Caution is destroying City

[Thracian]

My youngest son is aware of dangers, even respectful of them. But as far as I can gather he's afraid of nothing. Paragliding, ski-jumping, deep-sea diving, any fairground ride you can invent - he doesn't give a shit.

He says very little - just does it.

But our football club seems fatally attracted to people who cop out at any sign of danger. Whenever push comes to show they err on the side of caution. It's like they can't help it.

Craig Levein had Kisnorbo in midfielder and seriously attacked about three times in his whole managerial career at City.

Supposed supercoach Rob Kelly had a wall of defenders so thick it was a wonder the fans could get through the turnstiles on matchdays without being tackled.

Martin Allen came and went like a small explosion in the desert, Megson introduced his own version of defence so sound it made the legendary Roman defensive shields look like sieves by comparison - and then we got Holloway.

He had the drop on his predecessors cos he had some money to spend but it's been a Tale of Windy Hollow' cos he's so windy he hardly ever seriously contests away matches in an attacking sense and too often takes a "What We Have We Hold" attitude at home before too often failing to do the holding bit at all.

If Milan Mandaric is going to stay, and lord knows I didn't want him in the first place, then will he please take one small step forward for mankind and one giant leap for Leicester City by appointing a manager who is absolutely committed to scoring goals as a means of winning football matches.

It's a simple request.

I don't care what happens with Holloway. If MM likes the bloke then let him do something else. I don't care. I've got a spare spade and barrow if it helps.

He could write a book or something.

But it's Bravehearts we need leading our club not tactical Weakhearts. A man of vision - as I first suggested four seasons ago.

[filbertboy]

Dare I ask ...who do you think could be this braveheart ???

[sdb]

My youngest son is aware of dangers, even respectful of them. But as far as I can gather he's afraid of nothing. Paragliding, ski-jumping, deep-sea diving, any fairground ride you can invent - he doesn't give a shit.

He says very little - just does it.

But our football club seems fatally attracted to people who cop out at any sign of danger. Whenever push comes to show they err on the side of caution. It's like they can't help it.

Craig Levein had Kisnorbo in midfielder and seriously attacked about three times in his whole managerial career at City.

Supposed supercoach Rob Kelly had a wall of defenders so thick it was a wonder the fans could get through the turnstiles on matchdays without being tackled.

Martin Allen came and went like a small explosion in the desert, Megson introduced his own version of defence so sound it made the legendary Roman defensive shields look like sieves by comparison - and then we got Holloway.

He had the drop on his predecessors cos he had some money to spend but it's been a Tale of Windy Hollow' cos he's so windy he hardly ever seriously contests away matches in an attacking sense and too often takes a "What We Have We Hold" attitude at home before too often failing to do the holding bit at all.

If Milan Mandaric is going to stay, and lord knows I didn't want him in the first place, then will he please take one small step forward for mankind and one giant leap for Leicester City by appointing a manager who is absolutely committed to scoring goals as a means of winning football matches.

It's a simple request.

I don't care what happens with Holloway. If MM likes the bloke then let him do something else. I don't care. I've got a spare spade and barrow if it helps.

He could write a book or something.

But it's Bravehearts we need leading our club not tactical Weakhearts. A man of vision - as I first suggested four seasons ago.

you're just a cliche machine!

it's a simple request but i don't think the powers that be at leicester city are going to be listening to some random on an internet forum

[Corky]

How many sons have you got Thrac?

I agree that caution is destroying us, I feared yesterday we would sit back on our lead. I could sense Wednesday equalising. The ironic thing is the equaliser came from our attack breaking down.

[The Stig]

I'm not a fan of defensive football, but Megson was right to do it. He realised he had a poor poor squad, so he stabalised the ship and stopped us conceding. No one liked it at the time, but it got us points and relegation didn't look too much of a fear. I was one of the fans chanting Megson to Bolton. I was wrong, I really wish he had stayed.

But Holloway's tactics are awful, in that he plays 4-4-2, and doesn't really do one or the other. We see far too often desasterous didplays of defending which we never saw under Megson, but only on rare occasions do we see positive attacking flowing football, and even when we do, its promptly followed by a awful preformance. Holloway has done a terrible job. I was pleased with the appointement, I backed him and backed him up until a couple of weeks ago, but now having built a reasonably good squad, I beleive that he is not the right man for the job.

I'd like to see a manager who goes out and attacks. I'd like to see a group of players who wear their hearts on their sleeves. Howard, Clemence etc don't seem to do that. If we stay up I'll be over the moon, but if Holloway stays in a job I'll be worried. I can't see how he'll improve.

You'll also have noticed my Hollowayometer drop to a 1.5 from the two it was on last night. The simple reason being, I can't justify giving Holloway two out of ten giving the results we are getting with this squad. I consider myself a Holloway fan, but I feel we need to start again. A new manager with new players next year, and hopefully a new start for the club, no matter what league we're in.

[The Stig]

it's a simple request but i don't think the powers that be at leicester city are going to be listening to some random on an internet forum

To be fair I don't think Thrac ever expected them too. He's stating his opinion and an internet forum, not making a formal request to the club.

[STUHILL]

My youngest son is aware of dangers, even respectful of them. But as far as I can gather he's afraid of nothing. Paragliding, ski-jumping, deep-sea diving, any fairground ride you can invent - he doesn't give a shit.

He says very little - just does it.

But our football club seems fatally attracted to people who cop out at any sign of danger. Whenever push comes to show they err on the side of caution. It's like they can't help it.

Craig Levein had Kisnorbo in midfielder and seriously attacked about three times in his whole managerial career at City.

Supposed supercoach Rob Kelly had a wall of defenders so thick it was a wonder the fans could get through the turnstiles on matchdays without being tackled.

Martin Allen came and went like a small explosion in the desert, Megson introduced his own version of defence so sound it made the legendary Roman defensive shields look like sieves by comparison - and then we got Holloway.

He had the drop on his predecessors cos he had some money to spend but it's been a Tale of Windy Hollow' cos he's so windy he hardly ever seriously contests away matches in an attacking sense and too often takes a "What We Have We Hold" attitude at home before too often failing to do the holding bit at all.

If Milan Mandaric is going to stay, and lord knows I didn't want him in the first place, then will he please take one small step forward for mankind and one giant leap for Leicester City by appointing a manager who is absolutely committed to scoring goals as a means of winning football matches.

It's a simple request.

I don't care what happens with Holloway. If MM likes the bloke then let him do something else. I don't care. I've got a spare spade and barrow if it helps.

He could write a book or something.

But it's Bravehearts we need leading our club not tactical Weakhearts. A man of vision - as I first suggested four seasons ago.

I actually think the Attacking was part of our downfall yesterday, especially in the first half. Everyone seemed so desperate to score, we seemed to forget our defensive duties. Stearman's run although brilliant, cost us the equaliser because players didn't fill the gap he left. Bell although not as his best in attack, certainly didn't contribute in defence enough and so left Stearman a lot of work to do. I thought by us pushing so many forward in attack and set pieces, we were always vulnerable on the break and I thought Brian Laws spotted this and used it to his advantage in the 2nd half, making them always likely to hit us on the break. I think after going a goal up, we should have been a lot more patient, kept the ball and worked hard to keep hold of that lead. Maybe the occasion went to the players head a bit and they wanted to show more attacking ambitions, and certainly on another day with a bit more luck, we could have seen a Norwich like performance with 2-3 goals being scored quickly but yesterday we witnessed the negative side of an attacking approach, especially in the first half. We didnt defend well enough, I think attack comes from a strong defence and we just didnt have that yesterday.

[James.]

In my opinion caution is pretty far down the list of factors that have contributed to our current situation. Teams can win and have won trophies and championships with a cautious approach. There are far more serious issues at this club than the need to implement an attacking way of play. It's just naive to suggest otherwise. It's not black and white as much as Thracian wants it to be.

[Corky]

I'm not a fan of defensive football, but Megson was right to do it. He realised he had a poor poor squad, so he stabalised the ship and stopped us conceding. No one liked it at the time, but it got us points and relegation didn't look too much of a fear. I was one of the fans chanting Megson to Bolton. I was wrong, I really wish he had stayed.

But Holloway's tactics are awful, in that he plays 4-4-2, and doesn't really do one or the other. We see far too often desasterous didplays of defending which we never saw under Megson, but only on rare occasions do we see positive attacking flowing football, and even when we do, its promptly followed by a awful preformance. Holloway has done a terrible job. I was pleased with the appointement, I backed him and backed him up until a couple of weeks ago, but now having built a reasonably good squad, I beleive that he is not the right man for the job.

I'd like to see a manager who goes out and attacks. I'd like to see a group of players who wear their hearts on their sleeves. Howard, Clemence etc don't seem to do that. If we stay up I'll be over the moon, but if Holloway stays in a job I'll be worried. I can't see how he'll improve.

You'll also have noticed my Hollowayometer drop to a 1.5 from the two it was on last night. The simple reason being, I can't justify giving Holloway two out of ten giving the results we are getting with this squad. I consider myself a Holloway fan, but I feel we need to start again. A new manager with new players next year, and hopefully a new start for the club, no matter what league we're in.

We were never going to get anything else under Megson. He was awful, we played such negative football, going to S****horpe and playing for a draw. Disgraceful. I desperately wanted him to go, I could not put up with the football we played under him.

[angryfox]

I know this doesn't relate to what Thracian has just wrote but i wanted to express my anger at lastnight!!

I'm a 27 year old guy from Birstall and was out with a couple of pals over Loughborough lastnight. We'd had a few drinks and decided although i'm not getting any younger i could still show how it was done on the clubbing scene!!...So we went to a nightclub in Loughborough called Vice Versa. When i got in there i couldn't believe what i saw... Nearly all of the squad were out laughing and joking and looking like they didn't have a care in the world. The players in there were, Hume, Fryatt, Stearman, Hayles, A.Chambers, Mattock, Weslowski, Sappleton, King, to name a few! They were accompanied by some of the youth players and also Shush!.

I don't understand how they can be out on a night out a few hours after losing a massive game in the clubs history. Players like Stearman and Mattock say they love this club and there local lads but how can they when they lose what was a "must win" game yesterday. Hume had missed a penalty only earlier in the day but it looked the last thing on his mind lastnight. They were with women and didn't look like they cared if this club stays up or ends up in League One next season.

I don't know if they didn't go out in Leicester because they thought there would be trouble but i just wanted to let people know what some of your idols were up to lastnight why a lot of fans were feeling depressed and angry with the result.

Where is Holloways authority letting the squad go out after the position this club is in and the result yesterday?!

I'll just go back to my shift work on Monday and save up for another season ticket because I do love this club. I'll wake up at 5am for work tomorrow, these lot will probably be still laughing and joking about Saturday night instead of trying to rectify their awful performances which frankly are ruining this club.

Is it just me or am I right to feel aggrieved that players, I work hard to be able to afford, to go and watch and support week in and week out are out galivanting around despite turning in a performance like that yesterday. I personally think it is a disgrace.

[The Stig]

We were never going to get anything else under Megson. He was awful, we played such negative football, going to S****horpe and playing for a draw. Disgraceful. I desperately wanted him to go, I could not put up with the football we played under him.

We don't know if he'd have kept up that stlye of football. He did it to get us some points on the board. He did it. I don't know how successfull he'd have been, but I'm sure we wouldn't have gone down under him.

[Thracian]

How many sons have you got Thrac?

I agree that caution is destroying us, I feared yesterday we would sit back on our lead. I could sense Wednesday equalising. The ironic thing is the equaliser came from our attack breaking down.

Equalisers can always come from attacks breaking down just as they can come from gaps appearing in blanket defences.

But talking generally I've mentioned many times that we need more pace in our backline and for the reason you highlighted and that you need the team to move backwards and forwards together which also means the side needs pace throughout, which never seems to be the case.

Not that their equaliser was a particularly good example. We had enough defenders around to neuter that attack but two of them made errors. Defenders need to avoid committing themselves when they're the last man.

PS: Three sons.

[davieG]

I'm not a fan of defensive football, but Megson was right to do it. He realised he had a poor poor squad, so he stabalised the ship and stopped us conceding. No one liked it at the time, but it got us points and relegation didn't look too much of a fear. I was one of the fans chanting Megson to Bolton. I was wrong, I really wish he had stayed.

But Holloway's tactics are awful, in that he plays 4-4-2, and doesn't really do one or the other. We see far too often desasterous didplays of defending which we never saw under Megson, but only on rare occasions do we see positive attacking flowing football, and even when we do, its promptly followed by a awful preformance. Holloway has done a terrible job. I was pleased with the appointement, I backed him and backed him up until a couple of weeks ago, but now having built a reasonably good squad, I beleive that he is not the right man for the job.

I'd like to see a manager who goes out and attacks. I'd like to see a group of players who wear their hearts on their sleeves. Howard, Clemence etc don't seem to do that. If we stay up I'll be over the moon, but if Holloway stays in a job I'll be worried. I can't see how he'll improve.

You'll also have noticed my Hollowayometer drop to a 1.5 from the two it was on last night. The simple reason being, I can't justify giving Holloway two out of ten giving the results we are getting with this squad. I consider myself a Holloway fan, but I feel we need to start again. A new manager with new players next year, and hopefully a new start for the club, no matter what league we're in.

The number of goals we conceded with Megson in charge was no better than it was before he came or since, it's a myth that he tightened up our defence, played more defenders yes but the net result was not significantly different. Look up the records

Megson was here for 7 league games during which we conceded 5 goals + 2 more in a cup game over all we've played 45 league games and conceded 49 goals.

So this Megson gave us a tight defence is a myth, yes we had a tight defence during his time but we had a similar record before him and a similar one since he left and since we've played 38 league games without him can we please desist from giving him the credit because he doesn't deserve it.

His games were tight and boring, you might just as well blame him for our fantastic goals for record which was abysmal under him and has been ever since.

[Simi]

I know this doesn't relate to what Thracian has just wrote but i wanted to express my anger at lastnight!!

I'm a 27 year old guy from Birstall and was out with a couple of pals over Loughborough lastnight. We'd had a few drinks and decided although i'm not getting any younger i could still show how it was done on the clubbing scene!!...So we went to a nightclub in Loughborough called Vice Versa. When i got in there i couldn't believe what i saw... Nearly all of the squad were out laughing and joking and looking like they didn't have a care in the world. The players in there were, Hume, Fryatt, Stearman, Hayles, A.Chambers, Mattock, Weslowski, Sappleton, King, to name a few! They were accompanied by some of the youth players and also Shush!.

I don't understand how they can be out on a night out a few hours after losing a massive game in the clubs history. Players like Stearman and Mattock say they love this club and there local lads but how can they when they lose what was a "must win" game yesterday. Hume had missed a penalty only earlier in the day but it looked the last thing on his mind lastnight. They were with women and didn't look like they cared if this club stays up or ends up in League One next season.

I don't know if they didn't go out in Leicester because they thought there would be trouble but i just wanted to let people know what some of your idols were up to lastnight why a lot of fans were feeling depressed and angry with the result.

Where is Holloways authority letting the squad go out after the position this club is in and the result yesterday?!

I'll just go back to my shift work on Monday and save up for another season ticket because I do love this club. I'll wake up at 5am for work tomorrow, these lot will probably be still laughing and joking about Saturday night instead of trying to rectify their awful performances which frankly are ruining this club.

Is it just me or am I right to feel aggrieved that players, I work hard to be able to afford, to go and watch and support week in and week out are out galivanting around despite turning in a performance like that yesterday. I personally think it is a disgrace.

It's not on at all and just sums up the sad state this club is in at the moment.

I wish someone would of said something to them and see what they came back with.

[Thracian]

I actually think the Attacking was part of our downfall yesterday, especially in the first half. Everyone seemed so desperate to score, we seemed to forget our defensive duties. Stearman's run although brilliant, cost us the equaliser because players didn't fill the gap he left. Bell although not as his best in attack, certainly didn't contribute in defence enough and so left Stearman a lot of work to do. I thought by us pushing so many forward in attack and set pieces, we were always vulnerable on the break and I thought Brian Laws spotted this and used it to his advantage in the 2nd half, making them always likely to hit us on the break. I think after going a goal up, we should have been a lot more patient, kept the ball and worked hard to keep hold of that lead. Maybe the occasion went to the players head a bit and they wanted to show more attacking ambitions, and certainly on another day with a bit more luck, we could have seen a Norwich like performance with 2-3 goals being scored quickly but yesterday we witnessed the negative side of an attacking approach, especially in the first half. We didnt defend well enough, I think attack comes from a strong defence and we just didnt have that yesterday.

It's a good point but surely the idea of people covering the space left by others should be fundamental to professionals and something Holloway would be emphasising constantly.

I mentioned this in relation to Hayles. Times he played far too narrow and therefore cramped our options in possession instead of providing width when someone like Clapham had the ball.

It's one of the reasons I so like Beswick. He's aware of the need to cover space and has the engine to do so when necessary. Porter is the same and also Andy King when fully fit.

[mitchofox]

My youngest son is aware of dangers, even respectful of them. But as far as I can gather he's afraid of nothing. Paragliding, ski-jumping, deep-sea diving, any fairground ride you can invent - he doesn't give a shit.

He says very little - just does it.

But our football club seems fatally attracted to people who cop out at any sign of danger. Whenever push comes to show they err on the side of caution. It's like they can't help it.

Craig Levein had Kisnorbo in midfielder and seriously attacked about three times in his whole managerial career at City.

Supposed supercoach Rob Kelly had a wall of defenders so thick it was a wonder the fans could get through the turnstiles on matchdays without being tackled.

Martin Allen came and went like a small explosion in the desert, Megson introduced his own version of defence so sound it made the legendary Roman defensive shields look like sieves by comparison - and then we got Holloway.

He had the drop on his predecessors cos he had some money to spend but it's been a Tale of Windy Hollow' cos he's so windy he hardly ever seriously contests away matches in an attacking sense and too often takes a "What We Have We Hold" attitude at home before too often failing to do the holding bit at all.

If Milan Mandaric is going to stay, and lord knows I didn't want him in the first place, then will he please take one small step forward for mankind and one giant leap for Leicester City by appointing a manager who is absolutely committed to scoring goals as a means of winning football matches.

It's a simple request.

I don't care what happens with Holloway. If MM likes the bloke then let him do something else. I don't care. I've got a spare spade and barrow if it helps.

He could write a book or something.

But it's Bravehearts we need leading our club not tactical Weakhearts. A man of vision - as I first suggested four seasons ago.

well said

[The Stig]

The number of goals we conceded with Megson in charge was no better than it was before he came or since, it's a myth that he tightened up our defence, played more defenders yes but the net result was not significantly different. Look up the records

Megson was here for 7 league games during which we conceded 5 goals + 2 more in a cup game over all we've played 45 league games and conceded 49 goals.

So this Megson gave us a tight defence is a myth, yes we had a tight defence during his time but we had a similar record before him and a similar one since he left and since we've played 38 league games without him can we please desist from giving him the credit because he doesn't deserve it.

His games were tight and boring, you might just as well blame him for our fantastic goals for record which was abysmal under him and has been ever since.

You obviously knew the stats better than I, so fair enough I possibly gave him too much credit than her deserves. But, I still feel we were more stable under him and I don't beleive we'd be in this position. You also have to take in to account he was playing with Martin Allen;'s squad. Ollie is playing with a better squad that he has put together. In my opinion our record under Holloway should have shot up, simply because the squad is better. Not stayed the same like it currently has done.

[filbertway]

I knew this would be thracian's just by reading the title of the thread

[davieG]

I knew this would be thracian's just by reading the title of the thread

Well that's one thing that's not disppointed you this weekend

[davieG]

You obviously knew the stats better than I, so fair enough I possibly gave him too much credit than her deserves. But, I still feel we were more stable under him and I don't beleive we'd be in this position.

Only because I've posted it before, it's just a foible of mine that it annoys me that he gets the credit for us having a tight defence.

[The Stig]

Only because I've posted it before, it's just a foible of mine that it annoys me that he gets the credit for us having a tight defence.

You're right to be annoyed I was wrong in that respect.

[davieG]

You're right to be annoyed I was wrong in that respect.

Nothing personal it's easy to pick up on these things as fact when others keep repeating it. I'm sure i've done it with other aspects of our season.

[Thracian]

I know this doesn't relate to what Thracian has just wrote but i wanted to express my anger at lastnight!!

I'm a 27 year old guy from Birstall and was out with a couple of pals over Loughborough lastnight. We'd had a few drinks and decided although i'm not getting any younger i could still show how it was done on the clubbing scene!!...So we went to a nightclub in Loughborough called Vice Versa. When i got in there i couldn't believe what i saw... Nearly all of the squad were out laughing and joking and looking like they didn't have a care in the world. The players in there were, Hume, Fryatt, Stearman, Hayles, A.Chambers, Mattock, Weslowski, Sappleton, King, to name a few! They were accompanied by some of the youth players and also Shush!.

I don't understand how they can be out on a night out a few hours after losing a massive game in the clubs history. Players like Stearman and Mattock say they love this club and there local lads but how can they when they lose what was a "must win" game yesterday. Hume had missed a penalty only earlier in the day but it looked the last thing on his mind lastnight. They were with women and didn't look like they cared if this club stays up or ends up in League One next season.

I don't know if they didn't go out in Leicester because they thought there would be trouble but i just wanted to let people know what some of your idols were up to lastnight why a lot of fans were feeling depressed and angry with the result.

Where is Holloways authority letting the squad go out after the position this club is in and the result yesterday?!

I'll just go back to my shift work on Monday and save up for another season ticket because I do love this club. I'll wake up at 5am for work tomorrow, these lot will probably be still laughing and joking about Saturday night instead of trying to rectify their awful performances which frankly are ruining this club.

Is it just me or am I right to feel aggrieved that players, I work hard to be able to afford, to go and watch and support week in and week out are out galivanting around despite turning in a performance like that yesterday. I personally think it is a disgrace.

It was Saturday night, last home game of the season, I really don't believe that anyone could have been accused of not trying so what's the point of them staying in and being miserable?

I've had lots of bad days at work and been only too keen to swop the office for a pub and unwind a bit. Once the final whistle goes all that matters is training Monday morning and prepartion to do your best for the next game.

In fact it's been a therapy of both my wife and I for years. Whenever we've had a bad experience, felt down or really short of money we've gone out for a steak, a bottle of wine and determined to have a good time. In other words we put two fingers up to the setbacks and start again.

[The Stig]

Nothing personal it's easy to pick up on these things as fact when others keep repeating it. I'm sure i've done it with other aspects of our season.

I'd prefer you point it out than me continue to be wrong about something

[Thracian]

Re Filbertboy:

========

I am sure Mandaric has access to all the information on potential managers.

At various times I've mentioned the sort I like - Kevin Keegan, Paul Ince, Mike Newell - but I really don't know who would come.

Joe Royle was another who might have been available and capable of playing the sort of football I believe in.

For sure though I'd have done my homework by now and prepared my shortlist.