Leicester are a top-seven club, says first-team coach Mike Stowell

[Xen]

2 minutes ago, MattP said:

We aren't spending the money a side aiming to achieve seventh is, the top six, Everton and West Ham are doing far more than us and Wolves will probably join them.

You could easily argue that despite those clubs spending more than us, we've all added very similar levels of quality. Wolves perhaps the exception as they've seemingly been getting deals on certain players thanks to their special arrangements...

 

Meanwhile, we're investing for the future by developing a world class training facility and expanding the stadium - which those clubs aren't doing.

 

 

[Guest MattP]

4 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

No but you'd agree that the value of the squad is more important that the amount we're spending?

 

I think that we'd be rolling in it should we sell our players, I don't think the likes of Everton's and West Ham's squads are even nearly as valuable.

Of course. Although a lot of our squad value is based on potential, I do think a few of our young players (Ndidi, Maddison, Gray certainly) are massively overrated. 

 

Whatever way claiming we are a top seven club is a bit daft.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

I think he is right

 

we shouldnt be afraid to push to the maximum of our potential instead of having a dour outlook all the time

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Bob Weasel Fox said:

I think he is right

 

we shouldnt be afraid to push to the maximum of our potential instead of having a dour outlook all the time

And that's just it - we have the potential to be a top seven club. At this moment in time, we are not a top seven club by any measurement I can think of.

[AKCJ]

8 minutes ago, MattP said:

Of course. Although a lot of our squad value is based on potential, I do think a few of our young players (Ndidi, Maddison, Gray certainly) are massively overrated. 

 

Whatever way claiming we are a top seven club is a bit daft.

I dunno.

 

I think we ought to be finishing 7th. Stating your intentions and being clear of what you expect of your players is a good thing IMO.

 

 

[Guest MattP]

1 minute ago, AKCJ said:

I dunno.

 

I think we ought to be finishing 7th. Stating your intentions and being clear of what you expect of your players is a good thing IMO.

I'd say Everton should be on outlay. Following that should be little difference between us Wolves and West Ham - I think Watford are pushing massively above their weight.

 

If our expectation is going to be seventh I think we are going to be sacking a lot of managers.

[norwichfox]

20 minutes ago, Xen said:

To discount Watford who - at this point in time - are actually in 7th seems a little bit unfair...

But we all know it's going to be Burnley that finish in 7th.......

[AKCJ]

Just now, MattP said:

I'd say Everton should be on outlay. Following that should be little difference between us Wolves and West Ham - I think Watford are pushing massively above their weight.

 

If our expectation is going to be seventh I think we are going to be sacking a lot of managers.

Don't agree with that either to be honest.

 

7th is definitely there to be taken. All of the teams between us and 7th should - and probably do - think that they should be filling that gap.

 

At Christmas we were 7th and we were yet to play a great game of football. 

[The Doctor]

27 minutes ago, Xen said:

To discount Watford who - at this point in time - are actually in 7th seems a little bit unfair...

Possibly, but I'd say the same of Burnley last year. I think Watford are punching above their weight and it'll be interesting to see whether they do the implosion at 40 points they have under every other manager they've had since coming up

[jayfox26]

53 minutes ago, EnderbyFox said:

Joint top 7 club with West Ham, Watford, Wolves, Everton & Bournemouth 

True this. You have the top 6, the middle 6 with us and the 5 You ve mentioned and then the rest are just glorified championship teams. Our league position and points tally doesn't really reflect the team we have and even our performances. We've played really well recently against United, Spurs and palace. And then you have teams like Burnley and Palace that are only just behind us and they've been playing pretty shit but picking up points. I wouldnt be surprised to see us win a few now Puel has gone. Happened when Claudio left and when Shakey left. 

[Ian Nacho]

With the whole Shakespeare thing, I think that even if we win all our games till the end of the season, we should still get a new man in. 

[KingsX]

1 hour ago, Gerard said:

We'll win the next three and then he'll throw his hat in the ring for the job like Shakey. 

 

Works for me.  Given that our owners and CEO tend not to make the same mistake twice.

[reynard]

Hopefully the league will bring in a trophy and medals for finishing 7th then there will be something to play for.

[lcfcbluearmy]

3 hours ago, Babylon said:

There are about 4 other clubs who probably think exactly the same, we can't all finish 7th.

Doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be our aim though

[RowlattsFox]

I am hoping he means we should be challenging for 7th rather than expecting to be. For me top 10 should be the expectation for any manager. We need to have a very good season to finish 7th. 

[Corky]

Top seven is realistic but difficult.

 

12th is underachieving.

[mozartfox]

15 hours ago, davieG said:

Leicester belong in the top seven of the Premier League and the new manager will have all the tools needed to take them there, says first-team coach Mike Stowell.

Stowell, along with fellow first-team coach Adam Sadler, is in temporary charge of the Foxes following the departure of manager Claude Puel on Sunday.

Leicester are currently 12th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone and eight points behind Watford, who are currently seventh.

Stowell believes the team is capable of much more though, saying: "I spoke to the players this morning and told them how good they are and how good they can be, but also challenged them.

"We are a top seven team, and that's where we should be. Obviously you've got to earn that right, and we haven't recently.

"They've got all the tools here. We're in the process of building a new training ground, the stadium's going to be expanded, we've got fantastic owners, great support and a very, very good squad.

"Somebody can come in and work with those players. We've got to keep that squad together."

During the latter days of Puel's 16-month tenure at the King Power Stadium, there were reports the players were unhappy with his desire to bring in a more expansive style of play.

Jamie Vardy admitted the Frenchman's tactics did not suit him, but Stowell said: "The players are disappointed with results. They're angry with themselves and as a group.

 

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/11647952/leicester-are-a-top-seven-club-says-first-team-coach-mike-stowell

Is Stowell calling our squad a load of tools?

[Dickov22]

Nice to hear some ambition as opposed to the ‘we can’t compete with Wolves West Ham and Everton’ nonsense Puel came out with. 

 

God I’m glad he’s gone and 

[Dickov22]

14 hours ago, MattP said:

Of course. Although a lot of our squad value is based on potential, I do think a few of our young players (Ndidi, Maddison, Gray certainly) are massively overrated. 

 

Whatever way claiming we are a top seven club is a bit daft.

 

Not sure I agree actually. I think if we get a really good manager in, those players you mention will flourish. We’re on the cusp of something special with this squad. 

[Guest MattP]

13 minutes ago, Dickov22 said:

Not sure I agree actually. I think if we get a really good manager in, those players you mention will flourish. We’re on the cusp of something special with this squad. 

What are you defining as something special? 

 

I think we do have some potential but the last thing I'm feeling atm is we are on the verge of anything and Vardy getting older is very worrying.

[Dickov22]

16 minutes ago, MattP said:

What are you defining as something special? 

 

I think we do have some potential but the last thing I'm feeling atm is we are on the verge of anything and Vardy getting older is very worrying.

 

Barnes Gray Ndidi Chilwell Maddison Ricardo. At times, we look a really really good side. I think the right manager can do some really good things with this side. Just a feeling I’ve got. Need another striker yes but Vardy will be a changed man from now until the end of the season. Just wait 

[Babylon]

55 minutes ago, Dickov22 said:

Nice to hear some ambition as opposed to the ‘we can’t compete with Wolves West Ham and Everton’ nonsense Puel came out with. 

 

God I’m glad he’s gone and 

It's not nonsense though, our net spend was tiny compared to theirs and that's exactly what he was talking about. We lost our best player to be able to buy people, they just pumped in shit loads of cash.

[aefevans]

I think Leicester are up there. While winning the Premier League was a great achievement, I think Leicester have the environment (large stadium, resources, sole football club in one of the top ten biggest cities in the UK) to be a top side in their own right. All I ask is you save finishing seventh for next season when we’re not after it ourselves - hah.

 

But seriously, in a league with a ‘big 6’, it’s amazing how many clubs’ minds are opening to the prospect of being the next club along from that.

[jet64]

So much negativity on here! 

Who cares if it’s  perhaps not that realistic ( this season) but what a refreshing change to hear some genuine enthusiasm from the interim manager. In the words of Claudio..”keep dreaming, why wake up?” 

[Captain...]

2 hours ago, Babylon said:

It's not nonsense though, our net spend was tiny compared to theirs and that's exactly what he was talking about. We lost our best player to be able to buy people, they just pumped in shit loads of cash.

We lost our best player because he wanted to leave, it had nothing to do with financing other purchases. Our net spend was tiny because we got 60m for him.

 

We could have spent a lot more but we had to clear out the squad, we started the season with 27 professionals meaning 2 missed out on the squad (which is appalling squad management). We also have some talented youngsters coming through that Puel wanted to utilise. If money was an issue we wouldn’t have spent so much on Ghezzal. It was identifying the right targets to play Puel’s way and then convincing them to join (which might have been made more difficult if they spoke to Puel because he is not the best communicator in English).