Pearson Interview

[lcfcsnow]

Agreed. It'll be a crying shame if NP doesn't get to reshape the squad in the summer. He's got a mess of a midfield and a massive injury list to work with until then. I hope the owners understand that building a top championship side takes time and that chopping and changing the manager every few months will not get them anywhere. Drinkwater and Marshall are exactly the type of player we need more of, and I've no doubt that replacing some of the deadwood with more young players with bags of potential will make us contenders for next season.

He had the chance in January but blew a million on a tank of a defender who we didn't need? He's brought in Delfouneso, refuses to play him and selects Howard ahead of him. For all we know Pearson is happy with his midfield options as he's done nothing about it but bring in Drinkwater, and Marshall who he doesn't feel is ready. Theres only one person to blame for the midfield situation, the likes of Abe and Fernandes were not great but a damn sight better than what we're stuck with now.

[Happy Fox]

He had the chance in January but blew a million on a tank of a defender who we didn't need? He's brought in Delfouneso, refuses to play him and selects Howard ahead of him. For all we know Pearson is happy with his midfield options as he's done nothing about it but bring in Drinkwater, and Marshall who he doesn't feel is ready. Theres only one person to blame for the midfield situation, the likes of Abe and Fernandes were not great but a damn sight better than what we're stuck with now.

The rebuilding project was never going to happen in January, the summer is where most of the deadwood will get cleared out, don't think NP is stupid he knows which players he wants come the summer, it might be an upheaval but the fruition will pay dividends next season and the seasons to come.

[Raw Dykes]

...yes! That's exactly what you do! You put your faith and patience with a manager who has proven he knows how to steer this club to good fortune, who's proven he can make significant changes to arrest a club in descent (Carlisle, Southampton) and build a side worthy of mounting a promotion charge if given the time to do it (Leicester, Hull).

Look at Leicester's recent history. Dross for almost a decade. New chairman in Mandaric, some slightly better players but terrible administration - relegated. He took the same players that got relegated bar a few additions and drove them up the league back into the Championship playoffs. Doing that requires a bit of momentum; the players were still full of confidence from their promotion campaign and felt unbeatable, and this took a side that was nowhere near good enough for promotion from the Championship and almost does the double.

Then he finds his position untenable. He leaves. The same players are shifted from Sousa to Sven and lose their confidence. They see expensive replacements come in and underperform. Sven is given millions to spend and builds an imbalanced and spineless side with no direction, with the manager powerless to intercede. Sven is sacked. The old Pearson players are left wondering if they'll ever get a go in the side again, Sven's players are left disillusioned, and the squad still has no balance because there's been no transfer window to address it.

So Pearson returns, momentarily appears to galvanise the side by his presence, but the squad clearly has deep-running issues. January is frustrating. It seems clear to me he's operating under (relative) financial constraints, whether they're imposed by the Thais or by himself is unclear but frankly, it's for the best. You can't fix our problems by throwing money around, and January is a poor time to buy anyway. But he still brings in a few players of promise. I know it's not what we hoped for, we all wanted strikers, wingers and swashbuckling midfielders to pour into the club but it's just not realistic.

Even despite all this, we've seen displays of genuine quality, and we have had an encouraging cup run. Things really aren't that bad. Yes, with our expenditure and ambition we've underachieved, but the damage this season has been done. Pearson needs a proper pre-season, he needs to overhaul the squad. In a proper world, it would be accepted that this takes time. I personally believe Pearson requires and deserves two full seasons. Look at QPR, it took them ages to go up! Most clubs that go up do. His Hull side are blossoming now.

Give it some ****ing time. You'd think we were circling the drain. We're a good side with some inconsistencies and some questionable characters, it all needs thrashing out but that can't happen in half a season, and if we continue to shift from manager to manager nothing will ever right itself.

You've said it much better than I could. I couldn't agree more - I'm looking forward to seeing NP, or any future LC manager for that matter, being given enough time to build a great squad. This will never happen if the owners keep becoming impatient and firing and hiring bosses - each new manager wants to bring in his own players and the project is ripped up and we're back to square one. If NP gets to improve the squad in the summer, I think we'll start to see real progress.

[Babylon]

He had the chance in January but blew a million on a tank of a defender who we didn't need? He's brought in Delfouneso, refuses to play him and selects Howard ahead of him. For all we know Pearson is happy with his midfield options as he's done nothing about it but bring in Drinkwater, and Marshall who he doesn't feel is ready. Theres only one person to blame for the midfield situation, the likes of Abe and Fernandes were not great but a damn sight better than what we're stuck with now.

[FuriousFox46]

Of course it is, but it wouldn't be FoxesTalk without wild accusations and crackpot theories.

Are you Nigel Pearson?

[Bryn]

he's done nothing about [our midfield situation] but bring in Drinkwater, and Marshall who he doesn't feel is ready. Theres only one person to blame for the midfield situation

So he's done nothing about our midfield except buy midfielders? What a superb argument.

[lcfcsnow]

So he's done nothing about our midfield except buy midfielders? What a superb argument.

Well despite bringing them in, Wellens, Gallagher and Dyer are still starting week in week out, he hasn't improved matters and the same old problems remain.

[artursteppe]

Well despite bringing them in, Wellens, Gallagher and Dyer are still starting week in week out, he hasn't improved matters and the problems remain.

Drinkwater is better than Danns, whom at the moment he is replacing. Before Drinkwater arrived Danns was just about our best midfield player, since Abe and Fernandes were dispensed with.

The net result is that our midfield capability is not as good as it was before Pearson arrived.

As I have persistently said we have no chance of reaching the play-off positions whilst Wellens, Gallagher and Dyer spend so much time on the pitch.

It is simply bizarre that Pearson does not understand this - Is he a plank-head or something?

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

I dont think NP realised how long it would take to get the team playing hisway.

They just dont seem capable of it consistenly

[beemeroo]

I dont think NP realised how long it would take to get the team playing hisway.

They just dont seem capable of it consistenly

I sincerely doubt many of this team could tie their shoes on a consistent basis.

[accessory]

Drinkwater is better than Danns, whom at the moment he is replacing. Before Drinkwater arrived Danns was just about our best midfield player, since Abe and Fernandes were dispensed with.

The net result is that our midfield capability is not as good as it was before Pearson arrived.

As I have persistently said we have no chance of reaching the play-off positions whilst Wellens, Gallagher and Dyer spend so much time on the pitch.

It is simply bizarre that Pearson does not understand this - Is he a plank-head or something?

Maybe he fears the effect on the dressing room if they are dropped.

But he cut egos down to size at Hull and maybe in time could do the same here, although this task would be somewhat more complicated, as it involves players he himself brought to the club.

[Mission Unlikely Promotion]

Pearson sounded fed up with his post match comments, naturally - we all are

[whoareyaaa]

Dyer - Drinkwater - Danns - Marshall should start the next league game in the middle.

[JonnyBoy]

I think it was the Southampton game that was the last straw for me regarding Dyer, i just think he does the odd bit of good play but apart from that is performing very poor

[flowwolf]

It is obvious he is under pressure he is hoping we get into the playoffs to save his job.

Obvious to you , But then again your young and are prompted by naivety to make silly statements on here. If you want an example you say " obvious " which assumes we all fall to your way of thinking.Which we don't. :glare: :glare:

[Happy Fox]

Obvious to you , But then again your young and are prompted by naivety to make silly statements on here. If you want an example you say " obvious " which assumes we all fall to your way of thinking.Which we don't. :glare: :glare:

On reflection it was a pretty daft statement I made earlier but is it naive of NP to think we will make the playoffs?

[Matt]

Really cannot wait for this season to end.

[21st Century Fox]

I'm still scratching my head as to how anyone was able to interpret anything of what was said in that interview as Peasron's job being on the line or the Thai's pulling out.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Midfield steadied by Bamba at Def Mid.

Just putting it out there.

[Raw Dykes]

Midfield steadied by Bamba at Def Mid.

Just putting it out there.

Got to be worth a try, at least.

If NP could be sure he'd keep his job, the rest of this season could be put to good use experimenting with the current players and testing new tactics and formations. We could also blood some youngsters. I hope NP keeps his job regardless of league position (bar sliding into a relegation dogfight, of course), the playoffs become mathematically impossible soon and we can make good use of the remaining matches in preparation for the summer transfer window and new season.

[Kitchandro]

I'm gonna cut lcfcsnow some slack here and say that he's got a point. We all identified the midfield as our problem position and it hasn't been sorted out. It's a shambles that we are still having to play Dyer or Gally even when both aren't performing. Dyer has got to be replaced. I don't really care how young Marshall's been or how long he's been here, it was not an option to plan for next season in January. Even Pearson said that himself last night, the season should not be over from his or the squad's point of view. So if he's bought him, it's because he's good enough.

Now if Dyer is continuing to start ahead of him and/or is not being replaced by him when he's playing crap, there's something wrong. Same with Gally when he's playing poorly. If we are aiming for promotion in the near future (whether it's this season or next) then we cannot persist with Dyer and arguably we can't persist with no competition for inconsistent, makeshift wingers. I'd also argue Wellens is past it and Danns isn't good enough so we need better than them sooner or later.

I'm in no way defending Sven but we weren't far off the play-offs when he left and they were still achievable when Pearson came in. I've been disappointed, not just with what he did in the transfer window or the overall picture, but his decisions in individual games as well.

If he wasn't in charge at the start of next season I would seriously consider not getting a season ticket. But I don't think Pearson is blameless for this season fizzling out. I still have some faith in him for next season, but he'll have to convince me early on by replacing the players who simply aren't good enough.

[Guest Col city fan]

I'm gonna cut lcfcsnow some slack here and say that he's got a point. We all identified the midfield as our problem position and it hasn't been sorted out. It's a shambles that we are still having to play Dyer or Gally even when both aren't performing. Dyer has got to be replaced. I don't really care how young Marshall's been or how long he's been here, it was not an option to plan for next season in January. Even Pearson said that himself last night, the season should not be over from his or the squad's point of view. So if he's bought him, it's because he's good enough.

Now if Dyer is continuing to start ahead of him and/or is not being replaced by him when he's playing crap, there's something wrong. Same with Gally when he's playing poorly. If we are aiming for promotion in the near future (whether it's this season or next) then we cannot persist with Dyer and arguably we can't persist with no competition for inconsistent, makeshift wingers. I'd also argue Wellens is past it and Danns isn't good enough so we need better than them sooner or later.

I'm in no way defending Sven but we weren't far off the play-offs when he left and they were still achievable when Pearson came in. I've been disappointed, not just with what he did in the transfer window or the overall picture, but his decisions in individual games as well.

If he wasn't in charge at the start of next season I would seriously consider not getting a season ticket. But I don't think Pearson is blameless for this season fizzling out. I still have some faith in him for next season, but he'll have to convince me early on by replacing the players who simply aren't good enough.

All this.....

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

If i was NP I would say we had no chance of the PO's.

Reverse phsycology might work.

[blue army 1988]

I think it was the Southampton game that was the last straw for me regarding Dyer, i just think he does the odd bit of good play but apart from that is performing very poor

He does give 100% in most matches tho which i think is his saving grace.

[Bryn]

Dyer works hard, he works well with Konchesky. We never look anyway near as threatened down our left as we do down our right, partly because Konchesky is so steady but partly because Dyer is willing to track back.