Are we a club on the decline?

[PAPA LAZAROU]

4 hours ago, Pliskin said:

You’re talking in riddles……

 

What are you waffling on about past tense for? Every tense is relevant when you’re talking about a business…….

 

He would be well aware of the business model in place here at the club, it’s hasn’t changed….. we’ve always been a self sufficient club ever since KP took over. Brendan shouldn’t have said what he said, of course you can pass some of the blame onto him. He’s coke out saying we need a refresh, other clubs then think we’re desperate for cash, and then make pathetic bids like £8m for our fringe players. 
 

 

We are not in a desperate financial situation, what we can’t afford to have is players not included in the 25 man squad, sat picking up huge wages. It’s not what we do. So we need to thin the squad, Soumare, Praet, Perez, Hamza, Vesty et al all need to go, but we can’t,  shift them because no one is offering what we want. 
 

What’s happened is, we can’t shift the dead wood, so we can’t then reinvest into the squad yet. That’s literally the crooks of the situation, there’s no point in selling players like Fofana, because it then becomes a position we HAVE to replace and will still need to ship player out. Although, if we did sell Fofana it would mean we probably can accept poxy bids for the likes of Vesty. 

Ah you have difficulty understanding the present and past tense. It's not waffling it's plain English. Actually, you claiming to know what is going on at the club is pure conjecture dressed up as facts. All second-hand conjecture at that. You know nothing about the real issues hear just what you have picked up along the way to form your own misguided opinion. Do you actually believe Rogers would make a statement that we were going to sign players without running it past the owners? it's unthinkable. He then backtracked because obviously, something happened in the background to change all that. As for Vesty I would suggest we accept any old bid for poxy Vesty just to get him off the payroll.

Edited 4 August 2022 by PAPA LAZAROU

[norwichfox]

3 hours ago, teblin said:

We are in transition which may have a drop for a season or 2. 

It's a scenario that is a possibility, and it would be quite refreshing to get back to a challenge without the "Big Six" and return to the EPL when the Big Six have joined a super league just leaving a Big One of Newcastle.

[UniFox21]

We're the exact same as most mid table teams. When we lose our star players, if we replace poorly we'll be massively at risk of the drop. 

Simple as that. 

[pkonline]

It's far to early to judge if we're on the decline, and if we are, to what level. It would have been hard for any club to maintain top 5/6 - clubs like West Ham, Everton etc are good examples of similar but bigger clubs trying, and failing.

[JayTheFox]

As people have mentioned no certainly not on the decline just a transitional period on the way UP!
 

We moved into our brand new £100,000.000 training complex last year and I would say this is part of the “way up” it is unsustainable to keep finding hidden gems and reselling for profit going forward at some point this model will fall flat if it’s your only way of trying to compete. Seagrave was the answer and developing talent will allow us to not be so reliant on the buy cheap sell high model which we’ve been doing so much of over recent years, I still believe we will continue to do this aswell but we won’t be so reliant on it. 
 

Our European adventures meant we had to increase squad size and as a result we do have a bigger playing squad. We have more than enough talent to compete without a huge squad overhaul currently and a steady season will hopefully help resolve this issue.

 

It’s frustrating after so many years of success to have a quiet summer but Top and the clubs hierarchy are committed to building a football club carefully and organically. We may not see the effects this season or next but I imagine the work being done now will hopefully secure Leicester City as a competitive force in the Premier league and hopefully Europe for many years to come in the future. 
 

 

[pkonline]

I do wonder, like Arsenal had to when they built the Emirates, whether investing off the pitch may have a direct impact on our transfers - perhaps realistically we have to accept the fact we aren't going to financially compete with our rivals (West Ham, Soton, Wolves, Everton and even Leeds, Brighton) for a few seasons.

[Vazman]

8 hours ago, sylofox said:

 

Not saying either.

 

Just fed up with the doom n gloom in one of our greatest ever periods.

 

Our owner is being responsible and reacting to new rules. He's not giving up he's trying to make sure we dont fall foul to them and end up paying large fines that will further restrict us.

 

This and how many other threads point to the same thing. Ask the question in one of those.

 

Two days before the season kicks off you would think it was the end of the world apocalypse.

 

I personally think we are in the best position for two seasons. Fully fit squad ready to go in a ridiculous season. Get the right start it could be with a little luck another special one.

I think the point is you dont have to clobber other posters opinions, by telling them to support another club, it's a forum for discussion and views, if your not happy dont read it.

[coolhandfox]

No, we are just in transition as part of a rebuild. 

[honeybradger]

11 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

What I'm saying is our starting point is better then last season, we can and well get injuries.

 

But you can't argue that the squad as a whole is not in a better shape.

 

Like you say Youri could go, but on form does he get in our best midfield 3? I'm not sure he does.

 

Lose Kasper is a blow, but was he at his peak last year? Maybe a Iversen or Ward could for receptive to trying something different at corners? 

 

 

Im of the opinion that we almost always look better with youri in the starting XI, even if he's not having a good game. He just adds something to the midfield than none of our other players can. 

[Haywood_6]

Difficult to say before the transfer window has closed. But we've lost Schmeichel and don't look to be replacing him. His form was questionable last year but he's still a world class keeper and influential character in the dressing room.

 

If we lose our best assets like Maddison or Fofana and fail to bring any quality replacements, then we probably will be in decline unfortunately.

 

Hopefully the owners don't allow that to happen. We are in 'transition' and next summer is vitally important. We need to make good transfer decisions. And it'll be interesting to see if Rodgers is still here by then.

[coolhandfox]

Just now, honeybradger said:

Im of the opinion that we almost always look better with youri in the starting XI, even if he's not having a good game. He just adds something to the midfield than none of our other players can. 

I agree when he is at it and on form, without a shadow of a doubt.

 

But on the basis of the second half of last season, I can't see him being picked ahead of either KDH or Maddison and he can't play the Ndidi role. 

[Fox92]

Well we are losing good players, and not replacing them with equally as good or better, and that's the worrying part for me.

 

Forget ground exansions and training grounds, it's on the pitch what matters. Wolves were expanding Molinuex and they got relegated in the middle of it.

[ClaphamFox]

16 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

Well we are losing good players, and not replacing them with equally as good or better, and that's the worrying part for me.

 

Forget ground exansions and training grounds, it's on the pitch what matters. Wolves were expanding Molinuex and they got relegated in the middle of it.

Really? Apart from Schmeichel (who has probably left at the right time), who else have we lost?

[StanSP]

2 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

I think the club could probably do with being a little more transparent with the fans at the moment. Just give us a bit of a sense of where the club is going and what our short/mid/long term ambitions are. Obviously there are variables to these ambitions but I think some of the frustration might come from people feeling a little confused with what we're actually trying to achieve. Just feel like this might help get a few doubters back on board

Or more ammo to criticise them with. Let's face it, they could say the sky is blue and people will still find fault. 

[Kilworthfox]

All of last seasons fears, and failure, lead us to this point. Yes. 

 

Only strong recruitment of players ready to fit straight into our first x11 will help maintain our previous aspirations, we are on the decline in terms of first team results, and we have not even kicked a ball yet, in any competitive competition. 

[Kilworthfox]

Just now, pmcla26 said:

We were never going to bring anyone in to fit straight into our starting 11 this season - look how strong it is. The only way that happens is if Tielemans goes and we replace him with a starting right-winger. 

I know. 

[Kilworthfox]

3 minutes ago, pmcla26 said:

Which contradicts your post... 

If that's how you read it. I don't see how.

[Kilworthfox]

Problems & causes identified = Manager, Tactics, terrible recent recruitment, can not change BR's philosophy,  We can not defend, We can not be effective from defensive or attacking set peices, We are toothless in possession & attack in general, unless 1 of our star players produces a moment of magic.

 

Solutions identified = Recruit better players. Irrespective if that is possible... we can only assume it is not. Therefore = We are on a decline! We have been for 18 months.

 

I guess Brendan could become an amazing coach mid week, and make Amartey into the new Van Dijk, and half of our issues disappear, yet as much faith I have in our coaching staff, this is as likely as me winning the Euromillions. & I don't buy a ticket 

[TonyN11]

no!

[Livid]

I don't have that feel good factor about the way this summer has gone.

 

I expected Youri to go early and a signing come in. We're now days away from our first game, Youri is still here and looking shy of suitors and some of our best players seem to be having their heads turned.

 

We're not in decline but we're certainly on the back foot and that's just encouraged the sharks to circle. If it wasn't apparent to everyone where we are right now Newcastle wouldn't even consider coming in with the Maddison bid.

 

It is what it is.

 

 

[john ridley]

Think we're  in the shit .If it was another  club youd say they're  gonna have a tough season and be lucky to stay up .

[Fox92]

2 hours ago, ClaphamFox said:

Really? Apart from Schmeichel (who has probably left at the right time), who else have we lost?

Granted, I jumped in a bit, but I am a bit wary of upcoming windows.

[Tielemans63]

5 minutes ago, john ridley said:

Think we're  in the shit .If it was another  club youd say they're  gonna have a tough season and be lucky to stay up .

I honestly don't think I'd be saying that if another club had players of the quality we possess. I might think they're not going to do as well as they had but other than that, we're not in horrendous shape.

 

Lose Fofana and / or Madders and I'll be a lot more worried.

[PAPA LAZAROU]

1 hour ago, pmcla26 said:

We were never going to bring anyone in to fit straight into our starting 11 this season - look how strong it is. The only way that happens is if Tielemans goes and we replace him with a starting right-winger. 

Strong until we get an injury then it's as weak as a pint of Carling( see last year for evidence ) We DO need at least a couple of players to go straight into the side, especially a winger. After all, everyone seems quick to rubbish the so-called deadwood in the side, so who do we turn to when not if we get injuries? You are only a strong side when you have a strong backup and again last season showed we havent.

[Tielemans63]

To answer the original question, I think it's a bit early to say. My gut feeling is that we've probably plateaued. I think this season is actually critical in terms of what the future might look like. There are clearly massive areas for concern (e.g. the wage bill, contracts running down) but also reasons to be optimistic (we've only lost KS so far, new Head of Medicine, new Head of Recruitment coming in). I think our direction of travel will be a lot clearer by the end of the 22/23 season.