Predictions for the Allen era

[BartonFox]

With Martin Allen's arrival I predict the following.

a) Our teams will be properly fit.

b) No more than three or our current regulars will survive in the team for more than three months from the season's start.

c) The average age of the side will increase considerably.

Where's little Levi going

[The Reverend]

Hello to the new fellas!! (i thought it was good anyway).

Allen will bring a number of qualities to Leicester, such as passion and commitment - one of the many qualities we've lacked in recent seasons.

[surrifox]

he will sign 2 players from the lower leagues next week - 1 will go on to be an England international

[BartonFox]

he will sign 2 players from the lower leagues next week - 1 will go on to be an England international

A striker and midfielder from MK Dons perchance?

[Brainy]

I sure hope its not Clive Platt and Keith Andrews

[BartonFox]

I sure hope its not Clive Platt and Keith Andrews

I have heard Keith Andrews is a potential go-er as is Izale McLeod.

Lot of hot air coming out of MK at the minute but they'd be 2 starters, though so could be left back Dean Lewington.

[lildave3]

I have heard Keith Andrews is a potential go-er as is Izale McLeod.

Lot of hot air coming out of MK at the minute but they'd be 2 starters, though so could be left back Dean Lewington.

That's who I was expecting, especially seeing as Nisse has gone.

[Daggers]

I sure hope its not Clive Platt and Keith Andrews

I hope its not Martin Platt and Keith Harris

[Don't call me Mad Dog]

I have heard Keith Andrews is a potential go-er as is Izale McLeod.

Lot of hot air coming out of MK at the minute but they'd be 2 starters, though so could be left back Dean Lewington.

At MK Dons, we're expecting Izale to go to be honest (as we have for the last 18 months). Stuart Pearce came to the ground 3 times to watch him last season, but didn't bid. If it is Izale, then good luck to him. He is an Enigma - brilliant in flashes, and undoubtedly skilful, but a lazy sod at times with questionable focus, no tackling or heading ability. If Allen can set the team up to play on the deck and give him the service he needs, he will score at any level. Sometimes though, you just wonder where he is in his own head !

Andrews was useless when he joined - Accrington Stanley's midfield played him off the park at their ground. Over the last month though, he has looked more confident as captain, and passed much better.

You can't have Lewington Brilliant never-say-die attitude, good left foot. Is he quick enough for the Championship would be my only question.

[Thracian]

Where's little Levi going

I don't necessarily believe Kisnorbo will remain or survive. But Porter and Wesolowski would still fall into the "maybe" category.

From what has been said about MA's direct and forceful football I don't see the guy as a pass-and-move merchant and people like Porter and Wesolowski are that kind of player.

They belong in a football team not a team of barnstormers although they might adapt.

It is not that they aren't competitive and hardworking - they are - but I just don't see Weso as being the destructive hardcase Allen may well want and, seeing Porter's not really a winger, I don't see MA playing two small midfielders in what will, first and foremost, be a genuinely vigorous and competitive side by all accounts.

Allen is clearly a man to go his own way. If Weso and Porter stick in there and emerge as Johnny Giles/David Batty type pairing that would be absolutely brilliant. I'd like to believe they could do it. But they will have a sight more to compete with under Allen's regime than was ever the case previously.

And of course any new signings will have the advantage. Allen won't want to sign people and not play em.

I just hope the two - and Stearman as well - stay positive, take Allen's arrival as a challenge and force him to keep them in the reckoning.

PS: The above is not a criticism of Allen's approach either. There is more than one way to win football matches and more than one successful type of team. I'm happy with that but was never happy with managers who set the team up defensively or in a way which encouraged a draw and offered little chance of us scoring goals.

I would also add that my previous comments relating to our young players and their first team claims were made against a background of the players at the club at the time - not the squad as it will be under Martin Allen. Life just got tougher and it's only who dares who might still come through and win.

[lee7]

Was just trying to say that bigging him up at such a young age could leave us all feeling disapointed after all he's only played about 6 games

I'd have to agree that Stearman has been Pesh all of last season and the end of the season before and your right that probably is more to do with his social habits than the fans expectations

[lee7]

Team members swimming in the Soar.

[Leicfox]

How much have we got for transfers ? Barber seems to think its around 4m but not sure if that includes wages for the players too.

Id give Mcleod a swere at the potential asking price of around a possible 1-1.5m.

[Thracian]

And loaned out to Hinckley & District Council for gardening and street-cleaning experience.

[Bert]

I predict at least 2 players will be out due to arguments with MA.

[Simi]

How much have we got for transfers ? Barber seems to think its around 4m but not sure if that includes wages for the players too.

Id give Mcleod a swere at the potential asking price of around a possible 1-1.5m.

Not worth it if we have to pay that much.

[Joe.]

I reckon we'll have a fairly successful season next year, possibly finish around 10th.

I'm kind of expecting expecting him to raid MK Dons for a couple of players, most notably Izale McLeod and Dean Lewington, both players who have been linked with higher clubs before.

I'm not expecting him to shell out much either. He's never had money wherever he's been before so I should think he'll use what he has wisely.

[MKBarmyArmy]

I reckon we'll have a fairly successful season next year, possibly finish around 10th.

I'm kind of expecting expecting him to raid MK Dons for a couple of players, most notably Izale McLeod and Dean Lewington, both players who have been linked with higher clubs before.

I'm not expecting him to shell out much either. He's never had money wherever he's been before so I should think he'll use what he has wisely.

Seeing as you have money you can have Izale McLeod for 2.5 mil, I think that's fair

[Thracian]

At MK Dons, we're expecting Izale to go to be honest (as we have for the last 18 months). Stuart Pearce came to the ground 3 times to watch him last season, but didn't bid. If it is Izale, then good luck to him. He is an Enigma - brilliant in flashes, and undoubtedly skilful, but a lazy sod at times with questionable focus, no tackling or heading ability. If Allen can set the team up to play on the deck and give him the service he needs, he will score at any level. Sometimes though, you just wonder where he is in his own head !

Andrews was useless when he joined - Accrington Stanley's midfield played him off the park at their ground. Over the last month though, he has looked more confident as captain, and passed much better.

You can't have Lewington Brilliant never-say-die attitude, good left foot. Is he quick enough for the Championship would be my only question.

Can't say any of that sound especially promising.

Having never seen him play I can't quite weigh this Izale up. On the one hand he seems to score one goal every two games which would be music to any fans ears.

On the other hand you say he's lazy, can't head the ball, can't tackle and goes walkabout in his mind. Hardly the definition of a Martin Allen type - unless he makes exceptions to all his rules when it suits.

[Lillehamring]

Seeing as you have money you can have Izale McLeod for 2.5 mil, I think that's fair-ly ridiculous!

editted for the sake of reality.

[Jon the Hat]

But they will have a sight more to compete with under Allen's regime than was ever the case previously.

I would also add that my previous comments relating to our young players and their first team claims were made against a background of the players at the club at the time - not the squad as it will be under Martin Allen. Life just got tougher and it's only who dares who might still come through and win.

I agree, we will see what they are made of next season. I agree that the youngsters desrved a chance over some of the wasters we have seen in the shirt, some got it some didn't. Lets hope they still get a chance to see the first team if things are going better. You still have to bring your youngsters through when times are better or you can be left with sod all when it goes tits up.

[Ashley]

I'm going for 5/6th place next season

[Mort]

Why would we want to shell out a seven figure sum for a League Two player...?! no matter how good they might be, I mean Josh Low was in the League Two team of the season the other year that tells you pretty much all you need to know about the standard at that level... if we're going to shell out (and i think we'll bring in one or two players who will cost) we should be looking at proven quality, we've wasted money on lightweights from weak leagues before we shouldnt even consider repeating that again.

As for McLeod, from his record he strikes me as a player who found his level in the lower leagues and wouldnt hack the step back up to the championship... with the likes of Pedersen going on a free and the £1-2mil bracket giving you a shout at players like Eastwood... why should we get some mardy-bum from the lower leagues?

[l444ry]

I firmly predict that at the first couple of bad results a large proportion of the Martin Allen bandwagon jumpers will start to blame his-:

a) Lack of tactical knowledge.

b) One dimensional "hoofing" style.

All a load of ballocks but there you go.......as sure as night follows day this will happen.

[Daggers]

I don't care for predictions for the "Allen Era" - it is obvious that the bloke has a lack of tactical knowledge and his only approach to the game is a one dimensional "hoofing" style.

I wish to be the third person on FT to ask for his head on a platter.