Pearson In/Out

[TheUltimateWinner]

This two weeks break gives us a great opportunity to get someone in, know the players and imprint his style on the team.

We need someone who plays nice football who is tactically sound.

I say Adkins.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

This two weeks break gives us a great opportunity to get someone in, know the players and imprint his style on the team.

We need someone who plays nice football who is tactically sound.

I say Adkins.

From what's out there I wouldn't disagree

[Bluetintedspecs]

I've been a strong advocate of stability and patience, however as I said after the Wendy game there's an uneasy aura about the club and a fragility which is very worrying! NP seemed like a man on the verge and it would be no surprise if the trap door is opened. If the owners do something and it pays off then it will be lauded as inspired, if they don't and we drop out of playoffs then they should have. Same can be said about differing opinions about NP. My gut feeling is the owners will go for the sh*t or bust option and an announcement will happen very soon! Time will tell.

[fleckneymike]

What is annoying is that it's all self inflicted.

[inckley fox]

What is annoying is that it's all self inflicted.

Exactly. The signs were there that something wasn't right after the Boro game in January, then again against Wolves - when we were still winning games. Yet Pearson's insistence that this side were perfoming to his expectations persisted beyond that, through an eleven game run of poor form, up to today when he finally confirmed that there's a lack of desire.

I saw it a long time ago. Anyone, apart from those out to defend Pearson at all costs, saw it a long time ago.

While I suspect he's going to be fired on Monday, I'm still of the opinion that we should give him till the end of the season - especially now he's finally woken up to the obvious reality that various players simply aren't working hard enough.

However if it's decided that he should be fired, then - in spite of having backed him throughout - there is no convincing argument against the board removing him from his post.

This was meant to be an automatic promotion season, but we're sixth, falling fast and he's on our worst run of form since we were relegated from this division, albeit with one of the best-funded sides in the league. He's had eighteen months and it's clearly not working.

And there are very identifiable examples of him having made elementary managerial errors. For me it's rare that fans can single out unavoidably obvious mistakes that their manager has made, such as the Schlupp situation, or loaning Moore out and ending up with St Ledger at right back, or loaning Kane but not addressing an unbelievably clear central midfield defficiency. Or turning on the fans, or giving straightforwardly unprofessional radio interviews, regardless of the interviewer.

If he has to go, then it's sad. But this is a very poor Leicester side, and one which has been clearly mismanaged for two months now. What possessed him I don't know, but it's happened. There may well be nothing to lose from bringing someone else in if he is incapable of making these players face up to expectations.

[ozleicester]

All we have heard from the anti sven bleaters is how NP has reduced our "bloated" squad and wage bill, isnt it just possible..., he has also reduced our player quality and.. results.

Our squad is now thin and lightweight, but never mind, we are spending less.

[Guest]

All we have heard from the anti sven bleaters is how NP has reduced our "bloated" squad and wage bill, isnt it just possible..., he has also reduced our player quality and.. results.

Our squad is now thin and lightweight, but never mind, we are spending less.

Based upon the football played up until the last 6 weeks or whatever the reduction in wages hasn't reduced quality, in fact some may argue it's improved it. It just seems that as much as winning bred confidence earlier in the season, losing breeds the distinct lack of it we've seen in recent weeks.

Honestly whereas we clearly had the balls to attempt attacking football for the majority of the season, there seems a tendency of late (well based upon yesterday at very least) to panic when they have the ball and are attempting reckless passes rather than making simple plays and biding our time to make decent attacking opportunities.

I can only assume this is a team bereft of confidence because they don't know where the next win is coming from and with a heap of expectation on their shoulders, there's a fair few who aren't dealing with it.

[sbfox]

Exactly. The signs were there that something wasn't right after the Boro game in January, then again against Wolves - when we were still winning games. Yet Pearson's insistence that this side were perfoming to his expectations persisted beyond that, through an eleven game run of poor form, up to today when he finally confirmed that there's a lack of desire.

I saw it a long time ago. Anyone, apart from those out to defend Pearson at all costs, saw it a long time ago.

While I suspect he's going to be fired on Monday, I'm still of the opinion that we should give him till the end of the season - especially now he's finally woken up to the obvious reality that various players simply aren't working hard enough.

However if it's decided that he should be fired, then - in spite of having backed him throughout - there is no convincing argument against the board removing him from his post.

This was meant to be an automatic promotion season, but we're sixth, falling fast and he's on our worst run of form since we were relegated from this division, albeit with one of the best-funded sides in the league. He's had eighteen months and it's clearly not working.

And there are very identifiable examples of him having made elementary managerial errors. For me it's rare that fans can single out unavoidably obvious mistakes that their manager has made, such as the Schlupp situation, or loaning Moore out and ending up with St Ledger at right back, or loaning Kane but not addressing an unbelievably clear central midfield defficiency. Or turning on the fans, or giving straightforwardly unprofessional radio interviews, regardless of the interviewer.

If he has to go, then it's sad. But this is a very poor Leicester side, and one which has been clearly mismanaged for two months now. What possessed him I don't know, but it's happened. There may well be nothing to lose from bringing someone else in if he is incapable of making these players face up to expectations.

According to who? At the start of the season, the auto spots looked like being an open race between about 8 teams (Cardiff, the three relegated teams, City, Blackpool, Palace, Forest). That hasn't happened, but it was never 'autos or bust' (unless you're one of the deluded 5%).

Similarly, things are more positive than when Nige came in, ergo, he's doing a good job. Given that there's no guarantee that we'd even be in the playoffs at the start of the season and given that we're now in a higher position that when he took over, the only metric we can base NFP's performance on is league position (ie. more successful than not).

[Mark_w]

All we have heard from the anti sven bleaters is how NP has reduced our "bloated" squad and wage bill, isnt it just possible..., he has also reduced our player quality and.. results.

Our squad is now thin and lightweight, but never mind, we are spending less.

No. Because he hasn't.

For someone who has a quote in their signature about arguments being supported by logic, you don't seem to be too concerned with genuine evidence. Results have improved, we've been in the top six for months, Sven never had us there, I guess that's because the squad Pearson has constructed is better than the squad that Sven constructed.

[Cropwellfox]

Stability is only worth having when you can see things moving forward. Even the wolves and boro wins were average and since then there's been piss poor performance after piss poor performance, Pearson hasn't sorted out the big hole the team has had - central midfield - we have a highly promising young defender out on loan, have failed to pick Schlupp for months until forced to by injury, somehow Chris Wood has turned from golden boy to rotten bollocks in 6 weeks, and after nearly 3 months of shit he's now rounded on his players.

Time to make Pearson go and get someone in to try and give the players their mojo back. Not a clue why, but its broken, and stability won't fix it

[Mark_w]

Stability is only worth having when you can see things moving forward.

We have been moving forward. But that doesn't mean that there isn't going to be the odd bad patch. We're in a better position than we were last year, that's progress. You can't judge progress on the last nine games, that's stupid, you need to look at the whole season.

But then I guess you're the kind of fan who would have had MON sacked after Sheffield United, because 'Stability is only worth having when you can see things moving forward'.

Just shut up for 8 games and see what happens.

[Legend_in_blue]

NP is the architect of his own downfall. Too stubborn and arrogant to admit that things aren't working, too late, it will be the end of him.

[MC Prussian]

I'm by no means the biggest Pearson fan, but I do think he's being treated overly harsh by some fans given the fact that he's done a pretty decent job so far and if you had told any Leicester fan that we'd be in the playoffs at this stage of the season, anyone would've bought it instantly.

It just baffles me that we're now enduring our worst spell in years and the worst ever under Pearson.

What's gone wrong in such a short amount of time? I'd love to blame it on the second Huddersfield cup game, but there must be more to it...

[seenitall]

No. Because he hasn't.

For someone who has a quote in their signature about arguments being supported by logic, you don't seem to be too concerned with genuine evidence. Results have improved, we've been in the top six for months, Sven never had us there, I guess that's because the squad Pearson has constructed is better than the squad that Sven constructed.

Disingenuous crap sir. Sven was fired after bringing in a return of 19 points from 13 games which was deemed too poor for a team like Leicester City. The top 6 position you associate with success was never achieved partly because in the first season he was here we only had a handfiul of points from 9 games (much on a par with the last 9 games) under Sousa and the catch up was too great for a team without a recognised or capable keeper/midfield deficiencies/no decent striker.

In the second season the new team was given 13 games to gel and didn't so he paid with his head. Results under NP have not improved, the run we are on now would see most managers at most teams fired. Make no mistake, this guy hasn't got a clue, the team is poor (as bad as any I've seen in a long time at Leicester) and the majority of the bright young players brought in are either not that good, hungry anymore (which was their selling point up to 10 games ago) or have been demotivated to the point of uselesness.

Defending a poor manager because it makes you look wrong to admit he is crap does the club no good at all. Open your eyes, demand better but for God's sake stop preaching that this is in any way better than the crap that got relegated to League 1 a few years ago. It isn't, NP remains devoid of ideas and the owners need to act now.

[Guest Col city fan]

I'm by no means the biggest Pearson fan, but I do think he's being treated overly harsh by some fans given the fact that he's done a pretty decent job so far and if you had told any Leicester fan that we'd be in the playoffs at this srage of the season, anyone would've bought it instantly.

It just baffles me that we're now enduring our worst spell in years and the worst ever under Pearson.

What's gone wrong in such a short amount of time? I'd love to blame it on the second Huddersfield cup game, but there must be more to it...

That's the question MC..

Frankly, Fook knows...

That's why I put up a thread last week entitled 'One for the Happy Clappers.. What's gone wrong'.

Many came out with theories which were interesting but I don't know how to get it back up again.

[flowwolf]

I'm by no means the biggest Pearson fan, but I do think he's being treated overly harsh by some fans given the fact that he's done a pretty decent job so far and if you had told any Leicester fan that we'd be in the playoffs at this srage of the season, anyone would've bought it instantly.

It just baffles me that we're now enduring our worst spell in years and the worst ever under Pearson.

What's gone wrong in such a short amount of time? I'd love to blame it on the second Huddersfield cup game, but there must be more to it...

Judging by the players attitude last night it is pretty obvious that there is a problem between them and Pearson. I'm sure the owners did not employ him to do a " pretty decent job" He was employed to get us promoted and he is obviously failing to do that.

I think he is just about to be awarded the D.C.M ( don't come Monday ) by the owners and I can't blame them. What have we got to lose by getting rid of him ? because there is nothing to gain by sticking with a manager who has lost the plot and will soon have us out of the playoffs with no hope and yet another year of shit football at this level.

If you were the owners who are business men foremost would you continue to employ a employee he is not giving you the returns you have invested in ? Just imagine next seasons season ticket renewals with Pearson still at the helm in this division.

Come what may there is no way will he be in charge come next season so get rid now and maybe just maybe a new manager will keep us in the playoffs and then who knows ?

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Good post flowy

[Happy Fox]

Pearson Out, if he doesn't leave in this international break I will be pissed off.

[Wakeyfox]

Judging by the players attitude last night it is pretty obvious that there is a problem between them and Pearson. I'm sure the owners did not employ him to do a " pretty decent job" He was employed to get us promoted and he is obviously failing to do that.

I think he is just about to be awarded the D.C.M ( don't come Monday ) by the owners and I can't blame them. What have we got to lose by getting rid of him ? because there is nothing to gain by sticking with a manager who has lost the plot and will soon have us out of the playoffs with no hope and yet another year of shit football at this level.

If you were the owners who are business men foremost would you continue to employ a employee he is not giving you the returns you have invested in ? Just imagine next seasons season ticket renewals with Pearson still at the helm in this division.

Come what may there is no way will he be in charge come next season so get rid now and maybe just maybe a new manager will keep us in the playoffs and then who knows ?

I've been pro-pearson up until last night. I foolishly thought that he would turn it round and we'd still have a good chance through the playoffs.

But, as you say, he will not be here next season so he has to go now. Whoever comes in won't be able to do any worse for the rest of the season. If we get a playoff spot then they will look good and if we won the playoffs they would be seen as the new messiah.

The owners must have had enough by now surely.

LTID

[Guest ttfn]

We have been moving forward. But that doesn't mean that there isn't going to be the odd bad patch. We're in a better position than we were last year, that's progress. You can't judge progress on the last nine games, that's stupid, you need to look at the whole season.

But then I guess you're the kind of fan who would have had MON sacked after Sheffield United, because 'Stability is only worth having when you can see things moving forward'.

Just shut up for 8 games and see what happens.

Mark

Do you honestly think that we're going to finish in the top 6? We've been going backwards now for 2 months, and fast.

In the last 9 games we've played a top 10 side only once. Taking 6 points from those games isn't just poor, it's pathetic. A mid-table League One side would be slightly disappointed to have got the results we've had against the sides that we've played in the last two months. Last night we lost comfortably to a Derby side that wouldn't have looked out of place in League One and hadn't won themselves in 8 games.

I really want(ed) Pearson to be a success here and will be forever grateful for the job that he did in getting us out of League One, and also for some of the exciting football we saw earlier in the season. He seems like an honourable man and I was happy when he came back. But he's blowing it. The football we've seen for the last two months (which is a good 30% of the season) has been absolutely shit. Not just poor. Absolutely, completely shit. Not a single side in the division would be pleased with what we've seen in that time, let alone one chasing a play-off spot.

He has a well-funded squad filled with talented players and he is not making it work.

What harm would giving somebody else a chance do?

[Guest]

Pearson Out, if he doesn't leave in this international break I will be pissed off.

And will you change your username to reflect this?

[Mark_w]

Mark

Do you honestly think that we're going to finish in the top 6? We've been going backwards now for 2 months, and fast.

In the last 9 games we've played a top 10 side only once. Taking 6 points from those games isn't just poor, it's pathetic. A mid-table League One side would be slightly disappointed to have got the results we've had against the sides that we've played in the last two months. Last night we lost comfortably to a Derby side that wouldn't have looked out of place in League One and hadn't won themselves in 8 games.

I really want(ed) Pearson to be a success here and will be forever grateful for the job that he did in getting us out of League One, and also for some of the exciting football we saw earlier in the season. He seems like an honourable man and I was happy when he came back. But he's blowing it. The football we've seen for the last two months (which is a good 30% of the season) has been absolutely shit. Not just poor. Absolutely, completely shit. Not a single side in the division would be pleased with what we've seen in that time, let alone one chasing a play-off spot.

He has a well-funded squad filled with talented players and he is not making it work.

What harm would giving somebody else a chance do?

I don't have a clue, but I'd like to see Pearson have a chance to keep us in the position that he's got us in to.

I mean in terms of what harm it would do, I don't know, I don't know if it would benefit us this season. There's no way any of us could know. But I'm certain that given another season, with this squad seeing one or two improvements and a few being moved on that we would be competing for an automatic promotion place if Pearson is in charge. And personally, I just couldn't enjoy promotion this season if Pearson isn't in charge, he's got us into this position, it's his squad, I just wouldn't enjoy it. You say that he's an honourable man and taking into account the position we're in and his previous success at the club, I just think that people should be willing to wait 8 more games before judging him, give him that because he's given us a lot of good football this season and a lot of success in the past. He could still this season, he has already turned around a run like this earlier on in the season, let's not forget that either. It's not impossible.

[Thracian]

Yesterday exposed a lot of what I don't like about Pearson's regime. Even with the best squad of players, situations arise which test the strength of both the team and the way its managed. And when it happens here we're so often found wanting.

There were several examples yesterday but I'll mention just two.

First, and not for the first time, our team selection was unbalanced and carried insufficient goals threat.

Second we allowed ourselves to be suckered by high crosses into the box.

We pretend to be strong, quietly confident and well organised but underneath we're weak-minded, ill prepared and totally lacking the ruthlessness necessary to highlight our abilities.

Putting it right isn't about shouting at anyone - it's about leadership, preparation and players having the certain knowledge that when get a problem - individually or collectively - the manager knows exactly how to solve it.

In fact, our manager gave us problems right from the start with his team selection by playing Nugent out of position and immediately upsetting our collective balance. Our goals threat was weak to start with but even weaker with the way we lined up.

And the trouble with such decisions is that one problem begets another so that, down the right, we had Nugent out of position and our right side misfiring, we had the off-form and physically lightweight Drinkwater looking lost and we had a still rusty St Leger facing the much more difficult prospect of his second game back from injury having to cope with a quick, thoughtful, confident, in-your-face striker.

What a mess it added up to and ultimately it cost us the game and in a way that was wholly preventable. In fact not preventing it was little short of professional negligence.

Derby scored, not once but twice with high crosses onto the edge of the six yard box from our right.

Pearson was a centre-back who had endless experience of dealing with such crosses. Your first and most obvious option is to stop them happening...to simply be tight enough on any attacker to prevent them having the time or space to deliver. We failed to do that, well knowing that Derby had bigger options at the receiving end than we had. Serious mistake. .

Secondly, you compete for the cross and if you don't have the height to win the ball then you make sure you have people with the strength and determination to jump ahead or alongside a striker and do enough to baulk or unsight them. We didn't even compete with any conviction and there was no signs of leadership whatsoever.

A third aid - connected to the idea of closing down and preventing crosses but a bit less relevent yesterday - is to keep a high line. Aerial experts aren't usually greyhounds and only become dangerous when they're close to goal.

When we had Steve Howard, opponents just forced him back past the edge of the penalty box and stayed alert for any flick-ons. We didn't accomplish any of the preventive measures and were utterly suckered by a manager who had clearly noticed a significant weakness.

These two points aren't the full story but an indication of how we're failing to get the best from ourselves.

And that's why I want change. I don't want a manager who sounds tough and demanding. i want a manager who is tough and demanding. A manager should never be satisfied even when he wins 6-1. There'll be a reason for the one and a reason we didn't score eight and those reasons might matter on another day. Everything should be about improving the next time out. Yet we're getting worse.

Some say Pearson's taken us into the play-off places.

But he's also taken us down from first place to sixth in recent months.

He's taken us down from being a free-scoring team to being a side which scores once or not at all in far too many matches lately.

He's also taken us down from being a side that could rip most any Championship opposition apart with its passing to a team that has lost it's sense of direction let alone the ability to get there.

And the play-offs win you nothing anyway. Even if we stay there which is by no means certain we'll be up against committed, confident attacking sides in Watford, Palace and Forest ... teams who are growing in confidence and attitude by the day.

With our current approach we'll have little chance of scoring the goals necessary to overcome them. The necessary habits

are simply not ingrained.

We're vulnerable and it's being exposed time and again by even ordinary sides. The really sad part is that it needn't be like that. We've got the equipment to win. What we lack is the philosophy and attention to detail...the necessary hard work if you like.

[dannythefox]

I think from reading twitter and foxestalk its safe to say Pearson has lost the fans!

[Guest Bilo]

Last night convinced me.

Time to go Nigel, thanks for the memories.