What more does Brendan Rodgers have to do to win back the fans?
Is it too simple to say kick right on from Monday's result and string some more wins together? A win at Bournemouth and a strong display would be the next required step. Honestly, just a consistent set of performances that start bumping up the points count would be a huge starting point. It would make fans more forgiving for decisions of recent weeks and some of the press conferences and the pointed comments. Form and place in the table papers over a lot of cracks in any footballing relationship.
For some fans, or for a more long term goal, he would do well to take a leaf out of James Maddison's book for honest, refreshingly personality-filled interviews after a match. Honesty, acknowledging some of the decisions made and giving us a little more wouldn't go amiss. It's not necessarily the losses alone that made a lot of us think his time was up but his refusal to shoulder some of the burden publicly and owning his part in it.
Brendan isn't the easiest manager to automatically love for me, his ego, mixed bag of results (ignoring the mass Celtic success) and interview style don't hugely endear him in the way other managers have, but if we weren't bottom and had backed up some of the halves of football where we did play well, none of that would matter. Monday night seemed to show there's still something there and crucially, whether or not we as fans share the belief, the players haven't lost faith in him yet.
Helen Thompson
I was delighted for Rodgers and the players yesterday, but now we're finally up and running we've got to make sure we push on from here and quickly get ourselves up the table.
Although Forest were terrible yesterday, we definitely looked back to our best with 17 shots (7 on target), a real hunger in the side and finally a clean sheet! Although they had two one-on-ones due to us playing a high line, if Rodgers can sort out the defending, we should be back to being a very competitive side again.
We've conceded the most in the division, but we have played 5 of the top 6 already and only 5 sides have scored more than us which is a positive sign. We've got a good run of fixtures now heading into the break for the World Cup, so without getting too far ahead of ourselves we need to follow up Monday's performance with another one at Bournemouth.
Realistically, I think we need 10 points from the next 4 games - then after Manchester City, another 3 or 4 points with 2 difficult away games before the break which should have us into the top half by Christmas.
Jordan Halford
Ultimately, it's down to results. No amount of personality or actions will override continued bad results. As enjoyable as it was to beat Forest, it'll mean very little if we don't back it up with results in the next few weeks.
However, if results do pick up, the first step to repairing the relationship with the fans is to sound and act like he still wants the job. I've always said that I do want him to do well - But in my mind, I think there was a spell a few weeks ago where he didn't want it any more and was actively seeking a pay-off - that really hurt me. Combining that with the errors in selection and tactics during the whole of 2022 mean it's a long way back.
The key thing is that the players have stuck with him though. Let's see if we can stop repeating the same mistakes, string some results together and importantly, win tight games (we've only really won in 2022 when it's been all our own way and we've rolled teams over). If he can do that, things will start to improve.
Iain Wright
1. Find a system which is attractive, adaptable, and more importantly wins matches
In the short term we need to win matches and, putting it crudely, anything less than 10 points before the World Cup and we’re still in trouble.
Monday reminded us all how exciting it is to watch a talented side firing on all cylinders. The 4-3-3 suits us best at the moment, both in terms of personnel and style of play, and we need to take confidence from the game and build on it.
But we have to be realistic too – Forest were woeful and we still gave up a few potentially game changing chances. We will face much sterner tests in the coming weeks and although Rodgers has earned some further respite, he has to figure out the seemingly chronic defensive weaknesses.
2. Stop patronising the fans and learn from your mistakes
Nobody within the club doubts that we are facing financial challenges, but we have a strong squad which should be able to provide relative success ahead of the next chapter, which will involve (at long last) a squad rebuild and redevelopment of the stadium.
What fans don’t want to hear is the constant bemoaning of a lack of resources and an inability to compete with the top 6 and beyond. We don’t want to be told that ‘we have had it too good’ and that we should lower our expectations.
Similarly, one of Rodgers’ key managerial weaknesses is that he doesn’t learn from his mistakes. He persistently blames anyone other than himself when it is clear that he has fallen below expectations.
In short, show some humility, Brendan.
Matt Jedruch
Perform a miracle.
The consistent comments downplaying us as a club, throwing players and fans under the bus and ridiculous, stubborn decisions have built up a lot of bad blood for me. Not to mention the drab football we've endured on a whole for a while.
I'd love him to turn it around and I'd happily eat my words, but I'm just not sure he has it in him.
It'll be a long road for me. Obviously having a bit of fight, performance and results will help, but I'm conscious that we papered over the cracks with a few results against poor sides in the past so won't think he's 'turned it around' in a hurry.
Fix the mentality and start taking responsibility rather than blaming everyone and everything else is the place to start.
Becky Taylor
For me it comes down to solving issues that are obviously plaguing us. If you keep conceding goals and losing in the same way, then the manager ain't it. More than just a few wins, we need some evidence that we've been coached, that the staff is actually learning and trying to do something about our problems.
There are signs the attacking side is improving - lots of goals from outside the box may not be sustainable, but we've certainly created more chances in the last 4 games than we did in the first 4. The defensive side is clearly the bigger problem though and Forest, despite being dismal, still should have scored a couple.
It would also be quite easy to believe the Forest result had nothing to do with the manager. It was the perfect game for him, one where the fans would be right behind the team, everyone was up for it, and the opposition was absolutely hopeless. Until we start looking like a good team when those things aren't true, the jury remains out.
James Knight
Win. And then keep winning. And then win some more. Whilst that seems harsh after the glory of last night, there is a lot of work to be done to win back the support of the fanbase. A 4-0 win against your local rivals is great, as well as important in taking us off the bottom. However the victory is almost meaningless if we lose to Bournemouth at the weekend.
Fundamentally we are still in the relegation zone, we are still way off where we need to be this season, we are still well off a league position that justifies the large salary that Brendan is being paid. The good news for Brendan is that last night has bought him some time. He now needs to use that wisely, given the run of upcoming fixtures that are very much winnable for Leicester.
Monday night was great for us Leicester fans – we were positive in attack, moved the ball with purpose and looked a lot more settled at set-pieces, both in defence and attack. The key now is to back that up consistently and start moving up the table.
Elliott Butlin
