For those of you who are not sure whether you want Levein to stay or go!

[truefox]

For all you people undecided on whether Craig should stay or go, just ponder this!! and then decide for yourself, and please be honest.

Craig knew that we had a striking problem the day he took over. Connolly was'nt scoring and Scowcroft was being pushed up front but without fruition. Mr De Vries was well he was Mr De Vries!!

So Craig knew from this moment that even if Connoly was to say with the club for this season as the main striker that we needed at least two new strickers to attempt solve our problem up front. One striker to link up with with Connolly i.e a Target man and also a quality sriker to have on the bench for competitionainjury cover.

Baring in mind Mr Levein had nearly the whole of last season and the pre-season to find a solution to this problem he was wasting money on left backs,dodgy goalkeepers and suspect midfielders.

A week before this season started and we has still failed to secure 1 striker let alone 2!!

Finally the striker arrived - Elvis Hammond an unproven goalscorer who had never scored in English Football!

For the record I have nothing against Elvis but likewise I had nothing against Trevor Benjamin but the point is we needed a proven goalscorer whether at Championship Level or First Division Level. Sadly Elvis is none of these.

Surely if the budgets were that tight Craig should have resisted th temptation to buy left backs from Plymouth etc ans should have saved most of his budget for at least 1 proven goalscorer!!

Various commentators come on the radio and say that strikers don't grow on trees. I agree!! But my argument to this is that the quality of football within the championship is that poor and I mean poor that with at least 8 months lead time Craig FAILED to provide any kind of a solution to our striking problems.

At the time of writing moving into the second half of the season the above mistake is costing us dearly!!

We have one centre forward fit to wear the Leicester shirt - Hume!! Absolute quality anybody who knows anything about football knows that this kid has got something special!!

As for the rest.....

Hammond - Not good enough at this stage through no fault of his own. Should be used as sub\squad player

De Vries - His goals this season flatter him -possibly the worst striker(Target Man) I have viewed in a Leicester shirt - Should not even make subs bench! send him back to Scotland please!!

Dublin - Not good enough, Has been most consitant player in defence but once again his goals ratio when playing up front has not been good enough to command a regular start up front.

So there we have it all this time on and in my and many fans opinon we have 1 striker fit to wear the shirt!!

So for all those fans on the fence do you really think that we can have any confidence in a manager who that has failed so miserably to improve our striking problems???

I will leave it for you to decide!!

TruFox!!

[Nationwider]

Welcome to FT.

Levein needs to sign a striker in January. Brilliant, insightful stuff. Who? And for how much?

I'll answer your question sort of sideways by saying I'm not over confident in his ability, but I'm happy for him to be the manager for a fair time to come.

[lookwhaticando]

While his striker signings have been mixed, and some of his other signings highly questionable (the lazy ones, the mistake prone ones for example) he seems to have acknowledged there's problems - particularly up front, and has said he will try to fix them by signing somebody in January. Wether he will or not remains to be seen - he will at least have to try, otherwise his recent comments about the situation would have been nothing more than hot air.

I'm happy for him to remain - if he adds to the squad in January, and proves to do a better job of it this time around, he might just get things going as they should. Then again he might not, but it wouldn't be fair to write him off completely before the end of the season, and even that may be premature.

[Jonbluefox9]

De Vries - His goals this season flatter him -possibly the worst striker(Target Man) I have viewed in a Leicester shirt - Should not even make subs bench! send him back to Scotland please!!

Dublin - Not good enough, Has been most consitant player in defence but once again his goals ratio when playing up front has not been good enough to command a regular start up front.

It is comments like this I don't understand. You say MDV is possibly the worst striker/target man you have viewed in a Leicester City shirt, well I would describe Dion as a target man when he does play upfront and he's been as bad if not worse than MDV when he has played upfront. What does that make Dion Dublin? Dion has no pace, he doesn't win enough in the air for a man of his size and as you mentioned, he hasn't scored enough goals when he has played upfront. Maybe it's because he was born in Leicester or maybe it's because he has performed a role for us at the back instead, but Dion gets far less abuse than MDV has been given. Dion missed a peach of a chance to put us 3-1 up against Watford at home when he was upfront and he poked it wide and although there were groans it was nothing compared to the uproar there would've been if it had been de Vries missing such a glorious chance. If MDV is the worst striker you've viewed in a City shirt, you've obviously not seen Dion play upfront for us recently.

[Guest]

Why do people think it's so easy? Oh, let's just go out and buy a striker, they say, as if the manager and coaching staff have patently ignored the situation.

I can see it now, CL decides to read some fans messageboard, sees a thread like this and thinks "holy cow, a striker!! Of course that's what I should be doing!! Why didn't I think of this before?"

Does it not occur to people that maybe they did try and sign someone earlier? I know it's hard to accept for us, because we love the club, but we are not an attractive prospect at the moment. For example, if someone was given the choice between us and Reading during the close season (ie. Lita), was it really a shock he chose Reading?

Then there's the case where we make an offer, but that offer is rejected. And so on, and so forth......

We only hear the tip of the iceberg when it comes to transfer dealings. I wish people would realise this when criticising the management for not signing anyone.

[l444ry]

Welcome to FT.

Levein needs to sign a striker in January. Brilliant, insightful stuff. Who? And for how much?

I'll answer your question sort of sideways by saying I'm not over confident in his ability, but I'm happy for him to be the manager for a fair time to come.

Craig Levein said himself at the start of the season that if things didn't improve he'd expect the sack. That day is now closer than most of us realise, I believe. Things haven't improved, despite some of the most ridiculous efforts to defend his record on this site. And when it does some sanity may be restored as to assessing his achievements (or lack of them) here.

Unfortunately, the job has turned out to be too difficult for him, probably through lack of knowledge regarding where to get decent English players. The Football League is not the Scottish League. At Hearts they only had a few games they couldn't win even playing under par. Every game is ultra competitive down here. Craig has never had to tackle this before, and seems not to be learning that motivation is often more important than who you put in the team. And that's another reason we're so inconsistent and have no mental strength. Replacing one under-motivated player with another just hasn't worked. It's just bred a lack of confidence in the players.

When the clear blue skies return and we find some directon again, there will be a lot of apologists for him who are going to cringe at some of the comments they have made........

[Thracian]

Craig Levein said himself at the start of the season that if things didn't improve he'd expect the sack. That day is now closer than most of us realise, I believe. Things haven't improved, despite some of the most ridiculous efforts to defend his record on this site. And when it does some sanity may be restored as to assessing his achievements (or lack of them) here.

Unfortunately, the job has turned out to be too difficult for him, probably through lack of knowledge regarding where to get decent English players. The Football League is not the Scottish League. At Hearts they only had a few games they couldn't win even playing under par. Every game is ultra competitive down here. Craig has never had to tackle this before, and seems not to be learning that motivation is often more important than who you put in the team. And that's another reason we're so inconsistent and have no mental strength. Replacing one under-motivated player with another just hasn't worked. It's just bred a lack of confidence in the players.

When the clear blue skies return and we find some directon again, there will be a lot of apologists for him who are going to cringe at some of the comments they have made........

There may still be individuals who are not performing (and need a special gee up) but I see little evidence of the team lacking motivation.

Saturday was an example. I have rarely seen 10 men so dominant and the shots tally (best in the League) shows how fired up they were.

As for mental strength I don't see too many quiters either - and this at a time when things are not quite working out.

I'm no apologist for Levein and have criticised him fairly strongly at times but his team is playing some confident and attractive football now and with the further strengthening expected in January I have NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER that the pendulum will swing in our favour soon.

Look at every manager, even people like Wenger and Ferguson. They all have periods of frustration like centre-forwards do when nothing works for them.

O'Neil took time to forge his team and Levein is taking a bit longer. But if you fail to see the improvements that have been made and the firm foundations (football wise and economically) that are being layed, perhaps you should go to Specsavers.

I still have complaints - about our set plays, our lack of movement at times, our lack of a genuine centre-forward, our need for a goalkeeper and a right winger etc.

Levein, I believe accepts (at least for the most part) that he has these problems and has spoken of his search for further signings.

It would be risky at best and more likely catastrophic at this time (or probably any time before the end of next season) to even think of ousting him (unless we're relegated which we won't be).

He has frustrated me at times, no question, but a team is emerging. Leicester are playing their best football for ages. That's what I've wanted and I have every confidence that results will follow.

What I don't want is the team going back into dour, nervy, ultra defensive mode just because a few fans lose their nerve.

Even now we're collecting as many points as we did under the old style. But at least most of it is worth watching. At least we're having some shots and playing some proper football.

[wirralsimon]

Craig Levein said himself at the start of the season that if things didn't improve he'd expect the sack. That day is now closer than most of us realise, I believe. Things haven't improved, despite some of the most ridiculous efforts to defend his record on this site. And when it does some sanity may be restored as to assessing his achievements (or lack of them) here.

Unfortunately, the job has turned out to be too difficult for him, probably through lack of knowledge regarding where to get decent English players. The Football League is not the Scottish League. At Hearts they only had a few games they couldn't win even playing under par. Every game is ultra competitive down here. Craig has never had to tackle this before, and seems not to be learning that motivation is often more important than who you put in the team. And that's another reason we're so inconsistent and have no mental strength. Replacing one under-motivated player with another just hasn't worked. It's just bred a lack of confidence in the players.

When the clear blue skies return and we find some directon again, there will be a lot of apologists for him who are going to cringe at some of the comments they have made........

The wage bill is half of what it was, i will say it again util it sinks in KEEPING THE OLD SQUAD WAS NOT AN OPTION _ WE COPULD NOT AFFORD THEM. The average age of the squad has tumbled, the current squad has hunger and promise for the future (whoever manages them). We no longer have a bunch of over the hill journeyman pros after one last payday. Look again at last years squad that MA started the season with and remember we were paying double the money to have them. Sorry to disappoint you but whatever happens in the next couple of years, none of what I have just said will make me cringe.

What is ridicuous is to assume that it is a simple matter for a club with little or no money to go out and sign a guaranteed 20 goal a season striker. The fact that Connoly changed hands for 3 million tells you everything you need to know. We have no divine right to be in the prem. We should not drive the club deep into debt chasing promotion to the prem, we have leaned our lesson.

We were in the sh*t when CL took over after PT and the old regime drove us to the brink of extinction and MA's short termism meant we made no progress at all under him as the squad was virtualy replaced on an annual basis. The cupboard is still pretty bare financially, but we are solvent and things are getting back on track. We aren't getting the results yet, but the performances have improved of late. Anyone who thinks what we have now isn't progress from then isn't paying attention.

I think a lot of the flak CL gets is because he refuses to go for the quick fix, and I am not a ridiculous apologist for definding that. The fundamentals of the club are more sound than they have been for quite a while. It's time for people to wake up, smell the coffee and remember just where we were clawing our way back from.

Simon

[Lineker's Left Foot]

I think me and Thracian have the same ideas and opinions. Couldn't have echoed it better myself re Levein !!

LEAVE LEVEIN ALONE HE IS GONNA MAKE US GOOD EVENTUALLY... AS LONG AS WE DON'T GET RELEGATED THIS YEAR I'M NOT BOTHERED !!

[l444ry]

There may still be individuals who are not performing (and need a special gee up) but I see little evidence of the team lacking motivation.

Saturday was an example. I have rarely seen 10 men so dominant and the shots tally (best in the League) shows how fired up they were.

As for mental strength I don't see too many quiters either - and this at a time when things are not quite working out.

I'm no apologist for Levein and have criticised him fairly strongly at times but his team is playing some confident and attractive football now and with the further strengthening expected in January I have NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER that the pendulum will swing in our favour soon.

Look at every manager, even people like Wenger and Ferguson. They all have periods of frustration like centre-forwards do when nothing works for them.

O'Neil took time to forge his team and Levein is taking a bit longer. But if you fail to see the improvements that have been made and the firm foundations (football wise and economically) that are being layed, perhaps you should go to Specsavers.

I still have complaints - about our set plays, our lack of movement at times, our lack of a genuine centre-forward, our need for a goalkeeper and a right winger etc.

Levein, I believe accepts (at least for the most part) that he has these problems and has spoken of his search for further signings.

It would be risky at best and more likely catastrophic at this time (or probably any time before the end of next season) to even think of ousting him (unless we're relegated which we won't be).

He has frustrated me at times, no question, but a team is emerging. Leicester are playing their best football for ages. That's what I've wanted and I have every confidence that results will follow.

What I don't want is the team going back into dour, nervy, ultra defensive mode just because a few fans lose their nerve.

Even now we're collecting as many points as we did under the old style. But at least most of it is worth watching. At least we're having some shots and playing some proper football.

"There may still be individuals who are not performing (and need a special gee up) but I see little evidence of the team lacking motivation."

Isn't there a contradiction there. Isn't a gee up the same as motivation. Motivation means giving a team BELIEF. This team has very little of that.

"As for mental strength I don't see too many quiters either - and this at a time when things are not quite working out."

You obviously don't see mental strength as I do. Mental strength doesn't mean "quitting." Anyone can keep trying. Mental strength is handling given situations as they occur during a match. Getting sent off through total stupidity against Crewe and caving in to Stoke are the most recent examples of not doing that.

"Saturday was an example. I have rarely seen 10 men so dominant and the shots tally (best in the League) shows how fired up they were."

Statistics are irrelevant. For instance, a shot could be from the half-way line when a better passing option is on. What use would that be to anyone except the statistician to notch up "a shot". Also, people who keep quoting that statistic on here never quote another from the same place: We have the worst disciplinary record in the division by far....

"O'Neil took time to forge his team and Levein is taking a bit longer. But if you fail to see the improvements that have been made and the firm foundations (football wise and economically) that are being layed, perhaps you should go to Specsavers."

Martin took 12 weeks and then got us promoted with NO MONEY. A bit shorter than Craig don't you think? And having followed City for 44 years I don't think Specsavers would alter my judgement. Insults are not alternatives to reasonable debate.

"What I don't want is the team going back into dour, nervy, ultra defensive mode just because a few fans lose their nerve."

In other words you mean the way we played under Craig Levein previously.

What I can't understand though, Thracian, is that football is entirely RESULTS BASED. It ain't Coronation Street we're watching here. Go watch Television for that.

[wirralsimon]

What I can't understand though, Thracian, is that football is entirely RESULTS BASED. It ain't Coronation Street we're watching here. Go watch Television for that.

Yes and No.

Yes, football is results based. But sometimes a quick fix to sort put results NOW isn't the answer, MA's managment was a long series of quick fixes and that led us nowhere.

I am willing to accept short term pain in terms of the results right now, if it means we are making long term progress in the right way. You are unable to accept that the fundamentals are getting better, hence you see things differently from us.

Simon

[l444ry]

The wage bill is half of what it was, i will say it again util it sinks in KEEPING THE OLD SQUAD WAS NOT AN OPTION _ WE COPULD NOT AFFORD THEM. The average age of the squad has tumbled, the current squad has hunger and promise for the future (whoever manages them). We no longer have a bunch of over the hill journeyman pros after one last payday. Look again at last years squad that MA started the season with and remember we were paying double the money to have them. Sorry to disappoint you but whatever happens in the next couple of years, none of what I have just said will make me cringe.

What is ridicuous is to assume that it is a simple matter for a club with little or no money to go out and sign a guaranteed 20 goal a season striker. The fact that Connoly changed hands for 3 million tells you everything you need to know. We have no divine right to be in the prem. We should not drive the club deep into debt chasing promotion to the prem, we have leaned our lesson.

We were in the sh*t when CL took over after PT and the old regime drove us to the brink of extinction and MA's short termism meant we made no progress at all under him as the squad was virtualy replaced on an annual basis. The cupboard is still pretty bare financially, but we are solvent and things are getting back on track. We aren't getting the results yet, but the performances have improved of late. Anyone who thinks what we have now isn't progress from then isn't paying attention.

I think a lot of the flak CL gets is because he refuses to go for the quick fix, and I am not a ridiculous apologist for definding that. The fundamentals of the club are more sound than they have been for quite a while. It's time for people to wake up, smell the coffee and remember just where we were clawing our way back from.

Simon

"The wage bill is half of what it was, i will say it again util it sinks in KEEPING THE OLD SQUAD WAS NOT AN OPTION _ WE COPULD NOT AFFORD THEM. The average age of the squad has tumbled, the current squad has hunger and promise for the future (whoever manages them). We no longer have a bunch of over the hill journeyman pros after one last payday. Look again at last years squad that MA started the season with and remember we were paying double the money to have them. Sorry to disappoint you but whatever happens in the next couple of years, none of what I have just said will make me cringe."

Very selective memory Simon. Micky Adams worked in a much worse situation than Craig is. We weren't even sure if the Club would not fold. He may not have been everybody's cup of tea but, for a long time, Micky Adams did a better job here than you are willing to acknowledge.

"I think a lot of the flak CL gets is because he refuses to go for the quick fix, and I am not a ridiculous apologist for definding that. The fundamentals of the club are more sound than they have been for quite a while. It's time for people to wake up, smell the coffee and remember just where we were clawing our way back from."

No, Simon, he gets flack because his slow fix seems to be coming off the rails. It's not where we are clawing our way back from that concerns me, it's where we seem to be heading that is more important.

[Ric Flair]

"There may still be individuals who are not performing (and need a special gee up) but I see little evidence of the team lacking motivation."

Isn't there a contradiction there. Isn't a gee up the same as motivation. Motivation means giving a team BELIEF. This team has very little of that.

"As for mental strength I don't see too many quiters either - and this at a time when things are not quite working out."

You obviously don't see mental strength as I do. Mental strength doesn't mean "quitting." Anyone can keep trying. Mental strength is handling given situations as they occur during a match. Getting sent off through total stupidity against Crewe and caving in to Stoke are the most recent examples of not doing that.

"Saturday was an example. I have rarely seen 10 men so dominant and the shots tally (best in the League) shows how fired up they were."

Statistics are irrelevant. For instance, a shot could be from the half-way line when a better passing option is on. What use would that be to anyone except the statistician to notch up "a shot". Also, people who keep quoting that statistic on here never quote another from the same place: We have the worst disciplinary record in the division by far....

"O'Neil took time to forge his team and Levein is taking a bit longer. But if you fail to see the improvements that have been made and the firm foundations (football wise and economically) that are being layed, perhaps you should go to Specsavers."

Martin took 12 weeks and then got us promoted with NO MONEY. A bit shorter than Craig don't you think? And having followed City for 44 years I don't think Specsavers would alter my judgement. Insults are not alternatives to reasonable debate.

"What I don't want is the team going back into dour, nervy, ultra defensive mode just because a few fans lose their nerve."

In other words you mean the way we played under Craig Levein previously.

What I can't understand though, Thracian, is that football is entirely RESULTS BASED. It ain't Coronation Street we're watching here. Go watch Television for that.

I wouldn't say paying £1 million for Steve Claridge, £750,000 for Neil Lennon and also Julian Watts for £250,000 would indicate O'Neill had no money.

[Head Honcho]

There may still be individuals who are not performing (and need a special gee up) but I see little evidence of the team lacking motivation.

Saturday was an example. I have rarely seen 10 men so dominant and the shots tally (best in the League) shows how fired up they were.

As for mental strength I don't see too many quiters either - and this at a time when things are not quite working out.

I'm no apologist for Levein and have criticised him fairly strongly at times but his team is playing some confident and attractive football now and with the further strengthening expected in January I have NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER that the pendulum will swing in our favour soon.

Look at every manager, even people like Wenger and Ferguson. They all have periods of frustration like centre-forwards do when nothing works for them.

O'Neil took time to forge his team and Levein is taking a bit longer. But if you fail to see the improvements that have been made and the firm foundations (football wise and economically) that are being layed, perhaps you should go to Specsavers.

I still have complaints - about our set plays, our lack of movement at times, our lack of a genuine centre-forward, our need for a goalkeeper and a right winger etc.

Levein, I believe accepts (at least for the most part) that he has these problems and has spoken of his search for further signings.

It would be risky at best and more likely catastrophic at this time (or probably any time before the end of next season) to even think of ousting him (unless we're relegated which we won't be).

He has frustrated me at times, no question, but a team is emerging. Leicester are playing their best football for ages. That's what I've wanted and I have every confidence that results will follow.

What I don't want is the team going back into dour, nervy, ultra defensive mode just because a few fans lose their nerve.

Even now we're collecting as many points as we did under the old style. But at least most of it is worth watching. At least we're having some shots and playing some proper football.

39 shots 1 goal big deal.

Remember we don't play Crewe every week.

It'll take us a month of games to get another 39 shots at goal let's hope we can score more than once!

Oh! and to answer your question.

Taxi for Levein!

[wirralsimon]

Very selective memory Simon. Micky Adams worked in a much worse situation than Craig is. We weren't even sure if the Club would not fold. He may not have been everybody's cup of tea but, for a long time, Micky Adams did a better job here than you are willing to acknowledge.

MA did a good job after we got relegated because he had a strong squad to work with and his a good coach and a good motivator, and I will acknowledge that he did an excellent job when he was first here.

Looking back I think some of that was because he had to concerntrate on what he was good at i.e. coaching and motivation. Wheeling an deaing in the transfer market was nigh on impossible due to administration.

Once the purse strings were loosened a little it all started to go wrong. Buying and selling 15-20 players a season is no way to build a team, there were too many short-term deals for players past their sell by date in search of a short-term boost to results, and too little emphasis on building a team for the future.

It's happening at Coventry where he is buying and selling far too many players so there is no continuity and no progress.

CL on the other hand is slowly and patiently building the team he wants. Many of the new players are young and hungry and their best years are still to come rather than in the past Their salaries are much lower. I am much more comfortable with that. I think you should be too!

Simon

[Guest]

One question for the "Outers"?

Who do you expect will come in and get us promoted? Please be realistic.

[Darth Fox]

One question for the "Outers"?

Who do you expect will come in and get us promoted? Please be realistic.

Stevie Wonder would be good. He far more visually aware than Levein. Levein's is awful so anything would be better. Get a manager on a short contract with the aim of saving us from relegation.

[davieG]

Stevie Wonder would be good. He far more visually aware than Levein. Levein's is awful so anything would be better. Get a manager on a short contract with the aim of saving us from relegation.

That's the funny thing about football, you can sign any manager you like but you can't guaranteee were you will finish.

[l444ry]

I wouldn't say paying £1 million for Steve Claridge, £750,000 for Neil Lennon and also Julian Watts for £250,000 would indicate O'Neill had no money.

Now come on, catch up Ric. You know perfectly well that those signings were funded by the sales of Joachim (£1.5m) Grayson (£1.7) Whitlow (£700k) Roberts (£1.3m).

You forgot to also mention the money spent on Savage (£400k) and Izzet (£600k).

Are you seriously suggesting that was bad business?

Premiership on a shoestring I'd call that.

Now that's what I call getting your fundamentals right.....

[adam]

One question for the "Outers"?

Who do you expect will come in and get us promoted? Please be realistic.

mickey adams?

[davieG]

mickey adams?

[Ric Flair]

Now come on, catch up Ric. You know perfectly well that those signings were funded by the sales of Joachim (£1.5m) Grayson (£1.7) Whitlow (£700k) Roberts (£1.3m).

You forgot to also mention the money spent on Savage (£400k) and Izzet (£600k).

Are you seriously suggesting that was bad business?

Premiership on a shoestring I'd call that.

Now that's what I call getting your fundamentals right.....

Have you gone mad? Where did I say it was bad business I merely stated that it wasn't the case that O'Neill didn't have any money to spend. O'Neill was a legend in the transfer market but he did have cash to spend at Leicester.

Grayson and Roberts were both sold after we were promoted, that's also why I didn't mention the money we paid for Izzet and Savage who both signed after we were promoted.

I also don't recall Whitlow going for £700k and Savage only cost us £250k by the way.

[Head Honcho]

One question for the "Outers"?

Who do you expect will come in and get us promoted? Please be realistic.

It's got nothing to do with promotion Lisa.

At the start of the season I would have settled for a mid-table finish this season, hope to build on that and push for promotion next season.

The way things are going now, the only promotion we will get next season is from League 1.

I have lost all confidence in CL, his post match interviews are the same week in week out, he has all the characteristics of a defeated man.

He just ain't doing it for me and I believe a lot of our senior players feel the same way, and this is reflected in the performances every week.

[Head Honcho]

Have you gone mad? Where did I say it was bad business I merely stated that it wasn't the case that O'Neill didn't have any money to spend. O'Neill was a legend in the transfer market but he did have cash to spend at Leicester.

Grayson and Roberts were both sold after we were promoted, that's also why I didn't mention the money we paid for Izzet and Savage who both signed after we were promoted.

I also don't recall Whitlow going for £700k and Savage only cost us £250k by the way.

For Whitlow we got 500k and Savage cost us £400K

[Ric Flair]

For Whitlow we got 500k and Savage cost us £400K

Savage cost us £250k i'm sure of it.