Going against the grain: The case to keep Brendan Rodgers
After Saturday's result, it certainly feels like I'm in the minority now but the last thing on my mind would be sacking Brendan Rodgers. Admittedly, he's not without his faults like all managers but I think the problems run far deeper than that.
We have finished 5th in the Premier League twice under his tenure and, while we missed out on Champions League qualification on both occasions, we had no right to be competing with the teams around us. He's also won us the FA Cup and Community Shield and with the number of injuries last season, to finish 8th and reach the UEFA Conference League semi-final was a credible season.
Kasper Schmeichel aside, this is still largely the same squad of players that achieved the above and although it's been a disappointing start to the season letting the lead slip late on at home against both Brentford and Southampton, now isn't the time for knee-jerk reactions and sacking the manager after just three games.
You only have to look at Manchester United’s current troubles to know that managerial stability is essential in rebuilding a squad and sooner or later, we need to back a manager to freshen ours up. The Leicester City squad currently has an average age of 27, with the culmination of even Jamie Vardy's seemingly unending career soon on the horizon.
Tied hands and cut cloth
In Brendan’s defence, his hands have also been tied somewhat over the summer and, although he has overseen the arrivals of Perez, Bertrand, Vestergaard and Soumare, the blame cannot be solely attributed to the manager for those players being on long-term contracts with high wages.
He's also had to cut his cloth accordingly this season, losing one of his biggest leaders in the dressing room in Schmeichel. As a manager, you simply cannot legislate for Wesley Fofana having only been here two years, being injured for almost half of that and refusing to play after signing a five-year contract back in March.
We have been poor at the back for a number of months now, so in my mind I'd now sell Fofana for around £85m, if the offer comes, and use those funds to get in another centre-half and a right-winger. It would also cost the club upwards of £20m to sack Brendan and if we are supposedly 'skint' then surely this would be better invested in the playing staff?
Coming out fighting
He hasn't been dealt the best hand this summer but one of my main criticisms is that not only has a negative narrative been allowed to manifest within the press and the fanbase but it now appears to have infiltrated the training ground and dressing room as well.
Leicester sides of the previous few years have thrived on having their backs against the wall and coming out fighting, as was the case when Nigel Pearson, Claudio Ranieri and Claude Puel were all dismissed. So far this season the team has wilted under any semblance of pressure and I don't see that changing at Stamford Bridge unfortunately, especially with the ongoing Fofana saga.
We've also had 54.2% possession this season, the sixth most in the league, but only 38 shots at goal which is the 12th highest. We were the fifth highest scorers last season though, so with Harvey Barnes back from injury this shouldn’t continue to be a problem. Our chance conversion rate is also the eighth highest at 13.2%.
Winnable games?
Once the transfer window is closed, we'll know more about who actually wants to be here and who doesn't and we also have some very winnable games where hopefully we'll pick up some form.
A lot has been made about us not signing any players, but you only have to look at the huge investment the likes of Manchester United, West Ham, Wolves, Liverpool and Chelsea have made in the summer and the inconsistent starts they have all made - you don't see many rumours of their managers being sacked.
Would anyone have expected the likes of Leeds, Fulham, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest to be in the top half after three games? There is a long way left to go this season.
In Brendan I still trust…