does anybody else think that the incredible rise of the club this season and the amount of press coverage that we have received not just in the UK but all across the world, will help with recruiting the players that we now target, even from under many of the fallen giants of European football as this seasons achievement have raise awareness of our club in the minds of players perhaps even surpassing the likes of Liverpool in their minds.
I hope we can avoid the trap that Liverpool have fallen into, and many other 'big' teams too. I don't want to see us spending mega amounts on average players. Our scouting system has served us well and has proven that there are reasonably priced players out there with ambition and drive to get to the top without buying the 'ready made article' such as Ballotelli and that other over-priced Italian midfielder that Liverpool bought a few years ago.
We've certainly turned a few heads this last twelve months. If we can sustain our form and look like a top four team again next season then I expect a few top players could well be tempted. They'll all be looking to see if any players leave in the summer which would suggest it's a flash in the pan if some do.
Thats the next challenge. Whatever happens in the last 9 games next season we will no longer be classed as the plucky underdog
I like this team so much that I kind of don't want anyone else to come in. I just want the current bunch to keep going as they are.
But as much as Leicester have done fantastically this season and seriously not taking anything away from that. There's been a lot of clubs who have had exceptionally poor seasons and its probably the reason you find yourselves able to take this opportunity. For you guys to consolidate up there next season, you'll just have to improve your players in some way just as every other team will do in the league. Big money signings don't always work but there is an opportunity to invest in some real quality at the same time which would be poor form from leicester to not at least try and take advantage of that.
I'm sure that no matter what happens the club will continue to be astute in the transfer market. No doubt any player that we enquire about will have at least two 00's majestically appear on any valuation.
Targets will probably be more interested in coming if we have champions league football, but i don't think we'll be joining other clubs and chasing Pogba or Ibrahimovic. Im sure the club will continue to recruit players that will be affordable to us and not spend big on over the hill ex-champions league players. Walshys record speaks for itself, him and his staff find very good players in our price range. They won't always work out as good as Mahrez or Kante, but if players like these are under the radar of the big clubs, no doubt Walsh is on it. Musa might even hand in a transfer request in the summer if we are still interested, i think a striker will be paramount, but don't expect Messi to come for £60k a week and a free pizza.
If and when you win the title, everything will change for you. It will be critical that your management makes the right decisions to keep you highly competitive. I guess retaining all your top players will be the priority.
... that would be one take - another might just be that the 'also rans' have considerably raised their game this time around .. ... .leaves me with a wry smile at times ... the reality iis that Spurs, ourselves, West Ham, Everton and even Watford now have much higher calibre players playing for them ... Southampton were already there or there abouts - players that are not overawed by the Big Four and who are now expecting to compete in EVERY game rather than just getting the odd freak result ... both disingenuous and over simplistic to say that the prime reason for the current league positions is a drop in standards by the usual suspects ... they have been beaten and well beaten at times ...
Yes the quality of players are higher, but you are also playing at a higher level as a team unit, which is more important. Look at the other two top teams in the top 4 - Arsenal and City. Both have better players but their team game is consistently poorer. Your team has smashed the complacency of these big teams and played as a proper team and in the right spirit. The underdog tag will always bring support, but it's the way you are playing that is making so many fans delight at your success, including me
Hope he does mate, but if he doesn't, this is where your scouting network comes in and brings in appropriate players. I think Mehrez's evaluation by the end of the season will be in excess of £25m plus. It all depends on which money bags club comes in and how much hard ball you play. Either way you'll be able to get plenty of quality, coupled with money from potentially winning the title and then Champions league, you'll be rolling in it.
... completely agree ... Danny Murphy (who is one of the few that talks any sense on talkSport) this morning - complimented our defensive prowess both the individuals and the collectiveness of energy and desire ... but he also made the point more than once that we have 'genuine class' in the team ... ... we are not where we are because others are underperforming ... we are where we are because we have earned more points than anyone else away from home, have the league's leading scorer, the league's leading tackler and interceptor, are the league's joint top scorer and, in Riyad Mahrez, arguably have the league's best footballer ... certainly the league's best creative attacking midfielder (when you add his goals to his assists) ... that is not other teams being poor .. it's us being very very good ... yes the bubble can burst of course ... but if we should faleter we will go down swinging with plenty of effort and endeavour ...
I'd like to think that Mahrez is going to spark the bidding war of the summer, so hopefully we will be getting the very best price we can, if Sterling was £50m ...
... if Mahrez had had the season he has had playing for Man United and Barca and Real Madrid were showing interest, the prices being quoted would be north of £50m .. just look at the daft money payed for the markedly inferior Raheem Sterling ... our owners are nothing if not astute businessmen and if Mahrez goes whilst under contract I'd expect it to be for mega bucks ... would much rather we had hom for a couple of more seasons, irrespective ...
Anything is possible in this crazy world of football. Money is thrown around like nothing nowadays. What is certain is you'll get a shed load of money should Mahrez leaves but I do hope he stays put and you keep the original core of players that has made you such a sensation this season.
This article sums up the support Leicester City is getting and why. It breaks down everything really well on a footballing side too. Leicester's rise is a perfect romance in a league shaped by mega-wealth and could be 'greatest sporting upset ever' The Leicester City story is framed as an anti-money tale of shrewd scouting, good players becoming excellent and fierce togetherness.
Hopefully we'll now see the end of the lazy journalist's favourite phrase "the unfashionable Leicester City" as "unfashionable" is the very last thing we are right now!
Didn't say the PRIME reason for the current league position is a drop in standards. I agree with your first point about Spurs, yourselves, West Ham (not so much Everton) have improved significantly. The likes of Stoke, Watford and Palace also show they are more than capable of beating top placed teams as well. BUT, there is also no question whatsoever that Chelsea are considerably worse this season. Scumchester have been considerably worse ever since Ferguson left, Man City just aren't living up to expectations at all. These are factors whether you like to admit it or not.
