Okoli

[Lionator]

Enzo Maresca is not the cause of our defensive issues ffs, he’s the only manager who’s been able to polish the turd for the past 5-6 years. 

[dmayne7]

He's still a billion times better than Vestergaard because he actually knows how to defend

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Average at defending. Absolutely ****ing terrible at passing the ball. I think I'm actually better at that

[coolhandfox]

His crap for the amount of money you paid.

Edited 25 October 2025 by coolhandfox

[worthosoriginals]

About time he had a thread of hate as per all our players every year.

[Ric Flair]

Should have moved him on in the summer, typical of us.

[Mickyblueeyes]

Okoli and Nelson (and Souttar when he is back from injury) despite their youth, injuries, dodgy passing all sit ahead of Vestegaard and/or Faes. 
 

The latter two are a disgrace. They have had countless idiotic moments for this club. Fall outs. Insults. They have no connection with us. Their time is over here but neither of them can buy a move. They are parasites. 
 

I don’t want to see either of them in the side or squad and if that means I see Okoli hit a simple pass into row z but then celebrate a fantastic last minute block - I’m perfectly happy with that. 
 

The parasites in each position need to be out of the side. Not phased out. Not given a chance. Not played for their “experience”. They’ve let the badge down far too often / get them out.

[Donwebbio]

Surely if passing is the weakest part of your game by some distance, you stay behind after training and put an extra couple of hours in every day until you improve to a reasonable level.

 

It epitomises the lack of joined-up-thinking that for a club who continually employ managers who want their CB's to play out from the back, and regularly play the most passes of any position group, go out and spend a lot of money on a CB who cannot pass a football 5 yards 50% of the time. Our recruitment is just a joke.

[davieG]

2 hours ago, Lionator said:

Enzo Maresca is not the cause of our defensive issues ffs, he’s the only manager who’s been able to polish the turd for the past 5-6 years. 

He's not the direct cause but we don't have the players to play the way he did so no point trying.

[funkyrobot]

8 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Okoli and Nelson (and Souttar when he is back from injury) despite their youth, injuries, dodgy passing all sit ahead of Vestegaard and/or Faes. 
 

The latter two are a disgrace. They have had countless idiotic moments for this club. Fall outs. Insults. They have no connection with us. Their time is over here but neither of them can buy a move. They are parasites. 
 

I don’t want to see either of them in the side or squad and if that means I see Okoli hit a simple pass into row z but then celebrate a fantastic last minute block - I’m perfectly happy with that. 
 

The parasites in each position need to be out of the side. Not phased out. Not given a chance. Not played for their “experience”. They’ve let the badge down far too often / get them out.

Not sure how you can call Vesty and Faes a disgrace after today’s game.The loss today had nothing to do with Faes and no more to do with Vesty as it was with Okoli. If you are going to pick out a defender who failed for the 1 goal that caused us to lose it was Luke Thomas. I thought we improved significantly when Thomas was replaced with Faes playing out of position tbh.

[Mickyblueeyes]

Just now, funkyrobot said:

Not sure how you can call Vesty and Faes a disgrace after today’s game.The loss today had nothing to do with Faes and no more to do with Vesty as it was with Okoli. If you are going to pick out a defender who failed for the 1 goal that caused us to lose it was Luke Thomas. I thought we improved significantly when Thomas was replaced with Faes playing out of position tbh.

It wasn’t based on one game.

[funkyrobot]

32 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

It wasn’t based on one game.

Vestergaard has been our best defender this season 

Edited 25 October 2025 by funkyrobot

[Mickyblueeyes]

34 minutes ago, funkyrobot said:

Vestergaard has been our best defender this season 

Ok. We manage to stay up. Is Vestegaard signing for another 3 years ?

 

If we go down, can we afford Vestegaard in League One.

 

We find some form and go up, does Vestegaard start first game of the next season ?

 

The only answer to all 3 is no. When things get hard, Vestegaard falls apart. When things get really hard, Vestegaard throws a fit. 
 

This isn’t about a player being the best in a poor position, this is about the virus that is across our squad in many positions. Faes and Vestegaard may have impressed you this year but promise you, this club is not going anywhere with both in the squad, despite how many 1 or 2 good games they have out of 5. 
 

We need to get these guys out that no one else wants. For obvious reasons. 

[Bezzanator89]

1 hour ago, worthosoriginals said:

About time he had a thread of hate as per all our players every year.

True, can't even warm a bench properly. I mean, come on... Easy money right there!!

[foxile5]

Was he better than Faes? Only question needs answering. 

 

[funkyrobot]

2 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Ok. We manage to stay up. Is Vestegaard signing for another 3 years ?

 

If we go down, can we afford Vestegaard in League One.

 

We find some form and go up, does Vestegaard start first game of the next season ?

 

The only answer to all 3 is no. When things get hard, Vestegaard falls apart. When things get really hard, Vestegaard throws a fit. 
 

This isn’t about a player being the best in a poor position, this is about the virus that is across our squad in many positions. Faes and Vestegaard may have impressed you this year but promise you, this club is not going anywhere with both in the squad, despite how many 1 or 2 good games they have out of 5. 
 

We need to get these guys out that no one else wants. For obvious reasons. 

With his age, Vestergaard will leave us when his contract runs out. I don’t disagree that Nelson needs some game time nor am I against Souttar being given another go. The fact remains that we have a better chance of being higher up in The Championship by playing our better defenders. Like it or not Vestergaard is one of our better players this season and a very capable Championship player. We are currently a Championship club with zero money to spend so he has something to offer at the level we are at. There’s a danger that by not playing players like Verstergaard, our situation would likely be even worse than it is now. Certainly rotate the centre half’s to give others game time but don’t bin a contracted player who isn’t the major issue at the moment. 
 

FYI, In the unlikely event that we get promoted I’m not convinced by any of the centre backs we have on our books being overall PL standard. There’s hope for Nelson but he is not even making the bench so it’s a big stretch to say he’ll come in and smash it in the top league. 

[Dan]

He cost us more than Sunderland paid for Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete. Shouldn't be forgotten. Has a shorter rap sheet than a lot of our other players but far from convinced he's any good either.

[sm1]

The primary function of a CB is to defend, and in that respect I think he's better then both Vesty and Faes. He can't pass, but neither could Morgan. This system of the CBs having more ball then anybody else, and playing pretty triangles around our own penalty box has been a failure, get CBs that want to defend first and foremost.  

[cruzFOX]

He’s good at defending but terrible at passing the ball. Gives it right back to the opposition . I lost count how many times he did today. It’s a terrible trait for a so call elite professional footballer.

[Mickyblueeyes]

38 minutes ago, funkyrobot said:

With his age, Vestergaard will leave us when his contract runs out. I don’t disagree that Nelson needs some game time nor am I against Souttar being given another go. The fact remains that we have a better chance of being higher up in The Championship by playing our better defenders. Like it or not Vestergaard is one of our better players this season and a very capable Championship player. We are currently a Championship club with zero money to spend so he has something to offer at the level we are at. There’s a danger that by not playing players like Verstergaard, our situation would likely be even worse than it is now. Certainly rotate the centre half’s to give others game time but don’t bin a contracted player who isn’t the major issue at the moment. 
 

FYI, In the unlikely event that we get promoted I’m not convinced by any of the centre backs we have on our books being overall PL standard. There’s hope for Nelson but he is not even making the bench so it’s a big stretch to say he’ll come in and smash it in the top league. 

Just can’t agree with you on any positive of continually playing. Vestegaard or Faes.

 

Firstly, I’ve not been impressed with much this season. If anything - it’s not like playing Vestegaard gives any more protection or positivity to the line up than anyone else. 
 

Secondly, this is a player who has been a problem since he arrived. Whether that be down to him or other people. Fell out with Rodgers. Couldn’t get in with Smith. Good season under Enzo. Atrocious in the PL. fell out with RVN over a dog. Cifeuntes may call him a leader but I don’t see it. 
 

When it comes to Vestegaard and Faes, I could pick plenty of games but the one that sticks out in my mind of how useless they are to us is the Everton away game last season, they completely and utterly gave up in one of the most unprofessional, classless performances I’ve ever seen of two Leicester CBs. 
 

They don’t lead. They have brain farts regularly. They don’t speak well. They don’t engage the fanbase. They are one argument over a dog or something else vitally important from downing tools. 
 

I am not saying Nelson, Okoli or Souttar are world beaters or will be the answer to our problems. What I’m saying is, these two fellas are done here. Their time here is simply a collection of bad times and bad moments. They as much as part of the problem as anyone else and if we are going to be anything ever again, we need to make this place a no go zone for such individuals. Add Thomas, Daka and a few others. 
 

And yes, some of the replacements on paper because of our hands being tied may not be as good but at least they come with a clean slate, a potential to build something with the fan base. 
 

I just can’t agree with you that there is anything positive to us in playing either two. 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Having a preference for defenders that are at the very least semi-competent on the ball does not necessarily mean folk want ponderous possession for possession's sake football between the two centre halves.

 

Nobody is expecting the bloke to be Kevin De Bruyne but there is such a staggering lack of composure and technique playing the most basic of passes, or even simply controlling the ball sometimes. The way sides press these days, he'll keep getting caught out if he doesn't work on it.

Edited 26 October 2025 by Miquel The Work Geordie

[Fox92]

As I said last week, he’s no better than Faes.

[foxinsocks]

4 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

As I said last week, he’s no better than Faes.

Faes won't be here next June... Hopefully gone in jan

[Claudio Fannieri]

Personally I would go with Okoli and Nelson, both can defend 1st and foremost whilst I feel like they compliment each other well. But as both are relatively young and inexperienced they also need to know that even if they make a mistake they will be persevered with. 
 

 

[Richmondfox]

3 minutes ago, Claudio Fannieri said:

Personally I would go with Okoli and Nelson, both can defend 1st and foremost whilst I feel like they compliment each other well. But as both are relatively young and inexperienced they also need to know that even if they make a mistake they will be persevered with. 
 

 

And Okoli shouldn’t start any of the attacks out of the back.  I remember Enzo praising Nelson’s passing and moaned that he wanted him to be braver and do more.

 

Okoli can’t move with the ball, he stutters and puts himself under pressure.