Nine seasons, a Premier League title, a first FA Cup win, winning the Community Shield, a Champions League Quarter Final place and a Europa Conference League Semi-Final… What a time we had. Yet, after all of that, Leicester City find themselves back in the Championship after what can only be described as an eye watering collapse. Whilst many fans have just about reached the acceptance stage of the grieving process, you can’t help but still wonder, how did it get to this?
It was clear for all to see that the team and squad needed a refresh. A few extra bodies to help improve what was a decent enough squad, who just needed a bit of help to maintain that top 6 push season on season. We can look back now on last season, with the lack of investment which saw only two players arrive in the summer, and sigh, but the writing on the wall was clear.
Before long the team found themselves bottom with just one point from the first seven games. Again, we can look back now and say this would have been the perfect time to part company with Brendan Rodgers. But we all know that didn’t happen.
A surprise Brazilian, the glimpse of a turnaround and another huge and hideous fall later, there came a sacking, temporary managers and more rot. We all know how this story ends. The fact it was so avoidable is what made it all the more painful. And now here we sit with an opening game against Coventry City to look forward to.
Of course, with relegation comes the much expected loss of players. The club released eight players as their contracts came to an end and to date have sold James Maddison to Tottenham for a fee worth around £40 million. Which, on a brighter note, is big money when you’re looking at a Championship rebuild. There’s no doubt that further players will leave the club between now and when the transfer window closes. For one, the Premier League buzzards are circling overhead for last season’s top goalscorer Harvey Barnes and suspect he’ll soon be on his way.
As for the players who’ve left on a free transfer, it irks me, it really does. The club has lost a huge amount of money on those eight players, money they can ill afford to lose at this time. At any time. Every penny lost could be put back into the squad. Personally I’d love to see a football world where clubs can insist that any player with two years on their current deal either sign a new contract or expect to be sold. If a player is refusing to sign a new contract, then the club must cash in, and it should never come to a point where a player can be allowed to walk away for free(and to Villa of all places. Come on, Youri!).
The Rebuild
So now the process of rebuilding begins and Enzo Maresca is the man appointed to see us through it. A man who seems very relaxed, unfazed and seemingly very happy to be the new manager of Leicester City. He brings with him limited management experience, but he has worked with one of the best managers in the world, Pep Guardiola. That in itself brings excitement and joy and has fans dreaming of what may come at the end of the season.
Enzo’s first task was to clear the decks, freshen things up with a whole new back-room team. A team he has worked with before and a team he can trust to help get his message across to the players. While it may be sad to see favourites like Mike Stowell leave, a fresh start is very much needed! And when that fresh start includes the likes of Willy Caballero as an Assistant Manager it makes next season all the more exciting.
It’s not very often a new manager gets the chance to start almost from scratch and introduce a new style of play in the team. Most new managers will go into a club and work with the players already there and will slowly bring in his own players over a period of time. Enzo could potentially bring in at least seven or eight players and have this new look Leicester City playing his way from the start. Some of the names being thrown around as potential new signing will certainly be welcome music to the ears of Leicester City fans.
We have been so used to a certain style of play with the same players for years, but the breath of fresh air we have all been craving is finally here. The club has shown real intent with the signing of Conor Coady and Harry Winks, both excellent signings at Championship level, in positions we needed to strengthen. It shows they are serious about putting things right and challenging for an immediate return to the Premier League.
So, what are we to expect from The Championship? Here’s the reality from those of us that remember those days, it’s a long hard gruelling slog of a season. All 46 games of it. Lots of midweek games under the lights and there will be times when we’re expected to play three games a week. There are the long away trips to contend with to Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Southampton. Plus, that eye watering trip to Plymouth for the hardcore fans (let’s pray that doesn’t end up as a lunchtime or evening game). The long time spent traveling week after week for the players will have an impact on training, recovery and performances. How well they adapt will ultimately have an impact on where we might finish in the table at the end of the season.
And of course let’s not forget that we will be the big scalp that every team wants to take. Former Premier League Champions, big spenders this summer, a few big names still in the squad… every team in the league will raise their game in an attempt to beat us.
Finally comes the pressure to get promoted at the first time of asking. The owners will demand it. The manager will demand it. But biggest of all, the fans will demand it. Everyone will expect an immediate return to the Premier League and it’s vitally important to do so as soon as possible. Not only for the obvious reasons around the financial income, but also to allow Leicester City to take this blip and move forward and try to continue the longer term plans that felt so solid just a few season ago.
For the first time in nine seasons Leicester City find themselves out of the Premier League, but could this turn out to be a blessing in disguise? There is an air of optimism sweeping across the fans for the first time in a long time. The first match of the season is sold out, new signings are being welcomed, the manager is saying the right things. A reset was needed, and whilst nobody wanted that reset to involve relegation, it is giving us an opportunity to create an even better Leicester City. Let’s not waste it.
Words by Bhavik Ghelani / Cool As Leicester.
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