Michail Antonio.

[adam]

He was injury prone before he almost snapped his leg off last year. ridiculous signing and some more great work by the recruitment team. 

[reynard]

27 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

I know there are smart arses who will say things like, what else can we do with our striker situation etc. it’s a bit daft. As someone else has  said, his “prime” was a 10 goal a season striker. He is well past it. 
 

It’s a permanent signing. Whether that be short term or not, that is still money out the door. Just like Edouard and Carranza. It’s cost money to do things and money we don’t have. 
 

This sort of signing takes absolutely 0 scouting. Nothing. We’ve shown with James this year, there are loans out there potentially. With the short sums we do have, it’s disapointing this is what we have to offer from a department that has nothing to do for two windows. They were scouting Oliver Skipp in the window before that. 
 

Im very critical of Glover and his record but I’m now even questioning if he is making any recommendations. Our recruitment is so erratic. Young talent to development re: James, Fatawu, Bilal and Facundo. And then all of a sudden, a Ayew or an Antonio. Feels like we have a bi polar recruitment team. 
 

if it’s manager led, Cifeuntes should be told to do one if he thinks Antonio is fixing his one shot on target per game stat. 
 

it’s completely fine to be disappointed with this if it does come through. It’s another body yes but it’s very fair to assume that is all it will be. 

And then  the other side of the coin is that it might work out ok. I don't know how fit he is or whether he just won't be able to do anything but if the guy has put in the work on his recovery and wants to get back into the game then I'd say good for him. Pearson built a side based on players who had seen better days or failed at other clubs and it worked out pretty well. Maybe he could add some steel and determination to a side that clearly lacks both.

Depends what is on offer really but a short terms contract on lowish wages may just be worth it. January is a hard time to buy players, especially strikers, unless you have a lot of cash to spend which we clearly do not.

The other thing to consider is that we are not an especially attractive option right now. Uncertainty over the manager, uncertainty over any potential points deduction and little money to play with.

[Mickyblueeyes]

2 minutes ago, reynard said:

And then  the other side of the coin is that it might work out ok. I don't know how fit he is or whether he just won't be able to do anything but if the guy has put in the work on his recovery and wants to get back into the game then I'd say good for him. Pearson built a side based on players who had seen better days or failed at other clubs and it worked out pretty well. Maybe he could add some steel and determination to a side that clearly lacks both.

Depends what is on offer really but a short terms contract on lowish wages may just be worth it. January is a hard time to buy players, especially strikers, unless you have a lot of cash to spend which we clearly do not.

The other thing to consider is that we are not an especially attractive option right now. Uncertainty over the manager, uncertainty over any potential points deduction and little money to play with.

One thing about the Pearson experienced signings - more often than not they were there to add 5-10 games to squad, if that. Phillips, Edworthy, Taylor Fletcher even Marcin had players in front who were fairly well established. You’d get Nobby Solano who so good he made the rb position his and also because Robbie Nelson didn’t really work out but he was an exception not the norm. 
 

Our striker position is desperate. We have Ayew leading the line more often than not and Daka falling over when he is on. If we had a one decent forward, I could see this as a sensible signing. It’s not a team firing on any cylinders, void of confidence, style and, more often than not, application. For Antonio to be the spark needed, he will need to be Calvert Lewin good - I don’t think he has that anymore. He is going to be expected to chase games with Ayew being the front man. Again, not really his style. 
 

It’s a panic move. It shows up the club as being limited in another department. As always, will love to be proven wrong by them but I struggle to see how (as usual).

[SafewayFox]

5 minutes ago, reynard said:

And then  the other side of the coin is that it might work out ok. I don't know how fit he is or whether he just won't be able to do anything but if the guy has put in the work on his recovery and wants to get back into the game then I'd say good for him. Pearson built a side based on players who had seen better days or failed at other clubs and it worked out pretty well. Maybe he could add some steel and determination to a side that clearly lacks both.

Depends what is on offer really but a short terms contract on lowish wages may just be worth it. January is a hard time to buy players, especially strikers, unless you have a lot of cash to spend which we clearly do not.

The other thing to consider is that we are not an especially attractive option right now. Uncertainty over the manager, uncertainty over any potential points deduction and little money to play with.

Which is why this signing seems so unnecessary.

 

If we have such little money, getting a LB who can start ahead of Thomas seems more pressing.

 

We have a 17 year old prospect in Evans who has scored a decent number (again) in the u23’s, give him some minutes and see how he gets on.

 

The other issue is that Daka and Ayew both (hopefully) leave in the summer, Evans could save us money in the long run, but what do we do, add another striker with no long term future to the squad, horrendous planning.

[Dahnsouff]

3 minutes ago, SafewayFox said:

Which is why this signing seems so unnecessary.

 

If we have such little money, getting a LB who can start ahead of Thomas seems more pressing.

 

We have a 17 year old prospect in Evans who has scored a decent number (again) in the u23’s, give him some minutes and see how he gets on.

 

The other issue is that Daka and Ayew both (hopefully) leave in the summer, Evans could save us money in the long run, but what do we do, add another striker with no long term future to the squad, horrendous planning.

Would you rather Evans learnt from Ayew, Daka or Antonio?

[Globalfox]

Michael here’s the deal 500 a game when you play, 1000 a goal and you can sleep at Seagrave when you want to. Deal OK no oh well them goodbye.

[SafewayFox]

11 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

Would you rather Evans learnt from Ayew, Daka or Antonio?

But with Antonio joining, Evans won’t be doing any learning, as he’ll be even less involved with the first team.

Besides, let’s not pretend that Antonio is a prolific striker.

 

 

 

[filbertway]

This would be worse than the Carranza signing, hundo percent.

 

At least with Carranza there was an air of mystery, even though all evidence suggested he would be ineffective at this level.

 

Anonio is 36 and the majority of his game when he was in his prime was simply him being an absolute beast and a nightmare for defenders. There just doesn't seem to be any logical way that he'd have that physicality to his game. Which means we basically end up with 2x Jordan Ayew.

[nnfox]

1 hour ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

I know there are smart arses who will say things like, what else can we do with our striker situation etc. it’s a bit daft. As someone else has  said, his “prime” was a 10 goal a season striker. He is well past it. 
 

It’s a permanent signing. Whether that be short term or not, that is still money out the door. Just like Edouard and Carranza. It’s cost money to do things and money we don’t have. 
 

This sort of signing takes absolutely 0 scouting. Nothing. We’ve shown with James this year, there are loans out there potentially. With the short sums we do have, it’s disapointing this is what we have to offer from a department that has nothing to do for two windows. They were scouting Oliver Skipp in the window before that. 
 

Im very critical of Glover and his record but I’m now even questioning if he is making any recommendations. Our recruitment is so erratic. Young talent to development re: James, Fatawu, Bilal and Facundo. And then all of a sudden, a Ayew or an Antonio. Feels like we have a bi polar recruitment team. 
 

if it’s manager led, Cifeuntes should be told to do one if he thinks Antonio is fixing his one shot on target per game stat. 
 

it’s completely fine to be disappointed with this if it does come through. It’s another body yes but it’s very fair to assume that is all it will be. 

Where is the evidence of "the short sums we do have"?  What is our transfer budget this window?  Everything I see going on from the outside points very much there being no funds whatsoever.  I expect us to pay nothing at all this window, so strikers capable of digging us out of our current predicament will be slim pickings.

 

I don't think Antonio would be scoring every game by a long shot, but if the choice is Antonio or nobody, then I go with Antonio.  And he always seemed to score when Leicester were on the pitch, so it might not be a bad idea!

[OntarioFox]

Ugh, the more I mull it over the more this is an awful idea. Even if he's good, it's yet another year where we've wasted the chance to develop our in-house forward options like Evans.

I'm not saying Evans is the answer either - if that was the case, the likes of Silko, Nelson and Monga would have already propelled us up the table. But f*** me, we've got statistically one of the worst forward lines in the entire football league (even Cheltenham's strike force have now caught us up, lol). If we're not going to give the youth players a chance ahead of the worst forward line Leicester City have EVER HAD, and choose to gamble on a 36 year old whose legs were essentially put in a blender, what's the point? Sends a terrible message to kids coming through - this club is not your friend and it's never going to give you the chance to break through. You'll rot in the reserves and you'll be happy about it. If you're really lucky, you might get a move to a League Two club once you're already in your early twenties with zero first team experience. Really sells our supposedly world-class facilities - KDH was the exception to the rule, the vast majority of our recent graduates have either stuck on our fringes like a bad smell or been cast off to various lesser leagues. I'm sure Jake is absolutely delighted to have sat on the bench and been cockteased with the chance of breaking through only to have the club instead cast him aside in favour of an actual charity case for someone twice his age who has spent more time in a crushed car than on the football pitch in the last 18 months.

 

Then there's the angle of - if it does work out and he does turn out to be an improvement - which is almost guaranteed, the fella literally has to score four goals to catch up to our top scoring striker in Ayew - then it vindicates the board and our scouting setup in their own minds for "thinking outside the box" to find a solution. Part of me would honestly rather it be a disaster than for them to have any sort of false vindication and belief that they know what they're doing.

 

Just another one to add to the pile of reasons to despise Leicester City in 2026.

Edited 4 January by OntarioFox

[Mike Oxlong]

47 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

Would you rather Evans learnt from Ayew, Daka or Antonio?

Pass 

[Mickyblueeyes]

8 minutes ago, nnfox said:

Where is the evidence of "the short sums we do have"?  What is our transfer budget this window?  Everything I see going on from the outside points very much there being no funds whatsoever.  I expect us to pay nothing at all this window, so strikers capable of digging us out of our current predicament will be slim pickings.

 

I don't think Antonio would be scoring every game by a long shot, but if the choice is Antonio or nobody, then I go with Antonio.  And he always seemed to score when Leicester were on the pitch, so it might not be a bad idea!

He’s not going to play for free is he. We will pay something for him.

[moore_94]

I don't want us to sign him but if we are then fvcking get a move on - we are desperate for at least someone else to have a go upfront and it sounds like he has been training with us for a while anyway

[RedSoxUK]

Still think it's dumb dumb dumb dumb as **** that Glover/Rudkin have, and obviously still are filling us with "Strikers" that can't score goals who would all be out of contract by July.

 

Like, what the ****? This is exactly what I would do if was Head Scout /DoF for Nottingham Forest.

[moore_94]

Just now, RedSoxUK said:

Still think it's dumb dumb dumb dumb as **** that Glover/Rudkin have, and obviously still are filling us with "Strikers" that can't score goals who would all be out of contract by July.

 

Like, what the ****? This is exactly what I would do if was Head Scout /DoF for Nottingham Forest.

Going to be great fun in the summer when any budget we do have (hopefully after signing JJ) gets all spent on one position towards the end of the priority list rather than on a striker

 

Like we did last season with Skipp

[MPH]

2 hours ago, Collymore said:

Would make sense to give him a goal bonus incentive. £10k per week salary and £10k goal bonus? 

 

I’ve never been a fan of goal bonuses. It can make a striker very selfish and perhaps take a shot when a pass would be the better option.

 

 

 

having said that, there’s probably the majority of strikers in England get some kind of goal bonuses..

[Stadt]

Means we’d have 3 strikers with a deal expiring in the summer.

 

Put the wages towards a permanent signing that will be here for at least 2 years, we have to start thinking in seasons and not weeks.

[Clarkey123]

2 hours ago, Wasyls Pec Deck said:

We can only stretch to free agents, so yea lets sign one who’s 35 and hasn’t played football for a year because he broke both his legs in a car crash 🤣 

I’d of taken him with both legs broke at left back over Thomas at the minute 

[Unabomber]

Final nail in the coffin for Rudkin and KP if we sign this has been 

[orangecity23]

1 hour ago, Dahnsouff said:

Would you rather Evans learnt from Ayew, Daka or Antonio?

 

34 minutes ago, Mike Oxlong said:

Pass 

He won't learn "pass" from Ayew. Might pick up "take 20 touches and fall over" though. 

[murphy]

40 minutes ago, OntarioFox said:

Ugh, the more I mull it over the more this is an awful idea. Even if he's good, it's yet another year where we've wasted the chance to develop our in-house forward options like Evans.

I'm not saying Evans is the answer either - if that was the case, the likes of Silko, Nelson and Monga would have already propelled us up the table. But f*** me, we've got statistically one of the worst forward lines in the entire football league (even Cheltenham's strike force have now caught us up, lol). If we're not going to give the youth players a chance ahead of the worst forward line Leicester City have EVER HAD, and choose to gamble on a 36 year old whose legs were essentially put in a blender, what's the point? Sends a terrible message to kids coming through - this club is not your friend and it's never going to give you the chance to break through. You'll rot in the reserves and you'll be happy about it. If you're really lucky, you might get a move to a League Two club once you're already in your early twenties with zero first team experience. Really sells our supposedly world-class facilities - KDH was the exception to the rule, the vast majority of our recent graduates have either stuck on our fringes like a bad smell or been cast off to various lesser leagues. I'm sure Jake is absolutely delighted to have sat on the bench and been cockteased with the chance of breaking through only to have the club instead cast him aside in favour of an actual charity case for someone twice his age who has spent more time in a crushed car than on the football pitch in the last 18 months.

 

Then there's the angle of - if it does work out and he does turn out to be an improvement - which is almost guaranteed, the fella literally has to score four goals to catch up to our top scoring striker in Ayew - then it vindicates the board and our scouting setup in their own minds for "thinking outside the box" to find a solution. Part of me would honestly rather it be a disaster than for them to have any sort of false vindication and belief that they know what they're doing.

 

Just another one to add to the pile of reasons to despise Leicester City in 2026.

KDH is absolutely not the exception to the rule.  Didn't we have seven players on the pitch that had come through the academy against Derby.   

 

There are lots of reasons to rant at this club but this idea that keeps being pedalled that we don't give chances to youth is demonstrably not true. 

[Bert]

26 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

I’ve never been a fan of goal bonuses. It can make a striker very selfish and perhaps take a shot when a pass would be the better option.

 

 

 

having said that, there’s probably the majority of strikers in England get some kind of goal bonuses..

You can bet your life that every single striker will be on a goal bonus. Same as the keeper will be on a clean sheet bonus. 
 

Some may be per goal, some may be per 5, 10 etc. 

[FLAN]

6 minutes ago, Bert said:

You can bet your life that every single striker will be on a goal bonus. Same as the keeper will be on a clean sheet bonus. 
 

Some may be per goal, some may be per 5, 10 etc. 

poor Daka must be surviving on his basic 70k a week 

[ronnup]

6 minutes ago, Bert said:

You can bet your life that every single striker will be on a goal bonus. Same as the keeper will be on a clean sheet bonus. 
 

Some may be per goal, some may be per 5, 10 etc. 

 

Saved us some money then...

[Mike Oxlong]

I wonder if our strike force has negotiated an xG bonus as opposed to a goal bonus given that they rarely score. Maybe a few thousand each for every game that the team get an xG of 0.02 or above