Claudio Ranieri was far from my choice or even remote consideration as our new manager. I sought a new generation first team coach- well versed in modern structures and coaching methods and with some European experience.
However –he is the appointment and he has my support at a critical time and he is entitled to start with clean sheet and I hope everyone’s backing and goodwill.
He also has my sympathy for he has inherited an unbalanced squad with structural weaknesses in midfield and lacking a Premiership goal scorer – who is going to deliver 15-20 goals.
In my opinion we have repeated last seasons failings in a poorly executed pre season squad rebuild and could again be amongst the favourites for relegation.
Cambiasso helped paper over some of the cracks last season but the reality was that for all but the last seven games –we were relegation material. Now we have lost both him and James with our additions being a left back – and yet another light weight striker to join Kramaric and others.
None of this is the fault of Ranieri but he will have to bear responsibility
In terms of Cambiasso – if he was ever going to re-sign it would have been advised by middle of June latest – Pearson it was reported spoke with him Mid May and he asked for a little time to consider. By end of June his house lease and personal possessions had expired and been emptied. He is a very professional man and very jealous of his reputation – he surely considered that he could not better last season and would be more aware than most of our failure to strengthen the team.
I hope that the club is now working non stop to try to agree signings especially on some of the midfield players named as targets in the press and that our new manager Ranieri is given support by everyone -supporters- players and staff
Time for support and action
posted on 23/7/15
comment by nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 14 hours, 53 minutes ago
TB. Now you're asking. No teamsheets so this from a declining memory, forgive me if I'm not wholly on the mark - if anybody else was there please feel free to correct.
1st half (A team)
Kasper
De Laet Huth Moore Fuchs
Barmby Drinkwater Hammond Mahrez
Okazaki Ulloa
2nd half (Team B)
Schwarzer
Simpson Wasyl Chilwell
Albrighton Lawrence King Shlupp
Nuge Vardy Krammy
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Interesting that Simpson was involved, how was that received by the fans there?
Anything interesting from the match, who looked good or carp?
posted on 23/7/15
word i heard was that Lawrence looked good Barmy did not, Kramy looked very sharp.
posted on 23/7/15
Mahrez best on park first half, Chilwell looked good and Ok was Ok ran around a lot.
posted on 23/7/15
Got back yesterday evening and decided to pop over to Loughborough to see under 21's. Great to see that Ranieri was there taking interest -also from my point of view the two I am always backing -Doodo and Panayiotou had stormers
posted on 23/7/15
TB - nothing much on Simpson, but he was at the far end of the ground from us for his half.
Already posted my thoughts on who looked good - here they are again for ease of reference:
'On the plus side the B team looked good coming forward (King, Albrighton, Krammy, Vardy, Shlupp). Also our young left back Chilwell looked promising. Only Mahrez impressed from the A team'.
That's going forward really, defenders were generally OK except perhaps Moore and Fuchs not quite up to speed. Huth would be the pick as usual, Wasyl OK. Kasper almost saved the peno. Schwarzer didn't have anything much to do.
posted on 23/7/15
comment by johngee (U5021)
posted 2 minutes ago
Got back yesterday evening and decided to pop over to Loughborough to see under 21's. Great to see that Ranieri was there taking interest -also from my point of view the two I am always backing -Doodo and Panayiotou had stormers
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JG - I've been quite impressed with Ranieri so far, feeling slightly more relaxed about next season, although we still need those midfielders and the proof of the pudding...........
Surprised to see Panayiotou is only 20, he seems to have been around for ages. I've just checked his first goal for the first team was against Leeds was in May 2012. Perhaps he'll get a chance this year, although we are not short of strikers?
posted on 23/7/15
He is a great lad -comes from Saffron Lane estate and been at the club since he was around 10/11 - also associated with Aylestone Park FC - hope he gets his chance - Joe Dodoo came to us around 12/13 age from Nottingham and will be very good I think
Claudio has reputation for giving youth a chance so it gives these lads an incentive
posted on 23/7/15
Thanks Nuneaton.
No Konch or Hamer?
posted on 23/7/15
Not on the pitch but I wasn't taking much notice of the bench are.
posted on 23/7/15
Area