Pearson In/Out

[5waller5]

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.

Agree entirely until the last line -I think NP works hard - he just lacks the extra ability that's required right now. He lacks the talent of a top manager - one that can turn around a difficult situation, he has enough talent and intelligence to be an ok manager.

[Mark_w]

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

Yet the poll we're running on Foxes Talk suggests that 75% of fans think he should be in charge for the Forest game on the final day. Funny, you must have missed that.

[wurmer]

I've changed my mind - we are in a nosedive that this pilot can't seem to recover - the ground is fast approaching.

Time to let someone else have a bash, at worst can only stay the same or could get better and keep the playoff spot, complete with confidence to actually be contenders.

[Guest ttfn]

I also think it's worth pointing out that the last time we had a comparable run was when Sousa was sacked with 5 points from 9 games at the start of the 2010/11 season. This was in the context of Sousa having just taken over and trying to implement a new style on the squad. That run of fixtures happened to include games against Cardiff (made the play-offs), Reading (made the play-offs), QPR (promoted) and Norwich (promoted). The only decent side we've faced in the equivalent run this season is Cardiff and still we've only taken 1 more point.

Pearson has been here for 18 months now, and we're no better off under him than we were after his third game.

It's worth noting that, whilst Sven was seen to have lost the plot by the time of his departure after a very successful spell previously, he had taken 61 points from his final 38 games in charge of the club. Pearson has taken 59 from 38 this season.

I don't think I trust him to turn it around any more. Whether or not sacking him is morally right or not is perhaps another debate, but he has not provided any indication that he is capable of turning this mess around.

[5waller5]

I also think it's worth pointing out that the last time we had a comparable run was when Sousa was sacked with 5 points from 9 games at the start of the 2010/11 season. This was in the context of Sousa having just taken over and trying to implement a new style on the squad. That run of fixtures happened to include games against Cardiff (made the play-offs), Reading (made the play-offs), QPR (promoted) and Norwich (promoted). The only decent side we've faced in the equivalent run this season is Cardiff and still we've only taken 1 more point.

Pearson has been here for 18 months now, and we're no better off under him than we were after his third game.

It's worth noting that, whilst Sven was seen to have lost the plot by the time of his departure after a very successful spell previously, he had taken 61 points from his final 38 games in charge of the club. Pearson has taken 59 from 38 this season.

I don't think I trust him to turn it around any more. Whether or not sacking him is morally right or not is perhaps another debate, but he has not provided any indication that he is capable of turning this mess around.

Nice post .... Some good facts that i wasn't aware of.

[LJS]

I see no whispers in the Sunday papers. Or no real rumours about replacements, other than tentative links to Roy Keane with no reputable source to back them up. I reckon he's staying.

[Bluetintedspecs]

I see no whispers in the Sunday papers. Or no real rumours about replacements, other than tentative links to Roy Keane with no reputable source to back them up. I reckon he's staying.

It's highly likely today is a day off and I'm guessing that if the owners have someone lined up that is what they will focus on first ensuring it's a done deal. The Sven departure was kept very very quiet as was his replacement, why would the Thais suddenly start conducting business through the press!Mark W, I like you have been an advocate of stability, however this run is nothing short of abysmal and the ship seems empty and rudderless which is a shame as we have played some brilliant stuff this season! The question is have we become the perennial bottlers that we have mocked Baadiff over? If so the book has to stop with the gaffer! Very very sadly I am thinking it might be time

[Guest Col city fan]

It's highly likely today is a day off and I'm guessing that if the owners have someone lined up that is what they will focus on first ensuring it's a done deal. The Sven departure was kept very very quiet as was his replacement, why would the Thais suddenly start conducting business through the press!Mark W, I like you have been an advocate of stability, however this run is nothing short of abysmal and the ship seems empty and rudderless which is a shame as we have played some brilliant stuff this season! The question is have we become the perennial bottlers that we have mocked Baadiff over? If so the book has to stop with the gaffer! Very very sadly I am thinking it might be time

:

I never thought I'd see the day?

Guinness needed?

[Bob Weasel Fox]

I also think it's worth pointing out that the last time we had a comparable run was when Sousa was sacked with 5 points from 9 games at the start of the 2010/11 season. This was in the context of Sousa having just taken over and trying to implement a new style on the squad. That run of fixtures happened to include games against Cardiff (made the play-offs), Reading (made the play-offs), QPR (promoted) and Norwich (promoted). The only decent side we've faced in the equivalent run this season is Cardiff and still we've only taken 1 more point.

Pearson has been here for 18 months now, and we're no better off under him than we were after his third game.

It's worth noting that, whilst Sven was seen to have lost the plot by the time of his departure after a very successful spell previously, he had taken 61 points from his final 38 games in charge of the club. Pearson has taken 59 from 38 this season.

I don't think I trust him to turn it around any more. Whether or not sacking him is morally right or not is perhaps another debate, but he has not provided any indication that he is capable of turning this mess around.

Good post

[Bluetintedspecs]

:

I never thought I'd see the day?

Guinness needed?

It's definitely in order mate! Very sad about our slump, so positive it was our year, and the optimist in me says yes it still could be, the realist is very worried though very worried indeed!

[Guest Col city fan]

It's definitely in order mate! Very sad about our slump, so positive it was our year, and the optimist in me says yes it still could be, the realist is very worried though very worried indeed!

Brighton winning today is worrying.

It all depends whether you think Pearson can turn it round?

Jury's out still for me.

What I do know is that, having had the chance we've had with such a poor standard of competition this season in the Championship, ill be very upset if we now blow it.

[Mark_w]

It's highly likely today is a day off and I'm guessing that if the owners have someone lined up that is what they will focus on first ensuring it's a done deal. The Sven departure was kept very very quiet as was his replacement, why would the Thais suddenly start conducting business through the press!Mark W, I like you have been an advocate of stability, however this run is nothing short of abysmal and the ship seems empty and rudderless which is a shame as we have played some brilliant stuff this season! The question is have we become the perennial bottlers that we have mocked Baadiff over? If so the book has to stop with the gaffer! Very very sadly I am thinking it might be time

When you bring a new manager in with 8 games to go, it really could go either way, we could fall apart or we could bounce back and settle in the play-offs. At the moment I feel like the same two scenarios under Pearson are similarly possible. I don't know if we'd be more or less likely to push on with a new manager, it depends who it is really, but there's no way of knowing. What we do know however is that Pearson has us in a good position and whilst we've had a poor run of form we have played some good football this season, in the past he's brought us a lot of success and personally that's enough for me to think that he deserves the eight games rather than another manager. In terms of next season, I still think that Pearson is the best option we have at the moment, he's not stupid, he'll know what issues we have and I'm sure he and Walsh will be able to rectify those issues. This squad, with James fit, the same brilliant defence and one or two additions is in my opinion in a great position to push on and be challenging at the top of the league next year. It has been a poor run, a very poor run, but I'd hope that people don't forget just how much good Pearson has done. I think it'd be a mistake to think that Pearson has lost the ability he has as a manager myself, but sure if he's going to keep his job he needs to turn it around soon, I hope he's given that chance.

[Guest Col city fan]

When you bring a new manager in with 8 games to go, it really could go either way, we could fall apart or we could bounce back and settle in the play-offs. At the moment I feel like the same two scenarios under Pearson are similarly possible. I don't know if we'd be more or less likely to push on with a new manager, it depends who it is really, but there's no way of knowing. What we do know however is that Pearson has us in a good position and whilst we've had a poor run of form we have played some good football this season, in the past he's brought us a lot of success and personally that's enough for me to think that he deserves the eight games rather than another manager. In terms of next season, I still think that Pearson is the best option we have at the moment, he's not stupid, he'll know what issues we have and I'm sure he and Walsh will be able to rectify those issues. This squad, with James fit, the same brilliant defence and one or two additions is in my opinion in a great position to push on and be challenging at the top of the league next year. It has been a poor run, a very poor run, but I'd hope that people don't forget just how much good Pearson has done. I think it'd be a mistake to think that Pearson has lost the ability he has as a manager myself, but sure if he's going to keep his job he needs to turn it around soon, I hope he's given that chance.

Possibly one of the most sensible posts you've written in recent times Mark. I tend to agree with you now that my anger of last nights shameful performance has dwindled.

[Thracian]

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

He's only himself to blame and it's in his own hands whether he ever gets em back - either now or in his next job.

Pearson started the season with exactly the right attitude and I couldn't have been more pleased. He played exciting football, put undeserved bad breaks behind him and went top of the league.

Then he seemed to lose his nerve and conviction and what he represents now is nothing like what he represented last October. He seemed to sell his soul for safety's sake - just like he copped out of the Cup and the League Cup through failing to field his strongest teams and showing the non-existence of real desire.

What a message those sorties gave out. Play brilliantly in the league lads but some of you still won't be in for the cup games.

Well, we're not Manchester United. We've not won so many trophies that we can afford to be selective in the interests of longer term development. In fact we've not won anything of note since MON was here.

We need to make a habit of winning be it in the League, the FA Cup or the training games at Belvoir Drive. We need to lift and excite the fans, to make them truly proud of what we represent instead of having them wishfully thinking about "winning at home, drawing away "and defending austere systems so long as we "pinch a goal" and "get something" (which we don't very often at away grounds these days)

Losing four goals and the game against Burton Albion was early indication of our underlying lack of desire on the senior footballing side of our club and what happened against Huddersfield in the FA Cup and in the shocking run that followed only emphasised the point.

Opponents have sensed it too and know that if they get up our backsides and disrupt our flow they'll always have a chance.

And, make no mistake, lack of desire cost us yesterday too cos we were outfought and outthought by a guy with nothing like the resources we enjoy.

I've read all the options for different systems and team permutations - but in so many of the games we've lost or drawn it's not the system that's cost us but our lack of attitude and ruthlessness.

The missing of a penalty, of other close-range near tap ins, not defending straightforward crosses into the box, rarely scoring from free-kicks or corners, these things have cost us valuable points and quite enough to have cemented our play-offs place for sure and probably enough to have kept us in the top two - and that's the essence of detail.... it makes the difference (to results and to confidence) and we don't attend to it.

And that, I'm afraid, is down to the boss. Players who need to be full of confidence seem weighed down with doubt and, for too long now, the doubt has been tangible. Just a different man with the right psychology might dispel those doubts and make all the difference.

[ozleicester]

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.

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.

Im not actualy in favour of getting rid of Pearson, but i think this is an area that needs to be looked at.

His obsession, desire, requirement, (what ever it was) to cut the side has left us thin on quality, he doesnt have a player challenging for every spot, therefore he doesnt have a confident class replacement who is banging on his door saying.. let me show you what i can do.

In the early part of the season, we had confidence, style and quality football...we also had 2 players for every spot...coincidence?

[Bluetintedspecs]

When you bring a new manager in with 8 games to go, it really could go either way, we could fall apart or we could bounce back and settle in the play-offs. At the moment I feel like the same two scenarios under Pearson are similarly possible. I don't know if we'd be more or less likely to push on with a new manager, it depends who it is really, but there's no way of knowing. What we do know however is that Pearson has us in a good position and whilst we've had a poor run of form we have played some good football this season, in the past he's brought us a lot of success and personally that's enough for me to think that he deserves the eight games rather than another manager. In terms of next season, I still think that Pearson is the best option we have at the moment, he's not stupid, he'll know what issues we have and I'm sure he and Walsh will be able to rectify those issues. This squad, with James fit, the same brilliant defence and one or two additions is in my opinion in a great position to push on and be challenging at the top of the league next year. It has been a poor run, a very poor run, but I'd hope that people don't forget just how much good Pearson has done. I think it'd be a mistake to think that Pearson has lost the ability he has as a manager myself, but sure if he's going to keep his job he needs to turn it around soon, I hope he's given that chance.

Mark, many points I have also been drum banging about mate, however the counter argument is like the large snowball rollng down the hill sadly! He has been backed in ousting and bringing players in, no question his team, so why are the same group of players who were outstanding and got us top so devoid of ideas,passion and togetherness now? The Wendy game for me had an aura about it which was dreadful, we will obviously see the outcome soon enough! One thing for sure I will always give my support to our team as will the vast majority of our fans.

[Corky]

I really don't know whether he should stay or go but something has to change. We've gone backwards in style and results for no apparent reason. The players don't look confident, we aren't pinging it about with freedom any more, we seem to have lapsed back into the pass-and-stand-still crap of last season.

It's such a waste because we've shown it can be better than this. Either the manager changes his ways or we change the manager. We cannot afford to miss out on the top six at least.

[Finnaldo]

If he does go, I think Di Matteo would be a good shout. However it would depend on whether:

a) The wages he would demand

b) If he would want to drop to Championship football. Although before he went to Chelsea, he supposedly was turned down by Birmingham, who had been relegated.

I'm still on the fence considering Pearson though, but if they do sack him, they should at least have a suitable replacement lined up.

[fleckneymike]

Huddersfield away.

[fleckneymike]

If he does go, I think Di Matteo would be a good shout. However it would depend on whether:

a) The wages he would demand

b) If he would want to drop to Championship football. Although before he went to Chelsea, he supposedly was turned down by Birmingham, who had been relegated.

I'm still on the fence considering Pearson though, but if they do sack him, they should at least have a suitable replacement lined up.

Pearson is not working for free. On a reported £1m a year he is being paid extremely well.

[LcFc_Smiv]

It's horrible to think there was a point not so long ago I was thinking about how I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so good about Leicester and the way they had been playing. Now I have no recollection of that feeling, it's back to the days of trying to stay positive and just hoping for that illusive run of form. Yesterday I tried to defend Pearson, I will always be a fan and appreciate what he's done for us, I've just woke up and the optimism is gone. I have little faith in anyone coming in and turning it around and honestly can't see any real sensible solution at the moment. Deep down I want Pearson to stay, however the ifs and buts are creeping in.

[Smudge]

Seems to me that Pearson should decide his own future. Give him the rest of the season, he can either do it or screw it up, I think we owe him that.

[smudger63]

It's highly likely today is a day off and I'm guessing that if the owners have someone lined up that is what they will focus on first ensuring it's a done deal. The Sven departure was kept very very quiet as was his replacement, why would the Thais suddenly start conducting business through the press!Mark W, I like you have been an advocate of stability, however this run is nothing short of abysmal and the ship seems empty and rudderless which is a shame as we have played some brilliant stuff this season! The question is have we become the perennial bottlers that we have mocked Baadiff over? If so the book has to stop with the gaffer! Very very sadly I am thinking it might be time

Oh My God! You`ve come over to the dark side!!!

Be prepared to be called a moron and a cvnt, it goes with the territory i`m afraid.

[smudger63]

Seems to me that Pearson should decide his own future. Give him the rest of the season, he can either do it or screw it up, I think we owe him that.

We, or rather the owners, have to do what they think will give us the best chance to get promoted.

If they believe that means getting rid of Pearson, so be it.

Pearson has been well paid, and well backed, they owe him nothing!

[fleckneymike]

We, or rather the owners, have to do what they think will give us the best chance to get promoted.

If they believe that means getting rid of Pearson, so be it.

Pearson has been well paid, and well backed, they owe him nothing!

The investment in this side demands success (it does not guarantee it however).

DeLaet £1m

James £1m

Marshall £1m

Vardy £1m+

Morgan £1m

Wood £1m

Knockaert £350k

Drinkwater £500k

That's nearly £7m (excluding wages). Plus whatever hit we took on offloading players.

Pearson knew what he was signing up to when he joined, this is not a team put together with string and buttons, by comparative standards we are paying a kings ransom to our squad, we expect better and we deserve someone who can match our expectations. We are not expecting 'instant' success, we have tolerated nearly 3 years of reckless investment, that investment needs to pay off and pay off soon. Sentimentality will not pay the bills.