The "do they mean us?" thread pt 4

[The whole world smiles]

27 minutes ago, RonnieTodger said:

Dean Smith got 9pts from 8 games that included Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle.

 

He wasn’t the answer but he did a better job than Rodgers last season. 

Agreed if we had got him in sooner and not had Stowell and what's his face for bornmouth and villa at home we would have stayed up. Oh well loving life currently so pointless to look back

[BenTheFox]

49 minutes ago, UniFox21 said:

Another twitter pundit who didn't watch any of our games piping up for no reason. Man's a Coventry/Liverpool fan so can't actually have a normal take on us.

 

 

I really wish people would just leave us alone. They are opening up old wounds by not only reminding us about him, but getting us all wound up about him again. We've suffered enough. 

[fuchsntf]

1 minute ago, BenTheFox said:

I really wish people would just leave us alone. They are opening up old wounds by not only reminding us about him, but getting us all wound up about him again. We've suffered enough. 

Some „nothings“ creating agendas to make a point that can’t be proved.

Taking their own points too serious,without realising they have nothing to say..

Whats gone is gone, and in Rodgers case,if in a pub with city supporters or other, I would just offer ‘let sleeping dogs lie’… Under his last dire moments of his tenure

we were relegated,with a top squad of non-performers, & his own poor eye to realise

what his descisions were doing to us…..More than that,it’s not worth debate,because football facts as hard ,harsh or pleasant has relevant  season allows…His era has gone,but too close to make real sense of it…

Enzo is the present name,he put on the table ‚his System‘ & how he wants to take us forward…with no Immediate success or promises, this is the only debate and points for discussion that should interest us. The banter & differences we all surely have on this early part of the season & way forward are the only relevant ones..

Whats gone fron another’s tenure is gone,there are no similarities ,relevances that are relevant or keep us bound.  A new Dawn as swept ( maybe too early) through the club to be even taken as comfortable or even easy to digest & cope,but it’s here..!

No time or reasoning to lose on last seasons past events..

[MattFox]

1 hour ago, RonnieTodger said:

Dean Smith got 9pts from 8 games that included Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle.

 

He wasn’t the answer but he did a better job than Rodgers last season. 

We were a win against Everton away from staying up tbf 

[TheStig]

Maybe the fact that we went down forced our hand and a total reshuffle. We had been sliding downwards for 18 months at least, and had we survived with BR at the helm he would have been hailed as the big hero keeping little Leicester up. Now he - and we - got what was deserved and the rebuild is in full flow.....

[KingsX]

Rodgers finally holed his own ship below the waterline in his last two years with us.  He’s been typically calculating to return to that club in a two one team minor league: it was the best job he could get, and even he cannot fail in that situation.  He’s put the ship in drydock for repairs.

 

But after that?  Any big club looking at his CV would note where he left us, compared to where he found us -- and pass.  Midsize clubs looking for a bounce would consider him … and good luck with that.

 

The folks consumed by the fact that he still has pockets of defenders, or by hot-take media trolls desperate for clicks, are missing the point IMO.  Do yourself a favor and stop obsessing.  He’s in our rear view mirror and should not constantly trouble your thoughts.

 

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-enzo-maresca-touchline-shows-8797086

 

What Enzo Maresca did on touchline shows key contrast as big Leicester City question changes
Analysis of Leicester City's 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, looking at the manager's pre-match worries, Mads Hermansen's mistake, the growing tally of goals, James Justin, and more

ByJordan Blackwell
12:24, 2 OCT 2023UPDATED12:25, 2 OCT 2023

Enzo Maresca put his hands to his head. James Justin had given the ball away in the centre of the park with the score at 2-1, and the Leicester City manager knew Blackburn had the quality to make them pay.

And so on the touchline, his natural reaction was the universally-understood symbol of helplessly watching an impending catastrophe. Not until the danger was over did Maresca bring his hands back down.

 

Meanwhile, over in the away end, everybody was having a lovely time. A big crowd of more than 3,200 City supporters had risen at the crack of dawn to trek to Lancashire and they were making sure to enjoy their day out.

There were no nerves there. Even with City only a goal ahead and with Blackburn’s style proving difficult to handle, there seemed to be a confidence among fans that they’d be making the trip back down the M6 celebrating three points.

Spirits were high. When Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was receiving treatment, City supporters took the opportunity to go through each player and sing their individual chant, Stephy Mavididi clapping along with his. Victory was secured by the time Callum Brittain was announced as the home side’s player of the match, City supporters sarcastically responding with: “There’s only one Callum Brittain!”

The contrast between the manager and the fans was interesting, in part because one of Maresca’s biggest aims during his first few months in charge was to get the crowd to understand and buy into how he wanted the team to play, and to preach patience with that style. It feels like he has won that battle, certainly with fans who travel away.

Even after City conceded from their own goal kick, there were no concerns. If some fans were nervous and wanted to see their team launch it up the pitch rather than keep attempting to play it out from the back, there were not enough of them to make those grumbles audible.

 

But for the manager himself, that’s now two Championship games in a row in which he has admitted to being worried. For Bristol City, he was concerned that, after big away wins at pre-season title rivals Southampton and Norwich, standards would slip. At Blackburn, he was concerned that their pressing and passing would be too much for City to cope with.

On both occasions, his team has played well enough to relieve him of those worries, even if Blackburn did cause them a few problems. Maybe Maresca needs to have the same faith in his tactics and his team as the supporters now do.

Because the Italian has won the hearts and minds of those who follow the club. Eight wins from nine league games helps, but the clarity of the style of play, the game-by-game improvements and the potential for further progress, and the quality of the football has supporters fully behind the manager. In two months, he has completely wiped away the hangover of relegation.

 

Inevitable Hermansen mistake more hapless than expected
It finally happened. It was always going to at some point. City conceded from their own goal-kick.

It’s impossible to be perfect in playing out from the back and the moment they faced a well-drilled, clever team, problems could arise. And yet it felt more hapless than it ideally would have done.

Mads Hermansen played a shot goal-kick to Harry Winks who received the ball under heavy pressure, barely managing to get a pass out wide, but still leading to a Blackburn attack. Barely a minute later, they tried the same thing again, and the second time Winks was robbed completely, leading to the goal.

There is no doubting Hermansen’s quality. He can make saves and his ability on the ball is better than most Premier League goalkeepers. Given he’s only 23, City have pulled off a bargain deal in getting him for £5m.

But this was a big mistake. The Dane was given the perfect opportunity to learn how Blackburn pressed and where the danger was when he played the first goal-kick, and yet he did the same thing again.

Maresca said it affected the team’s confidence for the rest of the game, and that seemed true. There were more moments at Ewood Park where City aimlessly cleared danger rather than looking for a pass, and that’s not the idea.

When the defenders warmed up pre-match under Brendan Rodgers, they would stand in their back four shape and be served high balls to head away. They still set up in the same way now, but when the balls are thrown up, they either head, chest or pass to a team-mate, rather than straight back to first-team coach Danny Walker.

But that’s not to say it completely threw City off. There were thumped balls up the pitch, but they didn’t panic. Most of the time they still worked the ball as they usually do, and that created the chances for their four goals.

 

City rack up the goals as set-piece threat added
Here’s a stat that’s worth savouring because it’s been a long time since this was the case: City have now scored more goals from corners than they have conceded.

New assistant manager Willy Caballero is clearly doing a decent job at set-pieces because City have now successfully defended 45 corners in a row in the Championship since Kyle McFadzean’s goal for Coventry on the opening weekend. Then, at Blackburn, two of their own six corners led to goals.

First, a short ball to Abdul Fatawu saw him cross for Wout Faes to expertly head down into the bottom corner. Then Jannik Vestergaard made a nuisance of himself, Hayden Carter grabbing a big chunk of his shirt to drag him down and win the penalty.

Four more goals to City’s total means they now rank second in the division with 18, just one behind Norwich’s 19. But more than that, they are spreading the goals around. Only five clubs can better City’s tally of nine different goalscorers.

Making themselves a threat at set-pieces had been a key area for improvement for City. Having more routes to goal makes them a better all-around threat and more difficult to stop.

 

Justin the go-to man but another back-up needed
The last two matches have made clear that James Justin will be the first-choice replacement for Callum Doyle, who is now set to be out until the new year. They are different players, so it will be interesting to see if Justin adapts his game in any way to try to replicate what Doyle does.

While the Manchester City loanee is all about the quality of his passing, Justin’s game is based around his athleticism, and his ability to get up and down the pitch. Having to sit back as part of the defensive trio means those characteristics may not be on show as much.

On the ball at Blackburn, Justin did a decent job. He provided five progressive passes compared to Doyle’s average of eight, while Justin played six balls into the final third, just one shy of Doyle’s average of seven. That’s not too bad.

Where there may be the most improvements is in defence. In a couple of the games before his injury, Doyle was caught out and was partially at fault for goals conceded. But Justin is a strong one-on-one defender and is getting better at guarding the back post too.

The only concern now is his fitness. Justin has now started two matches in a row for the first time since his Achilles injury last November. If he starts against Preston, that’s three games in eight days.

At the point he ruptured his Achilles, Justin had played more minutes than any other City player. He can’t be overworked again.

That means Maresca needs to find a solution. There are no other players in the squad who have yet played at full-back out of possession, and then in the back three when in possession. The likeliest candidate to learn that job is Hamza Choudhury, but he’s already deputy in two other roles, for Ricardo Pereira in the full-back-turned-midfielder position, and for Harry Winks. It may mean Maresca trying something out of the ordinary to ensure Justin stays fit.

 

Ultimate City question has changed
Twenty-four points and a goal difference of +12 is the best tally any side has had after nine games of a Championship season since the league was rebranded in 2004-05. The victory at Blackburn also saw City equal a club record of five straight away league wins. No wonder fans are discussing record points totals.

City have definitively answered the questions over their quality. They absolutely can win this division and get promoted. The question now seems to be a matter of stamina. Everybody knows they can do it, but can they keep doing it?

They’ve done two months but there’s seven more to go. That’s why Maresca is knocking back any suggestions around City cantering to the title. But when you’re setting records, it’s hard for fans not to get a little bit excited.

[CrazyKopCorner]

2 hours ago, BenTheFox said:

I really wish people would just leave us alone. They are opening up old wounds by not only reminding us about him, but getting us all wound up about him again. We've suffered enough. 

Let’s face it anyone who says we should have kept Brendan and we’d have survived doesn’t know their arse from their elbow and should be pitied as a fool 

Edited 2 October 2023 by CrazyKopCorner

[OntarioFox]

15 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Let’s face it anyone who says we should have kept Brendan and we’d have survived doesn’t know their arse from their elbow and should be pitied as a fool 

Not only do I pity the fool who thinks Rodgers is cool, but I believe that they should quit their jibber-jabber.

 

[Out Foxed]

" Only five clubs can better City’s tally of nine different goalscorers."

 

is that not mad that there are more teams with that many different scorers

[Unabomber]

7 hours ago, UniFox21 said:

Another twitter pundit who didn't watch any of our games piping up for no reason. Man's a Coventry/Liverpool fan so can't actually have a normal take on us.

 

 

I thought this guy used to have good opinions but that is just so ill informed and wide of the mark. 

[UniFox21]

12 minutes ago, Unabomber said:

I thought this guy used to have good opinions but that is just so ill informed and wide of the mark. 

His opinions on anything not related or linked to Liverpool/Coventry are pretty good. But anything slightly linked and his views are really poor. 

[Unabomber]

1 minute ago, UniFox21 said:

His opinions on anything not related or linked to Liverpool/Coventry are pretty good. But anything slightly linked and his views are really poor. 

Why does he support them?

[Nalis]

5 hours ago, KingsX said:

Rodgers finally holed his own ship below the waterline in his last two years with us.  He’s been typically calculating to return to that club in a two one team minor league: it was the best job he could get, and even he cannot fail in that situation.  He’s put the ship in drydock for repairs.

 

But after that?  Any big club looking at his CV would note where he left us, compared to where he found us -- and pass.  Midsize clubs looking for a bounce would consider him … and good luck with that.

 

The folks consumed by the fact that he still has pockets of defenders, or by hot-take media trolls desperate for clicks, are missing the point IMO.  Do yourself a favor and stop obsessing.  He’s in our rear view mirror and should not constantly trouble your thoughts.

 

100% agree with the section in bold.

 

He effectively got us relegated, we sacked him, we moved on. Some of the posts about him are beyond embarrassing now, why tf do we even care what he's at now, bit like moaning about how shit your ex was when your current significant other is better in every way anyway. 

[CosbehFox]

ELEK LCFC PRAISE KLAXON !!!!

[Corky]

After the World Cup: 

 

Rodgers- 8 points from 13 games.

 

Smith- 9 points from 8 games.

 

The only stat you need.

[Lillehamring]

On 02/10/2023 at 14:39, TheStig said:

Maybe the fact that we went down forced our hand and a total reshuffle. We had been sliding downwards for 18 months at least, and had we survived with BR at the helm he would have been hailed as the big hero keeping little Leicester up. Now he - and we - got what was deserved and the rebuild is in full flow.....

I argued at the time that relegation, though not exactly desired, was certainly not an unwelcome outcome - given the rebuild we needed to do - a tactical retreat i called it.  People failed to agree, but it feels like the more i see of the rebuild the more I feel like relegation was actually something the club decided to embrace.

[Jobyfox]

29 minutes ago, Lillehamring said:

I argued at the time that relegation, though not exactly desired, was certainly not an unwelcome outcome - given the rebuild we needed to do - a tactical retreat i called it.  People failed to agree, but it feels like the more i see of the rebuild the more I feel like relegation was actually something the club decided to embrace.

No doubt if we do manage to go straight back up people will come out with trite cliches like "blessing in disguise" or "tactical retreat". As tactics go it's a bit like blowing your house up with dynamite because it's time for a new kitchen. 

 

We could, quite possibly, go straight back up, but there is still a significant possibility that we won't. Relegation is something that can cost millions, send clubs out of business or drive them into irrelevance for years.

 

I will never be happy with such a needless and avoidable relegation. With the right strategies in place the rebuild could have happened in the Premier League. There was never any need to risk everything and it took a great deal of mismanagement at all levels to get us here. 

Edited 3 October 2023 by Jobyfox

[Sly]

It’s done and I’m over it. 
 

I just want our £100m from Everton and it would be nice to see them get relegated.

 

That’s football though. 
 

We are a better team this season and I’d argue with this squad, we’d have been tipped to be mid table had we been in the Premier league. 

[FrankieADZ]

1 minute ago, Sly said:

It’s done and I’m over it. 
 

I just want our £100m from Everton and it would be nice to see them get relegated.

 

That’s football though. 
 

We are a better team this season and I’d argue with this squad, we’d have been tipped to be mid table had we been in the Premier league. 

think the worse thing is, everton might survive again this season, cos theres probably 3 worse teams than them,

 

shame really, Everton would have the best stadium in the championship if they went down, since they are moving next season

[Nalis]

We probably would have stayed up this season and probably will next season of we next promoted depending on how we recruit.

 

The bottom half of the premier league is worst I've ever seen, a lot of dross will stay up this season.

[ChrisFilter]

14 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

ELEK LCFC PRAISE KLAXON !!!!

What did he say?

[ARTY_FOX]

You've got to assume there will be alot of teams spending alot money next summer. 

[fuchsntf]

15 hours ago, Jobyfox said:

No doubt if we do manage to go straight back up people will come out with trite cliches like "blessing in disguise" or "tactical retreat". As tactics go it's a bit like blowing your house up with dynamite because it's time for a new kitchen. 

 

We could, quite possibly, go straight back up, but there is still a significant possibility that we won't. Relegation is something that can cost millions, send clubs out of business or drive them into irrelevance for years.

 

I will never be happy with such a needless and avoidable relegation. With the right strategies in place the rebuild could have happened in the Premier League. There was never any need to risk everything and it took a great deal of mismanagement at all levels to get us here. 

I love your first paragraph..

The 2nd it’s that modern fear that has grown into football,because of now the vast sums at top level…But it use to be part and partial of the “Also rans life“ no harm done,and still great memories to be had,and one still felt part of the gang.

Today one feels ostracised with no right to exsist “fixated on a long road to Coventry”.. But for me just the ups & downs in a sporting life…

 

The 3rd, this I suppose how we all felt,this time around, we (must of all been wrong)

really felt the squad was better than it’s weekly performances. Felt we were laying wrong,and Rodgers though seemingly just throwing pebbles of doubt was sending down boulders of truth not just on the squad but himself not wanting to even match the responsibility,rather sacrifice the club,than his own name. In the end everybody club side seemed to have dropped their responsibility…Fans looked for leaders,that just weren’t there,or for ones that were not in any position of strength..

perfect storm of mismanagement,and not a leader to be found on the field..

Ones that could have led some Spartan or Spartican fight/revolt were not game fit,

or were themselves Ostracised ( Evans & Soyuncu ,Vardy come to mind) and even now we are too nice…Aren’t there any of those type  bastards anymore to be found??  feared from oppo,but also  from within squad & Club…Was Schmeichel ,our last of that dying breed..!!..?
 

[fuchsntf]

On 02/10/2023 at 15:26, davieG said:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-enzo-maresca-touchline-shows-8797086

 

What Enzo Maresca did on touchline shows key contrast as big Leicester City question changes
Analysis of Leicester City's 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, looking at the manager's pre-match worries, Mads Hermansen's mistake, the growing tally of goals, James Justin, and more

ByJordan Blackwell
12:24, 2 OCT 2023UPDATED12:25, 2 OCT 2023

Enzo Maresca put his hands to his head. James Justin had given the ball away in the centre of the park with the score at 2-1, and the Leicester City manager knew Blackburn had the quality to make them pay.

And so on the touchline, his natural reaction was the universally-understood symbol of helplessly watching an impending catastrophe. Not until the danger was over did Maresca bring his hands back down.

 

Meanwhile, over in the away end, everybody was having a lovely time. A big crowd of more than 3,200 City supporters had risen at the crack of dawn to trek to Lancashire and they were making sure to enjoy their day out.

There were no nerves there. Even with City only a goal ahead and with Blackburn’s style proving difficult to handle, there seemed to be a confidence among fans that they’d be making the trip back down the M6 celebrating three points.

Spirits were high. When Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears was receiving treatment, City supporters took the opportunity to go through each player and sing their individual chant, Stephy Mavididi clapping along with his. Victory was secured by the time Callum Brittain was announced as the home side’s player of the match, City supporters sarcastically responding with: “There’s only one Callum Brittain!”

The contrast between the manager and the fans was interesting, in part because one of Maresca’s biggest aims during his first few months in charge was to get the crowd to understand and buy into how he wanted the team to play, and to preach patience with that style. It feels like he has won that battle, certainly with fans who travel away.

Even after City conceded from their own goal kick, there were no concerns. If some fans were nervous and wanted to see their team launch it up the pitch rather than keep attempting to play it out from the back, there were not enough of them to make those grumbles audible.

 

But for the manager himself, that’s now two Championship games in a row in which he has admitted to being worried. For Bristol City, he was concerned that, after big away wins at pre-season title rivals Southampton and Norwich, standards would slip. At Blackburn, he was concerned that their pressing and passing would be too much for City to cope with.

On both occasions, his team has played well enough to relieve him of those worries, even if Blackburn did cause them a few problems. Maybe Maresca needs to have the same faith in his tactics and his team as the supporters now do.

Because the Italian has won the hearts and minds of those who follow the club. Eight wins from nine league games helps, but the clarity of the style of play, the game-by-game improvements and the potential for further progress, and the quality of the football has supporters fully behind the manager. In two months, he has completely wiped away the hangover of relegation.

 

Inevitable Hermansen mistake more hapless than expected
It finally happened. It was always going to at some point. City conceded from their own goal-kick.

It’s impossible to be perfect in playing out from the back and the moment they faced a well-drilled, clever team, problems could arise. And yet it felt more hapless than it ideally would have done.

Mads Hermansen played a shot goal-kick to Harry Winks who received the ball under heavy pressure, barely managing to get a pass out wide, but still leading to a Blackburn attack. Barely a minute later, they tried the same thing again, and the second time Winks was robbed completely, leading to the goal.

There is no doubting Hermansen’s quality. He can make saves and his ability on the ball is better than most Premier League goalkeepers. Given he’s only 23, City have pulled off a bargain deal in getting him for £5m.

But this was a big mistake. The Dane was given the perfect opportunity to learn how Blackburn pressed and where the danger was when he played the first goal-kick, and yet he did the same thing again.

Maresca said it affected the team’s confidence for the rest of the game, and that seemed true. There were more moments at Ewood Park where City aimlessly cleared danger rather than looking for a pass, and that’s not the idea.

When the defenders warmed up pre-match under Brendan Rodgers, they would stand in their back four shape and be served high balls to head away. They still set up in the same way now, but when the balls are thrown up, they either head, chest or pass to a team-mate, rather than straight back to first-team coach Danny Walker.

But that’s not to say it completely threw City off. There were thumped balls up the pitch, but they didn’t panic. Most of the time they still worked the ball as they usually do, and that created the chances for their four goals.

 

City rack up the goals as set-piece threat added
Here’s a stat that’s worth savouring because it’s been a long time since this was the case: City have now scored more goals from corners than they have conceded.

New assistant manager Willy Caballero is clearly doing a decent job at set-pieces because City have now successfully defended 45 corners in a row in the Championship since Kyle McFadzean’s goal for Coventry on the opening weekend. Then, at Blackburn, two of their own six corners led to goals.

First, a short ball to Abdul Fatawu saw him cross for Wout Faes to expertly head down into the bottom corner. Then Jannik Vestergaard made a nuisance of himself, Hayden Carter grabbing a big chunk of his shirt to drag him down and win the penalty.

Four more goals to City’s total means they now rank second in the division with 18, just one behind Norwich’s 19. But more than that, they are spreading the goals around. Only five clubs can better City’s tally of nine different goalscorers.

Making themselves a threat at set-pieces had been a key area for improvement for City. Having more routes to goal makes them a better all-around threat and more difficult to stop.

 

Justin the go-to man but another back-up needed
The last two matches have made clear that James Justin will be the first-choice replacement for Callum Doyle, who is now set to be out until the new year. They are different players, so it will be interesting to see if Justin adapts his game in any way to try to replicate what Doyle does.

While the Manchester City loanee is all about the quality of his passing, Justin’s game is based around his athleticism, and his ability to get up and down the pitch. Having to sit back as part of the defensive trio means those characteristics may not be on show as much.

On the ball at Blackburn, Justin did a decent job. He provided five progressive passes compared to Doyle’s average of eight, while Justin played six balls into the final third, just one shy of Doyle’s average of seven. That’s not too bad.

Where there may be the most improvements is in defence. In a couple of the games before his injury, Doyle was caught out and was partially at fault for goals conceded. But Justin is a strong one-on-one defender and is getting better at guarding the back post too.

The only concern now is his fitness. Justin has now started two matches in a row for the first time since his Achilles injury last November. If he starts against Preston, that’s three games in eight days.

At the point he ruptured his Achilles, Justin had played more minutes than any other City player. He can’t be overworked again.

That means Maresca needs to find a solution. There are no other players in the squad who have yet played at full-back out of possession, and then in the back three when in possession. The likeliest candidate to learn that job is Hamza Choudhury, but he’s already deputy in two other roles, for Ricardo Pereira in the full-back-turned-midfielder position, and for Harry Winks. It may mean Maresca trying something out of the ordinary to ensure Justin stays fit.

 

Ultimate City question has changed
Twenty-four points and a goal difference of +12 is the best tally any side has had after nine games of a Championship season since the league was rebranded in 2004-05. The victory at Blackburn also saw City equal a club record of five straight away league wins. No wonder fans are discussing record points totals.

City have definitively answered the questions over their quality. They absolutely can win this division and get promoted. The question now seems to be a matter of stamina. Everybody knows they can do it, but can they keep doing it?

They’ve done two months but there’s seven more to go. That’s why Maresca is knocking back any suggestions around City cantering to the title. But when you’re setting records, it’s hard for fans not to get a little bit excited.

Those last words I look at it like this. A football fans duty IS to get excited when long runs are put together,last 2 seasons have proved the rarity of given reasons,

We as Fans love nothing more than going OTT given half a chance,let’s enjoy the good times when they roll…

Its our sports-god given right to create new dreams or not…

Dont worry we could break all records,and there will always be those fans who will

put forward the “yehhh but” arguments.