Leicestershire

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Former Leicester goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell believes the club's players need a different style of management to what Ruud van Nistelrooy offers.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's 'When You're Smiling' podcast, Stowell said he believes the Dutch boss was more of a friend than a coach to players.

He said: "It feels different this season. It was almost doomed to fail early on, and just the manner in which they've gone down is disappointing.

"Two years ago under Brendan Rodgers, that was a shock to end up going down. I wouldn't say there was inevitability about this team going down though.

"Who knows what would have happened if we didn't sack Steve Cooper. For me, he came with baggage but that shouldn't be the case.

"There was no reason for me to think Leicester were going down and they had to sack Cooper.

"I've met Ruud van Nistelrooy and he's a lovely bloke. But I get the feeling he was the players' friend rather than the players' coach.

"I feel they needed someone in there that would drive them rather than befriend them.

"He is an incredible man, but that doesn't make you a great manager."

Listen to the full podcast here

Chris Forryan
Fan writer

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Season rating: 1/10. I fail to think of anything positive to say about what is possibly the worst season since the Frank McLintock season of 1977-78.

Happy with your manager? Is this a trick question? I would be happier with piles. After a few games when things started to pick up and look better, we had Ruud van Nistelrooy going back to his old drawing board against Bournemouth.

Unsung hero: Luke Thomas. One-time target of the terrace boo boys and social media keyboard warriors. After torrid loans at Sheffield United and Middlesbrough, he stood up to the mark when given the chance. He does walk a bit lopsided - probably caused by still having Mohamed Salah in his pocket.

Player you would most like to sign: I am going against almost everything I have been saying all season, but I would like to sign... JAMIE VARDY!

Not his best season by any stretch of the imagination. Not since 2005-06 have we had a season with the top goalscorer having so low a number as 10. But we love his leadership, commitment and effort. Let's be honest, with the service Vardy got this season, Lionel Messi wouldn't have scored.

Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: Anger! Anger that this owner has let the club his family turned into champions, and set the example for the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford to follow, become a laughing stock. The big six, who said they must never let another Leicester happen again, must be celebrating our demise. Tough decisions have to be made at executive level, but can Kuhn Top make them?

Do you agree with Chris' answers? Pick one or two categories and send your views

Find more from Chris Forryan at Leicester Till I Die, external

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Here's my quick assessment of Liverpool's Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.

Pre-season prediction: 19th

Ended the season: 18th

Steve Cooper lasted five months after succeeding Enzo Maresca. Ruud van Nistelrooy replaced Cooper, and took Leicester down. Jamie Vardy had a more colourful phrase for it, but here I will just say it was a fiasco.

Performances were desperate. There was fan discontent. It was not the note on which Vardy wanted to end his 13 years at King Power Stadium.

Leicester's supporters are often accused of demanding too much. Whether this is true or not, they had every right to demand better than this on and off the pitch.

What I said in August: "Cooper and Leicester could defy the odds but it may well be a steep uphill struggle."

Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here

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We asked for your views on Leicester's performance against Bournemouth, and their season overall.

Here are some of your comments:

Lindsay: I feel terrible. The manager never dramatically changed his style or first XI and left out in-form academy stars that were proving themselves in their squads. Ruud van Nistelrooy has to go and we need a proven manager who can bring in fresh players and merge them with the young stars of the academy, as long as PSR allows it.

Martin: We spent far too long chasing Graham Potter, but Harry Potter couldn't have kept us up this season. If Ruud wants to stay, I'd stick with him and give him the opportunity to build something. The clearout needs to be substantial, though.

Chris: Been going down the City for over 50 years and I'm certain there were more miserable seasons - but I can't remember one. Hollywood managerial signings very rarely work out well.

Phil: The longer it takes to make the change we all know needs to come, the poorer the pool of replacements will be, and the weaker the group of free agents will be. I would get Russell Martin in quickly so he can revive the squad with fresh blood.

John: Absolutely rubbish all season. Top needs to replace both Jon Rudkin and Susan Whelan straight away so the club can start afresh next season. I feel sorry for Ruud.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's 10 final day Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea

• Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

• Wolves 1-1 Brentford

Leicester City have made a bid to sign 18-year-old Guinean forward Abdoul Karim Traore from French club Bourg-en-Bresse. (Foot Mercato - in French, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

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In what could turn out to be Ruud van Nistelrooy's final game in charge of Leicester, this was a meek performance.

They did not manage to muster any efforts on target and registered just three shots. Bournemouth kept Jakub Stolarczyk busy with 19 shots, seven hitting the target.

The Foxes managed to hold on until Antoine Semenyo finally broke the deadlock, but the goal had always seemed to be coming.

Apart from the earlier VAR intervention, only a stunning fingertip save from Stolarczyk shortly after the restart, when he denied Marcus Tavernier what would have been a superb goal, kept Leicester on level terms.

Leicester's only major chance came in the second chance when they counter-attacked after Bournemouth gave the ball away, but the hosts rapidly tracked back and Jordan Ayew eventually scuffed his effort at the back post.

Late chants of "Leicester till I die" from the visiting supporters rounded off the season before they return to the second tier after a campaign in which they finished 18th, 15 points adrift of safety.

BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast brings you post- match analysis with former striker Matty Fryatt as the Foxes end their season with defeat at Bournemouth - plus reaction from Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds