Jon Rudkin

[Poznan34]

Cheers, Jon. 

 

Let's not forget the fiasco of appointing Shakespeare full time because he felt he ought to, then sacking him after 7(?) games, thus setting us back a season vs appointing a new manager in the summer of 2017. 

[StriderHiryu]

He does actually deserve a lot of credit IMO. For sure over the years he has made several blunders and in the past when fans wanted him out, there were good reasons for it. But honestly in the last couple of seasons I think he's done a very good job. If you compare Leicester to clubs that are above us in the table such as Chelsea or West Ham, the way we are being run is much better than those clubs. We have an obvious long term strategy and are executing the plan. Young players like Chilwell are on long contracts, Harvey Barnes has been handled very well with him now ready to make his mark on the first team, etc, etc. For the first time (maybe ever), the whole club seems to have it's house in order. Develop exciting young talent, keep them together, keep hold of our experiences stars and build a team around them. And now we have an exciting young manager that is a draw for other exciting young players.

 

Perhaps we could all ask for better given many of our 16/17 signings were disastrous but look at Fulham for how badly things can go when the wrong person / people in in charge. They have spent 100M and will go down. Everton have been through Martinez, Koeman and are now on Silva and are still as irrelevant as they were before. Chelsea spent 35M on Drinkwater but he has played less than 5 games. There are many other examples, even if we have our own share of blunders too (The Silva debacle comes to mind).

 

The speed and swiftness of the Rodgers appointment has also been very well handled. No dicking about with an interim manager, we had our main target and bam, we got him. We also somehow have Youri Tielemans in our squad at the moment!

 

I think it very much is a case of "learning on the job" but to be fair, I think he has actually learned a lot and improved, and it's helped the club.

[Grebfromgrebland]

3 hours ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Still not sold on old Rudders to be honest, seems he's a bit of a politician who will do what is right for him and not always the club.

Apart from winning the league increasing our net worth, massively increasing profits and raising our global profile. 

 

You are hard to please you must be suicidal at the prospect of living the rest of your life!

[Guest SO1]

1 hour ago, StriderHiryu said:

He does actually deserve a lot of credit IMO. For sure over the years he has made several blunders and in the past when fans wanted him out, there were good reasons for it. But honestly in the last couple of seasons I think he's done a very good job. If you compare Leicester to clubs that are above us in the table such as Chelsea or West Ham, the way we are being run is much better than those clubs. We have an obvious long term strategy and are executing the plan. Young players like Chilwell are on long contracts, Harvey Barnes has been handled very well with him now ready to make his mark on the first team, etc, etc. For the first time (maybe ever), the whole club seems to have it's house in order. Develop exciting young talent, keep them together, keep hold of our experiences stars and build a team around them. And now we have an exciting young manager that is a draw for other exciting young players.

 

Perhaps we could all ask for better given many of our 16/17 signings were disastrous but look at Fulham for how badly things can go when the wrong person / people in in charge. They have spent 100M and will go down. Everton have been through Martinez, Koeman and are now on Silva and are still as irrelevant as they were before. Chelsea spent 35M on Drinkwater but he has played less than 5 games. There are many other examples, even if we have our own share of blunders too (The Silva debacle comes to mind).

 

The speed and swiftness of the Rodgers appointment has also been very well handled. No dicking about with an interim manager, we had our main target and bam, we got him. We also somehow have Youri Tielemans in our squad at the moment!

 

I think it very much is a case of "learning on the job" but to be fair, I think he has actually learned a lot and improved, and it's helped the club.

OT I was looking at youtube clips of Harvey Barnes last night. Brendan must be going crazy over that guy. His energy and 1v1 skills are off the charts and he can finish too. If Mr. Rudkin and Brendan can fill a squad with that type of of energy. Whoa!

[BoyJones]

Still not sure what value he brings to the club. No obvious professional financial acumen and no obviously football / people acumen. 

 

I am not blaming him, but nobody really knows what he brings to the party! Maybe it would help if the Irish woman would tell people where he fits into the jigsaw puzzle; as currently I don't think anybody outside the club have a

Scooby.

 

I have met him and nice man but get gives the impression of being too quite and ineffectual. 

 

Anyway, the owners trust him and I suppose that should be good enough for us fans. 

[Crispin LA]

Got to give him credit for Edaurdo Macia still with us when a couple of clubs want him as their DOF, we could not have got a better Chief Scout when Walsh went. 

[StriderHiryu]

10 minutes ago, SO1 said:

OT I was looking at youtube clips of Harvey Barnes last night. Brendan must be going crazy over that guy. His energy and 1v1 skills are off the charts and he can finish too. If Mr. Rudkin and Brendan can fill a squad with that type of of energy. Whoa!

His potential is very high in my opinion. He's already beating experienced Premier League fullbacks for pace and skill, and has shown the physical side of his game too. I also think his decision making is much better than Gray already, and that is one of the hardest things to teach. In fact for some players I don't think it can be taught. Where he is going wrong at the moment is the execution of that decision in the final third. E.g. versus Spurs he should have score at least one, probably two, but couldn't finish. But if you compare him to Gray, then Gray quite often makes completely the wrong / selfish option whereas Barnes makes the right decision but can't execute on it - yet. It will come for sure.

 

That's why Barnes reminds of 14/15 Mahrez, and he could be the player that is about to explode. People often criticised Mahrez's decision making but that was after the title winning season where I felt the PFA award got his head, and in fact still has. In 15/16 Mahrez was quite incredible, his stats of 17 goals / 11 assists are miles ahead of anything Hazard has done as an example. Instead of going for glory, he did what was best for the team and boy was it useful!

For Gray, he still has potential because I feel he can definitely execute because he is fast, athletic and can hit it hard. But I think if I look at the two players, then Barnes has the higher potential.

 

I'm also hoping that Rodgers can make Maddison into our version of Coutinho! He completely transformed that guy from Inter reject into a world class midfielder.

 

 

 

Edited 2 March 2019 by StriderHiryu

[Guest SO1]

5 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

His potential is very high in my opinion. He's already beating experienced Premier League fullbacks for pace and skill, and has shown the physical side of his game too. I also think his decision making is much better than Gray already, and that is one of the hardest things to teach. In fact for some players I don't think it can be taught. Where he is going wrong at the moment is the execution of that decision in the final third. E.g. versus Spurs he should have score at least one, probably two, but couldn't finish. But if you compare him to Gray, then Gray quite often makes completely the wrong / selfish option whereas Barnes makes the right decision but can't execute on it - yet. It will come for sure.

 

That's why Barnes reminds of 14/15 Mahrez, and he could be the player that is about to explode. People often criticised Mahrez's decision making but that was after the title winning season where I felt the PFA award got his head, and in fact still has. In 15/16 Mahrez was quite incredible, his stats of 17 goals / 11 assists are miles ahead of anything Hazard has done as an example. Instead of going for glory, he did what was best for the team and boy was it useful!

For Gray, he still has potential because I feel he can definitely execute because he is fast, athletic and can hit it hard. But I think if I look at the two players, then Barnes has the higher potential.

 

I'm also hoping that Rodgers can make Maddison into our version of Coutinho! He completely transformed that guy from Inter reject into a world class midfielder.

 

 

 

I saw Maddison play Celtic when he was with Aberdeen on loan. Saw him progress from Norwich to here not knowing what the fuss was about.  Coutinho........ Now I'm going to go back to youtube to have a look around. I still think Phillippe is a space alien from another planet. They need to have a check behind the hair on the back of his head for another set of eyes!  Coutinho/Maddison. You must be nutty.

[Guest Bob Hazels shorts]

Credit to the board.

 

No matter what is said about Rodgers and his desire to manage in the premiership money talks.

 

Paying off Puel and compensation to Celtic is £10-15 million+

Brendan will be being paid a massive amount and the board will of made him aware of their intentions and ambitions that also involves an astronomical amount of money.

[Dan]

8 hours ago, Babylon said:

We've made mistakes as a club, that he's been rightly criticised for as the DOF, but we do seem to be learning. 

 

Said it last year, but we could end up with a very decent DOF given time. We all make mistakes, so long as you learn from them and improve that's all you can ask.

I'd go with that. I'd be delighted to say he got it right in the end.

[st albans fox]

1 hour ago, Crispin LA said:

Got to give him credit for Edaurdo Macia still with us when a couple of clubs want him as their DOF, we could not have got a better Chief Scout when Walsh went. 

Your Engleesh is very good Eduardo ........

[volpeazzurro]

6 hours ago, surrifox said:

still think that in most organisations whoever was at the top when £ 30 million of the business' money was wasted on an "asset" which was unfit for purpose and turned out to be valueless after less than 2 years  would do well to avoid the bullet 

Then you'd sack our owners would you because ultimately they are at the top? Or was it Susan Whelan? Or was it whoever was responsible for scouting whichever particular asset as a suitable, fit for purpose player (I say whichever as I include both Slimani and Silva as failures). Surely if they were identified as suitable purchases and Rudkins only job is to get the best possible deal and expidite a particular player to the club, then he's done his particular job successfully each time (we don't know the full circumstances around the 14s debacle or the complexities of any one particular deal).

 

The problem is, as has been outlined, we don't have a fully defined job description for his role and, from the outside looking in, certain supporters just want a name to blame and he has always been the easiest first on the list to blame when things go wrong but last on the list when things go right. You can't have it both ways. Like certain of our players, there are groups of supporters who love to leap on a love or hate swiftly moving bandwagon.

 

We don't know how our organisation is actually organised so to speak or how it compares to others, so to judge it simplistically to most other organisations is flawed and based on a false premise.. IF we were to accept that our owners were fairly astute businessmen (there multimillionaire status tends to suggest this), which includes the hiring and firing of individuals deemed unsatisfactory in their roles at any given time, individuals like Pearson, Ranieri, Shakespeare and now Puel, then, if the finger of blame was laid fairly and squarely at the door of our director of football, I  think he would have been fired a long time ago. Susan Whelan they have worked with, know and rated for many years.  I therefore assume from those facts put before me, that they honestly believe, given the full empirical circumstances, that he is doing a good job in his role. As our supporters clearly haven't even got a clear definition of his role, let alone what he has or hasn't been responsible for, any opinions, either fair or unfair are largely based on pure conjecture.

 

As it happens, our club is in its best condition on and off the field, it would appear from the outside, than it has ever been in our history since our owners arrived. There will be mistakes like at any club. To hold one man responsible without conclusive evidence and seemingly against the judgement of our owners would be irresponsible. 

[surrifox]

25 minutes ago, volpeazzurro said:

Then you'd sack our owners would you because ultimately they are at the top? Or was it Susan Whelan? Or was it whoever was responsible for scouting whichever particular asset as a suitable, fit for purpose player (I say whichever as I include both Slimani and Silva as failures). Surely if they were identified as suitable purchases and Rudkins only job is to get the best possible deal and expidite a particular player to the club, then he's done his particular job successfully each time (we don't know the full circumstances around the 14s debacle or the complexities of any one particular deal).

 

The problem is, as has been outlined, we don't have a fully defined job description for his role and, from the outside looking in, certain supporters just want a name to blame and he has always been the easiest first on the list to blame when things go wrong but last on the list when things go right. You can't have it both ways. Like certain of our players, there are groups of supporters who love to leap on a love or hate swiftly moving bandwagon.

 

We don't know how our organisation is actually organised so to speak or how it compares to others, so to judge it simplistically to most other organisations is flawed and based on a false premise.. IF we were to accept that our owners were fairly astute businessmen (there multimillionaire status tends to suggest this), which includes the hiring and firing of individuals deemed unsatisfactory in their roles at any given time, individuals like Pearson, Ranieri, Shakespeare and now Puel, then, if the finger of blame was laid fairly and squarely at the door of our director of football, I  think he would have been fired a long time ago. Susan Whelan they have worked with, know and rated for many years.  I therefore assume from those facts put before me, that they honestly believe, given the full empirical circumstances, that he is doing a good job in his role. As our supporters clearly haven't even got a clear definition of his role, let alone what he has or hasn't been responsible for, any opinions, either fair or unfair are largely based on pure conjecture.

 

As it happens, our club is in its best condition on and off the field, it would appear from the outside, than it has ever been in our history since our owners arrived. There will be mistakes like at any club. To hold one man responsible without conclusive evidence and seemingly against the judgement of our owners would be irresponsible. 

Points well made . Don’t misunderstand me I’ve never joined the chorus of disapproval or the cheap shots  about Events at the club that people have laid at JRs door and  understand that concepts of due diligence and corporate accountability rarely survive in the crazy world of football. The OP seems to be seeking to confer credit for one decision which might or might not be taken by the DoF and it seems fair to point out one (the Slimani signing)  which might also be one for which he would  in all likelihood be the Board member responsible .  If he can broker some sort of deal where the club can recover any part of its outlay on a totally dysfunctional character who was signed on his watch he will certainly be accorded all the praise due to him however . 

[Langston]

Definitely made some big errors in his time in the post, but he's had a very good nine months or so in my opinion.

We're shifting dross out and bringing genuine assets in, and I think Foxy-Lady (who seems very in the loop with all things academy related) said in the Development thread that the focus on youth and investing time and money in players that will only gain value is a strategy he's really pushing.

 

As others have pointed out, the ties with Beaglehole (as an example, I'm sure there are others) in the youth set up do seem like they're restricting us, despite the current trio of graduates in the first team set up. You'd really think we'd be pushing for the best coaches we can get for the new facilities, it seems a little bit of a shame we don't appear to be.

[volpeazzurro]

14 minutes ago, surrifox said:

Points well made . Don’t misunderstand me I’ve never joined the chorus of disapproval or the cheap shots  about Events at the club that people have laid at JRs door and  understand that concepts of due diligence and corporate accountability rarely survive in the crazy world of football. The OP seems to be seeking to confer credit for one decision which might or might not be taken by the DoF and it seems fair to point out one (the Slimani signing)  which might also be one for which he would  in all likelihood be the Board member responsible .  If he can broker some sort of deal where the club can recover any part of its outlay on a totally dysfunctional character who was signed on his watch he will certainly be accorded all the praise due to him however . 

Understood. I've always found Slimani a curious one , first scouted under Walsh I believe. Was there perhaps a fear that Vardy was on his way? If not why buy someone who is clearly a number 9 who would never usurp Vardy. A lot of money for a 29yr old whose never been anywhere else and proved himself. He was the first departure from the cheaper up and coming signings we made. I  think any board are likely to be swayed by the evidence or suggestions of someone like Walsh. Thankfully we seem to have turned that corner and are looking for more youthful prospects again though there's equally I suppose room for a Gary Parker or Cambiasso type older professional that's still keen for the cause.

[Guest David Oldfields Gate]

On 02/03/2019 at 09:06, weller54 said:

Need a Rudders in/out poll? 

Yes

[Jono1604]

On 02/03/2019 at 11:41, sylofox said:

Yeah let's thank the guy for doing the job he's paid for. Even if we haven't got a fecking clue what his job is

To get as high up the owners rear i heard

[KFS]

Show your face you utter charlatan

[Stadt]

Even worse than Rodgers in the long term.

[Mike Oxlong]

On 02/03/2019 at 09:06, weller54 said:

Need a Rudders in/out poll? 

I wonder if somewhere in the Netherlands there’s a Dutch Rudders ? 

[MattFox]

Genuine cancer on the club this bloke

 

Arselicked his way to the top, will never get a job anywhere else

[Lineker's Left Foot]

3 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Even worse than Rodgers in the long term.

Mate of mine at work used to coach our Under 16s around 2010-13 and says that his team was ready to play only for th owners stipulating they had to play these two Thai players.   Anyway I digress but he says that Beaglehole and Rudkin are abysmal at their jobs

[Guest Mickyblueeyes]

We need a complete refresh top to bottom. Another one. Thank you for your efforts. Your legacy is secure now it’s time to say goodbye.

[charly]

Is Rudkin the same guy who was praised to the hilt in earlier posts, or a poor imposter.

[Guest Col city fan]

I have tried to tell you all about Rudkin before. He was the academy coach and wasn’t particularly liked because it was clear he was always going to ‘feather his own nest’ so to speak. This is going back about 12 years or so. He must have something because he’s settled in with numerous management regimes at Leicester and has for years been kicking about on the ‘top table’ (no pun intended). 
He’s been ‘promoted from within’ numerous times, to get to where he is now. Or so I’m led to believe. 
I’ve always had the feeling he’s a bit of a sly old fox and I’m not surprised he’s conspicuous by his absence now.

Leicester need a reshuffle, all the way through imo. There are too many comfortable people with their feet firmly under the table. Starting with the manager.