The "do they mean us?" thread pt 4

[Stadt]

5 hours ago, The Doctor said:

Gonna get relegated because Aiyawatt couldn't be bothered to do the basic aspects of a CEO and is too arrogant to admit it... anyone who doesn't want them driven out with pitchforks has their head in the sand

Saving face is a big thing in Thailand is the new Respect is a big thing in Thailand. The latter means we might be liquidated, oh what joy

 

[Foxes1]

6 hours ago, davieG said:

To which the reply would be - We're Cheats and we know we are.

Or "We do what we want we do what we want we're Leicester City we do what we want"

[davieG]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/13509082/leicester-city-a-points-deduction-yet-another-manager-and-a-grossly-underperforming-squad

 

Leicester City: A points deduction, yet another manager and a 'grossly underperforming squad'

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-likened-poisoned-chalice-10824719

 

Leicester City likened to 'poisoned chalice' for Gary Rowett as unanimous survival verdict delivered
Gary Rowett has 14 matches to save the Foxes from a disastrous successive relegation

Dan Marsh, Peter Smith Stoke City reporter and Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
09:00, 20 Feb 2026

There is no doubting Gary Rowett has a wealth of Championship experience.

Since the rebrand of the Championship in 2004-05, only four managers – Neil Warnock, Tony Mowbray, Mick McCarthy and Ian Holloway – have been in charge of more fixtures in the division than Rowett has.

With none of them currently at second-tier clubs, it means Leicester City now have the most experienced manager in the division in their dugout.

In all, Rowett has managed 418 Championship matches across five clubs and has been almost a permanent fixture in the division for more than a decade.

Gary Rowett's first acts as Leicester City manager as he makes 'five years' vow

Gary Rowett reacts to Leicester City PSR appeal as boss immediately thrust into off-pitch drama

He has a points-per-game ratio of 1.46 in the division. If he enjoyed such a record with City over the next 14 matches, that would earn 20 points, taking them to a tally of 52 for the season, which would likely be enough to earn survival.

Here, three of our writers here at Reach - Brian Dick, Pete Smith and Dan Marsh - give an insight into Rowett’s reigns at three previous clubs in the Championship in Birmingham City, Stoke City and Millwall and deliver their verdicts on Leicester’s survival hopes under him.

Birmingham City
Rowett had two very contrasting spells in charge at Blues, writes Brian Dick, who reported on Blues during Rowett's reigns.

The first, more than a decade ago, under difficult financial circumstances with the club’s owner behind bars – the second, 18 months ago, trying to pick up the pieces of a campaign shattered by Wayne Rooney’s incompetence and Tony Mowbray’s illness.

Rowett first came to Blues as a fresh-faced young manager for whom the only way was up after they were hammered 8-1 at home by Bournemouth.

He quickly organised the defence with a stable, pragmatic 4-2-3-1 set-up reliant on the all-round ability of Clayton Donaldson to be able to play as a target man and score goals. The recovery was instantaneous.

In his two years he would try to evolve the team and did it reasonably well, recording two tenth placed finishes but never quite able to break through the financial glass ceiling.

When he was sacked in December 2016 Blues were seventh, three points off third. Gianfranco Zola came in, lasted mere months and they ended up 19th avoiding relegation on the last day. Rowett’s first stint was a success.

His second, though, was a poisoned chalice. He arrived in March 2024 after Blues had sacked John Eustace, with the team sixth, and watched Rooney ruin the campaign. Mowbray looked to have steadied the ship but illness cut short his tenure.

Rowett had eight games to stave off relegation and the players didn’t have the fight to do it. He won three of those games but many fans feel his tactical caution in relegation battles with Rotherham and Huddersfield meant Blues drew games they should have won. In the end they were relegated on the final day.

Quite frankly I see so many parallels between Birmingham then and Leicester now, a malaise seems to have set in and the players don’t seem to have the mental fortitude to stay up.

Rowett should be able to rectify the clean sheet situation but he’ll also have to harness the attacking talents at his disposal. I’d back him to keep City up because of players like Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi but also because West Brom and Blackburn have their own off-field issues.

 

Stoke City
Nathan Jones was telling a white lie last week after being subjected to 90 minutes of very loud, and sometimes quite dark, stick from Stoke fans from the away end at Charlton. He responded with a volley back at full-time until making a sharp exit when he was confronted by towering Stoke coach Ryan Shawcross, writes Pete Smith, our Stoke City writer.

“Stoke fans gave me stick when I was there so I expect that,” said Jones. “I wouldn’t read too much into that, it’s part and parcel of it. They give me a little bit and I give them a little bit.”

Except that Stoke fans had backed Jones to the hilt through the thin and thin of an exhausting 10 months back in 2019. There was an incredible amount of patience and will for him to make it work.

That certainly wasn’t the case for Gary Rowett, who had been the wrong man at the wrong time a year previously. Rowett was nicked from Derby County with a task of steering Stoke to an immediate Premier League return, backed by an unprecedented Championship budget. They were runaway bookies’ favourites for promotion.

But it didn’t seem right from the start. He undoubtedly had a challenge with egos – some of the behaviour from expensive players who failed at Stoke was unforgivable – but it became apparent that he wasn’t even getting on with some of the good guys. Plus, the calibre of signings stank: James McClean, Benik Afobe, Sam Clucas, Ryan Woods and Tom Ince still make fans shiver.

It would be fascinating, if depressing, to hear the unfiltered thoughts from him, the then technical director and the chief executive about their relationship behind the scenes as all this played out.

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On the pitch, Stoke were blown away in an opening day humiliation by Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds and supporters were singing ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ by the fourth league game, a 3-0 home defeat to Wigan.

There was a 10-game unbeaten run up to Christmas but then the wheels came off spectacularly. He made the blunder of turning on fans when they were singing the name of Bojan Krkic, a beloved playmaker who was being frozen out. He limped on for a few more days before the axe swung.

His record since then going against Stoke has been superb. He’s got six wins and three draws in 11 games and there was a sense of familiar dread when it emerged that he’ll be in the away dugout this weekend.

But Stoke walloped his Oxford side 3-0 in November and a packed away end enjoyed that a lot. There was a loud, regular chant about his style of football that is guaranteed another airing on Saturday.

“What am I going to say about Stoke fans?” he said at full-time. “It was the worst nine months of my entire footballing career but I’ve still been pretty complimentary about them since I left. Listen, I’m a big boy and I understand how football works. I don’t really think about Stoke an awful lot and if they still want to sing that, fantastic.”

For all that, I am convinced that Oxford’s chances of staying up were slashed considerably when he left there in December. I would be shocked if he didn’t get Leicester considerably more organised and keep them up pretty comfortably. But, and it’s genuinely nothing against Leicester, there would be a lot of people laughing in this part of the world if he didn’t.

 

Millwall
Gary Rowett played a significant role in building Millwall up to where they are today, even though he was unable to take that final step himself, writes Senior Sports Reporter and Lions supporter Dan Marsh.

During his four years in charge, he turned the club into perennial play-off contenders after building on the work done before him by Neil Harris. The football could be pragmatic at times, but it was effective and made the best of the tools at his disposal.

For me, Rowett is a good, solid Championship manager; we constantly punched above our weight under him which led to a mentality shift where relegation no longer felt like a concern before or during campaigns. His ability to grind out points when the going got tough proved invaluable.

 

It felt like the natural end of a cycle when he did step away, with perhaps my one major criticism being that a parting of the ways would have been more fitting at the end of the previous season after a final day implosion v Blackburn cost us a play-off place.

He's a polished operator, will get people onside and, crucially, also knows his stuff. As mentioned above, he can grind out points and isn't afraid to go back to basics when needed. It might seem odd given that he was let go by a relegation rival, but in light of Leicester's current plight, Rowett would have been my top pick to get them out of it.

Leicester's squad on paper is far better than that of a team in a relegation dogfight and if anyone can get them picking up points, it'll be Rowett. Whether he'll be a success or not long-term is another matter - but I suppose that's not a pressing priority right now.

[davieG]

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0q3n9dev7yo

 

Gary Rowett's phone number may not have three nines in it but it seems these days he is some kind of emergency service for clubs in strife.

"We're in trouble, get me Gary Rowett on the phone now!" You can almost hear the cry from boardrooms. A blue light on top of his car as he screeches into the car park with the theme of 'The Sweeney' blaring out of his stereo might complete the effect.

Leicester broke the glass and called for Rowett this week as they slipped into the Championship's relegation zone on the back of four successive league defeats and a six-point deduction (pending an appeal).

A reputation built on rescue jobs at Birmingham (the first time), Millwall and Oxford is nothing to be sniffed at - he knows how to dig teams out of holes and the Foxes are in a deep one.

"Gary is a manager with deep knowledge of the Championship and experience of the situation we now face in these final 14 games of the season - a fight for survival in the division," said Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.

His first assignment on Saturday (12:30 GMT) takes him back to a former club in Stoke who, but for their excellent start to the season might have been casting envious glances at Leicester's new man, with a six-game winless run having dropped them five points off the top-six pace.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

15 hours ago, Foxes1 said:

Or "We do what we want we do what we want we're Leicester City we do what we want"

Yeah that's going great guns isn't it!

[foxile5]

16 hours ago, Stadt said:

Saving face is a big thing in Thailand is the new Respect is a big thing in Thailand. The latter means we might be liquidated, oh what joy

 

I find this such an odd position to take. 

 

Saving face might be a thing in Thailand. But this is an English club and being responsible for your mistakes is a thing in England. Why isn't it positioned in that way? 

 

You'd not move to the middle east and start carping on about the processes back home hoping to be accommodated. 

 

Nor would you buy a club in Thailand and start trying to impose your own cultural hang-ups there. 

 

What's wrong with folks. 

[Jon the Hat]

27 minutes ago, davieG said:

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/13509082/leicester-city-a-points-deduction-yet-another-manager-and-a-grossly-underperforming-squad

 

Leicester City: A points deduction, yet another manager and a 'grossly underperforming squad'

The talent is obviously there in the squad, but endeavour is sorely lacking.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

32 minutes ago, davieG said:

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/13509082/leicester-city-a-points-deduction-yet-another-manager-and-a-grossly-underperforming-squad

 

Leicester City: A points deduction, yet another manager and a 'grossly underperforming squad'

Sick of the notion that we're a club full of "quality". From inside the club and people commenting on us. A club full of "quality" players doesn't lose 39 of their last 70 league matches like we have.

[Jon the Hat]

Just now, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Sick of the notion that we're a club full of "quality". From inside the club and people commenting on us. A club full of "quality" players doesn't lose 39 of their last 70 league matches like we have.

As we know, you can also have talented individuals who don't create a balanced team.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

1 minute ago, Jon the Hat said:

As we know, you can also have talented individuals who don't create a balanced team.

Who though? Aside from Fatawu and James.

[Spudulike]

Appreciate the Second Tier podcast has it's critics but I think this is mostly a fair discussion....

 

 

[AKCJ]

1 hour ago, Jon the Hat said:

As we know, you can also have talented individuals who don't create a balanced team.

I think the problem with the squad is that they think they're talented individuals.

 

None of our players bar Fatawu (and James if we sign him permanently) will go to a bigger club.

[Stadt]

1 hour ago, foxile5 said:

I find this such an odd position to take. 

 

Saving face might be a thing in Thailand. But this is an English club and being responsible for your mistakes is a thing in England. Why isn't it positioned in that way? 

 

You'd not move to the middle east and start carping on about the processes back home hoping to be accommodated. 

 

Nor would you buy a club in Thailand and start trying to impose your own cultural hang-ups there. 

 

What's wrong with folks. 

Exactly, it's like when his personal failings are used as a defence. His poor English is a huge problem 

[foxile5]

8 hours ago, Stadt said:

Exactly, it's like when his personal failings are used as a defence. His poor English is a huge problem 

It's because to criticise this way opens you up to accusations of intolerance. 

 

You don't care about the Thai face saving? You BIGOT. 

[davieG]

https://soccevibes.com/leicester-citys-fairytale-has-become-a-psr-nightmare-and-going-bust-is-a-very-real-possibility?fbclid=IwY2xjawQGa_xleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeXDvYIY9ejkcCsAFle7MarpqZHRevRtu-lvLme9v_iJxr6OUJgH6MGQSR3T0_aem__5vmMaHwaUzyjRho6F9OKA

 

Leicester City’s fairytale has become a PSR nightmare and going bust is a very real possibility
February 20, 2026 admin Leicester City 0

 

Less than a decade ago, Leicester City were the embodiment of football romance. Their astonishing 2015–16 title triumph under Claudio Ranieri remains one of the greatest underdog stories the game has ever seen. From 5,000–1 outsiders to Premier League champions, Leicester’s rise felt like proof that smart recruitment, togetherness and belief could still conquer financial giants. But in the cold, complex world of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), fairytales count for nothing.

 

Today, the club that once dined at Europe’s top table faces an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous financial reckoning. The very ambition that sustained Leicester’s success in the years after their title win now appears to be the source of deep concern. Spending on wages, infrastructure and transfers was designed to cement the Foxes as regular top-half contenders. Instead, relegation and reduced revenues have left them exposed to PSR scrutiny at a time when financial margins are razor thin.

 

PSR regulations are intended to ensure clubs do not spend far beyond their means. In theory, they promote sustainability. In practice, they can become unforgiving traps for clubs who gamble on staying in the top flight. Leicester’s recruitment during their later Premier League seasons leaned heavily on maintaining status. When relegation struck, the financial model cracked. Broadcast income dropped dramatically, while contracts agreed in better times remained on the books.

 

The result is a widening gap between income and expenditure — precisely the imbalance PSR is designed to punish. If a club fails to meet the required financial thresholds, sanctions can include transfer restrictions, fines, or even points deductions. For a side fighting to stabilise itself competitively, such measures could prove devastating.

 

The fear among supporters is not simply about penalties. It is about a slow erosion of the club’s foundations. Forced player sales, limited recruitment options, and uncertainty around long-term planning can quickly spiral. In extreme scenarios, if debts mount and revenues continue to shrink, administration ceases to be unthinkable. While talk of “going bust” may sound dramatic, modern football has shown how quickly circumstances can deteriorate when financial controls tighten.

 

This is not to suggest that collapse is inevitable. Leicester still possess valuable assets — from their training ground to their global brand recognition. The ownership group has previously shown commitment and resilience. Yet the margin for error is slim. A single poor window, another relegation battle, or a significant points deduction could compound existing problems.

 

There is also a psychological dimension. The fairytale narrative once empowered the club and its fanbase. Now, anxiety threatens to replace optimism. Instead of dreaming about Europe, conversations revolve around compliance, accounting cycles and potential sanctions. The romance has been replaced by spreadsheets.

 

For Leicester, the path forward demands discipline. Wage structures may need resetting. Recruitment must prioritise value and resale potential. Youth development, once a hallmark of the club’s smarter years, could again become central. Most importantly, stability — both on and off the pitch — must 

[Blue ROI]

 

[Livid]

Would you swap places with Leicester? - Sheffield Wednesday Matchday - Owlstalk | Sheffield Wednesday News for SWFC fans

 

Some interesting takes on there. I don't quite think they understand where we are at though.

 

 

Edited 10 March by Livid

[Trav Le Bleu]

7 minutes ago, Livid said:

Would you swap places with Leicester? - Sheffield Wednesday Matchday - Owlstalk | Sheffield Wednesday News for SWFC fans

 

Some interesting takes on there. I don't quite think they understand where we are at though.

 

 

Are you saying you would?

[Livid]

21 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Are you saying you would?

No, what I’ve seen this club achieve in the last few decades is really unmatched by any other club of our size. 

[lfu]

https://www.givemesport.com/exclusive-jesse-marsch-leeds-erling-haaland-canada-world-cup-2026/

Quote

Marsch minutes from Leicester job before USMNT heartache
Marsch appears to have the perfect work-life balance, yet things could have panned out very differently for the 52-year-old following his departure from Leeds United in February 2023.

Two months after leaving Elland Road, and in a sliding doors moment, Marsch was just minutes away from taking the Leicester City job, only to receive a surprise call from the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) while he was at the Foxes' Seagrave training facility.

It was April 8, 2023, and Marsch was undergoing formalities to get a visa with an agreement in principle already in place to replace Brendan Rodgers. Yet he soon found himself making hasty apologies to get out of a commitment to watch Leicester's home loss to Bournemouth that day despite walking into the building fully expecting to accompany sporting director John Rudkin to that game.

Marsch was led to believe succeeding Gregg Berhalter as USMNT coach was a guarantee, which is why he stood down Leicester so quickly. Yet US Soccer officials would soon change their minds, reappoint Berhalter and then, in September 2024, hand the job to former Spurs, Chelsea and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino.

"I got a call from US Soccer when I was literally being fingerprinted [for a visa] at Leicester," said Marsch. "I was ready to take that job, so it changed the trajectory of my life. I think things happen for a reason, and I'm happy with where I am right now.

"There was a match that day [against Bournemouth] and we were going to go to the [King Power] stadium together. Everything was agreed upon. And by the way, the Leicester people are fantastic. I felt terrible. It was the second time that I had pulled the rug out from under a club. It happened with Southampton as well. In another lifetime, Leicester would have been a really cool experience.

 

[nnfox]

6 minutes ago, lfu said:

https://www.givemesport.com/exclusive-jesse-marsch-leeds-erling-haaland-canada-world-cup-2026/

 

Comes across as a genuine bloke.  I hope his Canadian team have a strong WC.

 

I wonder where we would be now if it wasn't for that phone call?  My guess is that we would be exactly where we are now.

 

 

[foxy tiler]

On 20/02/2026 at 10:02, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Sick of the notion that we're a club full of "quality". From inside the club and people commenting on us. A club full of "quality" players doesn't lose 39 of their last 70 league matches like we have.

Been saying this for a while....poorest squad ive ever seen in my life supporting Leicester. Absolutely shocking group of players. 🙄 

[The Year Of The Fox]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3exjjwz93po

[TJB-fox]

This thread used to be my favourite. When we were good and reading all the salty comments from other fans. 
 

It’s very depressing now