Reading Post Match

[Webbo]

SACK

OF

FVCKING

SHITE!

Players - woeful

Sousa - clueless

Mandaric - liar

Semi-anonymous evil Asian owners - evil

I fvcking hate this club, the clueless morons who support it and the wankers who run it. Cockbadgers, every mother****ing one of them.

It's nice to have you back too.

[leftsideoverhere]

Something isn't quite right at the club. There seems to be a lack of leadership on the pitch, no-one wants to take the initiative.

Many players look a shadow of what they were before.

... which was also evident several times last season, and was one of the reasons that Oakley ended up getting dropped. However, I'm not surprised that Sousa, who has obviously been introduced to him as the captain of the team, has given him the benefit of the doubt for a few games, just as Pearson did for a long time last season.

What Pearson had, which we didn't have today were (a) some inspired loan signings, and (b) a "wise" old head in Wayne Brown, who just unfortunately turned out be a dickhead off the field, but who stepped up when Oakley was off the field and commanded the team from the centre back position in a way that we are now really missing.

Interesting how today's result has erased Tuesday night from people's minds. Hobbs captain at Leeds, and the team had plenty of fight that night for a side that "is falling apart" and for a manager who "has lost the dressing room" and all the rest of the panicking that is going on around here.

Thing is, if we were Arsenal or Chelsea and we'd started the season with a string of defeats I could understand it, but we're Leicester. We never do things the easy way, and for every new owner who turns up promising millions to spend on new players, there's a string of defeats and a flurry of transfer speculation to bring us down again.

Get some perspective. Last season we played Reading in front of the TV cameras. They hammered us for 90 minutes and somehow we snuck away with all three points. Tonight they got some revenge. Calm the fook down everybody. It's not only a question of giving the manager time, it's also about whether a knee-jerk execution would actually improve the situation. I can't see how it would. It's not like there are lots of quality managers around - remember the chill down the spine when we looked at the shortlist when Pearson left?

I don't expect us to get promoted this season, but as plenty of people on here have repeatedly said, that won't be the end of our world, will it? A decent cup run and a mid-table finish, coupled with at least some belief that we are a team who want to play football (and for flashes again today it did seem that way) and that's good enough for this season. Anyone who expected the new owners would automatically translate into promotion, or even that we'd get promoted just because we nearly managed it last season clearly knows next to nothing about football.

[Corky]

I've never been impressed with Oakley as a captain, but others in the team have been captains before and they didn't visibly seem to be taking control.

[STUHILL]

Players put in transfer requests all the time. What about DJ Campbell and Nicky Adams under Pearson. It's no different in reality, but I'm sure I'll get a reply as to why Im wrong and that is much more worrying. So what if 3 players want out under Sousa, that's their prerogative. It happens all the time in football. Why does everyone have to be such babies about it, they want to leave and I'm sure the club will get them out, it happens so get over it.

And as for 'a sign of protest' , you're not giving the players enough credit, they're not as reactionary as most people on here.

HAHA If you see three of our first team players handing in a transfer request 4 games in and with no apparent interest from other clubs as "normal" then you are stupid.

There isn't something right at the moment and everyone can see it. Some just choice to deny it I guess.

I think finding a replacement for those 3 on such short notice and cheaply, will be a difficult ask.

I wonder if you will still be supporting Sousa in 2months and 3 weeks time if we still haven't won in the League...... Hmmmm

I'm done arguing with you. I don't see that I am over reacting. I am not calling for Sousa's sacking, but I also notice things aren't looking that promising so far.

[Petchy]

If the transfer requests are from highly regarded players such as Hobbs, Wellens etc then it's definitely time to get rid of Sousa! It's not worth losing quality players just because the board are too stubborn to remove an unproven manager who's clearly causing problems in the dressing room. Before I was made aware of this, I wasn't pro-sacking Sousa. But if this is true, then it's a must!

[STUHILL]

Players put in transfer requests all the time. What about DJ Campbell and Nicky Adams under Pearson. It's no different in reality, but I'm sure I'll get a reply as to why Im wrong and that is much more worrying. So what if 3 players want out under Sousa, that's their prerogative. It happens all the time in football. Why does everyone have to be such babies about it, they want to leave and I'm sure the club will get them out, it happens so get over it.

And as for 'a sign of protest' , you're not giving the players enough credit, they're not as reactionary as most people on here.

That is because they weren't playing.

[sbfox]

Wall of awesomeness

Agree with every word! Some people, both of the terraces and on here, seemed to have been spoiled by the last two seasons and seem to think we have a 'right' to be challenging for the title.

Let's assess....

-Prior to relegation, we're in the financial shit

-League 1 we walk due to superior players and fitness. There was no chance of us not going up with the resources we had.

-Last year we FLUKED our way (largely) to a play-off place. I can think of many, many games where we didn't deserve 3 points, let alone 1 (Reading, Plymouth away). Fortunately, as is often the case in football, we did and we had a really good year.

This year is where we realise we're still not financially secure, that our luck may not hold out like it did last year and that maybe, just maybe, we need a season of playing some good football without necessarily challenging for the playoffs, allowing us to build the team sensibly.

Why we should be able to compete with the Cardiff's and Burnley's of the league is beyond me.

[sbfox]

.

[dandannieldanok]

HAHA If you see three of our first team players handing in a transfer request 4 games in and with no apparent interest from other clubs as "normal" then you are stupid.

There isn't something right at the moment and everyone can see it. Some just choice to deny it I guess.

I think finding a replacement for those 3 on such short notice and cheaply, will be a difficult ask.

I wonder if you will still be supporting Sousa in 2months and 3 weeks time if we still haven't won in the League...... Hmmmm

I'm done arguing with you. I don't see that I am over reacting. I am not calling for Sousa's sacking, but I also notice things aren't looking that promising so far.

Stupid eh? Thanks, much appreciated.

Finding replacements won't be easy but as I've already said, you're not replacing that much. Biggest loss would be Fryatt, but Gallagher and Wellens are not big losses. Despite everyone's love for Wellens, I'd be very interested to see the stats that back it up, because I believe they're non-existent. Compare him to King for example, now he would be a massive loss.

Strange point. It's unlikely I'd be supporting Sousa if we haven't won in 3 months, but as I said I won't be making any rash statements about the guy until we fulfil that timescale.

That is because they weren't playing.

And neither have Fryatt and Gallagher. Wellens hasn't started every game either.

[Karljohn]

We were second to the ball far too often, lost for words how Oakley starts yet King warms the bench.

Why the fook do we defend corners at home with no one left up the field, the pace of N'Guessan and Dyer on a break? surely it would be better to leave them on the halfway line when defending a corner.

Also, what the hell was going on with one of our own corners in the second half that no one wanted to take, never seen anything like it.

The body language of the team speaks volumes, Howard was absolute dogshit, anyone who applauds that performance from him needs their head looking at, yet he's sousa's "premier" striker.

And Moreno at CB bought to pick a pass from defence telegraphs every pass!

[leftsideoverhere]

Also, what the hell was going on with one of our own corners in the second half that no one wanted to take, never seen anything like it.

They were all waiting for Gally to take it, but he'd been substituted five minutes previously.

[Karljohn]

They were all waiting for Gally to take it, but he'd been substituted five minutes previously.

Ah Leftside...it feels like a long time since you and I and a few other sat outside the ticket office for 14 hours on a cold night for Cardiff away in the play offs! we look a shadow of the side that fought so well down in Wales!

[Webbo]

Why we should be able to compete with the Cardiff's and Burnley's of the league is beyond me.

Cardiff are hardly flushed with cash either.

The thing is we have signed players, the problem is they are no better/worse than what we already had. We might have over achieved last season but we are definitely under achieving this season.

[Wdywd]

We were second to the ball far too often, lost for words how Oakley starts yet King warms the bench.

Why the fook do we defend corners at home with no one left up the field, the pace of N'Guessan and Dyer on a break? surely it would be better to leave them on the halfway line when defending a corner.

Also, what the hell was going on with one of our own corners in the second half that no one wanted to take, never seen anything like it.

The body language of the team speaks volumes, Howard was absolute dogshit, anyone who applauds that performance from him needs their head looking at, yet he's sousa's "premier" striker.

And Moreno at CB bought to pick a pass from defence telegraphs every pass!

I agree with everything there.

The corners thing annoys me far more than it should, at least leave someone up top as an out ball, it really bugs me.

[STUHILL]

Stupid eh? Thanks, much appreciated.

Finding replacements won't be easy but as I've already said, you're not replacing that much. Biggest loss would be Fryatt, but Gallagher and Wellens are not big losses. Despite everyone's love for Wellens, I'd be very interested to see the stats that back it up, because I believe they're non-existent. Compare him to King for example, now he would be a massive loss.

Strange point. It's unlikely I'd be supporting Sousa if we haven't won in 3 months, but as I said I won't be making any rash statements about the guy until we fulfil that timescale.

And neither have Fryatt and Gallagher. Wellens hasn't started every game either.

Fryatt and Gallagher haven't started because of injury but now both are on the way back and are being given game time. Wellens is also being given a fair chance to stake his place. Started today. If the reason for them handing in transfer requests is due to lack of football and chances after 4 games, then you can have my winning lottery ticket!!

I don't think 3months without a win is a strange point as you gave that time scale and I was just testing if you would break that if we hadn't won and players unrest continued. Fair question I think. Sometimes giving a pre-determined time scale to a manager can do more damage than needed especially if results aren't the only concern.

I agree King would be a huge loss, along with Hobbs, and so would like to know how they are coping with Sousa, maybe we will find out but unlikely.

I think your "un-wavering" faith in Sousa may be tested to breaking point if we lose the next couple of games but I hope for all our sakes he can turn this terrible start (And it is just that, a terrible start, worst in 16 years I heard) around!

[Daggers]

It's nice to have you back too.

Not you sweetness

A sweeping generalisation encompassing the fukwits who were booing and jeering DJ, a player who is still on our books. Our fvcking player. A player who (if the transfer goes tits) could well be on our books until Xmas. Cockbadgers who were singing for a player who plays for Aston fvcking Villa and is NEVER coming to us this season.

And then the cvnts leave ten minutes before the end?

Wankers, every single chromosome-challenged one of them, as they stumbled back to the primordial ooze from whence they slithered.

L1 really is full of utter cvnts.

[Daggers]

Compare him to King for example, now he would be a massive loss.

Hold onto your hat then...

[dandannieldanok]

Fryatt and Gallagher haven't started because of injury but now both are on the way back and are being given game time. Wellens is also being given a fair chance to stake his place. Started today. If the reason for them handing in transfer requests is due to lack of football and chances after 4 games, then you can have my winning lottery ticket!!

I don't think 3months without a win is a strange point as you gave that time scale and I was just testing if you would break that if we hadn't won and players unrest continued. Fair question I think. Sometimes giving a pre-determined time scale to a manager can do more damage than needed especially if results aren't the only concern.

I agree King would be a huge loss, along with Hobbs, and so would like to know how they are coping with Sousa, maybe we will find out but unlikely.

I think your "un-wavering" faith in Sousa may be tested to breaking point if we lose the next couple of games but I hope for all our sakes he can turn this terrible start (And it is just that, a terrible start, worst in 16 years I heard) around!

Maybe, maybe not. None of us know what the reasons are, in fact we don't actually know it's those players are for definite, or even the number of players.

It is a strange point because a) it's extremely unlikely we'll go 3 months without a single win b) you're trying to make me say stuff to suit your point, because it's quite obvious if we didn't win a game for 3 months that of course I'd start questioning the manager c) (and most crucially) it bares no relevance to anything

I don't have unwavering faith in Sousa, or anyone at the club. The reason why I'm not jumping on the negativity bandwagon is because people are not giving the bloke a fair crack of the whip, some of the stuff people are coming out with is ridiculous for a manager that has overseen just 4 league games. I will fight his corner and continue to whilst his reign is in it's infancy and whilst everyone is unceremoniously bashing the guy.

[ibbosuk]

Leicester 1 point from 4 games Championship

Blackpool 4 points from 3 games Premier League

[FoxyPV]

Bring back Hollowhead!!!!

FFS!

[STUHILL]

Maybe, maybe not. None of us know what the reasons are, in fact we don't actually know it's those players are for definite, or even the number of players.

It is a strange point because a) it's extremely unlikely we'll go 3 months without a single win b) you're trying to make me say stuff to suit your point, because it's quite obvious if we didn't win a game for 3 months that of course I'd start questioning the manager c) (and most crucially) it bares no relevance to anything

I don't have unwavering faith in Sousa, or anyone at the club. The reason why I'm not jumping on the negativity bandwagon is because people are not giving the bloke a fair crack of the whip, some of the stuff people are coming out with is ridiculous for a manager that has overseen just 4 league games. I will fight his corner and continue to whilst his reign is in it's infancy and whilst everyone is unceremoniously bashing the guy.

True, none of us know the real reasons but you must admit, it does point towards the management change more than any other plausible reason.

I also think we will win in those 3months, I was just bemused by your 3month time scale and wanted to know what extremes you would keep to it.

If you look at my posts I haven't once called for Sousa's sacking and don't back people who do this early on either.

I am realistic. We are four games in. We have 1 point from a possible 12 but there is a long way to go.

There is in my mind no doubt that there are problems behind the scenes though. I didn't think this would be a smooth transition however, I am yet to see real positive signs under Sousa.

Even though we aren't playing a game in these next 2 weeks. Arguably this fortnight could be his most important so far.

Hopefully, these rumours of transfer requests will be quashed and players he brings in will offer us real hope and excitement and give us an idea of Sousa's long-term vision for our Club.

Lets see what he does after the break results wise. I don't think you can argue that he has A LOT of work to do though

[MC Prussian]

Look, as many other Leicester supporters, I usually have a high level of tolerance and I've seen a lot happening with this club, be it on or off the pitch.

The current situation, however, leaves me with a very uneasy feeling. A degree of uneasiness I haven't had before.

It's all fudged up, from top to bottom. And it starts to make more and more sense as the season progresses.

At the helm of the business, we have a questionable chairman who places his financial security above sportive success.

He lets the most successful manager we've had in ages go (or has him sacked, since Pearson was still on a rolling contract) in best Night & Fog fashion.

Unbeknownst to the majority of fans, a replacement was already decided upon, with Sousa attending the playoff semi-final home game against Cardiff.

What do you think was the price Mandaric had to pay Swansea to get Sousa's signature? A cob? A car? A few ten thousand? It probably cost a lot more than that.

It's all one big set-up by Mandaric. He doesn't care about the club, he cares about keeping his own business safe. Why do you think the sudden sale to a rather dodgy Thai consortium that have no connection to football whatsoever? And why does Mandaric still remain chairman?

Why appoint a foreign manager with little experience in coaching in general and even less experience in managing an English side? A manager with a penchant for Brioni suits whose grasp of English is beyond imagination? His lack of vocabulary indicates a lack of communication (and to all Swansea fans: Sousa is not the problem, he's only part of the issue. He is a tool in the chairman's plans. So please spare me with your ever-so-wise "We told you..." bollocks). Over the past few weeks, I've also gotten to dislike Sousa massively for his unrealistic, overly positive and repetitive post-match comments, painting everything rosy all the time when you as a fan know exactly that you've seen a completely different game altogether. Post-match comments that leave you wondering what Portuguese Planet the guy actually comes from. It is even more disappointing when you look back at the defensive record he's had at Swansea and that with an arguably weaker side.

Why does said manager then go for cheap "Continental" imports or mysterious unknown free agents (Moreno, Lamey, Moussa, Crncic, Vitor) and rash purchases rather than scanning the market for proven Championship players? I haven't seen a lot of the new guns play, and the ones that I've seen playing don't instill me with a lot of confidence. You can't just blame it on the lack of preparation or short pre-season (after all, Mandy had talked to Sousa when Pearson was still the manager, so Sousa must've had enough time to make up his mind in terms of potential transfers). Why is it that those players have such a hard time finding their place within the squad? Why are the players from the previous, successful season being kept out from first team action?

The news of formerly established players and building blocks of the past handing in transfer request adds to the sour taste of it all. I may be overreacting, but I've always tried to be as realistic as possible, yet it becomes more and more evident that this club is rotten to the core and riding on a big wave of bad luck ever since the tough financial times eight years ago and the construction of the Walkers Stadium. You and I thought it had come to a halt when Pearson guided us from League One to a fifth-placed finish in the Championship last season. Think again. The players are not getting along with the new regime, a majority never wanted Pearson to leave because he got the best out of them, created an atmosphere of respect and made them play as a unit. This sudden change of manager has unsettled them all.

With this actual streak that we're on, this could well turn out to be every Leicester City fan's biggest nightmare.

This club is about being robbed entirely (or, finally). Robbed of its identity, its roots, history, soul and whatnot. It's part of one big marketing masterplan.

The sooner you realize this, the less it will hurt.

Rising ticket prices, rising prices in the concourse, shitty Season Ticket Member deals, (relatively) high ticket prices compared to the rest of the league, a condescending "zero tolerance" philosophy when dealing with fan groups (see the Fosse Boys situation) and a general ignorance of anything remotely resembling a fan/human being.

The disrespect and disregard is mounting, and personally, I'm finding less and less reasons to support this club or football in general. I just don't feel welcome no more.

I'd rather spend less money seeing a local, small side play than this tripe. Today's performance was just one of the last nails on the coffin - you could say it was an epiphany.

At least I know them kids in the lower leagues love what they're doing and that the money I'm investing is spent wisely (and not to pay off debt accumulated by dodgy owners).

It's a tough and somewhat sad choice, but that's what football has come to, even in Leicester.

I look at the low attendance today (approximately 16'000) and, being a fair bit disheartened, say it'll get only worse. The longer this goes on, the more fans will follow the example of those absent at the Reading game and decide to watch the game at home, at the pub or do something more worthwile in their spare time.

See, fans are no longer supposed to cheer their team, stand up occasionally or make noise. Fans like us no longer belong into a modern football stadium, we're being slowly but steadily evicted.

All that the Hoos club wants is customers. Mindless, headless chicken who do everything they're told, consume whatever they're sold. People that don't ask critical questions. Franchise system, here we come.

I'm not the usual doom and gloom kind of guy, but I'm getting more worried by the minute and there comes a point in time when I'll have to say goodbye to LCFC.

For my own sanity.

I'd love to be proven wrong.

Let's have a look at this once more at the end of September. I'd like to see how it pans out in the following five, six games/four to five weeks before I make a final decision.

It's not like the club would miss me much, is it?

[s11nny]

Look, as many other Leicester supporters, I usually have a high level of tolerance and I've seen a lot happening with this club, be it on or off the pitch.

The current situation, however, leaves me with a very uneasy feeling. A degree of uneasiness I haven't had before.

It's all fudged up, from top to bottom. And it starts to make more and more sense as the season progresses.

At the helm of the business, we have a questionable chairman who places his financial security above sportive success.

He lets the most successful manager we've had in ages go (or has him sacked, since Pearson was still on a rolling contract) in a Night & Fog fashion.

Unbeknownst to the majority of fans, a replacement was already decided upon, with Sousa attending the playoff semi-final home game against Cardiff.

What do you think was the price Mandaric had to pay Swansea to get Sousa's signature? A cob? A car? A few ten thousand? It probably cost a lot more than that.

It's all one big set-up by Mandaric. He doesn't care about the club, he cares about keeping his own business safe. Why do you think the sudden sale to a rather dodgy Thai consortium that have no connection to football whatsoever? And why does Mandaric still remain chairman?

Why appoint a foreign manager with little experience in coaching in general and even less experience in managing an English side? A manager with a hunch for Brioni suits whose grasp of English is beyond imagination? His lack of vocabulary indicates a lack of communication (and to all Swansea fans: Sousa is not the problem, he's only part of the issue. He is a tool in the chairman's plans. So please spare me with your ever-so-wise "We told you..." bollocks). Over the past few weeks, I've also gotten to dislike Sousa massively for his unrealistic, overly positive and repetitive post-match comments, painting everything rosy all the time when you as a fan know exactly that you've seen a completely different game altogether. It is even more disappointing when you look back at the defensive record he's had at Swansea and that with an arguably weaker side.

Why does said manager then go for cheap "Continental" imports or mysterious unknown free agents (Moreno, Lamey, Moussa, Crncic, Vitor) and rash purchases rather than scanning the market for proven Championship players? I haven't seen a lot of the new guns play, and the ones that I've seen playing don't instill me with a lot of confidence. You can't just blame it on the lack of preparation or short pre-season (after all, Mandy had talked to Sousa when Pearson was still the manager, so Sousa must've had enough time to make up his mind in terms of potential transfers). Why is it that those players have such a hard time finding their place within the squad? Why are the players from the previous, successful season being kept out from first team action?

The news of formerly established players and building blocks of the past handing in transfer request adds to the sour taste of it all. I may be overreacting, but I've always tried to be as realistic as possible, yet it becomes more and more evident that this club is rotten to the core and riding on a big wave of bad luck ever since the tough financial times eight years ago and the construction of the Walkers Stadium. You and I thought it had come to a halt when Pearson guided us from League One to a fifth-placed finish in the Championship last season. Think again. The players are not getting along with the new regime, a majority never wanted Pearson to leave because the got the best out of them and made them play as a unit. This sudden change of manager has unsettled them all.

With this streak that we're on, this will be every Leicester City fan's biggest nightmare.

This club is about being robbed entirely (or, finally). Robbed of its identity, its roots, history, soul and whatnot. It's part of one big marketing masterplan.

The sooner you realize this, the less it will hurt.

Rising ticket prices, rising prices in the concourse, shitty Season Ticket Member deals, (relatively) high ticket prices compared to the rest of the league, a condescending "zero tolerance" philosophy when dealing with fan groups (see the Fosse Boys situation) and a general disrespect for anything remotely resembling a fan/human being.

The disrespect and disregard is mounting, and personally, I'm finding less and less reasons to support this club or football in general. I just don't feel welcome no more.

I'd rather spend less money seeing a local, small side play than this tripe. Today's performance was just one of the last nails on the coffin.

At least I know them kids in the lower leagues love what they're doing and that the money I'm investing is spent wisely (and not to pay off debt accumulated by dodgy owners).

It's a tough and somewhat sad choice, but that's what football has come to, even in Leicester.

I look at the low attendance today (approximately 16'000) and say it'll get only worse. The longer this goes on, the more fans will follow the example of those absent at the Reading game.

Fans are no longer supposed to cheer their team, stand up occasionally or make noise. Fans like us no longer belong into a modern football stadium, we're being slowly but steadily evicted.

All the club wants is customers. Mindless, headless chicken who do everything they're told, consume whatever they're sold. People that don't ask critical questions.

I'm not the usual doom and gloom kind of guy, but I'm getting more worried by the minute and there comes a point in time when I'll have to say goodbye to LCFC.

For my own sanity.

I'd love to be proven wrong.

See you at the end of September. I want to see how it pans out in the following five, six games/four to five weeks before I make a final decision.

It's not like the club would miss me much, is it?

I totally agree! I sensed the exact same thing! you couldnt of put it any better alex. i think this needs to be posted as as a new topic!

[Leicester_Loyal]

Its alright people keep saying its been four games, which it has, but we've lost to Palace and Reading, two average sides at best. If we keep saying this after every game when will we realise something has to change, after 40 games when its too late?

Also, we are losing Campbell so there goes a few goals for us. Doesn't look like any big money signings are coming in either.

This team will have to work hard to finish above 16th.

[Collier]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the minute.

Normally I'll back managers, I'll be patient, optimistic, sometimes deluded, and I'm trying to back Sousa, and the players. Every fan knows from what the squad acheived last season, that the majority of players are more than decent for this level, but something just doesn't seem quite right.

When pretty much everyone looked at our eleven today, talk of a win was more in hope than anything.

Oakley just isn't good enough anymore. I don't doubt his effort, or his committment, but his legs have gone. Leaving one of our most influential, match winning, game changing players on the bench instead of him in King is criminal.

Another shining light over the past two seasons in Michael Morrison now finds himself benched in favour of some unknown, who's done little to convince, and is playing out of position at centre back. I'm worried that we could lose some of the key members of the squad that've done so, so well and restored some pride back to the club in recent years if they continue to be brushed aside in favour of others. It's quite disheartening to see.

It doesn't seem like Sousa knows what his best eleven is, and it's all just a little bit worrying for me. Priority has to be another wide player and a striker now.

Then I think that we're only four games into the season, and alot can happen between now and May.

Next XI (for me):

Logan / Ikeme

Neilson Morrison Hobbs Kennedy

Dyer Wellens King Moussa

Fryatt Howard

That is, of course, unless half of them have fucked off by then.