Kelechi Iheanacho

[Walshy5]

3 hours ago, Marshall Cockney Fox said:

I'd be deeply worried if the club did that. 

They did. Fact. 

[shen]

4 hours ago, Marshall Cockney Fox said:

I'd be deeply worried if the club did that. 

Didn't Enzo mention that the only extension the club have made so far is with Choudhury. My guess is that any further extensions/deals are put on ice until the end of the FY - basically any sales before end of June will have a direct impact on who stays and who goes. Of course, this is assuming that the players with expiring contracts want to stay...

[trugerkem]

Get rid 

[K789]

He's actually 28 in October which blew my.mind, not potential anymore 

[Heathrow fox]

Loved his honest post match on pitch interviews.The Mothers Day one was genuinely quite moving.

What really frustrated me was that he rarely managed to get a second goal in a game.Equally frustrating was watching Barnes constantly ignore him being in a good position,then run into a dead end.

Good luck Kel.Thanks for being the under dog these last seven years.You showed glimpses of real skill on occasion and through balls to die for.Hope you go where you’re appreciated.

[Aus Fox]

When he’s on, there’s no doubt he’s premier league quality and top end of the Premier League quality, but when he’s not you have to wonder how he made it as a footballer at all.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a footballer in my life with such a difference between his best and worst. You can always tell 10 minutes into a game which one will turn up too.

The biggest problem is can anyone remember the last time he actually showed up and showed the level he’s capable of. 
For now, it’s the best decision for both parties that he moves on and attempts to make something of his career and I’ll say this for 100% certainly, there will be a point next season when Kel has bagged a few goals in a row and is showing glimpses of his best and there will be threads on here saying we should never have let him go… but like Dimarai Gray before him, it’ll be a flash in the pan.

I’ll thank Kel now for some great memories, including the pivotal role he played in the FA Cup win, and wish him all the best for the future. If I'm ever in a ground and he’s playing I’ll give him a cheer and whatever happens with him from now on, it was the correct decision to let him go.

[dylanlegend]

The reason for the new deal is likely so we could get some money for him, or even keep him as a back up striker. 
 

We weren’t in a position to offer him a new deal last summer as we couldn’t have afforded it in the Championship 

[Product of 84]

I've seen a few things saying he has rejected an offer of a new contract and is off. Somewhere was reporting his t-shirt the other day confirmed he is going. While I find him deeply frustrating and don't think he ever truly got to a level his talent deserved I'll be sad to see him go. Obviously, it's sadder watching Albrighton and possibly Vardy (pretty sure he is staying). 

 

I do want to say thank you to Ihanacho tho. He has scored some important goals. Played in some important games and I will miss having him around. He also scored the first VAR goal (I think). 

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

I find it bizarre he'd be offered a contract before vardy. Something doesn't add up there.

[coolhandfox]

Just now, Chocolate Teapot said:

I find it bizarre he'd be offered a contract before vardy. Something doesn't add up there.

How do you know Vardy hasn't?

[Product of 84]

I'd imagine there have been talks but nothing can be officially said due to the transfer embargo and FFP. 

 

Anyway bored of the above. Let's make it about positive memories of Ihanacho.

[Chelmofox]

11 minutes ago, Chocolate Teapot said:

I find it bizarre he'd be offered a contract before vardy. Something doesn't add up there.

Their careers are in very different places. At the start of the season, Kels was very much in favour and I presume they were thinking about the future and potential resale even if we didn’t get promoted. Something went sour along the way.  I presume with Vardy they wanted absolute assurance we were promoted. 

[Wymsey]

It seems like a lack of motivation often has been his 'weakness', which is a pity as he has got the technical attributes to be a top forward which he has shown on now-rare occasions.

[Tielemans63]

People getting their knickers in a twist about him being offered a new contract. It could have been for 1 year on £40k a week. I'd imagine he was lowballed and hence he's rejected it

 

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

31 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

Their careers are in very different places. At the start of the season, Kels was very much in favour and I presume they were thinking about the future and potential resale even if we didn’t get promoted. Something went sour along the way.  I presume with Vardy they wanted absolute assurance we were promoted. 

Kel had played less games than vardy at the start of the season. I'm calling bullshit on it.

[RYM]

I haven’t read any of this thread but he’s not a very good player. Hope that helps?

[Chelmofox]

8 minutes ago, Chocolate Teapot said:

Kel had played less games than vardy at the start of the season. I'm calling bullshit on it.

Hmm. They were being rotated pretty evenly early on. Quick check shows me that in the league Kels started 5 of the first 7 games. They both started 6 each of the first 12. Kels fell out of favour late November. Up to game 17 he had featured in every game including 2 efl cup games he started. He played more than I remembered earlier in the season. 
 

Enzo called out in a press conference earlier in the season that they were discussing new deals. 

[Stopharage]

I wonder whether he knows he’s out of contract? 

[sm1]

Good luck to him wherever he ends up. Always had a soft spot for him, but he's been so poor this season, its best to part ways.

[VLC86]

35 minutes ago, Stopharage said:

I wonder whether he knows he’s out of contract? 

I wonder if he knows he’s a footballer.

[An Away Move]

His t-shirt was bizarre talking about how we have history and that we'll miss him. He absolutely stole a living this season and you're only as good as your last season in my book. Thanks for the memories before that but there's the exit!

[Daggers]

Was royally shat on by successive managers and eventually gave up believing. Really hope it works out for him at the next place, decent guy.

[MPH]

3 hours ago, Chocolate Teapot said:

I find it bizarre he'd be offered a contract before vardy. Something doesn't add up there.

 

10 years difference in age might have something to do with it…

[Tom12345]

On 05/05/2024 at 15:55, Paninistickers said:

Laying into a player that's given us probs 50% of his entire career. 

 

Maybe he turned down a contract as he doesn't like playing just 10 mins cameos every 7 or 8 games? 

 

Maybe after 7 years he just fancies a new challenge. 

 

He's been underused. His best role is as second striker, which has fallen out of fashion. His weight of pass in that role is sublime; three examples off the top of my head 

 

Leeds away last season as someone else pointed out

The KDH, Winks goal at wba this season

Sending Barnes thro at Eindhoven..

 

He's done that countless.times in addition to his goals. And some of his goals have been gorgeous. That spurs away at wembley was one of the best long range shots I've ever seen. That little delayed finish away at Brighton. His goals away at Villa in the league and league cup. Delicious.

 

I'll miss him. And wish him well. Hope he gets a great move. 

 

 

100%
 

You cannot really score much if you are a lone striker with a team playing style that focuses on passing around at the back and wingers going on the side crossing into the box. Kel is best at playing with someone next to him or just behind making all those passes and 1-2s upfront. When on the rare occasions he can do that, including with Barnes or when he was playing as part of a two, he has excelled with goals and assists. It is not his fault for not being used to his strength. We certainly can’t blame him for it. 

 

 

[VintageFox73]

If you look at his stats they are not actually that bad

 

played- 232

Goals- 61

Assists - 34

overall goal/ assists - 95 

 

Yeah Hes played 232 games, but how many of those were as a substitute getting 5 mins here 5 mins there ....I still think he could do a job in the prem for us but by all accounts he turned day £65k per week