The "do they mean us?" thread

[Steven]

Unsurprisingly all the writers at the Guardian have us down for relegation (still bitter after getting nigel's phantom sacking wrong?):

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/aug/05/premier-league-2015-16-season-predictions

 

... except Paul Doyle and Louise Taylor. I know I am a City fan but there is a lot of specious reasoning in those comments. 

Edited 5 August 2015 by Steven

[EnglishOxide]

Precisely. Pearson changed formations to try and improve us defensively.

We played 5 at the back when our defence was weak. We went 3-5-2 with more attacking intent when our CBs were more capable at the job ie when Huth arrived. This then allowed Cambiasso a more attacking role.

Thats how i see it

Spot on.

I've got no problem with everybody writing us off. We lost a great manager and replaced him with one who has question marks over his head.

I will be ****ing furious if he makes 4 or 5 changes to a winning side and his over tinkering ****s us up.

The last thing players want is a manager who will drop them even after playing well.

[Monk]

... except Paul Doyle and Louise Taylor. I know I am a City fan but there is a lot of specious reasoning in those comments. 

 

Yes, sorry, skimmed through it v quick.

[Kitchandro]

Precisely. Pearson changed formations to try and improve us defensively.

 

We played 5 at the back when our defence was weak. We went 3-5-2 with more attacking intent when our CBs were more capable at the job ie when Huth arrived. This then allowed Cambiasso a more attacking role.

 

Thats how i see it

 

Our defence may have been weak but setting up so negatively did not help us one iota.

 

We played well before Huth - right at the start of the season when we attacked teams and got some good results.

 

Of course Huth made a difference, but it wasn't THE difference. With or without Huth, had we played as we did at the start and end of the season all campaign we'd have stayed up comfortably. Pearson was just too chicken to do that.

[Kitchandro]

Spot on.

I've got no problem with everybody writing us off. We lost a great manager and replaced him with one who has question marks over his head.

I will be ****ing furious if he makes 4 or 5 changes to a winning side and his over tinkering ****s us up.

The last thing players want is a manager who will drop them even after playing well.

 

So what Pearson did with Albrighton (on several occasions) Wasliewski, Knockaert, Hamer (to an extent) and Kramaric?

[Goober]

I will be ****ing furious if he makes 4 or 5 changes to a winning side and his over tinkering ****s us up.

The last thing players want is a manager who will drop them even after playing well.

Nigel certainly wasn't innocent of this last year. Baffling team selection week after week for 2/3 of the season and his constant refusal to play Albrighton until the last couple of months. His inability to use Kramaric effectively. Danny fvcking Simpson.

[EnglishOxide]

Were we winning during them times?

Wasilewski was dropped because Morgan is captain.

Albrighton was unfit and/or had personal issues

Knockaert bless him wasn't given a fair crack of the whip but Mahrez is our better flair player.

Hamers distribution is questionable, why is it that only Forest were interested in him over the summer?

Kramaric was a victim of experiments was the 5-4-1, but he overall he still wasn't strong enough to unanimously show he is ahead of all our other strikers.

[Richmondfox]

Unsurprisingly all the writers at the Guardian have us down for relegation (still bitter after getting nigel's phantom sacking wrong?):

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/aug/05/premier-league-2015-16-season-predictions

The Guardian never give us any time or credit as there isn't a fan of the club on their writing staff/podcast.  I like the podcast but they have no knowledge about teams below Spurs.  When we romped the Championship they were down on us but pro QPR, last season wrote us off in March as already down but praising Villa and Sunderland.  

 

Also there is a article of fans opinion.  http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/aug/01/premier-league-fans-verdicts-part-1-arsenal-to-manchester-unitedDoes the Leicester writer post on here?  Reading his personal blog explains why the Guardian picks him and why I dislike, Owen Jones in the making.

[HitchinFox]

 

 

NBC Sports Premier League Preview

 

 

Watched the preview show tonight, and unfortunately both Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe are predicting relegation for us.

They did say we would have a chance if Ranieri becomes the first fired manager of this season.

 

This will only be my second full season of watching the Premier League and of following Leicester, and I sure as hell don't wanna see us relegated at the end of this season.

 

 

Wouldn't worry. You'll find that Robbie Earle and Robbie Mustoe, as football analysts, are about as useful as Anne Frank's drum kit. 

[Kitchandro]

Were we winning during them times?

Wasilewski was dropped because Morgan is captain.

Albrighton was unfit and/or had personal issues

Knockaert bless him wasn't given a fair crack of the whip but Mahrez is our better flair player.

Hamers distribution is questionable, why is it that only Forest were interested in him over the summer?

Kramaric was a victim of experiments was the 5-4-1, but he overall he still wasn't strong enough to unanimously show he is ahead of all our other strikers.

 

Never heard either of these excuses (which one is it?), that doesn't add up with his girlfriend being happy that Pearson was 'leaving' in February either.

Captain or not, you should be picked on form. Either you have this principle or you don't.

Knockaert wasn't given a fair crack of the whip, you're talking specifically here about changing a winning team. Against Aston Villa our two standout performers in one of only two league wins since September were Knockaert (first league game he'd started since the opener I believe) and Albrighton, both were dropped for the next game.

 

Agree about Hamer, that's why I said to an extent. But dropping him for the dreadful Schwarzer when he'd at least been fairly solid, was a ridiculous decision.

 

Kramaric was bought for a record fee when none of our strikers were scoring or playing well, he was left on the bench for several games and despite scoring two great goals, was not persevered with. He was a victim of being played out wide, up on his own with no service or support, or not at all, if we're being specific.

 

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

I've got no problem with everybody writing us off. We lost a great manager and replaced him with one who has question marks over his head.

 

[Gerard]

If Robbie learning difficulties Earle predicts relegation we should be ok.

 

I remember when we sacked Denis Wise.

 

He appealed and the decision was overturned and he was allowed his £36k a week job back at Leicester. I recall thinking WTF? as I knew a bit about employment law at the time and wondered how they could possibly overturn a decision to sack him when he had broke a colleague's jaw as he lay asleep in his bed whilst on a club trip.

 

It turns out the appeal committee was some referee, Frank Clark and Robbie Earle. WTF do they know about employment law?

[fuchsntf]

Everybody, pundits, journalists, weatherman, uncle tom cobberlys relations...got us down for relegation,

We are in our best well known position...UNDERDOGS ( OR UNDERFOXES) lets face it, thats how we love it!!!

End of August..12th, EOSEPT..14TH, EOOCT..10th,...EONOV..6th, EODEC...12th, EOJan..10th,....EOSeason...8th.

No negative thoughts, just big hopes and dreams before a ball is kicked.

Sunderland game is not big, helpfull if 3 pts. I mentioned last season, with NP and now has Claudio become manager, I give the team, until EOsept, before I analyse, or start to Assess the situation from my view point.

We have added to the squad, hence we have improved it, can they mold and fit together, thats Claudios and coaches jobs.

Firstly/primarily though the players need to give in good performances, and show the basics..

[Master Fox]

What exactly do Norwich, Bournmouth, or Watford have that suggests any of them will finish above us? Did we not finish 14th last season in the Premier League?

[EnglishOxide]

Never heard either of these excuses (which one is it?), that doesn't add up with his girlfriend being happy that Pearson was 'leaving' in February either.

Captain or not, you should be picked on form. Either you have this principle or you don't.

Knockaert wasn't given a fair crack of the whip, you're talking specifically here about changing a winning team. Against Aston Villa our two standout performers in one of only two league wins since September were Knockaert (first league game he'd started since the opener I believe) and Albrighton, both were dropped for the next game.

Agree about Hamer, that's why I said to an extent. But dropping him for the dreadful Schwarzer when he'd at least been fairly solid, was a ridiculous decision.

Kramaric was bought for a record fee when none of our strikers were scoring or playing well, he was left on the bench for several games and despite scoring two great goals, was not persevered with. He was a victim of being played out wide, up on his own with no service or support, or not at all, if we're being specific.

You don't just go dropping the captain on a whim. He made a couple of individual errors but nothing worthy of upsetting the apple cart. Consistency in defence is everything. He had been the main man since Bamba left.

Kitch I don't know what you are doing mate.

My point was that Ranieri changes winning teams, hence the name Tinkerman. It could be his weakness where as sticking to a winning team was often NPs strength.

Then you stretched it out and started talking about some of NPs selections that you disagreed with.

[lgfualol]

What exactly do Norwich, Bournmouth, or Watford have that suggests any of them will finish above us? Did we not finish 14th last season in the Premier League?

 

It's funny. The absense of a manager they all wrote off last season until the last 9 games is a reason we'll go down. 

 

It's just lazy. The fact I rarely saw Bournemouth makes me laugh, they sign a 40 year old defender, tyrone mings and Tomlin and they'll be fine because they played attractive football in the same league we absolutely destroyed with the weaker team than we have now! 

 

Ah well. I'm going to save all of these predictions and enjoy laughing at them.

[davieG]

Leicester City Premier League 2015-16 preview: Claudio Ranieri faces fight for survival

• By Mark Bollons
  August 5, 2015 15:19 BST
• 1 1  

 

Claudio Ranieri replaces Nigel Pearson at the Leicester helm(Getty Images)

Last season

Premier League: 14th

FA Cup: Fifth round

League Cup: Second round

Top scorer: Leonardo Ulloa (13)

Summer's work

Two headline departures have dominated the summer at the King Power Stadium, with manager Nigel Pearson getting the chop after the great escape and Esteban Cambiasso opting for the exit door rather than a new one-year contract. Robert Huth's permanent arrival was an essential for the Foxes after last season's impressive loan spell, while Christian Fuchs adds experience at left-back after signing on a free transfer. Paul Konchesky has subsequently joined Queens Park Rangers on loan.

Japan international striker Shinji Okazaki hit double figures in his two seasons with Mainz but appears a gamble at £7m ($10.9m) – his signing comes after Chris Wood left for Leeds earlier in the summer. N'Golo Kante's arrival from Caen is a coup for the club after they beat Premier League rivals to the midfielder, and he joined on the same day as centre-back Yohan Benalouane from Atalanta.

The Foxes beat other Premier League clubs to the signing of N'Golo Kante(Getty Images) Manager – Claudio Ranieri

"The Tinkerman" is back in the Premier League more than a decade after leaving Chelsea. Popular but unsuccessful at Stamford Bridge, the Italian will need to impress supporters quickly after being appointed to replace fans' favourite Pearson.

Claudio Ranieri brings a wealth of experience to the job after spells with the likes of Valencia, Juventus, Roma and AS Monaco but whether that will help him keep Leicester in the top flight remains to be seen. The 63-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the club and will be hoping for better than in his last job, when Greece wielded the axe following one draw and four defeats in five games.

Key player – Riyad Mahrez

Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez produced some eye-catching performances for Leicester last season, suggesting the £400,000 paid to Le Havre in January 2014 was some shrewd business by Pearson. Occasionally frustrating, the versatile playmaker will have to be at his creative best on a regular basis to cover the substantial loss of Cambiasso.

He has the ability to improve on his three assists and four goals in the Premier League last season and one suspects he might have to when taking a closer look at the club's midfield options. Ranieri clearly believes he has the talent, having handed the 24-year-old a new four-year contract with the club.

Riyad Mahrez will need to find consistency this season(Getty Images) Expectations

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the loss of Cambiasso appears so significant that a 17th-place finish would be a success for many supporters. Having appeared doomed for the majority of last season, finishing 14^th flattered the Foxes and anything above that would come as a surprise.

With huge financial rewards around the corner courtesy of the new television rights deal, chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha will be desperate to see the club survive. He may have to reach for the cheque book once again in the coming weeks to make sure that happens.

IBT prediction – 19^th

After the miracle of 2014-15, it is back to reality for Leicester and a return to the Championship looks the most likely outcome for Ranieri's side.

[Wymsey]

Have a feeling these 'reporters' want the club to struggle, as they're jealous with the amount of attention the club has had (especially after what Pearson has done).

[Babylon]

Finishing 14th flattered us... what absolute shit, we finished there because we got more points than the other teams.

 

In what way were we not better than Villa, Newcastle, Burnley, Hull, QPR?

Edited 5 August 2015 by Babylon

[SpacedX]

Leicester City Premier League 2015-16 preview: Claudio Ranieri faces fight for survival

• By Mark Bollons
  August 5, 2015 15:19 BST
• 1 1  

 

Claudio Ranieri replaces Nigel Pearson at the Leicester helm(Getty Images)

Last season

Premier League: 14th

FA Cup: Fifth round

League Cup: Second round

Top scorer: Leonardo Ulloa (13)

Summer's work

Two headline departures have dominated the summer at the King Power Stadium, with manager Nigel Pearson getting the chop after the great escape and Esteban Cambiasso opting for the exit door rather than a new one-year contract. Robert Huth's permanent arrival was an essential for the Foxes after last season's impressive loan spell, while Christian Fuchs adds experience at left-back after signing on a free transfer. Paul Konchesky has subsequently joined Queens Park Rangers on loan.

Japan international striker Shinji Okazaki hit double figures in his two seasons with Mainz but appears a gamble at £7m ($10.9m) – his signing comes after Chris Wood left for Leeds earlier in the summer. N'Golo Kante's arrival from Caen is a coup for the club after they beat Premier League rivals to the midfielder, and he joined on the same day as centre-back Yohan Benalouane from Atalanta.

The Foxes beat other Premier League clubs to the signing of N'Golo Kante(Getty Images) Manager – Claudio Ranieri

"The Tinkerman" is back in the Premier League more than a decade after leaving Chelsea. Popular but unsuccessful at Stamford Bridge, the Italian will need to impress supporters quickly after being appointed to replace fans' favourite Pearson.

Claudio Ranieri brings a wealth of experience to the job after spells with the likes of Valencia, Juventus, Roma and AS Monaco but whether that will help him keep Leicester in the top flight remains to be seen. The 63-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the club and will be hoping for better than in his last job, when Greece wielded the axe following one draw and four defeats in five games.

Key player – Riyad Mahrez

Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez produced some eye-catching performances for Leicester last season, suggesting the £400,000 paid to Le Havre in January 2014 was some shrewd business by Pearson. Occasionally frustrating, the versatile playmaker will have to be at his creative best on a regular basis to cover the substantial loss of Cambiasso.

He has the ability to improve on his three assists and four goals in the Premier League last season and one suspects he might have to when taking a closer look at the club's midfield options. Ranieri clearly believes he has the talent, having handed the 24-year-old a new four-year contract with the club.

Riyad Mahrez will need to find consistency this season(Getty Images) Expectations

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the loss of Cambiasso appears so significant that a 17th-place finish would be a success for many supporters. Having appeared doomed for the majority of last season, finishing 14^th flattered the Foxes and anything above that would come as a surprise.

With huge financial rewards around the corner courtesy of the new television rights deal, chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha will be desperate to see the club survive. He may have to reach for the cheque book once again in the coming weeks to make sure that happens.

IBT prediction – 19^th

After the miracle of 2014-15, it is back to reality for Leicester and a return to the Championship looks the most likely outcome for Ranieri's side.

 

By Mark 'Bollocks'

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Finishing 14th flattered us... what absolute shit, we finished there because we got more points than the other teams.

 

In what way were we not better than Villa, Newcastle, Burnley, Hull, QPR?

 

Absolute bollocks

 

The fact that we were bottom so long means nothing as the run-in was so fantastic that it brought us out at 14th. You could just as well say how surprising it was that we didn't make the Champions League spots as we were obviously capable of beating anyone. Course that's bullshit too, cause we lost so many games we finished 14th.

[Babylon]

Absolute bollocks

 

The fact that we were bottom so long means nothing as the run-in was so fantastic that it brought us out at 14th. You could just as well say how surprising it was that we didn't make the Champions League spots as we were obviously capable of beating anyone. Course that's bullshit too, cause we lost so many games we finished 14th.

I shouldn't visit this thread, the ignorance from pundits if just baffling.

 

You get one person say a change in manager, some questionable signings will take us down... yet the same person will say Watford will stay up. Errrrm new managers and questionable signings is their speciality.

 

Last year we got written off, this year Bournemouth are tipped to be amazing.... yet we smashed the league up more than they did for gods sake.

[Richmondfox]

You don't just go dropping the captain on a whim. He made a couple of individual errors but nothing worthy of upsetting the apple cart. Consistency in defence is everything. He had been the main man since Bamba left.

Kitch I don't know what you are doing mate.

My point was that Ranieri changes winning teams, hence the name Tinkerman. It could be his weakness where as sticking to a winning team was often NPs strength.

 

Then you stretched it out and started talking about some of NPs selections that you disagreed with.

Did CR change winning teams into losing teams?  Pearson took a long time losing then many tinkers and more losses to get a winning team.  You seem to be really angry and bitter towards CR regarding something he hasn't even done yet.  

 

I liked Pearson a lot and defended his actions to friends every monday morning when he was the manager of our club.  Now he's gone it's ok to say that he was a bit of a helmet who got a lot of things wrong as much as right.

[SpacedX]

 sticking to a winning team was often NPs strength.

 

??????

 

More owing to, and I'm going back here, a complete lack of creativity - and the rigid adherence to 4-4-2 was possible in the Championship to devastating effect..

 

Wes, together with a string of in favour players seemed to be guaranteed a starting place which some didn't seem to be playing for and I am in full agreement that the captaincy does not make you immune from being dropped. Wes consistently turned in some woeful performances throughout November through to February although credit to him for turning this around so convincingly - although the addition of Huth nailed to his side and marshalling that defence was key to this. Worse still was the adherence to the dreadful Simpson and Konchesky for the large part of the season and the suicidal and outmoded tactic of zonal defence. All of which coincided with our plight at the foot of the table and all of which can be attributed in the main to Pearson's stubborn reluctance to effect change. Beyond motivating the team and keeping morale high, which was an appreciable achievement, tactically, I don't believe that NP had much of a hand in the 'great escape'.

Edited 5 August 2015 by Line-X

[EnglishOxide]

Did CR change winning teams into losing teams? Pearson took a long time losing then many tinkers and more losses to get a winning team. You seem to be really angry and bitter towards CR regarding something he hasn't even done yet.

I liked Pearson a lot and defended his actions to friends every monday morning when he was the manager of our club. Now he's gone it's ok to say that he was a bit of a helmet who got a lot of things wrong as much as right.

Are you really arguing that Ranieri doesn't like to mess about with teams lineups? He may have changed his ways in the last 10 years, I don't know. But at Chelsea he made baffling selections. He cost them the game in a champions league semi final against Monaco.

I'm not bitter towards him, he seems a nice bloke and I hope he does well, but I'm not going to overlook his weaknesses just because he is more likeable in the press than Nige.

He has done nothing for us yet.