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StanSP

One Year of Brendan (Percy, Telegraph Article)

By StanSP, in Leicester City Forum

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StanSP

StanSP

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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/02/26/story-leicesters-revival-brendan-rodgers-first-anniversary/

 

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Leicester have made great strides under Rodgers with forensic recruitment and intense training driving a likely top four finish

 

It is an hour after Leicester City’s 4-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace. Seven defeats in nine matches for Claude Puel, Jamie Vardy has punched a dressing-room door in a rage, and the wheels are in motion for the club to make their move for Brendan Rodgers.

 

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, the Leicester vice-chairman, has watched the Palace humiliation in Thailand. Puel is sacked the following morning and negotiations are soon under way with Celtic.

Two days later Rodgers is appointed as manager, after compensation of just under £9 million is agreed, and the transformation under one of English football’s finest coaches has been remarkable.

On Wednesday, Rodgers will complete his first year in charge with Leicester third in the Premier League and seemingly on course to bring European nights back to the King Power Stadium.

The impact has been significant, and Rodgers has raised standards and expectations to such a level that Leicester are now viewed as legitimate challengers for the top four.

They have occupied the space between the elite and the “best of the rest” for longer than anyone, and when their opportunity came in the 2015/16 season they emphatically took it. While they may never repeat that glorious title win, Rodgers’s mission was to make seasons like this one the norm, and he has achieved that well ahead of schedule.

 

When I came in towards the end of February, the feeling around everything – the team and [the death of] Khun Vichai [Srivaddhanaprabha, the owner] – was hard for everyone,” he said.

 

“What we’ve tried to do is create an environment where we can use Khun Vichai’s legacy to propel the club forward in a positive way.

 

“There’s still a long way to go, because we want to be able to arrive in that top six and sustain it. But the beauty of Leicester is that there is realism around.”

 

Rodgers’s move from Celtic was controversial, and the rancour remains in Glasgow, yet the past 12 months vindicate his decision to return to the Premier League.
 

Leicester are ambitious, with generous and realistic owners, and have a squad the envy of clubs even in the top six. Rodgers was appointed partly because of his top-flight experience with Liverpool and Swansea City, but also his track record in improving young players: the likes of Wilfred Ndidi, James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, Caglar Soyuncu and Harvey Barnes have flourished under him in the past year.


The experienced members of Leicester’s squad have also improved dramatically under Rodgers – it is easy to forget how marginalised Vardy was under Puel, but today he is the league’s joint top scorer, with 17 goals, despite having netted only one in his past 12 games.

Jonny Evans should also be nailed on as the partner to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk for the team of the year. The sale of Harry Maguire to Manchester United over the summer has barely registered, with Evans performing consistently and his defensive partner, Soyuncu, emerging as a key player.

Brendan’s got a really positive attitude and his experiences of being at Celtic and Liverpool give us confidence,” Evans said. “He’s able to relay those experiences and he can back it all up because we’ve seen it with our own eyes. He gives us clarity and makes it simple.”

 

Wes Morgan, the Leicester captain, highlights Rodgers’s man-management skills as crucial. Players out of the team are set individual targets by the coaching staff to retain their place, and told how they can improve. Every first-team squad member is made to feel a part of it, so there are no divisions in a tight-knit group.

 

Rodgers utilises the “periodisation” method of training, with the emphasis on short, high-intensity sessions.

Evans said: “I experienced this type of training under Louis van Gaal at Manchester United and you can see the players thrive on it.

 

“Brendan wants us to play a high-pressing game and we need to replicate that in training. He wants us to start games fast.”

And what about recruitment? It has been the envy of rival clubs for many years, predating Rodgers’s arrival, and the operation remains a closely guarded secret. Targets are usually scouted at least 12 months before signing. Leicester broke their transfer record in July with the £32 million capture of Youri Tielemans from Monaco.

 

Last month, Leicester were initially confident of signing Merih Demiral, the Juventus defender, but he suffered a serious knee injury in the game against Roma on January 12.

Ryan Bennett was eventually signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers on deadline day to, a) add defensive cover, and, b) allow Croatia international Filip Benkovic to join Bristol City on loan to enhance his development, in another clear sign of joined-up thinking.

 

Rodgers’s future recruitment plans will be boosted by the new £100 million training ground, which Leicester hope will be one of the best in the world.

 

The base is scheduled to open for pre-season and Rodgers, plus other key members of staff, were consulted on its development. Coincidentally, the opening of the new training ground will also mark the 10th year of King Power’s ownership and Aiyawatt, who is now chairman, remains a shrewd, sensible and hugely driven figure at the helm.

 

 

 

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Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

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17 minutes ago, StanSP said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/02/26/story-leicesters-revival-brendan-rodgers-first-anniversary/

 

 

Thanks. During a difficult period, it's good to be reminded of all the positives (not that I'd completely forgotten).

 

If we'd done it the other way round - had a tricky spell in the autumn, then a great run leaving us in 3rd place - Brendan would be praised like a God.

 

Play like we did v. Man City for the rest of the season but take a few more chances and we can finish strongly - probably in 3rd place.

 

I did have a little smirk at Evans saying Brendan "wants us to start games fast" as the failure to do that seems to have been a particular weakness in recent months....

 

Still, the future horizon looks bright even if there are bumps on the road....

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Dahnsouff

Dahnsouff

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5 minutes ago, filbertway said:

Much needed reality check for the people panicking and ready to sell half the squad in a desperate attempt to mend the sinking ship that we're becoming.

Only half?!!!!!? :frantics:

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Ric Flair

Ric Flair

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This marking of the occasion could be the sort of shot in the arm the whole club needs as we enter a crucial period of the remaining season. I am of the opinion, that although results have been nothing but average in the last month that we have improved our performances from the back end of the Christmas and January period where we looked blasted. There's murmurings of unhappiness from some fans and I can almost understand it, especially if we do fumble our lines in the remaining 11 games and end the season very, very badly but we aren't there yet. If we win half of our remaining games then we should be absolutely buzzing, if we pick up more wins/points than that which potentially ought to happen then we are looking at a 70+ point season which is extraordinary improvement. Improvement, that's what we've got to remember. This is still a huge work in progress, we've weaknesses in this team and other players/areas that will get better in the next year or so so if we can land a place in the top 4 at the first ask under Rodgers and continue the forward momentum then we really should be extremely proud and honoured to be part of this club.

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StriderHiryu

StriderHiryu

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:brendan:

 

How can you not be over the moon with how Rodgers has done!? Brilliant coach who has us lined up for our second best season in Premier League history, playing some of the best football I have seen at times. Am I the only one that re-watches the 9-0 win against Southampton at least once a week lol?

 

Looking forward to what comes next in Brendan's Leicester City story!

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Blue ROI

Blue ROI

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I wasn't sure what way it would go with B-Rod. He seemed like a forgotten man after Liverpool but he has been superb for us overall.

 

The defence was the major concern like at Anfield but its the strongest part of the team really. 

 

Last few weeks have been a bit ropey but lets face it at this time of year (2016 aside obviously) we always hit a bit of a slump but finish strongly.

 

Once we have everyone back good and proper there's good days ahead. Keep the faith:scarf:

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Manini

Manini

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I thought this would be an absolute disaster appointment, despite being excited when he signed....so it’s gone pretty well so far!
 

I honestly think we’re really lucky to have him, he isn’t the ****ing messiah by any stretch of the imagination and he has his flaws, he makes some weird decisions and says some odd things but he’s clearly a level above what we’ve been used to over the years. 

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RonnieTodger

RonnieTodger

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Bloody love Brendan, couldn't believe we landed him mid-season.

 

Remember all the bitterness from Scotland. "He's leaving European football for mid-table mediocrity!" 

 

How brilliant would it be if we get a top 4 finish, go straight to the CL groups, whilst Celtic get knocked in one of their 20 qualifying rounds.

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StanSP

StanSP

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8 minutes ago, RonnieTodger said:

Bloody love Brendan, couldn't believe we landed him mid-season.

 

Remember all the bitterness from Scotland. "He's leaving European football for mid-table mediocrity!" 

 

How brilliant would it be if we get a top 4 finish, go straight to the CL groups, whilst Celtic get knocked in one of their 20 qualifying rounds.

There's one bellend still bitter about it for sure lol

 

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Dahnsouff

Dahnsouff

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9 minutes ago, RonnieTodger said:

Bloody love Brendan, couldn't believe we landed him mid-season.

 

Remember all the bitterness from Scotland. "He's leaving European football for mid-table mediocrity!" 

 

How brilliant would it be if we get a top 4 finish, go straight to the CL groups, whilst Celtic get knocked in one of their 20 qualifying rounds.

Seems Copenhagen (and Celtic) are trying to fix this..

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