Strategy

[davieG]

So what will it be?

With Mandaric calling for two consecutive promotions are we going to put together a team to get us out of this league e.g experienced yet ageing pros like Chris Lucketti -see Transfer Rumours forum and then, assuming it works rebuild again next year .

Or put together a team that will grow in this league but have less chance of immediate promotion yet will sit comfortably in the Championship.

I guess a combination of the two should be the aim with a blend of youth and experience say 26 - 30 years old. But I'm concerned that our young players have been restricted with their opportunities and would be virtual debutants and that the experienced pros Mandaric's money attracts are not that enthused based on recent experience

It will be interesting to see who is retained either by choice or because we can't get rid. I suspect, as with the last few seasons we'll be stuck with a nucleus of players contributing nothing whilst drawing on the resources of the club.

Anyway just a bit of a ramble to try to clear my head, I really could do with something to whet the old whistle and get me fired up with optimism, something a bit more substantial than changing the name of the South Stand.

[Matt]

I reckon despite Nigel Pearson liking to give youngsters a chance it'll be a case of Micky Adams' strategy - A new team every year. If it work's I couldn't give a flying fook, I liked MA and didn't think he should go, in recent ( suppose it's not so recent now) years he has been our best manager.

[Collymore]

When Holloway said "football is a simple game made complicated by idiots like me" he couldn't have been closer to the truth. Last season we didn't have on leader on the pitch or even in the dug out! If we can get a leader, and put together a team with two good wingers (already have potentially the best in the league with Gradel) and someone who can stick the ball in the back of the net, then there's no reason that this this season in the long run could be beneficial to the club.

If we had stayed up then we may have made 12th next season in the Championship at a push with all the deadwood. Now if we get promoted next season, I'm pretty sure we'll have a better chance of getting to the premiership if we had stayed up (big if though)

I also reckon we'll be in a better position next season (if we get promoted) to be more lethal in the transfer market, our wage bill will be down and hopefully we will have eradicated the mentality of "lets sign all the players that did well last season in the Championship if even if they're just after the money and don't give a flying fook about our club"

I really hope that Nigel uses this season to bring back that work ethic which was what made LCFC under MON, and any players in the future understand they'll be playing for the badge, not the pay packet.

[Father Ted]

When Holloway said "football is a simple game made complicated by idiots like me" he couldn't have been closer to the truth. Last season we didn't have on leader on the pitch or even in the dug out! If we can get a leader, and put together a team with two good wingers (already have potentially the best in the league with Gradel) and someone who can stick the ball in the back of the net, then there's no reason that this this season in the long run could be beneficial to the club.

If we had stayed up then we may have made 12th next season in the Championship at a push with all the deadwood. Now if we get promoted next season, I'm pretty sure we'll have a better chance of getting to the premiership if we had stayed up (big if though)

I also reckon we'll be in a better position next season (if we get promoted) to be more lethal in the transfer market, our wage bill will be down and hopefully we will have eradicated the mentality of "lets sign all the players that did well last season in the Championship if even if they're just after the money and don't give a flying fook about our club"

I really hope that Nigel uses this season to bring back that work ethic which was what made LCFC under MON, and any players in the future understand they'll be playing for the badge, not the pay packet.

I haven't seen you around for a long time

[Collymore]

I haven't seen you around for a long time

I post every now and then, get over it yeah!

[MikeyT]

So what will it be?

With Mandaric calling for two consecutive promotions are we going to put together a team to get us out of this league e.g experienced yet ageing pros like Chris Lucketti -see Transfer Rumours forum and then, assuming it works rebuild again next year .

Or put together a team that will grow in this league but have less chance of immediate promotion yet will sit comfortably in the Championship.

I guess a combination of the two should be the aim with a blend of youth and experience say 26 - 30 years old. But I'm concerned that our young players have been restricted with their opportunities and would be virtual debutants and that the experienced pros Mandaric's money attracts are not that enthused based on recent experience

It will be interesting to see who is retained either by choice or because we can't get rid. I suspect, as with the last few seasons we'll be stuck with a nucleus of players contributing nothing whilst drawing on the resources of the club.

Anyway just a bit of a ramble to try to clear my head, I really could do with something to whet the old whistle and get me fired up with optimism, something a bit more substantial than changing the name of the South Stand.

Maybe Mr. Hellings will get a look in this season!

Although was he not on loan to Luton? Or am i totally wrong! *scratches head*

[escape2victory]

Personally I wouldnt buy anyone over the age of 31/32. We need to sign players who can be here for a few seasons to come and build a team who can be potentially together for years to come and grow as a team. This will help build team spirit and they would fight for each other. Something which has been lacking for a number of years. The short term approach of signing players in their mid 30's Lucketti et al might work for 1 season but then we are back to square one again, and will have to try and get used to another player in a leicester shirt. Its difficult for fans to try and identify with the team when we change players every season. We need continuity. We need youth !

[DanTheFox07]

Maybe Mr. Hellings will get a look in this season!

Although was he not on loan to Luton? Or am i totally wrong! *scratches head*

Sergio hellings......get him in!

[Sparky]

Personally I wouldnt buy anyone over the age of 31/32. We need to sign players who can be here for a few seasons to come and build a team who can be potentially together for years to come and grow as a team. This will help build team spirit and they would fight for each other. Something which has been lacking for a number of years. The short term approach of signing players in their mid 30's Lucketti et al might work for 1 season but then we are back to square one again, and will have to try and get used to another player in a leicester shirt. Its difficult for fans to try and identify with the team when we change players every season. We need continuity. We need youth !

Yeah agree with that , main reason we aint got many songs is that no bugger stays here long enough

[Steven]

Maybe Mr. Hellings will get a look in this season!

Although was he not on loan to Luton? Or am i totally wrong! *scratches head*

He played in a reserve match for Luton on trial and scored two goals and looked very good apparently.

[Bryn]

I reckon for a club in our position it will be hard to form a strategy to be perfectly honest.... generally the transfer market is a sellers market these days, and I don't think it's really true that clubs around us feel a need to sell, I think many of them are in a position where they can fight off bids from Championship and higher clubs, let alone League One clubs. I wouldn't like the manager to be tied down to a philosophy, it's just a hindrance. I personally think we have to be quite opportunistic, just seeing what comes up. With a lot of players potentially going out, it could just be a case of snatching up whatever we can get. If a player like Lucketti is the best on the market we'll just have to go for that, even if it's just for a year. I think most of the kids from our academy will be pencilled in for a lot of game time at the moment.

[blue blood]

i would be pleasently surprised if we go up at the first attempt. that all. and if we gain double promotion.....well the australian natives have a better chance to take over the world!!

[MikeyT]

He played in a reserve match for Luton on trial and scored two goals and looked very good apparently.

Ha!

Sounds about right!

[Chairman of the Bored]

The word "strategy" is, indeed, one of my favourite words. It suggests a plan and some long term thinking. I'm not sure Mandy has the capability to do that or else he would have introduced one a long time ago (on and off the pitch). He smacks of a panic management type of guy. "Oh know, it's going wrong, had better change it."

Truth is he hasn't selected the right manager yet to let us see if a "strategy" has been lurking in the background. The same could be said with CEO's.

Let's hope Nigel is the man. Let's hope Loos is the man (that is his name, isn't it?)

Let's hope Mandy gives them time because you do need time to develop strategy and more importantly, implement it. This more often than not takes strength of character and the willingness to take a bit of stick along the way.

Anyhow, on the pitch we should build a team ethic using both youngsters and some older heads; work rate combined with a desire to play expansive football would be my pick. Overlapping full-backs, midefielders that can link play and score goals. Spain or Russia anyone?

But Nigel has already said he's more interested in winning than winning with style. So I think we'll slog it out and he'll bring in players that can do that. Therefore I really don't think next season is going to be pretty.

Although in our present predicament I would settle for winning over pretty.

However, we must build the core of a team that is capable of growing into a Championship outfit (if and when we go up - eek - let's hope so!!) so we need to have some quality in there somehow.

[Guest]

Yeah agree with that , main reason we aint got many songs is that no bugger stays here long enough

Wouldn't it be great to be able to go to a game and know what the team is going to be, barring injuries and suspension? Having players fighting to keep their place in the team? Having players fighting for those places?

Stupid stupid idealistic notions.....

[Sparky]

Wouldn't it be great to be able to go to a game and know what the team is going to be, barring injuries and suspension? Having players fighting to keep their place in the team? Having players fighting for those places?

Stupid stupid idealistic notions.....

Its true

[Jon the Hat]

I think you look to sign the best available players for each position that you can get. Obvious caveats being they have to fit into the hard work ethic Nigel wll no doubt bring. No space for big time charlies or people just looking for a last payday. 25 or 35 if you have the legs and the willing then as long as the ability is there who cares? Realistically we won't get the perfect age and the perfect experience and the best potential. 2 of 3 is enough in this league. If 4-5 of the side which takes us back up can perform well enough a year later to make the Championship playoffs it would be a surprise.

[maddog]

Buy experienced pros and players on 2 year contracts to get us out of League 1.

Sell/release them all at end of the season when we are promoted.

Then splash cash on young talent for promotion to the premiership.

Lets face it, we have fooking no chance of 2 promotions in a row, i'm not even that optimistic.

Id be happy with a playoff promotion this season then see how we go next season.

Hopefully the players will be playing with no pressure on them when we do get back to the Championship.

[knowitall]

He played in a reserve match for Luton on trial and scored two goals and looked very good apparently.

Then after that match Luton told him they did not want him. By all accounts he was man of the match. Dont know what Luton wanted. Wayne Rooney perhaps?

[iancognito]

Then after that match Luton told him they did not want him. By all accounts he was man of the match. Dont know what Luton wanted. Wayne Rooney perhaps?

By all accounts, Luton had a fu<ked up season, spent battling administration, relegation and players defaulting their wages etc. Signing a midfielder with no pedigree probably wasn't their priority.

I'd love to see a City team made up with 7 or 8 academy lads supporting three or four old heads. It won't happen because no matter which manager comes in, Mandaric will see to it that the team is filled with overpaid, underachieving journeymen. We have to hope - hope to hell - that one season it actually works and we get some success. Mandaric has no long term plan because as soon as we are on a more sound footing financially and football-wise, he'll get shot of us to the first Taiwanese businessman that comes along.

[Bryn]

I think you look to sign the best available players for each position that you can get. Obvious caveats being they have to fit into the hard work ethic Nigel wll no doubt bring. No space for big time charlies or people just looking for a last payday. 25 or 35 if you have the legs and the willing then as long as the ability is there who cares? Realistically we won't get the perfect age and the perfect experience and the best potential. 2 of 3 is enough in this league. If 4-5 of the side which takes us back up can perform well enough a year later to make the Championship playoffs it would be a surprise.

What he said.

[Tevez]

I'm not bothered, I support the Club and if I say we need 35 year olds to help the team you can't exactly do anything bout it either.

[Bert]

I'm not bothered, I support the Club and if I say we need 35 year olds to help the team you can't exactly do anything bout it either.

Oh yes we can.

We can moan because we think we're always right. We have no experience or badges like the people at our club, but no matter what happens, we have the final say, and we are always right.

Nice post, Tevez.

[teblin]

I get the feeling we may be going for a bit of both. Which it not a bad thing.

[MikeyT]

I get the feeling we may be going for a bit of both. Which it not a bad thing.

My sentiments exactly!