Leicester, Leeds & Southampton

“Marching on together, down the plughole again,
Bielsa’s gone, clean sheets none…
**** off Harry Kane”. :)(y)
 
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Leicester went down because of managed decline really, it was coming.

Been a lot written about how their owners’ business is duty free, which went into freefall during the pandemic. They obviously pulled the plug and replaced important players with poor ones (Schmeichel for the crappy new keeper, Fofana for Faes).

Their squad is still good but combine that with far too many contracts expiring of their best players (Maddison and Tielemans), and Vardy showing his age. Players not buying in and poor players replacing good ones is a recipe for relegation, not sure any of the managers could have done much.

Also a bit sick of people talking about Leeds like they’re thoroughbreds who’ve lit up the league during their stay. They were absolute class under Bielsa for 6 months, finished 4th bottom last season, relegated without a fight this season in their three years back in the league. So overhyped.
 
jonny_greenings_sock said:
Leicester went down because of managed decline really, it was coming.

Been a lot written about how their owners’ business is duty free, which went into freefall during the pandemic. They obviously pulled the plug and replaced important players with poor ones (Schmeichel for the crappy new keeper, Fofana for Faes).

Their squad is still good but combine that with far too many contracts expiring of their best players (Maddison and Tielemans), and Vardy showing his age. Players not buying in and poor players replacing good ones is a recipe for relegation, not sure any of the managers could have done much.

Also a bit sick of people talking about Leeds like they’re thoroughbreds who’ve lit up the league during their stay. They were absolute class under Bielsa for 6 months, finished 4th bottom last season, relegated without a fight this season in their three years back in the league. So overhyped.
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Yes Leeds generally struggled in the prem, no doubt about that.

The hype is from Sky who just want a team to pull in the West Yorkshire viewers.
 
newyddion said:
All relegated.

Not such the switcheroo as many are making out..

Leicester - Sheffield
Leeds - Burnley
Southampton - Luton

Similar sized clubs.. not much in it really.

Leicester should have stuck with Brendan Rodgers.. Leeds with Jesse Marsch. Southampton have been dog eggs for years now, Leeds got lucky with Bielsa.

How on earth Everton avoided the drop there I do not know. Very close and this they with be amongst the favourites to go down next season with Sheffield and Luton.

New managers?

Please please please announce Chris Wilder as the new Leeds manager.. an absolute match made in heaven!
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I hope you're right about Everton. Been stinking out the Premier League for years now, and all the bleating about relegation being catastrophic. Just go down will you!
 
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TeaCider said:
Top scorers in England.
Young manager with strong connections to Man United.

I'd guess there are a few more factors on top of that which I haven't noticed.
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Plus, bookies adjust the odds based on who's getting backed. There'll be a bunch of over-excited Ipswich fans parting with their money. That said, like Sunderland this year, there's every reason to think Ipswich could challenge for the play-offs next season. League one was pretty strange last year. Plymouth are the latest club who claim to have cracked the use of data and analytics. Maybe they have, maybe they just got lucky, but to have 3 teams all on over 90 points was pretty strange.
 
newyddion said:
Leeds seem to have a very heavy weight around their neck.. players on high wages.

Southampton will lose what they have and struggle to bring in players imo.. they do have a great academy tho..

Leicester will be the strongest imo.. most fit for purpose players right there.

Sunderland with mogga will be stronger.
Coventry will be weaker imo..
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I think Southampton - may - be the best setup as they bought a young team - its if they can keep their best players & all the young lads they signed can cope with Championship's relentless schedule..

in Armstrong & Adams they have strikers that can score at this level & as a team they can play some really decent football - they IMHO, could be the Burnley of the 3 to come down..

Leicester - many players leaving at the end of their contracts: zero money in from them.. Maddison will be off & probably a few others too.. a squad that failed to fight in the PL may even be more soft centred in the Championship... they could really struggle, if on paper look the best of the 3 coming down..

Leeds... could do a Watford, how many managers will they go through & can they get some - quality - signings in? 78 goals conceded, that is a big problem for them....

I think this Championship season could be superb viewing... lots of big clubs, should be some good football & as ever uber competitive..
 
Without stating the obvious, it's critical for Leeds and Southampton to get the right managerial appointment. They will both lose their better players, but they should still have the core of a decent Championship squad. Good managers, they could do alright.

Leicester......could go either way. Burnley or Norwich. Lot of very highly paid players, lot of their top players will be off and I don't know how good their squad/reserves are. Can they step up? Their recruitment has been pretty poor over the past couple of seasons so assembling a squad built for the championship......

Bit too early to judge, but going to be another brutal season in the Championship next season.

One thing, expect Leeds to be live for 90% of their games and Sky having frequent w*nkfests over them 🤢🤢🤢
 
h_m_boro said:
Without stating the obvious, it's critical for Leeds and Southampton to get the right managerial appointment. They will both lose their better players, but they should still have the core of a decent Championship squad. Good managers, they could do alright.

Leicester......could go either way. Burnley or Norwich. Lot of very highly paid players, lot of their top players will be off and I don't know how good their squad/reserves are. Can they step up? Their recruitment has been pretty poor over the past couple of seasons so assembling a squad built for the championship......

Bit too early to judge, but going to be another brutal season in the Championship next season.

One thing, expect Leeds to be live for 90% of their games and Sky having frequent w*nkfests over them 🤢🤢🤢
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we may get more air time as may Sunderland because we both play decent footy & we - did this season - score lots of goals..
 
Boroboyyo said:
How are they similar sized clubs ?

Leeds are much bigger than Burnley ffs . Southampton are bigger than Luton too .
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BobUpnDown said:
I think Southampton - may - be the best setup as they bought a young team - its if they can keep their best players & all the young lads they signed can cope with Championship's relentless schedule..

in Armstrong & Adams they have strikers that can score at this level & as a team they can play some really decent football - they IMHO, could be the Burnley of the 3 to come down..

Leicester - many players leaving at the end of their contracts: zero money in from them.. Maddison will be off & probably a few others too.. a squad that failed to fight in the PL may even be more soft centred in the Championship... they could really struggle, if on paper look the best of the 3 coming down..

Leeds... could do a Watford, how many managers will they go through & can they get some - quality - signings in? 78 goals conceded, that is a big problem for them....

I think this Championship season could be superb viewing... lots of big clubs, should be some good football & as ever uber competitive..
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It looks like a non super league premiership!
I’m looking forward to the coming season..
Chris Wilder & Leeds would be superb.

Russell Martin to Southampton and Dean Smith to continue at Leicester.. feels very much like a championship appointment.
 
I had a look at Leicester's "next season" squad and took out everyone with a contract due to expire in the next 12 months (before June 24). It's a bloodbath. Who is left:
Danny Ward
Daniel Iversen
Wout Faes
Harry Souttar
Victor Kristiansen
Timothy Castagne
James Justin
Ricardo Pereira
Boubakary Soumaré
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Harvey Barnes
Patson Daka
George Hirst

There are some good players in there. I suspect that some of the players in their last 12 months will just run down their contracts to get a bigger move. Obviously they will sell Maddison and presumably Iheanacho and Ndidi. They could clear £80m for those three.
1685354916142.png

This is a Burnley style rebuild. As Burnley have shown, it can be done but you absolutely have to get everything right.
 
Bruce said:
I had a look at Leicester's "next season" squad and took out everyone with a contract due to expire in the next 12 months (before June 24). It's a bloodbath. Who is left:
Danny Ward
Daniel Iversen
Wout Faes
Harry Souttar
Victor Kristiansen
Timothy Castagne
James Justin
Ricardo Pereira
Boubakary Soumaré
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Harvey Barnes
Patson Daka
George Hirst

There are some good players in there. I suspect that some of the players in their last 12 months will just run down their contracts to get a bigger move. Obviously they will sell Maddison and presumably Iheanacho and Ndidi. They could clear £80m for those three.
View attachment 58463

This is a Burnley style rebuild. As Burnley have shown, it can be done but you absolutely have to get everything right.
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Championship big guns..
Manning, Diallo, Gyökeres

League One prospects Edwards & Bird

They’ll be up there

Ivan Tovey in the January window?
 
Zoophonic said:
Rogers was the architect of their demise.
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No he wasn't. The father passing away and his son replacing him, plus the massive impact on their main business back in the far east meant they had to sell players and couldn't invest. The let some VERY decent players leave and barely signed anyone. Rodgers was dealt a terrible hand.
 
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