|
Ahead of Saturday's game against
Leicester at The Hawthorns, we caught up with City fan Colin. He gives us his
views on his club's struggles this season, their chances of avoiding the drop, Nigel Pearson, and more. You can follow Colin on Twitter @Ultra_Fox.
I suppose
we have to start with the club's current perilous league placing. Did you expect
to be in this position at the start of the season and can you realistically now
avoid the drop?
Given the momentum and
confidence we built up during the previous Championship-winning campaign, I and
other Foxes genuinely believed a mid-table finish lay within our grasp. Our
early season results and performances appeared to bear that out. However, in
retrospect the lack of Premier experience within both the playing squad and the
management team has proved to be a serious weakness which our opponents have
often exploited. Although survival is still a mathematical possibility, it will
take an improvement in form and results well beyond what we have witnessed to
date in order to secure it.
Is there
any particular reason why you have struggled for results?
It’s hard to identify any single
failing. but we haven’t met the required standard in any area of the field. The
defence has made too many basic errors, the midfield has often been outnumbered
and overran, and the attack has lacked composure at vital moments. The
manager’s tactics and team selections have often been found wanting too.
What's the
Foxes' recent form been like?
Well we won our last game, and
deservedly so against a West Ham side who weren’t perhaps as focused as they
might have been earlier in the season. We also scored five times in our last
away game at Spurs - unfortunately, though, two of those goals were in our own
net and contributed to yet another defeat. With the exception of a dire cup
exit at Villa - which I guess Baggies will be able to relate to - and a woeful
first half at Old Trafford, our form on the road, at least since Christmas, has
perhaps been better than results would suggest.
Leicester
boss Nigel Pearson has been the centre of a number of controversies this season.
A case of 'storms in a teacup' or something more serious?
He’s in a prominent position at
a big club (and remunerated accordingly), but he hasn’t been seen at his best
when dealing with the responsibilities and challenges that he has had to face
during the past few months. Several of the incidents in which he has been
involved could and should have been readily avoided, both for his sake and that
of the club. Ultimately, though, it will be the outcome of results during the
whole season which will determine his eventual fate.
Does
Pearson still have the backing of the club's supporters?
For the time being, yes,
although his support on social media and certain message boards is far less
secure than was the case a couple of months ago. Should events take their
expected course, the owners will have a big decision to make in the summer.
Thoughts on
the first game between the sides back in November?
It wasn’t a game that lingered
long in the memory apart from the farcical own goal that decided it. I’ll be
hoping for rather better fare on Saturday.
Player of
the season?
Leonardo Ulloa and Riyad Mahrez
deserve honourable mentions, but Esteban Cambiasso has shown glimpses of the
quality which brought him so much success in his earlier career. He’s been a
class act on and off the pitch and deserves a better farewell to the Premier
League than he’s likely to receive.
Villain of
the season?
For now, judgement is reserved..
What line-up and tactics can we
expect to see from Leicester on Saturday?
The manager will probably stick
with the 4-2-3-1 formation that proved effective in the last game, though Marc
Albrighton may start in place of the out-of-sorts Mahrez. He’ll also be fairly
adventurous as we’ve now reached the stage where only wins are likely to be
enough.
Prediction
and thoughts on Saturday's game?
I can see both teams scoring,
and think a draw is the most likely result.
|
