It was a resounding 'yes' to the question of whether Paulo Sousa's time is up as Foxes boss, according to a poll conducted over the last week. A huge 87% of responses reckoned Sousa has run out of time to turn-around the fortunes of struggling Leicester City, who languish at the bottom of the Championship with just one point to their name.
The Portuguese remains confident, however, that his team can turn it around - and that his job as manager remains secure.
"I have spoken to the new owners and the best way to turn this around is to stick together and be strong," he told the BBC, "We feel we have the quality - I feel we have the right spirit and attitude but we need to keep positive and keep working."
Speaking after the Foxes' exciting defeat to Norwich, he added: "There is a lot of quality in the team and there was also a lot of spirit out there. To turn things around we need that good attitude and you saw it for a large part of the game, if we can carry on like that we will have a good chance of turning it around."
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Conclusions from Carrow Road
Norwich City | 4-3 | Leicester |
(HT 1-1) | ||
Crofts 32 Hoolahan 53 Drury 63 Hoolahan 74 | Waghorn 2 Fryatt 65 Fryatt 78 Fryatt off 78 |
- We need to stick with our best players. Our best players who are seemingly always left on the bench - Abe, Fryatt, Gallagher - seem to be the ones that make a difference. We need to stick with them or it will cost us this season.
- Taking chances is crucial. Hitting the bar, being offside and good old not-being-clinical-enough were all reasons we have failed to score. Silly mistakes will be Leicester's downfall.
- Statistics lie. Leicester were, on paper, pummelled into submission by Norwich tonight. 61:31% possession, 18:10 attempts... But you'd never have thought it by listening to Stringer's relentless commentary on BBC Leicester, nor from the pace of the game being played. This was a classic game of football, with drama, suspense and excitement in all the right quantities.
Winners
Michael Morrison
After Friday's disastrous performance it would have been easy for Morrison to have been dropped in favour of, well, anyone else. But through idiocy or genius Sousa decided Morrison deserved to keep his place and what a good decision that was. A first class performance from the 22-year-old.
Martyn Waghorn
His first goal for the Foxes since April and that alone puts him firmly in the winners. Why this is a controversial choice, however, is that for much of the game he was once again ineffective on that right wing. What his goal proves is that if he were to be picked as an out-and-out striker, he might have a chance of scoring a few more. Certainly, now his duck is broken, he should kick-on and get lots more before the season is out.
Matt Fryatt
About time he bagged fifty league goals for Leicester! His cameo gave Leicester a lifeline tonight, he made a real impact on the game and proved to be the difference when he came on. What happened in the goal was unforgivable and stupid, however, and cost him what could have been a glorious, heaven-sent hat-trick.
Martyn Waghorn
His first goal for the Foxes since April and that alone puts him firmly in the winners. Why this is a controversial choice, however, is that for much of the game he was once again ineffective on that right wing. What his goal proves is that if he were to be picked as an out-and-out striker, he might have a chance of scoring a few more. Certainly, now his duck is broken, he should kick-on and get lots more before the season is out.
Matt Fryatt
About time he bagged fifty league goals for Leicester! His cameo gave Leicester a lifeline tonight, he made a real impact on the game and proved to be the difference when he came on. What happened in the goal was unforgivable and stupid, however, and cost him what could have been a glorious, heaven-sent hat-trick.
Losers
Matt Fryatt
He got himself sent-off for something petty and stupid and he should be disappointed in his conduct, whatever his impact on the game. Leicester could probably have won with him on the pitch for the last fifteen minutes.
Matt Fryatt
He got himself sent-off for something petty and stupid and he should be disappointed in his conduct, whatever his impact on the game. Leicester could probably have won with him on the pitch for the last fifteen minutes.
Tom Kennedy
Was it a penalty? Probably not. But he did put himself in a situation where the ball appeared to strike his hand and, in the penalty area, the benefit of the doubt is apparently never given - if you're a defender in blue, at least.
Mr P. Walton (N'hants)
Was it a penalty? Probably not. But he did put himself in a situation where the ball appeared to strike his hand and, in the penalty area, the benefit of the doubt is apparently never given - if you're a defender in blue, at least.
Mr P. Walton (N'hants)
For a Premier League referee this was a pretty dire performance. Sending-off a floored Fryatt for a small kick after he was denied picking-up the ball out of the net and then, seconds later, allowing a karate kick to Lamey's chest to go unpunished is very poor. The penalty was debatable, he hesitated in giving Leicester's second goal... Another bad refereeing performance, about the fourth the Foxes have encountered this season.
Alan Young
He's still a curse.
Alan Young
He's still a curse.
Categories:
conclusions
Friday, 24 September 2010
Conclusions from Fratton Park
Portsmouth | 6-1 | Leicester |
(HT 2-0) | ||
| Lawrence (pen) 10 Lawrence 33 Nugent 58 Kitson 59 Kitson 83 Brown 90+1 | Howard 71 |
- Luck is not on our side. King had another perfectly legal goal disallowed, Vitor was sent off for what was if not fine challenge then a legal one and the referee was out to kill the game. That said, however...
- We are not clinical enough. Waghorn was meant to be the saviour, but he apparently can't hit a barn door. Fryatt is clearly off pace, disgruntled at the new regime or both. Howard, however much he brings to the team, is not an out-and-out goalscorer. A midfielder is our top scorer and, great as Andy King is, it should be a front man firing us to victory. Sousa failed to deliver one in the transfer window.
- We lack direction. Our performances are all over the shop, from a great victory on Tuesday night to a completely dire defeat tonight. We were fantastic against Cardiff, and against Leeds, but against QPR and Reading we made poor mistakes borne of a lack of confidence. A win should spur us on to a high, but it just doesn't seem to be so.
- We miss Nigel Pearson. Awful as it is to admit it, but Pearson's departure was the disaster we knew it would be - and Sousa's appointment, for whatever reason, has simply not worked. It can't be long before it's time for him to go.
Winners
Milan Mandaric
Who can blame him if he leaves the club now? There were points in the game where Pompey fans were chanting his name in sheer adulation: and he responded with a wave. If Portsmouth is where Mandaric's heart truly lies, nobody can blame him for going back there where he is revered as a man and can see results on the pitch. As Ian Stringer said: "Milan is in the directors' box and he has a wry little smile on his face".
Lloyd Dyer
Another performance proving what a quality player he really is. Does everyone for pace and played all the right balls - again - but Waghorn's anonymity meant they never really had much impact.
Losers
Paulo Sousa
Laughing in the face of adversity? Or laughing at the farce he's created on a how-many-figure salary. He was spotted by the TV cameras giggling at 4-0 down and that is simply not the way a professional football manager should react to that situation. He also failed utterly to show any sense of anger, remorse or frustration in the way the game went in his interview. He was "proud" of the way the team responded. If he's proud of a thumping from the worst side in the league, he must go fast. His tactics tonight were woeful, there were clear issues with his team selection and, above all, we are bottom of the league and there are more than a few games gone now. C'mon, it's October next week and we've won just one game. How long ago does Kermorgant's penalty feel now?
Yuki Abe
Poor fella was the best player on the pitch before he was forced off by Sousa's dodgy tactics. He must now be wondering why he bothered with the paperwork.
Conrad Logan
However well Logan played tonight, he was never going to enjoy himself behind a lacklustre defence. He pulled-off some spectacular saves to keep the Foxes in it but any keeper that lets in six goals is never going to be anywhere near first choice.
Michael Morrison
He's had his break playing in his preferred position as centre-half under Sousa and had been doing rather well, in a fans' favourite/first name on the team sheet sort of way. Tonight, he was to blame for at least three of Portsmouth's goals. He was dreadful, appalling... A very off day for him, but he will get over it: he's only 22.
Bruno Berner
What happened to the Bruno of last season? Where is his professionalism? His leadership? His picking-out of a pin-point pass? Looks like he might just have had his day.
Andy King
What does the lad have to do to score? He, again, put in more effort than the rest of the team combined. He, again, had a goal controversially disallowed. He, again, proved that he has blue blood coursing through his veins and will one day be a full-time Leicester City skipper.
Leicester City's Renowned Fighting Spirit
If Leicester City are known for anything, they are known for digging-in, fighting hard and competing for their all. Tonight, that seemed to go somewhat awry. Whether it's Sousa's choices in team selection, his tactics, or his not getting the point across, this isn't the Leicester we know and love.
Alan Young
Surely BBC Leicester won't ask him to do another commentary? The man's a curse!
Categories:
conclusions
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A warm welcome to a new place on the web for Leicester City fans to debate the latest news and views from the Walkers Stadium. Look out for regular features on match days, transfers, backroom moves, coverage and more.
Let's look forward after a disappointing start to the 2010/11 season: Up The Foxes!
Let's look forward after a disappointing start to the 2010/11 season: Up The Foxes!
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