Is there any remotely close comparison to what Leicester
by miamioh_irishfan (2017-02-05 12:44:54)

Is doing this season, or to what they've gone through the last 4-5 seasons?

Promoted, nearly relegated one season later, champions of the top league and then relegated?

They miss N'golo Kante very very badly.


On the other hand
by miamioh_irishfan  (2017-02-08 19:09:03)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Maybe starting Demarai Gray on a regular basis will save their season.

Hell of a goal today by the young kid.


Ranieri just got the dreaded vote of confidence...
by iudomer  (2017-02-07 09:22:24)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

from the owners.


That this is even a thought is simply crazy talk. *
by NDMike2001  (2017-02-07 12:26:43)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post


Who in the world
by HTownND  (2017-02-07 16:25:52)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Would they get. Not sure people would be lining up to coach Leicester if you get fired a year after winning the PL going away.


Bob is available *
by wcnitz  (2017-02-07 23:09:54)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post


He's arrogant enough to take it too.
by NDMike2001  (2017-02-08 13:33:49)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

BTW, Klinsmann is also available.


Big Sam *
by iudomer  (2017-02-07 16:52:53)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post


Last year with Chelsea was similar.
by NDMike2001  (2017-02-06 09:54:21)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Hell, one of the best managers in the world was fired because they were facing relegation. Leicester were certainly overachievers in 2015, bolstered with a lot of confidence because the top 6 were not particularly good. Chelsea on the other hand was on the verge of collapse (and relegation) with a roster full of world class players. In some ways the opposite of Leicester. In other ways it reflects the same volatility.

As for the most direct comparison to Leicester, certainly the most recent would be Blackburn in the early 90's. Bottom dwellers from 2nd division to champions in the premier league within a couple years. Relegated a couple years later.


The rise is very hard, the fall is quite easy
by SixShutouts66  (2017-02-06 21:16:09)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Promoted teams are prime candidates for relegation within two years. Significant roster overhaul is almost always necessary the first year, and teams struggle with new players. Usually they have difficulty scoring goals and have to survive with a lot of draws, winning battles with other strugglers, and stealing points with the better-funded squads.

It's inevitable that better players and coaches are prime candidates for the transfer market. It doesn't take many bad results, injuries, and loss in Ferguson time to endanger these teams.

Other examples are Leeds United in the late 90's, spent heavily, severely underfunded, and have been relegated forever once they fell out of the top 6. Not as familiar with Nottingham Forest - European poer in the 70s to way down the leagues nowadays. Also Portsmouth going into receivership - think while in the EPL.


I don't know enough (i.e. anything) about ownership rules.
by NDMike2001  (2017-02-07 10:21:23)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Obviously the MLB is very protective of who can purchase a franchise. Obviously there is good and bad to that. But it does at least stabilize the league. While the Cinderella stories are nice, it's really a shame that outside investors can come in and manipulate the league the way that they do in the EPL.


Similar this year, too
by wcnitz  (2017-02-06 10:04:14)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Chelsea, like Leicester last year, is aided somewhat by the lack of play in Europe. Something hurting Leicester this year, already on tired legs.


It isn't just Kante
by wcnitz  (2017-02-05 18:39:44)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Guys like Morgan played a LOT of minute last year. They look to have tired legs this season. The spark they had last year isn't there. At times, Huth and Morgan look like they're running on sand.

I don't see them turning it around at this point.


I think the fatigue part is true for some of last seasons'
by miamioh_irishfan  (2017-02-06 20:00:55)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

regular players, but I think they miss Kante's constant cover for their otherwise pedestrian ability the most.


Tend to agree with this
by TCFC  (2017-02-06 12:25:08)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Although I thought they looked good/better for the first 30 minutes against United. Then United scored twice in less than two minutes and it was game over.

It doesn't get much easier for them either. They've got an FA Cup replay on Wednesday and then on the road to play an improving Swansea. Then they have to play Sevilla and Liverpool back to back before they get Hull at home.

Oh and after that, they get to play Arsenal (away) and Sevilla in a three day span.


They're not relegated yet. *
by PWK2  (2017-02-05 13:32:32)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post


No kidding *
by miamioh_irishfan  (2017-02-05 14:07:01)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post