A Blogger's View

Moderately interesting review at www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2011/aug/02/championship-2011-12-preview-bloggers

of the prospects of all of the Championship sides this coming season. The piece on City has been contributed by a certain "Mike McCarthy, Foxblogger (@foxblogger)", and reads as follows:

"Leicester City

In other circumstances a side who never climbed higher than seventh, won only four of its final 14 league matches and conceded 71 goals last year would not seem like pre-season favourites for promotion. But Leicester are not doing things by half measures this time.

Sven's revolution, forgoing the loan market in favour of permanent deals, is starting at the back. Twenty players (including goalkeepers) started at least one match in Leicester's defence last season. Only three of them have realistic hopes of first-team action now. The fee commanded for Matt Mills makes him the headliner amongst eight new faces. He will be expected to steer a back four which often looked rudderless last season.

Many Leicester fans remain concerned that the club has yet to find a 20-goal centre-forward. They should take comfort knowing that no fewer than 22 players scored for the Foxes last term. Leicester's style will create enough leads for the newly reformed defence to protect.

But there is pressure. Do not expect Sven's contract to be renewed if his expensive squad, backed by the owners of a Thai duty-free emporium, fail to launch into the Premier League."

Mike McCarthy, Foxblogger (@foxblogger)