Ben Nelson

[SafewayFox]

55 minutes ago, murphy said:

Not if we don't play him we won't.  He will be off. 

That’s what I mean, play him or lose the lad!

 

We all know what Jannik and Wout’s ceiling are yet still getting game time.

[LCFCJohn]

46 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

Of course it doesn`t- this is not last season, he is not Nelson from last season, and we are not Oxford

The scenario is completely different. Why is this so hard to grasp for people, so much so they would rather cry conspiracy.

 

It seems it is assumed his is not good enough based on one poor 45 minutes actually.

 

He has proven at performing well at this level more recently than Faes and Vestergaard. Why do they get a constant pass for being ok in 2023/24 but we can’t positively judge Nelson on his performances in 2024/25?

 

And we are not Oxford. But each team plays the same other 23 over the season. Is it not more impressive at how good he was for Oxford given they were a weaker side in the league? They were much better when he was in the side. For me, it’s more impressive than Faes and Vestergaard being in a side that won the league but conceded quite a lot of goals and lost 11 games 2 years ago.

[honeybradger]

4 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Weird isn't it, how fans want us to play academy players to develop them for the future, but want results now.

 

When there are arguably better and definitely more experienced players in the team, why would you risk your own future (as a manager), to enhance someone else's? 

 

If we had a better team, then we could afford such luxury, but we don't.

This is hilarious in the context that Faes and Vestergaard have cost us points in the last 2 games and consequently Cifuentes's future as a manager here has been under scrutiny.

 

Faes and Vestergaard have never and will never secure the future of the manager they play for, only jeopardise it. Even Maresca was being questioned at the end of last championship season when Faes was having a brainfart every week and made us lose our 17 point lead.

[sm1]

If we're winning and our current CBs are playing well I can understand leaving Nelson out. But we've not won a game since August and both Vesty and Faes have been culpable in us conceding goals. Also with Ben in the team our FBs can play slightly higher up the pitch as he has the pace to get back and cover, something Vesty in particular can't do, and hence our FBs are playing very deep.

[SafewayFox]

Nelson was captain when played in pre-season, which clearly now means nothing but that’s not normal for a 4th choice CB surely?

[lcfc_forever]

3 hours ago, SafewayFox said:

Jannik has had moments this season both good and bad.

 

Preston his lack of mobility caused our downfall IMO.

 

Yet against I think Birmingham, he was making big and decisive challenges.

 

I think the Nelson in noise, is due to us all knowing that Jannik/Faes etc aren’t good enough for the PL yet in Nelson, we could have a first choice CB on our hands for the next 10 years.

You're running that risk playing Vestergaard in a high line. Under Enzo, we had the same issue but typically there was enough cover behind him, and Mads playing as a sweeper keeper mitigated it as well. So it's a calculated risk, as he gives more than any other player than Winks with line-breaking passes. 

 

I wonder whether the pressure of getting points on the board with the potential PSR punishment is leading to the selection of experienced players and quick fixes? Agree over the longer-term it's wrong-headed. 

[murphy]

1 hour ago, Dahnsouff said:

Of course it doesn`t- this is not last season, he is not Nelson from last season, and we are not Oxford

The scenario is completely different. Why is this so hard to grasp for people, so much so they would rather cry conspiracy.

 

That makes no sense.  If a player has shown he can compete at a level last season, why would you doubt he could do it the following season?  The football industry might as well scrap their recruitment and data analyst teams then.  Apparently it is pointless.

 

Nobody's saying conspiracy.  Well I'm not anyway.  MC has apparently chosen experience over developing talent which is a mistake imo.

 

[leicesterlad1989]

1 hour ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Weird isn't it, how fans want us to play academy players to develop them for the future, but want results now.

 

When there are arguably better and definitely more experienced players in the team, why would you risk your own future (as a manager), to enhance someone else's? 

 

If we had a better team, then we could afford such luxury, but we don't.

Ben Nelson isn't someone fresh out of the academy. He's got football league experience at this level, both with us and Oxford. Besides a shaky first half in the cup this season, he's not looked out of place playing at this level. 

I can't speak for everyone but I am sick to death of Faes and Vestagaard. I can just about stomach one of them and that would be Vestagaard as at least you know what you get with him. Faes is ****ing useless in every aspect of defending. 

 

Nelson is not a gamble. Continuously selecting The Chuckle Brothers will be.  

[murphy]

1 hour ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Weird isn't it, how fans want us to play academy players to develop them for the future, but want results now.

 

When there are arguably better and definitely more experienced players in the team, why would you risk your own future (as a manager), to enhance someone else's? 

 

If we had a better team, then we could afford such luxury, but we don't.

I would say that we don't have the luxury of not playing these kids.  

 

We are in a very fortunate position insomuch as we have a generational crop of youth talent.  If we don't play them we risk losing them..

[Dahnsouff]

2 minutes ago, murphy said:

That makes no sense.  If a player has shown he can compete at a level last season, why would you doubt he could do it the following season?  The football industry might as well scrap their recruitment and data analyst teams then.  Apparently it is pointless.

 

Nobody's saying conspiracy.  Well I'm not anyway.  MC has apparently chosen experience over developing talent which is a mistake imo.

 

We know all too well that form is a thing, or formation, team mates, etc, etc, etc....can all have an affect.

 

Bit of an overreaction! Analysis is not useless  It just consists of a little more than "Well he was good once, so...."

 

And despite how it sounds, I fully believe he will make it here, but just not at in a timeline of fan choosing.

[filbertway]

He must be injured right? Fairly sure he's not played in the U21s for a while either?

 

Odd that it's just not mentioned in media or by the manager unless i've missed something.

[Fox92]

13 minutes ago, leicesterlad1989 said:

Ben Nelson isn't someone fresh out of the academy. He's got football league experience at this level, both with us and Oxford. Besides a shaky first half in the cup this season, he's not looked out of place playing at this level. 

I can't speak for everyone but I am sick to death of Faes and Vestagaard. I can just about stomach one of them and that would be Vestagaard as at least you know what you get with him. Faes is ****ing useless in every aspect of defending. 

 

Nelson is not a gamble. Continuously selecting The Chuckle Brothers will be.  

Incorrect. The statement is for everyone. Say it louder. I can't believe I'm watching yet another season with those two clowns as our centre backs. 

[murphy]

12 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

We know all too well that form is a thing, or formation, team mates, etc, etc, etc....can all have an affect.

 

Bit of an overreaction! Analysis is not useless  It just consists of a little more than "Well he was good once, so...."

 

And despite how it sounds, I fully believe he will make it here, but just not at in a timeline of fan choosing.

Dismissing how well he played last year as meaningless is just bizarre.

 

I wish I could share your confidence.  I think he will definitely make it, but if we don't play him, it will be elsewhere.

[Dahnsouff]

1 minute ago, murphy said:

Dismissing how well he played last year as meaningless is just bizarre.

 

I wish I could share your confidence.  I think he will definitely make it, but if we don't play him, it will be elsewhere.

I did not say meaningless, I said it is now in a different environment, and with different pressures and expectations.

I believe he will make it here as being an optimistic idiot is my resting position.

 

[lcfc67]

I can only think that there are other reasons (behaviour, attitude ?) why Ben isn't making an appearance in the team. Rave reviews last year at Oxford, apart from Huddersfield has really impressed when making the odd appearance for LCFC. When you have calamity Faes/Vesty making error after error and Okoli apparently unable to spot his fellow team-mates when attempting to pass, there surely must be another reason not to play him ?

[murphy]

1 hour ago, Dahnsouff said:

I did not say meaningless, I said it is now in a different environment, and with different pressures and expectations.

I believe he will make it here as being an optimistic idiot is my resting position.

 

Come on.  If you didn't use that word it was heavily implied.  You couldn't really have been more dismissive.

[Noahfence]

He’s going to score an own goal when he does eventually get another start isn’t he  

[Wolfox]

On 27/09/2025 at 22:28, murphy said:

‘I’d love to keep him here but he will probably be in Leicesters first team next season’ ‘If he isn’t then he’ll be in the premier league. He’s outstanding he has a bright future’

Gary Rowett.  Oxford manager.

 

 

He’s a bit naff… Had a horrible half in a cup game 

Sack him off’

 Ben.  Gobshite.

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, Dahnsouff said:

I did not say meaningless, I said it is now in a different environment, and with different pressures and expectations.

I believe he will make it here as being an optimistic idiot is my resting position.

 

You owe me.

 

I think I took some of the flack off you

 

[Dahnsouff]

19 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

You owe me.

 

I think I took some of the flack off you

 

Skin like a rhino, but appreciate the cover  

[Fox on the Rox]

5 hours ago, lcfc67 said:

I can only think that there are other reasons (behaviour, attitude ?) why Ben isn't making an appearance in the team. Rave reviews last year at Oxford, apart from Huddersfield has really impressed when making the odd appearance for LCFC. When you have calamity Faes/Vesty making error after error and Okoli apparently unable to spot his fellow team-mates when attempting to pass, there surely must be another reason not to play him ?

Managers can just be wrong, simple as that. They're only human. Doesn't mean there's a good reason for seemingly bizarre decisions.

[BKLFox]

Isn’t he 1 of the few young lads in the 7 man brain trust, he must be well thought of and I’m sure he will get his chance & then take it.

[Dahnsouff]

4 hours ago, murphy said:

Come on.  If you didn't use that word it was heavily implied.  You couldn't really have been more dismissive.

Not dismissive, would like to think I am considering why he may not be playing, rather than assuming a negative.

 

Perhaps my under praise is in direct proportion to the amount of over praise on show in here? (It is utterly impossible to say that is not the case)

 

Let’s be clear, of course I want him to do well here and I think he will eventually, and lets hope his involvement increases this season.

[Fox on the Rox]

Us not playing him has lost him his place in the England set up he's been part of since u17 (Scotland at u16). I'm not sure there's any coming back from that tbh even if we play him later on. He's surely gonna want to be out of here come January. 

[Dahnsouff]

Looking at when he made his debut, when he went on loan, etc. It seems he is very much in the Leicester model in terms of timeline, pretty much similar to Chilwell until his injury.

I do get the argument about peer’s being of more questionable quality mind.