The opportunities for clubs outside the traditional top 4 to get champions league football are very few and far between. The fact that we could get back into the champions league within 3 years is in itself mind blowing - but this season has presented Leicester with a rare opportunity which they need to take.
Come the summer, Maddison, Chilwell and Pereira will be targeted with firm bids from the likes of United, Chelsea and Spurs. Maddison will want a move to United, having been a lifelong fan, and holding to Maddison for another season will be virtually impossible without CL football.
In much the same way that we were able to keep Mahrez for another year following the title win, because of the CL, the same could happen with these 3 players next season. Leicester have begun to talks with Maddison on a new deal, but I suspect he’s holding off until the summer to see how the land lies
Failure to secure a top 4 place would see us lose all 3 I believe - although on our terms from a financial perspective. If we get top 4, which i think we will, then I have a feeling these players will give us another year - which will be much needed given that next year will be far tougher for us
Top 4 this season is a must
posted on 4/1/20
comment by Black Starr (U12353)
posted 3 hours, 23 minutes ago
What Nuneaton says that’s so wrong is that we are a mid table club overachieving - basically suggesting normality will resume next season.
I actually think we’ve been underachieving since we won the title. We’re not a top 4 club but I think we have shown with the right manager at the helm that the likes of Maddison, pereira, N’didi, Vardy and Tielemans are far more than mid table. I think we should been top 6 last season if it wasn’t for the waste of time that was Puel
No I don’t think we are a mid table outfit (which would put us on a par with Burnley and Bournemouth) and I think some of our fans need to embrace that. Doesn’t mean we are automatically going to be top 6 every year without working very hard and getting the management and recruitment right
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I'd say everybody thinks we are overachieving at present.
In the medium to long term I would put us as above Burnley or Bournemouth, but below Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool. Also potentially 'bigger' than us are Everton, Wolves and Leeds.
That puts our 'normal' spot in mid-table, hopefully consistently top ten at least. It doesn't mean if the circumstances fall right - like this season - that we can't get higher than that, but it's a big ask to make that a semi-permanent situation. There is also the huge black Vardy-shaped cloud hanging over us that you've already highlighted, we've had the incredible benefit of having one of the very best strikers stay with us instead of jumping ship, so how will we cope when he leaves us (hopefully not for a while yet).
If in 5 years time Maddison, Pereira, N'didi and Tielemans are still playing for us, we have a 42,000 seater stadium filled to capacity every week, are regularly playing in Europe and have won more trophies I may start to get more of a sense of entitlement to be dining at the top table.
Until then I'll be quite happy with where we are and still grateful that we are already safe from relegation.
posted on 4/1/20
Oh, I will however confess to being mildly irritated when Norwich came and snuffed out my aspirations for another title.
posted on 4/1/20
Comment Deleted by Article Creator
posted on 4/1/20
Comment Deleted by Article Creator
posted on 4/1/20
I think you’re totally confusing the argument and for some reason looking at the last 40 years collectively to make a judgement on where we should be as a club right now basically. It’s very strange logic, almost as if you’re expecting Tony Cottee to lace up his boots and step on the pitch for us
posted on 4/1/20
comment by Black Starr (U12353)
posted 35 minutes ago
I think you’re totally confusing the argument and for some reason looking at the last 40 years collectively to make a judgement on where we should be as a club right now basically. It’s very strange logic, almost as if you’re expecting Tony Cottee to lace up his boots and step on the pitch for us
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No I'm looking forward. All other matters being equal, it's about the money, and as things stand we're a mid-table sized club. That doesn't mean that we can't do something special above that, of course we can, already happened before and is happening right now.
Nothing would please me more than to see us established as a 'top' club (what do you want that to mean by the way, top 7 or 6 or 4?). I'm just being pragmatic, in my view it's not very likely in the medium to long term given the competition.
posted on 4/1/20
comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Black Starr (U12353)
posted 35 minutes ago
I think you’re totally confusing the argument and for some reason looking at the last 40 years collectively to make a judgement on where we should be as a club right now basically. It’s very strange logic, almost as if you’re expecting Tony Cottee to lace up his boots and step on the pitch for us
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No I'm looking forward. All other matters being equal, it's about the money, and as things stand we're a mid-table sized club. That doesn't mean that we can't do something special above that, of course we can, already happened before and is happening right now.
Nothing would please me more than to see us established as a 'top' club (what do you want that to mean by the way, top 7 or 6 or 4?). I'm just being pragmatic, in my view it's not very likely in the medium to long term given the competition.
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Jesus wept - it’s a good job our owners don’t have the mentality of some of our fans. Here’s some facts to cheer you up Nuneaton and remind you that we really are bigger than mid table clubs like Palace
- We have wealthy owners and who have far reaching commercial sponsorship deals in many different countries with continental exposure many mid table clubs don’t have
- We are developing what will be the best training facilities in the country. Better than City’s
- We are already looking to expand the stadium and relocate
- We have players at our disposal that frankly the likes of Manchester United and Spurs would love right now and if I’m honest I think both clubs would struggle to land our top players given we are about to break the top 4 for the 2nd time in 3 years!
We are at least a top 7 club. Not a mid table club and we will very shortly be establishing ourselves as top 6 in my opinion with a stadium and training complex to match
Get a grip and start seeing the potential of this club, the way the owners see it
posted on 4/1/20
Again BS I'm very happy where we are at present and note your encouraging points - but I still have concerns over how sustainable this all is.
To put some flesh on the money question, we have the 8th highest wage bill in the league, so the obvious question following from that would be are we going to be able to keep hold of out best talent if the big boys come sniffing?
posted on 4/1/20
comment by Nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 6 minutes ago
Again BS I'm very happy where we are at present and note your encouraging points - but I still have concerns over how sustainable this all is.
To put some flesh on the money question, we have the 8th highest wage bill in the league, so the obvious question following from that would be are we going to be able to keep hold of out best talent if the big boys come sniffing?
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If we are keep performing to our potential and continue to be a top 6 european club then we have a far better chance of holding on to our top talent. If we mess it up and start underachieving then it’s impossible to keep your best players
Even with being a top 6 club we will lose one or two, but that’s where your recruitment comes in. Maguire goes and Soyuncu steps in.
I see no reason why this isn’t sustainable if we keep doing what we have been doing. I mean if it’s not possible - we might as well throw in the towel and just resign ourselves to surviving.
posted on 4/1/20
BS liverpool, both Mank teams Arsenal Chelsea and even Everton have richer owners than us so thats not the issue its getting a manager and team that stays together