Is it THAT major disaster IF we don't go up this year?

[Christoph]

If we dont go up now we will basically end up blue square in a few years

[Leicester_Loyal]

dont stop there, why not tell us the lottery numbers for next week also...

I'm not that good!

But he was bought in on a two year contract, after our start this year, the Thais know it would have been really hard to go up. I still believe we can make the play offs and go up, but it will be tough.

Sven has a whole summer to build up a squad, to gel them, to get them thinking the same, get them playing for each other and get them to fight together as one.

[ithuriel]

no disaster, just a disappointment after all that has been achieved in so short a space of time.

[Courua]

I really think that overall if we want to actually stay in the prem after going up we will stand a massively better chance if we go up after next season, and staying up is the bigger issue in the bigger picture, only that way will we keep Sven for any length of time and gain back our reputation.

I don't think we will lose him over not going up this season, he is one of the better mangers in the game so he wont be fired and he wants this challenge, probably needs it to get back into the game after his downfall. He's got the financial backing of the owners and the ability to build his own team again. This links in with the reasoning for my belief that we would be better going up next time, that Sven can gain the players he wants during the summer. We know that its going to be difficult to get players from the prem to drop down but I have faith that Sven's reputation will pull that which with Any other manager would be impossible.

In terms of why stay down rather than next season in the prem it means that these players would have the chance to bond, which when looking at our defence for example would mean that we would presumably have a solid Leicester back four rather than 3 loanees who we have minimal guarantee of keeping next season come what may. If thrown into the prem straight off the bat then what if we make a mistake in choice of partner for Bamba, what if we still cant find the correct left back, also our goalkeeper backup/replacement needs to be evaluated as Ricardo is looking either rusty and needs time to improve or past it, and would Weale really cut it in the prem?

Then on to the midfield, we have 3 players of note, none of which are wingers (note Dyer is not a player for the prem, questionably even the championship), plus we have a bunch of players that either arnt ready or need replacing, Oakley being most prevalent of the bunch due to his age. Then its the strikers, Yakubu is an amazing player as an up front striker but I wouldn't necessarily be upset if he went back or even we had him on load another season... who knows, however, I've heard him being called lazy or in having a low workrate and that isn't terribly inspiring me in confidence when next season in the prem we would need everyone to graft for every win. And I know there are different types of graft for different players but, hey, this is my post Also if Shlupp (?spl) is a player for the future then it will give him a chance next term rather than little to none in the prem.

Then to some minor points, it means we can develop the reserves and get them in the reserves league. I know they are playing organised stuff still but it still hasn't helped I think as its happened to late.

Also, the Trunch. As the bloke has been out so long would you want him in the prem right now, one season in the champ to get the rust off the knee and get him back to a level again and we could have an amazing defence again. Fingers crossed he will continue with his comeback from a horrible injury without another flare up.

Lastly I will point out the financial issue people are pointing out, if we go up, get relegated we would lose Sven, yo-yo and we could turn into a Crystal Palace, plus if we drop down and lose the players who we gain in the prem, we have to rebuild from a weaker position rather then rebuild now when we are of good standing. We need the stability in the team first and foremost before we go up or, for all the brilliance or one season with the bonus of parachute payments, it will do us no good in the long run. Financially we need to go up and stay up, no two ways about it.

I'd love it if we go up, but I think it could do us more damage than good.

[Les-TA-Jon]

the problems of the New owners/pearson leaving/Sousa's start can't be understated.

It's made it really tough to finish in the play offs this season - but in a way, more importantly it has forced us into a constrained but reasonably unsustainable transfer policy. Let me explain myself - I'm happy with LCFC right now, i think we're doing great. And also whilst the going is good i see little point in worrying about the future. But......

Sven came in and had to try and get us promoted. Up front was wasteful and the back was shipping goals. So he had to change things (plus that's his style - he's not a roy hodgson type - he can't get bad players to perform better - he just get's in better ones). He was stuck by the lack of a transfer window, so loans came. Then by the time January came, the club couldn't guarantee premiership for next season so had to continue with loans.

This isn't necessarily a problem (we've loads of premiership and international players right now - it's good!) but the problem is the sustainability of it - or lack it. We've seen our back ups leave/disillusioned (morrison/hobbs/berner). I agree that these players aren't good enough for what we want to achieve, but the problem is if we don't go up this season many players will leave.

Current Line up:

Ricardo

Naughton Bamba Mee Aanholt

Abe

Wellens King

Vassell Yak Gallagher

Next Season if we don't go up:

Ricardo

??? Bamba ??? ???

Abe

Wellens King

Vassell ??? Gallagher

Now i know that's not disastrous and obviously we'd make signings - but it's a big step backwards in terms of the team and also a loss of the quality players we've currently got.

It all stems from the Thai's trying to get promoted on the minimal investment. Now obviously this makes business sense (and also our squad was close to it last year) but it just seems like a big gamble cos if we don't go up we take a big step back in terms of the players we have.

Also it makes the pressure next season so much bigger!

[m00nie]

It all stems from the Thai's trying to get promoted on the minimal investment. Now obviously this makes business sense (and also our squad was close to it last year) but it just seems like a big gamble cos if we don't go up we take a big step back in terms of the players we have.

what ??? they have hardly been shy on the money front...

not being held to ranson (swp saga) dont mean minimal spending

[brockmyster]

Lets get real sven has completely transformed our season and if the owners would be fools to sack him. Why wouldnt Naughton want to join though? Hes clearly settled well into the team and enjoying it here and if we didnt go up we have got to be one of the favourites for next year. The owners are clearly going to allow the manager to spend to add to the squad, so any players we lose will be replaced.

[purpleronnie]

Well I thought we might scrape into the top 10 this year so no it wouldn't be a disaster, all this talk about winning the league baffles me.

[Cropwellfox]

Lets get real sven has completely transformed our season and if the owners would be fools to sack him. Why wouldnt Naughton want to join though? Hes clearly settled well into the team and enjoying it here and if we didnt go up we have got to be one of the favourites for next year. The owners are clearly going to allow the manager to spend to add to the squad, so any players we lose will be replaced.

Colin W*nker tried to get him in January but we offered more for the loan for the rest of the season. He's down in London with Spurs and as QPR only have Bradley Orr as a RB it's very likely Colin will come back in during the close season

[Reborn]

From a selfish perspective, I want promotion this year, for no other reason than next year will be my last year as a STH for the foreseeable future, so it'd be nice to have a year in the Prem.

[FoxyPV]

I'd be disappointed if we didn't make the playoff at least (and my bet would come up) but not getting promoted this year would not be a disaster. The year after would be a different story

[LukeyZade]

it would not be a major blow if we dont go up no.

my issues would be

would sven be here

key players such as some of our current loanees

would anyone come to play for us

i think its where we are now in the league and the huge turn-around that we achieved so far, just seem a slight let down if we dont make play-offs now.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

In a word, yes.

this whole side has been built with a lot of loans to get us up.

If it does not happen we wont sign any of them meaning a huge change in personnel, plus prem sides will be sniffing around King, Wellens, Bamba, Vassell etc.

And add a good offer for Sven and it could be real carnage.

yep its sad to say but i do happen to agree with this - on the face of it i would love to say it wont be a disaster but in reality . . . . . . it will <_< . up The Foxes

[Arnar Gunnlaugsson]

I'd happily have another year in the championship purely for the fact that it is more exciting to be chasing promotion than battling relegation. Under Sven we are seeing some good football (granted not so much in the last three games) and most enjoyably seeing city win, something which would be a rarity in the prem. If we go up the best we can hope for is to do what Birmingham or Stoke have done. A good friend of mine is a blues fan and I've been to a few games this season and have noticed that a surprising number of fans say that they wouldn't be that bothered about going down. People make out that it is the promised land but after a couple of years there they soon realise that the best they can hope for is to be mid table and not be dragged into the dog fight whereas being a decent championship side gives you an opportunity of a league title or the excitement of the play offs. We have as good a chance of getting in to Europe in the championship as in the Prem because we would not be troubling the top6, the best we could hope for is a cup win. It may sound pessimistic but in all fairness it's realistic. We are never going to be world beaters.

Yes the prem has many of the world's best players but I struggled to appreciate their quality when they tore us apart last time we were there. Paying up to £50 to witness it is also a bit shit when you have some cracking away days in this league.

If we go up we would have to throw a lot of money at experienced premiership players who can slot right in and if we were to come back down then we would be in the shit financially. Given the summer to take stock and prepare for next year's assault on the leage would be a great thing for sven. He will have the time to look at who will do a job in this league but also have the ability to step up and perform in the prem. There is a reason the teams above us are where they are. They have all taken their time and built good teams that can gain promotion and have a decent shout at staying up. We had a half decent team with no confidence when Sven came in and he has made us a team who have a decent shout at promotion. He has brought in some very good players on loan but shrewd signings to fill the gaps that have been plugged with loanees would put us in a much better position for promotion and avoiding relegation. Like Courua has said, another season would allow players like Schlupp and Tunchev to find a way into the first team and for Sven to create his team.

Let's just enjoy the ride that we are on. No one could honestly have expected us to be in with a shout of the play offs in October so to be here right in the race now is remarkable. Not going up may be a waste of money for the owners but it's been an amazing season for the fans. The buzz around the club has been brilliant and we have seen things I never would have expected. I'd struggle to get the Yak at City on Footy Manager so to see him down there every week is great. As a fan, I think it has been great value for money. This season has been mad and there are plenty more twists and turns left in it.

I wouldn't mind losing in the play offs this year, having a day at Wembley, then bossing the league next year and getting another piece of silverware in the cabinet.

[Guest DavidJCW]

It's incredible how everyone thinks on this board...

Before the Cardiff game, everyone basically had us already promoted which is utter nonsense as no games are easy and we're still going to have to work our arses off to make it up.

Then after the 1-1 draw against Coventry, we're suddenly on the edge as to we're going to even make the play-offs at all!!!

People need to gain some perspective about this whole situation and realise that we're a damn good side in this division, we play some good football at times and with a serious bit of hard work, we could make the play-offs. As for what happens from there, it's down to that extra bit of grit and luck, look at Blackpool last year, they weren't the best team in the play-offs, but they stole it to gain promotion... anything can happen.

Let's just get our heads around the next week of fixtures before we start planning out the future of the club!

[shailen]

It's incredible how everyone thinks on this board...

Before the Cardiff game, everyone basically had us already promoted which is utter nonsense as no games are easy and we're still going to have to work our arses off to make it up.

Then after the 1-1 draw against Coventry, we're suddenly on the edge as to we're going to even make the play-offs at all!!!

People need to gain some perspective about this whole situation and realise that we're a damn good side in this division, we play some good football at times and with a serious bit of hard work, we could make the play-offs. As for what happens from there, it's down to that extra bit of grit and luck, look at Blackpool last year, they weren't the best team in the play-offs, but they stole it to gain promotion... anything can happen.

Let's just get our heads around the next week of fixtures before we start planning out the future of the club!

Exactly, we are still well in the mix. It will take another couple of bad results for me to rule us out.

[ajthefox]

It's incredible how everyone thinks on this board...

Before the Cardiff game, everyone basically had us already promoted which is utter nonsense as no games are easy and we're still going to have to work our arses off to make it up.

Then after the 1-1 draw against Coventry, we're suddenly on the edge as to we're going to even make the play-offs at all!!!

People need to gain some perspective about this whole situation and realise that we're a damn good side in this division, we play some good football at times and with a serious bit of hard work, we could make the play-offs. As for what happens from there, it's down to that extra bit of grit and luck, look at Blackpool last year, they weren't the best team in the play-offs, but they stole it to gain promotion... anything can happen.

Let's just get our heads around the next week of fixtures before we start planning out the future of the club!

Thank you for being sensible. It's still very possible when you consider how long is left but we have made it harder for ourselves with our past two performances.

All that aside, it is far from a disaster anyway.

[Haydos]

It's incredible how everyone thinks on this board...

Before the Cardiff game, everyone basically had us already promoted which is utter nonsense as no games are easy and we're still going to have to work our arses off to make it up.

Then after the 1-1 draw against Coventry, we're suddenly on the edge as to we're going to even make the play-offs at all!!!

People need to gain some perspective about this whole situation and realise that we're a damn good side in this division, we play some good football at times and with a serious bit of hard work, we could make the play-offs. As for what happens from there, it's down to that extra bit of grit and luck, look at Blackpool last year, they weren't the best team in the play-offs, but they stole it to gain promotion... anything can happen.

Let's just get our heads around the next week of fixtures before we start planning out the future of the club!

Obviously every game from now on in could be a deal breaker. Poor results against sides like Cov are going to provoke over reactions. Same as a win against QPR will. I guarantee threads about automatic promotion should we beat QPR. Just get used to it.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Obviously every game from now on in could be a deal breaker. Poor results against sides like Cov are going to provoke over reactions. Same as a win against QPR will. I guarantee threads about automatic promotion should we beat QPR. Just get used to it.

ive got to say - i still wouldnt fancy us for automatic promotion even if we had say drawn at Cardiff and beaten Cov - just think thats never really been on the cards anyway - whereas before these last two results i was starting to think we could make the play-offs - not even sure we will make them now??? Although we still have a fair chance TBH Automatic promotion - people who were even mentioning that as a realistic option were on another planet