'This isn’t football, it’s not even sport'published at 12:41 27 August
12:41 27 August
Chris Forryan Fan writer
For the whole of the Tottenham game I forgot that we were back in VAR land, although you could say La La land as it would be just as appropriate. No contentious issues for VAR to get involved in, I forgot it was there.
But wait. It couldn’t last could it? It took just 38 minutes of only our second game back for me to remember why I hated VAR and why it is ruining the game I love. It wasn’t a contentious decision, it even went our way, but I just got bored waiting for the outcome.
Wout Faes’ equalised for Leicester and I went absolutely wild. Then I had to stop as we waited for VAR to decide if it was a legit goal. Was Faes offside? Was Jamie Vardy interfering with the goalkeeper? Or were the two fans sat immediately behind the goal munching their crisps so loud it put off the keeper?
I jest a tad, but you get my meaning. Four minutes it took for the VAR to decide they couldn’t decide and ask the referee to go and watch the TV. Yes we got four minutes added on at the end of the half, but when the ref gave the goal, I was past celebrating and almost past caring.
This isn’t football, it’s not even sport. Sport has excitement and VAR has strangled all excitement out of the game we love.
The Premier League don’t give two hoots about the fans. Give me last season, the ball went in the net, you looked at the linesman, if his flag was down you celebrated. Oh, how I miss those games.
Whatever else it is, football is just a game. This week we lost an ex-manager and a true footballing gentleman in Sven Goran Eriksson. Dignified to the end. Rest in peace.
🎧 Can Foxes 'find a diamond'?published at 10:01 27 August
10:01 27 August
The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast is now available on BBC Sounds.
Owynn Palmer-Atkin and former Leicester winger Matt Piper react to the news of Sven-Goran Eriksson's passing, and the Foxes' former Swedish defender Pontus Kamark recalls his memories of his fellow countryman.
They also look ahead to Leicester's Carabao Cup tie against Tranmere Rovers, with Piper believing Steve Cooper should make changes for the game.
"He has got to put a competitive side out there that he thinks can win the game, but we have got a lot of exciting youngsters on the brink of coming into his thoughts for Premier League football," says Piper.
"This is a magnificent opportunity to use some of those players - because you can find a diamond.
"In a game like this, someone could come in, rip it up and then all of a sudden it gives you another option for league games - that's how I got started.
"The belief I got from being given a start was massive, and two or three months later I was in the first team."
Gossip: Cannon wanted by Championship clubspublished at 07:35 27 August
07:35 27 August
Republic of Ireland striker Tom Cannon, 21, might leave Leicester for £6m this window, with Sheffield United and Luton interested. (Irish Independent), external
Leicester pay tribute to former boss Erikssonpublished at 14:07 26 August
14:07 26 August
Leicester City have paid tribute to former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has died at the age of 76.
Eriksson managed the Foxes while they were in the Championship, between October 2010 and October 2011, and was known for his "easy and warm character".
During his time in the East Midlands, he most notably signed Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent and Paul Konchesky, who all went on to be vital players for the club.
In a statement the club said, external: "Sven will be remembered for the many successes in his career and all at Leicester City continue to look back with warmth and fondness at his time in charge of the Foxes. The thoughts of all at the club are with Sven’s family and his friends at this sad time."
'Foxes need to find their style' - Fryattpublished at 08:58 26 August
08:58 26 August
Former Leicester City striker Matty Fryatt believes the Foxes are currently stuck between two different styles, after losing Championship-winning manager Enzo Maresca and appointing former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper during the summer break.
"Cooper will want to put his own tweak on things but all of that success last season, and the core of the team, was based on players who had been programmed," Fryatt told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast.
"Everything was set and there wasn't anything off the cuff. Sometimes you could say it was a bit rigid and boring to watch.
"If it can go forward in this Cooper team, it sometimes feels like they just play it forward. Under Maresca, sometimes if it wasn't perfect it wasn't going to go forward.
"It is about finding that balance, of course. A new manager has come in and he is going to have his own tweaks. At the same time, there will need to be a bit more resilience to a Steve Cooper team - it won't be all Leicester's way [this season].
"They have to find the balance of going for it themselves and also being aware of the opposition, rather than being too respectful or fearful of how they play. They have got to find out how that can be delivered.
"Cooper is in a difficult position at the minute but, after the first two games, you probably would have taken one point [before the season started]. So it's not the end of the world, but it does need to get better.
"It's going to take time for the players to adjust to Cooper's style but if there is a mistake, it is going to be punished. Yes, there was a way that worked in the Championship but Burnley proved that they tried to do it again in the Premier League and it didn't work.
"So there has to be a mix - it is about finding out how it can be improved and how the team can put their game on the opposition and show their qualities.
"They just haven't found that right balance at the right moments, as they did last season. It takes a long time to do that as well, especially when you've got a team that has had success with a previous way of playing.
"It will take time and patience, but they need to find their style."
Fulham 2-1 Leicester - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:21 26 August
08:21 26 August
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Leicester City.
Here are some of your comments:
Fulham fans
Simon: This was always going to be a tough game, especially with Leicester coming off a good first game. They were set up to defend and counter-attack, but we were better from start to finish and controlled the game. There were grumblings about a lack of cutting edge, but this will come with more games and as our new players bed in. Overall, very positive.
Alex: The first half was very strong from Fulham. Emile Smith Rowe is off to a great start thanks to Adama Traore. I was optimistic after so many key players leaving, but I think we have made up for that with players like Sasa Lukic stepping up. A strong performance from Fulham but a nervy final 10 minutes, which is expected. Bring on the next game.
James: Smith Rowe scoring on his home debut was great to see. I was a little frustrated with the equaliser after dominating the first half. I felt Fulham deserved to win the game and Iwobi made sure of that. We look better defensively but we need to be more clinical when on the front foot. I'm happy to see three points on the board. Ipswich away next!
Toppy: If Marco Silva gets out of his own way on the touchline and stops transmitting panic to the team, all of his positive attributes will see us excel this season. We don't need another Manchester United meltdown. Passion is not an excuse for stupidity.
Leicester fans
Gav: We gave the game away. We offered very little up front after signing Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew as Premier League standard upgrades, but they both look League One standard. Fulham won in second gear.
Chris: I'm not going to criticise the effort but when you're crying out for creativity and you see no striker on the pitch, Jordan Ayew being 'neat and tidy' and Wilfred Ndidi being the most advanced player, makes you concerned. How Steve Cooper can somehow seemingly not fancy arguably our best player in Ricardo, I just don't understand!
Fred: I think it's inevitable that we are going to have wins and losses, but we need to be better at the back and up front as well. I think Steve Cooper is doing very well to adapt the team to the Premier League. We just have to stay positive and get behind the team to cheer them on. It is the least we can do.
James: I think we Leicester fans need to keep our expectations in check. We are expected to struggle and pick up points where we can. We deserved nothing, with any hint of a repeat of the second half against Spurs quickly extinguished. Back to the training ground to work on our attacking threat, which needs a signing or two and quickly.