A Call for Change: A Footballing Reset at Leicester City Football Club

[LCFCJohn]

15 minutes ago, fox in the sox said:

The point about Stoke is that they went down and have not been run well enough to get anywhere near returning. Yes this could happen to us but last season we were ran well enough to get straight back up.

I think the issue for me is, that when we have been seen to be well run, it has

coincided with managers who have had that building a club philosophy. See Pearson, Puel and Maresca. A couple of managers have stolen the glory in terms of Ranieri and Rodgers with the two big trophy wins but they were putting the touches on their predecessors work and you could see in both cases, things in terms of squad building and behind the scenes deteriorated under both managers. 
 

Now I get the argument that you can’t blame someone for things when they go wrong but give zero credit when things go well so yes, you give credit to KP for those appointments, in all cases, 3 for building the club up and the other 2 for what they won.

 

What we don’t do, and what clubs that are doing well currently do, is have a strategic plan at club level that starts with the director of football where the philosophy and plan is coming at club level and managers are brought into fit this. 
 

By taking this approach, it only takes one bad appointment or hanging on too long in Rodgers case, for it to come crashing down. 

[sharpylcfc]

30 minutes ago, dannythefox said:

I’m not a loyalist ffs 😂 we do need change though but king power as a whole have been very good for us. The DOF has to go, personally l can’t see the club going up for sale it’s basically tied into to the family with what happened to his dad. Chill your beans lad. 

Honestly I think it'll get to a point where they have no choice but to sell, like the whole getting the Premier League for next however many years without the guarantee of even being in the division. Could very well lead to financial ruin and let be honest they don't want to hold their hands up to the mess they've already created so couldn't see them sorting that mess out if it happens. 

[fox in the sox]

25 minutes ago, davieG said:

Can people stop comparing us to other clubs what does it matter to LCFC fans what they do. 

 

It's how our club is performing now, not 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 years ago both on and off the pitch. By any measure both are appalling and stem from the poor management of the available finances which have been substantial for a club of our size. 

Add to that the way the fans on every measure are treated at best with indifference and mostly with contempt is totally unacceptable and on a personal level not how I would treat any one.

Im

Of course the other clubs matter. If 20 other clubs were taken over by Man City/ Newcastle type owners we would do well just to be a decent Championship side. Expectations for a club are based on what is happening at others.

You also need to look at other clubs to see that there are a few brilliant owners and many disastrous ones. 

[SemperEadem]

28 minutes ago, sharpylcfc said:

Do you ever wonder if people don't protest because of the potential of being banned we all know how this lot work or is it down to pure laziness?

I think some will be concerned now the wider issue of bans is being discussed, but mainly I think its and effort and cultural thing

[davieG]

24 minutes ago, fox in the sox said:

Of course the other clubs matter. If 20 other clubs were taken over by Man City/ Newcastle type owners we would do well just to be a decent Championship side. Expectations for a club are based on what is happening at others.

You also need to look at other clubs to see that there are a few brilliant owners and many disastrous ones. 

Well I disagree we should be aiming to be leaders that other clubs aspire to not look at others and say 'well we're better than them'  often knowing very little about the daily detail. 

[OntarioFox]

2 hours ago, LCFCJohn said:

What we don’t do, and what clubs that are doing well currently do, is have a strategic plan at club level that starts with the director of football where the philosophy and plan is coming at club level and managers are brought into fit this. 

About the closest we've had has been some vague claims that 'Top likes possession football', which I'd question the truth behind given we were willing to A) appoint Cooper and B) shortlist Jesse Marsch.

 

You're right of course. There's absolutely zero direction on a philosophical level, and even if those claims are true it just proves it's being done in the most surface level way possible.

 

Our DOF's depth of long term thinking, it would seem, has only ever extended to the 'sell an asset for massive profit' model, which as we all know goes tits-up when your shoddy recruitment, poor contract management or external factors (be they Covid or relegation) prevent it from happening. There's never been an ounce or resilience in how we operate, just some dumb luck that it kept paying off with the likes of Man Utd and Chelsea overpaying for Maguire and Fofana respectively. By all rights the plan was to continue that with Maddison in 22-23, but we spaffed our load on the negotiating table by going down and Tottenham got him for £20-30 million less than he was worth, at a minimum. The same will happen with Hermansen this summer.

Edited 18 February by OntarioFox

[Bilo]

A few on X saying that the yellow colour didn't really work because yellow isn't one of our colours and few people own yellow clothing.

 

So why not go back to our roots with black and Cambridge blue? Most will own something in one of those colours.

 

'Blue and Black till Rudkin's Sacked?' 

 

Not dissimilar to what the Anti-Glazer Movement have done with the green and gold scarves. 

[elangLCFC]

24 minutes ago, Bilo said:

A few on X saying that the yellow colour didn't really work because yellow isn't one of our colours and few people own yellow clothing.

 

So why not go back to our roots with black and Cambridge blue? Most will own something in one of those colours.

 

'Blue and Black till Rudkin's Sacked?' 

 

Not dissimilar to what the Anti-Glazer Movement have done with the green and gold scarves. 

Not sure how effective that would be considering, particularly during winter, that's what the vast majority of people are wearing already

[SemperEadem]

Jake on the latest BSLB nails it in that I think he is correct that a huge proportion of our match going fans just are not that passionate.

[5waller5]

7 hours ago, Pliskin said:

The only correspondence I get from the club is “can’t attend this week? Sell your ticket”……

 

 

They literally, couldn’t give less of a **** about their fans. 
 

They’ve prioritised financial gain over support. 

I genuinely think they’re just lazy. Being owned by a Billionnaire that has no interest in the running of the club but will bail them out of any financial troubles has led to a malaise across the whole club. 
 

Nobody innovates, makes bold decisions, even makes changes… it’s all about not losing your job by accidentally upsetting Rudkin or Top. It’s the opposite of a well run company

[AKCJ]

1 hour ago, SemperEadem said:

Jake on the latest BSLB nails it in that I think he is correct that a huge proportion of our match going fans just are not that passionate.

I don't think that's a Leicester City problem.

 

Full of passion and energy when things are going well but down in the dumps and apathetic when it's going wrong. I'd say that accurately describes a good 95% of clubs in England.

 

Even Man United are watching their club trot out absolute shite every week and there are always 70k fans clapping them off the pitch at the end.

[worth_the_wait]

11 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Still think the ownership gets off far too lightly with stuff off the pitch.
 

The bans, the sensitive approach on social media, ticketing policy, ticketing pricing, dodgy sponsor, ever increasing shirt prices, a lack of further coverage on youth teams, the tone deaf messaging at times. Just a quick round up. 
 

These are direct attacks on the supporters. The footballing side is extremely annoying but it’s part what effects so us so much more 

Well said.

 

Whilst most people might be concentrating on the obvious problems on the pitch, I'm actually more bothered about all the things the club is doing wrong off it.  The utter contempt they treat us with.   And they way they seem to want to get rid of anyone with the slightest passion, and just replace us all with compliant, silent, neutered zombies.

 

Examples that spring to mind:

1. The away priority ticket rules that over the last 11 years have turned our away support into a mainly season ticket holders only closed shop.

2. Apart from the odd exception, since Aug 2021 no away tickets have gone on-sale to anyone but ST holders and members.  Not even people with a booking history!  Which means it now is a stale closed shop, and has nearly finished off any last remnants of passionate away support.

3. Keeping the annoying, embarrassing clappers going long long after their sell-by date.  So pathetic and naff.

4. Playing stupid post-match music at the end of every match we win.  As above, pathetic and naff.

5. Blaring out pre-match music so loud, you can barely hear yourself think.  Let alone try to generate an atmosphere.

6. A stadium expansion that should've started the minute we won the league.  9 years later ... as you were.

7. Dragging their feet on safe standing, whereas most other clubs in the top 2 divisions have already got it installed.

8. Over zealous stewarding in certain parts of the ground, as though they actually hate any sign of passion.

9. Banning fans for trivial "offences".

10. Ringing the pitch with stewards at the end of matches, when there is not the slightest chance of any pitch invasion by us downtrodden/neutered fans.

11. Forcing through Mobile Ticketing, when the majority of fans want the choice of either having a card or a mobile ticket.

You can probably add some more to that list.  

 

And the thing is ...because the club is so secretive, we don't actually know who is responsible for anything?
 

[pmcla26]

6 hours ago, LCFCJohn said:

I think the issue for me is, that when we have been seen to be well run, it has

coincided with managers who have had that building a club philosophy. See Pearson, Puel and Maresca. A couple of managers have stolen the glory in terms of Ranieri and Rodgers with the two big trophy wins but they were putting the touches on their predecessors work and you could see in both cases, things in terms of squad building and behind the scenes deteriorated under both managers. 
 

Now I get the argument that you can’t blame someone for things when they go wrong but give zero credit when things go well so yes, you give credit to KP for those appointments, in all cases, 3 for building the club up and the other 2 for what they won.

 

What we don’t do, and what clubs that are doing well currently do, is have a strategic plan at club level that starts with the director of football where the philosophy and plan is coming at club level and managers are brought into fit this. 
 

By taking this approach, it only takes one bad appointment or hanging on too long in Rodgers case, for it to come crashing down. 

Ranieri and Rodgers didn’t steal the glory. We weren’t winning the Premier League with Pearson and we wouldn’t have won the FA cup and pushed for top 4 with Puel. 

[LCFCJohn]

39 minutes ago, pmcla26 said:

Ranieri and Rodgers didn’t steal the glory. We weren’t winning the Premier League with Pearson and we wouldn’t have won the FA cup and pushed for top 4 with Puel. 

I think it was clear I was talking about strategy and squad building. Clearly that was not a strong point of either Ranieri or Rodgers but they came in to squads that had been put together by the builders in Pearson and Puel and took them to that next level yes.

 

But the point was, without a club strategy and a competent DoF, we are reliant on lucking out on a Pearson, Puel or Maresca who brings that and staff who can implement it themselves. 
 

It was not intended to downplay or discredit Ranieri particularly, but also Rodgers achievements.

[Great Boos Up]

Perspective from an old happy clapper. (Please no abuse) I go when I can. It all went shit after Vichai died. I loved Pearson and I liked Puel. He gave some stability to what was an over achieving Championship side. Since then I’ve absolutely no idea what our expectations have been. Rodger’s was an ego maniac and suddenly the club I love is massively overpaying. I have no idea who does what and who is accountable. Personal jibes at Rudkin are not accessible however. He was appointed by KP and perhaps they are the issue. They did buy us in absolute crisis for pennies. Really not happy with how things are run in recent years. Quite happy to support a Championship side again but something needs to change.

[C.J]

6 hours ago, Bilo said:

A few on X saying that the yellow colour didn't really work because yellow isn't one of our colours and few people own yellow clothing.

 

So why not go back to our roots with black and Cambridge blue? Most will own something in one of those colours.

 

'Blue and Black till Rudkin's Sacked?' 

 

Not dissimilar to what the Anti-Glazer Movement have done with the green and gold scarves. 

Maybe they don't understand what yellow means in Thailand? We've had enough yellow kits in the past. I don't think changing is a good idea now it's started, need to keep the identity.

[smudgerfox]

13 hours ago, OntarioFox said:

About the closest we've had has been some vague claims that 'Top likes possession football', which I'd question the truth behind given we were willing to A) appoint Cooper and B) shortlist Jesse Marsch.

It is part of the delusion at the top of the club (and among some supporters) that we have a genuine choice. That the club is attractive to that tier of manager below  Champions League level. Potter was never coming here and we wasted time chasing him - twice. There's a huge job to do with no money to do it. Getting rid of deadwood, getting the wage bill more comfortably within PSR limits, while trying to keep the club afloat as it hovers between the EPL and Championship. 

 

Enzo, I believe, said Top wanted a team that played like Manchester City which is a childishly simplistic aspiration - do we have the money to buy a latter Kevin De Bruyne ? I don't think so....

[ealingfox]

9 hours ago, Great Boos Up said:

Perspective from an old happy clapper. (Please no abuse) I go when I can. It all went shit after Vichai died. I loved Pearson and I liked Puel. He gave some stability to what was an over achieving Championship side. Since then I’ve absolutely no idea what our expectations have been. Rodger’s was an ego maniac and suddenly the club I love is massively overpaying. I have no idea who does what and who is accountable. Personal jibes at Rudkin are not accessible however. He was appointed by KP and perhaps they are the issue. They did buy us in absolute crisis for pennies. Really not happy with how things are run in recent years. Quite happy to support a Championship side again but something needs to change.

 

Not having a go at you personally, but the fact so many clearly think this is part of the problem, as I'm assuming your memory is that they bought the club when we were in League One. This is not correct.

 

They bought the club for £30m (not a huge amount even at that time but definitely not 'pennies') and took over in the summer of 2010. After promotion from League One and after a 5th place finish in the Championship, a penalty shoot-out away from the play-off final.

[Old Fox]

4 minutes ago, ealingfox said:

 

Not having a go at you personally, but the fact so many clearly think this is part of the problem, as I'm assuming your memory is that they bought the club when we were in League One. This is not correct.

 

They bought the club for £30m (not a huge amount even at that time but definitely not 'pennies') and took over in the summer of 2010. After promotion from League One and after a 5th place finish in the Championship, a penalty shoot-out away from the play-off final.

I think that supporters that abuse the ownership for investment are off the mark however it is clear that since Vichai passed we have been in decline.

 We will never ever live through the times we had but undoubtedly we have and are not performing like we should on and off the pitch - I am not a happy clapper despite my age and currently this is as disconnected as I have felt since the Shipman and Taylor management era.

The gap between championship and prem is massive and the 3 worst teams/squads including management are the promoted sides and than less we make a big change it could be a long while before we get back and establish ourselves in the top flight. Wolves, Palace, Everton all have more talent and better managers than us and they have to be the target to stay up in future.

We need a reset and investment overhaul which includes being brave and using some youth as this current crop are a disgrace and apart from 3 or 4 who are quality the rest can go.

We will want a bright manager who can build a team but with quality investment - haphazard transfer policy will just continue the downward spiral.

[The Year Of The Fox]

11 hours ago, worth_the_wait said:

Well said.

 

Whilst most people might be concentrating on the obvious problems on the pitch, I'm actually more bothered about all the things the club is doing wrong off it.  The utter contempt they treat us with.   And they way they seem to want to get rid of anyone with the slightest passion, and just replace us all with compliant, silent, neutered zombies.

 

Examples that spring to mind:

1. The away priority ticket rules that over the last 11 years have turned our away support into a mainly season ticket holders only closed shop.

2. Apart from the odd exception, since Aug 2021 no away tickets have gone on-sale to anyone but ST holders and members.  Not even people with a booking history!  Which means it now is a stale closed shop, and has nearly finished off any last remnants of passionate away support.

3. Keeping the annoying, embarrassing clappers going long long after their sell-by date.  So pathetic and naff.

4. Playing stupid post-match music at the end of every match we win.  As above, pathetic and naff.

5. Blaring out pre-match music so loud, you can barely hear yourself think.  Let alone try to generate an atmosphere.

6. A stadium expansion that should've started the minute we won the league.  9 years later ... as you were.

7. Dragging their feet on safe standing, whereas most other clubs in the top 2 divisions have already got it installed.

8. Over zealous stewarding in certain parts of the ground, as though they actually hate any sign of passion.

9. Banning fans for trivial "offences".

10. Ringing the pitch with stewards at the end of matches, when there is not the slightest chance of any pitch invasion by us downtrodden/neutered fans.

11. Forcing through Mobile Ticketing, when the majority of fans want the choice of either having a card or a mobile ticket.

You can probably add some more to that list.  

 

And the thing is ...because the club is so secretive, we don't actually know who is responsible for anything?
 

The contempt the club held for those who travelled to Warsaw away 

[Ian S]

On 17/02/2025 at 14:29, Bluetintedspecs said:

Poor turnout, immature personal messaging , over 99% of matchday attendees had and wanted absolutely nothing to do with the childish debacle.

Embarrassing.

The egos behind it , the very noisy minority,  neither represent the vast majority of fans nor have their backing. 

 

 

 

So what are you doing about the sh**show that is our club?

Easy to sit on  your high horse and criticise others and do nothing whilst Rome burns.

 

[purpleronnie]

1 minute ago, Ian S said:

So what are you doing about the sh**show that is our club?

Easy to sit on  your high horse and criticise others and do nothing whilst Rome burns.

 

They don't care.

[lcfcgrayforeverafox]

Absolutely we're going nowhere fast 4ys ago we are in Europe look at us now unwanted contracts hand me downs and bad running of our fantastic club 

[CosbehFox]

5 hours ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

The contempt the club held for those who travelled to Warsaw away 

I am still walking to the ticket collection point 

[Lako42]

51 minutes ago, Ian S said:

So what are you doing about the sh**show that is our club?

Easy to sit on  your high horse and criticise others and do nothing whilst Rome burns.

 

Really really really getting behind the lads