Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Leicesterpublished at 11:09 12 April
11:09 12 April
If you ever want a game to get back on track, just play Leicester.
They have lost eight successive league games without scoring, and that run is not going to end here.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was a dreadful appointment as manager but I do not blame him nor his predecessor, Steve Cooper, for the Foxes' awful season because there is a deeper underlying problem at the club.
It did not help, then, that the players seemed to think - and probably still do - that they are better than they are.
The fans were expecting too much from this season too, but I doubt that is the case any more, because their team has been so feeble.
Brighton have taken only one point from their past three matches so they need a win to boost their hopes of finishing in the European places.
I have absolutely no doubt they will get it - the only question is how many will they score.
Semi-automated offsides a 'step in right direction' but take 'with a pinch of salt'published at 11:07 12 April
11:07 12 April
Image source, Getty Images
There are lots of different perspectives in terms of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.
You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.
With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.
It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.
One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.
So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.
I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.
But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.
I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.
It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?
Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.
I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.
But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.
🎧 Are Foxes and Ruud aligned?published at 11:40 11 April
11:40 11 April
Former Leicester striker Steve Howard has been reacting on the When You're Smiling podcast about Ruud van Nistelrooy's statement that he wanted to be "aligned" with the club. The manager said it is "very important for me to be aligned" and "that alignment needs to take place".
When asked if that needs to be sorted now, Van Nistelrooy told media "it needs to be sorted yesterday".
Howard told the BBC Radio Leicester podcast: "What does that mean aligned? The more and more I hear that, I was thinking is he having a pop at those above him? To say there's no money there, we are not aligned with my vision of what we need. I don't know if he's gone into the boardroom and said this team isn't good enough.
"I didn't know if he's using the aligned phrase to say we need five, six, seven players and the board are saying no. So we need to be aligned.
"He is saying all the right thing as if to say the most important thing is to get the club back. But he never really said if he wants to be there. I think he's resigned himself to say he won't be there.
"I think he knows fine well he wont be at the club come next season. I think he is regrouping and trying to say the right things, like 'I tried my best and didn't have the support from the board'."
Uncertainty clouds Foxes' futurepublished at 17:40 10 April
17:40 10 April
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Ruud van Nistelrooy has promised to fight on at Leicester but even the biggest optimist knows their Premier League future is bleak.
Second bottom, 15 points from safety with seven games left, the Foxes could also set a club-record of nine-straight defeats if they lose at Brighton on Saturday.
The decision to replace Steve Cooper with Van Nistelrooy in November has backfired with the Dutchman winning just three of his 20 games.
He said discussions over the future will happen but they are talks which need to start sooner rather than later.
Questions over the commitment of the players, as well as over the intensity and quality of training have been posed this week as the Foxes slip towards relegation.
Yet Van Nistelrooy is adamant there is still a desire for a battle at the bottom.
He said: "There's always a fight left, there's always a future, whatever the scenario and when that comes to a conclusion, either way there is a future and that means there is a fight.
"It's a challenge to break the cycle, you need personality and character to break this. It's going on too long, it's very hard but there's only one way to break it and that's to fight and believe we can end this cycle.
"On the other hand you learn so much in difficult times and know when you get out of this you can use it in a great way. I've learned so much in the last four months."
Van Nistelrooy is always measured in his responses and his mood has remained balanced, despite Leicester's awful run.
That was why there was surprise at his reaction to the Newcastle defeat where he swerved questions on his future and was noticeably upset on Monday night.
He clarified the loss hurt him and he just needed to sleep on it before being refreshed but the run of results finally took a toll.
Defeat at Brighton will push Leicester closer to the inevitable instant return to the Championship and while Van Nistelrooy has vowed not to walk away, there are too many unanswered questions over the club's direction.
