A season like no other

[Ric Flair]

I'll be honest, I'm pretty glad it's over. I didn't quite realise how much this season has taken its toll on me until this past week. I think its life in general that is the aggravating factor over the last year or so and football has been a colossal focus point for many where there's been very little else to keep people's sanity.

 

But what an emotionally draining and at times lonely and isolated season. I'm so proud of this club for putting last seasons capitulation behind them and with only 3 weeks off season come back and hit the ground running. We have ended the season with the elusive FA Cup after 137 years and the memories of that day, seeing our fans in delirium in a ground was euphoric. Being able to celebrate it with my Dad and brothers and my little boy will probably never ever be beaten but prior to that and this week since I've felt the baggage that has come from being so utterly engrossed and obsessed with my football team.

 

When Vardy put us 2-1 up today and Villa went 2-0 up, I had numbness in my arms and heart palpitations. I was dizzy, I had a horribly dry mouth and I honestly thought I was about to pass out. That's not good is it hahahahaa and then those final 15 minutes were soul destroying, its left me deflated and gutted but I'm slowly picking myself back up off the floor and will cherish this season for what it is.

 

I think not being able to go to games for almost the entire season has had an effect, likewise not even really being able to gather with your usual crowd to provide each other with the support you all need to watch our football team has made it feel less like a family, a club and more like an individual battle and journey.

 

I've so many lonely memories this season watching our games, couldn't bare to come back from the local park whilst walking my dog in the 2nd half of the game at The Etihad, did 12 laps of it whilst watching it on my phone. Getting my son to sleep and reading the vitriol of abuse on our 1st half performance away at Arsenal but just knowing we were finally going to get a win there with a shit house smash and grab and we did.

 

The horrible empty feeling of the Fulham home defeat and being sent down B&Q before it closed at home to Leeds and coming back to the car to hear we'd gone 2-1 down and the game was gone from us. Just sat there and nutted the steering wheel on my own, alone with a load of DIY shit I didn't want.

 

This last stretch of games since Barnes and Maddison got injured have been borderline torture, thank heavens for Kelechi Iheanacho coming of age as this season could have gone the same way as Southampton and we'd have ended up mid table easily.

 

There's been some incredible outbursts of emotion during this last few months though, the whole cup run has just been spellbinding, the complete demolition of Man Utd and the realisation that we were on the verge of the final. Then last Saturday was just iconic, as much as it felt like the first authentic gathering of friends and family for an occasion that was a bit different than going through the motions of meeting up freezing your pecker off for a walk or a beer in the rain. It was a huge day, it was gutting that myself and many others didn't have a ticket but that was all forgotten when Youri pulled the trigger and the bedlam that ensues. Possibly the best away end or crowd I've seen of ours at Wembley since the scenes after Thompson made it 3-3 vs Swindon and the final minutes of the Derby and Palace play off finals. Bodies were everywhere, after a year of being a caged animal at home on our own, suppressed with nothing but your football team still playing games in empty stadiums that have got your emotions and entire thought process on a bit of string.

 

This last week of league games and the ones in the last few weeks have been disgusting, I couldn't cope with the pressure and thankfully the players made a better fist of it but its still chewed us all up and spat us out in 5th.

 

We take it, we acknowledge what we've achieved and we look forward to next season, with hope that we can get back to a sense of normality and share our love of the game and team that we grew up with. I don't want to spend another season putting up with myself, I'm the absolute pits. I need the outlet of shared anger, celebration and belief.

 

I'm now relieved i can switch off from this for a bit. I'll watch the Euros but without the enthusiasm I once had for England which bordered on the same fanatical demented state that I get myself in with Leicester. Not got the energy for that this summer and certainly not for Southgate the prat.

 

Enjoy your summer, it's been a roller coaster. 

 

WE GO AGAIN

 

[harpendenfox]

First class post @Ric Flair. Absolutely need a break from the emotions now. For the most part, through an often depressing and frightening winter as we’ve faced the virus and the pandemic, City has been sanctuary, bringing great joy when we’ve won, and despair when we’ve lost.

 

And last Saturday at Wembley was glorious.

 

I’ve much enjoyed your posts. Always worth reading.

[Ric Flair]

1 minute ago, harpendenfox said:

First class post @Ric Flair. Absolutely need a break from the emotions now. For the most part, through an often depressing and frightening winter as we’ve faced the virus and the pandemic, City has been sanctuary, bringing great joy when we’ve won, and despair when we’ve lost.

 

And last Saturday at Wembley was glorious.

 

I’ve much enjoyed your posts. Always worth reading.

That's actually something I hadn't quite appreciated in my reflection of this season. Whatever disappointment or even relief of what we have achieved as the seasons now ended, do not underestimate just how good we were for the majority of this season when as you say we were in lockdown after lockdown in the cold and dark wintery months and yet this team brought us so much relief and moments of joy. Weekends that usually would have been mind numbingly boring could be looked at with that yourteamswonsoeverythingssound perspective and the weekend takes care of itself.

 

What a club, what a year.

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

That's actually something I hadn't quite appreciated in my reflection of this season. Whatever disappointment or even relief of what we have achieved as the seasons now ended, do not underestimate just how good we were for the majority of this season when as you say we were in lockdown after lockdown in the cold and dark wintery months and yet this team brought us so much relief and moments of joy. Weekends that usually would have been mind numbingly boring could be looked at with that yourteamswonsoeverythingssound perspective and the weekend takes care of itself.

 

What a club, what a year.

You've summed up my emotions far better than I could mate.

 

At times this forum has kept me going, other times it's done my head in. There are some genuinely good eggs on this place and I enjoy reading what they have to say. The vast majority of us realise what we've achieved but also know that frankly it's been a horrible season.

 

Onwards and upwards, I hope we're all screaming from the top row on Vicarage Road in August.

 

 

[Austin]

Half asleep so I can't bring myself to read this right now, but i know it'll be good. So thank you in advance, Mr Flair. I'm commenting in the hope that even just one person will like my post and i wake up in the morning and see a notification that prompts me to read this on my commute to work! Xoxoxox

 

Edit: thank you for the reminder to the couple of people that reacted to the post and thank you @Ric Flairfor summing up my feelings pretty much to a tee. Take care fellow foxes x

Edited 24 May 2021 by papajdog

[Corky]

It's not just the lack of attending- the schedule has been relentless. 53 games in 8 months. We had 7 consecutive midweek games from mid-January to March. It's been the shortest season yet felt like a never ending run of matches. Plus kick-off times being moved to every conceivable time of the weekend and you've barely had the chance to relax.

 

Being at home is always worse, you might have one or two people to talk to but you are watching it on a screen listening to other people talk about it. You want to talk to people around you at the ground. I've found my motivation for it getting less and less as the season has worn on.

 

I honestly think the kick-off times have helped this. 7pm on a Sunday night? 5.30pm on a midweek? 8pm on a Saturday? You've not had any sort of routine and the lack of Saturday 3pm games is appalling.

 

A good break is now needed and we all need to take it easier.

[SecretPro]

Very well put @Ric Flair. Pretty much sums it up spot on for me. 

 

I feel absolutely ****ing nakard. Actually done in. A mix of everything, but the football has been a big part of it, good and bad. I need a rest now. A proper rest. I'll watch a bit of the euros but I won't get invested in it. 

 

Wish I had a holiday planned for a proper recharge, but that will have to wait for next year.

 

Time to get outdoors and just breath now. 

[FoyleFox]

Excellent post Ric, pretty much sums it up for me too. It's been relentless the last few weeks, emotionally and physically draining. 

The joys of our season have helped immensely during lockdown and the long winter but I do feel ready for a break. 

[Dan]

Yeah it's summed up a lot of my emotions as well that has. To be totally honest with you, as a whole season, I don't think I have enjoyed one less. I think I've realised that beyond any reasonable doubt that the social side of it really does just make it and solely watching players kick a ball round, whilst obviously you can enjoy that, is only a small part of it. Not even what happened earlier - I can live with it, I've just never felt so disassociated with it all. I know it'll be back to normal (starting next season) but as an experience, bar last weekend, this one's been frankly a bit bleak.

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

5 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

Yeah it's summed up a lot of my emotions as well that has. To be totally honest with you, as a whole season, I don't think I have enjoyed one less. I think I've realised that beyond any reasonable doubt that the social side of it really does just make it and solely watching players kick a ball round, whilst obviously you can enjoy that, is only a small part of it. Not even what happened earlier - I can live with it, I've just never felt so disassociated with it all. I know it'll be back to normal (starting next season) but as an experience, bar last weekend, this one's been frankly a bit bleak.

I realized driving home last night that a large part of enjoyment from ‘going down the match’ is the social side. In my case catching up with my dad - we both drive for 3 hours from opposite ends of the country - and the football itself is an added bonus. It’s so obvious but it’s been taken away this season and it’s taken that for it to sink in.

 

I have just woken up exhausted - from the long drive last night and also from this season. I didn’t enjoy the build up to the cup final one bit last weekend and that took it out of me too. A relentless season in respect of the schedule and I too am looking forward to some R&R.

And if many of us feel like this as supporters, just think what it must be like to be a player - particularly Evans, Youri and Kasper, who have played the vast majority of games this season. They deserve a medal! And luckily they got one last weekend.

[Ric Flair]

6 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

Yeah it's summed up a lot of my emotions as well that has. To be totally honest with you, as a whole season, I don't think I have enjoyed one less. I think I've realised that beyond any reasonable doubt that the social side of it really does just make it and solely watching players kick a ball round, whilst obviously you can enjoy that, is only a small part of it. Not even what happened earlier - I can live with it, I've just never felt so disassociated with it all. I know it'll be back to normal (starting next season) but as an experience, bar last weekend, this one's been frankly a bit bleak.

Definitely mate, sat at home on your own watching it and being so far removed from having any " control " over what might be happening is harrowing. What makes it worse is I don't don't celebrate some goals straight the way due to VAR and then when it's confirmed it's more relief than unbridled ecstacy, but all of that compounds under the surface and its culminated in this quite stressful and I wouldn't say unpleasant but most certainly not enjoyable season.

 

I am so happy we have won the FA Cup, I will now spend these next few weeks cherishing that and knowing that for all that has happened there are only 3-4 clubs in the division other than ourselves that really have anything to celebrate this season. 16 other teams would snap our hand off for our season and we are once again the envy of many.

 

Bring on next season, but if you don't mind I'm off for a bag of crisps and a lay down.

[grobyfox1990]

I've watched every game this season, thank god the football kept running. A much needed outlet during some very dark and depressing winter days

[Focks]

15 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

 

Bring on next season, but if you don't mind I'm off for a bag of crisps and a lay down.

Tangy Toms?

[Scotch]

It's funny seeing everyone talk about a much needed break from Leicester. I agree completely but it's not as simple as that for me...

 

I've got to watch Scotland in the Euro's!

[purpleronnie]

Just now, Foxy_Bear said:

It's funny seeing everyone talk about a much needed break from Leicester. I agree completely but it's not as simple as that for me...

 

I've got to watch Scotland in the Euro's!

Could be worse we've got to watch England in the Euro's.

[Ric Flair]

1 minute ago, Foxy_Bear said:

It's funny seeing everyone talk about a much needed break from Leicester. I agree completely but it's not as simple as that for me...

 

I've got to watch Scotland in the Euro's!

Hahahahahahaaa! I actually think you'll have a more enjoyable Euros than us bastards!!!

[davieG]

It's certainly been different watching it at home with MrsG rather than at the KP with my son. I've found I get way more nervous and tense watching it on the TV than I ever do live at the stadium and it takes MrsG to calm me down especially this last game when I wasn't even that fussed before it started I'm sure it's watching on the TV that does it for me.

 

I'm so happy with the FA Cup win and for me that makes it the 2nd best season ever.

 

 

[Ricey]

You’ve done a better job of explaining my personal experience of this season than I could have done.

 

This year has been hard for most of us outside of football. Football has been the distraction and the only thing populating our calendars. All very well and good when things are going well, but these last few weeks (FA Cup aside) have been agony. Probably because there has been f-all going in the last year I had become even more obsessed, invested and caught up in the fortunes of Leicester City Football Club than ever before. That is never a healthy thing.

 

I’ve genuinely hated these last few weeks (again, FA Cup aside). It’s drained me emotionally. I’ve hated, and been a bit embarrassed, about the way football has made me feel. It’s not healthy and I’m glad it’s over. Luckily it’s not normally like this and I know the circumstances around the pandemic are mostly to blame.

 

I don’t think I’ve ever got as angry during matches, or as low afterwards. All those terrible home defeats, West Ham away, Southampton away. Worse still were other teams results, as I didn’t really prepare myself for those. Allison’s header being the ultimate kick in the teeth. Just horrible, horrible memories.

 

It’s felt like someone has been scripting events over the last year to be the most frustrating and agonising as possible. Two seasons of constantly dangling Champions League football in our faces and then pulling it away time and time again just when it looks like we were about to grab it. I had accepted 5th before yesterday but then our old foe hope strolled back in and crushed me all over again.

 

You’ve nailed it about this season being a lonely pursuit. Somehow debriefing or moaning on the phone or social media can’t get close to that collective experience of being at the match. We are social beings and we crave that togetherness.

 

I was at the match yesterday and I was gutted at the end, but nowhere near as angry or gutted as I’d have been if I’d been watching at home.

 

I know I’ll look back on this season and remember all of the highs and I know our primary memory will be the FA Cup, but at the minute it hurts and I feel drained.

[copunk]

10 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

I'll be honest, I'm pretty glad it's over. I didn't quite realise how much this season has taken its toll on me until this past week. I think its life in general that is the aggravating factor over the last year or so and football has been a colossal focus point for many where there's been very little else to keep people's sanity.

 

But what an emotionally draining and at times lonely and isolated season. I'm so proud of this club for putting last seasons capitulation behind them and with only 3 weeks off season come back and hit the ground running. We have ended the season with the elusive FA Cup after 137 years and the memories of that day, seeing our fans in delirium in a ground was euphoric. Being able to celebrate it with my Dad and brothers and my little boy will probably never ever be beaten but prior to that and this week since I've felt the baggage that has come from being so utterly engrossed and obsessed with my football team.

 

When Vardy put us 2-1 up today and Villa went 2-0 up, I had numbness in my arms and heart palpitations. I was dizzy, I had a horribly dry mouth and I honestly thought I was about to pass out. That's not good is it hahahahaa and then those final 15 minutes were soul destroying, its left me deflated and gutted but I'm slowly picking myself back up off the floor and will cherish this season for what it is.

 

I think not being able to go to games for almost the entire season has had an effect, likewise not even really being able to gather with your usual crowd to provide each other with the support you all need to watch our football team has made it feel less like a family, a club and more like an individual battle and journey.

 

I've so many lonely memories this season watching our games, couldn't bare to come back from the local park whilst walking my dog in the 2nd half of the game at The Etihad, did 12 laps of it whilst watching it on my phone. Getting my son to sleep and reading the vitriol of abuse on our 1st half performance away at Arsenal but just knowing we were finally going to get a win there with a shit house smash and grab and we did.

 

The horrible empty feeling of the Fulham home defeat and being sent down B&Q before it closed at home to Leeds and coming back to the car to hear we'd gone 2-1 down and the game was gone from us. Just sat there and nutted the steering wheel on my own, alone with a load of DIY shit I didn't want.

 

This last stretch of games since Barnes and Maddison got injured have been borderline torture, thank heavens for Kelechi Iheanacho coming of age as this season could have gone the same way as Southampton and we'd have ended up mid table easily.

 

There's been some incredible outbursts of emotion during this last few months though, the whole cup run has just been spellbinding, the complete demolition of Man Utd and the realisation that we were on the verge of the final. Then last Saturday was just iconic, as much as it felt like the first authentic gathering of friends and family for an occasion that was a bit different than going through the motions of meeting up freezing your pecker off for a walk or a beer in the rain. It was a huge day, it was gutting that myself and many others didn't have a ticket but that was all forgotten when Youri pulled the trigger and the bedlam that ensues. Possibly the best away end or crowd I've seen of ours at Wembley since the scenes after Thompson made it 3-3 vs Swindon and the final minutes of the Derby and Palace play off finals. Bodies were everywhere, after a year of being a caged animal at home on our own, suppressed with nothing but your football team still playing games in empty stadiums that have got your emotions and entire thought process on a bit of string.

 

This last week of league games and the ones in the last few weeks have been disgusting, I couldn't cope with the pressure and thankfully the players made a better fist of it but its still chewed us all up and spat us out in 5th.

 

We take it, we acknowledge what we've achieved and we look forward to next season, with hope that we can get back to a sense of normality and share our love of the game and team that we grew up with. I don't want to spend another season putting up with myself, I'm the absolute pits. I need the outlet of shared anger, celebration and belief.

 

I'm now relieved i can switch off from this for a bit. I'll watch the Euros but without the enthusiasm I once had for England which bordered on the same fanatical demented state that I get myself in with Leicester. Not got the energy for that this summer and certainly not for Southgate the prat.

 

Enjoy your summer, it's been a roller coaster. 

 

WE GO AGAIN

 

literally summed up how I feel😂 seems like we have played almost every bloody day this season, I look forward to every game then when the time comes those 90 mins put me through every emotion imaginable

 

cant wait to go again next season 

[foxinsocks]

It's the hope that kills you.  But that's why winning feels so good. Remember how we felt winning the cup or watching wes and Claudio raise the pl trophy....  I've got something in my eye.

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

1 minute ago, Ricey said:

You’ve done a better job of explaining my personal experience of this season than I could have done.

 

This year has been hard for most of us outside of football. Football has been the distraction and the only thing populating our calendars. All very well and good when things are going well, but these last few weeks (FA Cup aside) have been agony. Probably because there has been f-all going in the last year I had become even more obsessed, invested and caught up in the fortunes of Leicester City Football Club than ever before. That is never a healthy thing.

 

I’ve genuinely hated these last few weeks (again, FA Cup aside). It’s drained me emotionally. I’ve hated, and been a bit embarrassed, about the way football has made me feel. It’s not healthy and I’m glad it’s over. Luckily it’s not normally like this and I know the circumstances around the pandemic are mostly to blame.

 

I don’t think I’ve ever got as angry during matches, or as low afterwards. All those terrible home defeats, West Ham away, Southampton away. Worse still were other teams results, as I didn’t really prepare myself for those. Allison’s header being the ultimate kick in the teeth. Just horrible, horrible memories.

 

It’s felt like someone has been scripting events over the last year to be the most frustrating and agonising as possible. Two seasons of constantly dangling Champions League football in our faces and then pulling it away time and time again just when it looks like we were about to grab it. I had accepted 5th before yesterday but then our old foe hope strolled back in and crushed me all over again.

 

You’ve nailed it about this season being a lonely pursuit. Somehow debriefing or moaning on the phone or social media can’t get close to that collective experience of being at the match. We are social beings and we crave that togetherness.

 

I was at the match yesterday and I was gutted at the end, but nowhere near as angry or gutted as I’d have been if I’d been watching at home.

 

I know I’ll look back on this season and remember all of the highs and I know our primary memory will be the FA Cup, but at the minute it hurts and I feel drained.

It's weird how so many of us feel the exact same about it. Football is about being there with your mates and family.

 

I've never been so angry or nervous about a season ever. Thank **** it's over.

[Guest Col city fan]

I’ve had a different experience to be honest

Knowing all our games were going to be televised has given me something to look forward to during weeks and months of worry and concern

It’s been one of the only things to latch onto during very bizarre and uncertain times

Of course, the face to face component with mates has been the downside. Pre Covid we all met up in a Leicester boozer after every match (we nicknamed it 505) and have done this for years.

But instead we set up a Facebook messenger group and pretty much conversed during and after every game. The beer we had at Stamford soon after lockdown ending was like we’d never been apart really

Family wise, Mrs Col had watched every game with me and our kid has talked to me about games more than ever before (he was fuming at the manner of our capitulation yesterday tbf)

The part I’ve hated though has been having no fans in stadia. That’s been awful.

So I’ve actually enjoyed this season. The FA cup win was sensational. To see Bryl-Cream boys face when the Chelsea goal was VAR’d out was immense.

So I’ve taken the positives out of a eerie situation and tried to get on with it

I’ll watch the Euros but will remain rooted the transfer thread to see who we get in and, as importantly, who we offload during the summer but will actually miss the fact the season is over.

Just being honest 

👍

 

[Eskay]

I feel relieved its over tbh. It's been mental to have basically 2 seasons back to back. The players must be feeling it too?

 

It makes me feel positive for next season. Back in Europa League where I feel we have unfinished business. A few players back in and I'm sure the coaching staff could do with a recharge and reset.

 

I have been a big critic for some players, but I'm hoping that Maddison, Ricardo and Vardy can have a proper pre season to get back to their levels.

JJ and Harvey will be back and have time to build up fitness (Ricardo was thrown straight back in).

Some of the signings being mentioned are genuinely quiet exciting and we have an opportunity to remove some more of the deadwood too.

Players were looking tired - Evans, Wilf, Albrighton and even the mistakes from Cags and Kasper at the end tells me there is a mental fatigue too! 

 

We have fans to be back in stadiums to look forward to and no games at 6pm on a Monday etc. It will feel way more 'normal' and we have a really exciting club here. Next season will be another good one I think.

[Scotch]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

Hahahahahahaaa! I actually think you'll have a more enjoyable Euros than us bastards!!!

Aye! To be fair, We know we are shite and we have no expectations so the stress levels are fairly low. We just have to put up with 3 games of gash football, then we get to have a pint and say "atleast we were there this time".

[Duquesne Whistle]

5 minutes ago, Foxy_Bear said:

Aye! To be fair, We know we are shite and we have no expectations so the stress levels are fairly low. We just have to put up with 3 games of gash football, then we get to have a pint and say "atleast we were there this time".

I think it's a group that suits Scotland, if there is such a thing for any team. No problem getting up for the England match and Croatia/Czech Republic aren't the type of teams that tend to dominate matches and take teams apart. Getting Adams to nail his colours to the Scotland mast was a bonus, he adds much more of a goal threat to your squad. McGinn has had a great season and McTominay has been as good as most of the other Man U midfielders.

Add to that, that quite a few of the England players have had stressful endings to the season with their clubs fighting for something until the very last games whilst the Scottish league was over a while ago and I think there's a genuine reason for Scotland fans to be optimistic this time.