Day of Reckoning....

[GeoFox]

Thanks POG. Unlucky on being oh so close to the playoffs.

[PureOldGold]

May 4, 2008 15:24:43 GMT -1 GeoFox said:

Thanks POG. Unlucky on being oh so close to the playoffs.

The lack of goals ultimately cost us, we ain't been good enough throughout the season to be honest.

[GeoFox]

Leicester City boss Ian Holloway this evening shouldered the total blame for his side's relegation to the third tier of English football.

The Foxes battled out a 0-0 draw with Premiership bound Stoke at the Britannia Stadium - but results elsewhere meant that a point was not enough.

And speaking in the press conference following the defeat, a dejected Holloway confirmed that a lack of consistency had cost his side in the end.

He said: "It's almost impossible to sum up how I feel at the moment.
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"I could not fault the effort of any of the players today and they now need to take that consistency through to every single match. We just haven't done that.

"The table doesn't lie. We just weren't good enough. Too many things have gone wrong. Too many to talk about right now.

"I feel responsible for everything. I was talking about getting into the Play Offs when I first came here because I genuinely believed that was possible. But nearly every single thing we have touched hasn't worked out.

"When I came here I never envisaged this happening in a million years. But it has. You are either good enough or you are not. If those players had shown the kind of spirit they did today throughout the season then I wouldn't be stood here now answering these questions.

"The players in the dressing room are absolutely devastated. You just can't describe it. And that is going to be the mood across the city now. We have broken your hearts and you deserve better than this. But don't give up. It is a magnificent club."

_ _ _ _

Sounds to me like he is about to quit, or knows that he is on the verge of being sacked. A sad day, I so wanted him to be the man to turn us around, and I thought he would be.

[Travis]

May 4, 2008 15:18:04 GMT -1 GeoFox said:

May 4, 2008 15:11:34 GMT -1 Travis said:

Well that's always going to be true Ash....though it'll seem a bit 'old hat' after Leeds have come to town!

There is a flaw in your argument Ash; you're attributing the gift of rationality and reasoning to your manager and chairman!!!

Ah yes but they've half a chance of beating us!

Hmmm true enough I guess. So when do I get to occupy my nice new spot on the league 1 board?

You'll have to wait until the end of the month like we did! ;D

[GeoFox]

booo hiss!

I guess it probably won't hit home til that happens then.

[T C]

Never thought Leicester would end up third tier..... get back up quick guys but not at our expense !

[GeoFox]

Thanks TC, I hope so! Good luck for the playoffs!

[T C]

May 4, 2008 16:17:54 GMT -1 GeoFox said:

Thanks TC, I hope so! Good luck for the playoffs!

Cheers mate !

[ITFC Dudette6]

Unlucky Geo. Best of luck next season.

[GeoFox]

Thanks dudette. No visit to Portman Road next season, tis always good fun there. Still I'll probably end up driving past on the way to Colchester and Sarrfend.

[GeoFox]

Interesting fact today - we have been relegated with the 2nd best defensive record in the league..today's game summed up our season...just serving to show, live on TV how woefully inadequate we have been going forward and scoring goals.

[cujo]

Welcome To League 1 Geo...I Know exactly how you must feel right now ..we have been there and felt like it all year but hopefully in the next couple of weeks the "miracle" will continue and LEEDS will rise from the depths of this league back into the Championship..Like some have already said its a definate eye opener in this league and closer than most will think which makes it so hard to get out..

Still there is always the fact that you are top of the Prem Dream Team league to cheer you up!!

[ITFC Dudette6]

Ah, a nice visit to Cuckoo Farm on the A12. Lovely.

[GeoFox]

Thanks cujo, not a good feeling is it? Not as bad as I expected it to be though, I just feel a bit empty...I think it really hit me when we lost at home to Wednesday last week. I'm sure it'll also feel brilliant sitting in a big stadium with about 5,000 people watching a 1st round FA cup match against some non-league side, or an early round paint pot game.

If you can wrap it up with a playoff win, then what you have achieved this season has been remarkable in the circumstances. Having seen Forest's experience quite closely, it does seem very difficult to get out of.

Ahh yes, and I think today's results sealed 2nd in the championships predictions too. If I win cujo, it will be great, but could you give the karma prize (if there is one) to 2nd place? I did start after the 1st round of games so had an unfair advantage. I think I made some good subs but it was only ever a bit of fun for me.

[GeoFox]

May 4, 2008 16:42:39 GMT -1 ITFC Dudette6 said:

Ah, a nice visit to Cuckoo Farm on the A12. Lovely.

Uh huh

[GeoFox]

Just seen a very interesting live interview with Milan Mandaric on SSN. Sounded very pissed off and angry. Main points:

- He feels very let down. Hasn't spoken with IH since the game finished.
- Doesn't know what else he could have done - given huge financial support to the manager.
- Wouldn't be drawn on what he was going to do with Holloway but I would infer from his tone he is a dead man walking. He said he wouldn't do anything til he had "calmed down"
- Presenter asks him 'will you be chairman of LCFC next season? Milan: "I don't know." [ terrific ] after a long pause. Needs to consider it.
- What message he would give to supporters. Milan: "Sorry."

[Kentucky Kid]

sorry geo but ;D keep your head up though and good luck next year

[GeoFox]

thanks kk.

[Kentucky Kid]

;D

[NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02)]

Damn, Leicester. Damn.

It's a far cry from those games I went to in that incredible League Cup run earlier in the season. How can a team go to Chelsea and score 3 but end the season consigned to League One football? Bizarre.

Sad to see it happen to a proud club, it really is. I can't really say I've felt the whole mad ride myself because Ipswich are very much my number one club, but Leicester are still a team I have sympathies for and have been to a lot of games with. If nothing else, I'll find it rather strange looking at a League One ground as I drive home from university each day. That kinda reflects the absurdity of it.

In the end, it seems Martin Allen's complete failure to bring in any decent midfielders and the lack of firepower up front has cost Leicester dear. When the fans were chanting Allen's name in the rematch at Forest in protest at his sacking, I shared their feelings at the time, but on reflection, he really didn't bring in the goods, considering the incredible opportunity he was given. Megson... well... there's a man who has basically ensured that he holds the title for Most Unpopular Man in the East Midlands... And as for Holloway, I like the guy - always have done, wanted him at Ipswich before we brought Magilton in - but he seemed to show something of a lack of imagination in the transfer market by bringing in his servants from clubs gone by. Ultimately, it's been that total lack of stability that has done it really.

A real shame. It really is.

All one can say is that there'll be no other club in League One that can hold a candle to the setup at the Walkers so let's hope that is reflected on the pitch next year. Certainly I can't see anyone at that level turning down a move to Leicester; for some reason I'm already picturing the likes of Colin Larkin in a Leicester shirt, but maybe that's just me.

;D

Best of luck next season, Leicester.