Mid-Field.....

It was like groundhog day yesterday. Again we just seem to lack that cutting edge and create enough goal scoring chances to win a game. The midfield again did let us down. Biggest culprit for me was King because in that role in-between the lines and just off the front (the 'number 10' role you could say) you need to have that spark about you and be able to play that killer pass but too often yesterday he got the ball and there was a heavy touch or a misplaced pass and he never really got involved enough to influence the game like he should do playing that position.

When we do play well and we do click we are a good side and have a decent chance of beating most sides (think of the way we brushed aside good teams like Palace and Blackpool) but when you're not playing well, that is when you see the good sides from the average sides. Good sides will find a way to win even when they're not playing well and that is what what separates them from average teams but we can't do that and I'm afraid it just shows us to be, at present, a distinctly average side. It seems to me that there is a confidence issue with us and we seem to be playing within ourselves. I don't know whether our confidence has been knocked by the late loss at Hull having done so well to hold them out and then missing a host of chances against Peterborough and not winning and we haven't recovered but something isn't right at present. It might just be the case that one win can be a catalyst and get the confidence up again and we can go on a run. I wouldn't say the play-off's are over but we need a run like we did last season or like Reading had to get ourselves back in contention.

Maybe it might benefit us on Monday being away from home where the pressure and onus isn't on us as much. Ordinarily, I'd take a point at Selhurst Park but we need a win as soon as possible. January is key (almost season defining) and if Nigel can get the squad sorted out and get his stamp on and create HIS squad - always a tough thing to do in January but needs must - then we have half a chance. However, we need a spark to re-ignite our season and it has to come quickly.

Mallingfox, completely agree that Pearson is not a genius and we should not view him as some kind of saviour.

To say he is rapidly taking backwards is a bit premature to be fair. It's like saying sacking Sven was the correct decision, it's too early to say on both accounts.

One thing I believe is true is that there was no evidence in that game against Millwall that the team was close to gelling. What's the point of beating Southampton and Derby when you get beaten at home by Bristol City? We would be terrific one match and awful the next.

I totally agree that replacing a manager mid season is a mistake, but Nigel's record at Leicester and Hull show that he deserves time to assemble his own squad and address the imbalances. I cannot see how St Ledger, Johnson, Ball, Pantsil, Beckford and Mills at 5.5 mil can be seen as money well spent. Not when you look at how West Ham have also assembled a pretty new squad with better effect than we did.

Let's agree that Sven probably deserved more time, but let's not for a minute pretend things were that much better under his tenure, they were not. Nigel will sort this out but it will be worse before its better

The consensus on this board, whose views I (mostly!) respect, seems to lie with your own position, BlackStarr, that "Nigel will sort this out" and that he should be given the opportunity to build and shape his own side. So be it, and I shall give him every support, because I am a Foxes fan of 44 years' standing and want nothing more than their success.

Personally, I do believe that Pearson is presently taking the club backwards (his hostility to Stringer in the post-Portsmouth interview suggests that he is conscious that this view is out there, and feeling the pressure), and I am haunted by the thought of What Might Have Been, if the owners' failure of nerve after the Millwall game hadn't cost us one of international club football's most celebrated managers (and his contact book).

But, hey ho and on to Selhust Park.

Oh dear. We have dropped into the bottom half of the table, are now two points closer to a relegation place than an automatic promotion slot, and a Pearson /enthusiast/ is telling me "it will be worse before its better". Ouch! I think maybe I'd better crawl under the duvet with a crate of flu medicine and not emerge until February…

I think Sven started with the right intentions but made an error of judgment when deciding how to play the Championship.

Correct, in that he went for two players for every position. Incorrect, in that he built his squad around the belief that we could be good enough to play football in a Continental 4-3-3 formation.

We now have a squad with too many flimsy central midfielders, not enough width and a key striker who has made a career out of not putting much effort in.

But is Pearson blameless? After 7 games he should be but this reliance on the old guard is a little worrying. If ever there was a player who needed a rest it is Wellens, Dyer is positively light-weight and cannot cross and King needs experience along-side him to flourish.

In my opinion, Pearson needs to go into the transfer market and buy two experienced mid-fielders ( a la Kevin Nolan mould) a proper winger and possibly, a striker. Nicky Maynard would still top that list for me but I also rate Sharp at this level.

The Johnson's, Fernandes et al are surplus to requirements and the latter seems to already be on his way. But given a decent offer, I would also let Beckford leave as I don't think he will ever fit in down here - smacks of another D J Campbell if you ask me.

But I think there also needs to be a clearing out of the old guard. Howard deserves to leave on a free to get another season playing whilst he still can and I have never shared many fans optimism for Waghorn.

So no blame towards NP yet but his acquisitions over the coming month will be decisive.

Mallingfox - you are absolutely correct regarding the deficiencies resulting from the mistaken reappointment of Pearson as manager
.Poor decision taken for wrong reasons and as injurious to the club as the original circumstances which led to his original leaving

His latest interview as you indicate indicates the reaction of a troubled man reacting aggressively to a reasonable question and suggesting what we hear about his intransigience is correct.

Extraordinary set of affairs within the club with two camps -those who are "his" men - and those who may not subscribe to sergeant major tactics. When he speaks about the squad he speaks about "there are good people at the club" -not good players or skilled players but presumably those who toe the line - his line!

You cannot put the clock back and the club and probably Pearson himself know it - a mistake has been made

Most managers would give their hind teeth for the talent in our squad and would be devising a playing system and formation to utilise it- not saying this is my way - now get on with it or get out!

Have a look above us and see what people like Mackay, McDermott yes and say it quietly -Clough are doing with far less..

We played December with three points out of 15 -incuding three home games against lower placed teams and an away game against bottom club... come on Pearson try taking responsibility

I'm sorry John Gee but saying the Pearson appointment is a clear mistake after just 7 games is hugely short sighted. Doesn't what Nigel did for this club earn him more time than 7 matches? I'm not suggesting that we live off former glories but just because of a bad December, we cannot say the appointment was a mistake, that's a knee jerk reaction to some poor results.

The old guard certainly have not inspired, but can you say that Fernandes, st ledger, Pantsil and Beckford were much better? Let's judge him after the window has passed and give him more time. He deserves that after pulling this club out of the mire 2 years ago. He started badly with Hull and turned that around.

Pearson didn't handle the portsmouth interview well but Stringer was a tad unprofessional by quoting the word clueless. That's Ian's own frustration coming across in his questioning and Nigel should have rose above it.

Totally wrong Blackstarr, current results are nothing to do with my regret that Pearson is manager - regulars will know that I suggested it to be wrong at his appointment.

Pearson is well known for his assembly of "artesan" type players who are prepared to follow a strict on and off field dictum of limited risk football and lifestyle.
Players like Hobbs,Morrison, Fryatt,Dyer Waghorn are his mantra and are as uncomplicated as his football style of long balls either crossfield or into. channels .Players then run to catch up with the ball

The club had moved on and like an oil tanker you cannot put it into reverse gear

His squad is full of players who believe that possession is paramount and were coached into a style that promotes this. He was never going to change his approach to suit his squad- the sign of a tactically aware manager. He believes when the ball is in the other half they won't score -many of his squad beleive if you have the ball they won't score-

Wrong manager for the direction the owners wanted (correctly) to go

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anyway -we can win today -in car 15mins from ground
new year -new approach