WE'LL STILL BE A BIG DRAW FOR NEW RECRUITS, SAY CITY

[davieG]

CITY NEWS

BY ANDY MANN

WWW.THEBLUEARMY.CO.UK

10:30 - 10 May 2008

Leicester City remains a hugely attractive club for potential players - despite relegation to League One.

That is the view of Paul Aldridge, chief executive at the Walkers Stadium.

City will almost certainly be rebuilding the squad over the close-season as they prepare for a first campaign in the third tier of English football.

And Aldridge is convinced that the club's supporters, stadium and heritage will continue to make it an attractive club for any summer targets.

Aldridge said: "I have been pleasantly surprised that the players I have spoken to see Leicester City as a big club and a big step forward.

"I think that players want to come to Leicester for the history, the support, the stadium and the heritage and I don't think that will change.

"I think we have a very good chance of getting the players who we target."

Speculation on City's transfer targets is bound to intensify over the coming days and weeks as they plan for an instant return to the Championship.

Aldridge declined to comment on any transfer budget, but said they would expect a better return on any investment than they received this season.

Aldridge said: "When it comes down to how much we do spend, I will have to sit down with the chairman and manager and plan the changes that are needed.

The chairman has demonstrated he will spend money in this division and I don't think anything will change.

"I think we will look to get better value for that money."

Former West Ham chief executive Aldridge said he remained convinced City can achieve their goal of Premier League football. However, he acknowledged the ambition to make the top flight has been delayed.

Aldridge said: "I came here with a view that this club can be in the Premier League. There is no God-given right to be there. You have to earn that right.

"It means the plans are at least a year delayed, if not longer.

"I want to be back in the Premier League and I see no reason why Leicester City can't achieve that and become a constant in there. It's a big enough club. It can be a Premier League club and I haven't changed my view on that."

[Father Ted]

CITY NEWS

BY ANDY MANN

WWW.THEBLUEARMY.CO.UK

10:30 - 10 May 2008

Leicester City remains a hugely attractive club for potential players - despite relegation to League One.

That is the view of Paul Aldridge, chief executive at the Walkers Stadium.

City will almost certainly be rebuilding the squad over the close-season as they prepare for a first campaign in the third tier of English football.

And Aldridge is convinced that the club's supporters, stadium and heritage will continue to make it an attractive club for any summer targets.

Aldridge said: "I have been pleasantly surprised that the players I have spoken to see Leicester City as a big club and a big step forward.

"I think that players want to come to Leicester for the history, the support, the stadium and the heritage and I don't think that will change.

"I think we have a very good chance of getting the players who we target."

Speculation on City's transfer targets is bound to intensify over the coming days and weeks as they plan for an instant return to the Championship.

Aldridge declined to comment on any transfer budget, but said they would expect a better return on any investment than they received this season.

Aldridge said: "When it comes down to how much we do spend, I will have to sit down with the chairman and manager and plan the changes that are needed.

The chairman has demonstrated he will spend money in this division and I don't think anything will change.

"I think we will look to get better value for that money."

Former West Ham chief executive Aldridge said he remained convinced City can achieve their goal of Premier League football. However, he acknowledged the ambition to make the top flight has been delayed.

Aldridge said: "I came here with a view that this club can be in the Premier League. There is no God-given right to be there. You have to earn that right.

"It means the plans are at least a year delayed, if not longer.

"I want to be back in the Premier League and I see no reason why Leicester City can't achieve that and become a constant in there. It's a big enough club. It can be a Premier League club and I haven't changed my view on that."

Before we were signing players like Howard and Oakley, Clemence and Bruno, etc. Would players of that calibre want to be playing League 1 football? No!

[davieG]

Before we were signing players like Howard and Oakley, Clemence and Bruno, etc. Would players of that calibre want to be playing League 1 football? No!

Calibre by reputation not by performance at least not for LCFC.

This is the key statement:

Aldridge declined to comment on any transfer budget, but said they would expect a better return on any investment than they received this season.

To achieve that you need the right manager, is that Ollie? Not based on last years recruitment.

Can or someone else he find more effective players this summer?

I don't know the answer and frankly my biggest concern is that MM doesn't seem to know either.

[Corky]

Before we were signing players like Howard and Oakley, Clemence and Bruno, etc. Would players of that calibre want to be playing League 1 football? No!

Well, what have those players done for us? I would rather have players with no reputation coming here, showing passion and the will to win above their pay packet. Up-and-coming League 1 players would be a better option in my opinion.

[General Smuts]

In his defence some of the better transfers this season have come from Ollie.

Worley, Bell, Oakley, Hendrie, Alnwick and Howard (debateable) were all Ollie signings.

Only really the hungarians and Ethuhu didn't perform. And Howard has not scored as he should.

[coale39]

In his defence some of the better transfers this season have come from Ollie.

Worley, Bell, Oakley, Hendrie, Alnwick and Howard (debateable) were all Ollie signings.

Only really the hungarians and Ethuhu didn't perform. And Howard has not scored as he should.

Yeah and the Hungarians were on loan so not much money lost there.

[General Smuts]

Yeah and the Hungarians were on loan so not much money lost there.

Come join us on the fence. Humpty Dumpty left his wall for this fence. He knows where its at.

Transfer wise i think hes done ok, and in his defence he had a bag of shite squad underperforming to work with. He did however only blossom that bag of shite into a League 1 bag of shite with a few specs of gold tucked away inside.

[Daggers]

I don't know the answer and frankly my biggest concern is that MM doesn't seem to know either.

The answer is to get a dynamic manager to lead a motivated and able squad.

This seems to be more a case of finding the best way to the answer - do you try to improve the squad or the manager first? Well, we've tried plenty of the later of late - and I think the most cost-effective might be to augment the former.

To be fair to MM he simply doesn't want to chuck good after bad - but none of us seem to know the best way forward. I wouldn't like to have to make his decisions over the next few weeks.

[Guest]

Leicester City remains a hugely attractive club for potential players - despite relegation to League One.

That is the view of Paul Aldridge, chief executive at the Walkers Stadium.

Players like Mascherano and Tevez, perchance?

[Corky]

where leicester ever a 'big draw' in the first place?

[davieG]

where leicester ever a 'big draw' in the first place?

In June 1968 Leicester City paid, what was then the British Record for a transfer fee £150,000 to Fulham for Allan Clarke.

This broke the previous record of £115,000 that Man Utd paid Torino for Denis Law in 1962

[The Reverend]

Yes, of course we will Paul.

[Thracian]

In his defence some of the better transfers this season have come from Ollie.

Worley, Bell, Oakley, Hendrie, Alnwick and Howard (debateable) were all Ollie signings.

Only really the hungarians and Ethuhu didn't perform. And Howard has not scored as he should.

Worley has played one average game and two reserve games where he was indifferent and poor respectively.

Bell I quite like. He's.has been the best of our poor assortment of wingers but sadly, unlike Gradel, doesn't look a goalscoring threat.

Oakley has continued to be selected on reputation alone. He's been a real disappointment and I cannot remember a game where he controlled the game.

Hendrie looked promising but soon got injured and ws therefore nowhere to be seen when we needed him.

Alnwick was okay, though no better than Henderson and, again, injury roobed us of the value he might have been.

Howard? Like a pogo stick with no spring. Really disappointing and failed to score or look especially dangerous on far too many occasions.

You might be right to call the "better" signings but none of them shone for any great length of time.

[Bryn]

Anyone else noticed that Aldridge has been the one calling the shots publicly lately? It may well be because Mandaric is away but it could also be a sign that Mandaric wants to take a back seat.

[Guest shearfox]

I don't see us having problems getting top league one players here, I just hope they want to play for the club this time rather than just turn up to collect their pay cheque.

[Bert]

WHAT'S WITH THE CAPITALS?

[Corky]

WHAT'S WITH THE CAPITALS?

NO IDEA

[Thracian]

Anyone else noticed that Aldridge has been the one calling the shots publicly lately? It may well be because Mandaric is away but it could also be a sign that Mandaric wants to take a back seat.

He could take an ejector seat for me!

[Corky]

He could take an ejector seat for me!

I think he's good for the club, but as an owner instead of a chairman. I would like Martin George as chairman, with Mandaric running the club. George always seemed to pick the right managers.

[davieG]

WHAT'S WITH THE CAPITALS?

That's how I copied it from the Merc.

[Cheese Me]

I don't want us to go out and sign a load of new players again.

It's years since I've been abel to really feel an affinity with the team there have been so many comings and goings.

We clearly have an excellent crop of youngsters. Ditch the dead wood, hold on to our good players (who are under contract so can't leave without the club's say so), play the youth and sign max one or two players to fill gap positions - and make sure they are bloody good, passionate and no older than 28 so they can be part of a core squad for years to come.

I will be monumentally p!ssed off if we go and sign a whole new team again!!!

[lookwhaticando]

I don't want us to go out and sign a load of new players again.

It's years since I've been abel to really feel an affinity with the team there have been so many comings and goings.

We clearly have an excellent crop of youngsters. Ditch the dead wood, hold on to our good players (who are under contract so can't leave without the club's say so), play the youth and sign max one or two players to fill gap positions - and make sure they are bloody good, passionate and no older than 28 so they can be part of a core squad for years to come.

I will be monumentally p!ssed off if we go and sign a whole new team again!!!

I do. I'm not convinced many of the current lot are up for the challenge.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I don't want us to go out and sign a load of new players again.

It's years since I've been abel to really feel an affinity with the team there have been so many comings and goings.

We clearly have an excellent crop of youngsters. Ditch the dead wood, hold on to our good players (who are under contract so can't leave without the club's say so), play the youth and sign max one or two players to fill gap positions - and make sure they are bloody good, passionate and no older than 28 so they can be part of a core squad for years to come.

I will be monumentally p!ssed off if we go and sign a whole new team again!!!

It'll be more departures than arrivals this summer.

[MikeyT]

Worley has played one average game and two reserve games where he was indifferent and poor respectively.

Bell I quite like. He's.has been the best of our poor assortment of wingers but sadly, unlike Gradel, doesn't look a goalscoring threat.

Oakley has continued to be selected on reputation alone. He's been a real disappointment and I cannot remember a game where he controlled the game.

Hendrie looked promising but soon got injured and ws therefore nowhere to be seen when we needed him.

Alnwick was okay, though no better than Henderson and, again, injury roobed us of the value he might have been.

Howard? Like a pogo stick with no spring. Really disappointing and failed to score or look especially dangerous on far too many occasions.

You might be right to call the "better" signings but none of them shone for any great length of time.

I think the only game he really impressed me in was his first game for us against Cov, along with Lackzo (sp?), where i think we all thought, we had found a coupe of real gems!

[clazkel]

I don't want us to go out and sign a load of new players again.

It's years since I've been abel to really feel an affinity with the team there have been so many comings and goings.

We clearly have an excellent crop of youngsters. Ditch the dead wood, hold on to our good players (who are under contract so can't leave without the club's say so), play the youth and sign max one or two players to fill gap positions - and make sure they are bloody good, passionate and no older than 28 so they can be part of a core squad for years to come.

I will be monumentally p!ssed off if we go and sign a whole new team again!!!

I totally agree with you. When we were relegated and went into administration most of our players went, and for afew years after, Leicetser didn't feel like Leicester to me anymore because the team had changed soo much. Now i feel like some of the players are starting to feel like Leicester again, such as Stearman, Mattock, McAuley, Kisnorbo, Weso, Hume and Fryatt. If these players go it will take ages to feel an affinity with the team again. We need to try and keep these players and i think the club will build up more passion and spirit which is what Leicester used to be known for