Gary Lineker - A Kings Power (Page 3)

Aaron

October - Shaky performances

Of course the previous months have been absolutely fantastic, and so far life as Leicester manager is proving to be really enjoyable, despite the blow we took to our title chances this last it really is the best job I could ever have hoped for. Anyway, back to the month of October.

This month, SHOULD on paper be one of the easiest months of the season with lower league teams Yeovil, Doncaster, Huddersfield and Bournemouth, but how wrong were we? It was completely different to the last, the importance of these matches was great and I think we got a little complacent. A bit of pressure piled upon that as well I believe. We started with Yeovil who pulled off a huge shock. They took the lead in the 61st minute and then were given a penalty ten minutes before time. Converting the penalty, we had a steap hill to climb and almost reached the top with a late headed goal from Liam Moore. But it was not to be and I and the rest of the squad were brought back down to earth, thankfully... in some ways.

Doncaster was another toughie, We scored in the 9th minute through Wood who struck a high 20 yard shot far from the keepers reach to make it 1-0, but conceded only seven minutes on. It wasn't long before we took the lead again with our left back Capuano scoring the goal, but late on, Doncaster leveled the score to take home a point.

We were lucky in this next game, but thankfully we got the three points which is all that matters. Kevin Philips gave us the lead 20 minutes in and we were in the lead until the 76th minute, when James Vaughan pulled it level. But from out of the blue our new right back Manuel Ruz volleyed one home from outside the box on the follow up from a corner. He sent us home with the three points, which eased the pressure considering they were last place.

Lastly this month came a challenge in the form of Bournemouth. Bournemouth were the ones to break the deadlock, a Marc Pugh cross met the head of Lewis Grabban to put them in front but it took just two minutes for us to level it through Kevin Philips. The 40 year old got us a point, as well my appreciation. Even at 40 he is scoring for fun, and I am so lucky to work with him.

So, a poor month. But we sit in a play off spot, and that is fine. That is our aim. A top 2 finish would be amazing, but we must be realistic. next month we will give it our all and come back stronger as a group, learning from these past games. Watford, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Millwall all face up to us next month, and we will be ready!

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cfcmarkt

10 years

Nice update and graphics as usual, shame about the results but still think you'll win the league.

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pompeyblue

10 years

Not the best of months, even if you only lost just one game.
You are still 5th place though which is good but hopefully next month your form will pick up and you can get back up that table!

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Aaron

10 years

Cfc: Cheers mate! It was a shame, and I do like your optimism, but I don't think the title will be coming back to Leicester! Plenty of better teams, but promotion is a realistic target for us!

Pompey: It wasn't no, and yeah, a play off spot is great and something I am pleased with! I don't expect to win the league but as long as we get into the play offs I'll be happy!

I'm sure next month will be great!

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AdamFinchale

10 years

lovely start to the season

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MattZTH

10 years

Not great month, Yeovil should be a game you are winning, but hey ho, you win some you lose some. At least you are not getting beat too much, I wonder if your team will react well or badly to this month! Love the Player of the month Graphic!

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Feliks

10 years

hopefully you can bounce back and have an excellent month!

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Aaron

10 years

November - Goal Fest

Last month was by far the hardest month I have had to endeavour here at Leicester, and so far it remains the hardest after a stunning return back to top form in November. We started off with frustrating loss away to Watford. With the Hornets being arguably the hardest team we have played, I went into a counter attacking style. We took the lead early on but couldn't hold onto it, and we were 2-1 down at the break. We pulled it back to 2-2 early in the second half, but again, we couldn't keep Watford out, and they ran out 3-2 victors.

But finally...Thankfully, and thanks to a moment of shear brilliance, we were back to winning ways after a tough Nottingham Forrest test. They came to the King Power looking for the three points, but they were just no match. We took the lead early, through Chris Wood, but conceded just 5 minutes later. Holding on to a 1-1 score line, in the 87th minute the ball was knocked over to Knockaert on the right wing, he head down to the feet of De laet who smashed it from 45 yards and somehow beat the keeper who misjudged the flight of the ball. It was a spectacular.
Knockaert finished Forest off with a shot from inside the box on 90 minutes, and we went home winners.

Next up was underachievers Ipswich, 13th in the table, they were a team we had to beat to start a good run and we did, no trouble at all. Kevin Philips got 2 before the break, and Ignasi Miguel headed a cross in from the near post. Ipswich pulled one back early in the second half but the scoring was finished by Ciro Capuano who broke free of the Ipswich right back to meet a Knockaert killer pass. To make it 4, he just had to lift out of the reach of the keeper, and did as if he was some sort of expert finisher.

Now, I bet your wondering about this 'goal fest'? well, when overachievers Millwall came knocking, just like some sort of play ground bully we pushed them right over, tripping them up every time they tried to get passed us. They couldn't get through us and in the end that and their highline cost them as Chris Wood netted two goals from open play, and two penalties. Konchesky even managed to get in on the act with a well placed goal as he went one on one with the keeper, and in the 85th minute, the 7th goal was in as Ignasi Miguel scored again from a cross coming up to the near post.

Well, what a month. A loss to Watford, yes. But I'm not concerned. We got our form back, and got 16 goals in four games! 7 of them in one game! The lads have done really well this month, but we have learnt from last month and we can't get complacent. Especially because next month we play Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton, QPR and Burnley, Reading, and Bolton in that order, whic is going to be so hard. However...We'll take it on game at a time, and look to win each of them. We are Leicester, and we will not back out of a fight, and certainly not a fight that has promotion at the steak.

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JordTheDesigner

10 years

that result

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The 510 Series

10 years

Hahahaha! Look at Leeds!

Anyway, lovely graphics and let's hope you can get second. First might be pushing it a bit.

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cfcmarkt

10 years

Great wins against Millwall and Ipswich. Now i'm sure you can catch Middlesbrough. Good Luck.

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Aaron

10 years

December - Battle On

The Christmas season is now over, and after another decent month I think we can be proud of our performances in the first half of the season. We sat third in the league, six points off Middlesbrough, and I am fully confident we can keep it going in January, but how did December go?

Well like last month, we started off with a 3-2 loss, to Sheffield Wednesday this time round. We played well, but in the end couldn't break Wednesday down anymore than we already had. 2-0 down at the break, we scored 2 and were grasping a point, but late on Wednesday scored leaving us feeling blue.

We got an important win away to brighton, the play off contenders were hot on our tales but we thankfully saw them off with a goal from Philips and an own goal on their behalf. We were now three points clear of the Seagulls, and we just needed to keep the form at Burnley to keep them out.

We got off to the a great start against Burnley. an early goal from Philips was a big boost but we were brought back down after conceding a pen two minutes later. Liam Moore headed Knockaert's corner in to make it 2-1 and 57 minutes in, a Burnley own goal gave us some breathing space. They scored late on to make it 3-2 but after a red card, it seemed there'd be no way back. We played as we had done all game, but somehow, very late on, Burnley got their equalizer, and disappointment in the team's defence was starting to grow on me.

Again, we took broke the deadlock first as we have done all season. QPR looked to be struggling, but something else we have done all season came to haunt us again. We conceded about five minutes later through a Wes Morgan own goal, and couldn't get another goal to win. This defence needs sorting. Fast. I just don't have the money to do that though!

Now came the big one, Reading at home. Win this and we'd go second for the first time this season. Could we? reading started the better side, and were incredibly pacey in their attack, but couldn't break through. We too were just as fast countering, but like them we couldn't get that all important goal. But late on in the 66th minute, the man who already broke us out of jail twice this season made it a third time, as Ritchie De Laet was sent in one on one with the keeper he burst into the box from the right wing and let fly into the top of the net! We were now second! Just Bolton to beat and we'd be two points off of Middlesbrough...If Middlesbrough won that is.

But again, our defence was our enemy... We took the lead with a David Nugent goal...Something we have missed for a while now. One goal to the good, but it wasn't to be. To be fair to the defence, Bolton were incredible in their attack. Faster than Reading, faster than us. They did well to keep them out for 80 minutes, and for this once I commend them on their defending, and I can only imagine where we'd be now had we won the game! Despite the slip ups...We are closing in on Middlesbrough. Two points closer than we were at the start of the month.

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Slid3Tackle

10 years

a mixed month mate! keep up the good work!

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cfcmarkt

10 years

Decent month there mate and as always some really good graphics and writing. Good luck in catching Middlesbrough.

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Aaron

10 years

January - Mixed results

This month was quite a mixed one. After picking our form back up we have started to slide a little but it's nothing to serious. We had to play Millwall away on the 1st of January, and thankfully after trouncing them 7-0 we managed to avoid embarrassment narrowly with a 2-1 win. Philips put us infront on the half hour mark but by the 72nd minute we were back level. Thankfully, that man again Kevin Philips saved the day and we got what was indeed a hard earned three points.

Then we had a probably the easiest game we'd play this season, Shrewsbury in the FA cup. I thought it fit to not pay too much attention to the cup due to our inconsistent league form, but despite a younger side trotting out onto the field we were able to get into the next round vs Hull. Now I wanted to test myself against A Premier League side, and so I put out a strong side. It was bit to defensive for my liking looking back on how it turned out. We're no good at defending right at this point, and I should have focused on an attacking game, but Hull completely battered us 4-1 and we were left with nothing to show for it but a 5th Kevin Philips goal in three games.

We played big rivals Derby as well this month, at home. Somehow, we managed to once again get a whipping from a side we should be challenging. We didn't challenge them at all. We weren't even bothered. On our day, we could have easily torn Derby to pieces, but because of the laziness which is actually extremely surprising, it was the other way round and we were left in bits after Derby were finished with us.

Leeds should have been an easy, or rather easier game. Last place in the League...Yet again we couldn't beat a rival. And this wasn't a challenging rival it was one we should have pushed over their and then. Once again it was our attack that bailed the defence out, the attack has done extremely well this season and if it weren't for them we'd never be as high as we are now. 2-2 was the final score and we went home disappointed.

Now came the big one...Middlesbrough. 3rd vs 1st. Could we win at the King Power? Well, on our day...Easily but after recent performances I would have to open them up tactically. I pushed the line high to deal with the long balls Middlesbrough had been spraying all season, then direct passing and a wider style of play would help us in the attack due to the lack of width and wet weather that would come down on the pitch. My ideas were working, Middlesbrough couldn't get through and within seven minutes Kevin Philips managed to scramble a messy corner into the net. on 30 minutes, Ignasi Miguel headed his third of the season to get us a second. We couldn't get through anymore, Boro had wised up to our tactics but that was ok. Despite an 88th minute goal for them, we held on tight and saw the game out.

The last game of the month would be more important though, keeping that winning mentality would be a must if we want to get past Boro who are just 3 points from our reach. A win would have kept us within reaching distance, but after a disappointing draw we would be five points behind. Is winning the title still achievable? Or is it too far from our reach?

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Gary Lineker - A Kings Power

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