'I Was Very Happy At Leicester' – Sven On His Year With The Foxes

[westernpark]

Just now, Sampson said:

True but having said that, two massive  positives were that he did sign Schmeichel and Nugent who ended up being worth way more to us than the entire club’s transfer outlay under Sven when you consider how crucial both were in promotion and the great escape, then Schmeichel in the league and FA Cup winning sides.

 

I mean, it was definitely a bit of a fluke and a case of “even a stopped clock is right twice a day”, but boy, were those 2 right times worth it.

Yes and Konchesky, albeit on a ridiculous wage. This is why I see similarities between the two managers mentioned. Nonetheless, at least they’re not Peter Taylor. By all accounts Sven was a nice guy. However, and I apologise this is badly structured response, but I wonder whether Sven would have been tempted to replace Schmeichel if we’d have been promoted under him. I personally don’t believe one bit that he saw him as the best goalkeeper in the country, when he was at Manchester City. Sven could never turn down a transfer.

[Fox92]

35 minutes ago, Sharpe's Fox said:

Nigel Pearson had to come back in and sweep away the figurative turd that Sven left in the dressing room. He's the Clown Prince of Football.

I hate to think where the club would be without Pearson.

[Fox92]

28 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Redknapp at least used to sign some semi-obscure gems though, with Sven it felt like someone who had no knowledge of the English lower leagues and just signed big names who he and everyone else was aware of without any genuine scouting.

 

Like Matt Mills had a good game in the playoff final on tv so we equalled our club record signing to bring him in when every Reading fan who’d watched him for the previous 2 years said he wasn’t great.

I'm sure there was a Reading fan who posted on here and said Mills was only good on TV and everybody said he was bitter...... but he was right

[Mickyblueeyes]

The Sven period so weird not only in terms Leicester and how different to how it usually is but also for King Power.

 

I mean when you consider how Vichai and now Top have run the club - regardless of the recent criticisms, its chalk and cheese. 

 

Under Sven I was genuinely of the opinion that we had been taken over by a very wealthy owner who would simply flash the cash - no strategy or plan. We would run through managers like a knife through butter. We'd sign anyone who was a name and was willing to come. 

 

Thankfully that period was an exception and not the norm. 

[OntarioFox]

Parts of Sven's tenure were a genuine fever dream. I still have fuzzy memories of us playing a friendly against the Thai national side with the likes of Paul Gallagher and Richie Wellens being given hype reels akin to global boxing champions.  Can't find any footage of it anywhere, my only recollection is that Waghorn scored during the game?

 

The signings were a real mixed bag, but for every Michael Ball and Roman Bednar, there were good ones too - Naughton, Yakubu, and of course I don't think we'd have ever gotten where we ended up without Konchesky, Nuge and Kasper. 

 

Really just a mad time for all involved. It was not in the least bit sustainable, but taught King Power a few hard truths and, ironically given the sledgehammer Nigel had to take to half the squad, was a key piece of the journey to where we are today.

[Stevosevic]

Leicester 5-1 Doncaster was a decent Sven game.

 

And when we went on that 7 game winning run that took us to within touching distance of the play offs I thought we’d go up. Waghorn last minute winner was one of the loudest roars I’ve heard at the KP. 
 

That was the peak  

Edited 3 February 2023 by Stevosevic

[Super_horns]

Probably liked the pay off too ?!

[cityfanlee23]

Great fun under Sven, some great signings and some not so great. I really hoped that Michael Johnson had turned a corner in his career/life when he came to us but he got that injury and he never really recovered. 
 

Genuinely feel like if he has stayed fit and didn’t have issues off the pitch he could have been a really too premier league/England player. 

[Guest Electric Yetis]

Loved Kyle Naughton. Was gutted when we didn't sign him permanently.

[Stadt]

If he was a good manager he'd had us promoted. He spent something like £15m which was obviously a massive outlay then and we had the highest wage bill in the league.

 

Nugent, Paintsil, Konchesky, Schmeichel, Fernandes, King, Wellens, Dyer was the basis of a good squad and he squandered a huge amount on Beckford and Mills. Charlatan.

[HybridFox]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

Yes this was one of them, as was the 4-0 demolition of them at home.

One of my favourite games that I've been to. Can't actually find the highlights on YouTube anymore

[dobbylcfc]

Brought in some shite at high prices matt mills Neil Danns 🥴 thank god we got Pearson back afterwards.

[AjcW]

Well we would never have had Kasper without him....

[foxfanazer]

Quite an important appointment in retrospect. I think it made the owners realise that having a big name and the circus that came with it wasn't the best way to go. Getting Pearson back was huge!

[Fox92]

The win at Elland Road was superb though. What a night. Howard with the winner. When we were in the corner then at the ground.

[Death by Football]

23 minutes ago, Stevosevic said:

Leicester 5-1 Doncaster was a decent Sven game.

 

And when we went on that 7 game winning run that took us to within touching distance of the play offs I thought we’d go up. Waghorn last minute winner was one of the loudest roars I’ve heard at the KP. 
 

That was the peak  

That was the first game I took my daughter too and she fell in love with Leicester.  Next game was 4-0 vs Barnsley and I had to sit her down afterwards and explain that this isn't how the football at Leicester normally is 

[Ric Flair]

Andy King was absolutely phenomenal under him.

[lcfc278]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

Andy King was absolutely phenomenal under him.

So weird I was literally thinking the same thing, miss Kingy.

 

Speaking of Andy King, didn't the club say that he'd get a testimonial or something after Covid? I'm guessing that's been shelved.

[winteriscoming]

Was polar opposite to Pearson. Wanted big name stars instead of developing youth and getting players in with something to prove. 

[Asha]

Felt like there was a new loan signing every week. Turn up to the KP and you see Diomansy Kamara up front out of nowhere. 

[Leicesterpool]

Lovely guy on and off the field. I've never heard many players who played under him say bad word about him. Mainly that he was just gent and very quiet. Which probably was his downfall really. He was not really great motivator. If you like back at his time is England manager there moments where you need you some inspiration from your England manager, certainly when it comes to pens and Sven just didn't offer that. When he has in manager it felt like no one was in charge. We were just fortunate at the time we had mature players like Beckham and Neville to steady the ship as such. Saying that he had some good results as England manager, beating Germany 5-1 away, winning 4-2 against Argentina. The 2-0 win against Turkey, 3-0 against Denmark. A lot of players that played for England then, said they had lot more passion and desire playing for Sven than they did for Capello.

 

First year at Leicester, did a decent job. We were third from bottom when he arrived. Come May we finished 10th! not bad at all. Another downfall was giving him full control of the cheque book to sign anyone, he just overloaded the squad with bang average players on high wages, who had no interest in the club.  I always felt like panic bought players. Relationship with supporters was always good, seem to have time for everyone. Never held grudges against the club, held his hands up admitted he failed. Best result as Leicester manager 4-0 vs Derby! two weeks later he was sacked!

Edited 3 February 2023 by Leicesterpool

[Fox92]

20 minutes ago, Asha said:

Felt like there was a new loan signing every week. Turn up to the KP and you see Diomansy Kamara up front out of nowhere. 

Yakubu was the man. Far too good for that division

[HybridFox]

1 hour ago, Fox92 said:

Yakubu was the man. Far too good for that division

How we never signed him permanently when he wanted to stay himself I'll never know

[coolhandfox]

The first half season was great, good attaching football.

 

The second was a mess due to unbalanced recruitment.

 

Whether it was him or not the signing of Nugent and Kasper were pivotal. 

[Libertine]

2 hours ago, cityfanlee23 said:

Great fun under Sven, some great signings and some not so great. I really hoped that Michael Johnson had turned a corner in his career/life when he came to us but he got that injury and he never really recovered. 
 

Genuinely feel like if he has stayed fit and didn’t have issues off the pitch he could have been a really too premier league/England player. 

I was so excited when we signed him and Gelson Fernandes.  Both shipped out very quickly by Big Nige.