Some perspective from Fez

[davieG]

From the Merc: http://www.thebluearmy.co.uk/home

Leicester City Stand Point by David Bevan: So much to be proud of

It made me proud to be a Leicester City fan that our club was one of few that managed to stage a game of football over the weekend.

Despite the fixture being broadcast live on Sky television in very wintry weather, a decent crowd turned up for an extremely competitive game.

With City having now completed half of their scheduled games this season, it is an obvious time to take stock.

We are quite clearly ahead of schedule in Nigel Pearson's grand plan and expectations have risen as a result.

Roy Keane's rejuvenated Ipswich were quick to exploit the obvious weakness in the current side, namely a lack of pace in the full-back positions, but Pearson has moulded a team that is not accustomed to defeat.

TIN.adverts.adWriteDC('article-detail-impact-tile', '452x118'); This was a game that we would have lost two years ago. The challenge now for Pearson and City is to make the most of the potential within the club.

In the likes of Weale, Hobbs, Morrison, King and Fryatt, we have a spine of players who could make a name for themselves as truly synonymous with a successful Leicester City Football Club.

I still do not see a top-six finish this season as crucially important in the grand scheme of things, because the assembly of a team that can compete at the top level is still at an early stage.

As long as the circling vultures of lower-half Premier League clubs fail to spoil such a promising time for City supporters, this decade could begin on a high note.

In the short term, the remainder of January looks tricky with league trips to Swansea, Doncaster and Barnsley followed by a tasty home encounter with leaders Newcastle.

City's two most impressive defensive performers this season were both missing from the side that faced Ipswich. Bruno Berner was still suffering from a calf injury and Jack Hobbs was on the bench to accommodate Wayne Brown's return.

The back four coped well with their absence, Michael Morrison in particular putting in another performance befitting a fine Championship centre-back. It would be easy to criticise the failure to secure a home win against an Ipswich team that remain towards the foot of the table but the visitors put in a creditable display that gives their fans hope for the second half of the season.

Much as the point secured at Portman Road in August soon looked meagre given Ipswich's subsequent struggles, we could be looking back on this draw as a fine result in the near future.

David Bevan is a City fan and contributor to the websites FoxesTalk and Vital Football.

[Babylon]

The back four coped well with their absence

I almost always agree with Fez on everything... for once though I can't.

[Raj]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

SACK HIM!!!!!

[Alexikokopops]

Hang on, was this on Sky?

[Babylon]

Hang on, was this on Sky?

[Alexikokopops]

Hang on, was this on Sky?

I genuinely didn't realise! I feel cheated!

[Babylon]

I genuinely didn't realise! I feel cheated!

You'd feel worse if you'd spent two hours of your life watching it.

[StanSP]

I genuinely didn't realise! I feel cheated!

Didn't miss much.

Howard's goal was spectacularly awesome though

[haraven]

I felt we were the best team out there yesterday, and Groundkeeper "Willy" and the lads needs a pat on their back for making it go ahead. For a team that just got promoted from Division 1, we're playing some no nonsense football with a bit of flair. I am really excited and think we can make a top 6 finish, which in my book, and damn-well should be in any other book, is quite an achievement.

[Tony Pine]

I felt we were the best team out there yesterday, and Groundkeeper "Willy" and the lads needs a pat on their back for making it go ahead. For a team that just got promoted from Division 1, we're playing some no nonsense football with a bit of flair. I am really excited and think we can make a top 6 finish, which in my book, and damn-well should be in any other book, is quite an achievement.

if only we'd done that yesterday

[Katy]

You people want to read his blog as well and leave some comments. They make for excellent reading

Here

[leicesterfox86]

You'd feel worse if you'd spent two hours of your life watching it.

Couldn't agree more - wish I didn't realise.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I almost always agree with Fez on everything... for once though I can't.

Fair enough, I think they've done well in the circumstances though. It would have been easy to start shipping goals left right and centre after the Forest and Brizzle debacles but we've only conceded 3 in 4 games since then. I can't believe he's persisting with Neilson though and the sooner Berner comes back, the better. Think Morrison has been pretty good and I've never been his biggest fan.

Cheers dG and Katy. Much appreciated.

[ACF]

Great read. Well done Fez (:

[Zingari]

In the likes of Weale, Hobbs, Morrison, King and Fryatt, we have a spine of players who could make a name for themselves as truly synonymous with a successful Leicester City Football Club.

i particularly like this sentence , but i would like to add Wellens

ps

will you try and stop being so bloody reasonable all the time , it makes it sound as if you are not a real leicester supporter

[Thracian]

From the Merc: http://www.thebluearmy.co.uk/home

Leicester City Stand Point by David Bevan: So much to be proud of

It made me proud to be a Leicester City fan that our club was one of few that managed to stage a game of football over the weekend.

Despite the fixture being broadcast live on Sky television in very wintry weather, a decent crowd turned up for an extremely competitive game.

With City having now completed half of their scheduled games this season, it is an obvious time to take stock.

We are quite clearly ahead of schedule in Nigel Pearson's grand plan and expectations have risen as a result.

Roy Keane's rejuvenated Ipswich were quick to exploit the obvious weakness in the current side, namely a lack of pace in the full-back positions, but Pearson has moulded a team that is not accustomed to defeat.

TIN.adverts.adWriteDC('article-detail-impact-tile', '452x118'); This was a game that we would have lost two years ago. The challenge now for Pearson and City is to make the most of the potential within the club.

In the likes of Weale, Hobbs, Morrison, King and Fryatt, we have a spine of players who could make a name for themselves as truly synonymous with a successful Leicester City Football Club.

I still do not see a top-six finish this season as crucially important in the grand scheme of things, because the assembly of a team that can compete at the top level is still at an early stage.

As long as the circling vultures of lower-half Premier League clubs fail to spoil such a promising time for City supporters, this decade could begin on a high note.

In the short term, the remainder of January looks tricky with league trips to Swansea, Doncaster and Barnsley followed by a tasty home encounter with leaders Newcastle.

City's two most impressive defensive performers this season were both missing from the side that faced Ipswich. Bruno Berner was still suffering from a calf injury and Jack Hobbs was on the bench to accommodate Wayne Brown's return.

The back four coped well with their absence, Michael Morrison in particular putting in another performance befitting a fine Championship centre-back. It would be easy to criticise the failure to secure a home win against an Ipswich team that remain towards the foot of the table but the visitors put in a creditable display that gives their fans hope for the second half of the season.

Much as the point secured at Portman Road in August soon looked meagre given Ipswich's subsequent struggles, we could be looking back on this draw as a fine result in the near future.

David Bevan is a City fan and contributor to the websites FoxesTalk and Vital Football.

I should be much comforted but I'm not.

You seem to reflect the general air of qualified satisfaction among City fans. But from my seat I saw nothing Sunday, nor have I seen anything other than occasionally this season, to suggest that we are either a good side or even an improving side.

First we are not scoring enough goals to make ourselves genuine promotion challengers and nor are we likely to with the way we play.

One reason for our lack of goals is our sad lack of movement, a factor which is even worse than our collective lack of pace, width and ability to make simple passes accurately and, more important, quickly.

It doesn't help having a largely pedestrian back-line. If our defenders were running in circles instead of directly towards the ball some of them would be lapped over anything more than 20 yards as demonstrated with the Ipswich goal on Sunday and at various stages thereafter.

These shortcomings aren't new. I simply hoped that they might be recognised and corrected .... but as usual with City that was just wishful thinking.

Even when the ball is passed across our backline the recipients lack urgency in taking possession, often take too long to control the ball (if they do at all) and lack the early forethought necessary to decide what they intend to do with the ball. Consequently our defenders invariably get hurried by the nearest challenger into hitting a hopeful pass anywhere.

I have some sympathy with them because the situation is not helped by never having any natural width beyond the halfway line. The width is only thought about when we get the ball and if anyone does make a suitable run he is rarely in position quickly enough for our defender to have a sensible pass on.

Put simply we'll achieve nothing going on like this and, far from having the basis of a promotion team, I think we're not even close.

We need much more pace throughout the side, infinitely more movement from almost all departments and players who can all pass the ball quickly and accurately rather than just the odd one or two. Watching the number of touches Wellens takes is so frustrating and if he can't demonstrate that simple skill there's no chance of less skilled players managing it.

Finally - and how long has this been a problem - we not only need far more imagination from free-kicks and corners but players who are even able to deliver a simple cross/pass into the penalty box with a bit of devil. Sunday's efforts were awful.

Were there signs the above problems were being addressed I'd feel some optimism but I've seen none.

Forest have made massive progress and have developed into a side which really attacks a game and shows lots of movement.

Ipswich are improving fast but we still look like the slow, narrow and predictable team of functionaries which began the season and which even demonstrated many of the same limitations last season.

Clearly, judging by yours and other people's opinions, I have missed so much that I should have gone to Specsavers.

Either that or, as I did once warn, you're starting to see games through those special Blue-and-White specs that seem to be standard for all City correspondents who never forget where their bread is buttered.

I say that because, while there is nothing glaringly wrong with what you say- it is what you don't say that concerns me.

Unfettered, I know you to be a good football analyst. But what you've written is rather like watered wine and no incentive for City to make the changes that will eventually have to be made if they're to have any hope of realising their so-called ambitions.

Perhaps you should interview Billy Davies if you want an updated opinion on how to shape a side suitable for promotion.

You need a team full of pace, passing, movement and goals. So far we're largely lacking all four ingredients and are hoping to get by with courage, strength, industry, and organisation.

In motoring terms we remind me of that big Chrysler that's not long been out... http://www.chrysler.com/en/2010/300/.

We may look tough and threatening but some feel we're short of speed, controlled manouverability and class.

And one day, perhaps someone around our local media will have the character to say so.

PS:

Sorry to have cut in, but the forum is starting to read like a gathering of cribbage pals.

[Webbo]

I should be much comforted but I'm not.

You seem to reflect the general air of qualified satisfaction among City fans. But from my seat I saw nothing Sunday, nor have I seen anything other than occasionally this season, to suggest that we are either a good side or even an improving side.

First we are not scoring enough goals to make ourselves genuine promotion challengers and nor are we likely to with the way we play.

One reason for our lack of goals is our sad lack of movement, a factor which is even worse than our collective lack of pace, width and ability to make simple passes accurately and, more important, quickly.

It doesn't help having a largely pedestrian back-line. If our defenders were running in circles instead of directly towards the ball some of them would be lapped over anything more than 20 yards as demonstrated with the Ipswich goal on Sunday and at various stages thereafter.

These shortcomings aren't new. I simply hoped that they might be recognised and corrected .... but as usual with City that was just wishful thinking.

Even when the ball is passed across our backline the recipients lack urgency in taking possession, often take too long to control the ball (if they do at all) and lack the early forethought necessary to decide what they intend to do with the ball. Consequently our defenders invariably get hurried by the nearest challenger into hitting a hopeful pass anywhere.

I have some sympathy with them because the situation is not helped by never having any natural width beyond the halfway line. The width is only thought about when we get the ball and if anyone does make a suitable run he is rarely in position quickly enough for our defender to have a sensible pass on.

Put simply we'll achieve nothing going on like this and, far from having the basis of a promotion team, I think we're not even close.

We need much more pace throughout the side, infinitely more movement from almost all departments and players who can all pass the ball quickly and accurately rather than just the odd one or two. Watching the number of touches Wellens takes is so frustrating and if he can't demonstrate that simple skill there's no chance of less skilled players managing it.

Finally - and how long has this been a problem - we not only need far more imagination from free-kicks and corners but players who are even able to deliver a simple cross/pass into the penalty box with a bit of devil. Sunday's efforts were awful.

Were there signs the above problems were being addressed I'd feel some optimism but I've seen none.

Forest have made massive progress and have developed into a side which really attacks a game and shows lots of movement.

Ipswich are improving fast but we still look like the slow, narrow and predictable team of functionaries which began the season and which even demonstrated many of the same limitations last season.

Clearly, judging by yours and other people's opinions, I have missed so much that I should have gone to Specsavers.

Either that or, as I did once warn, you're starting to see games through those special Blue-and-White specs that seem to be standard for all City correspondents who never forget where their bread is buttered.

I say that because, while there is nothing glaringly wrong with what you say- it is what you don't say that concerns me.

Unfettered, I know you to be a good football analyst. But what you've written is rather like watered wine and no incentive for City to make the changes that will eventually have to be made if they're to have any hope of realising their so-called ambitions.

Perhaps you should interview Billy Davies if you want an updated opinion on how to shape a side suitable for promotion.

You need a team full of pace, passing, movement and goals. So far we're largely lacking all four ingredients and are hoping to get by with courage, strength, industry, and organisation.

In motoring terms we remind me of that big Chrysler that's not long been out... http://www.chrysler.com/en/2010/300/.

We may look tough and threatening but some feel we're short of speed, controlled manouverability and class.

And one day, perhaps someone around our local media will have the character to say so.

PS:

Sorry to have cut in, but the forum is starting to read like a gathering of cribbage pals.

I disagree with most of that but it's nice to have you back.

[Sparky]

Actually buy a mercury now following games to have a read of Fezs column as they are always a good read. On this occasion i dont agree with a fair amount of points raised , especially this quote "The back four coped well ", but each to their own and i look forward to the next edition

[Thracian]

Actually buy a mercury now following games to have a read of Fezs column as they are always a good read. On this occasion i dont agree with a fair amount of points raised , especially this quote "The back four coped well ", but each to their own and i look forward to the next edition

I started buying it again for the same reason, and for the first time in years.

But my enthusiasm waned and, more important, the market's deliveryman died on New Year's Day - a great shock to all of us - and I've never really wanted a Mercury since.

[Thracian]

I disagree with most of that but it's nice to have you back.

Thanks Webbo, appreciate it, but I am not reall "back" more just passing through with a few minutes to spare.

Daggers' wise words of two or three months ago are no less relevent now than then and I am keen to continue heeding them.

Besides, this may well be my last year as a season ticket holder so my presence here will be less and less appropriate.

I find myself increasingly disillusioned by football.

Fans seem to be increasingly treated like shit by the game's administrators and their associated/advising agencies to the point where I am indifferent about continuing to support the professional game with hard-earned money that could probably be better spent.

[Edmund]

Unfettered, I know you to be a good football analyst. But what you've written is rather like watered wine and no incentive for City to make the changes that will eventually have to be made if they're to have any hope of realising their so-called ambitions.

And one day, perhaps someone around our local media will have the character to say so.

It's probably a good thing you don't write for the mercury or host bbc radio Leicesters sport show.

We'd have our very own Robbie Savage Wayne Brown attack on Colin at BBC Radio derby Thracian at BBC Radio Leicester

[stez]

Thanks Webbo, appreciate it, but I am not reall "back" more just passing through with a few minutes to spare.

Daggers' wise words of two or three months ago are no less relevent now than then and I am keen to continue heeding them.

Besides, this may well be my last year as a season ticket holder so my presence here will be less and less appropriate.

I find myself increasingly disillusioned by football.

Fans seem to be increasingly treated like shit by the game's administrators and it's associated and advising agencies to the point where I am indifferent about continuing to support the professional game with hard-earned money that could probably be better spent.

sadly i feel the same, sometimes, and i'm not quite as old and cynical as you.

[skinnydipper]

Thanks Webbo, appreciate it, but I am not reall "back" more just passing through with a few minutes to spare.

Daggers' wise words of two or three months ago are no less relevent now than then and I am keen to continue heeding them.

Besides, this may well be my last year as a season ticket holder so my presence here will be less and less appropriate.

I find myself increasingly disillusioned by football.

Fans seem to be increasingly treated like shit by the game's administrators and their associated/advising agencies to the point where I am indifferent about continuing to support the professional game with hard-earned money that could probably be better spent.

Shame that Thracian

I often didn't agree with you but the forum's a lot less interesting without your input . I was weaned on here with the Thracian/ TPH jousts

You still off to Dubai ?

[sbfox]

I know Thrac isn't really here for long, but your point about Forest seems a bit hollow... I mean, they've spent close to 10 million over the last few years, you'd kinda hope they'd be up there with that investment!

[Daggers]

Daggers' wise words of two or three months ago are no less relevent now than then and I am keen to continue heeding them.

Your absence is a loss to the forum.