Assuming promotion, which of the current squad would you keep... and why?

[KIRBYFOX93]

simply amazed at people putting mahrez as unsure clearly can see who does and doesn't go to every game

[Fox Ulike]

Unsure:

Wasyl... periodic lack of composure could be found out by quick-thinking strikers

Knocky... flair, creativity thwarted by lack of pace. I can't see him beating many Prem full backs.

Mahrez... too soon to tell really IMO.

Wood... still young, developing.. shortage of pace may be an issue.

Nugent... his goals to chances ratio may well be a greater issue in the Prem where we'll likely get fewer chances.

Miquel... still young.. I've a feeling he'll get much better with experience.

Wouldn't keep:

King.. perhaps the most contentious of all, I see King getting over-run by quicker and more physical opponents

Dyer.. I never thought I'd say this, but Dyer is pretty much all pace. This may well not be enough in the Prem

Konch.. not a Premiership full back IMO. Too prone to error which could well be very costly.

Phillips.. due to age really, still a good player in the Championship. Would now struggle in the Prem IMO.

GTF.. not of Prem quality.. too slow for me.

Logan.. to be fair, very hard to tell. We'll probably need a better replacement in the Prem.

Anyway, opinions please.. and add anyone I've missed..

 

We’ll need four or five quality signings. Definitely.

 

Absolute nonsense though to suggest though that we’d even consider get rid of players like Konch and Nugent. And Knoakert!!!??? Are you having a laugh? MAHREZ!!!!! I have run out of punctuation marks. You are joking sir, surely.

 

The Premiership isn’t some magic-land were different rules apply. We’ll still need a good young squad, we’ll still need good team spirit and we’ll still need players committed to LCFC.  We’ll need to give our players the chance to develop into a Premiership side. Palace and Hull have shown that it can be done. The gap between Prem and Champ isn’t as wide as it was a few years back.

 

You can’t just replace a team with better players and expect it to just instantly work. Footballers are people. You can’t just upgrade them like software packages and expect it to magically work. (Even upgrading Software doesn’t magically make things better!)

 

Hasn’t the Sven fiasco taught you anything?

[Corky]

simply amazed at people putting mahrez as unsure clearly can see who does and doesn't go to every game

 

I go to matches and I'm not totally sure how he will fare, as he hasn't had all that much football and generally comes on in positive situations with us in control of the game.

 

What have you seen to make you so sure he'll cope?

[KIRBYFOX93]

I go to matches and I'm not totally sure how he will fare, as he hasn't had all that much football and generally comes on in positive situations with us in control of the game.

 

What have you seen to make you so sure he'll cope?

his touch, his general play in the game he can defend (not that well but atleast he does the basics right) he is switched on ie. forest thats why he was ahead of kevin phillips when the tap in came across. Yes he hasnt been used when we're not on top i agree but he is an attacking player and his end of the game is the positive side of things such as attacking...

[foxer]

his touch, his general play in the game he can defend (not that well but atleast he does the basics right) he is switched on ie. forest thats why he was ahead of kevin phillips when the tap in came across. Yes he hasnt been used when we're not on top i agree but he is an attacking player and his end of the game is the positive side of things such as attacking...

 

So you've seen maybe 90 minutes of the guy .... maybe a few more in total. I remember seeing Zsolt Laczkó for 90 minutes and thinking he was a world beater along with i dare say the 90% of the crowd there that day. Look where he is now. Never even nearly made it. I agree that Mahrez looks very composed and will probably be able to make the step up, but we'll have a much better idea when he's played a bit more for us.

[cc_star]

Apologies if this has been done before but I thought I'd vary it slightly.

If we go up, which players of our CURRENT squad would you keep, and why? I know it's hard to tell who would make the step up, but have a go. Try to put them into three categories: 'keep for sure', 'unsure' and 'wouldn't keep'.

Let me make it clear, again.. this IS NOT attempting to have a pop at any players. It's a bit of fun and it would be interesting to see who we think may do well, and who we think may not.

I'll kick-off:

Keep for sure:

Kasper... for me, the best keeper in the championship will make the step up

Moore... a super young talent.. destined only to improve

RDL.... has pace, gets forward well (maybe slightly suspect positionally) but has the attributes to make the grade

Big Wes... his lack of pace (he'd be up against some rapid strikers) will be made up by his strength and composure

Schlupp.. has all the attributes to be coached as a modern day left back/ left wide man.

James... so composed, can surely only get better

Drinky... many fans player of the season.. has a great engine.. as good as Cleverley IM

Vardy... first touch greatly improved, finishing much better and VERY quick

Unsure:

Wasyl... periodic lack of composure could be found out by quick-thinking strikers

Knocky... flair, creativity thwarted by lack of pace. I can't see him beating many Prem full backs.

Mahrez... too soon to tell really IMO.

Wood... still young, developing.. shortage of pace may be an issue.

Nugent... his goals to chances ratio may well be a greater issue in the Prem where we'll likely get fewer chances.

Miquel... still young.. I've a feeling he'll get much better with experience.

Wouldn't keep:

King.. perhaps the most contentious of all, I see King getting over-run by quicker and more physical opponents

Dyer.. I never thought I'd say this, but Dyer is pretty much all pace. This may well not be enough in the Prem

Konch.. not a Premiership full back IMO. Too prone to error which could well be very costly.

Phillips.. due to age really, still a good player in the Championship. Would now struggle in the Prem IMO.

GTF.. not of Prem quality.. too slow for me.

Logan.. to be fair, very hard to tell. We'll probably need a better replacement in the Prem.

Anyway, opinions please.. and add anyone I've missed..

 

 

Good reasoning

 

I think Dyer would be fine in the Prem... Yes, he is sometimes all pace but it's pace that causes problem and out of our entire squad he has one of the best records Vs Prem sides.

 

King is a clever footballer and as part of a 3 will have something to add, certainly as a squad member anyway

 

I too am unsure on Knocky's pace, he's not just a bit short of pace it's that he sometimes looks like he's running backwards in comparison to others. However I still think he'll be better playing behind a striker, feeding him in that space between opposing CDMs & CBs. For me has less than no chance on the wing, opposing fullbacks are pacey & all of his flair will go out the window when he's pushed back to our own half because fullbacks in the Prem are like wingers

 

Unlike many I think GTF has something to add, will he guide us to the Champions League on our first year back? No. Will he come off the bench and allow us to hold the ball up when we're under pressure? IMO Yes!

[KIRBYFOX93]

So you've seen maybe 90 minutes of the guy .... maybe a few more in total. I remember seeing Zsolt Laczkó for 90 minutes and thinking he was a world beater along with i dare say the 90% of the crowd there that day. Look where he is now. Never even nearly made it. I agree that Mahrez looks very composed and will probably be able to make the step up, but we'll have a much better idea when he's played a bit more for us.

 

you are right about the zsolt laszko thing but he was in a team of crap players that made him look amazing. we have lots of quality players and he seems like he fits in and plays well with de laet as well. he will be able to make the step up no doubt. if your willing to take king over him your a fool im afraid

[65RosesFox]

So you've seen maybe 90 minutes of the guy .... maybe a few more in total. I remember seeing Zsolt Laczkó for 90 minutes and thinking he was a world beater along with i dare say the 90% of the crowd there that day. Look where he is now. Never even nearly made it. I agree that Mahrez looks very composed and will probably be able to make the step up, but we'll have a much better idea when he's played a bit more for us.

Yeah he's played about 90 minutes, but as a total in different games coming on as a sub. And every time he has come on he has made an impact and not really put a foot wrong.

So going on what we've seen of him he has been consistently an effective substitute.

It's down to our results that he has not been able to get a starting position and nothing else.

[Far Post Gerry]

I'd keep most players. If they get us into the top flight then they deserve their chance to prove themselves at a higher level. It's impossible to tell at this stage who could make the step up and who couldn't.

 

Keep:

 

Schmeichel - we all know what he can do.

Logan - it'd rub me the wrong way if we just shipped him out the moment we got promoted, given how long he's been at the club. He's unlikely to get much game time, and will be on a low wage. If Kasper gets injured then we can always dip into the loan market if needs be.

De Laet - young, still improving. Looks very good at Championship level and could quite conceivably make the step up.

 

Morgan - experienced and reliable 95% of the time. He'd probably struggle against the likes of Suarez and Van Persie but then who wouldn't?

Moore - already looks solid at a young age. Looks like he has a bright future.

Wasilewski - experience could prove vital. Renew contract for 1 year.

 

Konchesky - maybe as a squad player. Certainly wouldn't be a terrible backup.

Schlupp - I'd concentrate on developing him as a left back. He's got all the physical attributes and just needs the defensive side of his game drilled into him. It can be done.

 

Knockaert - looks to be one of our brightest prospects. It'd be madness to get rid.

Drinkwater - calm and composed at this level. Should be able to make the step up. Still young.

James - see Drinkwater.

King - could do a job. Good enough to keep Drinkwater and James on their toes.

Hammond - I wouldn't be expecting him to be challenging for a starting spot but he's another that could provide vital experience when it's most needed. Even if it's only for 5 games a season.

Dyer - has been key in our season so far. Unsure as to whether I'd still want him starting every match but his pace could still be useful, especially as an impact sub. And as has been said, his record against top flight teams is hardly terrible...

Mahrez - still young. Impossible to tell at this stage just how good he is, but he's shown some flashes of brilliance and I trust that Nige and Co have seen something in him that makes keeping him worthwhile. Would be pointless to get rid at this early stage.

 

Vardy - formed an effective partnership with Nugent this season, and if they can keep their understanding up in the Prem then I wouldn't be adverse to seeing them both in the starting XI on day 1.

Nugent - see Vardy. 

Wood - still young. Whether he can displace Vardy and Nugent at this stage depends on how well those two play together. Could be one for the future.

 

Get rid:

 

Phillips - likely to retire. Would keep him around as coaching staff, though.

Taylor-Fletcher - I doubt he's going to get much of a look in.

Miquel - loan expires.

 

Gallagher - never going to be in contention.

St Ledger - as above.

Waghorn - as above.

Danns - as above.

Futacs - as above.

Bakayogo - as above.

 

Obviously we'd need to make a few signings to cover for those going out and to provide extra competition, but on the whole I'd be in favour of keeping the squad largely the same. 

 

Can't argue with that.

[Haydos]

his touch, his general play in the game he can defend (not that well but atleast he does the basics right) he is switched on ie. forest thats why he was ahead of kevin phillips when the tap in came across. Yes he hasnt been used when we're not on top i agree but he is an attacking player and his end of the game is the positive side of things such as attacking...

 

Surely you'll admit that you've only seen a very limited amount of him though? It's all about snap judments again, he could be shit next year but you're judging him to absolutely be good enough for the Prem.

[KIRBYFOX93]

my balls are on the table but i reckon he will be worth big money next year... and will be a super star in the prem

[LAprice_]

I'd really hope that Leicester sign Ignasi Miquel. I'm a fan of both Wes and Wasyl but they are not getting any younger. Miquel has looked very good for us this season and would also fit into our passing style due to his experience at both Barcelona and Arsenal.

[Haydos]

my balls are on the table but i reckon he will be worth big money next year... and will be a super star in the prem

 

I hope you're right

[Guest Col city fan]

We’ll need four or five quality signings. Definitely.

Absolute nonsense though to suggest though that we’d even consider get rid of players like Konch and Nugent. And Knoakert!!!??? Are you having a laugh? MAHREZ!!!!! I have run out of punctuation marks. You are joking sir, surely.

The Premiership isn’t some magic-land were different rules apply. We’ll still need a good young squad, we’ll still need good team spirit and we’ll still need players committed to LCFC. We’ll need to give our players the chance to develop into a Premiership side. Palace and Hull have shown that it can be done. The gap between Prem and Champ isn’t as wide as it was a few years back.

You can’t just replace a team with better players and expect it to just instantly work. Footballers are people. You can’t just upgrade them like software packages and expect it to magically work. (Even upgrading Software doesn’t magically make things better!)

Hasn’t the Sven fiasco taught you anything?

1. Why a big font?

2. No I was being serious

3. I was one of Sven's biggest critics.

Cheers for the response though. There were some interesting posts/points made.

[iancognito]

The only ones that I'd definitely let go are the ones that aren't currently involved in the matchday 18, those out on loan (Waggy, Bakayogo etc) those permanently injured (SSL) and the ones who have been phased out (Gallagher).

A few like Wood and Hammond may just get pushed further down the pecking order by any new arrivals but you've got to keep the nucleus there to keep stability. Hull have gone about it right, stabilised, added gradually and brought in quality to supplement a winning team. Cardiff haven't. Wholesale changes and a squad no knowing where their next accurate pass is coming from.

Remember it's a squad of 25 so if you allow the current matchday 18-20, plus a handful of new arrivals, you're virtually there.

[broughtonblue]

The only ones that I'd definitely let go are the ones that aren't currently involved in the matchday 18, those out on loan (Waggy, Bakayogo etc) those permanently injured (SSL) and the ones who have been phased out (Gallagher).

A few like Wood and Hammond may just get pushed further down the pecking order by any new arrivals but you've got to keep the nucleus there to keep stability. Hull have gone about it right, stabilised, added gradually and brought in quality to supplement a winning team. Cardiff haven't. Wholesale changes and a squad no knowing where their next accurate pass is coming from.

Remember it's a squad of 25 so if you allow the current matchday 18-20, plus a handful of new arrivals, you're virtually there.

This. I was going to start a thread saying out of today's 18, who wouldn't you take?