An incredible 9 years

[PAPA LAZAROU]

5 hours ago, SK3Blue said:

I don't know who wrote this and apologies in advance if its been done before but I saw this earlier today and thought I would share. We all have our own memories of the last 9 years but this summed it all up for me. My hope is for stability and some crowd favourites next season, we need some real characters back at our club, someone we can connect with both players and management.

 

𝗔 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: when Leicester got promoted back to the Premier League in 2014, a footballing genie came to me in a dream.
‘I’ve got a few surprises for you…’, it said.
‘Over the next few years, you will see an unbelievable escape from an apparently certain threat of relegation.’
‘And then you will see your team win the Premier League, which will be the greatest and most ridiculously improbable sporting story ever.’
I shook my head and suppressed a disbelieving chuckle.
‘But that won’t be the end of it. You will go on to win the FA Cup and the Community Shield.’
‘You will reach the knockout stages of three different European competitions.’
‘Three?’ I raised an eyebrow.
The genie smiled and went on, ‘One season, you’ll go further in the Champions League than ony other English team. Also, you will see the first VAR goal scored in England’.
I looked puzzled, but the genie continued. ‘You will see spectacular goals and extraordinary comebacks. You will beat all of the biggest teams in England, several times each.’
‘In fact, over two particular seasons you’ll spend more time in the Premier League’s top four than any of those teams. In return, you’ll make over £300m selling them your best players.’
‘One of your players will break the record for goals scored in consecutive Premier League games, and - in a different season - will win the golden boot. You will record the biggest away win ever seen in the Premier League.‘
‘You will have two players in the top ten nominees of the Ballon d’Or.’
I looked sceptical. ‘You do know I’m a *Leicester* supporter?’
The genie nodded. ‘But of course this is football, so it won’t all be good - there will be shocking cup exits, agonising last minute defeats, terrible performances and managerial sackings. There will even, I’m afraid, be real tragedy.’
‘And then eventually, after nine years, the curtain will suddenly fall on this wildest of footballing rides, the chimes will strike midnight, and Leicester will revert to being Leicester. If you want all that to happen, when it’s over, you must promise me one thing.’
‘Of course I want that to happen’, I responded cautiously, ‘but…’
‘Amid the anger and frustration and fears of relegation, the “if onlys” and the “might have beens”, you must promise to pause for a minute and reflect on your good fortune to be on the wildest ride any football fan could have hoped for.’
‘A ride that - if it had been written in a fairy tale - no one would have ever believed was possible. Is that a deal?’
‘Obviously I *don’t* believe any of that is possible’, I replied, ‘but if it makes even some of what you’ve said happen then yes, I’m happy to make that promise’.
And it was so.

Yeah right, we will see how many fans feel grateful when it comes to renewing season tickets to the 2nd division ( championship cover name ) If you are not in the premier league you cease to exist as far as tv and media coverage is concerned. I've enjoyed the ride but after supporting the club for over 60 years there is no way am I going to watch or pay for 2nd rate football.

[MattFox]

5 hours ago, SK3Blue said:

I don't know who wrote this and apologies in advance if its been done before but I saw this earlier today and thought I would share. We all have our own memories of the last 9 years but this summed it all up for me. My hope is for stability and some crowd favourites next season, we need some real characters back at our club, someone we can connect with both players and management.

 

𝗔 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: when Leicester got promoted back to the Premier League in 2014, a footballing genie came to me in a dream.
‘I’ve got a few surprises for you…’, it said.
‘Over the next few years, you will see an unbelievable escape from an apparently certain threat of relegation.’
‘And then you will see your team win the Premier League, which will be the greatest and most ridiculously improbable sporting story ever.’
I shook my head and suppressed a disbelieving chuckle.
‘But that won’t be the end of it. You will go on to win the FA Cup and the Community Shield.’
‘You will reach the knockout stages of three different European competitions.’
‘Three?’ I raised an eyebrow.
The genie smiled and went on, ‘One season, you’ll go further in the Champions League than ony other English team. Also, you will see the first VAR goal scored in England’.
I looked puzzled, but the genie continued. ‘You will see spectacular goals and extraordinary comebacks. You will beat all of the biggest teams in England, several times each.’
‘In fact, over two particular seasons you’ll spend more time in the Premier League’s top four than any of those teams. In return, you’ll make over £300m selling them your best players.’
‘One of your players will break the record for goals scored in consecutive Premier League games, and - in a different season - will win the golden boot. You will record the biggest away win ever seen in the Premier League.‘
‘You will have two players in the top ten nominees of the Ballon d’Or.’
I looked sceptical. ‘You do know I’m a *Leicester* supporter?’
The genie nodded. ‘But of course this is football, so it won’t all be good - there will be shocking cup exits, agonising last minute defeats, terrible performances and managerial sackings. There will even, I’m afraid, be real tragedy.’
‘And then eventually, after nine years, the curtain will suddenly fall on this wildest of footballing rides, the chimes will strike midnight, and Leicester will revert to being Leicester. If you want all that to happen, when it’s over, you must promise me one thing.’
‘Of course I want that to happen’, I responded cautiously, ‘but…’
‘Amid the anger and frustration and fears of relegation, the “if onlys” and the “might have beens”, you must promise to pause for a minute and reflect on your good fortune to be on the wildest ride any football fan could have hoped for.’
‘A ride that - if it had been written in a fairy tale - no one would have ever believed was possible. Is that a deal?’
‘Obviously I *don’t* believe any of that is possible’, I replied, ‘but if it makes even some of what you’ve said happen then yes, I’m happy to make that promise’.
And it was so.

Just read this again…

 

First VAR goal????

 

Is that really some kind of achievement/moment 

[Muzzy_no7]

Magnificent achievements that could’ve been so much more.

 

Add the 9 years onto what we achieved in the 90s early 00s under MON and we are comfortably 6th in the country in terms of what we’ve achieved in the modern era.

 

Only Chelsea, two Manchester clubs and Liverpool can say they’ve achieved more. Arsenal perhaps arguable. 

[SK3Blue]

18 minutes ago, MattFox said:

Just read this again…

 

First VAR goal????

 

Is that really some kind of achievement/moment 

Not my words as it says in my post, just shared it, do agree with you though. 

[fazzyfox]

Twice it’s been pretty much in our hands to break Everton’s long spell in the top division, they bring very little to the league now but find a way of being the un-flushable t**d. After that you’re competing with the big 6 in terms of ensuring longevity.

This summer was always going to be pivotal with contracts ending, we needed to hang on, look at how well Palace have managed their rebuild despite wobbling at times they’ve come through. Like those Champions league misses we’ll never know but it’s down to incompetence and dreadful decision making rather than any Yin and Yan natural order of the flow stuff, we’ve made it hard for ourselves.

[Guest Mee-9]

6 hours ago, 99 Problems said:

I genuinely hate stuff like this. Absolute small club mentality in spades. The whole ‘let’s be grateful that our club is needlessly spiralling towards the championship and financial oblivion because it’s been an amazing ride”

 

If some fans want the old Leicester back - they’re welcome to it. For those fans that wanted a stable premier league club built on the foundations of unprecedented success - then our anger and frustration shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of gratitude for what we achieved 

Could not agree more.

 

It’s this attitude that has seen us head towards relegation. Yeah we’ve accomplished things beyond our wildest dreams, but its through mismanagement at every level that its over. This should never be happening.

[wardyfox86]

6 hours ago, 99 Problems said:

I genuinely hate stuff like this. Absolute small club mentality in spades. The whole ‘let’s be grateful that our club is needlessly spiralling towards the championship and financial oblivion because it’s been an amazing ride”

 

If some fans want the old Leicester back - they’re welcome to it. For those fans that wanted a stable premier league club built on the foundations of unprecedented success - then our anger and frustration shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of gratitude for what we achieved 

I bet there are a sizeable amount of "small clubs" fans that have had a far more enjoyable time supporting their yo-yo clubs, and wouldn't swap it for a middle-of-the-road, also-ran Premier League club.

 

I'd hate to turn into an Everton or a Palace.

 

Edited 20 May 2023 by wardyfox86

[urban.spaceman]

More like “An Incredible 29 Years”.

 

Next year is my 30th anniversary of my first Leicester City game.

 

In that time we’ve won a play off final, been relegated from the Premier League, won another play off final, won the League Cup TWICE, played in the UEFA Cup twice, been relegated, promoted then relegated again, relegated to League One, won League One, won the Championship, won the actual PREMIER LEAGUE, played in the Champions League, Europa League and got to the Europa Conference League Semi Final, won the FA Cup and Community Shield. 
 

The last 9 years have indeed been incredible but it’s not over. It’s never over. Look at my 29 years as a Fox for proof. Whatever happens in the next few months we WILL be back. And we WILL upset the applecart again.
 

And we will DEFINITELY win another trophy before Tottenham. 

[99 Problems]

12 minutes ago, wardyfox86 said:

I bet there are a sizeable amount of "small clubs" fans that have had a far more enjoyable time supporting their yo-yo clubs, and wouldn't swap it for a middle-of-the-road, also-ran Premier League club.

 

I'd hate to turn into an Everton or a Palace.

 

Again more of the ‘let’s just be grateful eh?’ talk. No one is talking about trading or swapping anything. We’ve done the impossible, followed it up with an FA cup win, had an opportunity to establish ourselves and we’ve pissed it away through poor planning, incompetence and neglect. 
 

What makes this relegation so painful is that it’s entirely avoidable. If you want your club to be a small town yo yo team for the next 20 years then good for you. Some of us want a slightly better future for the club 

[99 Problems]

1 minute ago, urban.spaceman said:

More like “An Incredible 29 Years”.

 

Next year is my 30th anniversary of my first Leicester City game.

 

In that time we’ve won a play off final, been relegated from the Premier League, won another play off final, won the League Cup TWICE, played in the UEFA Cup twice, been relegated, promoted then relegated again, relegated to League One, won League One, won the Championship, won the actual PREMIER LEAGUE, played in the Champions League, Europa League and got to the Europa Conference League Semi Final, won the FA Cup and Community Shield. 
 

The last 9 years have indeed been incredible but it’s not over. It’s never over. Look at my 29 years as a Fox for proof. Whatever happens in the next few months we WILL be back. And we WILL upset the applecart again.
 

And we will DEFINITELY win another trophy before Tottenham. 

Not without some serious changes we won’t 

[WigstonWanderer]

5 hours ago, MattFox said:

Wanting a club with a wage bill our level as well as a premier league sized fan base in one of the biggest cities in the country to be a stable PL club is hardly having delusions of grandeur

I’d certainly agree with that, but success in football, particularly modern football is a mixture of investment, good decision making/management, and random fluctuation (otherwise known as luck). Yes we’ve suffered from poor decision making in the last couple of seasons, and it is very disappointing to be on the verge of relegation, but to expect consistent success without the constant flow of big investment is simply unrealistic.

 

I suppose I’m just getting more and more sick of the entitlement of football fans generally, something I really do find cringeworthy.

 

I don’t think it is unreasonable at this point in our current ebb in fortunes to look back on what has been a unprecedentedly successful period in our history with some pride, which I believe was the thrust of the initial post in this thread. Doesn’t mean that we’re happy to be relegated or that we can’t hope for better in the future.

[urban.spaceman]

3 minutes ago, 99 Problems said:

Not without some serious changes we won’t 

Agreed. I do have faith in KP to make those changes tho, personally. 

[FoxOnWheels]

Been a great 9 years but it’s an absolute failure the way we’ve fell off where we got to we should of cemented ourselves in these league for many many more years

[orangecity23]

A magical genie came to me in a dream. It said - "everything good you saw happen in the past was part of a deal. You only got to see any of that in return for me burning down your house with you in it right now". I said "Nobody told me about any deal - why should I put up with you torching my house and burning me alive? Besides, I've already had all those good memories, you can't take them away, this isn't a negotiation". Then the genie said "fair cop mate, I'll try the next house instead". Turned out it was just an arsonist.

 

THERE ARE NO DEALS. THERE WASN'T SOME MAGICAL BULLSHIT TRADE WITH SOME FATE DECIDING ENTITY THAT WON US THOSE TROPHIES. WE WERE A REALLY GOOD TEAM, AND NOW WE'VE RUINED IT BECAUSE THE CLUB ALLOWED A HORRIBLE LITTLE GOBLIN OF A MANAGER WRECK EVERYTHING THAT WE WORKED SO HARD TO CREATE.

 

There's your perspective.

Edited 20 May 2023 by orangecity23

[99 Problems]

41 minutes ago, urban.spaceman said:

Agreed. I do have faith in KP to make those changes tho, personally. 

I mean personally I don’t see any evidence in the last 2 years of the KP group being capable of making those changes. It’s a bit like expecting Rodgers to suddenly come good - was never happening. 
 

they’ve overseen a drop off from FA cup winners and top 6 in the PL to relegated inside 18 months. Even Mike Ashley would struggle to have achieved that 

[wardyfox86]

48 minutes ago, 99 Problems said:

Again more of the ‘let’s just be grateful eh?’ talk. No one is talking about trading or swapping anything. We’ve done the impossible, followed it up with an FA cup win, had an opportunity to establish ourselves and we’ve pissed it away through poor planning, incompetence and neglect. 
 

What makes this relegation so painful is that it’s entirely avoidable. If you want your club to be a small town yo yo team for the next 20 years then good for you. Some of us want a slightly better future for the club 

So what do we do otherwise? Sit around and wait for the next State funded trillionaire to buy us out so we can hang around with the big boys again and join them in pushing on that glass ceiling?

 

For the rest of the league(s) we're a couple of bad decisions away from falling a little. Your Brightons and Brentfords are having a time of it now, but as soon as the big boys come sniffing around their top players, or worse yet their top staff, there'll be the next big 6/7 dispruter who are "ran so perfectly' just like we were apparently.

 

Aside from those rich clubs, unless you become rich, you're gonna get relegated at some point. You'll continue to have your well scouted players taken from you and leave you with the rest, until you get enough wrong that you sink back down. It's bleak but it happens to the other 14 (now 13) in this League all the time.

[urban.spaceman]

2 minutes ago, 99 Problems said:

I mean personally I don’t see any evidence in the last 2 years of the KP group being capable of making those changes. It’s a bit like expecting Rodgers to suddenly come good - was never happening. 
 

they’ve overseen a drop off from FA cup winners and top 6 in the PL to relegated inside 18 months. Even Mike Ashley would struggle to have achieved that 

Mitigating circumstances though must come into play. Top has had KP’s finances go off a cliff through no fault of their own. That shouldn’t be an excuse as he has certainly taken his eye off the ball. But I would reason that he had reasonable expectation that he could take the eye off the ball and we would still be fine. Rodgers SHOULD have been able to achieve at least mid table with the squad he had. 
 

The last 2 years shouldn’t be a commentary on the preceding 10 years IMO; they should look at this as an opportunity to rebuild for Europe. 

[Chrysalis]

7 hours ago, 99 Problems said:

I genuinely hate stuff like this. Absolute small club mentality in spades. The whole ‘let’s be grateful that our club is needlessly spiralling towards the championship and financial oblivion because it’s been an amazing ride”

 

If some fans want the old Leicester back - they’re welcome to it. For those fans that wanted a stable premier league club built on the foundations of unprecedented success - then our anger and frustration shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of gratitude for what we achieved 

The problem is we wasnt stable, we was relying gradually more and more on pay day loans, something me and a few others warned about a couple of seasons back, but people only started paying attention when we didnt spend last summer and more so now relegation is staring us in the face.

 

We was kicking the can down the road, and the financial decisions would have bit at one point or another.

 

The situation with the players contracts, especially after Kasper revealed he didnt even get a response when asking about a renewal is also a sign things havent been rosy.

 

Often a teams form is a representation of how things are behind the scenes.  Notice how Newcastle's squad suddenly upgraded itself when the clubs ownership changed as an example even before they changed manager.

[99 Problems]

8 minutes ago, wardyfox86 said:

So what do we do otherwise? Sit around and wait for the next State funded trillionaire to buy us out so we can hang around with the big boys again and join them in pushing on that glass ceiling?

 

For the rest of the league(s) we're a couple of bad decisions away from falling a little. Your Brightons and Brentfords are having a time of it now, but as soon as the big boys come sniffing around their top players, or worse yet their top staff, there'll be the next big 6/7 dispruter who are "ran so perfectly' just like we were apparently.

 

Aside from those rich clubs, unless you become rich, you're gonna get relegated at some point. You'll continue to have your well scouted players taken from you and leave you with the rest, until you get enough wrong that you sink back down. It's bleak but it happens to the other 14 (now 13) in this League all the time.

By that logic there’s absolutely no point in competing at all. You’ll never be rich unless bought by a state funded consortium and even if you do well for bit you’ll get relegated soon enough. 

I mean it’s a bloody good job Vichai didn’t look at football through that lens. I think he realises that if you ambition, you can realise your potential. If you keep recruiting well, build a culture. Invest in infrastructure, you can grow and you can compete. Not always, not every year - but it’s not inevitable that it will fall apart the way it has

 

if Brighton keep making the smart decisions they are. they will stay in the top flight. We made a series of awful decisions - that’s why it ended 

[99 Problems]

7 minutes ago, urban.spaceman said:

Mitigating circumstances though must come into play. Top has had KP’s finances go off a cliff through no fault of their own. That shouldn’t be an excuse as he has certainly taken his eye off the ball. But I would reason that he had reasonable expectation that he could take the eye off the ball and we would still be fine. Rodgers SHOULD have been able to achieve at least mid table with the squad he had. 
 

The last 2 years shouldn’t be a commentary on the preceding 10 years IMO; they should look at this as an opportunity to rebuild for Europe. 

You kind of have to split the KP era into two - Vichai and Top. The foundations for our success were put in place under Vichais tenure. Those foundations have started to crumble after he passed away. 
 

Covid hit every clubs finances outside the top 6, but that’s not the reason for us being where we are. We took a ridiculous financial gamble in 2021 when our finances were already in a difficult place and broke away from the model that made us so successful. Then, unlike his father, Top was unable to make the ruthless decision needed to rescue the clubs top flight status

 

what comes next financially could make Covid look like a walk in the park. I’m not seeing any signs that Top has learned anything yet 

[Pliskin]

1 hour ago, urban.spaceman said:

More like “An Incredible 29 Years”.

 

Next year is my 30th anniversary of my first Leicester City game.

 

In that time we’ve won a play off final, been relegated from the Premier League, won another play off final, won the League Cup TWICE, played in the UEFA Cup twice, been relegated, promoted then relegated again, relegated to League One, won League One, won the Championship, won the actual PREMIER LEAGUE, played in the Champions League, Europa League and got to the Europa Conference League Semi Final, won the FA Cup and Community Shield. 
 

The last 9 years have indeed been incredible but it’s not over. It’s never over. Look at my 29 years as a Fox for proof. Whatever happens in the next few months we WILL be back. And we WILL upset the applecart again.
 

And we will DEFINITELY win another trophy before Tottenham. 

The conference north trophy? Or the Coalville town charity cup?

[Harpenden Fox]

2 hours ago, PAPA LAZAROU said:

Yeah right, we will see how many fans feel grateful when it comes to renewing season tickets to the 2nd division ( championship cover name ) If you are not in the premier league you cease to exist as far as tv and media coverage is concerned. I've enjoyed the ride but after supporting the club for over 60 years there is no way am I going to watch or pay for 2nd rate football.

I’ve close to 50 years of supporting, so like you have experienced plenty of relegations before. Did you stop going through previous relegations?

[PAPA LAZAROU]

20 minutes ago, Harpenden Fox said:

I’ve close to 50 years of supporting, so like you have experienced plenty of relegations before. Did you stop going through previous relegations?

No, but to be honest things have changed since our last relegation. Everything in the sports media is centered on the Premier League (Thanks SKY ) As you will see next season when we are in division 2 ( can't be doing with that silly championship title bollocks it fools no one ) Apart from anything else I'm so angry that Top and co have thrown away all that we have achieved over the last few years. It was completely avoidable as any fan will tell you we all saw this coming at least two seasons ago.

I won't be renewing my season ticket because I have zero belief in Top and his underlings getting us straight back into the prem and it will be too painful to sit week in and week out seeing us drift further and further away from what we once were just a few seasons ago. I'm so glad I was alive to see us win the Prem and the F.A cup and I will hold those memories forever but Im afraid this is where I get off.

[ClaphamFox]

9 hours ago, SK3Blue said:

I don't know who wrote this....and apologies in advance if its been done before but I saw this earlier today and thought I would share. We all have our own memories of the last 9 years but this summed it all up for me. My hope is for stability and some crowd favourites next season, we need some real characters back at our club, someone we can connect with both players and management.

 

𝗔 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: when Leicester got promoted back to the Premier League in 2014, a footballing genie came to me in a dream.
‘I’ve got a few surprises for you…’, it said.
‘Over the next few years, you will see an unbelievable escape from an apparently certain threat of relegation.’
‘And then you will see your team win the Premier League, which will be the greatest and most ridiculously improbable sporting story ever.’
I shook my head and suppressed a disbelieving chuckle.
‘But that won’t be the end of it. You will go on to win the FA Cup and the Community Shield.’
‘You will reach the knockout stages of three different European competitions.’
‘Three?’ I raised an eyebrow.
The genie smiled and went on, ‘One season, you’ll go further in the Champions League than ony other English team. Also, you will see the first VAR goal scored in England’.
I looked puzzled, but the genie continued. ‘You will see spectacular goals and extraordinary comebacks. You will beat all of the biggest teams in England, several times each.’
‘In fact, over two particular seasons you’ll spend more time in the Premier League’s top four than any of those teams. In return, you’ll make over £300m selling them your best players.’
‘One of your players will break the record for goals scored in consecutive Premier League games, and - in a different season - will win the golden boot. You will record the biggest away win ever seen in the Premier League.‘
‘You will have two players in the top ten nominees of the Ballon d’Or.’
I looked sceptical. ‘You do know I’m a *Leicester* supporter?’
The genie nodded. ‘But of course this is football, so it won’t all be good - there will be shocking cup exits, agonising last minute defeats, terrible performances and managerial sackings. There will even, I’m afraid, be real tragedy.’
‘And then eventually, after nine years, the curtain will suddenly fall on this wildest of footballing rides, the chimes will strike midnight, and Leicester will revert to being Leicester. If you want all that to happen, when it’s over, you must promise me one thing.’
‘Of course I want that to happen’, I responded cautiously, ‘but…’
‘Amid the anger and frustration and fears of relegation, the “if onlys” and the “might have beens”, you must promise to pause for a minute and reflect on your good fortune to be on the wildest ride any football fan could have hoped for.’
‘A ride that - if it had been written in a fairy tale - no one would have ever believed was possible. Is that a deal?’
‘Obviously I *don’t* believe any of that is possible’, I replied, ‘but if it makes even some of what you’ve said happen then yes, I’m happy to make that promise’.
And it was so.

There are no words to do justice to how much I hate this. 

Edited 20 May 2023 by ClaphamFox

[Harpenden Fox]

26 minutes ago, PAPA LAZAROU said:

No, but to be honest things have changed since our last relegation. Everything in the sports media is centered on the Premier League (Thanks SKY ) As you will see next season when we are in division 2 ( can't be doing with that silly championship title bollocks it fools no one ) Apart from anything else I'm so angry that Top and co have thrown away all that we have achieved over the last few years. It was completely avoidable as any fan will tell you we all saw this coming at least two seasons ago.

I won't be renewing my season ticket because I have zero belief in Top and his underlings getting us straight back into the prem and it will be too painful to sit week in and week out seeing us drift further and further away from what we once were just a few seasons ago. I'm so glad I was alive to see us win the Prem and the F.A cup and I will hold those memories forever but Im afraid this is where I get off.

Fair enough. My emotion is less of anger (other more important things in life make my angry) and more of sadness in truth. Totally agree that we have made a mess of everything, and not looking forward to the future. But I’m not even questioning my ST renewal, and I’m sure I’ll be back.