Are we a club on the decline?

[KansasFox]

I think we all get carried away with a desire and even expectation at times to be continually improving.  Sadly that is unrealistic, especially when measured by what have been our halcyon days as a club.

The vision and expectation I believe the owners have that seems to have been conveyed on multiple occasions is to be a regular top ten club that aims to disrupt the top six in the league or cup from time to time.  In this broader vision we are not in decline.  However, within that vision we will experience peaks and troughs and with that financial adjustments, season expectation adjustments and player recruitment adjustments will need to take place. 

Those troughs are hard to accept as fans, but are inevitable for a club in our position, in a league dominated historically by the money rich six  

 

Were still on track with the broader vision, therefore I'd argue we are not in decline.

[Sly]

I’m bumping this, as if we continue with Daniel “bloody” Amartey then yes, yes we are. I think Iheanacho would offer more in defence. 

[Dames]

The decision to not take a risk and make a signing this summer is going well.

 

Clearly got a manager that is protesting that fact because he used a grand total of 1 substitutions out of 5 when every man and their dog could see there was tired legs out there.

[KingsX]

This is a journey, not a destination.  And certainly not a smooth train ride between luxury destinations.  But nor the slow, comfy local between dumpy stations, of some bygone years.  Somewhere along the line, we all got onto a high-tech roller coaster.

 

I’ve thought for a while, the club finally reached the point where one bad transfer window won’t put us in a relegation scrap.

 

Well, in a few weeks, we will conclude our second poor summer window in a row.  In what has been a true buyer’s market.  Ouch.

 

But even so -- no relegation scrap.  Vardy, Maddison, KDH, Barnes, Evans, Castagne, JJ are wonderful players who care.  Daka, Iheanacho, Praet are bloody good reserves IMO.

 

The likely outcome is a more extensive and painful rebuild than anything Rodgers had in mind: key players, squad and manager.  (I’m guessing “manager” because, despite the club’s huge commitment to Rodgers, things read more and more like a club and gaffer growing apart.  This season will certainly tell; and by the end of it, divorce won’t be as costly.)

 

We’ll need our recruitment team to be on it like they were under Pearson and Puel.  An even bigger challenge than it was pre-Brexit.

 

Do you like that feeling when a coaster crests the highest, steepest hill you’ve ever been on and starts to build speed?

[Guest itude]

One problem is that if our players start believing that we are, they will not want to stay. I get the impression some already do believe that.

[foxinsocks]

23 minutes ago, KingsX said:

This is a journey, not a destination.  And certainly not a smooth train ride between luxury destinations.  But nor the slow, comfy local between dumpy stations, of some bygone years.  Somewhere along the line, we all got onto a high-tech roller coaster.

 

I’ve thought for a while, the club finally reached the point where one bad transfer window won’t put us in a relegation scrap.

 

Well, in a few weeks, we will conclude our second poor summer window in a row.  In what has been a true buyer’s market.  Ouch.

 

But even so -- no relegation scrap.  Vardy, Maddison, KDH, Barnes, Evans, Castagne, JJ are wonderful players who care.  Daka, Iheanacho, Praet are bloody good reserves IMO.

 

The likely outcome is a more extensive and painful rebuild than anything Rodgers had in mind: key players, squad and manager.  (I’m guessing “manager” because, despite the club’s huge commitment to Rodgers, things read more and more like a club and gaffer growing apart.  This season will certainly tell; and by the end of it, divorce won’t be as costly.)

 

We’ll need our recruitment team to be on it like they were under Pearson and Puel.  An even bigger challenge than it was pre-Brexit.

 

Do you like that feeling when a coaster crests the highest, steepest hill you’ve ever been on and starts to build speed?

What recruitment team?

[frany104]

The start to the season is further evidence we are. What a shambles 

[Rigga]

It may appear that we are getting stronger and a solid base off the pitch which will set us up in the future.

However,  the paying fans won’t think this with what they are seeing on the pitch.

On the pitch unfortunately we are on the decline.. we have to wheel Vardy out every game as we don’t trust what is in reserve..

we have injuries yet again and players wanting to leave…

LCFC is not a happy place at present..

 

I think we are going to be looking over our shoulder for most of the season..

[ARM1968]

The journey is always the exciting bit, the destination usually not quite what we were expecting. Take Game of Thrones - pretty awesome journey, the conclusion diabolical. 
 

same with us, we’re always on a journey to somewhere, mid table, Euro spots, relegation a cup. We might not be what we were a few years ago, but with careful management and a bolt gun for Rodgers, we might still be ok. 

[Vardinio'sCat]

On 07/08/2022 at 00:28, KansasFox said:

I think we all get carried away with a desire and even expectation at times to be continually improving.  Sadly that is unrealistic, especially when measured by what have been our halcyon days as a club.

The vision and expectation I believe the owners have that seems to have been conveyed on multiple occasions is to be a regular top ten club that aims to disrupt the top six in the league or cup from time to time.  In this broader vision we are not in decline.  However, within that vision we will experience peaks and troughs and with that financial adjustments, season expectation adjustments and player recruitment adjustments will need to take place. 

Those troughs are hard to accept as fans, but are inevitable for a club in our position, in a league dominated historically by the money rich six  

 

Were still on track with the broader vision, therefore I'd argue we are not in decline.

 

Worth repeating during these more stressful times...

[BKLFox]

As a club no, as a supportive fanbase without doubt...

[Grebfromgrebland]

Of course we are on the decline, a league win, 2 fifth place finishes and an FA CUP in recent years.  

 

That is the best we've ever been.  The ONLY way is down from that unless we spend hundreds of millions in the transfer market like everyone else in the top six which we clearly aren't going to do.

 

The real issue is how far down will we decline?  Judging by the way the season has started (I know there's still 2 weeks left of the transfer window) I think we're in a relegation fight.  

 

We're showing all the signs of a team in serious trouble. 

 

A ridiculous contract situation looming,

poor players being paid beyond their abilities which is actually crippling us,

letting in at least 2 goals a game,

top players looking to leave or declining due to age,

manager falling out / not treating the whole squad fairly and is too expensive to sack,

no new players coming in,

getting a new recruitment consultant who cant start until after the transfer window closes,

getting a set piece specialist who cant get a visa

 

I think we're going to need a lucky 2 weeks.

[TeaMen Tom]

The squad is taking a step back and is in the middle of a rough period. Seems like finances have dried up at least in the short term. Too many recruitment/wage mistakes for a club this size. Some key players apparently don't want to be here. Others the manager has lost confidence in - and there's not much new to choose from unless you count Praett.  Also seems like Rodger's message is getting old - which is even more unfortunate when you can't move people out.

 

Really important period coming up.  If they continue to string listless performances together, Brendan's gone and then you hope the next manager can wake them up. Then get ready for a rebuild.

[Blanchflower78]

It was always going to be difficult to maintain the levels of success. We missed the boat, poor recruitment post title win, missing out on champions league twice and the further opportunity that may have brought. Its been fantastic mind and we have a decent squad as of today. 

But it's stale, lacks wide quality options, reliability on a 35 year old legend and a defence that simply leaks goals. Not to mention star players who want away. Could a new manager change any of that, quite possibly. 

But as we are financially constrained were unable to chance that, he won't walk away from 9m a year either. So we're faced with an unhappy manager, stale unbalanced squad and expectations of many that we should be top 6.

Doesn't feel like this is going to end well.

Edited 18 August 2022 by Blanchflower78

[Raj]

In the bigger scheme of things and prior to us being "famous" we were always regarded as a yoyo club so the last 6- 7 years we have been above expectations.

If you look at the "big" boys and the funding they have, I would always be happy with top10- anything above is a bonus(Yes I have low expectations  of lcfc!)

 

[frany104]

And to think a lot of posters laughed at the thread and question. We absolutely are on the decline and are plummeting towards the championship. Huge financial worries and complete lack of leadership and management from top to bottom.