MikeyT Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 Sven-Goran Eriksson said he would welcome the pressure of being favourites for promotion next season. His side have already been given short odds on gaining automatic promotion next season, and Eriksson said the favourites tag would not be a burden. City are expected to make a heavy investment to strengthen their squad this summer and they have drawn comparisons with this season's champions QPR, who fulfilled their tag of pre-season title favourites. "I hope we are the favourites when we start in August," said Eriksson. "We like to be the favourite. "Whoever comes down will make it hard and then you have (promoted) Brighton and Southampton too. They are big clubs with big ambitions. "In February I would have put a bet on us that we would at least make the play-offs. We have conceded too many easy goals. That is what we have done. "But we need to build on the good things we have been doing. Normally it is good to watch our team because you know you will see some brilliant play and combinations. But it is not enough, and hasn't been enough too." Eriksson said he was confident because he knew his younger players would be much better next season having learned valuable lessons from their mistakes during the last campaign. Eriksson is trying to obtain the services of loanees Jeff Bruma, Patrick Van Aanholt and Ben Mee for another season, and he said they would be even better second time around. "I have learned a lot of things, but one thing we have all learned is that we have conceded a lot of goals," said Eriksson. "We have to do that better for next season. You have to be consistent in this league and physically strong. "We have learned a lot of things. You can't make as many mistakes as we have done. It cost us too many goals. "I think we have a lot of good players. Some of them are young and lack experience but, after one year in this league, you have more experience and learned a lot of things. They will be stronger." Eriksson says he can sense the expectation around the city and he is driven by the desire to fulfil the ambition of reaching the Premier League. "I have enjoyed this season, very much. I like the city, the club and the fans," he said. "I can understand the hunger to see this club back in the Premier League soon. "That is fair because it has been a Premier League club before. "We have a great stadium, which is a Premier League stadium. The training ground is good but it will be even better because there is some work being done on it this summer. "We had nearly 25,000 in the crowd for the last game of the season, which was bigger than some of the Premier League clubs. "We want to fulfil their dream. I hope so."
sphericalfox Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 It'll make finding players that much more easy to attract to the club.
ozleicester Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 "I hope we are the favourites when we start in August," said Eriksson. "We like to be the favourite. So pleased to read this... Yes, be confident, forget the underdog bullsh*t... We are Leicester, we belong in the premier league!
Leicester_Loyal Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 No mention of Naughton? Don't think he'll be coming here mate. Its better to have loved and to have lost, than to have never loved at all.
topharry123 Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 Too right I hope we're favorites as well. Last year it was Newcastle who ran away with it, this year QPR who ran away with it. Although it's no guarantees, being favorites can give the players that extra bit of confidence and belief in themselves.
Guest Col city fan Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 Too right I hope we're favorites as well. Last year it was Newcastle who ran away with it, this year QPR who ran away with it. Although it's no guarantees, being favorites can give the players that extra bit of confidence and belief in themselves. Being favourites also puts us up there to be shot at so adds pressure.. Can work one of two ways. I'm surprised we'd be considered favourites over West Ham/ Wigan/ Wolves.... The bookies usually get it right, but it's still to early to make any sort of predictions.. We don't know what the squads gonna be and how much Sven is gonna spend
leicesterseddon Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 The bookies will wait and see how things pan out with the relegated PL clubs (particularly if West Ham can find a suitable replacement) and which players they lose, etc. before making any concrete predictions. To say we're 'bookies' favourites' means absolutely nothing at the minute because that prediction excluded clubs in the play-offs as well as the relegated PL clubs. I reckon midway through the close season, we'll be 3rd/4th favourites after West Ham, other relegates PL sides (with the possible exception of Blackpool if they come down) and Forest/Swansea/Reading depending on the Sw-R play-off final.
ajthefox Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 "I hope we are the favourites when we start in August," said Eriksson. "We like to be the favourite. So pleased to read this... Yes, be confident, forget the underdog bullsh*t... We are Leicester, we belong in the premier league! ugh, I know we're a decent size club but I can't stand that mentality when it's no warranted. We've always been a yo-yo club and since the premier league started we've spent more time out of it then it, so we certainly don't belong there. I'm not trying to be-little us or anything, but I've just checked and we are joint 19th on seasons in the premier league with Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Wimbledon. It's worth stating that Cov, Leeds, M'boro, and Southampton all have more seasons in the PL than us but are in the same division as we are. Point being if any fans of those teams said "we belong in the prem" I'd tell them to do one because they really don't. They belong where they are, no team deserves to be anywhere other than where they are, and that includes us.
bmt Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 ugh, I know we're a decent size club but I can't stand that mentality when it's no warranted. We've always been a yo-yo club and since the premier league started we've spent more time out of it then it, so we certainly don't belong there. I'm not trying to be-little us or anything, but I've just checked and we are joint 19th on seasons in the premier league with Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Wimbledon. It's worth stating that Cov, Leeds, M'boro, and Southampton all have more seasons in the PL than us but are in the same division as we are. Point being if any fans of those teams said "we belong in the prem" I'd tell them to do one because they really don't. They belong where they are, no team deserves to be anywhere other than where they are, and that includes us. Surely joint 19th qualifies us to say we belong in the premier league, with there being 20 teams and that...
cc_star Posted 19 May 2011 Posted 19 May 2011 Everytime I see Naughton missing from a list of players Sven wants to sign it makes me want to stamp on a kitten
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