KTF1 - good post, one reason we have struggled has been the change to playing a pure 4-4-2 from last year's successful 4-4-1-1 ie not playing Okazaki for the first 60 minutes whilst the opposition are fresh. This has compounded the loss of Kante.

Also frequently playing two defensively weak players in the side (perm any two from Musa/Mahrez/Gray).

I can see your rationale for bringing in a workmanlike manager. I wouldn't object to Pearson coming back although he probably (!) carries too much baggage, but would have the huge advantage over others of knowing the club which others may take time to assess - time we don't have. Probably best to use the old adage of never go back (or in his case never go back twice).

Where I think your reasoning may be slightly flawed is in the fitness side, because if it is down to that (starting with the dreadful preseason antics) then we truly are stuffed because we don't have enough time left to make a difference. With that in mind I really hope that Vardy hasn't been pressing like last year because he's been told not to, and not because he's not fit/lost pace.

For the top four armchair supporters benefit my desire this year was to have decent runs in the cups (achieved already, certainly in Europe) and not get relegated (jury is unfortunately out on that one).

I think to gain fitness like we've had the last 3 years previous is impossible....not happening. To improve on fitness...hmmm possible. To 'focus' more on fitness improvement, even if slight (I read an interesting article the other day about the stats building side of our game <not sure if anyone has seen moneyball> and the guy I know said there is just a bank of computers for analysis at Leicester and the article said even just 1 percent difference between your opponent and marker can have a difference) I think is a must. This, of course, is to suggest we haven't and I'm not sure whether this is true/partially true or not at all. But a fresh programme of cardio/HIIT certainly won't do any harm and if some players can't keep up that should say something.

I honestly genuinely believe a lot of our issues are based around the facts I mentioned and whilst we can look to improve on these, I'm not sure, as I'm no professional/experienced football coach, how much needed to be pre-emptive in pre-season and on-going as opposed to reactive now.

This is without, of course, any debate about unavoidable burn out after last season (again, pre-empting any external riposte about matches in a season being the same for everyone - I'm talking about continually matches played without rest and more importantly (as I actually believe a consistent team
Playing every week is valuable) playing at the intensity we have played every week - as a slight aside to this - I honestly believe, despite morale issues, last season has affected Vardy in a way that means he will never get that acceleration back again (was worth it, but still a factor)

Excellent article.

Re the fitness, I believe it is a mix of both, this Seaons's tactics were not to press from the front running ourselves into the ground but to try and play more 'football' so the fitness levels could be dropped slightly.

The issue with that is you then don't have the fitness when you are struggling and really need it, the lack of fitness has been mentioned on here many times this season and like Kante is a massive difference in our struggles.

PS - I do think the owners will go for a 'name' as the next Manager.