Donny Post Match...2-1 Loss

[Langston]

Having to drive the best part of 600 miles in fairly awful weather, freezing cold, to go and watch that second half capitulation and a match devoid of any kind of quality (bar Nugen'ts goal) has not made me a happy guy this weekend.

I rarely get angry about football - it's all only a game, and moods come and go - but yesterdays mammoth driving session to go and watch a midfield that was almost non-existent, has irked me.

Gallagher provided yet more ammunition to his critics and those that say he shies away from challenges, his work rate and general quality yesterday was almost Sylla-esque. Due to Sven's inability to buy wingers, he probably is still the best option in that area of the park at the minute - and he can pop-up with genuine moments of magic, unfortunately however, those moments are becoming ever more sparse.

Dyer, for all his effort and his love for the club shouldn't be starting games for us after January. I've loved him since that season in League One, and he's clearly got the club at heart now, but our targets have changed since the Thais took over. We're being linked with players that are quite simply better than him now. I'd like him to stick around because I think he can be a useful impact player - but he shouldn't be anything more once Pearson has drafter a couple of wide boys in. Same with Gallagher.

Wellens has to be dropped now. Petty, pathetic, lackadaisical, lethargic excuse for a footballer that has a misplaced arrogance about himself. Awful attitude. King has looked equally poor recently but at least carries that great goal threat he always has. They both need benching and I for one would not be shedding any tears should Wellens leave. I've seen Darren Kenton in midfield produce better performances than that clown has recently.

In Danns, we have one of the most consistent central midfielders this league has seen over the past few seasons. We choose to have him either warming the bench, or play him out of position where he's virtually ineffective. A central combination involving two of the three from Danns/Fernandes/Abe would have so much more energy, drive and movement about it than King/Wellens it's almost ridiculous. It annoys me that Wellens is in the starting eleven through no merit when Danns can't make the side, same with Fernandes. I want our midfield to have some bite.

Howard. No. Beckford looked infinitely more dangerous in his cameo than he did for the 75 he was on. Strange decision from Pearson and one I can't quite get my head around. Shouldn't be happening.

On a some positive notes - there are still plenty of points to play for this season, and, although yesterdays loss wasn't acceptable - the nature of this league means that we're still not too far adrift of the play-off spots.

-Peltier, Kasper, Konch and Nugent are consistently solid.

-We do have the resources at our disposal to turn this around in January.

-Tunchev is looking ever more likely to win a starting spot.

Yesterday was a turd, but we'll see where we are come May. All we need is a new midfield. Nothing major then....

[Happy Fox]

NP I hope means those words when he says he will change the players or their mentality. The mentality is never going to change as they are money grabbing individuals who are motivated not by hard work but by money, this is creating shitty spineless performances and this cannot be tolerated I am fed up to the core, the Thais must be pissed off with the majority of that squad.

[Callabinho]

Wow, I actually can't believe half the comments on here, and I would have thought a few of you may have been able to fathom something from both Nigels and Richie's interviews, both clearly not happy! And how can you blame nige? The majority are Svens players, and I can tell you there were one or two who were glad to see the back of him, quite frankly it's a bit of a mess, Nigel

Has barely had a chance to kick the team up the arse but believe you me those players won't play like that again! Some of you must realise how difficult it must be for Nige, going back to a club is different from going to a new club, especially when you only left the club 18 or so months ago. This was inevitable we have seen these problems throughout the season, hence why Sven was booted. Now Nigel has seen firs hand the problems and he simply won't stand for them any more. Things will change, one or two faces will come in one or two will go out, I' have thought the manager that saved our skins and nearly guided us to back to back promotions would have a little more backing from us fans than this, Nige will come good!

[Happy Fox]

Wow, I actually can't believe half the comments on here, and I would have thought a few of you may have been able to fathom something from both Nigels and Richie's interviews, both clearly not happy! And how can you blame nige? The majority are Svens players, and I can tell you there were one or two who were glad to see the back of him, quite frankly it's a bit of a mess, Nigel

Has barely had a chance to kick the team up the arse but believe you me those players won't play like that again! Some of you must realise how difficult it must be for Nige, going back to a club is different from going to a new club, especially when you only left the club 18 or so months ago. This was inevitable we have seen these problems throughout the season, hence why Sven was booted. Now Nigel has seen firs hand the problems and he simply won't stand for them any more. Things will change, one or two faces will come in one or two will go out, I' have thought the manager that saved our skins and nearly guided us to back to back promotions would have a little more backing from us fans than this, Nige will come good!

Is Wellens, Gallagher, Howard, Dyer Sven's signing's don't blame inept Svennis for this , the players must be accountable for these shit performances time and time again. If NP persists with that shit excuse of a midfield we won't get anywhere hopefully he has seen the light and realizes his trusted individuals from his previous regime here are not the mustard if not I beg to ask questions.

[thejfox]

This is responding to noone in particular so dont take offence but I'm getting sick and tired of saying the same thing because most of you seem to do it every week! STOP MOANING! "Pearson out" "King, Wellens, Gallagher not up to scratch" "Defence cant defend" "strikers cant score". SHUT UP AND BACK YOUR TEAM! Pearson's had six games! He needs time to work with the players, install some belief and get us firing the way we want to be firing again. Quit trying to find people to blame. Be realistic and stop believing it's going to be instantaneous. We can go up this year of course, but its gonna be a slog at times. Be the 12th man and sing your hearts out rather than booing and mumbling and arguing with each other and generally throwing your toys out the pram! We need to unite, stand strong, stand proud and show the players an example of passion! Who are we?! We're Leicester City! Keep the faith and get behind your team

(Rant Over!)

I UNDERSTAND YOU WANTING US ALL TO BE MORE REALISTIC

BUT ANYONE WHO HAS WATCHED STEVIE HOWARD COME ON FOR US IN OUR LAST FEW HOME GAMES

WOULD HAVE TO WONDER JUST WHAT MR PEARSON IS THINKING BY STARTING WITH HIM

DESPERATION IS ONE THING,BUT PLEASE STOP FLOGGING A DEAD HORSE

I THOUGHT A NEW MANAGER WOULD MEAN NEW IDEAS,BUT WE ARE GOING BACKWARDS.

MUZZY IZZET CAME ON AT HALF TIME IN THE PETERBOROUGH GAME , WHAT DO YOU THINK ! GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE ?

I`M SORRY I AM A SEASON TICKET HOLDER AND I AM DESPERATE TO SEE OUR TEAM WIN.

BUT SURELY WE NEED TO CHANGE THINGS ,

AND PS WE ARE ALL PAYING GOOD MONEY , SO I THINK WE ARE BACKING OUR TEAM.

[thejfox]

Having to drive the best part of 600 miles in fairly awful weather, freezing cold, to go and watch that second half capitulation and a match devoid of any kind of quality (bar Nugen'ts goal) has not made me a happy guy this weekend.

I rarely get angry about football - it's all only a game, and moods come and go - but yesterdays mammoth driving session to go and watch a midfield that was almost non-existent, has irked me.

Gallagher provided yet more ammunition to his critics and those that say he shies away from challenges, his work rate and general quality yesterday was almost Sylla-esque. Due to Sven's inability to buy wingers, he probably is still the best option in that area of the park at the minute - and he can pop-up with genuine moments of magic, unfortunately however, those moments are becoming ever more sparse.

Dyer, for all his effort and his love for the club shouldn't be starting games for us after January. I've loved him since that season in League One, and he's clearly got the club at heart now, but our targets have changed since the Thais took over. We're being linked with players that are quite simply better than him now. I'd like him to stick around because I think he can be a useful impact player - but he shouldn't be anything more once Pearson has drafter a couple of wide boys in. Same with Gallagher.

Wellens has to be dropped now. Petty, pathetic, lackadaisical, lethargic excuse for a footballer that has a misplaced arrogance about himself. Awful attitude. King has looked equally poor recently but at least carries that great goal threat he always has. They both need benching and I for one would not be shedding any tears should Wellens leave. I've seen Darren Kenton in midfield produce better performances than that clown has recently.

In Danns, we have one of the most consistent central midfielders this league has seen over the past few seasons. We choose to have him either warming the bench, or play him out of position where he's virtually ineffective. A central combination involving two of the three from Danns/Fernandes/Abe would have so much more energy, drive and movement about it than King/Wellens it's almost ridiculous. It annoys me that Wellens is in the starting eleven through no merit when Danns can't make the side, same with Fernandes. I want our midfield to have some bite.

Howard. No. Beckford looked infinitely more dangerous in his cameo than he did for the 75 he was on. Strange decision from Pearson and one I can't quite get my head around. Shouldn't be happening.

On a some positive notes - there are still plenty of points to play for this season, and, although yesterdays loss wasn't acceptable - the nature of this league means that we're still not too far adrift of the play-off spots.

-Peltier, Kasper, Konch and Nugent are consistently solid.

-We do have the resources at our disposal to turn this around in January.

-Tunchev is looking ever more likely to win a starting spot.

Yesterday was a turd, but we'll see where we are come May. All we need is a new midfield. Nothing major then....

GREAT POST,WELL DONE FOR MAKING THE LONG TRIP.

AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT YOU SAID ,BUT NOT SURE THAT DANNS IS THE ANSWER?

MIGHT AS WELL TRY IT THOUGH AS WELLENS/GALLY IS NOT WORKING IS IT

[seenitall]

Press the caps lock button

[thejfox]

Press the caps lock button

no

[Corky]

This is responding to noone in particular so dont take offence but I'm getting sick and tired of saying the same thing because most of you seem to do it every week! STOP MOANING! "Pearson out" "King, Wellens, Gallagher not up to scratch" "Defence cant defend" "strikers cant score". SHUT UP AND BACK YOUR TEAM! Pearson's had six games! He needs time to work with the players, install some belief and get us firing the way we want to be firing again. Quit trying to find people to blame. Be realistic and stop believing it's going to be instantaneous. We can go up this year of course, but its gonna be a slog at times. Be the 12th man and sing your hearts out rather than booing and mumbling and arguing with each other and generally throwing your toys out the pram! We need to unite, stand strong, stand proud and show the players an example of passion! Who are we?! We're Leicester City! Keep the faith and get behind your team!

(Rant Over!)

We were behind the team. The fans only started to get seriously annoyed when we went behind. Even after taking the lead (which didn't change the standard of performance) we stuck with the team but after going behind, added to the serious lack of quality football we were playing, the fans got frustrated.

I'm sorry it doesn't fit into your ideal world of everyone backing the team no matter what but the supporters were not to blame yesterday.

[Thracian]

I'm very concerned in our inability to keep a lead which has been highlighted in the last few games, we seemed to have taken our foot off the pedal when we scored, and didn't begin to pressure again until after their second went in. And even then we had enough chances to win the game, but couldn't take them.

I actually expected some of the poor results we've had lately because of the consequences within the club of impending major change once more and the inevitability of some players being happier than others.

So, yes, Pearson needs time to mend things. But for all that he's in charge of the tactics and it is clear from the question I asked - as it was against Peterborough - that once we score we stick instead of putting pressurise on the opposition to try and score again.

I'm tempted to say it's the mentality of a centre-half but for sure Pearson ovesees that mentality and it is costing us dearly. I've said countless times that a good team needs to move forwards and backwards as one. And it needs to start by pressurising the opposition high up the field and only conceding ground when it's unavoidable.

Full-backs can be key to this but ours are generally fine and perfectly capable of doing this. Indeed Konchesky has been a revelation. King is wasted in such a defensive role and Wellens not capable of it any more than Gallagher. Think about that for a moment...and what we're actually doing as a team.

Pearson says don't give anything away, has the team defending from a line just behind the halfway line - inviting pressure. The opposition, once they go behind, commit more men forward. But we have Howard or Beckford in the team who are no use at all at chasing back. We also have Gallagher who never relishes physical combat and Wellens who, by his own admission regarding training, is now finding it hard to keep the pace up.

Dyer works hard but he's not the best defender meaning all that added pressure is likely to tell in the end - and the more so when, since Mills suspension, we simply fail to mark in the centre of the penalty box and allow opposition strikers completely free headers from 10 yards out. Twice in successive matches that's cost us and it's defensive suicide.

Times I've said the best way to defend is at the other end. We have players with skill, we need them to be fit enough to close opponents down early for 90 minutes and to believe in in. The back four should be pressing with everyone else. It's not as if we've no-one with suficient pace to recover from an opportunist ball over the top because we do.

But if we pressurise properly it shouldn't be easy to find such a ball and in hustling the opposition we should have the personnel in and around the penalty box to capitlise on any mistakes we force quickly.

There should be one instruction from a manager when we score a goal. "Get up their arses, worry 'em shitless and try to score another."

Pearson talked about being more expansive but that's not just about playing with width - it's about commiting yourself to a different philosophy and, sadly our manager has shown no signs of doing that as yet. The way we play we'll always give the opposition a chance.

[MC Prussian]

I couldn't listen to the commentary yesterday so can't have a valid opinion, but after seeing the score and reading through this thread, I have two questions:

a) How come we throw away a 1-0 lead against lowly Doncaster?

b) Why is it that the only consistency that we have is playing great against good teams and shit against shit teams (of course, I'm generalizing here)? Could it be that some players have a serious attitude issue and that it doesn't really boil down to what manager we have in charge?

(Ok, that were three questions, really)

[Corky]

I couldn't listen to the commentary yesterday so can't have a valid opinion, but after seeing the score and reading through this thread, I have two questions:

a) How come we throw away a 1-0 lead against lowly Doncaster?

b) Why is it that the only consistency that we have is playing great against good teams and shit against shit teams (of course, I'm generalizing here)? Could it be that some players have a serious attitude issue and that it doesn't really boil down to what manager we have in charge?

(Ok, that were three questions, really)

a) We didn't take the game to them at 1-0. They were always in it. Gave away two quick goals and couldn't recover.

b) Doncaster were spirited but lacking in quality. We dropped to their level for most of the game. Is it a quality issue? Maybe. Is it more of a mental problem? I think so.

[Happy Fox]

I couldn't listen to the commentary yesterday so can't have a valid opinion, but after seeing the score and reading through this thread, I have two questions:

a) How come we throw away a 1-0 lead against lowly Doncaster?

b) Why is it that the only consistency that we have is playing great against good teams and shit against shit teams (of course, I'm generalizing here)? Could it be that some players have a serious attitude issue and that it doesn't really boil down to what manager we have in charge?

(Ok, that were three questions, really)

Think you have hit the nail on the head their, Wellens and co.

[Oh tommy wright]

Well done NP solved the midfield problem by not using them with playing long ball up to howard. Problem is now Howard. worst decision in football history. I know some of you liked Howard in the past. I never, I remember Steve Walsh taking the piss out of him 3 or 4years ago at a "night with city stars" saying that "his mum could mark him out of a game." if we ever hope to make the play offs he can never put a city shirt on again.

"Yes but he helped set up the goal." B!!!ocks!

I trust NP has now finally realise this fact. Don't mind boring 1-0 wins playing long balls either if we've got a half decent striker on the end of them. We have no attacking midfield so we may as well.

[shade]

I want to see this....

schmeichel

mills

Bamba

st ledger

peltier

johnson

fernandes

danns

konchesky

beckford

nugent

[LCFC FOX]

Kasper

Peltier

Bamba

Tunchev

Koncheskey

Schlupp

Johnson (if fit) or Abe

Fernandes

Danns

Nugent

Beckford

Weale , St Ledger , King , Dyer , Hopper

[SMX11]

Does anyone think that the fact that hardly any of the players live in the area may be indirectly affecting their performances? They just seem distant from each other. I might be silly but surely if they lived near each other and socialised off the pitch then their would be more cohesion between them. There just seems to be a lot of strong characters that don't interact with each other.

[Chap84]

Don't know why you're all bitching and moaning? This isn't NP's squad, this is Sven's squad. I'm sure he's blissfully aware that the team isn't good enough, that is why he'll undoubtedly strengthen the squad in January to make it HIS squad.

'Re-judge' NP's managerial competence after January FFS

Pull the other one mate ! That's bollocks allmost half the squad are players he signed still. Personally when he was here last time we were just running on momentum from winning league 1. So the playoffs was abit of a fluke! If this carries on I can't see him lasting to long, and if that's the case il be glad! He isn't the answer for me. He is just a stubborn c##t. There's reasons why he was only caretaker so many times.

[Kitchandro]

Having to drive the best part of 600 miles in fairly awful weather, freezing cold, to go and watch that second half capitulation and a match devoid of any kind of quality (bar Nugen'ts goal) has not made me a happy guy this weekend.

I rarely get angry about football - it's all only a game, and moods come and go - but yesterdays mammoth driving session to go and watch a midfield that was almost non-existent, has irked me.

Gallagher provided yet more ammunition to his critics and those that say he shies away from challenges, his work rate and general quality yesterday was almost Sylla-esque. Due to Sven's inability to buy wingers, he probably is still the best option in that area of the park at the minute - and he can pop-up with genuine moments of magic, unfortunately however, those moments are becoming ever more sparse.

Dyer, for all his effort and his love for the club shouldn't be starting games for us after January. I've loved him since that season in League One, and he's clearly got the club at heart now, but our targets have changed since the Thais took over. We're being linked with players that are quite simply better than him now. I'd like him to stick around because I think he can be a useful impact player - but he shouldn't be anything more once Pearson has drafter a couple of wide boys in. Same with Gallagher.

Wellens has to be dropped now. Petty, pathetic, lackadaisical, lethargic excuse for a footballer that has a misplaced arrogance about himself. Awful attitude. King has looked equally poor recently but at least carries that great goal threat he always has. They both need benching and I for one would not be shedding any tears should Wellens leave. I've seen Darren Kenton in midfield produce better performances than that clown has recently.

In Danns, we have one of the most consistent central midfielders this league has seen over the past few seasons. We choose to have him either warming the bench, or play him out of position where he's virtually ineffective. A central combination involving two of the three from Danns/Fernandes/Abe would have so much more energy, drive and movement about it than King/Wellens it's almost ridiculous. It annoys me that Wellens is in the starting eleven through no merit when Danns can't make the side, same with Fernandes. I want our midfield to have some bite.

Howard. No. Beckford looked infinitely more dangerous in his cameo than he did for the 75 he was on. Strange decision from Pearson and one I can't quite get my head around. Shouldn't be happening.

On a some positive notes - there are still plenty of points to play for this season, and, although yesterdays loss wasn't acceptable - the nature of this league means that we're still not too far adrift of the play-off spots.

-Peltier, Kasper, Konch and Nugent are consistently solid.

-We do have the resources at our disposal to turn this around in January.

-Tunchev is looking ever more likely to win a starting spot.

Yesterday was a turd, but we'll see where we are come May. All we need is a new midfield. Nothing major then....

I can't really disagree with most of what you've written but this is just rubbish.

In Danns, we have a player who can get stuck in but cannot dribble or pass. Abe is lightweight and has no creativity. Fernandes has no creativity. Creativity is a mssive problem as it is.

We tried this eary on in the season, it didn't work. Perhaps we do need some bite but if that's the case we need to put Fernandes in, not the other 2. Midfield is obviously a problem position, I'm well aware that King and Wellens haven't been good enough but I also don't have the memory of a goldish and so I'm aware Abe and Danns aren't either. If they get in the team it's not because of their quality but simply because the status quo is playing so badly that having them in the team would just be wrong.

[Kitchandro]

I couldn't listen to the commentary yesterday so can't have a valid opinion, but after seeing the score and reading through this thread, I have two questions:

a) How come we throw away a 1-0 lead against lowly Doncaster?

b) Why is it that the only consistency that we have is playing great against good teams and shit against shit teams (of course, I'm generalizing here)? Could it be that some players have a serious attitude issue and that it doesn't really boil down to what manager we have in charge?

(Ok, that were three questions, really)

When we went 1-0 up we were playing poorly, we played crap for the whole game. I wouldn't say we took our foot off the gas because we never really had our foot on it.

[Kitchandro]

Pull the other one mate ! That's bollocks allmost half the squad are players he signed still. Personally when he was here last time we were just running on momentum from winning league 1. So the playoffs was abit of a fluke! If this carries on I can't see him lasting to long, and if that's the case il be glad! He isn't the answer for me. He is just a stubborn c##t. There's reasons why he was only caretaker so many times.

There is so much wrong with that comment I don't even know where to start. In fact I'm not going to bother.

[Jacnah]

4 of the starting 11 are pearson signings

And the 4 play the midfield positions that are letting us down at the moment. Personally I don't think any of these players are individually bad, however, collectively they don't perform well enough as a unit. I'm not blind to some of Sven's failings, but the one thing he has left us is a core of very good players; Both the defence and the forward line are top notch, but, if they are neither protected nor supplied then there will always be performances that appear below par.

I'm an optimist, I'm sure this will be to some extent resolved in the jan window - I agree that automatic promotion is now just a pipe dream, possible but very unlikely, The play offs on the other hand are very much still within our grasp.

[steveherbe]

I can't really disagree with most of what you've written but this is just rubbish.

In Danns, we have a player who can get stuck in but cannot dribble or pass. Abe is lightweight and has no creativity. Fernandes has no creativity. Creativity is a mssive problem as it is.

We tried this eary on in the season, it didn't work. Perhaps we do need some bite but if that's the case we need to put Fernandes in, not the other 2. Midfield is obviously a problem position, I'm well aware that King and Wellens haven't been good enough but I also don't have the memory of a goldish and so I'm aware Abe and Danns aren't either. If they get in the team it's not because of their quality but simply because the status quo is playing so badly that having them in the team would just be wrong.

You're wrong there mate. I saw Quo on tuesday in Bournemouth, they played fantastic. And Roy Wood was pretty good as well.

[Stig the Lawnmower]

don't care anymore, won a tenner on the lottery

whooopeee

[yag101]

"I need to change the players' mentality, or change the players themselves, because we are under-performing" sounds like the words of a man on borrowed time looking for someone to blame. We definitely have a squad capable of promotion, but clearly, it isn't suited to Pearson's tactics at all. And the way he sees it, the more points we drop, the more 'solid' we'll have to play, but that's the last thing we need at the moment. Clearly the players are suited to a more expansive, passing style, but if Pearson can't get the best out of our squad, surely that means the management is poor? Schlupp is quicker, more skillful, and better technically than Howard and he doesn't exactly lack power, yet he can't even make the bench?! And when chasing the game with close to half an hour remaining, he has to make better tactical substitutions than just throwing as many 'strikers' onto the pitch as he can. Throwing away a lead's always a risk when we waste possession cheaply when in front and stop pushing as hard for another goal away from home, instead choosing to sit back and invite pressure. This is what you get when you have a manager who'd prefer a 1-0 to a 4-1...