Pearson showing great ambition

[Dan]

Nigel Pearson calls on Leicester City to finish with a flourish

Manager Nigel Pearson is determined to finish the season in style and give Leicester City vital momentum for next season's Championship challenge.

Victory at Southend United on Saturday would send City back to the second tier as champions.

But Pearson, while pointing out promotion has still to be clinched, is determined to finish a record-breaking season with a flourish and win all three remaining games.

He says that will help City mount a serious challenge for a second successive promotion, emulating what Peterborough and MK Dons have done on the back of their elevation from League Two last season.

After the trip to Roots Hall, Pearson's men face S****horpe in their final home game of the campaign on Friday, April 24 with the season's closer at Crewe's Gresty Road ground on May 2.

Pearson said: "We are closer to it (promotion), but we are not there yet. Many may feel as if we are, but it is my responsibility to keep it going.

"Our aim is to win all three remaining games and give us momentum for next season, because you can see how important it can be.

"In our division, both Peterborough and MK Dons are going for a second successive promotion on the momentum of the season before, and we want to close out the matches as well as we possibly can.

"Promotion was always the priority and winning the title would be nice, but we haven't got either yet mathematically so whatever happens we want the nine points remaining."

Pearson is always cautious but cannot be blamed if he has half an eye on next season's Championship campaign.

City would have to lose their last three games and MK Dons would need to win all of their last four - and that would stretch credibility to breaking point.

Pearson has great confidence in his players to see the job through, something that the six-point haul over the Easter programme clearly justified.

The belief remains to deliver an all-important instant return to the Championship, and Pearson said: "Your best opportunity is in the first year, I think the statistics would show that. From a financial standpoint it is very difficult to generate enough cash effectively to maintain a challenge after that.

"There are a number of very big clubs in the Championship involved in a relegation fight and the implications are huge at every level of every club.

"So the first season is the best chance. Look at clubs such as Leeds, Forest and Sheffield Wednesday and it is not easy. It is very difficult because the expectation is there.

"Dealing with that expectation is possibly one of the hardest things, so for us to get into a situation we currently find ourselves in is great but, again, there are three games left."

Sorry if its already been posted, its probably another hint that we will spend in the summer. I know about a month ago I saw a thread saying how the credit crunch has benefited Leicester because we're hardly affected, whereas teams like Southampton and Charlton are.

[City Lad]

Nigel Pearson calls on Leicester City to finish with a flourish

Manager Nigel Pearson is determined to finish the season in style and give Leicester City vital momentum for next season's Championship challenge.

He says that will help City mount a serious challenge for a second successive promotion, emulating what Peterborough and MK Dons have done on the back of their elevation from League Two last season.

Sorry if its already been posted, its probably another hint that we will spend in the summer. I know about a month ago I saw a thread saying how the credit crunch has benefited Leicester because we're hardly affected, whereas teams like Southampton and Charlton are.

Milan wouldn't accept anything else. Just hope Nige is up to it. Personally I can't see it happening, it depends on who he buys in the summer.

[Edmund]

It's a big ask and I don't expect promotion next year but look at teams like Swansea who have shown you can have a good season on the back of a promotion.

A winning mentality will have an impact and I still believe that any team can beat any team in the championship.

Of course it depends on who comes down from the premiership as they have the advantage of parachute payments but pressure can work against them.

[Trav Le Bleu]

We can do it, but will have to spend several million, if not into double figures. On top of that I wouldn't expect it to be by anything excpet the play-offs. In fact I don't expect it at all - top ten would be nice, if we even flirt with a play-off place towards the end of next season it's gonna be great!

[Matt]

I'm not going to turn it down, and I wouldn't complain if we did it, but I think it would be a couple of seasons to early if i'm being honest.

Personally i'm looking at a mid-table next season (Season 1), then high mid-table to playoffs (Season 2), then playoffs (Season 3), then if we don't make it through the playoffs the season after that another crack at playoffs or a push for automatic. That is how I see we need to do it anyway i'm sure it won't go as smoothly as that plan and there will be twists and turns in the process but that is how I currently see it.

The way I see it is if we do go up next season great, but I feel it'll be a season too early, we'd get relegated from the Prem and the good work that has been done and started pushing on from this season may be demolished and undone.

[Finnegan]

We can do it, but will have to spend several million, if not into double figures. On top of that I wouldn't expect it to be by anything excpet the play-offs. In fact I don't expect it at all - top ten would be nice, if we even flirt with a play-off place towards the end of next season it's gonna be great!

Disagree with the money point.

You don't need millions to get out of the Championship and having that attitude is a recipe for failure.

You need to be well organized, well managed, well motivated and to buy sensibly. Swansea and Bristol in recent years came up and used the momentum of the promoted team to launch them up the league. They bought sensibly to compliment what they had but they didn't make wholesale changes.

The idiots that throw money carelessly at everything never really thrive.

[welck12]

I'm not going to turn it down, and I wouldn't complain if we did it, but I think it would be a couple of seasons to early if i'm being honest.

Personally i'm looking at a mid-table next season (Season 1), then high mid-table to playoffs (Season 2), then playoffs (Season 3), then if we don't make it through the playoffs the season after that another crack at playoffs or a push for automatic.

[Fox You Forest]

The idiots that throw money carelessly at everything never really thrive.

QPR being the most recent example.

I agree with Finners, being well organized and having a good team spirit and so on would be more beneficial than 7-10 million quid.

It's obvious we'll need 2 or 3 (maybe more) players, but if Walsh can find a few more with the quality Tunchev possesses for £800k then we'll be fine without spending a fortune.

[Guest]

It's good to be ambitious, and I like the thinking of going for successive promotions, and you never know, it might happen. Never underestimate the team mentality that Nige has got going on. A couple of additions to the squad and making a couple of current loanees and we could be on to something.

In reality you've only got to look at our last few years in the championship to know that anything above about 12th would be a good result.

[Finnegan]

The Premiership is in a world of it's own, it really is.

But in any other league I don't see the point of us taking part if we're not out to win it from the start. You go on a bad run and it becomes impossible then you start looking at the next possible target, you keep going into every game looking for a win.

You want to build that sort of winning mentality - that's what Martinez has done and it's working well enough for him.

As fans I'm not saying we should be delusional enough to think we'll be title chasers next year for sure but I don't think there's any point in the team turning up on the first day of the season if they're not aiming as high as they possibly can. The Championship's such a vastly open league there's really no need to not be looking to win every game.

[Libertine]

Top half and I'm ecstatic.

[Monk]

I don't think we'll be a pushover for any championship side, but I think we will struggle for promotion. The best hope we have is to maintain a good mid table place and make a late run at the playoff places. It's improbable but not impossible. It will be interesting to see which players we lose in the close season.

On the plus side, as stated we need to be organised and level headed, that is exactly what big nige represents.

I believe!

[Uncle Monty]

I suppose the true test of Milan's ambition will be who we buy in the summer.

[Dan]

QPR being the most recent example.

I agree with Finners, being well organized and having a good team spirit and so on would be more beneficial than 7-10 million quid.

It's obvious we'll need 2 or 3 (maybe more) players, but if Walsh can find a few more with the quality Tunchev possesses for £800k then we'll be fine without spending a fortune.

Tbh they hardly blew big money they just signed the Serie A reserve team on loan, and Rowan Vine.

Another promotion isn't unrealistic but its one hell of an ask, we need to go into next season as strongly as possible and get some proven Championship players like Andrew Surman, Darren Ambrose, Zheng Zhi and Simon Cox (but hes no real Championship experience)

[Legend_in_blue]

A similar thread was started just before the present season kicked off. The views in there were similar to what's being said here. And look where we are now.

Looking at the Championship, there's only 7 points separating the mid-table positions to the relegation spots.

I see no reason why we can't be comfortably top half next season.

[maddog]

Edworthy is fit then, or was and hasn't disappeared.

Says in Merc today he was going to play in Hereford and therefore probably Leeds too but hurt his back so Morrison stepped in.

[Thracian]

QPR being the most recent example.

I agree with Finners, being well organized and having a good team spirit and so on would be more beneficial than 7-10 million quid.

It's obvious we'll need 2 or 3 (maybe more) players, but if Walsh can find a few more with the quality Tunchev possesses for £800k then we'll be fine without spending a fortune.

I'd like to go on record as agreeing with Finners too. I've been impressed with Cityy's unity of spirit this season. there has been a consistency about the team selection and a resulting understanding among the players of what each other does.

There has been a good work ethic even when things go wrong and it is rare indeed to finish a season thinking everyone has played their part and given of their best even acknowledging limitations.

There have been mistakes and I don't doubt that Pearson knows that as well as anyone else. But at least now you get the feeling that efforts are made to put the problems right.

Various positions need strengthening or better cover, there needs to be more pace and better options from the bench but if Pearson and his staff continue to bring players to the club who show the attitude as well as the ability that this season's team has shown I am perfectly sure we can make a challenge.

In some ways if it frightening to go up too fast because so often it means an equally quick descent when the bubble bursts but there are manager's who can look far enough ahead as well as remaining focused on the present and there is no evidence yet that Pearson can't do that.

The bloke has good contacts in the game and his one big advantage now is that he's got and essence of a team already and doesn't need to start from scratch, assuming, of course, that he remains here as I hope is the case.

It's not quantity we need to sign but quality.

[Dan]

Edworthy is fit then, or was and hasn't disappeared.

Says in Merc today he was going to play in Hereford and therefore probably Leeds too but hurt his back so Morrison stepped in.

This supposed to be in the right back thread?

[Edmund]

The bloke has good contacts in the game and his one big advantage now is that he's got and essence of a team already and doesn't need to start from scratch, assuming, of course, that he remains here as I hope is the case.

[Daggers]

I'm sure this won't be the last thread on this issue: I expect midtable mediocrity and two rounds in each cup, anything else is a bonus.

I hope we make some decent signings, I hope we make three or four quality loans and I hope Pearson is given the entire season. He has earned the right on the back of this season and I'd like to see us starting to build for the future rather than employing managers on a knee-jerk basis and increasing the club debt.

[Salieri]

I'm sure this won't be the last thread on this issue: I expect midtable mediocrity and two rounds in each cup, anything else is a bonus.

I hope we make some decent signings, I hope we make three or four quality loans and I hope Pearson is given the entire season. He has earned the right on the back of this season and I'd like to see us starting to build for the future rather than employing managers on a knee-jerk basis and increasing the club debt.

Precisely. I think any of us realistic fans would settle for a season of mid table mediocrity next season! Some stability would be nice, i'm hoping the "3 year plan" is reset from next season. I'd like to think, given the time and backing, Nige could get us into the Prem within 3 years....

[Daggers]

Precisely. I think any of us realistic fans would settle for a season of mid table mediocrity next season! Some stability would be nice, i'm hoping the "3 year plan" is reset from next season. I'd like to think, given the time and backing, Nige could get us into the Prem within 3 years....

I go for a reset as of this season to be honest...although as I've said many times, I'm really not fussed about the Premiership.

[Salieri]

I go for a reset as of this season to be honest...although as I've said many times, I'm really not fussed about the Premiership.

If I thought we'd go up and "do a Derby" then, no thanks.!

If, however, we go up and recapture the spirit of the long gone O'Neill days and actually compete and give the "big boys" a scare, then bring it on. The gulf is getting wider and wider but Stoke and Hull have proved this season that it is possible to bridge the gap and give yourself a fighting chance. I'm sure the fans of both clubs have had no regrets on going up.

[gerrytaggart]

we will be a match or any team in the championship next season....both on the pitch and financially...I agree with big nige that the end of season momentum is important and could make all the difference between mid table and promotion....just hope that this time next year we are still playing for something (at the right end of the table)

[Dan]

I go for a reset as of this season to be honest...although as I've said many times, I'm really not fussed about the Premiership.

I was thinking earlier it would be nice to get to play the big teams and be a potential success again. But the amount of Saturday games at 3pm in the Premiership has become an absolute farce, it really just spoils the tradition and as long as we play good football in the Championship then i'm happy.