than being that bad. When you have so much of the game, miss chances, give easy chances away it's not likely to be a glowing reference from them. I just don't think in general our play is that bad.

[Toddybad]

7 minutes ago, MPH said:

i really do think it’s just been the few top teams we have played well against... i know i live in the states but i have seen every single game live and the large majority have been painful to watch... the commentators on the majority of games have been far from complimentary...

Matches like Everton away and Cardiff home we were dire. Southampton at home we played then off the park but lacked a bit of magic to create real chances. The first two were bad, the latter in my view isn't that bad at all. We're dominating possession in a way I've never seen us do at this level but there is a lack of spark up front. Think that's more to do with personnel than management imo. 

[Babylon]

2 minutes ago, Toddybad said:

 Think that's more to do with personnel than management imo. 

I think there is a middle ground, there is no doubt we're lacking a couple of players to make us tick. I still think a couple of different CM's or just one different would see a marked improvement. But Puel is cautious, leaving Mendy on as long as he did was just him all over. Not defensive, because the team is packed with attacking players outside the 2 CB's and 2 CM's, just slow to ever release the shackles when needed.

[MPH]

29 minutes ago, Toddybad said:

Matches like Everton away and Cardiff home we were dire. Southampton at home we played then off the park but lacked a bit of magic to create real chances. The first two were bad, the latter in my view isn't that bad at all. We're dominating possession in a way I've never seen us do at this level but there is a lack of spark up front. Think that's more to do with personnel than management imo. 

‘lack of spark’ is putting it mildly... we are isolating the best striker we have had since Lineker...

 

dominating possession means nothing - i thought our prem winning season would have taught us that.

 

 

you say it’s to do with personnel and not management... who is the one responsible for changing the personnel? we just had a transfer window and the only player we got was a loan signing of a CM. we have just had the opportunity to fix the ‘lack of spark’ and we didn’t.

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, AlloverthefloorYesNdidi said:

We could say though that at least we were fighting relegation in those seasons.

People have been talking about relegation form this season, but we havent been anywhere near the bottom 3

But as I mentioned in an earlier post, our home form for the last year is near relegation form. For most fans that's the only times they get to see us live and in a year we've won only 5 games at home, weve taken the lead twice all season. 1 was an own goal and the other a peno. It's all quite unpleasant viewing and it's no surprise this level of unrest is spiralling. 

[filbertway]

5 minutes ago, MPH said:

‘lack of spark’ is putting it mildly... we are isolating the best striker we have had since Lineker...

 

dominating possession means nothing - i thought our prem winning season would have taught us that.

 

 

you say it’s to do with personnel and not management... who is the one responsible for changing the personnel? we just had a transfer window and the only player we got was a loan signing of a CM. we have just had the opportunity to fix the ‘lack of spark’ and we didn’t.

I think that's a problem with fans in general. Unrealistic expectations.

 

We've bought in a replacement for Silva for the rest of the season. You won't see many quality players leaving their clubs mid way through the season, unless it's for obscene money.

[AlloverthefloorYesNdidi]

1 minute ago, Ric Flair said:

But as I mentioned in an earlier post, our home form for the last year is near relegation form. For most fans that's the only times they get to see us live and in a year we've won only 5 games at home, weve taken the lead twice all season. 1 was an own goal and the other a peno. It's all quite unpleasant viewing and it's no surprise this level of unrest is spiralling. 

It is understandable to a degree. Everyone gets frustrated watching us at home, its about whether or not you think we're miles off getting that bit more out of the players to get the wins at home or not.  I think we're not a world away.

 

We have been crying out for a bit more from the midfield and Barnes and Tielemans coming in show the club and Puel understand what we need there, hopefully this will make the difference

 

I'm just not seeing enough to be completely nihilistic about the season as some are.  I understand those who think Puel isnt right for us long term, but why those cant be patient and wait out the end of the season to see how things pan out i dont know

 

Its so tight in the middle of the table and we are right there in it

[Ric Flair]

50 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I know a few games have been bad, but do you think it's really been that bad often? It's just a bit 'meh' and missing a bit of "umph" for me, I tend to walk away frustrated more than anything because I don't think we're far away from getting things right. We are often more in control, having more shots etc than the opposition but just lack that little bit extra to make it count. The opposition often walk away with the points, but I couldn't say they played the better football too often tbh.

I think its gotten worse, but the moaning was still rife earlier on when it wasnt as bad as it is now. The home performances since the end of October have been pretty rough bar Man City, Watford was ding dong and the win made it enjoyable and at times we gave United some food for thought but Burnley was frustrating after a bright start, Tottenham was horrible and all too familiar, Cardiff minging, Southampton pure horse manure. Probably missed a game or two but probably through suppression from traumatic experiences.

[Ric Flair]

8 minutes ago, filbertway said:

I think that's a problem with fans in general. Unrealistic expectations.

 

We've bought in a replacement for Silva for the rest of the season. You won't see many quality players leaving their clubs mid way through the season, unless it's for obscene money.

Unrealistic expectations, I'm sorry but if we should accept winning less than a quarter of our home games then we ought to pack it in.