Best Leicester City partnerships

[Sampson]

2 minutes ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

Bit of a negative spin on things. Collymore started off really well, and Heskey and him played well together straight the way, which is why so many would have loved to see more of it, but Heskey left and then Collymore got a bad injury. We finished 8th( our highest ever finish) and won the League cup. It was amazing times that we never thought would get better. O Neill would have got us in the top 6 I'm convinced of that but can't blame him for leaving, we would always be selling our best players. Fond fond memories though, some great times upsetting the big boys.

Disagree that we would’ve made the top 6. Our defence was leaking more and more goals and was clearly on the way out by the summer of 2000. Cottee was pretty much done that summer as well. We had a side that had done really well but was iirc the oldest side in the division by that summer.

 

We were very much in need of serious investment and a rebuild in that summer. Of course Taylor spent a lot on crap but the side that went down with a whimper also included way past their primes Elliott and Taggart and a largely uninterested Izzet.

 

Always thought MON knew that side was in serious need of investment and left at the right time. Easy to say he left because he was a Celtic fan but he did a very similar thing leaving Celtic and Villa after 4 or 5 years at a point where they needed to revitalise the squad as well.

[FoxyJim1987]

2 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Great Post. Collymore first against Sunderland was superb  broke his leg at Derby. Of course Peter Taylor was the real fly in the ointment.  I too thought the best days were behind us.

I never honestly thought we would be in the prem again let alone top 8. It's why I see people on here being annoyed we are 'only' mid table and in a European semi final and cannot help but think back to when we were on cloud nine in the O Neill days. Just staying up was the aim every year, but each time we would beat at least one big boy, nearly always get to the league cup final, finish top 10, it was amazing. To now think we have won the League, finished 5th twice won the missing piece (FA Cup) got to the Champions League QF and now a European semi, it beggars belief people still moan and aren't happy. Why can't we just enjoy the ride, we are a very good premier League team and we are going to Rome, just enjoy it. In years time when we are inevitably falling on hard times again, we will wish we are back here again.

[FOXYTALK]

Huth and Morgan. 

[FoxyJim1987]

1 minute ago, Sampson said:

Disagree that we would’ve made the top 6. Our defence was leaking more and more goals and was clearly on the way out by the summer of 2000. Cottee was pretty much done that summer as well. We had a side that had done really well but was iirc the oldest side in the division by that summer.

 

We were very much in need of serious investment and a rebuild in that summer. Of course Taylor spent a lot on crap but the side that went down with a whimper also included way past their primes Elliott and Taggart and a largely uninterested Izzet.

 

Always thought MON knew that side was in serious need of investment and left at the right time. Easy to say he left because he was a Celtic fan but he did a very similar thing leaving Celtic and Villa after 4 or 5 years at a point where they needed to revitalise the squad as well.

We improved year on year under O Neill. I have every faith he would brought in another gem, another Cottee type, his recruitment in that era was just incredible. Players like Impey couldn't have been more underwhelming when they signed it we had loads of these players who just fitted in worked hard and were effective. O Neill would have got the best out of anyone

[Foxdiamond]

Can we include Simpson and Fuchs as a Partnership?

[Heskey2011]

41 minutes ago, Bayfox said:

Half a dozen? They only played 2 together didn't they. Collymore made his debut at Watford away. Then the Sunderland game happened didn't Heskey leave straight after?

Yeah maybe I dunno, my memory of that time includes Stans hattrick and then heskey banging a couple the week after and for a moment it felt like we had the most devastating strike partnership in the prem then he hit Ulrikakakaka and it was all over. 

I'm pretty sure I'm smushing a load of stuff together there don't think old emile got many braces for us and the Collymore Ulrika thing could have been later I dunno.

[Heskey2011]

5 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Can we include Simpson and Fuchs as a Partnership?

Absolutely 💯 

[Bayfox]

25 minutes ago, Heskey2011 said:

Yeah maybe I dunno, my memory of that time includes Stans hattrick and then heskey banging a couple the week after and for a moment it felt like we had the most devastating strike partnership in the prem then he hit Ulrikakakaka and it was all over. 

I'm pretty sure I'm smushing a load of stuff together there don't think old emile got many braces for us and the Collymore Ulrika thing could have been later I dunno.

If Heskey banged in a couple in a Week later he was in a red shirt.

Edited 2 May 2022 by Bayfox

[Heskey2011]

Heskey and Cottee come on ppl.

[Heskey2011]

2 minutes ago, Bayfox said:

If Heskey banged in a couple in a Week layer he was in a red shirt.

Ha, well here's me been blaming stan for all this time. 🤣🙈

[Sampson]

17 minutes ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

We improved year on year under O Neill. I have every faith he would brought in another gem, another Cottee type, his recruitment in that era was just incredible. Players like Impey couldn't have been more underwhelming when they signed it we had loads of these players who just fitted in worked hard and were effective. O Neill would have got the best out of anyone

Partly agree, partly disagree. Our attack/creativity improved year upon year under O'Neill (but he needed to replace both Cottee and Heskey by that summer) but our defence got worse and worse year upon year and our goals conceded column got worse and worse year on year and MON had already struggled to rectify it for 2 or 3 seasons by that point, MON tried to bring in the likes of Prior and Gilchrist to solve the problem they weren't really up to the same level as prime Elliott and Taggart.

by 2000 we were really struggling defensively, much like this season actually. And Heskey leaving and Cottee essentially being done by 2000 meant we were in serious need of probably 5 or 6 big signings all to come off to replace players throughout the spine of the side that season.

 

I think it was a far, far bigger job that summer than just bringing 1 or 2 players to supplement what we already had that summer.

It could've been done of course, but I really think he knew that squad had generally come to the end of its life and didn't want to tackle the big rebuild job that was needed (as he neither did at Celtic or Villa).

I've just never really understood those who say retrospectively we were on the verge of the top 6 when he left. It was clear both at the time and in retrospect that that side was coming to the end of its life and needed a big rebuild job.

Edited 2 May 2022 by Sampson

[bovril]

Morgan and Huth were incredible in the title win and the CL run. We underrate their contribution. In terms of two players working really well together, I think Vardy and Nugent are definitely up there, and also Lennon and Izzet who complemented each other very well.

 

 

[Foxdiamond]

Shout out for Lineker and Smith. Might have to make it a trio  with Lynex

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Vardy and Nuge were ridiculous for a second tier strike partnership, we had an unbelievable squad at that level in hindsight. Season we went up we were relentless during the "tricky Christmas period" despite a fair amount of rotation. The older heads we brought in were perfect characters and we were flying after QPR away. 

[Spudulike]

34 minutes ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

Bit of a negative spin on things. Collymore started off really well, and Heskey and him played well together straight the way, which is why so many would have loved to see more of it, but Heskey left and then Collymore got a bad injury. We finished 8th( our highest ever finish) and won the League cup. It was amazing times that we never thought would get better. O Neill would have got us in the top 6 I'm convinced of that but can't blame him for leaving, we would always be selling our best players. Fond fond memories though, some great times upsetting the big boys.

Straight the way, love that. Well Leicester. 

[FoxyJim1987]

9 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Partly agree, partly disagree. Our attack/creativity improved year upon year under O'Neill (but he needed to replace both Cottee and Heskey by that summer) but our defence got worse and worse year upon year and our goals conceded column got worse and worse year on year and MON had already struggled to rectify it for 2 or 3 seasons by that point, MON tried to bring in the likes of Prior and Gilchrist to solve the problem they weren't really up to the same level as prime Elliott and Taggart.

by 2000 we were really struggling defensively, much like this season actually. And Heskey leaving and Cottee essentially being done by 2000 meant we were in serious need of probably 5 or 6 big signings all to come off to replace players throughout the spine of the side that season.

 

I think it was a far, far bigger job that summer than just bringing 1 or 2 players to supplement what we already had that summer.

It could've been done of course, but I really think he knew that squad had generally come to the end of its life and didn't want to tackle the big rebuild job that was needed (as he neither did at Celtic or Villa).

I've just never really understood those who say retrospectively we were on the verge of the top 6 when he left. It was clear both at the time and in retrospect that that side was coming to the end of its life and needed a big rebuild job.

Well I think people think that way because we finished 8th our highest finish and had won the League cup. It was the best season we had ever had. Cottee was far from finished, he scored 13 league goals, Elliott had just had a great season. We finished just 3 points off 6th. I agree that we needed defensive reinforcement, Taggart was very good in Taylor's first season, Prior was actually bought in 97 I don't know if you meant someone else? But I think looking at hindsight is what you're doing where as at the time in the moment, we really felt like we could break the top 6 if he had stayed.

[FoxyJim1987]

7 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

Straight the way, love that. Well Leicester. 

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Did that without realising. I'm proud of being 'well Leicester' 👍

[Foxdiamond]

3 minutes ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

Well I think people think that way because we finished 8th our highest finish and had won the League cup. It was the best season we had ever had. Cottee was far from finished, he scored 13 league goals, Elliott had just had a great season. We finished just 3 points off 6th. I agree that we needed defensive reinforcement, Taggart was very good in Taylor's first season, Prior was actually bought in 97 I don't know if you meant someone else? But I think looking at hindsight is what you're doing where as at the time in the moment, we really felt like we could break the top 6 if he had stayed.

Thought Spencer Prior was great for us

[FoxyJim1987]

3 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Thought Spencer Prior was great for us

Absolutely. Typical O Neill signing. Very understated, hadn't really been a success anywhere, just an honest pro with no ego who would run into a house fire to save his teammates.

[Bayfox]

4 minutes ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

Well I think people think that way because we finished 8th our highest finish and had won the League cup. It was the best season we had ever had. Cottee was far from finished, he scored 13 league goals, Elliott had just had a great season. We finished just 3 points off 6th. I agree that we needed defensive reinforcement, Taggart was very good in Taylor's first season, Prior was actually bought in 97 I don't know if you meant someone else? But I think looking at hindsight is what you're doing where as at the time in the moment, we really felt like we could break the top 6 if he had stayed.

Yeah I think based on his track record and ability to find some gems or get the best out of claridge, cottee, Marshall. Walsh, etc we would have trusted him, I think he thought the budget was never gonna be available for that.

 

Ironically we allowed a manager with no experience at that level to spend more than we ever had at that point.

 

Had MON been allowed that cash I think maybe he would have certainly done a better job with it. But there was no guarantee we made top 6 at that point. But I'm not sure it would have gone as south that quickly either.

[Spudulike]

10 minutes ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Did that without realising. I'm proud of being 'well Leicester' 👍

Me too. Sadly now lived more of my life elsewhere but still have my Leicesterisms pointed out especially by my daughter who only qualifies by heritage. 

[Foxdiamond]

7 minutes ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

Absolutely. Typical O Neill signing. Very understated, hadn't really been a success anywhere, just an honest pro with no ego who would run into a house fire to save his teammates.

I think Kevin Phillips paid a compliment to those tough skinhead centre backs Elliott and Prior

[Guest Electric Yetis]

1 hour ago, FoxyJim1987 said:

Well I think people think that way because we finished 8th our highest finish and had won the League cup. It was the best season we had ever had. Cottee was far from finished, he scored 13 league goals, Elliott had just had a great season. We finished just 3 points off 6th. I agree that we needed defensive reinforcement, Taggart was very good in Taylor's first season, Prior was actually bought in 97 I don't know if you meant someone else? But I think looking at hindsight is what you're doing where as at the time in the moment, we really felt like we could break the top 6 if he had stayed.

Prior was bought in '96. Earlier than Elliott! Always thought we were too quick to let him go in '98 although there were persistent rumours about his personal life.

[Unabomber]

Tell you who it wasn’t, Danny Tiatto and Stephen Hughes. Bad times guys. 
 

[Fox42]

Weirdly, Ayoze Perez and Ricardo have a synergy going on