The Clean Slate

[Freeman's Wharfer]

“It’s a clean slate for everybody”.

 

How many times do we hear this from a new manager? And, again, we hear it from Cifuentes today post-match about Faes.

When we’ve had the managerial turnover that we have, it’s a problem. I was sat there at half time wondering how we’d somehow turned out a starting XI with the likes of Vestergaard, Soumare, Justin, Skipp and Ayew who have all either contributed to our demise through poor performance, said/shown they wanted out or a combination of both.

 

We then see Daka, Winks and Faes stepping onto the pitch to whom the same applies. Meanwhile Alves, Nelson and others that haven’t had a crack at it are sat on the sidelines.

 

The truth is we’ve had a cancer in this squad for the last few years that has eaten away at the culture and success of the club. And it’s being given new life each time a new manager comes in and utters that phrase. 
 

The best we can hope for is that Cifuentes learns quickly about these guys, but it concerns me that any of them are being given a chance to play a part again. Where are our standards? And how can we expect any player who doesn’t take to Cifuentes to think anything other than “I’ll sit this out until the next new manager and clean slate comes round”?

 

[Blue-fox]

Ayew gets pelters on here but it’s only because he was a Steve Cooper signing. His value and contribution last season was about par for the course. I can’t see how you can put him in the same bracket as Daka/Soumare/Faes etc… 

[AndyLimpey]

Vestergaard gets stick because for some strange reason, people believe he played a key role in our relegation under Rodgers....Even though he didn't play a single league game that Season. He was key when we last got promotion, and was key again today, one of the few players who was constantly willing to get on the ball and try to make something happen.

 

Vestergaard, Faes, Winks and Ayew are all willing to get on the ball. I think it's pretty embarrassing to target these guys, rather than the likes of Skipp, Justin, Soumare, who are too scared to get on it and play backwards all the time.

 

Justin has been a liability in this side for years, far more so than Vestergaard or Faes. But I guess because he's quiet and a "Nice guy", he gets aware with being a really poor footballer who gets exposed far more often that the other two. 

[StanSP]

2 minutes ago, AndyLimpey said:

Vestergaard gets stick because for some strange reason, people believe he played a key role in our relegation under Rodgers....Even though he didn't play a single league game that Season. He was key when we last got promotion, and was key again today, one of the few players who was constantly willing to get on the ball and try to make something happen.

 

Vestergaard, Faes, Winks and Ayew are all willing to get on the ball. I think it's pretty embarrassing to target these guys, rather than the likes of Skipp, Justin, Soumare, who are too scared to get on it and play backwards all the time.

 

Justin has been a liability in this side for years, far more so than Vestergaard or Faes. But I guess because he's quiet and a "Nice guy", he gets aware with being a really poor footballer who gets exposed far more often that the other two. 

Have you forgotten all the Faes mistakes over the past few seasons? 

 

Justin did alright today so not sure how he's in the same breath as Soumare... 

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

The best we can hope for is that Cifuentes learns quickly about these guys, but it concerns me that any of them are being given a chance to play a part again. Where are our standards? And how can we expect any player who doesn’t take to Cifuentes to think anything other than “I’ll sit this out until the next new manager and clean slate comes round”?

I had the same thoughts but surely the best we can hope for is that Cifuentes can get a change of attitude and buy in from them something that the previous managers failed to do. As there seems to be so many of them perhaps the problem lies with the previous managers not be able to achieve that buy in. Although I'm not convinced this applies to Soumare who just seems naturally on another planet.

 

As people often say on here it's a job for the players and if they don't believe in the boss then they're not going to easily give 100% just like any other worker and for them it's not so easy to just hand in your notice.

[CPepFox]

Perhaps the problem lies higher up the ladder... looking at you, Rudkin!

[Jon the Hat]

I am happy to see a clean slate for everyone - as long as the manager nips and negativity in the bud immediately, and picks on contribution on the pitch.  If Vestergaard and Faes are our best defensive pairing (again) this season, then fine.

 

Until we have a few games under our belt he can only pick on what he sees in training, so lets give him 10 games at least to work it out before we criticise him for picking players we don't like hey?

[CosbehFox]

8 hours ago, AndyLimpey said:

Vestergaard gets stick because for some strange reason, people believe he played a key role in our relegation under Rodgers....Even though he didn't play a single league game that Season. He was key when we last got promotion, and was key again today, one of the few players who was constantly willing to get on the ball and try to make something happen.

 

Vestergaard, Faes, Winks and Ayew are all willing to get on the ball. I think it's pretty embarrassing to target these guys, rather than the likes of Skipp, Justin, Soumare, who are too scared to get on it and play backwards all the time.

 

Justin has been a liability in this side for years, far more so than Vestergaard or Faes. But I guess because he's quiet and a "Nice guy", he gets aware with being a really poor footballer who gets exposed far more often that the other two. 

Vestergaard gets stick because of his attitude. 
 

He rightly pissed off the hardcore when post covid 900 travelled to Warsaw and watched a performance by him of codswallop, then he refused to walk over the away support. His card was marked from that day forward. 
 

He went through a spell of turning down potential transfer deals whilst publicly moaning in the Danish press about not playing 

Edited 11 August 2025 by CosbehFox

[Craig]

From experience, Vestergaard is not the same as someone such as Faes in terms of attitude. 

 

He is one of the most friendly, polite, respectful players of ours I have met with my kid prior to a game, and again at Seagrave earlier this pre-season walking through a corridor. 

 

He's slow and that's an issue, but I don't particularly remember him doing much different to the others in Warsaw (even if he was shit).

[AndyLimpey]

16 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Vestergaard gets stick because of his attitude. 
 

He rightly pissed off the hardcore when post covid 900 travelled to Warsaw and watched a performance by him of codswallop, then he refused to walk over the away support. His card was marked from that forward. 
 

He went through a spell of turning down potential transfer deals whilst publicly moaning in the Danish press about not playing 

 

He then played a pivotal role in getting us promoted, and today showed that his "Attitude", his arrogance, is far more preferrable to the "Nice guy" Oliver Skipp. 

 

Skipp hid today, whilst Vestergaard, for his flaws, has the arrogance to get on the ball and grab the game by the scruff of its neck. 

[OntarioFox]

I think I echo what many others have said in saying - oh, to be a fly on the wall in these training sessions where Soumare is apparently so impressive that both players and managers have commented on it!

 

There's clean slates, then there's whatever that bloke is doing. He must have a body double doing the sessions while he sits on his arse eating haribo and watching Netflix until matchday. It's genius in a way - the biggest swindle since Ali Dia. It's been happening for four long years now, save for last time in the Championship when he didn't fancy it and sent the body double off on loan where he apparently excelled. He must have caught up on a lot of telly in 2023.

Edited 11 August 2025 by OntarioFox

[STUHILL]

To be fair to Cifuentes, he has likely been told to work with what he has in some cases. I don't blame him too much for trying to give everyone a chance to change course, but we as a tortured fanbase, know only too well about the chances afforded to players like Soumare, Daka and Skipp. 
Vesty and Faes I dislike strongly, but they have at least proven at this level with Maresca, that they can contribute to a dominant promotion. 

A big test and potential red flag moment for Marti now is, does he persist with Soumare and Skipp OR does he immediately recognise his error? 

In a perfect world, I would love to see movement in the coming weeks of Soumare and Skipp being loaned out and two CMs arriving. If Marti is behind a push like that, then I am all aboard his train. 

[Jon the Hat]

1 minute ago, STUHILL said:

To be fair to Cifuentes, he has likely been told to work with what he has in some cases. I don't blame him too much for trying to give everyone a chance to change course, but we as a tortured fanbase, know only too well about the chances afforded to players like Soumare, Daka and Skipp. 
Vesty and Faes I dislike strongly, but they have at least proven at this level with Maresca, that they can contribute to a dominant promotion. 

A big test and potential red flag moment for Marti now is, does he persist with Soumare and Skipp OR does he immediately recognise his error? 

In a perfect world, I would love to see movement in the coming weeks of Soumare and Skipp being loaned out and two CMs arriving. If Marti is behind a push like that, then I am all aboard his train. 

I am sure the club would like to loan Soumare, not so sure Skipp goes anywhere.

[OntarioFox]

10 minutes ago, STUHILL said:

To be fair to Cifuentes, he has likely been told to work with what he has in some cases. I don't blame him too much for trying to give everyone a chance to change course, but we as a tortured fanbase, know only too well about the chances afforded to players like Soumare, Daka and Skipp. 
Vesty and Faes I dislike strongly, but they have at least proven at this level with Maresca, that they can contribute to a dominant promotion. 

A big test and potential red flag moment for Marti now is, does he persist with Soumare and Skipp OR does he immediately recognise his error? 

In a perfect world, I would love to see movement in the coming weeks of Soumare and Skipp being loaned out and two CMs arriving. If Marti is behind a push like that, then I am all aboard his train. 

Earlier jokes aside, I think we're more likely to see Soumare stick in the squad than Skipp. They were both garbage, but Boob lasted the full 90 despite having a capable deputy in Hamza on the bench. Which is a red flag in itself. What's worrying is that the player who took Skipp's place (Winks) apparently wants out, which will leave us with zero creativity in an already pants midfield if he goes.

 

The dream scenario is that someone does come in on loan for Soumare again so we at least don't have to see him all season, we get someone (anyone, preferably Brownhill) in for reinforcements, and Winks stays. We're never getting shot of Skipp as his stock is far, far lower and the level he belongs at (honestly low League One / high League Two in my opinion) couldn't afford his probably astronomical wages and we'd end up paying them. I don't really want to see him in the side again, but he's probably going to settle into a cameo role off the bench where he'll do absolutely nothing of note.

Edited 11 August 2025 by OntarioFox

[nnfox]

I miss the days when fans used to just get behind the team.  For me, Cifuentes has been like a breath of fresh air and is going about his business in exactly the right way - concentrating on the football with purpose, clarity and confidence.

 

We've had a torrid time and a lot of the players have been poor, but how much has that been down to the ineptness of the past two managers?  Lord knows both managers got absolute pelters most of the season last year.

 

It is time that certain sections of the fanbase took it upon themselves to change their attitude.  We're not going to offload half of the squad and put faith in academy graduates.  These 'cancerous' players are going to be with us for at least a season or two.  I'm confident that Cifuentes will bring them through gradually - it's a long season!  Cifuentes has to work with what he's got and his job is made 10 times harder when fans boo substitutes onto the pitch and then boo him when he scores the winning goal. 

 

And folk on here think that other teams' fans are weird!

[Finnegan]

Cifuentes isn't the director of football. Cifuentes isn't the owner. Cifuentes isn't the head of recruitment. 

 

Cifuentes is the head coach, he's been given a fairly limited squad with some very obvious flaws. He's got to do the best he can with it, on and off the pitch.

 

What in the sweet, holy, **** are you expecting him to turn up and say? "Lol this Faes guy is shit get him in the reserves"?

 

What a ridiculous thing to moan about. 

 

[Pliskin]

I mean, what else have we got?

[smudgerfox]

The "clean slate" nailed our relegation when RvN brought in Ward to replace Hermansen. Its a very valid criticism because the role if the DoF is to provide continuity and to prevent different managers making the same mistakes. Once again the route to the first team for Nelson, Aluko, Joseph, Page.Alves and Evans is blocked by players who we already know are not Premier League standard and never will be. 

[foxinsocks]

Monga looked better than stephy. Time for Nelson Evans  and alves to get their chances

Edited 11 August 2025 by foxinsocks

[Fox92]

1 hour ago, Pliskin said:

I mean, what else have we got?

All the young players that people have been banging on about all summer?

[turkish14]

6 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Vestergaard gets stick because of his attitude. 
 

He rightly pissed off the hardcore when post covid 900 travelled to Warsaw and watched a performance by him of codswallop, then he refused to walk over the away support. His card was marked from that day forward. 
 

He went through a spell of turning down potential transfer deals whilst publicly moaning in the Danish press about not playing 

It’s sad that grown adults have to harbour ill will to others over past mistakes/errors/comments. 
 

Do we as a society not learn how to forgive and forget? 
 

players make mistakes, players say things at times that maybe heat of the moment or not well thought out.

 

should we hate them forever? 
 

 

[Stadt]

An average DoF would have shifted some of these pricks nevermind what a good one would do.

 

We sell about half the players we should do (for nearly half the fee) and they leave on frees.

 

This is a Rudkin problem and the fact he doesn’t bomb these players out is probably what pisses managers off as much as the lack of incomings.

[Dahnsouff]

10 hours ago, StanSP said:

Have you forgotten all the Faes mistakes over the past few seasons? 

 

Justin did alright today so not sure how he's in the same breath as Soumare... 

He was not alone @StanSP and the moment he does something helpful and gives it back, fans are losing their minds.

 

If we spend all our time booing, wtf do fans expect in that situation? He gave it back and I applaud him for it.

 

 You can never boo someone, you are booing everyone despite the intent.

 

 Changing our spots does not seem to be a strength of ours…..

[winteriscoming]

Without the clean slate Winks doesn’t come on yesterday and he changed the game. 
As did Faes with his goal. 
Rightly or wrongly a new manager is always going to give everyone within the squad a new opportunity to impress. 

[trooky]

11 hours ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

“It’s a clean slate for everybody”.

 

How many times do we hear this from a new manager? And, again, we hear it from Cifuentes today post-match about Faes.

When we’ve had the managerial turnover that we have, it’s a problem. I was sat there at half time wondering how we’d somehow turned out a starting XI with the likes of Vestergaard, Soumare, Justin, Skipp and Ayew who have all either contributed to our demise through poor performance, said/shown they wanted out or a combination of both.

 

We then see Daka, Winks and Faes stepping onto the pitch to whom the same applies. Meanwhile Alves, Nelson and others that haven’t had a crack at it are sat on the sidelines.

 

The truth is we’ve had a cancer in this squad for the last few years that has eaten away at the culture and success of the club. And it’s being given new life each time a new manager comes in and utters that phrase. 
 

The best we can hope for is that Cifuentes learns quickly about these guys, but it concerns me that any of them are being given a chance to play a part again. Where are our standards? And how can we expect any player who doesn’t take to Cifuentes to think anything other than “I’ll sit this out until the next new manager and clean slate comes round”?

 

Any new manager would be stupid not to start with the players that have already been promoted from this division before. 

 

I personally think Nelson and Monga will feature plenty this year, and Cif would like to transition more youth players if they're good enough over the course of the season and we're doing well. 

 

Faes has done nothing at this club to warrant the abuse he got yesterday and showed good character to score the winner, he's proven at this level, along with Vesty which is all we need this season. 

 

We need 4 centre backs, so It would be pointless having to replace Vesty and Faes this season with championship quality replacements on 3 year deals  when our long term aim is the premier league stability. 

 

We need need to move on from all this negativity, let the manager do his job and support Leicester to get out of this division. 

 

Edited 11 August 2025 by trooky