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Sousa under-pressure
Friday, 27/08/2010
by Shoot's Leicester blogger, Alex Malpass.
Apologies for the lack of updates for Leicester City. Have I been on holiday? No. Have I been in hospital? No. Have I been too busy? No. The reason I’ve not written one is because I was in utter shock at the performances and results from us and it’s only now that I have managed to snap out of my trance and launch a scathing attack on the club.
I am at a loss as to why our chairman decided that finishing fifth in the first season back in the Championship wasn’t good enough and that we should engineer the departure of our manager so he could bring in Paulo Sousa to boost the chances of selling us.
Mandaric’s plan has worked out, he’s sold us to a Thai consortium. Yet, in reality, our team is a shambles and our manager seems to be incapable of rectifying it.
Our defence was superb last season, keeping 18 clean sheet. Fast forward a few months and we have already shipped 10 goals in our first five games including three against a League Two outfit at home. What makes it even worse is that Sousa is supposed to be a defensive minded manager who can organize his team to defend resolutely, hilarious.
We have invited DJ Campbell back in to the fold, dropping star man Matty Fryatt in the process. Putting in a player that has openly abused the club's fans, replacing a forward who has scored almost 50 goals in the last two seasons, it a mistake.
Talking of Fryatt, our coaching staff have decided to change the boots he wears. Not because they are pink or look like diving flippers, but because of the special inner soles he wears to protect the ankle complaint he has suffered with for several years.
Fryatt has now picked up an injury because of this and as a result he’ll be sporting his old boots again when he’s back fully fit. Clueless or what?!
Fitness is another concern from the Leicester fans, we have already picked up several serious injuries to key players such as Manuel Vitor, Paul Gallagher and Chris Weale. I
It’s common knowledge that Sousa believes in a different approach to training than other managers in this division, where a high level of fitness is often the key ingredient to success. I hope he learnt from him mistakes at Swansea last season where their final few games cost them a play-off place. I am yet to be convinced.
My final worries relate to our transfer activity. Mr Sousa seems to lack confidence in his knowledge of domestic players, as he has so far only signed players from overseas. In this division, signing often unknown foreign players is very risky, which we have already seen with flops like Hossein Kaebi, Jimmy Neilson and Yann Kermorgant.
Now that the club supposedly has a significant transfer budget under the Thai investment, it’s a massive concern that Sousa is going to be let loose with it and it be frittered away.
Having said all of this, I can’t see ‘The Special One Mark II’ being relieved of his duties anytime soon, so our fans must get behind him and the players.
It’s likely to be under blind faith than optimism, but either way we need to be loud and proud on Saturday against Reading. If we can get three points and our first league win under our belts, then all of my above drivel could be rendered irrelevant for the sake of everyone’s sanity!
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Total comments: 7
bootiful
Monday, 13/09/2010
Of course, even though we all want the same thing for our team to do well, there will always be differences of opinion. A good debate is fine and we will have to agree to disagree on the subjects of Milan and Pearson, but what I dont appreciate is being told to ‘shut my cakehole’.
On the subject of Sousa, being a double Champions League winner doesnt guarantee being a successful manager. Many great players have failed to make the grade as managers. Im not slagging Sousa as I really want him to do well - we dont want a revolving door for the managers again as we had before Pearson came.
We played some of the best football of the season so far at Coventry but it was very noticeable that apart from the keeper, not one of Sousa’s signings played a part in the game. Bring on Cardiff and Warnock.
big bill
Wednesday, 08/09/2010
LOOK mr. bootiful, if there wasn’t any disagreement there would be no debate…MM is a failure? sousa is a failure? pearson a saint….ok that’s a point of view, (not one i subscribe to)..I think Sousa IS a class act..given time….double champions league winner as a player…pearson won nowt as a player…you must agree the guy is intelligent?he is trying to bring in a style that will not only get us up but keep us up…I have nothing against pearson,I just think his style of play will get you up but not keep you up…the premier league has moved on, we will need overseas players that’s a fact, not enough home grown to go around, a shame but true…I think sousa is better placed to get overseas players in and manage them,he commands respect on the world stage, sorry but pearson doesn’t. pearson did good for us,no doubt ,but we did good for him…move on…. and up..we hope…
bootiful
Tuesday, 07/09/2010
well thanks big bill for your comments! as an L1 season ticket holder who has seen the good and bad times I will criticise whoever I like! so because pearson didn’t say an ‘official’ goodbye we cant appreciate what he did for our club! you’re in a minority on your opinions of pearson.
we had milan with his failed 3 year premiership plan & now we have sousa with his 2 year premiership guarantee! of course its early days but I cant see what evidence there is to say sousa is a class act. upon what do you base this judgement? I will get behind the team and the manager as I always do but if we don’t start showing signs of improvement over the coming months then his position needs to be reviewed
big bill
Tuesday, 07/09/2010
when it is said, sousa’s bad start needs to be “addressed” what does that mean? the sack? or what? as for pearson being a “legend”... legends must come cheap these days…win div 3, finish fifth in div 2…the stuff of legend…don’t think so….I think some people are very ungrateful..ask any business expert, no businessman goes into football with the expectation of “making a packet”. milan is 71, been in football all his life…he has enough money not to bother (and with some comments i read, i don’t know why he does). Did Pearson say thanks and goodbye to the fans? NO…he couldn’t be BOTHERED…some decisions may make “no sense” to you, you don’t have all the facts ,and its not YOUR money…. just keep knocking, that will help no end..
The Walsh
Tuesday, 07/09/2010
Billy, Pearson did a fantastic job or have you been inside for the last couple of years?
Why or how could he say bye when he was pushed out pre season? Come on do the math!
Also for Milan, pretty sure there would be a Leicester City if not for him. If you remember rightly it was Milan’s pledge to get us into the Premier League within 3 years. We got relegated! He is a business man and not that bothered about Leicester just cash.
I agree we need to be talking about this in maybe a few months but do still think it’s safe to say Sousa is having a mare of a start and think it should be addressed and not all sit back saying it’s early days.
Up the Foxes!
big bill
Friday, 27/08/2010
why the nostalgia for the great pearson?
the man never even thanked or said goodbye to the fans….as for the knocking of milan…well
some people have got short memories….if it wasn’t for he, there would be no lcfc for you to moan about…..if you can’t see sousa is a class act,you no nothing about the game…give him a chance…he will get it right….the club isn’t perfect..god knows…..but we could be doing a lot worse…so if you have nothing positive to contribute, with respect, shut your cakehole…(at least till the end of the season).....
bootiful
Friday, 27/08/2010
I would have to agree with everything that has been said here. Milan has made numerous errors since taking over our club and although he says he loves the club and the fans the decisions he takes makes absolutely no sense. A man not to be trusted. Whereas Pearson is a legend for what he has done for our club over the last 2 seasons.