Sack him now!

[Happy Fox]

How are we over expectant when the manager clearly stated when he arrived LAST SEASON that the objective was promotion and then failed to deliver? Then this season he again announced the objective was promotion and again we look like failing because we've gone nearly a third of a season picking up one win. How is expecting what the manager said being over expectant? Are we instead to assume that what ever he says is bollocks?

To call people arsehole because they have the temerity to expect a squad which is amongst the highest paid in the division along with a manager who is also the highest paid in the division to achieve the goals THEY THEMSELVES set is baffling.

Exactly don't state the aims if you cannot deliver them! the remit was promotion as every single fan knew so if NP doesn't deliver that he knows where the door is.

[Fox92]

Exactly don't state the aims if you cannot deliver them! the remit was promotion as every single fan knew so if NP doesn't deliver that he knows where the door is.

It isn't over yet. We can still make 6th, thus we can still achieve that aim.

Are we just going to have this every season then? A manager comes in, doesn't deliver, he leaves. A manager comes in, doesn't deliver, he leaves. We'll be heading even further down the league then, never mind being in the mix for the play offs in April (which some fans don't think is very good now).

It's only a credit to Nigel Pearson, that most fans expected automatic promotion. He did so well to guide us up to first/second/third in the league, but with that, sadly, expectations change and then the play offs are seen as somesort of poor position. My expectations have never changed throughout the season, I'd still take a play off place (as I would have done prior to the season starting).

[fleckneymike]

It isn't over yet. We can still make 6th, thus we can still achieve that aim.

Are we just going to have this every season then? A manager comes in, doesn't deliver, he leaves. A manager comes in, doesn't deliver, he leaves. We'll be heading even further down the league then, never mind being in the mix for the play offs in April (which some fans don't think is very good now).

It's only a credit to Nigel Pearson, that most fans expected automatic promotion. He did so well to guide us up to first/second/third in the league, but with that, sadly, expectations change and then the play offs are seen as somesort of poor position. My expectations have never changed throughout the season, I'd still take a play off place (as I would have done prior to the season starting).

We've previously explored the 'myth' of stability and yes, if you are hired to gain this club promotion, are heavily backed financially to do so and fail then I see no reason why you shouldn't expect to be sacked.

We are 8th, only Poyet and MacKay have been in situ longer than Pearson. 3 of the managers above us has been there less than 6 months.

[smudger63]

Very nice analysis of what's happened Basingstoke. Fully agree with that.

My personal take is that this year is actually still a recovery year. I feel this season one of our main aims should've been cutting the wage bill massively. It's sad, you can all call me unambitious/boring all you want but our fans seriously under-estimate the fvck up of last season. Spending obscene money and delivering an average at best season, that isn't one of those things you can just brush under the carpet. That year should stick with us I'm afraid, we've had no choice but to cut back. We've had to get rid of players (who couldn't give a shit about the club) who are on silly money and we've had to get rid of them regardless. OK, no-one knows exact figures, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out pretty much anyone Sven bought will be on one of the highest wage packets in this division, add that to sticking the likes of Gallagher, Wellens, Dyer, King & Schlupp all on silly money too, how does anyone expect success when our outgoings are so high and there are rules coming in meaning that we'll be penalised should we keep spending at such a ridiculous rate?

It leaves you with a choice. Do you go for broke yet again and spend more obscene money, going one of two ways? Or do you try and stabilise yourself and prepare yourselves for the worst. In other words, do we do a QPR, or do we do what we actually have done? Yes, we have spent money this year (we've definitely wasted some too) but our squad has made progress if you ask me, there's more young players on smaller wages tied down for years, should we have to sell them, they will bring in far more than the shit Sven signed in 2011.

I think we're in a healthier position as a club with Pearson at the helm, but he's shown some serious tactical deficiencies in the past 2 months and I'm afraid it's going to cost him his job. It really is a shame because I think with these rules coming in, he certainly has the right intentions. I think he's a manager who's building a squad with extremely high potential yet I've all but lost faith that he's the man who'll eventually reach it.

We as a club have been quite unlucky as far as timing goes with FFP etc... but we've got what we deserve in truth. I've got no interest in not spending within our means, it's one of English football's biggest problems.

I've accepted Pearson as a goner, but it's where we go from here. It's all well and good discussing the possibilities that are there without Pearson, but lets be realistic, who the FVCK is going to come here? Who that is any good, has any serious potential in management is going to come to a club in a mess like ours? And say we do land someone with that potential, are we going to give them the same shit we've been giving Pearson should they suffer a bad run? It's all short-term thinking, all the time, and it really does piss me off no end. All the expert critics on here will be looking in hindsight where any Pearson replacement gets it wrong in games we've not won etc... it's all well and good, but we really ought to be careful what we wish for. It's fine saying Pearson may not be the man but I really think things could be a lot, lot worse at this club and I'm not convinced we're really in a position where we can risk it.

I can just picture myself being here in a years time and we're having exactly the same discussions yet again, and not with Pearson either. That's what worries me the most.

I take it you are blaming Sven for that average season then, despite the fact we were only 2 points off the play offs when he was sacked, and the fact he was only here for 13 games of that average season!

For 33 games of that season Pearson was in charge, so he had plenty of time last season to make his mark, and get us into shape for this season.

God forbid anyone blaming Pearson for our present situation.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

I take it you are blaming Sven for that average season then, despite the fact we were only 2 points off the play offs when he was sacked, and the fact he was only here for 13 games of that average season!

For 33 games of that season Pearson was in charge, so he had plenty of time last season to make his mark, and get us into shape for this season.

God forbid anyone blaming Pearson for our present situation.

Pearson is unblameable if that's even a word

[Corky]

Tony Pulis maybe available after today's defeat at MAN U??

That will delight those who want a passing game.

[somebum]

Sell the LOT; players, ground, land etc put all the money in a pool and share it amongst people that really need it and not this bunch of over paid tossers. Seriously, why you guys keep up this circus is beyond me. Idiots.

[Thracian]

Pearson summed up our fans with his delusions of grandeur comment.

And he wasn't even right in that. I don't assume we'll beat anyone and don't really give a toss about the Premiership either. What i want is to see us turn out fit and strong in mind and body and organised - mentally and physically - to play football the best way we can and to impose ourselves on games.

Instead we lack any kind of collective belief or knowledge of what we need be to achieve the consistency of winners. And we totally lack the main ingredient that is vital to our aims - ruthlessness.

[seenitall]

Sell the LOT; players, ground, land etc put all the money in a pool and share it amongst people that really need it and not this bunch of over paid tossers. Seriously, why you guys keep up this circus is beyond me. Idiots.

We all like circuses?

[Dan]

Firstly I'm not sure you can be 'over-expectant' and 'negative' at the same time.

Secondly, I've written many times about the dour, bitter idiosyncrasies of our fans. But in truth we have one of the largest and most vocal away followings in the league, and an average home attendance of 20,000 +. Some have argued that our home crowds lack volume, but our home record is far better than our away record, so clearly that has nothing to do with it. On Friday night, as it happens, the atmosphere was incredible and no-one complained until the game was over, but we still couldn't win the match.

Thirdly, is the real reason for 'what should have been a great season' being 'even more unenjoyable' (not sure how that works, but never mind) that the fans were negative when we were doing well? Because I kind of thought it had more to do with the one win in fourteen games when we weren't doing well. If, after a run like that, the worst thing on your mind is how damned ungrateful we all were when things were rosy, then I can understand why you're feeling so upbeat.

However, my final point is that, for someone 'positive / trying to generate positivity' I'm not sure your dismissing of our fans as a bunch of 'arseholes' and asserting that 'next year will be exactly the same' is the sort of 'glass half full mentality' that will see us overcome our current turmoils. No, I don't want Pearson out, but those who - in his defence - call the fans a bunch of hopeless arseholes while calling on us to shrug off the second worst run in our history and just, y'know, be grateful seem to be committing a fairly deadly sin of self-contradiction.

Our fans aren't perfect. But neither are they to blame for where we are now.

Partly mis-interpreted. I'm not blaming our fans for this plight. I'm just saying a lot of our fans, even when we were doing well were the same whinging group who'd only make a noise if we were winning, and I include our away support in that too, excellent when it gets going but as someone who's been to all bar two away games this year, I'm pretty confident in saying we're vocally nowhere near one of the best, once were, but not anymore.

My point was that even if we're hovering around promotion again next season, it's going to be the same doom & gloom we've had all year this year. I stress, I'm not talking about JUST the last 14 games, even before that made me think Jesus Christ our fans won't be happy until we're Champions of Europe.

How are we over expectant when the manager clearly stated when he arrived LAST SEASON that the objective was promotion and then failed to deliver? Then this season he again announced the objective was promotion and again we look like failing because we've gone nearly a third of a season picking up one win. How is expecting what the manager said being over expectant? Are we instead to assume that what ever he says is bollocks?

To call people arsehole because they have the temerity to expect a squad which is amongst the highest paid in the division along with a manager who is also the highest paid in the division to achieve the goals THEY THEMSELVES set is baffling.

It's not our fans' attitude now that's annoyed me, it's been the collective attitude all year and the fact there were still gloom & doom merchants when we were 2nd. Anyone who denies it happens is kidding themselves.

[Dan]

I take it you are blaming Sven for that average season then, despite the fact we were only 2 points off the play offs when he was sacked, and the fact he was only here for 13 games of that average season!

For 33 games of that season Pearson was in charge, so he had plenty of time last season to make his mark, and get us into shape for this season.

God forbid anyone blaming Pearson for our present situation.

I am indeed. OK, could he have had more time? Arguably, but I have never ever seen a manager leave a bigger mess at a club than what he did. How can anyone NOT blame Sven for leaving us with a squad of average players, who'd been enticed by a big wage packet? It's far harder to fix than you realise.

Pearson's got a lot of blame to take over his reign too and this year, well to be honest he's completely let me down, I've defended him the whole time but this run really does look like it'll never end, luck isn't on his side but there's far more to it than luck. It'd be a shame seeing him go but I've accepted it'll happen now.

[fleckneymike]

I am indeed. OK, could he have had more time? Arguably, but I have never ever seen a manager leave a bigger mess at a club than what he did. How can anyone NOT blame Sven for leaving us with a squad of average players, who'd been enticed by a big wage packet? It's far harder to fix than you realise.

Pearson's got a lot of blame to take over his reign too and this year, well to be honest he's completely let me down, I've defended him the whole time but this run really does look like it'll never end, luck isn't on his side but there's far more to it than luck. It'd be a shame seeing him go but I've accepted it'll happen now.

One can only assume you never saw Peter Taylor's squad, Martin Allen's incredible squad made up entirely of rightbacks and Mickey Adams' octogenarian side.

[Guest Col city fan]

One can only assume you never saw Peter Taylor's squad, Martin Allen's incredible squad made up entirely of rightbacks and Mickey Adams' octogenarian side.

You continue to make me laff mate..

[Zingari]

One can only assume you never saw Peter Taylor's squad, Martin Allen's incredible squad made up entirely of rightbacks and Mickey Adams' octogenarian side.

Not forgetting Frankie Ticktock's bunch too .

[Basingstoke Fox]

I take it you are blaming Sven for that average season then, despite the fact we were only 2 points off the play offs when he was sacked, and the fact he was only here for 13 games of that average season!

For 33 games of that season Pearson was in charge, so he had plenty of time last season to make his mark, and get us into shape for this season.

God forbid anyone blaming Pearson for our present situation.

Yes. It absolutely is a case of blaming Sven for his transfer policies and whoever was in charge of our finances. The way he went about his business was a complete and utter joke! Pearson inherited a squad which although there were some decent additions with Nugent, Kasper and Konchesky, there were several very average players too who were earning far, far too much in comparison with their respective abilities.

Nigel came in and inherited this squad and so when January eventually came, he was able to make a few additions. But as a club, we really couldn't afford to adopt the same, ridiculous mentality that we did in the previous transfer window. When listening to his interviews, he makes a very valid point about going for decent players if they're available at the right price, he isn't the sort of person who is going to just completely waste money here and there just for the sake of it. He always tries to ensure that we get value for money. Okay Vardy hasn't been a great example of this but that is an exception to the rule.

So he did have 33 games, but those games were with someone else's very poorly assembled squad which left a massive weight around our necks in terms of the wage budget. Thankfully, we've managed to lift alot of the weight off but it's still there and still impacted us during that season and probably this season to a certain extent. I'm sure that Nigel would've strengthened the squad further if he had the resource to do so this season, but it's also about building a squad and he has done that. I honestly believe that keeping everything as it is and giving it time to improve next season is the best move our club can make at this time.

Our big opportunity as a football club to build a side that would be capable of promotion and sustaining some success in the Premier League came in the summer of 2011 as Dan alluded to. Unfortunately, as a football club, we made a monumental f**k up of it, primarily thanks to our short term mentality. With the right people in charge at that time, we could've looked out for better players who would represent much, much better value for money and probably be in a much better position right now too. That season has held us back but we are currently still on the right track. Having more managerial changes is more likely to completely de-rail any progress we've made rather than enhance it.

[acooling08]

Yes. It absolutely is a case of blaming Sven for his transfer policies and whoever was in charge of our finances. The way he went about his business was a complete and utter joke! Pearson inherited a squad which although there were some decent additions with Nugent, Kasper and Konchesky, there were several very average players too who were earning far, far too much in comparison with their respective abilities.

Nigel came in and inherited this squad and so when January eventually came, he was able to make a few additions. But as a club, we really couldn't afford to adopt the same, ridiculous mentality that we did in the previous transfer window. When listening to his interviews, he makes a very valid point about going for decent players if they're available at the right price, he isn't the sort of person who is going to just completely waste money here and there just for the sake of it. He always tries to ensure that we get value for money. Okay Vardy hasn't been a great example of this but that is an exception to the rule.

So he did have 33 games, but those games were with someone else's very poorly assembled squad which left a massive weight around our necks in terms of the wage budget. Thankfully, we've managed to lift alot of the weight off but it's still there and still impacted us during that season and probably this season to a certain extent. I'm sure that Nigel would've strengthened the squad further if he had the resource to do so this season, but it's also about building a squad and he has done that. I honestly believe that keeping everything as it is and giving it time to improve next season is the best move our club can make at this time.

Our big opportunity as a football club to build a side that would be capable of promotion and sustaining some success in the Premier League came in the summer of 2011 as Dan alluded to. Unfortunately, as a football club, we made a monumental f**k up of it, primarily thanks to our short term mentality. With the right people in charge at that time, we could've looked out for better players who would represent much, much better value for money and probably be in a much better position right now too. That season has held us back but we are currently still on the right track. Having more managerial changes is more likely to completely de-rail any progress we've made rather than enhance it.

THIS

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Having more managerial changes is more likely to completely de-rail any progress we've made rather than enhance it.[/size]

Depends who we get next really doesn't it?

[Bob Weasel Fox]

One can only assume you never saw Peter Taylor's squad, Martin Allen's incredible squad made up entirely of rightbacks and Mickey Adams' octogenarian side.

Tater peeler almost sent us to the wall

[LJS]

No fan of Taylor but he didn't sign the cheques. Owners of football clubs must love being able get away with appalling financial management, in the knowledge that there's a football manager to blame in public.

[alwyne webster]

Does anyone know if theres any truth in the talk thats going around ,saying that nigel pearson has a clause in his contract that as long has he has a chance to make the playoffs he cant be sacked,if hes sacked before that time he gets 1 million pounds conpensation,and thats whats keeping him here,?just heard it on friday night at the match.just not sure.

[Deucalion]

When Pearson signed a contract I remember him saying he had a two year contract.

If this is the case, he will be out of contract this summer.

[Basingstoke Fox]

Depends who we get next really doesn't it?

Yes. But it also depends on what type of manager we want, what their managerial style is, what our expections for them are over what sort of timescale, whether they would actually want to come to us given the situation that we're in and finally, whether going with a different manager will give us a better chance of achieving promotion.

[ramaiya2]

Does anyone know if theres any truth in the talk thats going around ,saying that nigel pearson has a clause in his contract that as long has he has a chance to make the playoffs he cant be sacked,if hes sacked before that time he gets 1 million pounds conpensation,and thats whats keeping him here,?just heard it on friday night at the match.just not sure.

That clause cannot be right, Leicester could have been bottom in Feb and still have a mathmatical 'chance' of a play off position.

[Cropwellfox]

When Pearson signed a contract I remember him saying he had a two year contract.

If this is the case, he will be out of contract this summer.

Think it was for the part season and then two further years so he would have a year left. Wouldn't be surprised if there's a clause for a bigger pay off if he is fired before he mathematically can't achieve promotion though.

[inckley fox]

It isn't over yet. We can still make 6th, thus we can still achieve that aim.

Are we just going to have this every season then? A manager comes in, doesn't deliver, he leaves. A manager comes in, doesn't deliver, he leaves. We'll be heading even further down the league then, never mind being in the mix for the play offs in April (which some fans don't think is very good now).

It's only a credit to Nigel Pearson, that most fans expected automatic promotion. He did so well to guide us up to first/second/third in the league, but with that, sadly, expectations change and then the play offs are seen as somesort of poor position. My expectations have never changed throughout the season, I'd still take a play off place (as I would have done prior to the season starting).

Are you suggesting that no-one expected promotion under Sven?