So Who Are Today's Players Who Will Be Tomorrow's Legends?

[stockyfox]

Over sixty years of following Leicester City, I have been brought up on regularly seeing tenacious, brilliant, skilful midfielders who have been more than capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and controlling the game. I can't quote them all but I'm talking about players like Jack Froggatt, Colin Appleton, Frank McLintock, Pat Ward, Johnny Newman, Bobby Kellard, Jeff Blockley,Graham Cross, Alan Woollett, Bobby Roberts, Steve Walsh, Russell Osman, Mark Draper, Gary McAllister, Neil Lennon, Muzzy Izzet, Spencer Prior....the list goes on.

But today, which of our current midfielders will be remembered in 20, 30, 40 + years time in the same breath and with the same respect as those in the above list?

I am loathe to criticise any of our players per se but when we are told that no player has a god given right to be an automatic choice, then in effect, we are also being told that those either on the bench or left out in the cold completely, are not up to the standard of those chosen.

I cannot believe that Gelson Fernandes would have played more worse than Wellens at Doncaster. I cannot believe that Johnson would have produced an even more inept display and I cannot see the point of bringing on Jeff Schlupp for 2 or 3 minutes. Furthermore, I cannot see the point of signing any player unless we already have someone who can 'make' that player and provide him with the right service.

To my mind, Sven bought players by reputation but in doing so, failed to give sufficient consideration as to how they would fit in to the squad and thereby enhance the team's performance on the field. Consequently, we have a team of idividuals when al we really want is a team!

Jermaine Beckford is a class player. To me, he is a superb signing but we haven't got or seen the right player (with the possible exception of Fernandes or Johnson) to enable him to succeed. To that end, I advocate that next week, we should bid for Luciano Becchio. We remember G & S (Gibson & Stringfellow) as a deadly duo. Becchio and Beckford have already proved that they can be just as lethal.

Fish and Chips, Bread and Butter, Becchio and Beckford!!!

And I go along with the idea that both Lee Peltier and Sol Bamba could be moved to midfield, bringing in Tunchev to the back four.

So what might my team be?

Schmeichel,

Tunchev, Mills, St. Ledger, Konchesky

Peltier, Schlupp, Bamba, Fernandes (or Becchio)

Nugent, Beckford.

And on the bench, choose from Weale, Waghorn, Dyer, Gallagher, King, Abe, Danns

Yes,I expect it to be shot down in flames but I reckon it's a solid back-four with a versatile midfield that can fall back in defence but rapidly produce a strong attack.

And I don't think it's any worse than what we saw at Doncaster or v Ipswich!

[Guest Col city fan]

Over sixty years of following Leicester City, I have been brought up on regularly seeing tenacious, brilliant, skilful midfielders who have been more than capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and controlling the game. I can't quote them all but I'm talking about players like Jack Froggatt, Colin Appleton, Frank McLintock, Pat Ward, Johnny Newman, Bobby Kellard, Jeff Blockley,Graham Cross, Alan Woollett, Bobby Roberts, Steve Walsh, Russell Osman, Mark Draper, Gary McAllister, Neil Lennon, Muzzy Izzet, Spencer Prior....the list goes on.

But today, which of our current midfielders will be remembered in 20, 30, 40 + years time in the same breath and with the same respect as those in the above list?

I am loathe to criticise any of our players per se but when we are told that no player has a god given right to be an automatic choice, then in effect, we are also being told that those either on the bench or left out in the cold completely, are not up to the standard of those chosen.

I cannot believe that Gelson Fernandes would have played more worse than Wellens at Doncaster. I cannot believe that Johnson would have produced an even more inept display and I cannot see the point of bringing on Jeff Schlupp for 2 or 3 minutes. Furthermore, I cannot see the point of signing any player unless we already have someone who can 'make' that player and provide him with the right service.

To my mind, Sven bought players by reputation but in doing so, failed to give sufficient consideration as to how they would fit in to the squad and thereby enhance the team's performance on the field. Consequently, we have a team of idividuals when al we really want is a team!

Jermaine Beckford is a class player. To me, he is a superb signing but we haven't got or seen the right player (with the possible exception of Fernandes or Johnson) to enable him to succeed. To that end, I advocate that next week, we should bid for Luciano Becchio. We remember G & S (Gibson & Stringfellow) as a deadly duo. Becchio and Beckford have already proved that they can be just as lethal.

Fish and Chips, Bread and Butter, Becchio and Beckford!!!

And I go along with the idea that both Lee Peltier and Sol Bamba could be moved to midfield, bringing in Tunchev to the back four.

So what might my team be?

Schmeichel,

Tunchev, Mills, St. Ledger, Konchesky

Peltier, Schlupp, Bamba, Fernandes (or Becchio)

Nugent, Beckford.

And on the bench, choose from Weale, Waghorn, Dyer, Gallagher, King, Abe, Danns

Yes,I expect it to be shot down in flames but I reckon it's a solid back-four with a versatile midfield that can fall back in defence but rapidly produce a strong attack.

And I don't think it's any worse than what we saw at Doncaster or v Ipswich!

Hit the nail on the head Stocky..with the benefit of hindsight I couldn't agree more

If Sven was given more time he may have turned it round..I'm happy to say so....

And it could be that Beckford might produce given the right ammo?

But you are spot on here....

What I think Pearson has done is recognised this and will change things around...

[NewquayFox]

Kasper could become a great if he stays, would like to say Beckford but its clear no one rates him and i reckon he will get shunted out, great read though... ;0)

[flowwolf]

Can't knock the post but McLintock, Blockley, Cross, Woollett ,Walsh , Prior were all defenders .

[seenitall]

Let's hope the Chairboy reads this - it takes time to build a team and that is one thing no one at Leicester gets - every time they sack a manager we slide back down the greasy pole where the new guy has a load of players he probably wouldn't sign and who are loyal to the deposed gaffar. Once you write this season off in your mind ,as I did when Sven was sacked, then you can only be pleasantly surprised if Nige does achieve anything this season. Best to plan for next year and let him buy in and move out his choices but then give the poor sod more than quarter of a season with his new team to blend them together and get the mentality right - anything less than this, barring a clearly abysmal start next year (and that means bottom 3 after 10 games or thereabouts) and we can write off next season as well.

How long the current owners are prepared to wait may have a huge bearing on this scenario.

[seenitall]

Sorry, that was a bit off message - I think KS and Matt Mills are the two players we have in the team currently who could have walked in any of the players boots mentioned in your post - probably be slated for that, but we used to get slagged for thinking Jimmy Willis was great until everyone woke up a year or two into his career with us, reckon its a long game this football you know.

[stockyfox]

Can't knock the post but McLintock, Blockley, Cross, Woollett ,Walsh , Prior were all defenders .

OK! So they were defenders but they could turn defence into attack in the twinkling of an eye.

Frank McLintock might not have been a good manager but I rate him as probably the best Right Half we've ever had. Totally solid and creative AND scored 28 goals in 200 appearances.

Graham Cross played in every position apart from Goal. Immense in defence and attack 599 appearances scored 37 goals.

Steve Walsh Centre Half - a fantastic example to every other player. Destroyed many a team virtually single-handed - 449 appearances scored 62 yes that's sixty-two goals.

Jeff Blockley by name and nature but he got on the score sheet a couple of times in 86 appearances.

Alan Woolett (260 apps) and Spencer Prior (78 apps) never featured on the score sheet but they started many an attack that culminated in a goal for someone else!

[Tielemans63]

In response to the thread title, I'd say possibly Kasper. Other than that, no-one. The players you referred to weren't just great players but great characters. There just isn't enough characters in the current side.

[ramadaone]

Tom Hopper - IF given a chance

[Dan]

Over sixty years of following Leicester City, I have been brought up on regularly seeing tenacious, brilliant, skilful midfielders who have been more than capable of taking the game by the scruff of the neck and controlling the game. I can't quote them all but I'm talking about players like Jack Froggatt, Colin Appleton, Frank McLintock, Pat Ward, Johnny Newman, Bobby Kellard, Jeff Blockley,Graham Cross, Alan Woollett, Bobby Roberts, Steve Walsh, Russell Osman, Mark Draper, Gary McAllister, Neil Lennon, Muzzy Izzet, Spencer Prior....the list goes on.

But today, which of our current midfielders will be remembered in 20, 30, 40 + years time in the same breath and with the same respect as those in the above list?

I am loathe to criticise any of our players per se but when we are told that no player has a god given right to be an automatic choice, then in effect, we are also being told that those either on the bench or left out in the cold completely, are not up to the standard of those chosen.

I cannot believe that Gelson Fernandes would have played more worse than Wellens at Doncaster. I cannot believe that Johnson would have produced an even more inept display and I cannot see the point of bringing on Jeff Schlupp for 2 or 3 minutes. Furthermore, I cannot see the point of signing any player unless we already have someone who can 'make' that player and provide him with the right service.

To my mind, Sven bought players by reputation but in doing so, failed to give sufficient consideration as to how they would fit in to the squad and thereby enhance the team's performance on the field. Consequently, we have a team of idividuals when al we really want is a team!

Jermaine Beckford is a class player. To me, he is a superb signing but we haven't got or seen the right player (with the possible exception of Fernandes or Johnson) to enable him to succeed. To that end, I advocate that next week, we should bid for Luciano Becchio. We remember G & S (Gibson & Stringfellow) as a deadly duo. Becchio and Beckford have already proved that they can be just as lethal.

Fish and Chips, Bread and Butter, Becchio and Beckford!!!

And I go along with the idea that both Lee Peltier and Sol Bamba could be moved to midfield, bringing in Tunchev to the back four.

So what might my team be?

Schmeichel,

Tunchev, Mills, St. Ledger, Konchesky

Peltier, Schlupp, Bamba, Fernandes (or Becchio)

Nugent, Beckford.

And on the bench, choose from Weale, Waghorn, Dyer, Gallagher, King, Abe, Danns

Yes,I expect it to be shot down in flames but I reckon it's a solid back-four with a versatile midfield that can fall back in defence but rapidly produce a strong attack.

And I don't think it's any worse than what we saw at Doncaster or v Ipswich!

I agreed with you until you put that XI out.

We'd get totally dominated, it's the most unbalanced midfield I've seen.

[stockyfox]

Not that our so perceived 'balanced' sides have done much better!?! This does give you the option of 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 with Schlupp joining Nugent and Beckford or 4-3-2-1 -the '1' being the enigmatic Jeff Schlupp

Sometimes it just pays to defy logic - don't know why? but it's not logical

[flowwolf]

OK! So they were defenders but they could turn defence into attack in the twinkling of an eye.

Frank McLintock might not have been a good manager but I rate him as probably the best Right Half we've ever had. Totally solid and creative AND scored 28 goals in 200 appearances.

Graham Cross played in every position apart from Goal. Immense in defence and attack 599 appearances scored 37 goals.

Steve Walsh Centre Half - a fantastic example to every other player. Destroyed many a team virtually single-handed - 449 appearances scored 62 yes that's sixty-two goals.

Jeff Blockley by name and nature but he got on the score sheet a couple of times in 86 appearances.

Alan Woolett (260 apps) and Spencer Prior (78 apps) never featured on the score sheet but they started many an attack that culminated in a goal for someone else!

Yes with you on all counts but you did say midfield ?

[beryllind]

Stockyfox

you forgot the great Johnny Morris.

[jonthefox]

Stockyfox

you forgot the great Johnny Morris.

What! from animal crackers?.

[beryllind]

You are showing your age knowing that

[stockyfox]

In answer to beryllind

Johnny Morris - We just loved watching Johnny Morris (1952 to 1957) and I don't mind in the least showing my age because I actually saw him play - often - and I can still see him in my mind's eye!

Now, if we had Johnny Morris in the team today, wow. One of the early Busby Babes at Old Trafford, left for Derby for a British record fee of £24,500 after a row with Matt Busby over tactics but signed for City for a Club record fee of £21,500.

Spent four years as Inside Right, then went to Right Half and was an ever-present in the 1957 side which topped Div. 2

Had an absolute thunderbolt of a shot. Made 220 appearances overall, scoring 34 goals.

Sorry Johnny - hope that puts the record straight!

And in answer to jonthefox, yes I remember that Johnny Morris as well, His ability to imitate Birdsong and different calls of danger etc were a talent that has never been emulated or surpassed.

[beryllind]

I was not referring to you stockyfox,

J M was my LCFC favourite player of all time, so that shows my age, the guy jonthefox tried to undermine J M, he obviously did not know him,

You certainly know your football, the great days of Arthur Rowley,Ken Chisholm and Derek Hogg

[blueharmie]

i can see richard wellens going down in LCFC history.