Biggest game since 2000?

[Fez of Mahrez]

I think so.

I don't think you can say it's bigger than League Cup Finals, FA Cup Finals and even Play-off Finals because it's those types of games that give meaning to games like Saturday. I think it's bigger than the Oxford game in 1991 though. The difference in finances between teams in those days wasn't a huge gulf such as the one that exists in the modern game. The idea of being two leagues away from the Premiership with no easy route out as Forest have shown is very worrying. It's not a one-off game but the idea of us having to go to Stoke needing a result is fairly terrifying. The Barnsley game was the biggest game since 1969 and this one now becomes even bigger than Barnsley. If we don't secure our Championship status on Saturday then the Stoke game becomes even bigger than both of them obviously (and I think everyone would agree that would be bigger than Oxford in '91 if it came to the last day).

I'm not as nervous as I was about the Barnsley game - even though I don't think there are many reasons we can be particularly confident going into Saturday. I think the relative lack of nerves is down to two things - 1) we're at home and the onus will be on our players to seize control of the game whereas we were always going to be under the cosh at Barnsley - and 2) we're not in the relegation zone at the moment.

I just hope the players aren't feeling similarly complacent thoughts. Wednesday will be aiming to do what we did to Barnsley and they have the pace and strength in their team to pose a huge physical challenge. One thing about our midfield is that they don't really have that physicality.

What are your thoughts at the moment about how big this game is? I still haven't got the same feeling in my stomach that I had before the Birmingham home game last season - or games at Forest, Chelsea and Barnsley this season. Maybe it will come later in the week. I can't wait for Saturday to arrive though.

---

Just as a footnote, we can write off the fact we beat them at their place - the team in that game was;

Fulop (gone)

Stearman (will play)

N'Gotty (bench)

McAuley (will play)

Kisnorbo (will play)

Sheehan (gone)

Newton (gone)

King (won't play Saturday)

Chambers (won't play Saturday)

Hume (will play)

Fryatt (won't play Saturday)

Off the bench;

Campbell (same role again on Saturday I would imagine)

Cort (gone)

Kenton (gone)

Not that any of us need it, but doesn't that just underline the instability about the club this season. Just 4 of those 14 players are likely to start on Saturday (all 4 of whom have been at the club for at least 18 months). No Ginger Mourinho on Saturday either. We're only talking just over six months ago.

[Joe.]

I'd have to agree, it's certainly as big as Barnsley, now it's obviously more important.

For me it's all about not losing, that's the main thing. We don't necessarily need the win, we just can't afford to lose. I'm far more relaxed about our situation after the Barnsley result but I have no real reason to be, this game is huge.

[Geo V]

My date keeping isn't so hot these days but its our biggest game for years as it could easily be a winner takes all encounter. I just hope the lads don't think they have cracked it thanks to last weekends win.

[Corky]

It is certainly our biggest match for a long time, and it's vital that we win. Anything else and we could be struggling on the last day. My nerves can't take that. Hopefully back-to-back wins will be achieved for the first time this season.

[Daggers]

Oh crap.

Russel Grant just telephoned to let me know that this thread will shortly degenerate into a debate about Sheehan.

[Corky]

Oh crap.

Russel Grant just telephoned to let me know that this thread will shortly degenerate into a debate about Sheehan.

I thought he'd be asking for a pie and chips.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Oh crap.

Russel Grant just telephoned to let me know that this thread will shortly Raj into a debate about Sheehan.

Interesting, I usually go for bold rather than underlining and put it between the second E and the H.

PS - This automatic thesaurus feature is brilliant.

[maddog]

This game is still big but not as big as it would have been if we lost at Barnsley.

This game is the most important, for me we didn't NEED to beat Colchester we just needed to beat Wednesday although then i expected us to lose at Barnsley.

The win at Barnsley means this game isn't as big as it would have been. We can afford to lose this game and still stay up now, but if we lost at Barnsley and lose Saturday we may have been relegated before Stoke match.

It's an important game which we can't afford to lose.

Although i would tip us to lose at Stoke, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton to win their last home games against Norwich and Sheffield United which would mean if we draw Saturday we will still go down.

Fook the top half of this post, we MUST beat Wednesday Saturday, we can't take the risk of having to get a draw at Stoke. And it is a HUGE game!

But wait if Norwich lose their last match we may finish above them. O Just forget it i cant be arsed

[Webbo]

I can't understand why everybody thinks that Sheff Weds are certainties to beat Norwich. Norwich are above them in the league and could well be playing for their own survival. I'll be satisfied with a point on Saturday.

[Bryn]

I'm fairly certain that one more point will do us.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I can't understand why everybody thinks that Sheff Weds are certainties to beat Norwich. Norwich are above them in the league and could well be playing for their own survival. I'll be satisfied with a point on Saturday.

That only really applies if Norwich draw on Saturday. If they win they are safe and if they lose then a point would see us safe.

(I think. )

[luffbra]

Undoubtedly our biggest game in terms of what's at stake since the Oxford United game ...

I was so tense listening to the Barnsley match, I'm not sure I'll cope with Saturday, but I'll be there in my normal seat being as positive as ever ...

Incidentally, I'm not sure why, but I think Russell Grant's a veggie!

[davieG]

Owl view

The upcoming match this weekend is one of the most important in the Owls recent history, but have the Foxes already made their mark?

Last weekend, football stattos might just have noticed a little touch of irony in the negative influences (for Owls fans at least) during the Blackpool loss. Leicester City doing the dirty on us early doors? Surely not.. it's just an odd co-incidence.

Blackpool manager Simon Grayson - let's see: Leicester City from March 1992 to June 1997, well over 100 matches for the Foxes (my god, he even turned out for us on loan on 2000 but let's ignore that for the moment).

The short stroppy Scottish forward everyone loves to hate, scorer and Tangerines chief protagonist at the weekend? Paul Dickov - Leicester City from Feb 2002 to June 2004, 80-odd games.

And.. I can hardly get the words out.. our very own Peter Gilbert, a Sturrock purchase, surely not the man we'd have picked as part of our first choice back four and in truth not many games for Leicester City, but he qualifies. What does that tell us? I'm not certain at this point: Gilbert wasn't there at the same time as Paul Dickov, which shouldn't excuse PG's lack of knowledge of the regular on-field behaviour of the tiny Jock whinger. I'm sure everyone knows Dickov's form.. it surprises me he's not permanently injured with stress fracture of the scowl. Peter, as an ex-Fox and a football player, you should know better. Walk away next time (if there is a next time).

At least another eleven Foxes to cope with at the weekend (Holloway doesn't count, he's a comedian).. I've had enough of them already. Backs to the wall, injuries left, right and centre, bottom three, but the time has come to hunt the Foxes down. Game on.

[Daggers]

Incidentally, I'm not sure why, but I think Russell Grant's a veggie!

I'd put money on the fact that he eats meat.

[luffbra]

I'd put money on the fact that he eats meat.

Maybe ... his temprament doesn't suggest an ardent carnivore to me ...

[Daggers]

Maybe ... his temprament doesn't suggest an ardent carnivore to me ...

I was using inuendo.

...something La Grant is a bit partial too as well.

Wahey! I just can't stop!

[tartanowl]

I can't understand why everybody thinks that Sheff Weds are certainties to beat Norwich. Norwich are above them in the league and could well be playing for their own survival. I'll be satisfied with a point on Saturday.

I know records don't count for much but we've won our last 5 games against Norwich. We've been a bit of a bogey side for them.

[Maybes]

I know records don't count for much but we've won our last 5 games against Norwich. We've been a bit of a bogey side for them.

Just like Barnsley's recent bogey team is Leicester. We always seem to beat them.

[luffbra]

I was using inuendo.

...something La Grant is a bit partial too as well.

Wahey! I just can't stop!

just keep slipping them in ...

(as Grant said to the local mechanic as he was fixing his gears ...)

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

That only really applies if Norwich draw on Saturday. If they win they are safe and if they lose then a point would see us safe.

(I think. )

If Norwich lose to QPR, and we take a point against Wednesday, we'll be mathematically safe, whoever wins between Norwich and Wednesday last game of the season.

[ozleicester]

I am actually more concerned by the mindset of "not needing to win", i can see this making us be a little to careful and hesitant and then dropping a stupid goal etc.

[The People's Hero]

Don't worry about it, we're gonna cunt all over Wednesday.

[Kilworthfox]

It's the biggest game since Saturday! Like every week

[The People's Hero]

Don't worry about it, we're gonna cunt all over Wednesday.

Erm.

I have spoken.

The above is true. Foxes Never Quit, Keep The Faith, We're in it Together and all the other phrases the marketing sh its have come up with to prise dollar from our pockets in the past.

[Kilworthfox]

Erm.

I have spoken.

The above is true. Foxes Never Quit, Keep The Faith, We're in it Together and all the other phrases the marketing sh its have come up with to prise dollar from our pockets in the past.