It's over. That may sound defeatist but only the most hopelessly arro minded Leicester fans would really think otherwise. We've seen this too many times before and if we are honest, we all know he hallmarks of a relegated side having seen this club yo-yo up and down the divisions.
If last season was a perfect storm for everything falling into place, this season is the perfect storm for everything falling out of place. There's a lot of discussions around changing the starting line up, changing the formations etc. The reality is, it's too late. Not that we shouldn't try something of course, but our fate is the consequence of a lot of things both on and off the pitch which will take a season or so to fix.
It starts from the top. Misplaced trust in Jon Rudkin has to be he owners biggest mistake. Owners who have been terrific financially for the club but have shown that they need footballing people to advise them. There are none. The title wasn't built by Ranieri. It was built by Walsh, Pearson and Shakespeare along with a lot of work behind the scenes which has been dismantled under Ranieri and Rudkins watch.
I'm talking about player fitness levels dropping. Sports science teams that Pearson put in place being given the boot. The ridiculous appointment of Eduardo Macia as head of recruitment. The pursuit of Serie A signings by Ranieris henchmen at the club. The falling out behind the seasons between manager and coaching staff. The disconnect with the players.
In a moment of footballing suicide, Vichai decided last week that the players needed to understand that Ranieri isn't going anywhere. The problem is, they don't believe in him. Perhaps they are wrong to not believe in him. Perhaps they are disrespectful. It doesn't matter, history tells us that when players lose their faith in the manager, the result is always the same.
Rudkins incompetence as DoF has ensured there are no decent back up options for Ranieri. How on earth are Benny and Amartey supposed to take on some of the premier leagues finest having never played together? It's too late for a club that had everything and managed to throw it away.
The debate of whose fault it is largely doesn't matter anymore. Blame he players. Blame Ranieri. Blame Rudkin. They all have a part to play but the buck stops with the owners who must now be realising that the people who built he foundations for success at the club have been let go, cheaply in some cases.
It is now time to think about the future. That doesn't mean giving up, but salvaging what's left and building again. That can't happen under Ranieri, Rudkin and Macia. The exodus of players will be significant. We now need to think about who can rebuild the club once again
The Rise and Fall of Leicester City
posted on 13/2/17
Is this a cross between Blind Date and WWE or something?
posted on 13/2/17
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posted on 13/2/17
So basically this is a potential fight between two midgets, one of which has done some cross fit? I'm well up for this
posted on 13/2/17
It could be interesting to see what happens when they swing a left hoot and smack their opponent in the face and not the kneecaps.
posted on 13/2/17
I predict Wague will be the saviour of Leicester. He will come on to our back line and dominate, helping us shore up and gain clean sheets.
His composure and passing ability will unlock our midfield creativity and stop the hopeless long balls, and get us scoring again.
His prowess in the air will also mean he finishes top scorer with 12, including a hat trick against Man City.
Can't believe you doubters.
posted on 13/2/17
I'll have what you're smoking.
posted on 13/2/17
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posted on 13/2/17
BS - I appreciate I was criticised a lot for claiming Pearson and his regime deserved a lot of credit for our title win, but I also don't believe you can suggests Ranieri wasn't also worthy of huge credit and praise.
Ranieri did an amazing job last year. There's no denying it's falling apart now, and I don't like the noises of dismantling the sports science department if this is genuinely happening (surely not).
However whatever you think of that, Ranieri did an incredible job of building on the success of Learson previously, adding tactical brilliance and taking us to our greatest ever moment as a football club.
For that, he will always be a legend.
It's a shame what is happening this year, but many people have made mistakes. There is a collective responsibility.
What does seem apparent is there looks to be some things the players aren't happy with. If any of those things are to do with the game prep and sports science, we should change back now. Even if it is just for a placebo psychological impact.
posted on 13/2/17
Time is a pretty good revealer of all things I find Mersey. Was Pearson the saviour True Blue thought him to be? How would he fare without Walsh? We've had a glimpse of that at Derby
How much of an impact did Ranieri really have last season? Well I think we are beginning to see that now. That's not to discredit his astute decision making or how he deflected pressure away from the players - but that guy won the lottery when he got this job
He walked into something amazing. A collective team in Pearson, Walsh and Shakespeare that had build something special right from the foundations of sports science, physical training, psychology to the very core of the squad, how they trained, their self belief, everything.
Ranieri took it and managed it well. But it was a team that picked itself. Now his real test has come and he blatantantly not up to it. He showing exactly why he never won anything anywhere and exactly why he had Greece in such a mess.
The guy stumbled onto something brilliant here and made the most of it. Credit to him, but time is I think revealing a bigger and more concerning story about Ranieri
posted on 13/2/17
DDDD, I'm not trying to lay any blame at Macíà's or anyone else's door, I just find his appointment puzzling because of the circumstances surrounding his previous stint at Betis.
I really don't know much about Macià, but his Wikipedia page is pretty amusing. It's surprisingly detailed, rather cringey and reads more like the CV-type self-promotion material people include in their LinkedIn profiles.
I wonder if arro wrote it.