2010 December

December 2010
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Archive for December, 2010

Leicester City review 2010: Year of changes galore for Blue Army

Friday, December 31st, 2010

Every year seems to be eventful for Leicester City supporters, but 2010 was particularly remarkable.

The year has seen three different managers in office, 39 players make first-team appearances and has even seen the club change ownership.

Looking at the club’s position in the Championship at the start of the year and their current position, it would seem as though they have not made progress, but statistics certainly do not tell the full story of an amazing year.

With Nigel Pearson in situ, City began the year handily placed in fifth position and on course for the play-offs.

The first half of the season could hardly have gone better as Pearson’s side had maintained the momentum of their League One title-winning season but, with financial restraints in place, the manager could bring in only Nolberto Solano and recruit defender Alex Bruce on loan to bolster his squad.

January was a poor month with only two points coming from draws at home to Ipswich Town and Newcastle United, although the latter proved to be a turning point at the end of the month as City gained heart from a battling performance against the league leaders, despite having just 10 men for most of the evening.

They kicked on in February and remained unbeaten in seven games during the month, picking up victories at Blackpool and Doncaster, and at home to Scunthorpe United and, more notably, over Nottingham Forest. That was a win which served as revenge for the bitter 5-1 defeat at the City Ground in December.

They returned to the play-off places and never relinquished their position again.

Pearson was named manager of the month and Paul Gallagher picked up the player-of-the- month award after his hat-trick against Scunthorpe, and stunning goal-of-the-season free-kick against Forest.

The one dark note from the month was the broken jaw top scorer Matty Fryatt picked up in the 0-0 draw with Doncaster Rovers at the Walkers Stadium at the start of the month. City’s main striker would not return until the final game of the season.

The curse of the manager-of-the-month award would strike again and defeat at Sheffield Wednesday kicked off March, and, following victories over Cardiff City and Crystal Palace, and a disappointing home draw to Coventry City, City suffered their worst run of results of the season.

They lost four consecutive games as they went into April but, with new loan signings James Vaughan and Jay Spearing contributing, and fellow loanee Martyn Waghorn finding his best goal-scoring form, City finished the season with five consecutive victories.

A play-off place was clinched at Preston North End and City warmed up to face Cardiff in the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at the Walkers Stadium.

City had the momentum and the confidence and, with Fryatt returning from injury, the signs were good that they could book a place in the Wembley showpiece final and compete for an amazing second consecutive promotion.

City lost the first home leg 1-0 and the advantage lay with the Welshmen, but would what followed in Cardiff will live long with every City fan.

After going 2-0 behind on aggregate, Pearson’s men seized the initiative and Fryatt, Andy King and an own goal gave them a 3-1 lead on the night and 3-2 overall. However, Cardiff snatched a controversial late equaliser from the penalty spot to take the tie into extra-time and, ultimately, to penalties.

All seemed okay for City as Bruno Berner, Steve Howard and Solano tucked away their spot-kicks but, when Frenchman Yann Kermorgant tried a chipped attempt which was easily saved, Cardiff held the advantage and young Waghorn was led from the field distraught after his fifth penalty was also saved and City’s dream was dashed.

The fall-out continued into the close season and City were stunned when Pearson left to join Championship rivals Hull City, taking his trusted lieutenants Craig Shakespeare and Steve Walsh with him.

The reasons for Pearson’s decision seemed to be a breakdown of his relationship with some of the club’s hierarchy and his growing frustration at a perceived lack of investment.

After two fantastic and successful seasons, Pearson’s reign ended in disappointing fashion.

However, City would soon get a massive cash boost as Milan Mandaric sold the club to Asia Football Investments, owned by Thai businessmen Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn of new shirt sponsors King Power. Mandaric would stay on as chairman until buying Sheffield Wednesday in November.

City also had a new man at the helm, former Portugal international Paulo Sousa.

A fantastic player and twice Champions League winner, Sousa was also developing a reputation as an up-and-coming coach.

However, his tenure was to be a brief one.

Amid concerns about his training techniques, City made a slow start to the campaign and, after a humiliating 6-1 defeat at Portsmouth was followed by a 4-3 loss at Norwich City, Mandaric dropped the axe after just nine league games, despite stating Sousa needed more time.

City were in the relegation zone and needed a firm hand at the wheel. Mandaric and the Thai owners then pulled a masterstroke by appointing former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, and they backed him heavily financially.

The Swede immediately signed Premier League players Curtis Davies, Kyle Naughton, Darius Vassell, Greg Cunningham, and then recruited Roman Bednar and Chris Kirkland on loans as he rebuilt City.

Although City ended 2010 with inconsistent form, they showed some promising signs that they can mount a promotion challenge in the new year. The prospect of Eriksson spending big money on some big-name players in January has left City fans licking their lips at the dawning of a year which could finally deliver their dream of a return to the Premier League.

If they do, 2011 will go down in history as a momentous year for the club.

But only promotion could possibly eclipse 2010 as a year to remember.

Leicester City fans see bewildering turnover of players

Friday, December 31st, 2010

They say a change is as good as rest. But you would get little rest keeping up with the changes at Leicester City over the last five months.

Remember the opening day of the season? Paulo Sousa’s first game in charge as manager and a visit to Crystal Palace.

This was the club that had finished fifth in the Championship and missed out on the play-off final in a penalty competition.

Hopes were high. Already some players, such as Nolberto Solano, the on-loan Jay Spearing and the much-maligned Yann Kermorgant, had departed over the summer.

But the line-up still had a Nigel Pearson look to it. Chris Weale kept goal in front of a back-four of Robbie Neilson, Jack Hobbs, Michael Morrison and Bruno Berner.

Andy King, Lloyd Dyer, Matt Oakley and Dany N’Guessan occupied the middle ground with Matty Fryatt and DJ Campbell up-front.

The bench looked interesting – Richie Wellens plus academy lads Tom Parkes, Jorrin John and Liam Moore.

City lost 3-2 and it was a sign of the rocky road ahead for Sousa. Like all managers, he had his own ideas and his own preferences. Miguel Vitor had signed pre-season, Michael Lamey came in at right-back, Moreno in the centre of defence, Franck Moussa and Yuki Abe in midfield and there was a change between the sticks with Carl Ikeme getting his chance.

It was not good news for the likes of Neilson and Morrison, nor even player of the year Hobbs, who was left on the bench at one point.

But at least there was one piece of good news when Martyn Waghorn joined on a permanent deal from Sunderland.

A 4-3 defeat at Norwich at the end of September signaled the end of Sousa’s reign. City were bottom of the table, having won just one of their nine games.

Welcome Sven-Goran Eriksson – and more changes. Sven became the loan ranger, hiring promising talent such as Curtis Davies, Kyle Naughton and Greg Cunningham.

Also arriving were Darius Vassell, Chris Kirkland and Roman Bednar. Not good news for the likes of Berner, Weale and Fryatt.

In all, City have fielded 29 different players so far this season, Tom Kennedy, Conrad Logan, Steve Howard and Paul Gallagher making up the number.

More changes can be expected during the January transfer window when City will inevitably reach 30-something.

And, by the way, whatever happened to Leon Crncic?