Tottenham (H) - Mon 19 Aug 8pm - Pre-Match Thread

[teblin]

I completely understand everybody feeling negative and  disengaged with the club at the minute. I feel the same something just feels off.

 

That said, the only was things get better is financially is if we stay in the this division, so tonight from a player perspective lets get behind them all and try to do what we can to help them get a result against a good spurs side.

 

3 Points tonight would be a massive step forward and could send a bit of a marker to the other teams that are going to be fighting down there with us. Also any points we get are even more important as we will lose 6/8 of them.

Edited 19 August 2024 by teblin

[CrazyKopCorner]

20 minutes ago, RYM said:

Despite feeling totally disengaged with it all I have an element of excitement just now. Just about to leave Glasgow with my young lads so always feels like an away day!

 

Up the city 🦊 

FM that's commitment 

 

I hope they at least put in a performance for you tonight 

[RumbleFox]

Fvck I’d love it if we won this. Proper awful win. Undeserved, last minute deflection that’s awarded even though offside. 
 

 

[Happy Fox]

Just have to give it our all and hope for the best. I think we can stay up although it will be a tall order.

 

As for tonight I think we will win it 2-1 if Vardy is playing.

[Raj]

34 minutes ago, RYM said:

Despite feeling totally disengaged with it all I have an element of excitement just now. Just about to leave Glasgow with my young lads so always feels like an away day!

 

Up the city 🦊 

Feck me, heres me moaning about driving in from Thurnby!🤣

Have a safe trip.pal, hope the lads enjoy the occasion anyway👍🏾

[Haywood_6]

I'll be watching from a bar in Fueterventura in my City shirt, probably surrounded by Spurs fans. I think we'll probably lose this one, but if we get something I'll be over the moon.

[Free Falling Foxes]

19 minutes ago, RumbleFox said:

Fvck I’d love it if we won this. Proper awful win. Undeserved, last minute deflection that’s awarded even though offside. 
 

 

Impossible with VAR.

[Scanchez]

2-2

[Groby_Blue]

Not expecting a win so as long as we turn up and give it a proper go, if we get beaten by better players then fair enough. As long as we see signs that we can compete and it's not going to be a long struggle, then I'll be fairly happy. 

[RYM]

42 minutes ago, Raj said:

Feck me, heres me moaning about driving in from Thurnby!🤣

Have a safe trip.pal, hope the lads enjoy the occasion anyway👍🏾

On the train so it’s always an eez-eh journey!

 

They always love it thank you, more so since we moved our ST’s to SK1 🦊

[FLAN]

Missing this due to a weekend in Ibiza. Not in the slightest bit annoyed I’m missing it 

[Spudulike]

I'm more up for it after watching Serge's poem. Warm night, shirt sleeves, down the City. Make some noise and we might get lucky.

[davieG]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/08/19/leicester-city-premier-league-ready-steve-cooper-summer/

 

Steve Cooper begins Leicester’s Premier League return within a summer of chaos
Cooper is relishing the challenge but Leicester start campaign without a fit recognised striker and after transfer market struggles

John Percy
19 August 2024 • 8:02am
Related Topics
Leicester City FC, Premier League

2
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper on the training pitch before the start of the season
Steve Cooper is back in Premier League management for the first time since leaving Nottingham Forest Credit: Getty Images/Leicester City FC
Steve Cooper has stressed the need for Leicester City to be “Premier-League ready” and on the eve of their first match against Tottenham, last season’s Championship winners appear far from it.

Leicester are currently undercooked for their top-flight return and facing a crucial two weeks as they scramble to find quality signings before the deadline.

The situation is complicated: Leicester were charged with an alleged breach of the profitability and sustainability rules [PSR] by the Premier League in March and are under pressure to be very careful with their finances.

Though there are funds for new players, Leicester are having to box clever in spreading the budget around and it is proving difficult to complete deals.

Frustration will have increased late last week when the other two clubs promoted from the Championship - Ipswich and Southampton - made a number of signings.

Away from the transfer window, there is also growing tension among the fanbase over a myriad of issues including the club’s financial situation, a perceived lack of communication and accountability, season ticket prices and future strategy.

Against this chaotic backdrop, Cooper is preparing for the new season with Leicester written off by many pundits as relegation certainties.

He was appointed in June as Enzo Maresca’s replacement and his past association with rivals Nottingham Forest means he needs to make a good start.

Cooper’s plans for the visit of Tottenham have been disrupted by injuries, with no senior strikers expected to be fit after injuries to Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka.

Vardy has an outside chance of inclusion in Monday’s squad but it is not guaranteed. Conor Coady, the experienced defender, is definitely out.

Patson Daka limps off injured during Leicester's friendly against Lens
Leicester suffered the blow of losing striker Patson Daka to injury Credit: Getty Images/Leicester City
Leicester have signed five players since winning promotion but they desperately need more. Behind the scenes, the club hierarchy is remaining calm and will ask to be properly judged on Aug 31 when the window has closed.

Yet there is no question the summer has been difficult so far, with a number of targets going elsewhere.

Matías Soulé, the former Juventus No 10, was identified as a priority target by Cooper and the recruitment team.

Cooper spoke extensively with Soule about moving to England and, after a second improved bid of around £22 million, there was optimism that a deal could be struck.

However, the influence of Soule’s agent and his close links with Roma swung the deal in that direction to leave Leicester frustrated.

It can be revealed that Leicester submitted a £13 million bid for Gabriel Sara, the Norwich City midfielder. That offer was turned down and Sara has since moved to Galatasaray for a higher fee.

A move to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Adam Hlozek collapsed last week, while Leicester’s bid to sign another top target, Panathinaikos forward Fotis Ioannidis, will require a fee approaching £30 million.

An ambitious move to lure Wilfried Zaha back to the Premier League has also proved problematic, with the structure of the loan deal and potential tax implications. It is understood Zaha would have to pay in excess of £8 million from his own pocket for the move to proceed.

Leicester have offered £4 million for Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew and remain interested in Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, though the player’s wages are significant and more than £120,000-a-week.

Tottenham’s Oliver Skipp is set to complete a move after Monday’s game, but Leicester need attacking players.

Oliver Skipp playing for Tottenham in pre-season
Leicester have landed one of their midfield transfer targets by signing Oliver Skipp Credit: Getty Images/Masashi Hara
It now seems inevitable that the final fortnight of the window will be hectic: this is despite Leicester’s Championship season finishing on May 4, with Maresca’s defection to Chelsea just under a month later (77 days before Monday’s date with Tottenham).

To be heading into the season so short in key areas is alarming, and underlines the paucity of Leicester’s transfer budget.

With the club facing a potential points deduction for breaching PSR, fingers are being pointed and particularly at director of football Jon Rudkin.

A long-serving key member of staff since the 1990s, Rudkin has overseen the Premier League title win, FA Cup triumph of 2021, and the relegation last year.

And what of Cooper? A coach first and foremost, who comes alive on the training pitches, he is relishing the challenge.

He was dismissed by Forest in December and spent the six months out of work wisely.

Over that time he visited a number of clubs abroad, including in Germany and Spain, to broaden his education. He undertook a personal audit with analysts to scrutinise many facets of his management, including recruitment, fitness levels of his teams and player performance.

“I certainly wasn’t wanting the break or ready for one. It was only halfway through the season [the Forest sacking], but it was one that I had no choice with,” he said.

“It gave me the chance to do some different things in terms of improving professionally and I guess through all of that process I’ve added to my confidence and self-belief.

“All of my experiences put you in the situation you’re in today and then it’s all about using them wisely, recognising that the bad or unfair moments can end up being the best moments for getting better.

“For me, it’s about hoping the best is yet to come. That’s my personal motivation. My goals and ambitions haven’t changed and if anything I’m even more confident about achieving them now and I’m really excited by and committed to this challenge.”

[OntarioFox]

1 hour ago, teblin said:

I completely understand everybody feeling negative and  disengaged with the club at the minute. I feel the same something just feels off.

 

That said, the only was things get better is financially is if we stay in the this division, so tonight from a player perspective lets get behind them all and try to do what we can to help them get a result against a good spurs side.

 

3 Points tonight would be a massive step forward and could send a bit of a marker to the other teams that are going to be fighting down there with us. Also any points we get are even more important as we will lose 6/8 of them.

Two wins in the bag early, then mentally treat it as the 'real' start of the season. Sounds simple on paper, but until we're facing similar fodder like Southampton, Everton or Ipswich it's going to be a tough ask.

 

We can only hope the players are more up for it than most of us are right now. ✌️

[Stuntman_Mike]

Feels a bit surreal today, like it's not actually our first game after promotion. 

 

It's been a strange pre season and with it being a Monday night it just doesn't feel 'right'. 

 

Hopefully I'm more up for it closer to kick off or walking down the ground though.

[Trent Steel]

Looking forward to this, going with my pops, 1st home game in a couple of years

[AKCJ]

I think it'll be very similar to Ispwich's game against Liverpool.

 

First half will be tight and there will be a good atmosphere but we'll run out of steam while Spurs go from strength to strength and see us off in the 2nd half.

 

0-2. Son with both. Hermansen to have a good game.

[Happy Fox]

Team news to be announced at 6.45pm is that right?

[SemperEadem]

 

[Ric Flair]

I'd genuinely be happy if we register more than 1 shot on target tonight that's not a pathetic scuffer. If we create some proper chances with what will likely be an extremely workmanlike squad then I'd take the positives out of that.

 

We've got to find a way in doing so. Cooper's pre-season has been absolutely vulgar in that regard. 

 

It would be classic Leicester to get a result tonight or go down in a brave high scoring defeat. Either way I'm no longer dreading it as the day has approached.

[goose2010]

6 minutes ago, Happy Fox said:

Team news to be announced at 6.45pm is that right?

yeah they have changed the rules this season it is 75 mins before kick off. 

[Lionator]

42 minutes ago, davieG said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/08/19/leicester-city-premier-league-ready-steve-cooper-summer/

 

Steve Cooper begins Leicester’s Premier League return within a summer of chaos
Cooper is relishing the challenge but Leicester start campaign without a fit recognised striker and after transfer market struggles

John Percy
19 August 2024 • 8:02am
Related Topics
Leicester City FC, Premier League

2
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper on the training pitch before the start of the season
Steve Cooper is back in Premier League management for the first time since leaving Nottingham Forest Credit: Getty Images/Leicester City FC
Steve Cooper has stressed the need for Leicester City to be “Premier-League ready” and on the eve of their first match against Tottenham, last season’s Championship winners appear far from it.

Leicester are currently undercooked for their top-flight return and facing a crucial two weeks as they scramble to find quality signings before the deadline.

The situation is complicated: Leicester were charged with an alleged breach of the profitability and sustainability rules [PSR] by the Premier League in March and are under pressure to be very careful with their finances.

Though there are funds for new players, Leicester are having to box clever in spreading the budget around and it is proving difficult to complete deals.

Frustration will have increased late last week when the other two clubs promoted from the Championship - Ipswich and Southampton - made a number of signings.

Away from the transfer window, there is also growing tension among the fanbase over a myriad of issues including the club’s financial situation, a perceived lack of communication and accountability, season ticket prices and future strategy.

Against this chaotic backdrop, Cooper is preparing for the new season with Leicester written off by many pundits as relegation certainties.

He was appointed in June as Enzo Maresca’s replacement and his past association with rivals Nottingham Forest means he needs to make a good start.

Cooper’s plans for the visit of Tottenham have been disrupted by injuries, with no senior strikers expected to be fit after injuries to Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka.

Vardy has an outside chance of inclusion in Monday’s squad but it is not guaranteed. Conor Coady, the experienced defender, is definitely out.

Patson Daka limps off injured during Leicester's friendly against Lens
Leicester suffered the blow of losing striker Patson Daka to injury Credit: Getty Images/Leicester City
Leicester have signed five players since winning promotion but they desperately need more. Behind the scenes, the club hierarchy is remaining calm and will ask to be properly judged on Aug 31 when the window has closed.

Yet there is no question the summer has been difficult so far, with a number of targets going elsewhere.

Matías Soulé, the former Juventus No 10, was identified as a priority target by Cooper and the recruitment team.

Cooper spoke extensively with Soule about moving to England and, after a second improved bid of around £22 million, there was optimism that a deal could be struck.

However, the influence of Soule’s agent and his close links with Roma swung the deal in that direction to leave Leicester frustrated.

It can be revealed that Leicester submitted a £13 million bid for Gabriel Sara, the Norwich City midfielder. That offer was turned down and Sara has since moved to Galatasaray for a higher fee.

A move to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Adam Hlozek collapsed last week, while Leicester’s bid to sign another top target, Panathinaikos forward Fotis Ioannidis, will require a fee approaching £30 million.

An ambitious move to lure Wilfried Zaha back to the Premier League has also proved problematic, with the structure of the loan deal and potential tax implications. It is understood Zaha would have to pay in excess of £8 million from his own pocket for the move to proceed.

Leicester have offered £4 million for Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew and remain interested in Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, though the player’s wages are significant and more than £120,000-a-week.

Tottenham’s Oliver Skipp is set to complete a move after Monday’s game, but Leicester need attacking players.

Oliver Skipp playing for Tottenham in pre-season
Leicester have landed one of their midfield transfer targets by signing Oliver Skipp Credit: Getty Images/Masashi Hara
It now seems inevitable that the final fortnight of the window will be hectic: this is despite Leicester’s Championship season finishing on May 4, with Maresca’s defection to Chelsea just under a month later (77 days before Monday’s date with Tottenham).

To be heading into the season so short in key areas is alarming, and underlines the paucity of Leicester’s transfer budget.

With the club facing a potential points deduction for breaching PSR, fingers are being pointed and particularly at director of football Jon Rudkin.

A long-serving key member of staff since the 1990s, Rudkin has overseen the Premier League title win, FA Cup triumph of 2021, and the relegation last year.

And what of Cooper? A coach first and foremost, who comes alive on the training pitches, he is relishing the challenge.

He was dismissed by Forest in December and spent the six months out of work wisely.

Over that time he visited a number of clubs abroad, including in Germany and Spain, to broaden his education. He undertook a personal audit with analysts to scrutinise many facets of his management, including recruitment, fitness levels of his teams and player performance.

“I certainly wasn’t wanting the break or ready for one. It was only halfway through the season [the Forest sacking], but it was one that I had no choice with,” he said.

“It gave me the chance to do some different things in terms of improving professionally and I guess through all of that process I’ve added to my confidence and self-belief.

“All of my experiences put you in the situation you’re in today and then it’s all about using them wisely, recognising that the bad or unfair moments can end up being the best moments for getting better.

“For me, it’s about hoping the best is yet to come. That’s my personal motivation. My goals and ambitions haven’t changed and if anything I’m even more confident about achieving them now and I’m really excited by and committed to this challenge.”

I am assuming that Rudkin gives these people scoops to keep them onside? The only mention of him is that he's overseen key good and bad events.

[foxfanazer]

1 minute ago, goose2010 said:

yeah they have changed the rules this season it is 75 mins before kick off. 

15 minutes more to fume 

[foxfanazer]

Are we genuinely gonna be starting Cannon up front tonight?

[StriderHiryu]

With one fixture to go, so far there hasn't been a shock result...

 

At the same time no team has shipped more than 3 goals yet...

 

So surely that means 4-0 Leicester?