'What a load of rubbish!'

[stockyfox]

'What a load of rubbish!' sang the Reading fans and much as I hate to admit it, they had a point.

It is a long time since I have been so disappointed with a Leicester performance.

Was this the same 'team' that had played with some distinction against the might of Valencia and Real Madrid?

If I had to adjudge which of these teams today was reckoned to be favourites for promotion, I would have to say the team in 'red'.

Reading deserved their win. Indeed, I felt that we were fortunate to still be on level terms at half-time but thought 'Sven will get it sorted'.

Individuals

The one player who showed that he really cared, who wore his heart on his sleeve and who produced some superb saves was Kasper Schmeichel. He regularly berated his defence in no uncertain terms – you could even hear him in the Stand!

I like Yuki Abe but today was one of those games he will want to forget and he was duly replaced by Andy King for the second half.

I was delighted to see Jeffrey Schlupp in the starting XI but I was disappointed that there were so many occasions when colleagues chose to pass elsewhere rather than him.

David Nugent battled hard and one wonders what might have been the course of events had his powerful long range second-half shot gone into the net instead of rebounding off the post. There again, in the first-half, he had tried a shot when possibly a better option would have been to have squared the ball to an unmarked Schlupp.

Paul Konchesky made some good runs down the wing but was caught in possession a couple of times and was then way out of position.

Pantsil contrived to provide crosses from the right but so many promising moves fizzled out because that final pass was too high or too long or too near the goalie.

It was also good to see Martyn Waghorn take to the field. He played with some purpose but why does Martyn take corners? He invariably lifts the ball too high and too long and the opportunity is lost.

Sol Bamba was a tower of strength – and needed to be. Reading not only played the long ball to good effect, they had players who time and again outpaced ours, even though we often had two in attendance.

Although both Ritchie Wellens and Neil Danns gave fairly committed performances, neither were to my mind, their usual assured selves.

And then there was Matt Mills! Booed by the Reading fans when he received the ball, then cheered as a pass went awry or he made some other mistake, he again seemed to lack that air of confidence and, not for the first time, his distribution often left something to be desired.

As for the overall team performance, we lacked cohesion, co-ordination and creativity. I fail to see the purpose of the pass to a colleague who immediately passes it back to the same player. There was too much aimless passing which, although securing possesion, didn't get anywhere.

Furthermore, our movement off the ball lacked vision and was far too often as an afterthought rather than a forethought. We often lived dangerously and was saved by some last-ditch tackling, too many times rather worryingly in the 'area'.

Reading had some tall players and we often came off second best in aerial battles.

Today was a dampener and a big disappointment to the faithful fans.

My dad used to have a saying 'It knocks your duck off!'

Yes, I know it was just one match and we have a whole season in front of us and I know the team has to gel etc etc etc but you run a marathon by taking the first step.

Of course, if we had drawn with Coventry and drawn today, we would have had two satisfactory points. As it is , we have three and we need to add to that on Tuesday night.

[MC Prussian]

To think that some got a season ticket just to see this mess...

To take your marathon allegory a bit further - just because you stutter during the second mile doesn't mean you can't finish at the top.

[Les-TA-Jon]

I actually thought it was a pretty tight game.

5 decent chances - 3 for us - all narrowly missed. 2 for them - both taken.

Our performance was admittedly disjointed - but I think we lost today in the first half. It's all good and well going into a game relaxed, confident and conservative as we were in the first half, especially on the first home game.

But the slow possession and passing in the first half should have been cut out after 10-15 minutes when it was apparent that the pace we were using wasn't going to break through their well organised midfield and defence.

The way they came out and played for the first 20 minutes of the second half was how we should have started the match. It's good to be relaxed in possession but if you want to be the better team you have to take the game by the scruff of the neck rather than be so passive and indecisive in possession as we were in the first half.

[Larry_LCFC]

+1 I agree. I pray this is down to the fact that the team havent had time to gel yet but I fear we are building a team made up of scraps that no decent team wants. Danns had a shocker, Pantsil was pretty useless and Nugent lacked the finishing touch. I hope it was just an off day and things will improve but im on the fence.

Oh and by the way we're playing Wed night

[LCFC_FAN_1995]

I like Yuki Abe but today was one of those games he will want to forget and he was duly replaced by Andy King for the second half.

Seen as he not long got back from a flight from Japan Sven shouldn't of played him I reckon!

[StarFox]

It is a long time since I have been so disappointed with a Leicester performance.

Clearly you weren't at the Norwich game last season.

[MC Prussian]

Clearly you weren't at the Norwich game last season.

Or Portsmouth at home. Or Millwall away. Or QPR away. Or Nottingham F"*Eç%st away. Or Reading away.

[LCFC_FAN_1995]

Or Portsmouth at home. Or Millwall away. Or QPR away. Or Nottingham F"*Eç%st away. boro away.

[Bezzanator89]

Or Portsmouth at home. Or Millwall away. Or QPR away. Or Nottingham F"*Eç%st away.

Definitely Portsmouth at home. Worst game I'd ever seen, that and Rotherham on Boxing Day under the reign of Craig Levein.

What a load of rubbish eh? Bang on the money. We were simply second best all day long.

[ramboacdc]

i wont get worried until we are in the big red zone at the bottom of the division.

and they were singing "what a waste of money" but with their stupid accent it was hard to hear. "monay?!"

[LcFc_Smiv]

I think this is possibly the best write up I've seen of the match so far. I'd rather lose games now than middle-close of the season, when were on a run and challenging for the title and won't want a knock in confidence. From what I could see the main problem seemed to be in the midfield, their was no real movement or urge to get forward. The ball would break for us and yards of open space would appear, all of a sudden we would pick up a ball run towards this space and then just stop, turn around, play the ball backwards and all hope of attack was lost.

Schlupp for me was the only player when he got the ball I felt slightly excited by, although that was very few and far between. Many fans have criticised him for not looking like he knew what he was doing, and to be fair I'd be pretty unsure if I was played out on the wing when I'm a striker, on my home debut nerves would add to that. Yet when he got the ball he seemed to want to take players on and have a go, I'd rather see that than some idiot passing it all the way back for the ball to be hoofed in to no mans land. When Schlupp did find his position upfront Reading would have two men covering him at all times, every time he pulled his foot back to take a shot red shirts came flying in. As for his strike partner, or at times lack of partnership with Schlupp out wide, any player that can chase down defenders and win something out of nothing deserves taking credit. Some guy behind me moaned about how he was too greedy, I scratched my head at who he actually wanted him to pass it to, and what other option he had than to have a go.

As everyone else has said Kasper's passion and determination was a pleasant surprise, I'd heard he was vocal, but seeing him charge out his box to scream and shout at the suspect brought a smile to my face. Not just that but some decent saves and comfortable collections has restored my faith in goalkeepers for the time being, my Leeds fan mate keeps telling me "wait until he drops one".

At the moment we have 3 points on the board, for me Reading was always going to be a tough game as their a team that usually look strong. I know people say if we're going to get automatic we need to beat these teams, eight players in the starting line up who weren't here last year are going to take time. I'm not a Sven worshipper but I'm sure he will find the right formation and combination to get the team looking dangerous and firing is in to the top flight.

[Fox92]

I also agreed with 'what a waste of money'

[Matt]

I find it funny whenever a player/team has a bad game its always 'The worst performance i've seen in a long time' funny that because it crops up quite often thus not being a very long time.

[marbelladave]

Or Portsmouth at home. Or Millwall away. Or QPR away. Or Nottingham F"*Eç%st away. Or Reading away.

This is very much the point. We have lacked shape and purpose, particularly in midfield, since the day NFP realised we were not strong enough in the centre and started to deploy Oakley in that godawfull 'narrow right' position.

Ok our players are fairly good individually and we are able to bully / outpass the poorer sides, but up against someone fairly decent we fall apart, and this happens consistently and has done so for the last two seasons.

I remain convinced we have the players to make our midfield into a formidable unit (especially now with our new aquisitions) but I see absolutely no sign of that happening, so I will repeat what I have been saying virtually from the start of Sven's reign. We need a proper first team coach to take care of tactics and matchday preparation.

Let Sven step back and be the 'big picture' manager he is clearly so good at.

[stockyfox]

I perhaps should endeavour to qualify my ‘disappointment’when saying ‘It is a long time since I have been so disappointed with a Leicesterperformance’.

My ‘disappointment’ yesterday stemmed not so much from theultimate result but more so because my –and others – expectations have beenraised to a new threshold with the number and potential quality of the newsignings brought in by Sven.

I fully concur that those performances against Pompey,Norwich, QPR & Forest etc were big ‘disappointments’ but yesterday,everything was supposed to be different.

The Club has new owners who have made generous fundsavailable for our world –class manager to bring in experienced players who aregenerally held in high regard. The public profile of the Club has been significantlyraised through media hype, criticism, praise and interest on a national andindeed international scale. The pundits have us as favourites for promotion andFoxes fans have been reawakened and are excited about the new season.

My problem is that I want Leicester City to be at the top ofthe world of soccer in the same way that the Tigers are the ‘team to beat’ inthe world of Rugby.

I was brought up on the ‘glory years’ of the fifties andsixties. We expected goals and the team regularly obliged:

50/51 v QPR 6-2

51/52 v Sheffield United 5-5; Luton 3-3;

52/53 start of season v Notts County 3-0 then v Fulham 6-1then away at Soton, lost 2-5 then Fulham away won 6-4 then v Bury, won 3-2.Later 5-0 v Hull

53/54 5-0 v Leeds, 5-2 v Bury, 9-2 v Lincoln, 6-0 vBrentford;

54/55 won 5-2 at Aston Villa, 4-3 v Sheff Wed., 6-3 v WestBrom

55/56 5-2 v Forest, 6-1 v Swansea, 5-2 v Leeds, 5-0 v Bury

56/57 5-4 away at Bury!!!!, 6-3 v Notts County, 5-2 vBarnsley, 6-0 v Blackburn, 5-2 v Rotherham, 5-0 v Sheff Utd. then 7-2 v BristolRovers, then 4-3 v Grimsby, 4-3 v Lincoln, later 5-3 v West Ham.

57/58 6-1 v Villa, 8 (yes Eight)-4 v Man City, 5-3 v Burnley

58/59 6-3 v Villa,

59/60 5-0 v Man City, 3-3 v Everton

60/61 5-2 v PNE, 6-0 v MAN UTD, 5-3 v Newcastle, 5-1 vBristol City (FACup)

61/62 Drew 4-4 at Arsenal, 5-1 v Brum, 4-3 v Man Utd, LOST8-3 at Villa

62/63 3-3 v Sheff Wed., 5-1 v Orient, 4-3 again v Man Utd.

63/64 7-2 v Arsenal, 4-3 v Blackburn, 4-3 v West Ham

1968/69 was the first season since 49/50 that we failed toscore 5 goals in at least one match.

Of course, there were heavy defeats to match some of the bigwins, but very rarely did the City fail to score and 3 or 4 goals was quitecommon.

For the City to score 5 goals these days is almost unheardof. We managed it against Scunthorpe last season but then you have to go rightback to March 5^th 2000 when we beat Sunderland 5-2.

And the time before that? 1993, Sept 21^st, 6-1 atRochdale in a League Cup match!

And in the League, 1993, Jan 16^th 5-2 v Watford.

But back to yesterday. My expectation was,with hindsight, probablyunrealistic. I failed to take account of the fact that for many of the players,this was a home debut and that nerves may play a part. I thought that thecompetition for places would bring out the best in those chosen. I was wrong. Ishould have been more cautious and more sceptical. Then I wouldn’t have beendisappointed.

For the record, my greatest disappointment ever with LCFC,was losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup Final.

I still haven’t got over that, some 48 years later.

And my lowest point ever was again when we played Man Utd atOld Trafford, May 16^th 1969 in the last match of the season. Afortnight before, we had lost 0-1 to Man City in the FA Cup Final. Now, thatday, we were facing relegation.

City played their hearts out but despite goals from David Nishand Rodney Fern, like myself former pupils of Ashby BGS, goals by Best, Law andMorgan condemned us to League Division 2. The United fans sang ‘GoodbyeLeicester goodbye, we’ll see you again, we don’t know when, goodbye Leicestergoodbye’.

I cried that day.

[MC Prussian]

Pete, but you do understand that the game has changed tremendously in the past twenty to thirty years?

Across all leagues, all countries and all continents, the goals-per-game average has dropped significantly due to the implementation of new tactics, defenders getting smarter, new rules, etc.

I mean, if you expect loads of goals with our team that usually plays with one real striker (and two additional attacking wingers) and up to three central midfielders, no wonder you'll be more disappointed in the weeks to come.

[okie fox]

"I was brought up on the ‘glory years’ of the fifties andsixties. We expected goals and the team regularly obliged"

Those were the good old days when the team had 2 wingers, 2 strikers, and even an attacking wing half. Nowadays, half the team are midfielders.

[stockyfox]

Pete, but you do understand that the game has changed tremendously in the past twenty to thirty years?

Across all leagues, all countries and all continents, the goals-per-game average has dropped significantly due to the implementation of new tactics, defenders getting smarter, new rules, etc.

I mean, if you expect loads of goals with our team that usually plays with one real striker (and two additional attacking wingers) and up to three central midfielders, no wonder you'll be more disappointed in the weeks to come.

Alex - Firstly,I read your early comment on the 'Reading Post-Match' thread via Twitter as we journeyed home on the train and was astounded to find out that, for once, I was in total agreement with your views. You must be getting older and more mellow!

Of course, the game has changed tremendously over the last 20 /30 years or so but for the better? In my opinion, No!

Today, the key word is 'Defend'. The changing rules of the game have taken away the cut and thrust of the game. It is virtually a non-contact sport.

We have yellow cards, red cards and petty rules such as an injured player must leave the field of play momentarily depriving the injured players team of one of their players.

We have a potty offside rule that works to the benefit of the defending team.

And to crown it all, football has a governing body that comes down like a ton of bricks on any player, manager or official who dares to utter one breath of criticism. The fact that they are justified in their comments is of no consequence. They are guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.

In my eyes, there is nobody more guilty of bringing the game into disrepute than those who purport to run it. They are like Daleks! 'Exterminate, exterminate, exterminate.

It's a wonder they've not reduced the size of the goal to that used in ice-hockey!

And of course, football is all about money - players wages, transfer fees, admission prices, megastore prices of shirts, coats, whatever. In a word, it's obscene. Players demand wages per week what many fans don't earn in a year. They all have 'Agents' - Avaricious Gentlemen Extracting Notorious Transfer Sums.

Yes indeed, football has changed and we, the fans, are letting them get away with it!

[Guest Col city fan]

To think that some got a season ticket just to see this mess...

To take your marathon allegory a bit further - just because you stutter during the second mile doesn't mean you can't finish at the top.

To take your marathon allegory a bit further

Do you not mean 'analogy'

[Bob666]

My ‘disappointment’ yesterday stemmed not so much from theultimate result but more so because my –and others – expectations have beenraised to a new threshold with the number and potential quality of the newsignings brought in by Sven. [/size][/font]

You've hit the nail on the head here mate! I've been a City fan since late 70's & should have realised by now not to expect too much but yes I must admit I've fallen for the hype. Maybe we got a bit lucky at Cov (eg Wellens getting someone sent off ) Watching the match yesterday, I kept saying to my dad (also long suffering fan from 50s) "yep....we're automatic promotion on this performance" as Abe passed another ball into the stands

I appreciate there's alot more matches, opportunities for the team to gel, more acquisitions, weaker teams in this league to play (aka Covs etc) & patience is a virtue. However, yesterday was probably the reality check we all needed.........bit like Jamie Afro thinking anyone would buy his new single

[MC Prussian]

To take your marathon allegory a bit further

Do you not mean 'analogy'

No, I meant alimony.

[John Matrix]

was embarrassing that people booed yesterday

dreadful performance..but booing on the first game of the season is madness

[Thracian]

I actually thought it was a pretty tight game.

5 decent chances - 3 for us - all narrowly missed. 2 for them - both taken.

Our performance was admittedly disjointed - but I think we lost today in the first half. It's all good and well going into a game relaxed, confident and conservative as we were in the first half, especially on the first home game.

But the slow possession and passing in the first half should have been cut out after 10-15 minutes when it was apparent that the pace we were using wasn't going to break through their well organised midfield and defence.

The way they came out and played for the first 20 minutes of the second half was how we should have started the match. It's good to be relaxed in possession but if you want to be the better team you have to take the game by the scruff of the neck rather than be so passive and indecisive in possession as we were in the first half.

They had the ball in the net three times and Kasper blocked two goalbound shots which makes at least five "chances" for them and that's doubtless forgetting one or two others....

[Nickfosse]

[You've hit the nail on the head here mate! I've been a City fan since late 70's & should have realised by now not to expect too much but yes I must admit I've fallen for the hype. Maybe we got a bit lucky at Cov (eg Wellens getting someone sent off ) Watching the match yesterday, I kept saying to my dad (also long suffering fan from 50s) "yep....we're automatic promotion on this performance" as Abe passed another ball into the stands

I appreciate there's alot more matches, opportunities for the team to gel, more acquisitions, weaker teams in this league to play (aka Covs etc) & patience is a virtue. However, yesterday was probably the reality check we all needed.........bit like Jamie Afro thinking anyone would buy his new single

I agree with a lot of this.

I think many of us have got carried away with the close season shenanigans and expected footballing perfection (at least at Championship level) on the first day.

The game, apart from the opening 30 mins in which we were awful, was much like virtually every game in this fine league; hard fought with opposition well organised and capable, and the final result ultimately hanging on the outcome of key moments.

Despite the optimism, hope and (sometimes I have to say) arrogance of the pre-season I couldn't help but say at 5 to 3 yesterday, "This season has end-in-tears written all over it",

I wasn't expecting it to unravel before my eyes quite so soon.

Nevertheless I will travel in hope on Wednesday, offer my support to one and all, but I expect nothing more than yet another tough championship encounter. It will be ever thus. We must remain calm at all times.

[ta-fc]

Definitely Portsmouth at home. Worst game I'd ever seen, that and Rotherham on Boxing Day under the reign of Craig Levein.

What a load of rubbish eh? Bang on the money. We were simply second best all day long.

If were going down this road can I chuck Burnley away into the mix...