Dean Smith New Interim Manager - Official

[Mickyblueeyes]

16 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

Never need a rebuild? Fergie rebuilt his Man United team at least 3 times! Man City rebuilt their team when transitioning from Mancini to Pelegrini to Guardiola. 
 

I’d agree that no team should have to rebuild the team as much as we are about to do, but I understand why it’s happening. If your team budget is not in the same ballpark as other teams in the division, what do you do? We brought a collection of promising young players like Maddison, Ndidi, Soyuncu then developed them and kept the core. It got us 2 5th places and an FA Cup win, a very good return for a club the size of Leicester. 
 

I think the club are going to try it again, which is why so many contracts are running out at once.  But it was too big of a gamble to make and Top knows it. 
 

Ideal situation is one day we are more like Ajax / Dortmund / Benfica where as soon as one player is sold, there’s a player in the academy that is promoted to replace them. But these clubs have been doing it for years, it’s not an overnight thing to setup. 

I agree with you that all teams need to evolve and rebuild. The obvious one is United under Ferguson (because of the time he spent there) but I’d also add Chelsea over the years. Their rebuilds haven’t been quite so obvious because it’s always been alongside a manager change!

 

The issue I have with our (apparent) plan this summer is we are intending to do so whilst losing our core. Take United and their most drastic switch up. 1995-1997. United had just finished second in the league and stalwarts like Bruce, Pallister, Parker, Schmeichel etc. were coming towards the end of their Man U careers. Certainly not there yet but forward planning indicated you’d need to move those players (alongside others) on in a few years. They undertook one of the most drastic rebuilds BUT over a two year period.

 

Year 1: 95-96 The class of 92 (Neville, Giggs (albeit already a regular), Beckham, Butt and Scholes) were all given more senior roles in the squad. They didn’t buy anyone of note that summer (a quick google search - 3 keepers and William Prunier on loan!). The club kept the core of Bruce, Pallister, Parker, Schmeichel, Keane, Cole, Cantona, Sharpe, Irwin, Mcclair and May all within the squad. They lost the opening game 3-1 to Villa but only started with the Neville’s, Scholes and Butt from the youth intake - the rest were very much the first team from the year before. Man U went on to win the title (and Fa Cup) and “new players” all contributed. In addition to the famous members of their youth team, the club also utilised John O’Kane, Ben Thornley, Chris Casper and Terry Cooke - unfortunately for them these guys were not as successful. 
 

Year 2: The actual rebuild (from a transfer perspective) - the club sold both Paul Parker and long serving captain, Steve Bruce in the summer. They were followed by Lee Sharpe and Tony Cotton (influential second choice keeper). Cantona got the captaincy. Neville, Butt, Beckham, Scholes and Giggs were now not just regulars but key players in the team. The club went on a spending spree snapping up Ronny Johnson, Karel Poborsky, Jordi Cruyff Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Sherringham. Two of those were flops but the rest are assured of their place in Man U history. Despite these changes, the club still had Pallister, Schmeichel, Keane, Cantona, Cole, May and Irwin from previous season and essentially their core to enable the rebuild. They won the league that year too. A lot of this squad were part of their historic treble winning team. It was an exceptional rebuild done perfectly. The addition of Jaap Stam and Dwight Yorke a few years later made them a European super team. 

 

This was the most obvious example of what I would class as a drastic rebuild (which we will need to undertake) that I could think of. Of course our ambitions are no where near the Ferguson United dynasty era. However, one key aspect of a top division rebuild (at Man U or anywhere else) is that you do what you can to build around (not instead of) the core. Our fault here is that Kasper (last summer), Soyuncu (free), Fofana (not our fault), Evans (old age), Maddison, Tielemans, Vardy (old age) will be the players we are seeking to replace. The actual core of our team. Aside from Perreira (due to injuries) and Barnes (I’m hoping) we could go into next year with none on that list as genuine first team players or even at the club. Players who have been brought in are already part of a failing squad (Faes, Iverson, Souttar, khristiansen, Daka) none are experienced PL players as yet (for different reasons) and some (arguably, I’ll admit) have looked out of their depth in replacing the players before them. 
 

And this is what scares me as a fan. Very rarely does a large influx of players in and out (which I am expecting this summer) work. Recent examples, see Villa - season they went down, the season they came back up. Forest this year. Southampton. Chelsea. Spurs post Bale. However, where it has worked and successfully is where teams keep the core and build around (Man C Kompany, Fernandinho, Man U - example above, Chelsea Terry, Lampard). Even Arsenal went through a few years of pain struggling to adapt without Veira, Henry, Campbell and Keown. 
 

Now, can I criticise the club for this predicament ? Perhaps. Should we have “got rid” of one or two earlier - maybe. However, if I remember rightly only this summer, after rejecting the Newcastle bids, it was heavily reported by grade 1 ITKs that Maddison was going to sign a new contract. That hasn’t happened so how else can they plan. Criticism for below par signings of Vestegaard and Bertrand - of course but neither by any stretch of imagination was ever going to make up our core - rebuild or not. How about guys like Daka, Soumare (until Saturday!), Faes ? Absolutely not, they fit the bill of a Leicester signing - hopefully they work out but you’re going to get some wrong. Is Rodgers to blame - absolutely for the drop in standards this year (now dictates our market), the drop in performance of so many, the injuries of genuine sellable assets (Perreira, Justin) and the “risk” around the Bertrand, Vestegaard despite warnings. 

 

Having said all of that, I just think we are in a position clubs of our size find themselves where it’s difficult. As much as I hate saying it, I have to - it happens. I just think, if we do stay up this year, next year May just be harder than this regardless of who is in charge. 

[Dahnsouff]

Quote

Smith has held a number of team meetings but he hasn’t just stood at the front and lectured his players on what he wants to see — he challenged them by asking what they think. He has engaged them in the process.

On the training field, the sessions are shorter but more intense, with an emphasis on playing under pressure. Bravery on the ball.

Seems a guy set on inspiring, inclusion and fostering a togetherness. 
 

Under pressure training? Hallelujah!!

[Mike Oxlong]

Two things I liked post match. Firstly, the togetherness of the squad and all back room staff - it’s been a long time since everyone has been pulling in the same direction. Secondly the no bullshit post match interview. Recognised strengths and weaknesses without a poor me/blame others attitude 

[Ric Flair]

8 hours ago, The_77 said:

I agree that Puel’s man and game management were poor. His inability to articulate any tangible goals for the club also left all of us completely baffled during his tenure. 
 

Puel’s clubs are generally decent at recruitment whenever he’s at the helm and I don’t think that’s a complete coincidence. Also, let’s not pretend that Soyuncu hit the ground running when he arrived— he had a very difficult start with us, particularly when defending 1v1s. Soyuncu needed to work an awful lot on his footwork in training and over the offseason before he became the PFA Team of the Season beast that we all know and love. 

 

Soyuncu made 4 starts that season having previously been in the Bundesliga team of the season with Freiburg. He definitely needed time to adapt but he still badly under used him IMO. 

 

8 hours ago, The whole world smiles said:

It's difficult to pin point who is responsible for what transfer as there is usually multiple people involved. But it does make me laugh how when it's a bad signing certain unfavorable managers get all of the blame and when it's a good one other unfavourable managers get absolutely no credit. 

 

but we can say for a fact that he was manager during a period of very good recruitment (Maddison, Ricardo, Soyuncu, Evans, tielemans), we can also say for a fact that he was directly involved in the Ricardo (played under him at nice and quotes from him when he signed) and Tilemans (Monaco links) so even if it's just those two (highly doubtful) it's not a bad record. 

 

He also came with a reputation of developing young players and showed that here persisting with Chillwell over Fuchs dispite most of the blue army's protests the club then reaped the benefits selling him for huge money, he also bought Harvey barnes back from loan early and chucked him straight in the 11.

 

Soyuncu was only given minutes the season after he left because we sold Maguire at the time we had Morgan who was still playing and captain, Maguire and Evans. So you can't blame puel for not using soy more, I think the club signed him with half an eye on Maguire leaving oh for such forward planning now. 

See I can blame Puel because if you're going to praise him for blooding Chilwell and persevering with him despite being very inconsistent in an attempt to develop on the job then in the same vein we signed 2 young CB's that summer and opted to loan one out who was exceptional for Celtic and then barely played the other who was coveted around Europe and had been in the Bundesliga team of the season. 

 

Don't forget as well that Maguire was mediocre in 2018/19 compared to 2017/18, Morgan was declining under Puel and Evans struggled initially.

 

Puel gets very little credit from me for anything. Dog muck.

[SK3Blue]

I don't know if anyone spotted Deano with Mendy as he was about to be subbed on.  Deano was hugging him, and encouraging him, even though it was late in the game as he came on. 

He appears to give the right balance between support and encouragement, but you know if you haven't put the work in, you'll incur the wrath.

 

[An Sionnach]

Smith, Terry and Shakespeare played over 1500 senior games between them and the players will respect that. Rodgers and Davies played none. If Rodgers had an experienced ex footballer as an assistant it would have been a better bridge to the players. He never has because it would highlight his own lack of experience. While Rodger's tactics were successful , this made little difference but when they began to fail , trust quickly began to break down. The only way to understand your players properly is if you have been there yourself.

Edited 24 April 2023 by An Sionnach

[Grebfromgrebland]

Pretty sure Kolo played a few games 

[ParkerPen]

6 minutes ago, An Sionnach said:

Smith, Terry and Shakespeare played over 1500 senior games between them and the players will respect that. Rodgers and Davies played none. If Rodgers had an experienced ex footballer as an assistant it would have been a better bridge to the players. He never has because it would highlight his own lack of experience. While Rodger's tactics were successful , this made little difference but when they began to fail , trust quickly began to break down. The only way to understand your players properly is if you have been there yourself.

never thought of this aspect before but its a good point.

I will always counter that you don't have to be a successful player to be a great manager, but that they need their assistant and backroom staff is very valid

plus rogders is a tool so always needed someone more human to act as a go between

[ParkerPen]

5 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

Pretty sure Kolo played a few games 

great playing record, but not sure what he brought to the table as a coach.

[Grebfromgrebland]

1 minute ago, ParkerPen said:

great playing record, but not sure what he brought to the table as a coach.

That's my point. 

[Scotch]

7 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

Pretty sure Kolo played a few games 

And how many times did you see him contribute anything? He was always just sitting with Brendan's littlebl gaggle of yes men. Didn't ever appear to be talking to players, giving instructions or being involved in any way... Not to say he didn't in training but any time there was a camera within the vicinity, he appeared to wither. 

 

This group of players seem more inclined to respond to a strong character and Brendan didn't appear to have many of them around him. 

[Grebfromgrebland]

That's my point he had experience but was still probably useless 

[HybridFox]

Love John Terry's Instagram stories around Seagrave. Seems to be making more use of the facilities than the players 

[fuchsntf]

12 hours ago, Phenom said:

Great clubs reload, they don’t rebuild. 

Reload…is always with same product..

Rebuild is with different rescources…each new player is different so a rebuild takes place…

[Chelmofox]

2 hours ago, HybridFox said:

Love John Terry's Instagram stories around Seagrave. Seems to be making more use of the facilities than the players 

Leading by example. Previous leadership couldn't wait to get out of the place

.

[fuchsntf]

2 hours ago, Scotch said:

And how many times did you see him contribute anything? He was always just sitting with Brendan's littlebl gaggle of yes men. Didn't ever appear to be talking to players, giving instructions or being involved in any way... Not to say he didn't in training but any time there was a camera within the vicinity, he appeared to wither. 

 

This group of players seem more inclined to respond to a strong character and Brendan didn't appear to have many of them around him. 

Even S&S after.. Could be a good point..We needed strong characters outside the

playing staff….

The nearly 14 months of Corner & defence repetative errors shown coaching wasn’t working.  ( maybe another reason Soyu -Rodgers  didn’t see eye to eye)..

I believe Rodgers is a good weather man,and can’t organise the battering down of the hatches in storm when long periods of coaching are needed..BUT

unlike some ..I give out more the plaudits to his times at Swansea,L‘pool , Celtic.

He wasn’t responsible for Gerrards Slip,which would of given his career another

perspective…Celtic he took them again  into another strong run of trophies..

Finding fault, with handling of players is easy in ALL squads, there will always be the disgruntled player and group of fans…(FTers fall for such clickbait everytime)

Before and after Fergies, Mourhinos , Hitzfeld,Beckenbauer successes,there is always that moaning group of ( a la Steptoe,)  little bleeders who can’t & wont see the bigger picture…

We live in a very, & close to a ASBO,cynical , blame, era of society…Everybody is so bloody perfect they have time to take off, and point fingers around social media…

Many a lambasted ( in this case) football manager,would of in the past have been given more credit & respect in their tenures. Now all of the positions are up for 

small pr•ck syndrome of nobodies, who have never reached anything in their life.

But instantly ready & willing at every opportunity to jump on the negative platform…

Not one of Leicesters players,who haven’t gone through the Lazy ,immature rhetoric of Not good enough for the PL,or even championship football…

That says more on the  members of the Forum,than intended ,or relevant targets.

There is a massive difference between forum banter,and cynical groups mob criticism of players qualities..or managers character..There are times when POV are heavily abused, from fans who haven’t any idea of the all round situation.

 

 

[Cincinnati Fox]

Hopefully he plays a bit more poker in his press conference than Brendan, Rodgers did my head in telling the other team our exact injury news etc just to help them even further with his predictable tactics

[The_77]

8 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

 

Soyuncu made 4 starts that season having previously been in the Bundesliga team of the season with Freiburg. He definitely needed time to adapt but he still badly under used him IMO. 

Sure he was in the Bundesliga TOTS but the PL has also been littered with Bundesliga superstars who flop.
 

He was always brought in to be ready for the next season; it worked out perfectly and according to the plan. 

 

I really doubt you’ll find anyone who was calling for more Cags that season. We were patient it with him and we reaped the rewards of that with his outstanding follow-up season. 

[AjcW]

6 hours ago, HybridFox said:

Love John Terry's Instagram stories around Seagrave. Seems to be making more use of the facilities than the players 

I'd love to know what the 'SOS Recovery' supplement packet is intended for. 6x Omega 3 capsules and a tumeric capsule!!! That's got hangover written all over it!

[HybridFox]

1 hour ago, Cincinnati Fox said:

Hopefully he plays a bit more poker in his press conference than Brendan, Rodgers did my head in telling the other team our exact injury news etc just to help them even further with his predictable tactics

Just need to interview Madders, he'll tell you everything 

[HankMarvin]

8 hours ago, An Sionnach said:

Smith, Terry and Shakespeare played over 1500 senior games between them and the players will respect that. Rodgers and Davies played none. If Rodgers had an experienced ex footballer as an assistant it would have been a better bridge to the players. He never has because it would highlight his own lack of experience. While Rodger's tactics were successful , this made little difference but when they began to fail , trust quickly began to break down. The only way to understand your players properly is if you have been there yourself.

That’s just the shelf life of top flight managers, with the exception of the few elite. They don’t tend to last long anymore.

just 2 years on average.

In 2012 that average was four years. 

[sacreblueits442]

6 hours ago, fuchsntf said:

He wasn’t responsible for Gerrards Slip,which would of given his career another

perspective

... let's just get this right, that did not cost them the trophy, he still had a 2 point lead going into the last 2 games being against Crystal Palace and Stoke!!!

3-0 up at Palace with 11 minutes to go and he draws the game 3-3, eventually finishing 2 points behind Man. City. He cannot handle pressure, he pushes it on to his team and we have seen a repeat of this, with our last day's failures to reach the top 4, when it was easier to have finished higher than 4th.

[CosbehFox]

6 hours ago, Chelmofox said:

Leading by example. Previous leadership couldn't wait to get out of the place

.

Well Rodgers virtually lived there too but didn’t have a social media account.
 

He’s gone and his comments in the last year were terrible. But let’s not revise certain things. 

[An Sionnach]

1 hour ago, HankMarvin said:

That’s just the shelf life of top flight managers, with the exception of the few elite. They don’t tend to last long anymore.

just 2 years on average.

In 2012 that average was four years. 

Short termism is the rule now in top class football , good or bad its just a fact . That emphasises the stupidity of giving Rodgers an extended contract. One year rolling contracts should be the norm.

[westernpark]

11 hours ago, An Sionnach said:

Smith, Terry and Shakespeare played over 1500 senior games between them and the players will respect that. Rodgers and Davies played none. If Rodgers had an experienced ex footballer as an assistant it would have been a better bridge to the players. He never has because it would highlight his own lack of experience. While Rodger's tactics were successful , this made little difference but when they began to fail , trust quickly began to break down. The only way to understand your players properly is if you have been there yourself.

Nice idea, but he tried this with Frank Lampard senior at Watford and Reading, and it didn’t work.