Ah, so this dross is Sven's fault, even though it is patently inferior to the football he got out of the same squad, and has secured us just 10 of the 21 points available, a worse performance than the one which got Sven sacked.

Clearly I will never understand this game....

I think Abe was our worst midfielder today.

So what does that say for the rest of them?

One of three things are wrong and Pearson needs to find and answer fast:

1. The movement up front isn't good enough. Us Sharp or a target man the answer?

2. The balance of the midfield is all wrong. A holding player and 1 or two wide men required to serve the attack

3. They are simply not good enough. I don't buy this one - Wellens is widely touted as one of the best midfielders in the league, King courted by Prem clubs but they just aren't doing it an require a missing ingredient?

Which brings me back to new signings. If we genuinely want to have a go at the play-offs this year, I think we need a minimum of 4 players a move on 10 or so. This is a big big ask and it may just be worth seeing how we get on over the next 4 months and really assing it at the end of the season.

However you look at it, it's disappointing!

Unbelievable this game, we all watch the same match yet I would say Abe was by far the best midfielder if not Leicester player on the pitch, the amount of times he saved the defences' backsides was amazing.

What I couldn't understand was bringing Nugent off for Beckford, nothing wrong with beckford coming on but why not take King or gally off for him and go for it?

Mersey, if Wellens is one of the best Midfielders in this league, why has he spent his whole career in league 1 and the mid-to-bottom of the championship? The fact is that he is a decent mid-table player but not top 6 quality. Ditto for Gallagher, Dyer and maybe even King. A bottom half team out played us in midfield and played much the better football today, as has been the case in probably 20 of the games this season.

Nigel: please sort it out because the last 3 home games have been terrible!

The last two games, LCFC have struggled against mediocre sides, over ran in midfield and offering little up front.
Defensively, looking shambolic at times.
Pearson will ring the changes, St Ledger is listed and will be either sold or sent out on loan. Beckford did not look interested today, definately not a Pearson type of player.

Abe was our best player today. Bamba either needs to be sold dropped or have his wings clipped his style of play makes Mills have to second guess what he does everytime. I think we can right this season off now and plan for next get the players focused get a plan A and a plan B and really go for it with a squad that can handle the pressure of playing for a bookies favorite team

I've seen every game in December with the exception of Doncaster, and it's been the same story each time - utter rubbish, clueless...

From back to front today, we were poor. Both Mills and Bamba were all over the place.

With the exception of Abe, the midfiled were useless, not bottle, no spirit. Wellens can't pick a pass to save his life at the moment, Gallagher is alright if its a dead ball, nothing else, King - not good again, but not being used in the right position (in my opinion)..

Up front, couldn't really fault the effort and application of Nugent or Schlupp - they tried, but were having to drop back to much to try an create their own chances.

As for the manager, does he really have a plan B? The midfiled hasn't worked in any game I have seen, so why are some other players drawing a wage from the club not being tried out?

Some will say Pearson will sort it when he gets his own players in - but lets not forget 3 of the 4 in midfiled today were pearson players, and it didn't work....

Time will tell, and I hope pearson goes on to prove me very wrong.... but at the moment we are a million miles from being able to compete..

ShepshedBlue - I'm not denying that Wellens has been poor for a while but if you speak to people in the game they will tell you how highly rated he is.... maybe was!!!

The only thing I'll say in his defence is that if there is no pass to pick out, he can't pick one out!! This is why I talk about movement - if we had any and created space, I think Wellens would come good. At the minute however, I'm struggling to see what can be changed easily.

Mallingfox, its unrealistic to say the position we are in is all Svens fault, however it does annoy me that certain LCFC fans are so short sighted as to point the finger at Pearson after 7 games in charge and say that Sven was doing better. Spending nearly 14 million pounds and never getting into the top 6 isn't doing better. Pearson hasn't spent anywhere near that at both stints here.

Lets be realistic, the problems at LCFC started when Pearson was shown the door, and that decision is still affecting us. If you think that seems like a bizarre comment, consider the trainwreck following his departure and the knock on effects-

Paulo Sousa- Takes a solid team that finished in the play offs and tries to change their style of play completely. Together with Mandaric, brings in utter dross such as Moreno and Michael Lamey and turns one of the tightest defences in the league into a team shipping over 2 goals a game.

Sven- Has to come in a quarter of the way through the season to mop up the mess. Initially does well, but bizarrely oversees the sale of some of the players who helped us achieve a play off spot in the championship. Hobbs and Fryatt go to Hull where they have both done well, while understandably Morenos dead wood has to be cleared out. This leaves us with a very short squad, which Sven fills to some effect with some great loan signings.

The following season, with all the loanees returning, we are left with a squad no longer good enough for promotion so gaps have to be filled. In truth, we could have done with 5 or 6 quality signings, rather than about 20! Some money is well spent (nugent, schmeichel, peltier), some is thrown away- Mills for 5.5 million (not worth that much), Beckford for 3, St. Ledger, Danns, Johnson, Ball (and i'm including wages for frees and loanees).

Spending this amount of money will bring huge pressure to the club. Thats fine if you are bringing in the likes of Nolan, Carew and Matt Taylor, but Sven assembled a totally unbalanced side and didnt address the defence which has never been right since Pearson left.

Nigel has now got a very difficult job on his hands. We probably would be higher up in the table if Sven had stayed but I do not think, based upon some of the awful performances under his tenure (3-0 at home to Millwall was unbelievable) we would be top 6.

When we were spanked by Millwall at home, Sven had his players write down on a bit of paper what they thought was going wrong. That tells you he was out of ideas. Nigel is simply trying to right the many wrongs that have happened since he left, so lets get behind him

It shows what disarray the team is in when we all have different views on who's playing well and who's not etc etc....

I do believe that Sven has left some very ordinary players on big wages and big egos but we do have to move on.

It's just so disappointing watching them scrapping for draws at home to teams who are at best average or maybe that's the problem...we overate ourselves.

They say the bookies never get it wrong....They have this time.

Black Starr - Spot on with all your comments!
Happy New Year to ALL Leicester City supporters.

I really can't understand your assessment, Merseyside. Abe had a very good game today, much better than either Wellens or King.

What is beginning to bug me, Blackstarr, is the reluctance of certain LCFC fans to lay any of the blame for the mess we are in at Pearsons' door. For me, he is taking us rapidly backwards.

Sousa was indeed a disaster, but with signings like Nugent, Schmeichel, Peltier, Mills, Beckford, St. Ledger, Danns and maybe Johnson, Sven upgraded the squad very considerably, secured wins against the likes of Southampton and Derby which are now beyond our wildest dreams - and to my mind he was close to getting the squad to gel. There were certainly one or two low-points, but I am pretty confident we would be higher up the table today if the owners had not been panicked by the the Millwall fiasco (which I attended, dammit).

I wish I could believe Pearson would ever have the humility to ask the players what they think is going wrong. Instead, I don't doubt that he believes that he is simply trying to put right mistakes committed in his absence.

Yes of course, let's get behind him, and cross our fingers. But let's not kid ourselves that he is an undiscovered genius.

I have to bow down to common concensus, most people believe Abe had a good game today. I'm
confused as to why but accept if so many others think so then you must all be wrong!!!!

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