What has befallen Leicester City is a painful sequence of events that fans at other clubs beware: a naïve owner; a succession of bad decisions; stars sold; overpaid under-performing players; sluggish football; managerial churn; disconnect between fans and board and fans and team; a controversial director of football; and the tyranny of excessive, unsustainable wages leading to PSR woes.
Six years ago City were flying high in the Premier League and looking certs for the Champions League. Then COVID struck, the squad were badly underprepared for the restart (cheers Brendan) and ended up outside the top four on the final day. When a similar collapse occurred the following season serious questions should have been asked of the management. Instead, a long awaited (albeit highly fortuitous) FA Cup success was allowed to paper over serious weaknesses that were already evident.
Meanwhile, despite the lack of Champions League revenue the club invested vast sums in the Seagrave training complex. Nearer to Nottingham than Leicester, the venue is a powerful symbol - both geographically and emotionally - of the current gulf between the club and its fanbase, especially as it has yet to deliver the benefits that were promised when it opened. Indeed, its running costs have been a significant factor in our ongoing financial woes.
When the manager turned toxic during his third season, most notably during an ill-advised player-bashing outburst following a painful defeat at Forest, the club had the chance to act. Instead, it persisted for another 14 months, while key players Wesley Fofana and Kasper Schmeichel moved on and were not adequately replaced. The owner's recent admission that he didn't see relegation coming in 2022-23, despite a start which saw 6 defeats in the first 7 games, is a reminder of how easily key figures at City became detached from reality.
Enzo Maresca's search for a convenient stepping-stone to launch his English managerial career coincided nicely with City's search for an inspirational figure to revive their fortunes. For a while, Maresca brought belief back to the club and city. But as opponents started to counter his one-dimensional approach, tensions resurfaced and only nerves elsewhere enabled City to clinch promotion and a league title.
Chelsea's swoop for both Maresca and key midfielder Kieran Dewsbury-Hall resolved dilemmas that certain parties may have faced. However, it also created vacuums on and off the field that have never been properly filled since.
Although Steve Cooper's arrival was accompanied by a sizeable transfer budget, the players recruited were conspicuously unable to meet the challenges that faced them. Cooper also fell foul of a volatile dressing room and was replaced by Ruud Van Nistelrooy after barely three months of the season, only for the Dutchman to join the long list of underachievers from the Manchester United school of management.
Enter Marti Cifuentes, a journeyman with a modest managerial record in various countries that aroused scepticism from the start. A series of deeply disappointing displays, culminating in the terminal home defeat by lowly Oxford, did absolutely nothing to dispel such sentiments.
The five years since Leicester's Wembley triumph seems like a generation ago. It's hard to see the toxic clouds currently engulfing both Seagrave and the King Power Stadium being dispelled any time soon.
The trouble with Winks and to a lesser extent Skipp, is that with Lloris, Rose, Walker/Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier, Alli, Kane, Son, Eriksen and most importantly Dembele as fellow squad members, he looked a world beater and got England caps as a result. You or I would have looked good in that company - and I was a keeper!
Pleased you did an article on Leicester as I know you are around that area. It’s been a sad decline for this club. So many mistakes in all areas of the club. Rudkin seems to get a lot of stick. Not a popular figure. Some of the recruitment I have to say since they won the league has been shocking. So much droid bough for high fees and high wages. I mean Harry Winks!!! You forget he is there. What a disaster buy he has been. Shoes you his ambition to when he doesn’t even live in area and just wants to take his big wages. Just what you want. Poor manager choices to. It all adds ups to a club not being in great shape. Still not replaced Vardy up top. Fatawu is a plus. Scores some quality goals. Great training ground as you said. They are not a million miles away from the playoffs if they go on a run. So the job will be attractive but points deduction looks a certainty. That will set them back. Need to sort themselves out in all areas and get the club going again and the fans done more belief. Next manager choices will be interesting.
thanks John, it's been allowed to drift, sadly. some local businessmen would love to buy but the cost would be too much and no sign of Top selling anyway.
Six years ago City were flying high in the Premier League and looking certs for the Champions League. Then COVID struck, the squad were badly underprepared for the restart (cheers Brendan) and ended up outside the top four on the final day. When a similar collapse occurred the following season serious questions should have been asked of the management. Instead, a long awaited (albeit highly fortuitous) FA Cup success was allowed to paper over serious weaknesses that were already evident.
Meanwhile, despite the lack of Champions League revenue the club invested vast sums in the Seagrave training complex. Nearer to Nottingham than Leicester, the venue is a powerful symbol - both geographically and emotionally - of the current gulf between the club and its fanbase, especially as it has yet to deliver the benefits that were promised when it opened. Indeed, its running costs have been a significant factor in our ongoing financial woes.
When the manager turned toxic during his third season, most notably during an ill-advised player-bashing outburst following a painful defeat at Forest, the club had the chance to act. Instead, it persisted for another 14 months, while key players Wesley Fofana and Kasper Schmeichel moved on and were not adequately replaced. The owner's recent admission that he didn't see relegation coming in 2022-23, despite a start which saw 6 defeats in the first 7 games, is a reminder of how easily key figures at City became detached from reality.
Enzo Maresca's search for a convenient stepping-stone to launch his English managerial career coincided nicely with City's search for an inspirational figure to revive their fortunes. For a while, Maresca brought belief back to the club and city. But as opponents started to counter his one-dimensional approach, tensions resurfaced and only nerves elsewhere enabled City to clinch promotion and a league title.
Chelsea's swoop for both Maresca and key midfielder Kieran Dewsbury-Hall resolved dilemmas that certain parties may have faced. However, it also created vacuums on and off the field that have never been properly filled since.
Although Steve Cooper's arrival was accompanied by a sizeable transfer budget, the players recruited were conspicuously unable to meet the challenges that faced them. Cooper also fell foul of a volatile dressing room and was replaced by Ruud Van Nistelrooy after barely three months of the season, only for the Dutchman to join the long list of underachievers from the Manchester United school of management.
Enter Marti Cifuentes, a journeyman with a modest managerial record in various countries that aroused scepticism from the start. A series of deeply disappointing displays, culminating in the terminal home defeat by lowly Oxford, did absolutely nothing to dispel such sentiments.
The five years since Leicester's Wembley triumph seems like a generation ago. It's hard to see the toxic clouds currently engulfing both Seagrave and the King Power Stadium being dispelled any time soon.
The trouble with Winks and to a lesser extent Skipp, is that with Lloris, Rose, Walker/Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier, Alli, Kane, Son, Eriksen and most importantly Dembele as fellow squad members, he looked a world beater and got England caps as a result. You or I would have looked good in that company - and I was a keeper!
It’s a mess at Leicester. Winks has the ability to help more.
Pleased you did an article on Leicester as I know you are around that area. It’s been a sad decline for this club. So many mistakes in all areas of the club. Rudkin seems to get a lot of stick. Not a popular figure. Some of the recruitment I have to say since they won the league has been shocking. So much droid bough for high fees and high wages. I mean Harry Winks!!! You forget he is there. What a disaster buy he has been. Shoes you his ambition to when he doesn’t even live in area and just wants to take his big wages. Just what you want. Poor manager choices to. It all adds ups to a club not being in great shape. Still not replaced Vardy up top. Fatawu is a plus. Scores some quality goals. Great training ground as you said. They are not a million miles away from the playoffs if they go on a run. So the job will be attractive but points deduction looks a certainty. That will set them back. Need to sort themselves out in all areas and get the club going again and the fans done more belief. Next manager choices will be interesting.
thanks John, it's been allowed to drift, sadly. some local businessmen would love to buy but the cost would be too much and no sign of Top selling anyway.
Jordan James looks a fantastic player…but alas he’s a loanee.
just Leicester's luck atm. agreed, does look good,