Glass half empty then 99? Probably 75% empty judging by your tone. And that’s being generous! Give us a smile!
😀🦊
The glass is smashed and on the floor OWF! This season just feels like a horrible and totally unnecessary slog. The team doesn’t quite look balanced to me at the moment and Maresca coming out and saying there’s no pressure from the club just makes me feel worse.
I genuinely don’t think Top is that bothered anymore - he doesn’t have any of the drive his father did, he’s just a useless turrrd propped up by that utter snivelling coward Rudkin.
We shouldn’t be here. We have a bunch of players im not sure are prepared for where we’ve found ourselves. We’re utterly skint and we’ve employed a decent manager im sure but someone who has absolutely no experience of this division. And we employed him because he sat next to Pep for a while
comment by 99 Problems (but Rodgers ain’t one) (U12353)
posted 7 minutes ago
The glass is smashed and on the floor OWF! This season just feels like a horrible and totally unnecessary slog. The team doesn’t quite look balanced to me at the moment and Maresca coming out and saying there’s no pressure from the club just makes me feel worse.
I genuinely don’t think Top is that bothered anymore - he doesn’t have any of the drive his father did, he’s just a useless turrrd propped up by that utter snivelling coward Rudkin.
We shouldn’t be here. We have a bunch of players im not sure are prepared for where we’ve found ourselves. We’re utterly skint and we’ve employed a decent manager im sure but someone who has absolutely no experience of this division. And we employed him because he sat next to Pep for a while
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re right, we shouldn’t be anywhere near this division. And there’s no doubt that Top isn’t the man his father was, plus he’s had to do some competing with his siblings in the financial world (which Vichai would not have had), and the pandemic crippling their core business. It could all have been different with sone backbone and leadership.
Look after yourself mate.
😊🦊
comment by old warwick fox (U11640)
posted 49 minutes ago
comment by 99 Problems (but Rodgers ain’t one) (U12353)
posted 7 minutes ago
The glass is smashed and on the floor OWF! This season just feels like a horrible and totally unnecessary slog. The team doesn’t quite look balanced to me at the moment and Maresca coming out and saying there’s no pressure from the club just makes me feel worse.
I genuinely don’t think Top is that bothered anymore - he doesn’t have any of the drive his father did, he’s just a useless turrrd propped up by that utter snivelling coward Rudkin.
We shouldn’t be here. We have a bunch of players im not sure are prepared for where we’ve found ourselves. We’re utterly skint and we’ve employed a decent manager im sure but someone who has absolutely no experience of this division. And we employed him because he sat next to Pep for a while
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re right, we shouldn’t be anywhere near this division. And there’s no doubt that Top isn’t the man his father was, plus he’s had to do some competing with his siblings in the financial world (which Vichai would not have had), and the pandemic crippling their core business. It could all have been different with sone backbone and leadership.
Look after yourself mate.
😊🦊
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have some sympathy with 99p's views.
I was starting to come round a bit but that has been derailed by the curse of Seagrave. Two weeks later the useless muppets still don't know what Coady's injury is or how long he's out for. So the brilliant plan to overcome that is put Vestergard in. A want away player. Likely to be more of them in the team on Sunday. Have they learnt nothing?
I'll be there though. Even at the ridiculous start time of stupid o'clock. Presumably to try and stop people getting sloshed before the match.
I think Southampton if they keep Ward Prowse, Adams etc look in good shape for an immediate return. Leeds are a bit all over the place and we are somewhere in the middle. We have t done the rebuild needed at the pace needed and we have a mix of some good additions, some wantaway players and some absolute dross (Vestergard)
The Coady injury is symptomatic of the continuing issues at Seagrave that don’t sound like they’ve been resolved, this latest injury makes him sound like he’s going to be the new Jonny Evans
I’m just absolutely puzzled as to why anyone is looking forward to this
It's funny how perspective changes over time. I am actually really looking forward to this season and I didn't expect to be, especially after how downbeat I was at the end of last season's abomination.
Admittedly, most of my excitement is down to Maresca and the potential I think he has as a manager, and what he has already done in a short space of time to implement his ideas. I really do think he could be the real deal and I for one am pleased we didn't go down the Parker/Smith/Gerrard route. We took a risk and, if it works as well as it should do, it could be the turning point we need. Plus, after Rodgers and all the rotten, complacent, turgid football he served up, together with his sorry, complacent persona, it's good to have a manager who actually wants to be here, is motivated and has a clear idea about what he wants to achieve.
The squad is still a work-in-progress and I am expecting more changes before the end of the window. We are imbalanced at the moment but we still have a very strong squad (on paper at least) for this level. Maresca said yesterday that 6 players have decided to stay, which is either fantastic or horrifying depending on who they are. But I am willing to give any player who wants to be here a clean slate and a chance to redeem themselves. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be pushing for the title. So it's not the full rebuild we wanted, and we'll almost certainly be losing players next summer regardless of what league we're in, but it's a partial revamp.
Of course, just because I have a vague sense of excitement about the season ahead (I believe they call this strange sensation 'optimism'?), that doesn't mean I am not also slightly scared. There haven't been the changes at the top that we need, and this summer's PR dictated vanity tour still highlights a club that doesn't fully comprehend how things went so badly wrong, culminating in going from Europe to relegation in just two seasons. I am also frightfully aware of the ramifications if this new era goes wrong, and the financial disaster we'd be looking at. But, for now, I want to look ahead with hope rather than dread, a feeling that became far too prevalent last season.
I do get why some people are not sharing my newfound hope, but I hope that a good season filled with lots of wins and a new sense of purpose will shake you from your post-relegation despair. Plus, we are looking at Vestergaard in defence tomorrow and Ndidi as a buccaneering attacking midfielder - what's not to like?!
comment by Foxello - "a miserable Rodgers obsessed weirdo" (U6985)
posted 49 minutes ago
It's funny how perspective changes over time. I am actually really looking forward to this season and I didn't expect to be, especially after how downbeat I was at the end of last season's abomination.
Admittedly, most of my excitement is down to Maresca and the potential I think he has as a manager, and what he has already done in a short space of time to implement his ideas. I really do think he could be the real deal and I for one am pleased we didn't go down the Parker/Smith/Gerrard route. We took a risk and, if it works as well as it should do, it could be the turning point we need. Plus, after Rodgers and all the rotten, complacent, turgid football he served up, together with his sorry, complacent persona, it's good to have a manager who actually wants to be here, is motivated and has a clear idea about what he wants to achieve.
The squad is still a work-in-progress and I am expecting more changes before the end of the window. We are imbalanced at the moment but we still have a very strong squad (on paper at least) for this level. Maresca said yesterday that 6 players have decided to stay, which is either fantastic or horrifying depending on who they are. But I am willing to give any player who wants to be here a clean slate and a chance to redeem themselves. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be pushing for the title. So it's not the full rebuild we wanted, and we'll almost certainly be losing players next summer regardless of what league we're in, but it's a partial revamp.
Of course, just because I have a vague sense of excitement about the season ahead (I believe they call this strange sensation 'optimism'?), that doesn't mean I am not also slightly scared. There haven't been the changes at the top that we need, and this summer's PR dictated vanity tour still highlights a club that doesn't fully comprehend how things went so badly wrong, culminating in going from Europe to relegation in just two seasons. I am also frightfully aware of the ramifications if this new era goes wrong, and the financial disaster we'd be looking at. But, for now, I want to look ahead with hope rather than dread, a feeling that became far too prevalent last season.
I do get why some people are not sharing my newfound hope, but I hope that a good season filled with lots of wins and a new sense of purpose will shake you from your post-relegation despair. Plus, we are looking at Vestergaard in defence tomorrow and Ndidi as a buccaneering attacking midfielder - what's not to like?!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
With you all the way on that Foxello!
UTF 🦊😊
The problem for me Foxello is that the club is still undoubtedly broken. It doesn’t matter who the manager is because even if Maresca is the next Pep, if he isn’t backed financially, culturally and with a sound recruitment plan, then he’ll get frustrated and leave.
A partial revamp isn’t what we needed and yet again we have done half of the required recruitment job so I expect to get around half of what a club of ours should expect in terms of the end result
The success of a football club is founded on how well its run and I just think that at the moment Leicester fans are getting seduced by the romanticised visions of Pep football under Maresca rather than seeing the bigger picture of what still isn’t working and what needs to truly change for us to go back where we belong
We have no choice but to carry on and see what hapoens. If we are on course to win the title then of course I’ll feel a sense of optimism again but while ever the current ownership continues I’m always going to be skeptical of what we can achieve
Wish I could feel as hopeful & positive as Foxello but am finding it difficult atm. Even looking on JA606 I'm still looking in the Premier League list for Leicester!
Tomorrow will be a good pointer for what we can expect this season and it's got to be 3 points or my fears will be increased!
Oddly enough I can see that maybe Vestergard might fit the way Maresco wants to play and do quite a decent job at this level. But why try building your team around a player who is not likely to be here in a few weeks? Even if he stays, he's definitely not a long term solution.
I have some sympathy for Maresco, I can see what he's trying to do, but he's hamstrung by us still having Rudders anywhere near the football side of the club. We've made some good progress in getting rid of deadwood and bringing in replacements, but this is still happening far too slowly. And Seagrave! Turning in to the biggest white elephant in LCFC history.
I don't know where we'll be at the end of the season, if you pressed me I'd say mid-table (I couldn't be too far off then either way ). The problem is that the season is going to be fairly black and white - promotion=improvement, whereas anything else is likely to =disaster.
It's going to be an interesting season in any event - although hopefully not in the context of the ancient Chinese proverb!
It’s interesting that most of us are on one extreme or the other, there is an awful lot of negative baggage hanging around all of us after last seasons debacle and I can only hope that Enzo has bought a new atmosphere and mindset into the squad and that will show out on the pitch over the first 6 games.
There aren’t many clubs that have had as much transfer activity as us through the summer and with Cesarè on his way plus yet more Piroe noise this morning I think that we are still a fortnight away from seeing our final squad for the season ( or until the New Year)…..
As for Vestergard, my thoughts are that Enzo obviously sees him as potentially the best man to fill the role of Coady while he recovers from his injury….. if that’s the case then play the man!!! I want the best 11 on the pitch at all time as we will need as many points as we can every single week. I know some people take a negative spin on this but for me I trust Enzo to make the big decision.
For all of us tomorrow will be about those 11 in blue on the pitch and them lifting us and vice versa, it will be good to be back at the KP and an exciting season awaits.
As for our club being ‘broken’ I get the statement 99 I really do but I do think that Enzo has been backed financially so far ( a long way to go) and time will tell about the in depth changes culturally and on the recruitment side.
I am very much with Foxello and certainly don’t feel that I am blind to the issues that we have but positivity can feel good people 👍
I certainly have concerns about Top, Rudkin, King Power and the general poor decision making by those at the top of the club. However, in recent years, we have seen clubs like Newcastle, Fulham and Watford cruise through this league despite having pretty poor owners, because their squads have just been too strong for this level. That is where I am at with us. I think we'll be too good for this level on the pitch and the off-field shenanigans won't be such a negative this season. The biggest problem could be that they overreact to a poor start and sack Maresca early, which could potentially completely derail us. This could be a temptation for them if the fans start to point their anger at the ownership.
Maresca could of course turn out to be a complete dud but my gut feeling is that he will be a quality manager. Some of our most successful managers have been unproven and/or a risky appointment - Nigel Pearson was a coach who had only been interim at Southampton; Micky Adams was Dave Bassett's assistant and had only managed in the third and fourth divisions; Claudio Ranieri had been sacked by Greece and seen as a joke appointment. I have a good feeling about Maresca and I am getting 02-03 and 08-09 vibes for this season.
On Vestergaard, I agree that he could end up being an important player, especially if Coady's injury is worse than suspected. He is probably our best ball playing CB and played some lovely passes at Northampton. If you had told me 3 months ago that we would be starting the season with the lanky lamppost alongside Faes, I would have probably thrown myself off the nearest bridge, but I am giving everyone a clean slate and hoping that they have benefited from having a proper coach. Apart from Danny Ward, he can get in the sea. He couldn't catch COVID at a Downing Street lockdown party.
Overall, there's two ways we can approach this season:
1) Spend the next 9 months being mardy about where we are, hating every minute and being incandescent with rage because our place in the Premier League has been taken by a team who's ground looks like it should have been condemned after the Luftwaffe hit it, or;
2) Accept our new normal, take it for what it is, enjoy a few more wins than last year and hope that it's the turning point for better days ahead.
Either is fine, but the latter is probably more enjoyable!
I’m not going to spend 9 months being outraged at not being in the PL - but I’m not going to accept our new normal either. I don’t see those two extremes as being the only options available for how I’m meant to feel about Leicester City.
I don’t accept our new normal because I don’t accept the way owners are running the club and I know that under the current regime, even if this is an ‘02-‘03 season, it won’t take long before it unravels again under these clowns.
This managerial appointment has been made to partially please and distract the fanbase from what was threatening to be a growing fan base revolt against Top and in particular Rudkin. A lot of Leicester fans (not talking about anyone on here) have fallen for it and at the moment Top and Rudkin are off the hook. A lot of what’s going on is a distraction to keep the money coming in from season tickets and merchandise revenue than it is a concerted revamp of the clubs direction
All I would say is whatever happens this season, don’t be mugged off by the people running the circus. This isn’t the old ownership. Vichai has gone. This lot care more about corporate PR and keeping the fans on side than our direction as a football club
I’m somewhere in the middle here. I don’t think the club is broken and I think that we are still on the process of rebuilding which hasn’t been as easy as we would hope due to expensive players still being on the books that we can’t shift.
A rebuild sadly takes 2-3 transfer windows which is frustrating but a reality. I still think we’re in transition and we might face s tricky start to the season. I’m just hoping that we’ve got enough quality to deliver against Maresca’s ideas and get out of the division.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow because it’s a new season. And new start. Let’s see how it goes.
Genuine question 99
Don’t you think that Enzo was appointed purely because he was the best candidate?
If, as you say it was to appease the fan base, then I struggle with that as a large number didn’t want him in relation to some of the other names bandied around. So I am not sure how that would appease people ( not including myself as you and I discussed this early in the process and I nailed my colours to his appointment very early).
UTF
comment by Don'tUpsetTheAppletonCart (U13248)
posted 18 minutes ago
Genuine question 99
Don’t you think that Enzo was appointed purely because he was the best candidate?
If, as you say it was to appease the fan base, then I struggle with that as a large number didn’t want him in relation to some of the other names bandied around. So I am not sure how that would appease people ( not including myself as you and I discussed this early in the process and I nailed my colours to his appointment very early).
UTF
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The clubs definition of best candidate is the problem here. I think the club have a deluded belief that this is a temporary blip and are continuing with the illusion of preparing for a return to European football in 2 years. In that sense - they are picking a candidate to deliver a style of football suited with the kind of quality players we don’t currently have and a circumstance that we are no longer in
If they had made this appointment this time last year - I’d have understood it. I think they’re still dreaming and I also think that they believed it would get the fans back on side because of the connection with Pep. In that sense many fans have bought into it
He could be the best manager in world football. In the long run it doesn’t matter because the club won’t really go anywhere if it doesn’t change at the very top
I may have missed it but I am pretty sure that Enzo didn’t make any references to European football in the next couple of years, and I haven’t heard that from anybody at the club ( if I have missed this then I hold my hands up as that is completely unrealistic from where we are now)….
As for fans ‘buying into it’ I think that is a tad unfair as I think some of us just see it as ‘ a good appointment that can change things at the club and give us a chance this season’, I see that as optimistic rather than ‘buying into it’.
Now playing devils advocate, it maybe that Enzo fails and is gone by Christmas or he gets us promotion at the first time of asking, none of us know yet but hey we all know how being a Leicester supporter is never good for our health.
I hope that we can all enjoy a better season and that we can find common ground on here ( Rudders leaving is about the only chance of that 😂😂)
UTF
Well, as regards Enzo, one very good sign is the reported enthusiasm of all the players as regards his coaching style, tactics and the way he wants to play. I’ve not heard that said too often of late. This augurs well. We’re also expecting to strengthen again before the window closes. There’s more positivity about the place. Let’s hope it’s still there in 22 hours time!
UTF 😊🦊
comment by Don'tUpsetTheAppletonCart (U13248)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
I may have missed it but I am pretty sure that Enzo didn’t make any references to European football in the next couple of years, and I haven’t heard that from anybody at the club ( if I have missed this then I hold my hands up as that is completely unrealistic from where we are now)….
As for fans ‘buying into it’ I think that is a tad unfair as I think some of us just see it as ‘ a good appointment that can change things at the club and give us a chance this season’, I see that as optimistic rather than ‘buying into it’.
Now playing devils advocate, it maybe that Enzo fails and is gone by Christmas or he gets us promotion at the first time of asking, none of us know yet but hey we all know how being a Leicester supporter is never good for our health.
I hope that we can all enjoy a better season and that we can find common ground on here ( Rudders leaving is about the only chance of that 😂😂)
UTF
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you’re missing the gist of what I’m saying. There is a huge difference between comments made to the media and the reality in the boardroom. You wouldn’t really know what Top was thinking in any case because he hardly ever gives any interviews - all we have are rumours and leaks from The Athletic and other more trusted sources.
As an example - last season it’s now been revealed (through Stowell) that the hierarchy felt we were in no danger of going down - even right to the end. What does that tell you about this board and their perception of reality? The fact that the man who oversaw such a catastrophic decline is still in post and conducted the review into what went on should also tell you something
My view is that the club still thinks of itself in very grandiose terms and I think are conducting their business (the hiring of Maresca and the behaviour of club during the pre-season tour in Thailand) in that way. I think they absolutely feel they will be back at the top table very shortly. They were too good to go down - now they’re too good not to go up.
My worry is that fans have been seduced into accepting this situation and it’s resulting fallout because of the excitement around someone who has worked with Pep. We know absolutely nothing about Maresca and interviews aren’t any indication of what’s to come
I’m not saying we won’t get promoted. I’m saying even if we do that the days of this club having an ambition to be among the best of the rest is long gone
I completely get that 99 and I don’t think you will find many of us that do not agree that there are issues and failing at Boardroom level and with certain personnel, we all know that Rudkin is useless and unfortunately untouchable and that last season the board were left wanting week in, week out.
I don’t quite understand how hiring Maresca is a ‘grandiose’ move as he was being linked to a few clubs at this level at the time, plus I would throw it out there that we are not ‘seduced into accepting this situation’ as we are fully aware of the failings but that a majority see this as the opportunity of a reset and fresh start and are excited about a new manager and a new way of playing, hopefully with players that show fight and pride.
That’s just my take on it, I would be interested what others on here think as I may be in a minority of 1 obviously 😂😂
UTF
Hiring Maresca is a massive gamble. He has little managerial experience and none at Championship level. It's aimed at competing at the top table when we get promoted. He doesn't have the players he's used to dealing with. Nor is he going to get them.
It could all go disastrously wrong. I absolutely don't want it to, but it could.
I’m in that camp DUTAC. I’m not convinced we’ve done enough in the transfer window to start with a bang but I’m optimistic that under Maresca we can at least build this year and arrest the decline that we’ve seen under Rodgers for the last 3 years.
I really hope that we can do it. But it’s the hope that kills you isn’t it!!!
BTW I hope I'm being too pessimistic. I really do.
What I don’t get is the excitement when nothing at the top of the club has changed. What’s to be excited about? Surely it’s only a matter of time before the same failings re-appear if they haven’t been fixed in the first place - Maresca or not
In the same fans got obsessed that Rodgers was the cause of all our woes, some are now getting fixated on Maresca being the man to rebuild the entire club. It just doesnt work like that. If the cake tin is dented, every cake you bake - no matter how many times you start over, is going to have a dent in it
I really don't like being in the same camp as 99p. I really don't. I'd much prefer to be 'excited' by the coming season, and looking forward to us smashing the league under Maresco. I just don't think we're heading in that direction. I seriously hope we're both totally wrong.
Sign in if you want to comment
I’ve never been less excited
Page 1 of 2
posted on 4/8/23
Glass half empty then 99? Probably 75% empty judging by your tone. And that’s being generous! Give us a smile!
😀🦊
posted on 4/8/23
The glass is smashed and on the floor OWF! This season just feels like a horrible and totally unnecessary slog. The team doesn’t quite look balanced to me at the moment and Maresca coming out and saying there’s no pressure from the club just makes me feel worse.
I genuinely don’t think Top is that bothered anymore - he doesn’t have any of the drive his father did, he’s just a useless turrrd propped up by that utter snivelling coward Rudkin.
We shouldn’t be here. We have a bunch of players im not sure are prepared for where we’ve found ourselves. We’re utterly skint and we’ve employed a decent manager im sure but someone who has absolutely no experience of this division. And we employed him because he sat next to Pep for a while
posted on 4/8/23
comment by 99 Problems (but Rodgers ain’t one) (U12353)
posted 7 minutes ago
The glass is smashed and on the floor OWF! This season just feels like a horrible and totally unnecessary slog. The team doesn’t quite look balanced to me at the moment and Maresca coming out and saying there’s no pressure from the club just makes me feel worse.
I genuinely don’t think Top is that bothered anymore - he doesn’t have any of the drive his father did, he’s just a useless turrrd propped up by that utter snivelling coward Rudkin.
We shouldn’t be here. We have a bunch of players im not sure are prepared for where we’ve found ourselves. We’re utterly skint and we’ve employed a decent manager im sure but someone who has absolutely no experience of this division. And we employed him because he sat next to Pep for a while
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re right, we shouldn’t be anywhere near this division. And there’s no doubt that Top isn’t the man his father was, plus he’s had to do some competing with his siblings in the financial world (which Vichai would not have had), and the pandemic crippling their core business. It could all have been different with sone backbone and leadership.
Look after yourself mate.
😊🦊
posted on 4/8/23
comment by old warwick fox (U11640)
posted 49 minutes ago
comment by 99 Problems (but Rodgers ain’t one) (U12353)
posted 7 minutes ago
The glass is smashed and on the floor OWF! This season just feels like a horrible and totally unnecessary slog. The team doesn’t quite look balanced to me at the moment and Maresca coming out and saying there’s no pressure from the club just makes me feel worse.
I genuinely don’t think Top is that bothered anymore - he doesn’t have any of the drive his father did, he’s just a useless turrrd propped up by that utter snivelling coward Rudkin.
We shouldn’t be here. We have a bunch of players im not sure are prepared for where we’ve found ourselves. We’re utterly skint and we’ve employed a decent manager im sure but someone who has absolutely no experience of this division. And we employed him because he sat next to Pep for a while
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You’re right, we shouldn’t be anywhere near this division. And there’s no doubt that Top isn’t the man his father was, plus he’s had to do some competing with his siblings in the financial world (which Vichai would not have had), and the pandemic crippling their core business. It could all have been different with sone backbone and leadership.
Look after yourself mate.
😊🦊
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have some sympathy with 99p's views.
I was starting to come round a bit but that has been derailed by the curse of Seagrave. Two weeks later the useless muppets still don't know what Coady's injury is or how long he's out for. So the brilliant plan to overcome that is put Vestergard in. A want away player. Likely to be more of them in the team on Sunday. Have they learnt nothing?
I'll be there though. Even at the ridiculous start time of stupid o'clock. Presumably to try and stop people getting sloshed before the match.
posted on 5/8/23
I think Southampton if they keep Ward Prowse, Adams etc look in good shape for an immediate return. Leeds are a bit all over the place and we are somewhere in the middle. We have t done the rebuild needed at the pace needed and we have a mix of some good additions, some wantaway players and some absolute dross (Vestergard)
The Coady injury is symptomatic of the continuing issues at Seagrave that don’t sound like they’ve been resolved, this latest injury makes him sound like he’s going to be the new Jonny Evans
I’m just absolutely puzzled as to why anyone is looking forward to this
posted on 5/8/23
It's funny how perspective changes over time. I am actually really looking forward to this season and I didn't expect to be, especially after how downbeat I was at the end of last season's abomination.
Admittedly, most of my excitement is down to Maresca and the potential I think he has as a manager, and what he has already done in a short space of time to implement his ideas. I really do think he could be the real deal and I for one am pleased we didn't go down the Parker/Smith/Gerrard route. We took a risk and, if it works as well as it should do, it could be the turning point we need. Plus, after Rodgers and all the rotten, complacent, turgid football he served up, together with his sorry, complacent persona, it's good to have a manager who actually wants to be here, is motivated and has a clear idea about what he wants to achieve.
The squad is still a work-in-progress and I am expecting more changes before the end of the window. We are imbalanced at the moment but we still have a very strong squad (on paper at least) for this level. Maresca said yesterday that 6 players have decided to stay, which is either fantastic or horrifying depending on who they are. But I am willing to give any player who wants to be here a clean slate and a chance to redeem themselves. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be pushing for the title. So it's not the full rebuild we wanted, and we'll almost certainly be losing players next summer regardless of what league we're in, but it's a partial revamp.
Of course, just because I have a vague sense of excitement about the season ahead (I believe they call this strange sensation 'optimism'?), that doesn't mean I am not also slightly scared. There haven't been the changes at the top that we need, and this summer's PR dictated vanity tour still highlights a club that doesn't fully comprehend how things went so badly wrong, culminating in going from Europe to relegation in just two seasons. I am also frightfully aware of the ramifications if this new era goes wrong, and the financial disaster we'd be looking at. But, for now, I want to look ahead with hope rather than dread, a feeling that became far too prevalent last season.
I do get why some people are not sharing my newfound hope, but I hope that a good season filled with lots of wins and a new sense of purpose will shake you from your post-relegation despair. Plus, we are looking at Vestergaard in defence tomorrow and Ndidi as a buccaneering attacking midfielder - what's not to like?!
posted on 5/8/23
comment by Foxello - "a miserable Rodgers obsessed weirdo" (U6985)
posted 49 minutes ago
It's funny how perspective changes over time. I am actually really looking forward to this season and I didn't expect to be, especially after how downbeat I was at the end of last season's abomination.
Admittedly, most of my excitement is down to Maresca and the potential I think he has as a manager, and what he has already done in a short space of time to implement his ideas. I really do think he could be the real deal and I for one am pleased we didn't go down the Parker/Smith/Gerrard route. We took a risk and, if it works as well as it should do, it could be the turning point we need. Plus, after Rodgers and all the rotten, complacent, turgid football he served up, together with his sorry, complacent persona, it's good to have a manager who actually wants to be here, is motivated and has a clear idea about what he wants to achieve.
The squad is still a work-in-progress and I am expecting more changes before the end of the window. We are imbalanced at the moment but we still have a very strong squad (on paper at least) for this level. Maresca said yesterday that 6 players have decided to stay, which is either fantastic or horrifying depending on who they are. But I am willing to give any player who wants to be here a clean slate and a chance to redeem themselves. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be pushing for the title. So it's not the full rebuild we wanted, and we'll almost certainly be losing players next summer regardless of what league we're in, but it's a partial revamp.
Of course, just because I have a vague sense of excitement about the season ahead (I believe they call this strange sensation 'optimism'?), that doesn't mean I am not also slightly scared. There haven't been the changes at the top that we need, and this summer's PR dictated vanity tour still highlights a club that doesn't fully comprehend how things went so badly wrong, culminating in going from Europe to relegation in just two seasons. I am also frightfully aware of the ramifications if this new era goes wrong, and the financial disaster we'd be looking at. But, for now, I want to look ahead with hope rather than dread, a feeling that became far too prevalent last season.
I do get why some people are not sharing my newfound hope, but I hope that a good season filled with lots of wins and a new sense of purpose will shake you from your post-relegation despair. Plus, we are looking at Vestergaard in defence tomorrow and Ndidi as a buccaneering attacking midfielder - what's not to like?!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
With you all the way on that Foxello!
UTF 🦊😊
posted on 5/8/23
The problem for me Foxello is that the club is still undoubtedly broken. It doesn’t matter who the manager is because even if Maresca is the next Pep, if he isn’t backed financially, culturally and with a sound recruitment plan, then he’ll get frustrated and leave.
A partial revamp isn’t what we needed and yet again we have done half of the required recruitment job so I expect to get around half of what a club of ours should expect in terms of the end result
The success of a football club is founded on how well its run and I just think that at the moment Leicester fans are getting seduced by the romanticised visions of Pep football under Maresca rather than seeing the bigger picture of what still isn’t working and what needs to truly change for us to go back where we belong
We have no choice but to carry on and see what hapoens. If we are on course to win the title then of course I’ll feel a sense of optimism again but while ever the current ownership continues I’m always going to be skeptical of what we can achieve
posted on 5/8/23
Wish I could feel as hopeful & positive as Foxello but am finding it difficult atm. Even looking on JA606 I'm still looking in the Premier League list for Leicester!
Tomorrow will be a good pointer for what we can expect this season and it's got to be 3 points or my fears will be increased!
posted on 5/8/23
Oddly enough I can see that maybe Vestergard might fit the way Maresco wants to play and do quite a decent job at this level. But why try building your team around a player who is not likely to be here in a few weeks? Even if he stays, he's definitely not a long term solution.
I have some sympathy for Maresco, I can see what he's trying to do, but he's hamstrung by us still having Rudders anywhere near the football side of the club. We've made some good progress in getting rid of deadwood and bringing in replacements, but this is still happening far too slowly. And Seagrave! Turning in to the biggest white elephant in LCFC history.
I don't know where we'll be at the end of the season, if you pressed me I'd say mid-table (I couldn't be too far off then either way ). The problem is that the season is going to be fairly black and white - promotion=improvement, whereas anything else is likely to =disaster.
It's going to be an interesting season in any event - although hopefully not in the context of the ancient Chinese proverb!
posted on 5/8/23
It’s interesting that most of us are on one extreme or the other, there is an awful lot of negative baggage hanging around all of us after last seasons debacle and I can only hope that Enzo has bought a new atmosphere and mindset into the squad and that will show out on the pitch over the first 6 games.
There aren’t many clubs that have had as much transfer activity as us through the summer and with Cesarè on his way plus yet more Piroe noise this morning I think that we are still a fortnight away from seeing our final squad for the season ( or until the New Year)…..
As for Vestergard, my thoughts are that Enzo obviously sees him as potentially the best man to fill the role of Coady while he recovers from his injury….. if that’s the case then play the man!!! I want the best 11 on the pitch at all time as we will need as many points as we can every single week. I know some people take a negative spin on this but for me I trust Enzo to make the big decision.
For all of us tomorrow will be about those 11 in blue on the pitch and them lifting us and vice versa, it will be good to be back at the KP and an exciting season awaits.
As for our club being ‘broken’ I get the statement 99 I really do but I do think that Enzo has been backed financially so far ( a long way to go) and time will tell about the in depth changes culturally and on the recruitment side.
I am very much with Foxello and certainly don’t feel that I am blind to the issues that we have but positivity can feel good people 👍
posted on 5/8/23
I certainly have concerns about Top, Rudkin, King Power and the general poor decision making by those at the top of the club. However, in recent years, we have seen clubs like Newcastle, Fulham and Watford cruise through this league despite having pretty poor owners, because their squads have just been too strong for this level. That is where I am at with us. I think we'll be too good for this level on the pitch and the off-field shenanigans won't be such a negative this season. The biggest problem could be that they overreact to a poor start and sack Maresca early, which could potentially completely derail us. This could be a temptation for them if the fans start to point their anger at the ownership.
Maresca could of course turn out to be a complete dud but my gut feeling is that he will be a quality manager. Some of our most successful managers have been unproven and/or a risky appointment - Nigel Pearson was a coach who had only been interim at Southampton; Micky Adams was Dave Bassett's assistant and had only managed in the third and fourth divisions; Claudio Ranieri had been sacked by Greece and seen as a joke appointment. I have a good feeling about Maresca and I am getting 02-03 and 08-09 vibes for this season.
On Vestergaard, I agree that he could end up being an important player, especially if Coady's injury is worse than suspected. He is probably our best ball playing CB and played some lovely passes at Northampton. If you had told me 3 months ago that we would be starting the season with the lanky lamppost alongside Faes, I would have probably thrown myself off the nearest bridge, but I am giving everyone a clean slate and hoping that they have benefited from having a proper coach. Apart from Danny Ward, he can get in the sea. He couldn't catch COVID at a Downing Street lockdown party.
Overall, there's two ways we can approach this season:
1) Spend the next 9 months being mardy about where we are, hating every minute and being incandescent with rage because our place in the Premier League has been taken by a team who's ground looks like it should have been condemned after the Luftwaffe hit it, or;
2) Accept our new normal, take it for what it is, enjoy a few more wins than last year and hope that it's the turning point for better days ahead.
Either is fine, but the latter is probably more enjoyable!
posted on 5/8/23
I’m not going to spend 9 months being outraged at not being in the PL - but I’m not going to accept our new normal either. I don’t see those two extremes as being the only options available for how I’m meant to feel about Leicester City.
I don’t accept our new normal because I don’t accept the way owners are running the club and I know that under the current regime, even if this is an ‘02-‘03 season, it won’t take long before it unravels again under these clowns.
This managerial appointment has been made to partially please and distract the fanbase from what was threatening to be a growing fan base revolt against Top and in particular Rudkin. A lot of Leicester fans (not talking about anyone on here) have fallen for it and at the moment Top and Rudkin are off the hook. A lot of what’s going on is a distraction to keep the money coming in from season tickets and merchandise revenue than it is a concerted revamp of the clubs direction
All I would say is whatever happens this season, don’t be mugged off by the people running the circus. This isn’t the old ownership. Vichai has gone. This lot care more about corporate PR and keeping the fans on side than our direction as a football club
posted on 5/8/23
I’m somewhere in the middle here. I don’t think the club is broken and I think that we are still on the process of rebuilding which hasn’t been as easy as we would hope due to expensive players still being on the books that we can’t shift.
A rebuild sadly takes 2-3 transfer windows which is frustrating but a reality. I still think we’re in transition and we might face s tricky start to the season. I’m just hoping that we’ve got enough quality to deliver against Maresca’s ideas and get out of the division.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow because it’s a new season. And new start. Let’s see how it goes.
posted on 5/8/23
Genuine question 99
Don’t you think that Enzo was appointed purely because he was the best candidate?
If, as you say it was to appease the fan base, then I struggle with that as a large number didn’t want him in relation to some of the other names bandied around. So I am not sure how that would appease people ( not including myself as you and I discussed this early in the process and I nailed my colours to his appointment very early).
UTF
posted on 5/8/23
comment by Don'tUpsetTheAppletonCart (U13248)
posted 18 minutes ago
Genuine question 99
Don’t you think that Enzo was appointed purely because he was the best candidate?
If, as you say it was to appease the fan base, then I struggle with that as a large number didn’t want him in relation to some of the other names bandied around. So I am not sure how that would appease people ( not including myself as you and I discussed this early in the process and I nailed my colours to his appointment very early).
UTF
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The clubs definition of best candidate is the problem here. I think the club have a deluded belief that this is a temporary blip and are continuing with the illusion of preparing for a return to European football in 2 years. In that sense - they are picking a candidate to deliver a style of football suited with the kind of quality players we don’t currently have and a circumstance that we are no longer in
If they had made this appointment this time last year - I’d have understood it. I think they’re still dreaming and I also think that they believed it would get the fans back on side because of the connection with Pep. In that sense many fans have bought into it
He could be the best manager in world football. In the long run it doesn’t matter because the club won’t really go anywhere if it doesn’t change at the very top
posted on 5/8/23
I may have missed it but I am pretty sure that Enzo didn’t make any references to European football in the next couple of years, and I haven’t heard that from anybody at the club ( if I have missed this then I hold my hands up as that is completely unrealistic from where we are now)….
As for fans ‘buying into it’ I think that is a tad unfair as I think some of us just see it as ‘ a good appointment that can change things at the club and give us a chance this season’, I see that as optimistic rather than ‘buying into it’.
Now playing devils advocate, it maybe that Enzo fails and is gone by Christmas or he gets us promotion at the first time of asking, none of us know yet but hey we all know how being a Leicester supporter is never good for our health.
I hope that we can all enjoy a better season and that we can find common ground on here ( Rudders leaving is about the only chance of that 😂😂)
UTF
posted on 5/8/23
Well, as regards Enzo, one very good sign is the reported enthusiasm of all the players as regards his coaching style, tactics and the way he wants to play. I’ve not heard that said too often of late. This augurs well. We’re also expecting to strengthen again before the window closes. There’s more positivity about the place. Let’s hope it’s still there in 22 hours time!
UTF 😊🦊
posted on 5/8/23
comment by Don'tUpsetTheAppletonCart (U13248)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
I may have missed it but I am pretty sure that Enzo didn’t make any references to European football in the next couple of years, and I haven’t heard that from anybody at the club ( if I have missed this then I hold my hands up as that is completely unrealistic from where we are now)….
As for fans ‘buying into it’ I think that is a tad unfair as I think some of us just see it as ‘ a good appointment that can change things at the club and give us a chance this season’, I see that as optimistic rather than ‘buying into it’.
Now playing devils advocate, it maybe that Enzo fails and is gone by Christmas or he gets us promotion at the first time of asking, none of us know yet but hey we all know how being a Leicester supporter is never good for our health.
I hope that we can all enjoy a better season and that we can find common ground on here ( Rudders leaving is about the only chance of that 😂😂)
UTF
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you’re missing the gist of what I’m saying. There is a huge difference between comments made to the media and the reality in the boardroom. You wouldn’t really know what Top was thinking in any case because he hardly ever gives any interviews - all we have are rumours and leaks from The Athletic and other more trusted sources.
As an example - last season it’s now been revealed (through Stowell) that the hierarchy felt we were in no danger of going down - even right to the end. What does that tell you about this board and their perception of reality? The fact that the man who oversaw such a catastrophic decline is still in post and conducted the review into what went on should also tell you something
My view is that the club still thinks of itself in very grandiose terms and I think are conducting their business (the hiring of Maresca and the behaviour of club during the pre-season tour in Thailand) in that way. I think they absolutely feel they will be back at the top table very shortly. They were too good to go down - now they’re too good not to go up.
My worry is that fans have been seduced into accepting this situation and it’s resulting fallout because of the excitement around someone who has worked with Pep. We know absolutely nothing about Maresca and interviews aren’t any indication of what’s to come
I’m not saying we won’t get promoted. I’m saying even if we do that the days of this club having an ambition to be among the best of the rest is long gone
posted on 5/8/23
I completely get that 99 and I don’t think you will find many of us that do not agree that there are issues and failing at Boardroom level and with certain personnel, we all know that Rudkin is useless and unfortunately untouchable and that last season the board were left wanting week in, week out.
I don’t quite understand how hiring Maresca is a ‘grandiose’ move as he was being linked to a few clubs at this level at the time, plus I would throw it out there that we are not ‘seduced into accepting this situation’ as we are fully aware of the failings but that a majority see this as the opportunity of a reset and fresh start and are excited about a new manager and a new way of playing, hopefully with players that show fight and pride.
That’s just my take on it, I would be interested what others on here think as I may be in a minority of 1 obviously 😂😂
UTF
posted on 5/8/23
Hiring Maresca is a massive gamble. He has little managerial experience and none at Championship level. It's aimed at competing at the top table when we get promoted. He doesn't have the players he's used to dealing with. Nor is he going to get them.
It could all go disastrously wrong. I absolutely don't want it to, but it could.
posted on 5/8/23
I’m in that camp DUTAC. I’m not convinced we’ve done enough in the transfer window to start with a bang but I’m optimistic that under Maresca we can at least build this year and arrest the decline that we’ve seen under Rodgers for the last 3 years.
I really hope that we can do it. But it’s the hope that kills you isn’t it!!!
posted on 5/8/23
BTW I hope I'm being too pessimistic. I really do.
posted on 5/8/23
What I don’t get is the excitement when nothing at the top of the club has changed. What’s to be excited about? Surely it’s only a matter of time before the same failings re-appear if they haven’t been fixed in the first place - Maresca or not
In the same fans got obsessed that Rodgers was the cause of all our woes, some are now getting fixated on Maresca being the man to rebuild the entire club. It just doesnt work like that. If the cake tin is dented, every cake you bake - no matter how many times you start over, is going to have a dent in it
posted on 5/8/23
I really don't like being in the same camp as 99p. I really don't. I'd much prefer to be 'excited' by the coming season, and looking forward to us smashing the league under Maresco. I just don't think we're heading in that direction. I seriously hope we're both totally wrong.
Page 1 of 2