Another bust up?

I can only add that I have heard his name in a rumour, originating from before he was dropped (so not as a result of this story or his absence from the squad) that he and a couple of others might not have been showing the kind of professional attitude required for promotion. Let's just say that it's not water he's allegedly been drinking. Still, it is just hearsay, and one of the other players allegedly involved has been playing fine while another isn't on the released list either.

I'd be disappointed to see Drinkwater go and I certainly don't think we should be looking to let him go on merit alone: When he was in form earlier in the season he was a major contributor to us playing some very attractive and effective football, even if he does have an unfortunate habit of playing sloppy passes in bad places.

On a similar note, I think there's a temptation these days to say that anyone and everyone heading out of the club is due to a "bust-up with the manager". People leave clubs all the time for a variety of reasons, and if it wasn't for a reputation Pearson has gained himself among our support - fairly or not - then I doubt anyone would read anything into it. I still find it doubtful that our manager is falling out with his players, significantly more than any average manager would. What we don't know is whether almost any manager who was brought in after Sven would have disliked several of the players and tried to get rid. It's all a matter of perspective and, given my experience of several of the players on the pitch and off, I remain to be convinced that Pearson is the problem. Issues with the likes of Drinkwater or Marshall are more compelling evidence to me than issues with the likes of Mills or Peltier.

I'm not necessarily trying to stoke the fire Dunge but I do find it alarming that competant players like Drinkwater and Danns are set to leave with (as yet) very sparse cover.

On the rumour of him liking a few sherberts - some may say so what ! In years gone by, the Comedy Club in town used to do "meet the players" nights. I can say for a fact that Messrs Lennon, Izzet and Savage were positively paralytic on one occasion yet still showed full commitment to the club and the cause the following Saturday afternoon.

Conspiracy theories aside, the depth of the squad alone must be a cause for concern?

Yes, there's a few sherbets and a few too many sherbets. But anyway, I do find it worrying that both Drinkwater and Marshall are off the boil and either rumoured to be leaving or rumoured to be not trying hard enough in training. That to me is far more worrying that Danns, who comes across to me as a guy who's better as a big fish in a small pond and has never really convinced me in a Leicester shirt. Plus I still haven't forgotten his (lack of) performance again Burton Albion when he should have been taking the opportunity to show the management team why he should be playing. If players are clearly genuinely trying and still not getting picked over the Junior Lewises of this world, I find I'd naturally point at the manager. However, when a player doesn't look bothered and is just complaining about not being picked, I'd naturally point to the player.

As for the depth of the squad, it's an interesting issue and I'm inclined to agree. For my mind, we're short a centre back, a left back, a winger and a striker - and that's with Drinkwater and Marshall in the squad. So I hope that some business is taking place, or at least some of the youth team are being observed for a potential step up. However, the lack of business so far does suggest that we're waiting to see how much we get for Schmeichel before making a move.

However, this in my mind makes it all the more important that we find a transfer for the likes of Danns, Beckford, Wellens, etc. so that we can free up the funds in wages to go out and plug these gaps.