The best worst thing to happen to us.

[MattyFromLE]

Was reading the daily mails bit on us today, and thought of this.

Last season, we scraped onto the playoffs. Got a great home win and found ourselves with a minute to go and a penalty away from Wembley.

Was Knockaert missing that penalty, the best, worst thing to happen to us in our recent history?

My reasons for thinking this:

- The squad seem more together, united to ensure it doesn't happen again.

- Knockaert has come on leaps and bounds since that moment.

- if we'd gone up, I don't think we would have been as prepared as we are right now.

- Team are a year older and more experienced and Nigel appears to have them playing for fun.

[The Horse's Mouth]

I think relegation to league one was the best worst thing to happen to us prior, I'd say this tops that though.

[asasas]

I completely agree with this. Had we have gone up last year, I think most people would have accepted we would get relegated straight away again, whereas this time I feel we are more together as a team and the youthful players are starting to come into their prime, so I can only think we might stay in the Premier League for years to come, although that may be slightly optimistic!

[Webbo]

Given the choice I'd have taken promotion last season no question about it.

[LC/FC]

I'd say League One is still the best worst thing to happen to us. To lose a privileged status but to have an amazingly enjoyable season, ironically helmed by the man that sent us down, of all people. And to top it off being the best manager we've had in years who's made us all proud to be Leicester fans again. Still worst and best moment for me.

[Dan]

EDIT; Mis-read the thread completely. **** sake.

 

League One for me. Made us actually sort out the sterile joke club we'd become. Gave us a reason to rip it up and start again.

[Donut]

The best thing that happened to us was the Thai's swallowing their pride and being talked around to Nige coming back and to ditch their high profile branding excersise.

 

With their backing, and one of the best English managers around right now, who knows where we could go.

[Kitchandro]

EDIT; Mis-read the thread completely. **** sake.

 

League One for me. Made us actually sort out the sterile joke club we'd become. Gave us a reason to rip it up and start again.

 

And then we became a joke with Sousa aand Sven again after that, so it was a fvcking waste of time really.

[Donut]

And then we became a joke with Sousa aand Sven again after that, so it was a fvcking waste of time really.

 

Maybe Sven taking us on a treadmill to nowhere with extortionate wages and fees was enough to show the Thai's he had no idea what he was doing. Blessing in disguise.

[LC/FC]

Maybe Sven taking us on a treadmill to nowhere with extortionate wages and fees was enough to show the Thai's he had no idea what he was doing. Blessing in disguise.

Getting Kasper and Nuge was alright too.

[ScouseFox]

If we'd gone up last year Jamie Vardy wouldn't be ready to cause havoc in the prem and earn his England caps next year.

[Donut]

Getting Kasper and Nuge was alright too.

 

He signed that many players some of them were bound to come off. But throw enough mud and hoping some will stick is hardly a tactic a man with such reputation should have been persuing. No thought whatsoever was given as to how to integrate some of his signings, and of the characters of the players he signed. Hence we had a team full of absolute ****sticks.

[LC/FC]

He signed that many players some of them were bound to come off. But throw enough mud and hoping some will stick is hardly a tactic a man with such reputation should have been persuing. No thought whatsoever was given as to how to integrate some of his signings, and of the characters of the players he signed. Hence we had a team full of absolute ****sticks.

I know what you mean. I'm just saying that those two are at least the silver lining during 'that' shitstorm.

[LanguedocFox]

I'd say League One is still the best worst thing to happen to us. To lose a privileged status but to have an amazingly enjoyable season, ironically helmed by the man that sent us down, of all people. And to top it off being the best manager we've had in years who's made us all proud to be Leicester fans again. Still worst and best moment for me.

 

Almost word-for-word what I was thinking.

[Mickey O'Neil]

I'm glad people are saying League One.

There are still many who try to put that to the backs of their minds and can't accept it happened. It bloody well did and can't be changed. League One was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for me, although this season beats it simply for the end prize and how bastard difficult it is to get out of this division (upwards at least).

I do like that point about the Watford game though from ScouseFox...regarding Vardy. He never would have realised his potential at this club had we gone up. Actually, thinking of it, maybe the Watford game just pips L1?

Thinking about those two situations, it's clear that stability has a lot to do with success. We managed to hold on to a good core of players when we dropped down, we did the same after last season. Let's get Nigel on a long term deal.

[Finnegan]

And then we became a joke with Sousa aand Sven again after that, so it was a fvcking waste of time really.

Uhuh. Sven that brought in our international goalkeeper, our top scorer on a free and our first choice left back?

Sousa who, it could be argued, introduced the passing game that we still maintain today?

Both are important parts of the journey we've been on and both were better than the mess we were in pre-relegation. Had we not gone down, Pearson would likely never have come to the club.

[Guest ttfn]

Uhuh. Sven that brought in our international goalkeeper, our top scorer on a free and our first choice left back?

Sousa who, it could be argued, introduced the passing game that we still maintain today?

Both are important parts of the journey we've been on and both were better than the mess we were in pre-relegation. Had we not gone down, Pearson would likely never have come to the club.

Sousa was sterile domination, slowly moving the ball from one side of the pitch to another hoping for a gap to open up and when it did we didn't have anybody capable of picking a pass.

 

We now the knock the ball about quickly scoring a lot of our goals on the counter attack. I definitely think talk of our "passing" game is over-stated. Yes, we pass the ball around but we're more of a "transition" team. It's not like before under Pearson we were literally aiming everything at Howard's head, Wellens had a great season in 09/10. In fact I'd say that in style the team we most resemble is the 10/11 Sven side which was completely different stylistically to the Sousa one.

[Bert]

It was defo getting relegated to league one. Got rid of all the players that thought they were at a higher standard than where were.

Without any disrespect, if we'd have stayed up we'd still be a club like Sheff Weds who flirt with relegation, but always seem to stay up whilst massively underachieving.

Knockaert missing that penalty was a blessing in disguise. Taught us a lesson, hit us hard but we have come back much stronger for it. Hindsight is a beautiful thing though.

Nobody really knows what would've happened should McAuley's header dropped in against Stoke instead of hitting the bar, or should Knockaert have scored from either attempt.

[Pegosteve]

Football is like life a load of what ifs!

 

We can go back to our relegation from the Premiership and what if we hadn't conceded 4 goals to Wolves in the second half after being 3 nil up and what if we hadn't conceded 2 goals in injury time to Boro after being 3 - 1 up.

 

I'm a believer that things happen for a reason.. 

[Buzzell]

Going down to League One was deffinately the lowest point but also did the club a whole lot of good. Cleared out the crap, bounced back and look where we are now.

As for Knockys penalty miss against Watford, that was deffinately a blessing in disguise like Bert stated. We was not ready for promotion last year, we was quite fortunate to even make the playoffs. We have deffinately learnt from last year, we are such a stronger side now. This is our year.

[StanSP]

Personally, relegation to League One.

 

Biggest wake-up call we could have ever received at the time I believe. The club was going nowhere and after too many years of mediocrity, maybe 1 (large) step downwards was the only way to eventually take 2 (large) steps forward.

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

I think both, at different times in our clubs history, were equally important.

 

We needed and deserved to drop to League One. Starting again was much needed. Whereas last season, like many have said already, the group of players weren't good enough. The progress in a year is startling and I genuinely think this group, with a few experienced additions, can hold their own in the Prem - and that's down to the way we're winning and playing. For example, I don't think Cardiff were this good last year were they? 

 

But back to the point. I don't think they can be compared. Such different circumstances, but both important. If we stay in the Prem for a lengthy period with this core group I think it will be hard to argue that Knockys miss wasn't the biggest blessing in disguise.

[Hungry Hungry Fox]

Def relegation to L1 for me!

Gave us a kick up the arse and brought us king Nige!

[DB11]

Undoubtedly League One. Was a fun season too

[bovril]

Like Webbo has said before, because of the huge financial difference in success and failure these days, I'm not sure if relegation or missing out on promotion can ever be seen as 'good'. Having said that I have enjoyed this season and the one in League 1 more than almost any other for the last 10-15 years.