Is This The Year For Leicester City?

[davieG]

Should we take these "expert" fans seriously?

http://www.footballfancast.com/2012/07/championship/is-this-the-year-for-leicester-city?

Date: 3rd July 2012 at 6:00 pm

Written by Andy-Jolliffe

After another season of disappointment for Leicester fans, will 2013 be the year the Foxes seal promotion back to the big time?

On the 24^th October last year the

Leicester Cityboard decided to call time on Sven-Göran Eriksson’s reign at the club. The move came as no surprise after a 3-0 drumming at the hands of Millwall and the club languishing in 13^thplace.

The Thai owners felt they had no option but to make a change if they were to succeed in bringing Premier League football back to The King Power Stadium.

Nigel Pearson, the man who left the club 2 years earlier to join

Hull City, was the owner’s choice to take over the reins after Sven’s departure. Pearson couldn’t weave the magic required to get Leicester into a play-off position and they finished off a turbulent season in 9^th place.

Fast forward 8 weeks and for the second year running bookmakers have installed Leicester as favourites to be crowned kings of the

Championship, and with good reason. Leicester have one of the strongest squads in the league and owners with money to burn, this combination should provide Leicester fans with an abundance of optimism, but things are never that simple.

There are question marks over whether some of the

players are committed to the cause and doubts have been raised over Nigel Pearson’s ability to produce results under intense scrutiny. The extreme pressure is due in large part to the fact Leicester are in effect ‘doing a Man City’ and trying to buy success.

Manchester City have proven money can buy you success but what they and Leicester have both proven is that it doesn’t come instantly. There are many factors that contribute to a Championship winning side but relentlessly pumping ubiquitous amounts of cash into a club is not an effective formula.

It takes time to ingrain a winning mentality and picking out the right

transfer targets is also key to a side’s success. There has been little movement on the transfer front so far from Leicester but there is still plenty of time for Nigel Pearson to make some quality additions to his squad this month and next.

The only exit from the club so far has been Ivorian international Sol Bamba, one of the clubs best performers last season, departing to pastures new with Trabzonspor. Pearson will need to fill the void left by Bamba with a stellar replacement to keep the players and fans happy.

The main threat to Leicester’s chances of securing the league title will come from two

teams who were relegated from the Premier League last season, Wolves and Bolton. Both have squads filled with quality and will be desperate to make the leap back to the promise land at the first time of asking.

Cardiff, who have narrowly missed out on promotion for two years running, will be a threat to Leicester’s chances, as will Leeds who have a ground and fan-base fit for the top flight.

Blackburn who were also relegated from the top tier last season should also not be overlooked. Steve Kean will struggle to hold onto the clubs best players and it’s yet to be seen how he will cope at this level but they should be contenders come the end of the season.

With expectations for promotion at an all-time high at The King Power Stadium, anything less than promotion will inevitably be deemed a failure. Over the past few seasons the team has adopted the motto “Keep the Faith”. If the club are going to achieve promotion then that slogan will be more prevalent than ever.

[Fox92]

Doesn't really tell us anything we already don't know. There are at least 10 teams, and maybe more, that will challenge, it will be tough yet again.

[Mark_w]

I think Nigel is a fantastic manager and is capable of getting us into the top 6, he did it here previously and he was set to do it at Hull. But I think anyone who believes we're going to storm the league is deluding themselves, I think we'll be up there but I'm not getting carried away and I don't think anyone else should be either.

[Fox92]

I think Nigel is a fantastic manager and is capable of getting us into the top 6, he did it here previously and he was set to do it at Hull. But I think anyone who believes we're going to storm the league is deluding themselves, I think we'll be up there but I'm not getting carried away and I don't think anyone else should be either.

Fully agree with this.

[pSinatra]

I think every year is going to be the year, but I have yet to be proven right.

What do the bookies know that we don't??

[davieG]

I was thinking more about the errors than the predictions

"The only exit from the club so far has been Ivorian international Sol Bamba"

Ok they may not have played a lot but they were part of the perceived strong squad pundits go on about,

Steve Howard, Matt Oakley, Aleksandar Tunchev, Darius Vassell and Chris Weale

that's not even taking into account Pantsil, Moussa, Johnson etc

"With expectations for promotion at an all-time high at The King Power Stadium"

What, higher than last year!

"Over the past few seasons the team has adopted the motto “Keep the Faith”"

Is it still 2004 or have I missed something?

[Lamby]

No, it isn't

[gazrjohnson]

Yes we have the all the atributes of challenging again,

but this season is set to be the toughest yet! At least half the teams in the championship are capable of pushing for promotion meaning every game we play is key!

For me, near perfect home form this term is a must, turning the KP into a feared fortress is a minimum for succeeding. Last season was too hit or miss.

Yes we will be up there come the end of the season but so much depends on our promotional rivals form.

[Mark_w]

No, it isn't

I wonder if Chris Powell would agree.

[suggs1991]

dont forget about watford they have just been took over i have a feeling theyll be a team to look out for .

we do have the players and on paper we should make the premier league.

shame things never happen how they look on paper though

KEEP THE FAITH LCFC

[Thurmofox]

I think Nigel is a fantastic manager and is capable of getting us into the top 6, he did it here previously and he was set to do it at Hull. But I think anyone who believes we're going to storm the league is deluding themselves, I think we'll be up there but I'm not getting carried away and I don't think anyone else should be either.

I also agree...I'm looking at other teams strengthening there squads and feel our sqaud is not upto the task once again. we have average championship players at best! so it's another year of 8-10 place in my opinion unless something changes! & soon. p.s I'm new to the forum so be gentle 😃

[tyneside fox]

Depends who else we sign as at the moment we havent got the quality squad that we will need to push for promotion IMO.

[Mark_w]

I also agree...I'm looking at other teams strengthening there squads and feel our sqaud is not upto the task once again. we have average championship players at best! so it's another year of 8-10 place in my opinion unless something changes! & soon. p.s I'm new to the forum so be gentle

I disagree. I'm confused.

[Thurmofox]

Depends who else we sign as at the moment we havent got the quality squad that we will need to push for promotion IMO.

yes fully agree that's what I was trying to say 😉

[Thurmofox]

I disagree. I'm confused.

sorry quoted wrong.

[pSinatra]

sorry quoted wrong.

[southwest fox]

Guna be a very tight season need to come out fighting for what we want, need more signings & soon

[Thurmofox]

Thank you 😄

[purpleronnie]

nope, I reckon we'll finish in a similiar position to last season.

[lavrentis]

This is the season.

[Lineker's Left Foot]

Unfortunately think it will be tougher as the financial muscle of Forest, Leeds and Cardiff come more into play; coupled with Wolves who I think will be strong - good amount of money already in the bank and parachute payments. Bolton and Blackburn are making interesting signings, plus you may not have to discount Watford either now?? However, NP has had time to gel the team so who knows??

[Col city fan]

It's beyond me how we can be bookies faves at present.

Bolton have strengthened, so have Blackburn, although they have lost a couple too. Wolves I don't think have sold many?

These three have gotta be stronger than our CURRENT squad.

With any luck we'll get a couple in but how things stand now, I can't see us storming the league?

[Thurmofox]

nope, I reckon we'll finish in a similiar position to last season.

surely it's obvious we need a quick winger & some decent defenders by now! agreed similar position as it stands. Come on Nigel get some qaulity in 😉

[Out Foxed]

if we got in chester/koren/and a class targetman striker i'd be more inclined to say yes. at this moment in time, no.

[Mark_w]

surely it's obvious we need a quick winger & some decent defenders by now! agreed similar position as it stands. Come on Nigel get some qaulity in

Still a long time till the season starts no reason to panic yet. There's a difference between recognising a problem and fixing it, I'd hope Nigel spends time assesing which option is the best rather than buying the first CB or Winger available.