Dunc
New Member
I've avoided posting in response to the usual over reaction to win/defeat that happens on this forum each week at the moment but thought I'd make a point now the dust has settled somewhat.
I know its not great at the moment, lets make no bones about it but I actually like what CL is doing with the club at all levels. He appears to be happy with what he knows (good and bad) about the 1st team squad and doesn't see the point in them playing for the reserves unless they are returning from injury or haven't played for the first team for a few weeks.
Instead he is bringing a very young team through some tough games against strong reserve teams with what appears to be a plan to fast track the players that stand up for the ressies into the 1st team squad over the season. (Sheehan, Stearman, Weslowski etc)
What I think some people haven't picked up is that our squad has a very young average age and CL seems to be building for the future. This isn't going to happen over the next 3-4 months, but over the next 6-12 and into the next few years. Look at our Academy team now, most have a load of reserve team experience and the results against their own age group now are extremely promising.
The people that post "play off contenders" on a saturday and then "relegation fodder" on a tuesday really need to see this and back CL cause its the first time in 20 years that I can think of 3-4 regulars of the 1st team squad being through the academy with another 3-4 coming through and with an emphasis on youth throughout the club. (Chambers, Dodds, Muggleton, Magunda all highly promising).
If CL goes because the 'fickle boneheads' aren't happy we are probably around 15-12th for the next few months then a new manager will come in and break this foundation that is being created.
Before people say this is like wanting to stick with MA last season, its nothing like MA because there was no foundations put into place by him, instead it was a squad full of players aged 30+ with no apparent plan in place for the future, whether we got promoted or not.
I think the majority of City fans are now coming to the realisation Leicester City FC are (as far as history goes) a decent 1st Division team or a poor Premiership team on average. We punched above our weight because of a one off who was our manager (much like Forest) but lets not do what they did after he'd gone, lets stick with a manager who appears to be building for the future, get behind a young team who are going to improve and stop over reacting to every result that happens.
In my opinion (and I did say this at the start of the season) - expect a finish between 8-12th this year with a push onto better things next year (i'd expect top 6).
People who are questioning the budget for next year because of the parachute payments ending, I would find it hard to imagine that players are being signed on 3 yr deals with a budget only allowing to pay them for 12 months.
As far as I can see, we have a new team (again) but it is one built for the future and one that will only improve with time and a few further additions over the next 12 months. We will have a number of local lads brought into the squad as well who will have had a season of regular and competitive reserve team football and given time next season could be a very successful one.
UP THE CITY!
I know its not great at the moment, lets make no bones about it but I actually like what CL is doing with the club at all levels. He appears to be happy with what he knows (good and bad) about the 1st team squad and doesn't see the point in them playing for the reserves unless they are returning from injury or haven't played for the first team for a few weeks.
Instead he is bringing a very young team through some tough games against strong reserve teams with what appears to be a plan to fast track the players that stand up for the ressies into the 1st team squad over the season. (Sheehan, Stearman, Weslowski etc)
What I think some people haven't picked up is that our squad has a very young average age and CL seems to be building for the future. This isn't going to happen over the next 3-4 months, but over the next 6-12 and into the next few years. Look at our Academy team now, most have a load of reserve team experience and the results against their own age group now are extremely promising.
The people that post "play off contenders" on a saturday and then "relegation fodder" on a tuesday really need to see this and back CL cause its the first time in 20 years that I can think of 3-4 regulars of the 1st team squad being through the academy with another 3-4 coming through and with an emphasis on youth throughout the club. (Chambers, Dodds, Muggleton, Magunda all highly promising).
If CL goes because the 'fickle boneheads' aren't happy we are probably around 15-12th for the next few months then a new manager will come in and break this foundation that is being created.
Before people say this is like wanting to stick with MA last season, its nothing like MA because there was no foundations put into place by him, instead it was a squad full of players aged 30+ with no apparent plan in place for the future, whether we got promoted or not.
I think the majority of City fans are now coming to the realisation Leicester City FC are (as far as history goes) a decent 1st Division team or a poor Premiership team on average. We punched above our weight because of a one off who was our manager (much like Forest) but lets not do what they did after he'd gone, lets stick with a manager who appears to be building for the future, get behind a young team who are going to improve and stop over reacting to every result that happens.
In my opinion (and I did say this at the start of the season) - expect a finish between 8-12th this year with a push onto better things next year (i'd expect top 6).
People who are questioning the budget for next year because of the parachute payments ending, I would find it hard to imagine that players are being signed on 3 yr deals with a budget only allowing to pay them for 12 months.
As far as I can see, we have a new team (again) but it is one built for the future and one that will only improve with time and a few further additions over the next 12 months. We will have a number of local lads brought into the squad as well who will have had a season of regular and competitive reserve team football and given time next season could be a very successful one.
UP THE CITY!
