Nigel Pearson countering critics with consistency

Are the Foxes back to winning ways?

Leicester City’s fourth successive Championship victory has come amidst real doubt over the future of Nigel Pearson.  Recent rumours arising that the Raksriaksorns have former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp in line to succeed Pearson have done nothing but bring an air of concern, tension and instability to the King Power Stadium.  Prior to this, suggestions of behind-the-scenes bust-ups between the manager and players who haven’t featured in the side for several weeks (some have gone out on short-term loans) have given critics the impression that Nigel Pearson has lost the dressing room.  In the opening nine games of the season, a fair assessment of Leicester City would be solid, albeit unspectacular.  A lack of consistency has plagued some away performances, but back-to-back wins has the Foxes in the automatic promotion places at the beginning of October.  Two weeks ago, many fans were calling for the manager’s head, claiming that the club were no better off now than they were before Nigel Pearson made his return toward the end of 2011.

The Championship is highly unpredictable.  It would be fair to say that at this point in the season, there are no teams which any objective writer could say are head and shoulders above the rest in the division.  Cardiff City, like Leicester, have won six of their first nine games (impressive, but not a mind-blowing record).  So, why is it that grass always seems greener to Foxes fans?  That the next new manager could win promotion, or the unused substitute is the game-changer?

Nigel Pearson is a well-respected manager, and person, among his peers.  Very rarely is a bad word said about him in the footballing world.  His calm and pragmatic demeanour may be hit-and-miss with journalists and may never make him that much of a character in post-game interviews, but his unwillingness to be fazed by concern that the owners have lined up his replacement, or by rumours that he is just one bad result away from losing his job, speaks volumes of his character.  More importantly, Leicester fans should know that the revolving-door to the managerial hot-seat in recent years has very rarely resulted in anything positive (it should be remembered that during his first two seasons with the club, Pearson almost achieved back-to-back promotions).  Those who critique him are not managers, yet they are the first to complain when something isn’t working, and those who circulate rumours are the least likely to fully understand the goings-on behind the scenes.

Other sides in this division would love the type of consistency being installed at Leicester City.  Recent performances suggest that Nigel Pearson is picking a side not only that he thinks can win games, but picking the players who have shown that they want to be a part of that.  Martyn Waghorn has enjoyed a lot more playing time recently, as has formerly out-of-favour centre-back Sean St. Ledger.  Both have been impressive.  Even if the result doesn’t go our way, it’d be difficult to pick out anyone who hasn’t given everything when given that opportunity – and left everything on the pitch at the final whistle.  That’s the team being put together here; one that never quits. 

Perhaps, this season, we should all have a little more faith.

Leicester City 3 Hull City 1 – 23 September 2012

Nugent nets hat-trick as Foxes tame Tigers

© isriya, Flickr

David Nugent scored his second, third and fourth goals of the season as Leicester's fine home run continues

David Nugent scored a hat-trick as Leicester won their second game in five days to give Nigel Pearson a win over his former employers.

Nugent opened the scoring after seven minutes with a fine curling strike after Danny Drinkwater’s shot had fallen kindly into his path.

Jay Simpson equalised for the visitors midway through the first-half, but Nugent grabbed his second goal five minutes before the break with a fine header into the bottom corner from Anthony Knockaert’s cross.

Hull manager Steve Bruce was sent to the stands in the second-half after an altercation with an assistant referee before Nugent completed his hat-trick in stoppage time after the Foxes caught the visitors on the break.

Leicester’s second win in five days pushes them up to seventh in the Championship, while they remain undefeated in league games at the King Power Stadium so far this season.

Nigel Pearson started with the same eleven that defeated Burnley on Wednesday night, and he only had to wait until the seventh minute to see his side go ahead as Danny Drinkwater’s ambitious strike hit Nugent inside the penalty area, before the frontman regained his composure to curl the ball past Hull goalkeeper Ben Amos.

It was the first time Leicester had scored in the opening half of a league game so far this season, and a sign that Nugent was back to his best after ending a baron run of not scoring in the Championship with his second goal in as many starts.

The home side continued to pressure Hull and could have doubled their lead when Jamie Vardy latched onto Anthony Knockaert’s through ball, but his shot was pushed behind by Ben Amos.

From the ensuing corner, the former Fleetwood Town striker saw his effort cleared off the line before David Nugent almost latched onto a Vardy cross as both forwards continued to cause the Hull defence problems.

However, the visitors grabbed an equaliser against the run of play when Sone Aluko fired the ball across goal and directly into the path of teammate Jay Simpson, who stuck a foot out to guide the slam the ball into the net.

Hull could have gone ahead moments later when Wes Morgan was caught in possession at the back by Jay Simpson, but Matty James was on hand to prevent the danger.

Anthony Knockaert’s quick footwork allowed him to pick out Ben Marshall on the flank who fired a dangerous ball into the area intended for Jamie Vardy, but the ball broke for Nugent who could only hit the side netting from a tight angle.

Leicester managed to restore their lead three minutes before half-time when Knockaert picked out David Nugent inside the penalty area with a fantastic cross, and the one-time England international leapt above his marker to head the ball past Ben Amos.

It was a well-worked goal that gave Leicester a deserved advantage before half-time after a first 45 minutes in which both sides had a number of good opportunities.

Jamie Vardy really should have made it 3-1 after the break after he found himself unmarked with the ball at his feet inside the penalty area, but his shot was somehow turned away by Amos.

Wes Morgan headed just over from a corner, while, at the other end, Sone Aluko kept Kasper Schmeichel alert with a decent strike from 25 yards.

Knockaert tested Amos from distance, before Ben Marshall dragged a shot wide as Leicester continued to knock on the door – and the task became much greater for Hull when their manager Steve Bruce was sent to the stands after a reacting angrily to a decision made by the assistant referee who had judged the ball to have gone out of play with Hull on the attack. 

The visitors’ best chance to equalise came from a Robert Koren free-kick which was tipped over the bar by Schmeichel, but as Hull continued to push forward, Leicester caught them on the counter-attack in stoppage time with Lloyd Dyer teeing up Nugent inside the penalty area to complete his hat-trick and give the hosts all three points.

The win meant that Leicester’s 100 per cent home record in the Championship remained intact, as Leicester now turn to two consecutive away games as they look to pick up their first points of the season on their travels.

Man of the Match – Anthony Knockaert 

Leicester City 1 Blackpool 0 - 1 September 2012

Foxes bounce back with win over Blackpool

Victory for Leicester pushed them into the top half of the Championship

Ben Marshall's second-half penalty was enough to give Leicester all three points in a 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium over table-toppers Blackpool this evening.

The goal came ten minutes after the break after Jamie Vardy was brought down inside the box by Portuguese midfielder Tiago Gomes.

Ben Marshall's converted from twelve yards to send the Foxes faithful into raptures and quash any fears of a fourth consecutive defeat for Nigel Pearson's side.

It was another disappointing return to Leicester for former manager Ian Holloway, who has now seen his Blackpool side lose five times against the Foxes since parting ways with the club in 2009.

Following Leicester's Capital One Cup midweek 4-2 defeat to League Two Burton Albion, Nigel Pearson will have been delighted with the reaction of his players, as Jamie Vardy, Lloyd Dyer and the goalscorer Marshall all looked threatening going forward.

But it was in defence that Leicester really excelled, as the partnership of Wes Morgan and Liam Moore managed to shut out a dangerous Blackpool side that had scored ten goals in their previous three league outings, including six against Ipswich last weekend.

Leicester looked positive from the outset and almost took an early lead when Ben Marshall's piercing through ball sent Jamie Vardy through one-on-one, but Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks did well to save the former Fleetwood striker's low shot with his feet.

Danny Drinkwater then tested his luck from distance with a shot on goal, before Thomas Ince for the travelling side saw his near post effort parried away for a corner by Kasper Schmeichel. 

Jamie Vardy had another effort blocked midway through the first-half as Leicester began to dominate possession, and the hosts were almost ahead when Ben Marshall's low free-kick evaded the Blackpool wall, but Matt Gilks did well to get a hand to it and push the ball out for a corner.

The Tangerines finished the half strongly when Thomas Ince had another effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel, before Barry Ferguson's dipping volley struck the foot of the Leicester post.

If Leicester ever needed to come out swinging in the second-half, today was certainly that day, following three consecutive losses for the first time since 2010, and Nigel Pearson's men did exactly that by taking the game to the visitors and looking like the only team who would break the deadlock.

Jamie Vardy had a penalty appeal turned down within minutes of the restart before Andy King's shot from 20 yards beat Matt Gilks and several Blackpool defenders, but clipped the offside-David Nugent on its way into the net, resulting in the goal being disallowed.

Ben Marshall then played Lloyd Dyer in behind the Blackpool defence, but he was well-tackled before having the opportunity to get the ball out from under his feet.

Marshall was in the thick of the action again when David Nugent latched onto another through ball from the former Sheffield Wednesday winger, but he was adjudged to have been offside before playing the ball across goal to an unmarked Jamie Vardy who surely would have put the Foxes ahead.

Leicester did eventually take the lead two minutes later when the Vardy was clumsily brought down by Tiago Gomes just inside the Blackpool area, resulting in the home side being awarded a penalty.

Ben Marshall stepped up to convert from twelve yards with a powerful strike into the left-hand corner, and while Matt Gilks got a hand to the ball, he was unable to keep his side from falling behind with just over half an hour left to play.

It was a deserved lead for Leicester, who had been by far the better side for the opening hour of the match, continually piling pressure on Blackpool and causing their defence all sorts of trouble.

Vardy should have doubled the Foxes' advantage on the hour mark when he pounced on a poor throw in, but never managed to get a shot away and the chance fell begging.

David Nugent then had a shot tipped wide after a clever through ball from Lloyd Dyer, while Thomas Ince continued to keep the Leicester defence on their toes after popping up at the back post, but he could not find the target.

Lloyd Dyer had a chance cleared off the line, before Jamie Vardy and Jermaine Beckford wasted good opportunities to put the hosts out of sight with time running out.

Blackpool looked as though they might grab an equaliser in the final minutes of the match when Thomas Ince's shot across goal was just out of reach for substitute Kevin Phillips.

Either side could have scored during an end-to-end injury time period, but Leicester held on until the final whistle to alleviate some of the pressure before the international break and end Blackpool's 100 per cent start to the Championship campaign.

Man of the Match – Wes Morgan 

Are Nigel Pearson's days numbered?

Questions asked as Leicester lose three in a row

© Matt Beighton, Flickr

Last night's Capital One Cup defeat to Burton Albion rounded off a miserable seven days for Nigel Pearson's Leicester City.  After the Foxes lost two close league games to Charlton and Blackburn (and with all due respect to the Shakers), yesterday's match was supposed to be the one to get Leicester back on track.  Instead, the hosts shipped four goals to a side two divisions below them and were subsequently booed off the pitch. 

It's August.  The season is five games old.  But with former manager Ian Holloway bringing an in-form Blackpool side to the King Power Stadium this weekend, is Saturday's fixture now a must-win game for Nigel Pearson?

It goes without saying that this isn't the start that fans were expecting.  A promising opening day 2-0 win over East Midlands-rivals Peterborough United has since been marred by consecutive away defeats, but such results can be overlooked by generally positive performances and an apparent willingness and desire to battle back.  A convincing home defeat to a side the Foxes beat 3-1 in preseason is a little harder for supporters to digest.

Nigel Pearson did make eight changes from his starting eleven who started last Saturday's 2-1 loss at Blackburn Rovers, so there may have been rustiness in places (especially in defence, with Sean St. Ledger and Zak Whitbread playing for the first time this season).  However, in a division where stability is important, perhaps eight changes for one match are too many.  But hindsight is a wonderful thing, and had Leicester beaten Burton Albion 2-0, fans would be singing the manager's praises for focusing what is now a crucial match this weekend. 

This brings us to Leicester's next match – Saturday evening's clash with Blackpool.  This match could be a huge point in the season for both sides.  The visitors are the only team to have won their opening three fixtures, having scored ten goals and conceded just one since the start of the Championship season.  They are the form side at this stage, and also the side to beat.  Leicester, who are always tipped to succeed in the Championship due to the financial backing of the Raksriaksorns, have lost three in a row for the first time since Paulo Sousa was in charge.  Sousa was sacked after that third loss (a 4-3 defeat at Norwich City).  Wouldn't it just be fitting for Ian Holloway (who knows what it is like to be sacked from Leicester City) to come to town and put Nigel Pearson's future here in real jeopardy?

As mentioned before, stability is the key for success in this division.  It is far too early to tell how the rest of the season might pan out.  But Leicester are notorious for its revolving door when it comes to managers.  It really shouldn't be, but Saturday could now be a must-win game for Nigel Pearson.

Third and Long

Can Nigel Pearson guide Leicester City to the Premier League?

© Ben Sutherland, Flickr

Nigel Pearson will hope to bounce back in August after a disappointing Championship campaign

Leicester's City's third consecutive season in the Championship ended on a high note last weekend with a 2-1 victory away at Leeds, as it did last season with a resounding home win over Ipswich.  However, even the most ardent fan will say that the club fell well short of what was expected, and, more importantly, what it was capable of achieving, both this year and last.  Leicester finished ninth in the league during another season in which players, fans, and the media considered them to be Premier League-bound, along with West Ham United (whose points total would have been enough to secure automatic promotion during four of the last five Championship campaigns).  The homecoming of Nigel Pearson was a bold move by the owners, and one that gave supporters reason to believe that their season could be saved.  But inconsistency plagued the Foxes all season, resulting in back-to-back league wins only twice, which inevitably left them falling well-short of the play-offs. 

A number of sobering home performances defined Leicester's season: home defeats to Barnsley and Bristol City (who eventually finished in the bottom six of the Championship), a 3-0 home loss to Millwall, and arguably the worst of all, an uninspiring and unenthusiastic goalless draw with Burnley, when the Foxes were mathematically still in contention of reaching the play-offs.  But the long and short of it is that many players did not regularly perform to the level which they were capable of this season, and that, as a club, Leicester were not good enough, and when they were, they were not consistent enough.

 

So, how does Nigel Pearson establish Leicester as a genuine promotion contender as he did two seasons ago?  The owners showed faith in Pearson by hiring him, despite still being contracted to Hull City at the time (who eventually finished two points above Leicester this season).  Another managerial change would indicate that his hiring (and firing) was a knee-jerk reaction.  It is important that the club maintains a strong core - one that goes further than just the players.  Pearson must be given the summer, with the backing of the club, to do what he can to give Leicester the best possible chance of becoming a real threat in the Championship.  This does not necessarily mean spending vast amounts of money – although there are likely to be comings and goings at the King Power Stadium before August.  But there are already some incredibly talented players at the club, and a very promising set of youngsters (Ben Marshall, Jeff Schlupp, Liam Moore and Tom Hopper, to name a few) - all worthy of playing in blue and white next season.  Ultimately, every supporter will have their own view, but very rarely has a club been able to buy their way into the Premier League. 

© Ben Sutherland, Flickr

Will players like Jermaine Beckford and Matt Mills feature in Nigel Pearson's starting XI next season?

It is unlikely that Nigel Pearson will make drastic changes ahead of the new season in terms of showing some players the door, but he will not be afraid to do so if that is what he believes will benefit the club.  Reading are a fine example: Brian McDermott sold two of Reading's best players last summer (Shane Long and Matt Mills) before eventually going on to win the Championship and establishing them as the best team in the division.  The Foxes were outplayed and outclassed by the Royals on both meetings last year, despite Leicester having, on paper, the stronger side.  A good manager and a stable, consistent team are the foundations on which to build a promotion challenge to the Premier League. 

So can Nigel Pearson restore that sense of cohesion and unity which seems to have become lost in the last couple of seasons?  Judging on his record of taking Leicester to the brink of the Premier League in 2010 with roughly the same League One side he inherited (and subsequently built upon), he certainly has the ability to.  Whether Foxes fans are having this discussion a year from now will indicate his success.

Leicester City 1 Barnsley 2 - 14th January 2012

Foxes undone by travelling Tykes

Andy Gray's two first-half goals gave Barnsley a well-deserved win at the King Power Stadium yesterday afternoon as Leicester's disappointing home form continued.

The former Sunderland striker put the Tykes ahead after twelve minutes after some fine build-up play from Ricardo Vaz Te, before Lloyd Dyer responded with an equaliser three minutes later.

Gray restored Barnsley's lead ten minutes before half-time with a close-range header after the Foxes were caught on the counter-attack.

Leicester are now winless at home since November last year, a run of league form which has seen them slip to fifteenth in the Championship.

The home side almost took the lead early on when Lloyd Dyer was brought down on the edge of the area by Stephen Foster, but Paul Gallagher's low free-kick was turned away by Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele.

That save turned out to be a crucial point in the match as five minutes later, Danny Drinkwater and Ricardo Vaz Te worked a counter-attack to great effect before Vaz Te stepped past Matt Mills and found the unmarked Andy Gray in the penalty area, who had the simplest of tasks in slotting the ball past Kasper Schmeichel.

It was a well-worked counter attack and emphasised Leicester's failure to close the opposition down.

The Foxes were back in the match three minutes later, however, when Matt Mills' superb long pass picked out Lloyd Dyer, who controlled the ball well between two Barnsley defenders and fired across Luke Steele from twelve yards.

It was a well-executed finish by the winger, but the pinpoint long ball from Mills was outstanding and demonstrated the captain's ability to distribute play from deep.

The half began to fizzle out after the equaliser, but Barnsley restored their lead ten minutes before half-time when Vaz Te and Drinkwater again combined on the counter-attack on the left side, with the Manchester United loanee's cross picking out Gray again in the area, who headed past Schmeichel.

It was a simple yet devastating passage of play to undo Leicester once again, questioning their defensive capability.

After the break, Barnsley should have doubled their advantage when Matt Mills' calamitous back pass was tracked down by Ricardo Vaz Te but somehow cleared by Kasper Schmeichel with the forward breathing down his neck.

At the other end, Neil Danns fired over for the Foxes before Lloyd Dyer threatened the Yorkshire side with some neat footwork, but the attack was eventually thwarted by a resolute Barnsley backline.

With just over twenty minutes remaining, Andy King had a great chance to test Luke Steele when David Nugent rose to head the ball down to the Welsh midfielder inside the penalty area, but his wild shot was high and wide, much to the frustration of the fans behind the goal.

Barnsley continued to dominate the match as Jay McEveley's mazy run from defence tore through the Foxes' midfield before the full-back's clinical pass found substitute Matt Done one-on-one with Schmeichel, but his shot was beaten away by the Danish shot stopper.

Substitute Jermaine Beckford sparked some life into Leicester's attack, but his best chance was well-blocked by McEveley at point-blank range.

Vaz Te almost added insult to injury in the closing stages of the match when the Portuguese forward raced clear of two Leicester defenders, but his cheeky finish was saved by the feet of Schmeichel.

The final whistle lead out a chorus of boos from all areas of the ground, apart from the travelling Barnsley supporters who climb above Leicester in the Championship following their win.

Nigel Pearson's side have now won just three out of ten games since his return to the club, taking thirteen points from a possible 30.

Man of the Match – Ricardo Vaz Te

Leicester City 1 - 1 Hull City - 16th October 2010

Robert Koren’s second half goal was enough to earn Hull City a point at the Walkers Stadium and spoil new Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson’s home debut.

Andy King’s fifth goal of the season put the hosts ahead in just the third minute, but Robert Koren’s fine strike five minutes after half-time ensured that the points were shared in a heated match which featured the return of former Foxes manager Nigel Pearson to the Walkers Stadium.

Both of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s recently acquired loanees Kyle Naughton and Curtis Davies featured in the starting line-up for the Foxes, who both signed for Leicester this week.

Leicester dominated the first half and were ahead after three minutes through Andy King after some excellent work from Richie Wellens and Matt Oakley played the Welshman in behind the Hull defence, and was able to find a way past Matt Duke despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball.

King was again involved minutes later when his cross was met by the head of Martyn Waghorn in the penalty area, who forced an excellent save from Duke.

From the ensuing corner, Curtis Davies – on loan from Aston Villa – was unlucky not to double Leicester’s lead with a solid header which drifted back across goal.

Kyle Naughton – also on loan at Leicester, this time from Tottenham – looked very assured as he pushed forward to cross the ball to Steve Howard at the back post, who headed back to Andy King whose goal-bound effort was blocked by fellow Welsh international Anthony Gerrard.

Bruno Berner’s long range shot just before half-time had Duke at full stretch again, but the full-back’s effort ran just wide of the far post.

Hull were a completely different side in the second half, and they were level within minutes after the restart with their first real chance of the game as Robert Koren’s superb long range strike could only be parried into the net by returning Foxes keeper Chris Weale after the Leicester defence failed to close down the Slovenian.

The visitors were the better side for most of the second half, creating a number of good chances to go ahead, as Mark Cullen’s volley from a route one goal kick flew just over the crossbar.

Some last ditch defending by Bruno Berner thwarted Caleb Folan at the back post as Hull continued to press, with the Swiss international just doing enough to put the ball behind for a corner at the back post to avoid a certain goal.

The game twisted and turned in the latter stages of the half with both sides looking for a winner, as Leicester substitute Franck Moussa’s corner found Jack Hobbs at the back post, his header lacked power and was saved by Matt Duke.

At the other end, Chris Weale was forced to make a near post save from a Kevin Kilbane header with fifteen minutes remaining.

As time began to run out, Paul Gallagher had a great chance to put the Foxes ahead after the Hull defence failed to deal with a Martyn Waghorn corner, but the ball bounced up just before his strike, and his shot sailed over the bar from close range.

Leicester piled on the pressure in the dying minutes as Bruno Berner’s shot was blocked in the six yard box after another Waghorn corner, but could not find a way through despite four minutes of added time.

The final whistle meant that both sides would have to settle for a draw, as both managers – each seeming fairly pleased with a point – left the pitch to a standing ovation from the fans.

Man of the Match – Curtis Davies

Why Nigel Pearson's return to the Walkers Stadium should be a welcome one

With all of the goings on at the Walkers Stadium over the last two weeks; the departure of boss Paulo Sousa and subsequent arrival of new manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, Leicester’s successful mid-season tour of Thailand and new signings on the way, the return of Nigel Pearson to his former club tomorrow afternoon has not been as much on the radar as one might have initially anticipated at the commencement of this Championship season.

Pearson left Leicester during the summer after apparent fallings out behind the scenes, and despite various statements being released, the rumour mill churning out various stories and the former Foxes manager actually being interviewed on BBC Radio Leicester recently, the fans are still unsure as to the real reason for his exit. His departure left most fans confused, more than anything else. It was difficult to understand why the man who led Leicester to two successful seasons would seemingly ‘leave’ for pastures new at Hull City. Did he walk? Was he pushed? Who did he fall out with – and over what?

Nigel Pearson said in that interview that he felt the club did not do enough to keep him, although it hardly answers all questions. Pearson – now with Hull City, Leicester’s next opponents - always kept his cards held close to his chest, and so fans may never know the full extent of what happened. But that should not stop the Blue Army faithful from welcoming him with a standing ovation.

In recent years, many have come and gone through the revolving door that is the position of Leicester City manager. But few – if any, since the days of Martin O’Neill – have made such an impact as Nigel Pearson did during his two years at the helm.

After relegation to the third tier of English football for the first time in the club’s history, Pearson led Leicester to promotion back into the Championship and to the playoffs during the subsequent season – the club’s best finish in that division since 2003. He signed players like Lloyd Dyer, Richie Wellens, Jack Hobbs and Chris Weale who are now fan favourites. He turned the Walkers Stadium into a fortress, only losing five times at home in two seasons. He gave very little away, never playing into the hands of interviewers – yet acted like a true professional at all times and acted decisively during games without cracking under the pressure. Most importantly, he gave Foxes fans a sense of optimism that good things were happening. And that should be appreciated.

There is no doubt that the most important thing for Foxes fans tomorrow is that Leicester beat Hull City, take three points and start climbing the Championship table as quickly as possible. There is a huge mountain to climb in terms of getting this season back on track. But before kick-off, and whilst this may not fit the protocol regarding managers returning to former clubs, I hope Nigel Pearson gets the welcome back tomorrow he truly deserves.

Sven-Göran Eriksson: can the former England boss take Leicester City to the top?

It is without question that the dismissal of former boss Paulo Sousa, followed by the somewhat hasty signing of former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, has rocked the boat at Leicester City. His unsuccessful stint as the director of football at Notts County left little to be desired, resulting in Eriksson leaving the club within a matter of months last season. Therefore it is unsurprising that Foxes fans are hardly bowled over with this new managerial appointment.

However, I believe that there is reason to be more optimistic. I agree with Milan Mandaric’s justification behind the sacking of Paulo Sousa last week. Sousa is a classy guy and he did have potential. Leicester City played exciting, attacking football under him which was very refreshing to see, and the argument can quickly be made that nine league games is not a long enough time period for any manager to make his mark on a football club (bearing in mind he also won three cup games in the two months he was at the Walkers Stadium). But the defence was uncharacteristically bad. 22 goals were conceded in nine games. Last season under Nigel Pearson, Leicester only conceded 45 goals all season with essentially the same group of defenders. While some players were excelling under Sousa’s attacking style of football, others such as Jack Hobbs and Michael Morrison began to look increasingly uncomfortable, resulting on too much pressure being put on more attacking players to overcome an almost inevitable deficit in every game.

How long can a chairman sit and wait before the season becomes seriously damaged – considering the expectations after last season? If Milan Mandaric had waited until Christmas before finding a new manager - with Sousa’s style showing no signs of improvement – he would have been criticised by the fans for waiting too long. Mandaric was in a very difficult situation, and he had to make a difficult decision. As cruel as it may be, it is easier to replace your manager than it is to replace a large number of players – especially when said players have such talent and potential, as has been demonstrated over the previous two seasons.

But the decision to bring Eriksson in seems as though it could have been in the pipeline long before Sousa’s final two games in charge against Portsmouth and Norwich, which is unfair. Sousa had a plan for this club, and Mandaric was well aware of that plan when he offered him the position. But Mandaric has said on countless occasions that he is willing to do whatever it takes to bring success to Leicester City, and sitting at the bottom of the Championship after almost a quarter of the season is not a good place to be. Although there is still a long way to go in this Championship campaign, a change had to be made to bring success to this season.

Like many others, I don’t strictly disapprove of the appointment of Eriksson. As mentioned earlier, he has managed at international level, and in the Premier League, and thus has a great deal of experience in English football. Mandaric has also been criticised for his selection, it being labelled as a publicity stunt by fans and the media. However, Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn and the other members of the Thai-based consortium who own the club would have had as much input regarding the hiring of Eriksson as the chairman did. If that is the case, then this is not so much a publicity stunt as it is the owners showing intolerance to failure, and an expectation of good results. Whilst Mandaric has demonstrated a track record for showing impatience with managers at times, if the decision had been purely down to him, Paulo Sousa probably would have been given more time at the helm. The possibility, therefore, that the new ownership could once again in a quick turnover of managers – as experienced during the 2007/2008 season – is a realistic one.

I also worry that Eriksson could flood his backroom with outside names, having already brought in Derek Fazackerley, whom he worked with during his time at Manchester City. This could potentially force out coaches, and current stand-in managers, Chris Powell and Mike Stowell. This would be a huge mistake. As can be demonstrated by the way Leicester bounced back against Scunthorpe United at the weekend, many of the players have a great connection with both of these coaches, and the club itself is lucky to have them as part of the backroom staff. Both have also expressed their interest in staying at the club, and Eriksson would do well to keep them around to help with the development of the first team players, and also to gain the trust and support of the Blue Army faithful.

Life is never dull as a Leicester City supporter, and once again the club appears to be headed for uncertain times. However, fans should not necessarily be pessimistic. The squad is still very strong, and as far as league position goes, the only way is up. If Eriksson can get the best from these players then he could be on to a winner. If they don’t respond, then his time at the Walkers Stadium – like Paulo Sousa – could be short lived. The jury is still out on this appointment, but Eriksson certainly has the potential to bring this football club back to winning ways.

The Best Is Yet To Come For Leicester City This Season

Even the most optimistic fan would struggle to state that Leicester City have hit the ground running this season as they did under Nigel Pearson.

But there is reason to believe that it is just a matter of time before the results start going the right way for Paulo Sousa’s men.

One point from six is hardly a dream start for any club, regardless of their expectations at the beginning of the season. But it is important to remember that there are some huge differences this time around in the Championship for Leicester City.

First of all, nobody really expected the club to achieve what they did last season. A mid-table finish would have been acceptable, and other teams did take note of that. It allowed opposing sides to travel to Leicester looking to pick up points – unlike the club’s League One campaign when sides saw the Walkers Stadium as a fortress.

Finishing fifth last season means that teams have to respect Leicester City as a well-established Championship team. Fewer travelling sides will turn up believing that a win is a probability. It could mean that the Foxes will have a much tougher time breaking sides down and regularly picking up wins at home this year.

This is exactly why Paulo Sousa’s attacking and elegant style of football is the correct and necessary response to a potentially more conservative approach by visiting sides.

With Nigel Pearson at the helm, every player in the team had a position, and each player knew that position. But the new strategy adopted by the former Portuguese international seems to have the entire team in attack together, and all getting back to defend together.

And the players seem to love it.

It is without a doubt a livelier game plan. And after just one home game, it is clear to see that some players in particular are thriving under this new scheme. Andy King was in scintillating form against Middlesborough, playing much higher up the pitch in a notably attacking midfield role. The Welsh international was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed, as replays indicated him to be in an onside position when he picked up the through ball.

Robbie Neilson, whose Leicester career seemed all but over last season, seems to be somewhat of a revelation. Adopting the characteristics of a wing back, Neilson has already notched a goal this season (his first for Leicester and also his first in five years) as well as a fine assist against Crystal Palace on the opening day.

Steve Howard has proven he is more than just a target man. After a fantastic preseason, Howard has won the praise of his new manager - who has publicly stated he sees the veteran as his number one striker - and is as much a goal scoring threat as anyone in the side.

And last but not least, DJ Campbell. Like Neilson, Campbell’s time at Leicester seemed to be drawing to an end under Nigel Pearson, having spent two loan periods at play-off winners Blackpool. Now back at with the Foxes and in the starting eleven, Campbell seems like a man reborn. On Saturday he looked twice as fast as anyone on the pitch, and could have scored a hat-trick that afternoon.

There is an air of self-assurance throughout the entire side. The defence appears to be back to its old ways, keeping their first clean sheet of the season. The style of play is very easy on the eye. The hangover from last year’s play-off semi-final seems to have disappeared. And although the man who took Leicester there has moved on, Saturday’s match proved that the players have faith in Paulo Sousa, and the fans are genuinely excited about what they are seeing. The general impression is that when the players get it right on the pitch, they will be able to devastate other sides. And with the guarantee of further transfer funds being made available by new owner Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, leader of Thai consortium King Power, Sousa has the opportunity to bolster his already impressive squad.

Of course, there is a long way to go this season, and there are potential potholes that could still develop – and the same can be said for any side in this competitive and challenging division. But there is a belief in this side that they can achieve something great under Paulo Sousa.