Where do we go from here?

[SixtiesFox]

I feel we have reached a watershed moment, but where do we go from here? With plans in an advanced stage to expand the stadium it is clear that our amazing owners are firmly committed to kicking on. But what do we need to do to revive our flagging fortunes on the field? Are we just suffering a temporary setback due to a catastrophic injury crisis that is down to bad luck or is it something more fundamental that needs to be addressed? What should we do in the transfer market now and in the summer to avoid falling behind our immediate competitors (Villa, West Ham, Wolves, Everton, Brighton)? Do we need a change of coach in order to reset and refresh? Clearly critical decisions have to be made. Put your director's hat on and outline what you would do to re-establish the momentum we have been building and ensure that our club resumes it's upward trajectory.

[Fox92]

Short term: Defend the FA Cup as well as we can and go as far as we can in Europe.

[Raw Dykes]

I think the main priority is sorting out injuries. We've had far too many for far too long. Whether that means less intense training, or making signing more robust players a higher priority, I don't know, but we can't go on like this. Desperately needs sorting out. I believe that's the main reason we can't really get going this season. Some of it, at least, is down to luck, but there is more we can do about it.

 

The other thing is recruitment. With a few players contracts running down, it looks like we're in for a busier summer than usual in the transfer market. If we can dig up a few of the calibre of Daka and Fofana, and avoid any more like Bertrand and Vestergaard, then we'll be fine.

 

Youri will be a big loss, but the emergence of KDH massively softens the blow. I think we should be looking for a younger player with the potential to be the next Youri, as the finished product would almost certainly be far too expensive. Someone like Samuele Ricci, who we have been linked with, would be ideal, I think.

 

Lookman, if we have an option for £15m-£20m, would be a great addition. Bolsters an area of the team that has long needed it. The elusive left-footed RW would be good in addition.

 

Looks like Cags will probably be off, and Evans looks more and more injury-prone as the years go by, so centre-half is an area that needs heavy investment. I think we're crying out for an experienced player to partner Fofana as first choice. I'd like Amartey to be given a new contract. Vestergaard will be very difficult to shift, so I guess he'll have to stay as 5th choice and we'll have to hope we can turn him into a useful player somehow. If Amartey leaves, or we can somehow get rid of Vestergaard, then I'd like to see us sign a younger CB in addition to the experienced one.

 

In JJ, Thomas, Ricardo and Castagne, I think we're sorted at full-back, although I think one of Ricardo or Castagne may be sold. Both have been injured a lot, and Ricardo's contract might be reaching the end. I say might because there was a report that he'd signed a new deal. No idea how true that is. Might be a good idea to sign a left-footed full-back if anyone's sold, with JJ being right-footed.

 

We're alright for strikers and keepers.

 

I think Youri and Cags will be sold this summer. Possibly Ricardo or Castagne, as well. We'll have to hope we can find the right players at the right prices.

[OatcakeFox]

Down to the lake I fear

[SpacedX]

28 minutes ago, OatcakeFox said:

Down to the lake I fear

Just came into the thread to type this. 

[Lako42]

Championship

[Lambert09]

Feels like this could be the season to focus on the future rather than the now. I hate to say it but we need to build around Daka and not Vardy. 
 

we should try to give as many youth a chance as possible (if they are ready) 

 

id consider a loan cb as a method of managing the schedules of those coming back from injury. 
 

What we don’t need is a an expensive stop gap player. But the club know that 

[Scotch]

37 minutes ago, Lambert09 said:

Feels like this could be the season to focus on the future rather than the now. I hate to say it but we need to build around Daka and not Vardy. 
 

we should try to give as many youth a chance as possible (if they are ready) 

 

id consider a loan cb as a method of managing the schedules of those coming back from injury. 
 

What we don’t need is a an expensive stop gap player. But the club know that 

I'm not sure why you "hate to say it". It's spot on. 

 

He's a warrior so he'll want to play as much as possible but imagine how much more we will get out of Vardy as a super sub. He still has a massive part to play here... just over 20 minutes per game rather than 90. 

[Lambert09]

26 minutes ago, Scotch said:

I'm not sure why you "hate to say it". It's spot on. 

 

He's a warrior so he'll want to play as much as possible but imagine how much more we will get out of Vardy as a super sub. He still has a massive part to play here... just over 20 minutes per game rather than 90. 

Its just hard to move on from our greatest ever player. Right or not, it still feels wrong 

[Stadt]

We need rebuild between this summer and the next few years. For the first time in a while the spine of our team will need replacing. This summer we'll need at least two CBs, a CM and a winger before even considering replacing any outgoing squad players. With probably over £100m+ to spend and multiple players I just don't trust Rodgers' input. Congerton was/is a disaster.

 

So for me a new manager and head of recruitment are priorities. Another summer like last could be a nightmare, if our Tielemans replacement is more of a Soumare/Vestergaard type signing we're stuck with a £30m+ deep dish of shit.

 

Without Europe (most likely) we can reconsolidate and reduce the size of our squad. So ideally we shift Perez, Mendy, Soumare, Soyuncu, Vestergaard and Bertrand - even if we have to pay  some of them off (in part) if necessary.

 

Revert to type and sign more upcoming u25 players from Europe and the lower leagues again.

[baldeagle]

Thread title made me think of this

 

[foxfanazer]

I'm feeling this

[OhYesNdidi]

castagne / Ricardo

Fofana 

Justin / Thomas

Ndidi

KDH

Maddison

Barnes / Lookman

Daka and Iheanacho 

 

build around that, so another CB, RW are priority 

 

[Dahnsouff]

34 minutes ago, OhYesNdidi said:

castagne / Ricardo

Fofana 

Justin / Thomas

Ndidi

KDH

Maddison

Barnes / Lookman

Daka and Iheanacho 

 

build around that, so another CB, RW are priority 

 

Nowhere near enough CM’s in that to focus just on the positions you list.

[Guest Kopfkino]

Don’t have much hope that we’ve got the bollocks to go for a bit of a rebuild. We had our ‘big spend’ this season and will probs end up with a two bob net spend summer, it will be seen as a squad that was built for Europe so just trim a few off and add a couple as we probably won’t have it.

 

 Not enough questions are asked about some of the general decisions off the pitch cos it’d be seen as ungrateful. 

[OhYesNdidi]

4 hours ago, Dahnsouff said:

Nowhere near enough CM’s in that to focus just on the positions you list.

Well Soumare as rotation but yes I should have said another CM as well has the RW, CB. 

[UniFox21]

If Kasper is looking for a new challenge, I'd chuck £20/£30m for Henderson. 

 

[Sean2000]

On 21/01/2022 at 15:28, Line-X said:

Just came into the thread to type this. 

Ay ay ay ay ay ah

Ay ay ay ay ay ah

Edited 27 January 2022 by Sean2000

[Merging Cultures]

We need an outfield Captain - ideally in midfield. Someone who has the authority to shout at any player, regardless of seniority. We need character in the team. I wonder if KDH can do that, 23 is not that young. Or have the Tielemans replacement be a 30 year old deep lying playmaker, who can dictate the game, and organise the team. I think the latter might be good. A Cambiasso type maybe.

 

We need more character in the squad. Maybe a bit of a disruption, even someone with a weird personality that brings something different.

 

To me that's what we need to sort out, along with the injuries. Then we should be OK.

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

On 21/01/2022 at 15:28, Line-X said:

Just came into the thread to type this. 

And me. Bugger. 

[lgfualol]

On 21/01/2022 at 18:34, foxfanazer said:

I'm feeling this

Turn all the lights down now

[gw_leics772]

On 21/01/2022 at 13:56, Raw Dykes said:

I think the main priority is sorting out injuries. We've had far too many for far too long. Whether that means less intense training, or making signing more robust players a higher priority, I don't know, but we can't go on like this. Desperately needs sorting out. I believe that's the main reason we can't really get going this season. Some of it, at least, is down to luck, but there is more we can do about it.

 

The other thing is recruitment. With a few players contracts running down, it looks like we're in for a busier summer than usual in the transfer market. If we can dig up a few of the calibre of Daka and Fofana, and avoid any more like Bertrand and Vestergaard, then we'll be fine.

 

Youri will be a big loss, but the emergence of KDH massively softens the blow. I think we should be looking for a younger player with the potential to be the next Youri, as the finished product would almost certainly be far too expensive. Someone like Samuele Ricci, who we have been linked with, would be ideal, I think.

 

Lookman, if we have an option for £15m-£20m, would be a great addition. Bolsters an area of the team that has long needed it. The elusive left-footed RW would be good in addition.

 

Looks like Cags will probably be off, and Evans looks more and more injury-prone as the years go by, so centre-half is an area that needs heavy investment. I think we're crying out for an experienced player to partner Fofana as first choice. I'd like Amartey to be given a new contract. Vestergaard will be very difficult to shift, so I guess he'll have to stay as 5th choice and we'll have to hope we can turn him into a useful player somehow. If Amartey leaves, or we can somehow get rid of Vestergaard, then I'd like to see us sign a younger CB in addition to the experienced one.

 

In JJ, Thomas, Ricardo and Castagne, I think we're sorted at full-back, although I think one of Ricardo or Castagne may be sold. Both have been injured a lot, and Ricardo's contract might be reaching the end. I say might because there was a report that he'd signed a new deal. No idea how true that is. Might be a good idea to sign a left-footed full-back if anyone's sold, with JJ being right-footed.

 

We're alright for strikers and keepers.

 

I think Youri and Cags will be sold this summer. Possibly Ricardo or Castagne, as well. We'll have to hope we can find the right players at the right prices.

This with bells on. No change of coach, he's earned a nothing season.

 

Was starting to think you were banging the drum too mich on injuries but with directors hat there must be something that can be done re training etc but this period of covid, minimal proper pre seasons etc I do believe it is a lot of bad luck.

 

As I've said on Mo cho thread, make do this season, it could still come good but spend our money on the elusive rw. Hopefully Mo cho is the one and as successful as our fofana signing.

 

This thread actually made me more positive re stadium expansion etc. 2 winnable cups and the league is really shit so a small run could bring Europa spots into contention, but won't lose any sleep of we don't. Might need a season of no Europe to get the rest our players so clearly need.

[Carl the Llama]

I have nothing to add, I just wanted to curse the thread maker for getting that song from the Buffy musical stuck in my head all day, curse you 

[Finnegan]

19 minutes ago, Carl the Llama said:

I have nothing to add, I just wanted to curse the thread maker for getting that song from the Buffy musical stuck in my head all day, curse you 

 

AND WE WILL WALK THROUGH THE FIIIIIRREEEEE

[Carl the Llama]

12 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

AND WE WILL WALK THROUGH THE FIIIIIRREEEEE

This is literally psychological warfare.