FAO Levein Bumlickers..

[MC Prussian]

I am usually very Levein-friendly and have had lots of patience. I was always on guard when people attacked him after disappointing performances. Today's game was just the final drop in the well.

What I ask myself is: How much longer does it take a manager to have it sorted out which players he wants to use for a starting eleven? The inconsistent performances are partially his own fault, as he lacks a clear vision. Luckily, we've got some promising youngsters in midfield with Hume and Smith who can pull one off, but that's about it. Everything else is a result of good luck, nothing else.

But I don't want to blame Craig Levein for all of this. It is certainly a combination of bad management, poor choices and poor players. The way McCarthy, Douglas and Tiatto have let down the team vs. Millwall is beyond belief. Last game, it was Sheehan's sending off that gave us the rest.

As somebody else has already said, we make the same mistakes over and over again. It's like "Groundhog's Day" where everything repeats itself. That's probably why people are so fed up with the team right now, because they don't see any visible improvement.

But then again, I am just an outside follower. Wonder what the actual spectators have seen on the day...

[Chrysalis]

Has anyone bum licked him on here?? I've certainly not seen it.

When has anyone made out he is untouchable?

When has anyone said any differently about results being bad?

What people have said is that changing a manager doesn't guarantee things getting better!!! Taylor, Bassett, Adams (to some extent) and Levein have all failed to reach your expectations. What makes you think the next person is going to?

You cannot keep chopping and changing managers and expect anything to improve. Like i've said before look at Forest, Wimbledon, Southamptonm Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry.... all prime example of teams changing managers every 12 months!!

IF you get rid of Levein and bring someone else in, how long are you going to give them??? What if in a years time we are only a few points better off. Will you start a campaign to get rid of them and give someone else a go?? That would mean more contracts to pay off for the manager and all his staff. You cannot keep doing it for ever!!!!

We could get someone else in and fly up the table, that's great. But if we don't what then?? At what point are we going to say, "right that's it. We are going to stick with them for the long haul!!"

It isnt hard to beat a 0.33 points average tho, be reasonable.

[Jordan]

If you had a pair of shoes that was really hurting your feet, would you keep them, thinking that they'd eventually get more comfortable? Would you console yourself that it's fine to wear uncomfotable shoes because there might be some worse ones out there, perhaps?

Or would you get a decent pair of shoes?

I think that's actually quite a good analogy.

That is a good analogy but it doesn't account for all of the wounds this club has taken over the last few years. LCFC's "feet" are going to hurt no matter how good their "shoes" are until they recover.

I think LCFC is really in the sh*t, in fact, I'm very worried about their financial situation. Their interest payments are going up every year and I highly doubt that they will turn an annual profit for any season in the Championship for at least the next decade.

It's a Catch-22 because LCFC can't afford to put all its eggs in one basket and bankroll a one-year shot at promotion. Likewise, sacking Levein would mean paying him compensation and they won't do that so as long as he's keeping the team afloat in the League.

Don't get me wrong--this club is now in a serious battle against relegation. If a club can't get more than two points in two games at home to the two worst teams in the league, they deserve to be in the 20-something range of the table. If the board feels that Levein isn't going to keep this team up, they'll have to sack him (buying out his contract would be far less costly than a season in League One).

Even my patience is wearing thin, but I still think the club has got to hold off for just a little bit more and see if Levein can improve this team in January. He's been talking like he's got ideas in mind when the window opens. He's got to get rid of that douchebag Tiatto, perhaps move Dublin, figure out a way to make an improvement over Sylla, maybe get another striker, bite the bullet and just start Sheehan so that he's got a regular LB and try to hold on to Joey unless the club gets a ridiculous offer. I think that's fairly close to the consensus here and CL should know that he can do better than how he's doing now.

These next three games are going to be very tough but they're going to have to get at least some home wins and away draws against decent competition if they hope to clim out of this mess. If they don't get at least a win and a draw in the next 3 (L @ Reading, W vs. Norwich, D @ Palace is reasonable) and Levein doesn't have a reasonable plan for improving the side, it's in the club's best interest to draw up a short-list of available managers that can keep this team away from the trap door.

[breadandcheese]

I called for Micky Adam's head last season because I saw no future for Leicester with him in charge. I say this to show that I am not one of these supporters who fears change because "who else can we get to replace our manager?"

However, I am still prepared to give Levein a chance with the January transfer window almost upon us. My reasoning is based on one factor alone. We have seen many negatives recently, but one that cannot be overlooked is the fighting quality of our current team. Granted, it doesn't seem like they have much bottle, yet in the past few games, we have had to fight from a goal down and we have bloody well fought.

For this reason, I do not think we will go down. No-one's head is dropping. Any players who heads drop, seem to be dropped (Sylla for example - completely left out).

For all the players you can buy or managers you can bring in, fighting spirit cannot be flicked like a switch.

Without a doubt, Levein has made mistakes, but as long as we have that never say die attitude, I will still give my backing to the manager.

It looks like we are going backwards in progression terms, however, we are only 2-3 players away from a good championship side. Maybe this is all blind hope but as long as the players heads aren't dropping, I am not worried.

[Jimmy]

I am usually very Levein-friendly and have had lots of patience. I was always on guard when people attacked him after disappointing performances. Today's game was just the final drop in the well.

What I ask myself is: How much longer does it take a manager to have it sorted out which players he wants to use for a starting eleven? The inconsistent performances are partially his own fault, as he lacks a clear vision. Luckily, we've got some promising youngsters in midfield with Hume and Smith who can pull one off, but that's about it. Everything else is a result of good luck, nothing else.

But I don't want to blame Craig Levein for all of this. It is certainly a combination of bad management, poor choices and poor players. The way McCarthy, Douglas and Tiatto have let down the team vs. Millwall is beyond belief. Last game, it was Sheehan's sending off that gave us the rest.

As somebody else has already said, we make the same mistakes over and over again. It's like "Groundhog's Day" where everything repeats itself. That's probably why people are so fed up with the team right now, because they don't see any visible improvement.

But then again, I am just an outside follower. Wonder what the actual spectators have seen on the day...

McCarthy???

he was our best defender and made 2 blokes in the last few minuets, the own goal was unlucky, but if he had any **** confidence in his keeper he wunt have slid in

[Guest]

I'm getting more than a little concerned, but don't see what the alternative is. We're not an attractive proposition, never have been, and I can't see anyone coming in who will turn things around.

[Chimp]

McCarthy???

he was our best defender and made 2 blokes in the last few minuets, the own goal was unlucky, but if he had any **** confidence in his keeper he wunt have slid in

Agreed. Rab should have hollered that it was his ball, there was no reason for McCarthy to slide in as Rab could have collected it with ease. That said, I don't think there's any point in blaming either player (or Johansson, he shouldn't be playing LB, poor bloke) for that goal, it was just one of those unlucky defensive cock-ups that happen to every team from time to time.

Also napalm, Rab didn't 'punch the ball into his own goal'. I got a very clear view of it from where I sit. He'd almost comfortably caught the ball just in front of the line when he was pushed into the goal by the group of players around him, no way was it a valid goal. The ref made the right decision.

As for CL being sacked? I don't see it happening, nor do I think it's the right solution to the current dilema. CL can certainly be questioned for playing Tiatto and Johansson on the left but is it entirely his fault if the team don't actually show up for the first half? Seems to me it was the bloody usual Boxing Day performance form City... tired, uninterested and uninspired.

God, I despair sometimes, I've tried to remain positive. I've been encouraged by a lot of things I've seen on and off the pitch but if this run of poor results continue I'm going to start to become disallusioned. The only thing I'm looking forward to right now is the signings to be made in January, I see this period as the 'make or break' time for CL. If the signings don't work out and we don't start climbing the table I don't think CL will be here start of next season.

[l444ry]

Absolutely right. So many changes have occured at the club that many of us feel that, after the purchases of the January window, some of the weak spots will be glassed over and that the team will look more like one that can challenge at the other end.

Trouble is, week by week, we drop points against teams who we ought to be despatching easily until we've reached the point now where nervousness will creep in and when some of the better players start feeling there's no point because we're out of promotion contention.

If there's no improvement after January then the very real question of Levein's future will arise and all the economic and staff upheaval that could raise. To me, as I have felt for a long time, Levein needs a tactician to asist him and he needs those specialist coaches I mentioned.

Look at today. Final ball invariably in the air but no aerial players to receive it again, again, how many times again. Smith must have made a 10-15 crosses and we managed not one header that I can recall as a result.

We were no threat from corners, AGAIN, we were punished through left-back, AGAIN, Rab was desperately uncertain and unconvincing for large parts of the game, AGAIN, Tiatto was a prat, AGAIN, and that is basically it... we make the SAME errors time and AGAIN.

Quite right Thracian. Can only differ, though, regaring hiring a Tactical Coach to assist Levein. Surely that's what the Club hired HIM for in the first place. And why, therefore, not go the whole hog and replace the Manager instead of trying to shore up the man who is self evidently respoonsible for this charade of a team. What is so bl**dy annoying is that the players ARE good enough but just underachieving.

[Sparky]

i see the point that some fans are making about not being able to afford to sack levien (eg , pay off etc) but can i make this point ,

can we afford to KEEP him ? we are losing supporters hand over foot and after this seasons dismal performances to date its quite beliveable to think that the average gate next season could be as low as 17,000 , and if we were to be relegated then even less .

the guy is tacticly inept .

LEVEIN OUT

[Lineker's Left Foot]

OK Rome wasn't built in a day and Levein should STILL be given more time.

Personally, I believe that the current 3 in the relegation spots at the mo' will be the ones to go down and we should keep looking to build. A top quality striker is a priority (possibly even Horsfield or Mellor at Liverpool) gets my vote on a loan basis. Levein is taking his time and I DO BELIEVE that he will EVENTUALLY be the man to take this club to the Premiership AND KEEP US THERE.

However, I still believe Douglas and Kisnorbo should be dropped and he needs to play a proper left-back in that position.

Up the City

[Hullfox]

OK Rome wasn't built in a day and Levein should STILL be given more time.

But the world was apparently created in 7. Are we asking for miracles here? I think not.

We've done nothing in a year other than change the shit that is served up week in week out. Younger shit still turns the stomach you know.

Any manager that thinks that Kisnorbo and Hammond are worth a start week in week out isn't quite on the ball in my opinion and if as so many say he can turn it round, then the man himself needs to change.

Sack him or keep him? Personally I'm getting to the stage where after 30 years I don't give a shit anymore.

[The People's Hero]

Ive always been amused by your theory James, that everyone who supports Levein is living up his bum crack. I support Levein (although wavering slightly after today) but have never 'bumlicked' him. Were you at the game today btw?

Sorry. I forgot that because I don't go to every game I'm not entitled to an opinion.

You may as well just ban everyone who doesn't attend every game!

[The People's Hero]

But the world was apparently created in 7. Are we asking for miracles here? I think not.

We've done nothing in a year other than change the shit that is served up week in week out. Younger shit still turns the stomach you know.

Any manager that thinks that Kisnorbo and Hammond are worth a start week in week out isn't quite on the ball in my opinion and if as so many say he can turn it round, then the man himself needs to change.

Sack him or keep him? Personally I'm getting to the stage where after 30 years I don't give a shit anymore.

And Levein probably has to take a lot of the rap for that.

It's not good enough and it's immaterial whether the is someone who is DEFINITELY better to take over... you're never going to get a definite like that. You have to take chances. Chances are something Levein SHOULD be running out of.. or in fact has run out of, in my opinion.

How many more points do we have to drop before he goes?

You can't compare him to MON for the simple reason that MON wasn't shit. Levein is.

MON took 13ish games. CL has had over a year and we're still shit.

fock off Levein.

[Leicester_Mad]

It's comments like this that frustrate me on here sometimes.

TPH, you make some good points and I often find myself agreeing with you when I read this board. What gets my goat (Libertine has brought it up previously) is that fans who don't necessarily want Levein out (at this point & for whatever reason) are not automatically 'bumlickers' or proclaim CL to be a messiah. That is simply not true and seldom have I seen CL supporters praising him to the levels which the CL out brigade would have you believe.

Exactly what i was thinking

[The People's Hero]

See my earlier posts in response to this.

[Chrysalis]

I wouldnt let levein have the transfer window and give it to the new manager instead so he can do his job and avoid relegation. Levein has had 2 transfer windows already so stop making that excuse.

I keep noticing the people who want levein to stay are disrespectful to crewe etc. and think we are too good to fall below them, well you are wrong. We are not too good.

[davieG]

I wouldnt let levein have the transfer window and give it to the new manager instead so he can do his job and avoid relegation. Levein has had 2 transfer windows already so stop making that excuse.

I keep noticing the people who want levein to stay are disrespectful to crewe etc. and think we are too good to fall below them, well you are wrong. We are not too good.

I would say that applies more to people who want Levein out, they're are they ones getting uptight about drawing with Crewe and Milllwall. Me I don't think it's any worse than losing/drawing to any other team it's the cause that's the problem not the symptoms.

[Babylon]

I would say that applies more to people who want Levein out, they're are they ones getting uptight about drawing with Crewe and Milllwall. Me I don't think it's any worse than losing/drawing to any other team it's the cause that's the problem not the symptoms.

EXACTLY!!!!

[The People's Hero]

Exactly what?

So it's all okay now?

Phew - for a minute there I thought we were shit!

[Babylon]

Exactly what?

So it's all okay now?

Phew - for a minute there I thought we were shit!

Jesus i'll spell it out....

Chrlsalis said this "I keep noticing the people who want levein to stay are disrespectful to crewe etc. and think we are too good to fall below them, well you are wrong. We are not too good."

Then DavieG said "it's the people who want Levein out who speak more like that" than the people who don't believe in sacking every 12 months.

[filbertway]

Exactly what?

So it's all okay now?

Phew - for a minute there I thought we were shit!

Yeh its all fine, you must have been dreaming

[The People's Hero]

Thank god for that!

[C-man]

If Levein leaves, we WILL get relegated

[Bert]

If Levein leaves, we WILL get relegated

Yeah i'm kinda in agreement there because the club will be in turmoil it'll take a while for a new managment team to be appointed then we'll probably be starting to play a different style football, other routines to what the players are used to will be brought in and things will all be upside down, with players possibly coming and going aswell, the on pitch perdormance will be badly affected.

[C-man]

Yeah i'm kinda in agreement there because the club will be in turmoil it'll take a while for a new managment team to be appointed then we'll probably be starting to play a different style football, other routines to what the players are used to will be brought in and things will all be upside down, with players possibly coming and going aswell, the on pitch perdormance will be badly affected.

Exactly berty boy

Now the rest of you... yoouuuuuuuuuuu shaaaaaaaaadddddddddapppppppppp