Enzo Maresca frustration boils over as he says 'moment there's doubt about the idea, I will leave'

[Chelmofox]

12 minutes ago, Walkerfox said:

Whether his style is working or not, you can’t go threatening to leave the club because of some moans in the crowd after the 8,482nd backwards pass

 

Massively immature from him. 

He's not actually saying that though is he.  I think this is all a complete overreaction. 

[Basildon Fox]

Just now, Chocolate Teapot said:

Piss off then if they don't like it.

Standard I am a better fan than them response.

 

10 minutes ago, Les-TA-Jon said:

I think it's hugely immature from the thousands of Leicester 'supporters' to groan every time we have the audacity to pass it backwards or sideways or to 'only' be winning 1-0.

 

It's like people haven't watched the Sport, let alone the 29 games this season...

Again, how is preferring a different style and getting frustrated immature from a fan in any way?  Not saying I agree with GERRITFORWARD every 2 minutes but they are allowed an opinion.

[Babylon]

4 minutes ago, Manley Farrington-Brown said:

Third?

Maybe second, if you prefer this to last time we were in the Championship.

Maybe fourth, if you rate the Dunkirk-style achievement of the great escape more highly. All personal choices.

 

To be honest, it's better not to bother trying to rank things*, but to enjoy the good ones whenever they come.
 

 

*but obvs 2015-16 is the best season...

The fact we have to think about it says a lot and of course we’ve not achieved anything as yet. 

[Chelmofox]

35 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

The thing is when you actually put this into context, the style we’re playing isn’t dissimilar to what Brendan was cooking up, and to an extent what Puel tried as well. That’s nearly 8 years of this sideways passing slow build up play. I completely sympathise with people going week in week out that are sick of it. The end of Brendan should’ve been a different direction yet we’ve kinda just carried on the same. 

Can you not see the difference to how Enzo's team plays around in our half and how a Brendan team passed sideways between the defence? 

[goody2028]

We must have the most embarrassing fan base in the division. 

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

4 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I have pissed off, I gave up my season ticket and I’m happy with that decision. 

Good. See you then 👍

[Dahnsouff]

 delusions of grandeur (* not Enzo, actually cannot believe I felt the need to clarify that)

Edited 31 January by Dahnsouff

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

3 minutes ago, Basildon Fox said:

Standard I am a better fan than them response.

I literally am by the very definition of the word.

[Aleksz]

7 minutes ago, Lionator said:

This is very different to both of the examples you give.

 

The aim of Enzo-ball is to use the ball to draw the opposition out of position.

 

You pass it around the back hoping to entice the press. You then use your intricate passing skills to not only get past the press, but then utilise the space left by the press to create opportunities. Sometimes that may happen immediately (the first goal yesterday), but sometimes it'll take 50-60 of sideways passing before the opposition eventually bite, step in and leave space (goal against Ipswich).  It is chess-like and yes it's not rock and roll football as Klopp called it 10 years ago, but it's incredibly intelligent and effective.

You’re spot on. But the moaners and groaners don’t have the tactical understanding of the game to appreciate it. It’s the kind of detail that completely passes them by.

[SamA27]

37 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

Great question! I'm already calling that it will be a sh*t show next season as we lose games like the way Brighton did last night. In general, I tend to back managers for a long time till it really is clear that it's time to go and I don't see that changing with this one.

 

I have coaching certificates myself. Do I think I will ever be a real manager? Sadly, only on Football manager, but it is something I think a lot about. I have my own company and I feel like there are a lot of similarities to running a company as there is in coaching a football team, no matter what the level. I think that's one reason why I find sports management fascinating.

• What happens if Plan A doesn't work? Do you keep at it or change? At my company, we are currently on Plan C . But it's working! If we kept to Plan A, it would have been over by now.
   
• Culture. You try to set up and define a culture. People you recruit that fit that culture take the company forwards, those that don't often cause chaos or have to be moved on. But what if you need to hire someone with a skill set that is essential, but they don't fit the culture? E.g. a legal specialist? What if the culture you setup in the first place was wrong? Then what?

 

To answer your question, I don't think this system can beat superior teams consistently. I do expect us to have some awesome results, e.g. playing this way, I could see us going to Man City and beating them 3-0 away with 55% possession. However, I could also see us losing 5-0 at home to West Ham despite having 75% possession. And yes it will be West Ham because of the way Moyes plays. They will bully the life out of Winks and Ricardo, and it has a high chance of working.

 

I personally would make changes, and have differing ways to play against certain opposition. The Southampton away game this season was the only one where a Championship team has had more possession than us 11vs11, but we spanked them. I would also change it on occasion against other teams, e.g. West Ham. Personally I would also be a bit more direct than Pep, Enzo, Arteta, etc. But it's notable how Klopp dialled back how attacking his teams are to be more control based. He did that for a reason!

 

However, I understand why coaches like Enzo have a meticulous plan that they stick to like glue. Communication in any organisation is difficult. Confusing your message is often a far worse crime, as staff / players get confused as to what to do. Let's be honest, footballers are not the smartest. Over the last 10 years, positional play has taken over from free-flowing artistry of classic number 10s' like Zidane, Maradona, Ronaldinho, Kaka, etc. But it's because when you are drilled day in, day out and know exactly what to do in a given situation, it becomes easy and at times automatic. So really you should only switch it up once your team has reached a certain mastery of the first system. And as of writing, we haven't! There are quite a few issues with the way we play, though overall it's clearly working.

Well, you should know more than anyone else, what does Pep say in his book about plans?

"If Plan A doesn't work, you keep trying till you make Plan A work. There isn't a plan B or C" (this is not a direct quote)

Enzo is straight out of the school of Pep, he's done pretty well in management, hasn't he?!

[Basildon Fox]

Just now, Chocolate Teapot said:

I literally am by the very definition of the word.

Well done to you. 

 

I will hang on every word you say from now on because you write in a matter-of-fact style and you get some snippets of information every now and again so your opinion is much more validated than everyone else. 

[VintageFox73]

The remit for this season is shit or bust  ! Promotion is a must ….As much as i find the style of play slow and boring, its doing what its supposed to do , get us back up at the first time of asking ! Enzo will probably know this system will kill us in the premier league and will change to suit . Top will not let this happen again guaranteed , hes learnt from his mistakes  . 

 

If we do mess it up ( we wont ) this squad will not be together next season and we will be in the shit ! Lets just back him & Top , mot doing a bad yob are they !

[David Hankey]

The fact of the matter is that some folk have such sort memories.

 

After all the trials and tribulations of season 2002/23 and the humiliation of being relegated not so long after our "glory days" we should all get behind this manager who has worked wonders with the "talent" he has.

 

This is out title to lose and we should all be delighted at our current position irrespective of the minutiae in way we play. Just look at the table!!

 

We have an excellent manager who is in post to do a job and as far as I am concerned his detractors should go and find another Club because they're not helping here.

[Gamble92]

I absolutely loath the type of home supporters who are moaning and leaving early. They are ruining our home support. That said -

 

Did I think we would do this well? Yeah I did actually. I predicted 100+ points quite easily and I said so in numerous posts before the season started. I realise there were the usual suspects predicting we'd struggle to get mid table and the rest of it. I felt like as soon as we got Winks and Coady in we were back on track and would smash it. And we have. 

 

The issue for me is - do I Enzo and his philosophy as the main reason we are doing so well? No I don't. I see the players and the depth of squad as the reason we have done so well. Does that mean I detach any praise for how well we have done away from Enzo? Absolutely not. He's done great and if we get promoted he should be praised highly for turning the culture around. 

 

That said - I do not think how well we have done is a glowing indictment of his philosophy. You can detach the two things. The games it works are ones where teams have sat so far off us and the way we set up with inverted wing backs stops the opposition exploiting us on the counter brilliantly. It's poor to watch, but it works. 

 

The big issue for that with me is bigger games that we have won haven't been because of the tactics. Or at least there's many more examples of us not winning these games because of lack of proactive tactics. I'd love to hear a case against that. I fear for us when we employ these tactics in the Premier League. In theory we wait for better teams to come at us and draw them out of position to exploit them. I've seen no evidence of that. Southampton was just loads of mistakes by a team early into their season for me.

 

So am I moaning about Enzo like the imbeciles in the ground? No. But do I think he should be excused from all worries and criticism because he's achieving what he really should be with this squad? No. Not everything is black and white. 

[Guest Chocolate Teapot]

1 minute ago, Basildon Fox said:

Well done to you. 

 

I will hang on every word you say from now on because you write in a matter-of-fact style and you get some snippets of information every now and again so your opinion is much more validated than everyone else. 

Enzo rattles you.

The style of football rattles you.

I rattles you.

 

Maybe it's you?

[Arriba Los Zorros]

2 hours ago, Mike the Metal Ed said:

A dustbin lid could walk this league.

Like is happening at Leeds?

[HighPeakFox]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/enzo-maresca-frustration-boils-over-9068058

 

The Leicester City manager feels it is being taken for granted what his side are achieving after their 22nd win from 29 Championship games against Swansea on Tuesday

 

ByJordan Blackwell
07:10, 31 JAN 2024UPDATED08:34, 31 JAN 2024

Enzo Maresca’s frustrations over the fan response to his style of play boiled over last night as he threatened to leave Leicester City if doubts over his philosophy intensify.

Maresca oversaw a 3-1 win for City over Swansea on Tuesday night, a result that puts them 10 points clear at the top of the Championship. They’re not only on course for promotion, but to eclipse the highest-ever points tally in English professional football, Reading’s 106 in 2006.

But still Maresca’s style of play has some detractors. There were smatterings of shouts to get the ball forward from the stands at the King Power Stadium, as well as a few groans when City went backwards to keep possession.

 

 

 

Since his arrival at City, Maresca has routinely appealed to supporters to get behind his team and create an atmosphere to help them earn big results, and he did so again before the clash with Swansea. But he suggested afterwards that some fans are taking for granted what his side are achieving.

“Probably the people, they think it’s easy to win games, but it’s not easy,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference. “I just want to remind that we have played 34 official games and we have won 26. That is a huge number and probably the people they think it’s easy to win games. But it’s not like this.

“You can feel the fans when they’re not happy. Probably some people they take some things for granted. But it’s not like this. Twenty-six wins out of 34. It’s something unbelievable. Probably when you win, win, win at home, and you continue to win, people think it’s easy. But it’s not easy.

“I arrive in this club to play with this idea. The moment there is some doubt about the idea, the day after, I will leave. It’s so clear. No doubts.

“We have won 26 of 34, a huge number. If people think it’s easy and take it for granted, it’s not like this. Huge respect for the players and the effort they are doing. Hopefully we can reach and give our fans the right joy at the end of the season.”

Most of the grumbles came in the latter stages of the first half, and Maresca did admit that his team lacked intensity on the ball in that period. He feels his players may have slacked a little after taking the lead so early, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring inside three minutes.

“In this moment, because we are in the last part of the season, the most important thing is to try to win games,” he said. “Probably the first goal after two minutes didn’t help the team in terms of we thought it was more easy. We dropped the intensity on the ball, not off the ball because we pressed very well, very high. Then second half it was a little bit better.

 

“Even if we drop a little bit the intensity on the ball in the first half, we still had two or three clear chances. I’m very happy because we are in the last part of the season and now it’s important to win games.”

Wow, if he posted that himself on here, he might get 24 hours off 

[Spudulike]

6 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

He's not actually saying that though is he.  I think this is all a complete overreaction. 

Typical headline grabbing spin. I can't see any 'boiling over' going on or making any threat to leave. Not dissimilar to most managers that say they will stay for as long as they are wanted. 

[Basildon Fox]

Just now, VintageFox73 said:

The remit for this season is shit or bust  ! Promotion is a must ….As much as i find the style of play slow and boring, its doing what its supposed to do , get us back up at the first time of asking ! Enzo will probably know this system will kill us in the premier league and will change to suit . Top will not let this happen again guaranteed , hes learnt from his mistakes  . 

 

If we do mess it up ( we wont ) this squad will not be together next season and we will be in the shit ! Lets just back him & Top , mot doing a bad yob are they !

If you think Enzo will change the style of play then you are in for a rude awakening.  Top of the league or botttom, he will not compromise on the way his side plays, even if he ends up with the sack next season. I admire his convictions. 

 

Time will tell whether the style and the players he will have at his disposal will be able to pull it off in the Prem.

[goody2028]

1 minute ago, VintageFox73 said:

Lets just back him & Top , mot doing a bad yob are they !

The fact we even have to be posting stuff like this in a season where we’ve won 22, drew 3 and only lost 4 is hilarious. Especially when you look back at the last couple of seasons. 

[Basildon Fox]

1 minute ago, Chocolate Teapot said:

Enzo rattles you.

The style of football rattles you.

I rattles you.

 

Maybe it's you?

Enzo doesn't rattle me.  Perhaps you should read what I have put on the topic.  You thinking you are better than someone else does rattle me.  Knobbish behaviour.

[Munshi]

41 minutes ago, Basildon Fox said:

If he had just come in and it was his first season then yes I do.  People forget about the first 2 1/2 years under him where we played some of the best football I have ever seen from a Leicester team because he is a knob.

I obviously meant if Rodgers had stayed after we were relegated. 

[Nolucklcfc]

Eventually football will be played this way by every club. Don’t like it? Don’t watch it. 

[Chelmofox]

1 minute ago, Nolucklcfc said:

Eventually football will be played this way by every club. Don’t like it? Don’t watch it. 

And then someone will come up with something new. The sport evolves.

[Fox92]

2 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

The mess he was left with by the last willy puller in charge shouldn't be underplayed. He's done a cracking job imo 

What was the mess exactly? Aside from the obvious (we'd just been relegated) before those replies start.

 

We all accept this squad shouldn't have gone down last season.

 

A new manager was inheriting a good squad, good facilities and a good budget. There are not many teams in this division who can go out and spend £10m on a Tottenham player.

 

Maresca has done a good job but, seriously, anything less than top 3 would be disappointing. Only Ipswich are overachiving being in the top 4. The gap between Leeds (4th, 57 points) and WBA (5th, 45 points) highlights the quality the three relegated teams have.

 

He has overseen a change in style which I like. I'm not overlooking that btw.

 

In the summer I said Kieran McKenna wouldn't come here and got laughed at, by numerous people, telling me how big were are and how big the budget we would have?

 

Or maybe I'm overlooking it all. As long as we win the League, that's all that matters.

Edited 31 January by Fox92