PFKAKTF FOX
Well-Known Member
After saturday, we will be officially halfway through the 2005/06 season, as it currently stands Leicester sit in 19th place, 5 points off a relegation place although with a game in hand, a tricky away trip to Plymouth. Whilst pre season hopes of promotion and play off challenges were viewed as optimistic, there was a determination to a show a marked improvement on last seasons 15th placed finish. So has this season been progress or abject failure ?
The quality of football and entertainment IMO has been on the whole an improvement on last season, without doubt the highlight being the 4 - 2 demolition of promotion hopefuls Sheffield United.
The big problem of this season and the throughout the tenure of Craig Levein has been the inconsistency of results, and the continued failure to summount any sort of unbeaten or winning run required to mount a sustained top half challenge. Is this down to the players or is it down to the manager and his backroom staff ?
The inconsistency as been levelled at the high turnover of players and that the new team needs time to gel, an accepted argument but after over 4 months and 22 league matches I yet remained convinced as to whether Levein really knows his strongest line up, there remains serious doubts over 3 or 4 positions, left back, right midfield and left midfield, should Ryan Smith return to Arsenal, also through Levein's fruitless efforts to resolve the problematic left back berth it has led to tinkering of the right back position as well. Whilst it does take time for a new team to gel, IMO by now we should, injuries and suspensions permitting, be selecting a settled and clearly defined strongest starting XI. This has IMO played a significant role in our inconsistent performances and results, I would like to see Craig make a decision as to who starts at left back and stick with it through to the opening of the transfer window, at least then it will provide some stability and allow relationships to be forged, there has been too much chopping and changing.
We have the 5th highest budget in the division, does this mean we should be challenging for a promotion place ? Not necessarily, CL has had a monumental job in reducing the budget, yet still building a side capable of mounting a serious challenge for promotion if not this season but certainly next, he has also had to do this with the added designate of building some solid foundations for the future, longer term contracts for the younger players and also to improve the academy and the progression of some of the better prospects. This is one area where Levein has excelled we have a young, vibrant squad, but as yet havent managed to fulfill the obvious potential, whether this squad of players will be capable of stepping up to the next level and being involved in the promotion shake up, only time will tell.
Finally the actual results, definately not good enough, too inconsistent, although that could be down to inexperience and the new team gelling, but what I do know and what we must all be expecting is an improvement and upturn in results in the second half of the season, if Levein is true to his word then this is the time with this current squad and some possible additions in the January transfer window that this squad and management team really start to kick on and build some momentum ready for what should be a season where potential is fulfilled in 2006 / 2007.
IMO we are possibly 3 - 6 points and 4 or 5 places below expectations at this point, but the recent performances if not results have certainly given cause for optimism and if we can bring in 3 or 4 decent players to fill the problem positions then we can look forward to the new year.
The next 6 months will be critical time in Leicester City and Craig Levein's future, if we can start to build on the foundations currently being built then it will look very bright for both parties, if we cannot and we continue to show the same level of inconsistency then I can see a parting of the ways in the summer of not only the manager but also a number of the better players at our club. The next 6 months and our final position come May 2006 will be a watershed for our club, lets hope that it is the beginning of a bright new future.
The quality of football and entertainment IMO has been on the whole an improvement on last season, without doubt the highlight being the 4 - 2 demolition of promotion hopefuls Sheffield United.
The big problem of this season and the throughout the tenure of Craig Levein has been the inconsistency of results, and the continued failure to summount any sort of unbeaten or winning run required to mount a sustained top half challenge. Is this down to the players or is it down to the manager and his backroom staff ?
The inconsistency as been levelled at the high turnover of players and that the new team needs time to gel, an accepted argument but after over 4 months and 22 league matches I yet remained convinced as to whether Levein really knows his strongest line up, there remains serious doubts over 3 or 4 positions, left back, right midfield and left midfield, should Ryan Smith return to Arsenal, also through Levein's fruitless efforts to resolve the problematic left back berth it has led to tinkering of the right back position as well. Whilst it does take time for a new team to gel, IMO by now we should, injuries and suspensions permitting, be selecting a settled and clearly defined strongest starting XI. This has IMO played a significant role in our inconsistent performances and results, I would like to see Craig make a decision as to who starts at left back and stick with it through to the opening of the transfer window, at least then it will provide some stability and allow relationships to be forged, there has been too much chopping and changing.
We have the 5th highest budget in the division, does this mean we should be challenging for a promotion place ? Not necessarily, CL has had a monumental job in reducing the budget, yet still building a side capable of mounting a serious challenge for promotion if not this season but certainly next, he has also had to do this with the added designate of building some solid foundations for the future, longer term contracts for the younger players and also to improve the academy and the progression of some of the better prospects. This is one area where Levein has excelled we have a young, vibrant squad, but as yet havent managed to fulfill the obvious potential, whether this squad of players will be capable of stepping up to the next level and being involved in the promotion shake up, only time will tell.
Finally the actual results, definately not good enough, too inconsistent, although that could be down to inexperience and the new team gelling, but what I do know and what we must all be expecting is an improvement and upturn in results in the second half of the season, if Levein is true to his word then this is the time with this current squad and some possible additions in the January transfer window that this squad and management team really start to kick on and build some momentum ready for what should be a season where potential is fulfilled in 2006 / 2007.
IMO we are possibly 3 - 6 points and 4 or 5 places below expectations at this point, but the recent performances if not results have certainly given cause for optimism and if we can bring in 3 or 4 decent players to fill the problem positions then we can look forward to the new year.
The next 6 months will be critical time in Leicester City and Craig Levein's future, if we can start to build on the foundations currently being built then it will look very bright for both parties, if we cannot and we continue to show the same level of inconsistency then I can see a parting of the ways in the summer of not only the manager but also a number of the better players at our club. The next 6 months and our final position come May 2006 will be a watershed for our club, lets hope that it is the beginning of a bright new future.
