Our New Defence

[Kitchandro]

Great post in almost all respects. Sadly no longer remotely relevant to football at the highest level.

Holloway's Blackpool have tried incredibly hard to do things the right way, but it's beginning to fall apart, current players want more money, repacements won't come for the money on offer, the rest of the season is going to be very tough.

Personally I find this pretty sad but at the end of the day it's just another facet of modern life I don't much like but can do nothing about. I've tried getting involved in lower league football, but it's not City and City are my club and they belong in the Premier League.

Given the strength of the relegated clubs (most seasons anyway) spending the money is really the only option...

Yeh you're probably right.

It saddens me too, that's all.

I'd like to think there could be a bit of relationship between the team and the fans left in 15 years, but maybe I'm just being idealistic

[hackneyfox]

Not for me it wasn't.

Maybe that explains why you're so miserable

I've been going a lot longer than you, I tend to not get so emotionally involved anymore.

And I've seen years of poor players and shit football.

You have to go back a long way to find football of the quality we are playing nowadays.

[hackneyfox]

Yeh you're probably right.

It saddens me too, that's all.

I'd like to think there could be a bit of relationship between the team and the fans left in 15 years, but maybe I'm just being idealistic

Sadly I think you are, but success of any kind can rekindle it.

Pearson reconnected the fans and club in his first season.

[Kitchandro]

Sadly I think you are, but success of any kind can rekindle it.

Pearson reconnected the fans and club in his first season.

I know what you mean, but it wasn't just being succesful that made last season's team 'charming', as would be a good way to put it. I got the feeling the team was being built and not bought, the players body language suggested there was great team spirit and they felt something great was going on.

And I'm not suggesting Sven won't bring the same feeling back, but I'm just saying that's what made last season so enjoyable for me.

For me, the emotional involvement is what I love about football.

[marbelladave]

I know what you mean, but it wasn't just being succesful that made last season's team 'charming', as would be a good way to put it. I got the feeling the team was being built and not bought, the players body language suggested there was great team spirit and they felt something great was going on.

And I'm not suggesting Sven won't bring the same feeling back, but I'm just saying that's what made last season so enjoyable for me.

For me, the emotional involvement is what I love about football.

It was also football in a lower division, a greater sense of involvement for many fans. Premier League is a whole different proposition.

I expect to be back in Spain within a year or two, so I want us to be in the Prem, coverage of the Championship is pretty crap in relation to the coverage of the Prem we get from Sky and other non-english satelites.

[Kitchandro]

It was also football in a lower division, a greater sense of involvement for many fans. Premier League is a whole different proposition.

I expect to be back in Spain within a year or two, so I want us to be in the Prem, coverage of the Championship is pretty crap in relation to the coverage of the Prem we get from Sky and other non-english satelites.

Agreed, can't be doing with much more of this crappy Championship coverage.

Will be much better with Football First and MOTD

[orangecity23]

I think the reason people are sad at the ousting of previous players at the minute, because the current squad members are the first city players in years to actually achieve anything, or win on a regular basis. If you cast your mind back, Pearson didn't waste any time clearing the decks of Milan's odds and sods following the relegation season. No-one really shed a tear for Darren Kenton, Henderson, McAuley or even Stearman.

I wouldn't give up on players forming a rapport with the fans either. Bamba has been here the best part of 2 weeks and seems to have already endeared himself to everyone, hugging Koppites and talking to people on Twitter. It depends on the individuals.

[marbelladave]

Agreed, can't be doing with much more of this crappy Championship coverage.

Will be much better with Football First and MOTD

Now you're just being silly.....

Where we live, just outside Marbella, it is perfectly possible to get full live coverage of every Premier League game, even the saturday 3.00pm kick offs. Add in decent coverage of La Liga and Championship football barely gets a look in.

[Kitchandro]

Now you're just being silly.....

Where we live, just outside Marbella, it is perfectly possible to get full live coverage of every Premier League game, even the saturday 3.00pm kick offs. Add in decent coverage of La Liga and Championship football barely gets a look in.

Yeh it's like that in Italy, they've got every Prem game on live. Ridiculous.

[marbelladave]

Yeh it's like that in Italy, they've got every Prem game on live. Ridiculous.

Not at all, rather like it!

A couple of local expat bars means I get to see all the games I want, don't even have to pay for Sky at home....

[Kitchandro]

Not at all, rather like it!

A couple of local expat bars means I get to see all the games I want, don't even have to pay for Sky at home....

No I mean ridiculous they don't do the same here in the country it is being played!

[Jacnah]

Am I the only one on here who is actually over the moon with this defensive line up? With Naughton, Bamba, Davies and Van Aanholt we will surely have one of the best defences in the league!

No you're not the only one..i think there could be the odd bombscare moment but I'll take those odd moments for two things..1. The fact that they are all quality players 2. some stability and consistency in the starting line up

[Captain...]

I can only echo what Kitchandro has been saying. Whilst I did lose the connection with the team when mandaric's merry go round was in full swing. Pearson rebuilt that with players like Hobbs, Morrison, Fryatt, Berner, Waghorn, Weale. It feels wrong to see them treated the way the have been. Obviously Pearson had 2 years to build that. In 2 years time the likes of Bamba, Naughton, Vassell and Davies could be Leicester legends in the making but right now the idea of Hobbs being dumped behind Davies, Bamba, Vitor and Mee in the pecking order is as hard to take as the idea of Wellens being sold to Brum.

Berner has done very little wrong since Cunningham broke his leg, he has had a good run in the side and has repaid that with some good performances, I also believe he has been a senior figure for the likes of Hobbs and Bamba to look to, if he is uncerimoniously dumped out of the side for Aanholt, like he was for Cunningham, and then doesn't play another minute of football until the end of the season it will be very harsh. If on the other hand, Aanholt is brought on as a second half substitute a couple of times and plays well and earns his place in the side then no one can begrudge that. Cunningham, like Bednar, Kirkland and Vassell walked into the side without deserving to do so and that is what has unsettled the squad. Naughton Davies Bamba and Yakubu were brought in to fill and hole and were required to go straight in to the first team.

[Captain...]

No I mean ridiculous they don't do the same here in the country it is being played!

...but how many fans would go out and watch their local team if Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Spurs etc were playing on the telly Saturday at 3pm? There are enough plastic fans around the country this would only encourage them.

[Kitchandro]

...but how many fans would go out and watch their local team if Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Spurs etc were playing on the telly Saturday at 3pm? There are enough plastic fans around the country this would only encourage them.

True, true.

[marbelladave]

...but how many fans would go out and watch their local team if Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, Spurs etc were playing on the telly Saturday at 3pm? There are enough plastic fans around the country this would only encourage them.

I really don't get this 'plastic fan' nonsense, all this assumed superiority just because you go to a few games is just divisive bollox.

I see a fair number of regular supporters both home and away, many of whom I would not give the time of day...

[cc_star]

I can only echo what Kitchandro has been saying. Whilst I did lose the connection with the team when mandaric's merry go round was in full swing. Pearson rebuilt that with players like Hobbs, Morrison, Fryatt, Berner, Waghorn, Weale. It feels wrong to see them treated the way the have been. Obviously Pearson had 2 years to build that. In 2 years time the likes of Bamba, Naughton, Vassell and Davies could be Leicester legends in the making but right now the idea of Hobbs being dumped behind Davies, Bamba, Vitor and Mee in the pecking order is as hard to take as the idea of Wellens being sold to Brum.

Berner has done very little wrong since Cunningham broke his leg, he has had a good run in the side and has repaid that with some good performances, I also believe he has been a senior figure for the likes of Hobbs and Bamba to look to, if he is uncerimoniously dumped out of the side for Aanholt, like he was for Cunningham, and then doesn't play another minute of football until the end of the season it will be very harsh. If on the other hand, Aanholt is brought on as a second half substitute a couple of times and plays well and earns his place in the side then no one can begrudge that. Cunningham, like Bednar, Kirkland and Vassell walked into the side without deserving to do so and that is what has unsettled the squad. Naughton Davies Bamba and Yakubu were brought in to fill and hole and were required to go straight in to the first team.

This sums up how I feel, however where I differ is that I don't mind if Waggy, Berner, Hobbs or Weale or anyone is dropped for someone who is an improvement.

Kirkland for Weale was a mistake, Bednar for Waghorn was a mistake (not that that was a straight swap, but it was someone else coming in keeping him out the team, Bernard Parker for Waghorn or for some of the people mentioned in the vaguely linked thread I think would have been a mistake. I still think Berner for Cunningham was a mistake, because what Cunningham made up for in mobility he lacked elsewhere & its no coincidence we scored from a corner as soon as Berner was back in the team & we've been a threat ever since. I'm not convinced by Vitor over Hobbs I just don't think there's enough of a performance gap, considering Vitor isn't our man and then there is the risk of the lack of development of our own lad, and I'm certainly not in favour of Mee over Hobbs, against a side with less injuries than Millwall or if we were playing away he would have been a nightmare.

However Naughton over Neilson is genius, on paper Davies & Bamba over Hobbs is genius although I think Davies & Hobbs (defensively) have a chance complimenting each other better. Yakubu higher up the pecking order than Waghorn is obviously good and on paper Van Aanholt over Berner sounds great

So what I'm saying is, if the there is a gap in ability then I don't have a problem with Hobbs, Waggy, Berner or anyone being replaced but I am dead against pointless like-for-like swaps. The only thing they succeed in doing is weakening our existing player-base and unsettling everyone.

I will be extremely disappointed if Hobbs & Waghorn are sold because they have a lot to offer at some point, given the right coaching & maybe a close season with the current management & coaching structure. but as far as replacing them with players who are a class above in the team right now? It's fine with me

[Kitchandro]

This sums up how I feel, however where I differ is that I don't mind if Waggy, Berner, Hobbs or Weale or anyone is dropped for someone who is an improvement.

Kirkland for Weale was a mistake, Bednar for Waghorn was a mistake (not that that was a straight swap, but it was someone else coming in keeping him out the team, Bernard Parker for Waghorn or for some of the people mentioned in the vaguely linked thread I think would have been a mistake. I still think Berner for Cunningham was a mistake, because what Cunningham made up for in mobility he lacked elsewhere & its no coincidence we scored from a corner as soon as Berner was back in the team & we've been a threat ever since. I'm not convinced by Vitor over Hobbs I just don't think there's enough of a performance gap, considering Vitor isn't our man and then there is the risk of the lack of development of our own lad, and I'm certainly not in favour of Mee over Hobbs, against a side with less injuries than Millwall or if we were playing away he would have been a nightmare.

However Naughton over Neilson is genius, on paper Davies & Bamba over Hobbs is genius although I think Davies & Hobbs (defensively) have a chance complimenting each other better. Yakubu higher up the pecking order than Waghorn is obviously good and on paper Van Aanholt over Berner sounds great

So what I'm saying is, if the there is a gap in ability then I don't have a problem with Hobbs, Waggy, Berner or anyone being replaced but I am dead against pointless like-for-like swaps. The only thing they succeed in doing is weakening our existing player-base and unsettling everyone.

I will be extremely disappointed if Hobbs & Waghorn are sold because they have a lot to offer at some point, given the right coaching & maybe a close season with the current management & coaching structure. but as far as replacing them with players who are a class above in the team right now? It's fine with me

Yeh exactly, it's not that I'm just blindly in support of players we've already got, it's just that Sven has tried to replace Hobbs with Vitor, Mee and Davies and none have really looked a class above. All it's done really is unsettle the defence even more, and the quality of defending hasn't really improved. It's almost like he and Sven don't get on because he seems desperate to pick anyone over him.

Now as for Waghorn, I can totally understand the Yak and Vassell playing in front of him, they've earned it. But for Howard to start against Man Ciy and be brought on before Waghorn is as a sub I just don't get. Now I've always liked Howard but to think he's a better option than Waghorn these days is a bit strange.

[Tommy G]

I know a lot of people are having wet dreams about the old guard, but are the likes of berner, howard, waghorn etc going to get us up and keep us up? No

Thankfully that's why we have sven in charge and not someone sentimental who would play players because they have a "connection with the fans"

Modern football is controlled by money, fact. Unless you are in the same class as giggs and scholes then loyalty won't come in anywhere.

I trust Sven to pick the team and sign players that are up to it. Top of the form table since he arrived suggests he knows what he's doing. Some people need to button it, were not on football manager anymore

[marbelladave]

I know a lot of people are having wet dreams about the old guard, but are the likes of berner, howard, waghorn etc going to get us up and keep us up? No

Thankfully that's why we have sven in charge and not someone sentimental who would play players because they have a "connection with the fans"

Modern football is controlled by money, fact. Unless you are in the same class as giggs and scholes then loyalty won't come in anywhere.

I trust Sven to pick the team and sign players that are up to it. Top of the form table since he arrived suggests he knows what he's doing. Some people need to button it, were not on football manager anymore

Surprisingly on the money, if you parden the pun...

I think Sven is doing damn well so far and as you say, his record proves it...

[Fox1651]

To try and put things in perspective with the player loyalty thing, i would just add the following, just lets say for argument we were top of the championship and looking certs for promotion and Hobbs had been first choice all season, then Jan transfer window opens and even a modest prem side like Everton came in for him, does anyone honestly think that Hobbs would say "No Everton i have too much of a rapport with the Leicester City fans im staying put" B******s he would be off like a rat up a drainpipe. So whilst its great to have a rapport with the likes of Bamba, The Yak etc dont expect it to last, the game these days rarely (sorry VERY rarely) produces a Billy Bonds (West Ham) sort of one man club players anymore that are absolutely idolised by the fans. In short if we get the chance to sign some quality players as we have been doing, we should welcome them all, its not disloyal to Hobbs etc but the club is more important than any one player. I support Leicester City and bleed blue blood and although i have my favourite players, most of the time they will metaphorically stab the fans in the back the minute we either go down like that twat Hume did or as i say above be off like a rat up a drainpipe the minute a med to big prem club comes in for them. Hope you understand where im coming from with this . . . . . . errrm rant i suppose?

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Spot on Fox1651 spot on. Up the Foxes

[Captain...]

To try and put things in perspective with the player loyalty thing, i would just add the following, just lets say for argument we were top of the championship and looking certs for promotion and Hobbs had been first choice all season, then Jan transfer window opens and even a modest prem side like Everton came in for him, does anyone honestly think that Hobbs would say "No Everton i have too much of a rapport with the Leicester City fans im staying put" B******s he would be off like a rat up a drainpipe. So whilst its great to have a rapport with the likes of Bamba, The Yak etc dont expect it to last, the game these days rarely (sorry VERY rarely) produces a Billy Bonds (West Ham) sort of one man club players anymore that are absolutely idolised by the fans. In short if we get the chance to sign some quality players as we have been doing, we should welcome them all, its not disloyal to Hobbs etc but the club is more important than any one player. I support Leicester City and bleed blue blood and although i have my favourite players, most of the time they will metaphorically stab the fans in the back the minute we either go down like that twat Hume did or as i say above be off like a rat up a drainpipe the minute a med to big prem club comes in for them. Hope you understand where im coming from with this . . . . . . errrm rant i suppose?

It's not just about sentimentality, it's about gradually improving a team, starting with a solid backline and building on it. Introducing new players to an established side, rather than chopping and changing. When Sven first came in we brought in Naughton and Davies then Cunningham, but it took us 5 games to record a clean sheet. You can't buy 4 or 5 players and expect them to gel instantly. Despite our all premiership back 4 we still didn't look that solid. When young players like Naughton Cuningham and Mee join a club they look to the experienced players to help them out, co-ordinate the back line and give them some guidance.

We are performing well at the moment and winning games. We don't need to make wholesale changes. I don't want Berner to play ahead of Aanholt because of sentiment I want him to play because he has been playing well, he is an experienced head in a young back line and he is more defensive minded than Naughton on the right. To risk unbalancing this with an untried untested young inexperienced player makes no sense. Unlike Mee, Aanholt should be brought gradually into the team, being brought on to add a bit of pace and attacking impetus when needed or when we are controlling the game, and not thrown it at the deep with a first start when we are perfectly adequate in that department.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but do you not thing Hobbs would be as good as he was last season, or better if he had played regularly in his preferred position and we had brought in players to play alongside him and not in place of him? If someone did come in for him, we would at least get a good price for him, as opposed to playing Davies or Naughton, who if they play well will attract interest from prem clubs and bugger off and we don't get a penny.

[gibwarrior1988]

It's not just about sentimentality, it's about gradually improving a team, starting with a solid backline and building on it. Introducing new players to an established side, rather than chopping and changing. When Sven first came in we brought in Naughton and Davies then Cunningham, but it took us 5 games to record a clean sheet. You can't buy 4 or 5 players and expect them to gel instantly. Despite our all premiership back 4 we still didn't look that solid. When young players like Naughton Cuningham and Mee join a club they look to the experienced players to help them out, co-ordinate the back line and give them some guidance.

We are performing well at the moment and winning games. We don't need to make wholesale changes. I don't want Berner to play ahead of Aanholt because of sentiment I want him to play because he has been playing well, he is an experienced head in a young back line and he is more defensive minded than Naughton on the right. To risk unbalancing this with an untried untested young inexperienced player makes no sense. Unlike Mee, Aanholt should be brought gradually into the team, being brought on to add a bit of pace and attacking impetus when needed or when we are controlling the game, and not thrown it at the deep with a first start when we are perfectly adequate in that department.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but do you not thing Hobbs would be as good as he was last season, or better if he had played regularly in his preferred position and we had brought in players to play alongside him and not in place of him? If someone did come in for him, we would at least get a good price for him, as opposed to playing Davies or Naughton, who if they play well will attract interest from prem clubs and bugger off and we don't get a penny.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Take both Captain Shrapnel and Fox1651 points on board - both very valid