Mills - I've been decent

[davieG]

Merc

Matt Mills believes Leicester City are starting to answer their critics and said some of the stick aimed at him personally this season has been unjustified.

Mills was City's biggest-money signing when he arrived at the King Power Stadium in the summer from Reading in a deal believed to be worth around £3.5million.

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But the skipper has been singled out by some fans during City's inconsistent season, and the 25-year-old centre-back, who was criticised after being sent off against Birmingham and Hull, said he felt his performances had been decent this season.

He also pointed to the fact that City have kept 11 clean sheets so far during the campaign, including in the last two games, as evidence.

The Leicester-born defender said: "It is funny because I have been getting so much stick since I joined, people saying I haven't had a great start to my City career, but our defensive record is very good.

"It is disappointing because you try your hardest every week. Sometimes you play well, but sometimes you don't, and in terms of my consistency across the season, I think my performances have been decent."

Mills certainly is not the only City player to be criticised this season, but he said the 4-0 FA Cup victory against Nottingham Forest and Monday's impressive 2-0 win at promotion-chasers Southampton, in which he scored his first goal for the club, had gone some way to answering some of the critics.

"I think the players have shown pride in their performances," he said.

"They have been questioned in certain games this season and, as players, we want to prove how good we are and show our fans we are here. We are committed to the club and we really want to do something special."

Leicester City have made an official bid for Stoke City winger Ben Marshall, the Mercury understands.

[Danno]

Merc

Matt Mills believes Leicester City are starting to answer their critics and said some of the stick aimed at him personally this season has been unjustified.

Mills was City's biggest-money signing when he arrived at the King Power Stadium in the summer from Reading in a deal believed to be worth around £3.5million.

• 
  ​
  

But the skipper has been singled out by some fans during City's inconsistent season, and the 25-year-old centre-back, who was criticised after being sent off against Birmingham and Hull, said he felt his performances had been decent this season.

He also pointed to the fact that City have kept 11 clean sheets so far during the campaign, including in the last two games, as evidence.

The Leicester-born defender said: "It is funny because I have been getting so much stick since I joined, people saying I haven't had a great start to my City career, but our defensive record is very good.

"It is disappointing because you try your hardest every week. Sometimes you play well, but sometimes you don't, and in terms of my consistency across the season, I think my performances have been decent."

Mills certainly is not the only City player to be criticised this season, but he said the 4-0 FA Cup victory against Nottingham Forest and Monday's impressive 2-0 win at promotion-chasers Southampton, in which he scored his first goal for the club, had gone some way to answering some of the critics.

"I think the players have shown pride in their performances," he said.

"They have been questioned in certain games this season and, as players, we want to prove how good we are and show our fans we are here. We are committed to the club and we really want to do something special."

Leicester City have made an official bid for Stoke City winger Ben Marshall, the Mercury understands.

Personally, I think he's been good bar his red cards. We always look better defensively when he's in the side and I think him and SSL should be the defensive partnership from now on.

[jonlcfc1990]

It's never a good thing to read this from a new signing

"It is funny because I have been getting so much stick since I joined, people saying I haven't had a great start to my City career, but our defensive record is very good.

[Libertine Dream]

I have to agree with you Matt. The price tag, that you couldn't control, has interfered with people's judgement. Your distribution isn't as bad as people claim, Reading scored plenty from your distribution as it was used in their tactics.

[Captain...]

"Reading in a deal believed to be worth around £3.5million."

Have we claimed 1.5 million back for mis-sold goods

I think he is right yes he has been decent and yes he has received a lot of stick, but for a reported 5 million and instantly made club captain we expect more than decent. As captain he will also bear some of the responsibility for the teams performance and lack of motivation and discipline (5 red cards already this season).

If it did turn out the deal was only 3.5 million would that have made a difference to the stick he got?

[AKCJ]

True he hasn't justified his price tag but he's been superb at the back in my opinion (minus his two reds)

[Trav Le Bleu]

Matt Mills is decent.

[Ric Flair]

Mills has been good this season, especially since Pearson has arrived. There's a lot of expectation for £4 million but truth be told that's what you have to pay if you've got money and a player is in demand from a rival club. I think he'll get better and we'll never really discuss his price tag again.

[Burbage Fox]

Been good and I reckon it must be a nightmare playing alongside Bamba, as you never know what he is going to do.

[Mack]

Nice to see him standing up for himself and the team and backing his own ability.

Perceived apathy from him by the fans has been part of his problem, along with us conceding some very very soft goals this season.

Barnsley was only a couple of weeks ago and whilst the last two performances have been much better and have given Mills a case to argue I think I'll wait another few weeks before making my mind up on whether we have reached our season defining turning point.

Mills has proven he can pass with accuracy and purpose of late with the goal creating balls he has played a couple of times recently, but he still gets out of position at times and gives the ball away too often with poor passing.

Keep up the improvement Millsy, it's much appreciated

[Simo86]

"Reading in a deal believed to be worth around £3.5million."

Have we claimed 1.5 million back for mis-sold goods

I think he is right yes he has been decent and yes he has received a lot of stick, but for a reported 5 million and instantly made club captain we expect more than decent. As captain he will also bear some of the responsibility for the teams performance and lack of motivation and discipline (5 red cards already this season).

If it did turn out the deal was only 3.5 million would that have made a difference to the stick he got?

The rest is more than likely add ons for appearances, promotion etc.

[woznotwos]

Hes been pretty solid its just that i think fans piled a lot of expectation on his shoulders with the price tag and his 2 reds didnt help .

[davieG]

In football parlance decent means average to me surely not an acceptable standard to be claiming?

[shade]

my posts are decent.

[clare]

Nice to see him standing up for himself and the team and backing his own ability.

Perceived apathy from him by the fans has been part of his problem, along with us conceding some very very soft goals this season.

Barnsley was only a couple of weeks ago and whilst the last two performances have been much better and have given Mills a case to argue I think I'll wait another few weeks before making my mind up on whether we have reached our season defining turning point.

Mills has proven he can pass with accuracy and purpose of late with the goal creating balls he has played a couple of times recently, but he still gets out of position at times and gives the ball away too often with poor passing.

Keep up the improvement Millsy, it's much appreciated

Agree with every word there! +1

[MrSpaM]

[woznotwos]

my posts are decent.

yes , distinctly..... .........................

[blueblood88]

He has been good, positionally he is superb, we have seen this with the amount of blocks and tackles he makes each game. His two reds have come from a desire to win the ball for the team, I can guarentee we'd be moaning a lot more if he wasn't going in to win these sort of challenges, keep it up Mills!

[Fox92]

I still feel more comfortable when St Ledger plays and is on the ball, and I still think St Ledger is our best centre half which I have always said. I suppose with his price tag Mills was always going to slightly struggle, or whatever - he had massive expectation on himself - not just through the price tag, but in the footballing World where many people said we were getting one of the best centre halfs in the division.

I think Mills has grown under Pearson, as I expected, with Pearson being the same type player himself. Hopefully he, and the rest of the team, can be consistant throughout the rest of the season.

[Happy Fox]

He has the potential to do great things for us, I see him as the embodiment of Steve Walsh figure.

[Corky]

He's scored and played two excellent passes in the past three games which lead to goals.

Once he's truly settled in he'll be fine.

[Lambert09]

Ive said it on numerous occasions, he is our most valuable player, without him we go to shit. Although Kasper has been player of the season closely followed by Nugent I dont think it would be the end of the world if they were out the team for a while. Without Mills I really do worry

[NewburyFox]

Ive said it on numerous occasions, he is our most valuable player, without him we go to shit. Although Kasper has been player of the season closely followed by Nugent I dont think it would be the end of the world if they were out the team for a while. Without Mills I really do worry

Really? I'd be terrified if Kasper got injured.

Mills is the best defender in the squad though in my opinion, and we look much more vulnerable at the back without him in the team.

[Lambert09]

Really? I'd be terrified if Kasper got injured.

Mills is the best defender in the squad though in my opinion, and we look much more vulnerable at the back without him in the team.

Im hoping we play like we did in the last 2 games and the keeper wont have much to do aha

[vandamman]

Really? I'd be terrified if Kasper got injured.

Mills is the best defender in the squad though in my opinion, and we look much more vulnerable at the back without him in the team.

Agree, agree.

If Kasper got injured, we would be in real trouble, he has pulled off some wonder saves in numerous games. Whereas I think if we had to, we could go without Mills for a game or 2 and have...

I hear a lot of stick for Mills in the crowd and on here. His passing was terrible but his sonar seems to be working a bit better now. His defending has always been great for us. However, his choice of words isn't particularly inspiring 'decent.' I would go as far to say he has been 'good.' The only thing I don't like about him, is that he doesn't seem to interact with the fans, maybe its just me but I've never seen him come over to fans at the end of the game, neither do any of them to be fair except for the legend that is schmike.