Pearson has to stay!

[EnglishOxide]

I look at plenty of posts which prefer to point the finger of blame at the players and absolve the manager. Is that more loyal, in your book? Because to me the criticism of young, inexperienced professionals who have to adapt and adapt quick has the potential to be far more damaging than an attack on a manager who hardly helps himself in the media.

I'm struggling to see your point here. The manager is responsible for the players and it works both ways. Both have come in for criticism and I don't agree with anybody so quick to try and chuck any of them under the bus. I don't see Burnley fans saying get rid of half the squad and Dyche.

Remember some of these players (and possibly the manager) had options on the table for this season yet they chose Leicester. Pearson can play the media game however he wants, it should have no bearing on the job you perceive him to be doing at the club over his time here. If he had come out with the same stuff to the media as Dyche has done then he wouldn't be getting half the stick he is right now because he would have bigged us up as the underdogs in the first place.

In reality he is falling short (temporarily I believe) of the massive targets and ambition he has set for us in such a short time.

though it could be argued that both of his promotions were a case of him 'doing what was expected'

See this is the problem I have. Most of our fans seem to have forgoten the last 10 years. Megson and Levein. What a crock of shit those times were. There is every chance we could fall back into that if we start chopping and changing managers again because some fans are getting ideas above their station. Let's say we sack Pearson now and get Pulis and still go down. What makes you think he would take us back up? Would he want to? That uncertainty brings a merry go round of players and we are back to square one.

Fans expectations this season should be 17th. We should be enjoying the ride and enjoying this bit of stability. Not hoping for the sacking of our best manager in the last FOURTEEN years. Keep the faith. It's early days.

[EnglishOxide]

Pearson has done wonders for this football club, but as I said he might of taken us as far as he can.

If we were losing but playing well, and he sticked with one or two formations, then I'm sure more fans would be optimistic that he could get us out of this losing run.

But it's the fact he keeps changing the team, and the way he is setting us out is the most frustrating & bizarre thing.

Pick up points from Sunderland & QPR then he deserves to stay, lose both then like it or not regardless of what he has done for us, football is a results business & it wouldn't be a surprise to see him get the boot.

Would you still be saying this if the fixture list was rearranged. We started off on the bad run, just drew with Arsenal and smashed Man Utd? I seriously doubt it.

On your other points I agree, he has tinkered with things too much. But if he hadn't and we were still in a slump people would be saying we aren't flexible enough.

But giving him a two game ultimatum is bollocks. We still wouldn't even be a third of the way through the season.

Football is a results business and that is why he is in charge. He is why we are where we are and deserves the support to try and keep us here. Not the owners. Having minted owners is a nice bonus. It doesn't get you promotion. It doesn't build the squad he has, it doesn't make you go and mix it with the best as we did a couple of months ago.

[seenitall]

Yup.

Incredible the amount of people who have shown their disloyalty to him, and by extension Leicester, these past couple of days.

Love it, you can't be a Leicester fan unless you love the present manager......or perhaps you are more of  leicester fan if you can see past the halo around his head and realise that all the hard work of the past ten years is about to be lost and you would rather the team made a bit of an effort to stay up than have to follow this bozo down to the Championship again - come on you blues

[filbertway]

If he was to persist with this formation in games we should be taking to the opposition - the next two. Then I would be concerned at his mindset. Setting up how we did against a team in the form Southampton are on their own patch I understand a little more, though I wish we would show a bit more positive intent.

 

In games we should be competing in I would be shocked to see him stick with the diamond as it makes no sense. I'm assuming people who want him out believe we will stick with this philosophy for every single match?

 

Pearson has proved he learns from mistakes time and time again in the past. At the moment it seems he is in one of those transitional "mistake" phases. I'm sure eventually he will find a decent balance and we will look dangerous again. The problem is having to wait 7/14 days for the next game. I wish we could just skip to January.

 

I think we do need to add more quality in January though as Pearson wouldn't be setting us out to be this negative if he believed we could go toe-to-toe with some of these teams. Again though it was his first transfer window as a premier league manager. He will learn from his mistakes as he has done time and time again.

[SemperEadem]

In Nige I trust.

[burbage12]

One thing that i don't understand is most people on here said it would be a good season if we finished 15-17th.

You don't finish in that position by wining most of your games.

I have faith in Pearson.

[LCFCtotheprem]

Just seen the results for manager confidence after the Southampton game!

Pleasantly suprised that 75% still want him to stay

[red5]

Pearson should and must stay

 

 

 

 

 At home

[Dr The Singh]

Yes.....in the closet!!!

[funkyrobot]

This is the Premier League not the Championship.

He is inexperienced at this level, and so is most of our squad.

Even the experienced one's like Konchesky & Nugent are crap.

As I said yesterday, give him until Sunderland & QPR if nothing improves he has to go, a manager can only take a team so far, and a more experienced manager could make a difference, Pulis and his playing style isn't everyone's cup of tea, but he turned Stoke into a solid Premier League team, and kept Palace up easily in the end.

The thought of 'merchandise man' Pulis rocking a foxes cap, full lcfc tracksuit and padded city jacket makes me fill slightly sick. His 1st act would be to move the tunnel to the corner so he could wait for his team of hoofers to come out and then just before kick off,with the cameraman tipped off, make an impressive slow jog past fans to ensure the attention is on him and his immaculate merchandise.

[Eddy Kellys Heroes]

Pearson must stay! If we've got to watch this shit, why should he get away with it?

[Rob1742]

You have to stick with him, he has created a good group ethic with some fine players in there.

He has bought in excellent players that have increased in value, which is a real art.

Him and his staff are an excellent set up.

One point though that is fairly important. We should not go down with the group of players we have and with the excellent football we created last season.

If we are to fail, or look like we will, I firmly believe it will be down to his decisions in the way he has decided to play through the season and not the good group of players he created.

He is learning, he is trying to adapt and he needs to rethink urgently and try and go back to our old style against the lower teams. Play with rythmn and get points on the table. If he doesn't do this, he is risking ours and his position.

Let's hope he can pull this round, because he has been an excellent manager for us, that at the moment is probably making a few wrong decisions.

[LCFCSOULBOY]

We should not have blind faith. Just because he got us into the Premier League.

I for one think he has done a fine job, but his arrogance and remarks lately make him look completely out of touch with what is going on. Or lack of it on the field.

This whole matter of inches, so to speak remarks are just not realistic. I often wonder if he is watching the same game as the 31K at the KP and the viewers around the world on Tv.

I live in Los Angeles and all the English club fans are taking the piss every time he speaks. A lot of people were actually rooting for us over here. But now after he says the most pathetic things he has lost them.

We can all say that we are not the worst team in the PL. But if we are honest since the MU game we have been the worst. All the teams are having a go except us. We are set up to defend and then counter. Only problem is when we do counter we can't string 2 passes together going forward. The only passes we seem to make are ones going back towards our own goal. Thus giving our opponents time to reorganise and then close us down because we are far too narrow.

I am no professional coach or manager but even I can see we cannot penetrate with what we are doing. I am starting to really worry that firstly we will lose confidence and secondly all the teams we play against will just close us down every time we get the ball.

And just keep a full back in the rear to cope with the long ball to Vardy. Hense an easy time all game long.

I am parying he can admit he has been wrong lately with this diamond formation and reorganise the team quickly before more damage is done. If he could just take a look at MU. They have spent 150 million and still they can't get the diamond formation right. Even Liverpool who did a fine job last season playing the diamond are doing lousy. If proves is that they just played well with Suarez being on fire last season.Had nothing to do with the diamond. I personally think he is over thinking our competition and not allowing our players from competeing in the way they know they can.

It is all negative at this moment in time. It would be lovely to see us play fast flowing football. But we just have to do what is need to survive this season. With not having the most skillfull players in the league we need to do what we know how to do best to compete. He needs to let them loose. Let them have a go. No matter what happens. I for one would be more satisfied if we competed and lost but at least we competed. You never know we may even score a goal which we sure don't look like doing right now. He says "we need to take our chances". what chances Nigel? What chances and what game are you watching? Please please Nigel take a deep breath and admit you may have gotten it wrong these last weeks but there is hope. In other words get your head out your arse mate. PLEASE.

The fans do support you but you are making it really difficult to defend you.

had my say  bye

[kingfox]

Would you still be saying this if the fixture list was rearranged. We started off on the bad run, just drew with Arsenal and smashed Man Utd? I seriously doubt it.

On your other points I agree, he has tinkered with things too much. But if he hadn't and we were still in a slump people would be saying we aren't flexible enough.

But giving him a two game ultimatum is bollocks. We still wouldn't even be a third of the way through the season.

Football is a results business and that is why he is in charge. He is why we are where we are and deserves the support to try and keep us here. Not the owners. Having minted owners is a nice bonus. It doesn't get you promotion. It doesn't build the squad he has, it doesn't make you go and mix it with the best as we did a couple of months ago.

 

Probably not, but it's panned out how's it panned out and that can't be changed, we are where we are.

 

I like him but as you've said yourself, he has tinkered with things too much. You need a settled side, and right now I think we are one of the most unsettled sides in the division, players don't know whether there coming or going, in the team one week, not in the squad the next, things like that can damage morale. 

 

Of course he deserves the chance, but if we continue to go through a bad patch, how long can you give him. Continue to lose games especially against the teams we need to be picking up points from, is only a bad thing & results like that usually get you the sack.

[inckley fox]

I'm struggling to see your point here. The manager is responsible for the players and it works both ways. Both have come in for criticism and I don't agree with anybody so quick to try and chuck any of them under the bus. I don't see Burnley fans saying get rid of half the squad and Dyche.

Remember some of these players (and possibly the manager) had options on the table for this season yet they chose Leicester. Pearson can play the media game however he wants, it should have no bearing on the job you perceive him to be doing at the club over his time here. If he had come out with the same stuff to the media as Dyche has done then he wouldn't be getting half the stick he is right now because he would have bigged us up as the underdogs in the first place.

In reality he is falling short (temporarily I believe) of the massive targets and ambition he has set for us in such a short time.

See this is the problem I have. Most of our fans seem to have forgoten the last 10 years. Megson and Levein. What a crock of shit those times were. There is every chance we could fall back into that if we start chopping and changing managers again because some fans are getting ideas above their station. Let's say we sack Pearson now and get Pulis and still go down. What makes you think he would take us back up? Would he want to? That uncertainty brings a merry go round of players and we are back to square one.

Fans expectations this season should be 17th. We should be enjoying the ride and enjoying this bit of stability. Not hoping for the sacking of our best manager in the last FOURTEEN years. Keep the faith. It's early days.

 

I hope nobody at the club is aiming for 17th. That would be extremely dangerous. And I really don't see how our inability to select managers wisely in the past, when there were plenty of other perfectly capable managers changing hands elsewhere, is a good enough reason to stop us making a change when it appears to be necessary.

 

In truth, I don't think a change is necessary, or at least not yet.

 

Yet as a body of fans I wish we could make that judgement based on a sound assessment of the problem. Namely: What is going wrong and what is going right (by which I mean at the moment - what went right and wrong last year, or in 2009, is of limited relevance to what's happening now)? How severe are the problems? How well-equipped is Pearson to deal with them? Is there anybody available who is likely to be better at resolving those problems?

 

If Pearson learns from some of the very clear mistakes he has made at this level, then with his knowledge of the club and his knowledge of this division he should be the best man for the job. The principal problems for me are poor summer transfer dealings, a lack of quality in some areas of the squad, a failure to settle a line-up or system, poor work-rate on the field and a failure to capitalise on / defend against set piece situations. None of these are insurmountable.

 

On one further note, and this is conjecture, we could guess at the extent to which NP is to blame by looking at our summer business. Did he mismanage a competent budget, or neglect to exploit it? If so, then that could prove to be a major error in his approach to the season. Or, more likely, did the board hold back because they wanted to ensure our financial security, or leave money for January spending with a new manager? In this case, he has not really been given a fair chance. He may still keep us up, but it would be harsh to move him on if it goes wrong. And some of those arbitrary decisions he's making could be a case of a manager who is short of provisions desperately rummaging about for a golden ticket.

 

Like I say, this is guesswork, but because I don't know the full story of what went on this summer, I'll be very reluctant to turn on the manager, even when - as appears to be the case at times - he is managing the side in a way which doesn't seem to give us the best possible chance of staying up.

[inckley fox]

We should not have blind faith. Just because he got us into the Premier League.

I for one think he has done a fine job, but his arrogance and remarks lately make him look completely out of touch with what is going on. Or lack of it on the field.

This whole matter of inches, so to speak remarks are just not realistic. I often wonder if he is watching the same game as the 31K at the KP and the viewers around the world on Tv.

I live in Los Angeles and all the English club fans are taking the piss every time he speaks. A lot of people were actually rooting for us over here. But now after he says the most pathetic things he has lost them.

We can all say that we are not the worst team in the PL. But if we are honest since the MU game we have been the worst. All the teams are having a go except us. We are set up to defend and then counter. Only problem is when we do counter we can't string 2 passes together going forward. The only passes we seem to make are ones going back towards our own goal. Thus giving our opponents time to reorganise and then close us down because we are far too narrow.

I am no professional coach or manager but even I can see we cannot penetrate with what we are doing. I am starting to really worry that firstly we will lose confidence and secondly all the teams we play against will just close us down every time we get the ball.

And just keep a full back in the rear to cope with the long ball to Vardy. Hense an easy time all game long.

I am parying he can admit he has been wrong lately with this diamond formation and reorganise the team quickly before more damage is done. If he could just take a look at MU. They have spent 150 million and still they can't get the diamond formation right. Even Liverpool who did a fine job last season playing the diamond are doing lousy. If proves is that they just played well with Suarez being on fire last season.Had nothing to do with the diamond. I personally think he is over thinking our competition and not allowing our players from competeing in the way they know they can.

It is all negative at this moment in time. It would be lovely to see us play fast flowing football. But we just have to do what is need to survive this season. With not having the most skillfull players in the league we need to do what we know how to do best to compete. He needs to let them loose. Let them have a go. No matter what happens. I for one would be more satisfied if we competed and lost but at least we competed. You never know we may even score a goal which we sure don't look like doing right now. He says "we need to take our chances". what chances Nigel? What chances and what game are you watching? Please please Nigel take a deep breath and admit you may have gotten it wrong these last weeks but there is hope. In other words get your head out your arse mate. PLEASE.

The fans do support you but you are making it really difficult to defend you.

had my say  bye

 

There are some fair points in here. Some of his decisions have been incredibly bizarre, like ending a game with two target men and no wingers. That might even be a precedent in top flight football! In addition to this, set plays can be a great leveller in football. On Saturday we ended the game with plenty of big men - Morgan, Moore, Wasilewski, Wood - and three recognised strikers on the field, but failed to pose a threat in the air. There has to be a serious question about the coaching when, three years on, we remain poor at defending and attacking corners and free kicks. Even worse, look at who has actually delivered the corners we've scored from in that time - the vast bulk have been new players (James, Marshall, Knockaert, Mahrez), or players returning to the first team squad after long lay-offs (Waghorn), before hastily having their delivery duly coached out of them!

 

As for his comments; Shakespeare says he has never seen us work so much on crossing and set pieces, then Pearson says there has been no extra attacking emphasis in training. He says that failing to take chances is our main problem. What, when we have had less than half as many shots and shots on target as the sides we've played against, some of which are fellow strugglers? Were are strikers to blame when they buried all three goalscoring opportunities in our most recent win? So then he changes that to, alright, the real problem is the number of chances we're creating. He also remarks on how brilliantly we defended set pieces against Southampton, when the commentator on the stream I watched pointed out that we looked especially shaky against them. I suspect he's papering over cracks, but it does remind me a little bit of some of the interviews with Adams, Bassett and Taylor, and that overriding sense that they don't have a clue what the real problem is. I've certainly never seen him looking so lost.

[ImBlue]

I will. Two games doesn't really change much does it.

Yeah, it can cut us adrift, damage confidence and leave players and fans unhappy. So that's a stupid comment..

[1993fox]

I will. Two games doesn't really change much does it.

 

 

Yeah, 6 points against relegation rivals in a cutthroat league don't matter. 

[Hirsty The Blue 94]

I genuinely believe we do not have the quality to stay up, and whether Pearson is to blame for that for not recruiting enough or had his hands tied by Terry Robinson remains to be seen. People complaining about this diamond forget we also lost games (Swansea, Newcastle) playing wingers to nil and didn't look like scoring then either.

He is looking for a way to make us difficult to score against, with only 1 clean sheet all season not going to be enough to keep us out of trouble. Whilst I agree that we lack width, I really don't think we have technically good enough central midfielders at this level to control the midfield without playing 3 men in there. Therefore to play wingers we would have to therefore play 1 up front, with Nigel being criticised for leaving Ulloa isolated on the occassions that formation has been attempted.

I think we really need to invest in some quality in January, but Pearson would be the man to keep even if we got relegated for me, shortsightedness of forgetting how easily we were promoted under him means I would give him another go to continue building rather than tearing it up and staring again.

[fuchsntf]

I genuinely believe we do not have the quality to stay up, and whether Pearson is to blame for that for not recruiting enough or had his hands tied by Terry Robinson remains to be seen. People complaining about this diamond forget we also lost games (Swansea, Newcastle) playing wingers to nil and didn't look like scoring then either.

He is looking for a way to make us difficult to score against, with only 1 clean sheet all season not going to be enough to keep us out of trouble. Whilst I agree that we lack width, I really don't think we have technically good enough central midfielders at this level to control the midfield without playing 3 men in there. Therefore to play wingers we would have to therefore play 1 up front, with Nigel being criticised for leaving Ulloa isolated on the occassions that formation has been attempted.

I think we really need to invest in some quality in January, but Pearson would be the man to keep even if we got relegated for me, shortsightedness of forgetting how easily we were promoted under him means I would give him another go to continue building rather than tearing it up and staring again.

This is ,a good a post that I have seen on the subject, actually even between the lines, one can understand the difficulties Managers have and the various thoughts and descisions they have to face upto.

NPs stalwart backbone players are not finding their form of last year, or they just might not be up to it.If they were showing only 60% of their potential, then NP would have time to get to know how to intigrate the newboys.He is being put to disadvantage because no matter what he trys up to now, the players are not doing the basics neither has a team or in stable partnerships.

Many posters should see the total diversity between them what tactics or players they suggest, another group or individual posters make other suggestions. Then go out their way to blame and criticise Pearson even on his statements.

The Package Nigel Pearson needs time and patience, and understand no matter what his side is or tactics of the day,the players still have to play to a minimal level, sofar they havent yet played a whole game,showing just a minimum % of their so called and expected potential. Whether we play a gungho game, pressing game, or holding game, its the question, are the players capable at this level to play and keep to Pearsons or any coach/managers desired set up.

Just posting it...or giving out their thoughts..dont get it done. City squad is has good has its last few

games, even if they hopefully can turn it around, we have what we have.None of us are good enough to understand what it takes, we can just theorise.

[Fox Ulike]

I genuinely believe we do not have the quality to stay up, and whether Pearson is to blame for that for not recruiting enough or had his hands tied by Terry Robinson remains to be seen. People complaining about this diamond forget we also lost games (Swansea, Newcastle) playing wingers to nil and didn't look like scoring then either.

He is looking for a way to make us difficult to score against, with only 1 clean sheet all season not going to be enough to keep us out of trouble. Whilst I agree that we lack width, I really don't think we have technically good enough central midfielders at this level to control the midfield without playing 3 men in there. Therefore to play wingers we would have to therefore play 1 up front, with Nigel being criticised for leaving Ulloa isolated on the occassions that formation has been attempted.

I think we really need to invest in some quality in January, but Pearson would be the man to keep even if we got relegated for me, shortsightedness of forgetting how easily we were promoted under him means I would give him another go to continue building rather than tearing it up and staring again.

 

Don't agree. I think we have a really talented squad.

 

Most teams play a variation of 3 centre midfielders these days. We seem to have started the season with just two, then went to four!

 

Most teams play with one out-and-out striker - especially if they go away to the team in second place (Southampton). But we go there with two up front.

 

Four central midfielders and two up front? Seriously WTF is that all about??

 

I mean, when you stop to think about it - it's pretty bizarre.  Does any other team in the league player with four centre-midfielders? And two strikers away from home???

 

Why on Earth would Pearson think that it would work. Surely if it was a great formation lots of other teams would be doing it?

 

The players are good enough. Pearson is saying he believes in his players, but i'm not feeling it. He certainly doesn't appear to believe in his wide players.

[Hirsty The Blue 94]

Don't agree. I think we have a really talented squad.

 

Most teams play a variation of 3 centre midfielders these days. We seem to have started the season with just two, then went to four!

 

Most teams play with one out-and-out striker - especially if they go away to the team in second place (Southampton). But we go there with two up front.

 

Four central midfielders and two up front? Seriously WTF is that all about??

 

I mean, when you stop to think about it - it's pretty bizarre.  Does any other team in the league player with four centre-midfielders? And two strikers away from home???

 

Why on Earth would Pearson think that it would work. Surely if it was a great formation lots of other teams would be doing it?

 

The players are good enough. Pearson is saying he believes in his players, but i'm not feeling it. He certainly doesn't appear to believe in his wide players.

Yeah I agree that I don't think it is our best system, but it is not as if we have been that effective in recent weeks with a variety of systems. We looked equally toothless against Swansea, Newcastle and Palace not playing the 4 centre midfielders.

I just think that we are not quite up to the quality that is needed to stay up at this current level. It is easy to control games in midfield against Barnsley, Huddersfield etc. But the likes of Drinkwater and James, who were so good last season are yet to prove they are good enough at this level. We didn't play with wingers against United and won that game, so it is far too simplistic to say playing wingers results in being better.

Unless we are totally disgraced and lose half of our squad I want Pearson here next season no matter what league we are in, pretty much my entire time as a city fan has been a revolving door and this stability has reaped our first success in a decade.

[inckley fox]

Don't agree. I think we have a really talented squad.

 

Most teams play a variation of 3 centre midfielders these days. We seem to have started the season with just two, then went to four!

 

Most teams play with one out-and-out striker - especially if they go away to the team in second place (Southampton). But we go there with two up front.

 

Four central midfielders and two up front? Seriously WTF is that all about??

 

I mean, when you stop to think about it - it's pretty bizarre.  Does any other team in the league player with four centre-midfielders? And two strikers away from home???

 

Why on Earth would Pearson think that it would work. Surely if it was a great formation lots of other teams would be doing it?

 

The players are good enough. Pearson is saying he believes in his players, but i'm not feeling it. He certainly doesn't appear to believe in his wide players.

 

Four central midfielders with two target men up front at the end of the game vs Brom. I'm convinced nobody has EVER tried that!

 

That was one moment when I really had to wonder whether the manager had the slightest clue what he was doing.

[inckley fox]

Yeah, it can cut us adrift, damage confidence and leave players and fans unhappy. So that's a stupid comment..

 

Agreed. O'Neill once said all managers are just six games from the sack. With Pearson it could be two.

 

If we lose them both, then we will be close to the point when a new manager can't come in and realistically expect to turn things around.

 

I feel he needs longer than he's had, but only on the condition that he improves things. I still believe he will, though needless to say it might not come in game one.

 

Still, on Saturday we should be looking very closely at our line-up, system, work-rate and organisation when defending / attacking set pieces, because these are areas which quality coaching and competent motivational management can correct. If players misplace passes, fluff their lines etc. then that can be somewhat harder for a manager to fix. But I'd at least like to see evidence of him doing his job properly.

[Sharpe's Fox]

I don't think Nige is in as much trouble as people hope. Even if we lose our next two games (which we won't) I think he has a good relationship with the Thais.