Can Leicester gain a 'psychological advantage' in relegation battle?published at 10:44
10:44
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Former Leicester defender Michael Morrsion says Friday's match against Brentford is a chance for the Foxes to put pressure on relegation rivals.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Morrison said: "With the game kicking off the night before, you can gain a psychological advantage on your opponents if you win. It's a great opportunity to put pressure on everybody.
"No disrespect to Brentford, but they are games you are looking at and thinking you can win this. It makes it more exciting with everyone realising the advantage we can get from it.
"We will have to be really good at set-pieces, defensively - Brentford are a threat with them. We can't try too hard to score and leave the back door open because Brentford are really good at counter-attacking football."
Sutton's predictions: Leicester v Brentfordpublished at 09:20
09:20
Leicester have not won at home in the Premier League since 3 December, when they beat West Ham in Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game in charge, and they have lost their past five league games at King Power Stadium.
So, it would be massive for the Foxes if they can get anything at all here to help in their relegation fight, but I just don't see them keeping Brentford out.
Van Nistelrooy had just been appointed but was watching in the stands when the Bees hammered Leicester 4-1 earlier in the season and I am expecting their creativity and attacking energy to be too much this time, too.
🎧 The Andy King Appreciation Societypublished at 07:46
07:46
The latest episode of the When You're Smiling podcast has landed.
BBC Radio Leciester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin is joined by former Foxes defender Michael Morrison to discuss Andy King becoming part of Ruud van Nistelrooy's first-team coaching set-up, and preview Friday's match against Brentford.
Was Leicester's manager change the right decision?published at 15:16 20 February
15:16 20 February
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I was a fan of Steve Cooper. He struggled in the end at Nottingham Forest but with the transition with all the players they brought in at once, he had to try to manage and cope with that.
He was then given the job at Leicester and I was excited to see what he would do. However, they spent a lot of that time fighting around the relegation places. But, with the three teams that got promoted, I am not sure there was anyone that really gave those teams a chance of maintaining their Premier League place, which makes it a difficult one. What are the expectations of the club?
That is part of the problem. The expectations of the club compared to the expectation of the fans. That is a problem across the Premier League and football right now. Cooper did not get the results and fans turned against him.
But, if we are going to measure his success based on points picked up compared to Ruud van Nistelrooy, it would suggest it was a mistake to sack him. However, with Van Nistelrooy, he has come in and he has tried to make them harder to beat. They have not managed to get the results that maybe match up to the performances he has brought out of the team.
I think Leicester are in the position they were always going to be in, no matter who was in charge. They were always going to be fighting relegation and anything else would be a bonus, so it was always going to be difficult for the manager.
Leicester did not really invest when they came up, they did not have the money to as there were financial difficulties from when they were in the Championship. They came back up with a Championship team that was mostly the side that took them down the year before and were not good enough to stay in the top flight.
What has helped Van Nistelrooy, however, is that his communication is really good. He is quite open with the current situation and has been understanding of the fans wanting to protest against the running of the club as long as they support the team in these difficult moments.
He has been winning the fans over, which Cooper did not do, so from that side of it, it was probably the right thing to bring Van Nistelrooy in.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Have Leicester improved under Van Nistelrooy?published at 12:14 20 February
12:14 20 February
Arnav Bhatia Fan writer
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It's a grim period for Leicester City.
The former Premier League champions seem destined for their second relegation in three years, and the disconnect between fans and the club has never been greater.
There was much excitement when legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was named Steve Cooper's successor. Van Nistelrooy had fared reasonably well in his managerial career, but the Leicester board were gambling on a largely inexperienced manager to steer them to safety.
Two months into his appointment, the gamble appears to have failed. Leicester sit 19th in the league standings, and have managed just two victories in the 13 league games Van Nistelrooy has managed.
Statistically, Van Nistelrooy is performing worse than Cooper in some key metrics. Leicester have managed fewer goals scored (0.75 per game vs Cooper's 1.25), expected goals (0.87xG vs 1.01) and have conceded more (2.33 vs 1.92).
However, a closer look at other statistics such as xG, shots taken, and final-third touches show Leicester's creativity hasn't dipped much. The attackers were overperforming their xG under Cooper, and that overachievement has simply balanced out under Van Nistelrooy. Still, the number is low. Leicester need to create more chances, and Facundo Buonanotte's lack of minutes is not helping.
Van Nistelrooy has given Leicester an identity, and performances – especially from the midfield – have been good. Defensive issues and individual errors persist, though, and the lack of signings in January, alongside injuries to key players, makes his job even more challenging.
While a more experienced manager may have fared better, it's hard to fault Van Nistelrooy entirely. A manager can only do so much. The players have escaped accountability far too many times, especially under Cooper's tenure, and they now need to step up and find the spark to inspire Leicester to another great escape.
'It's pure passion what you see around you' - Van Nistelrooypublished at 09:36 20 February
09:36 20 February
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Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy believes fans are showing "pure passion" amid recent protests.
A section of supporters held a protest march against the Foxes' hierarchy before the recent home defeat by Arsenal.
Director of football Jon Rudkin has come under increasing pressure from fans with the club sitting second from bottom in the table after winning only four of their 25 Premier League games this season.
Foxes chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha called for fans to unite behind the team in his programme notes before the game against the Gunners, but Van Nistelrooy does not feel the protests impacted the team and believes there is still enough support for his players.
"I do. I think it's pure passion what you see around you," the Dutchman said before Friday's home game against Brentford.
"Passion for the football club to do better and that is a great thing to see and to feel and to represent that.
"I feel in the Arsenal game we were supported really well. I didn't hear any negativity. The fans were all behind the team.
"We all suffered, off and on the pitch with those late goals. The protest, I haven't really seen that because we were already in the stadium preparing for the game.
"So the supporters did that separate from us. So that helped. We were focusing on the game and when we went out there was nothing visible about that and that felt like great support."
Gossip: Foxes tracking young Midtjylland forward Djupublished at 07:50 20 February
07:50 20 February
Leicester City and Crystal Palace are watching Midtjylland and Guinea-Bissau forward Franculino Dju, 20, who came through Benfica's academy. (Bold - in Danish, external)
Van Nistelrooy on King appointment, 'consistency' and relegation battlepublished at 16:01 19 February
16:01 19 February
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Brentford at King Power Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
James Justin is a "question mark" for Friday but the issue is "not really bad" and "looks more a question of weeks than [anything] more".
Ricardo Pereira is "making good progress" in his comeback and training with the team: "Hopefully in the coming weeks that can be more and he can be part of games as well."
On whether new signing Wolo Coulibaly could be in line to make his first start: "James [Justin] is the only right-back in the squad with Ricardo [Pereira] being injured. It's good we have him. He made a good impression against Arsenal when he came on as well. Everybody's in line for a start. Of course, he's the second right-back - he came in when [Justin] came off. We'll see how the rest of the week goes and the team is picked later on."
Van Nistelrooy announced that former midfielder Andy King is now part of his first-team coaching staff: "Andy is one of the people in the club with Leicester City in the DNA that I wanted to speak with and get to know. Over the course of past few weeks, I asked him to be more part of the first-team setting and coaching staff. He really liked it - we all did, the players did - and he is a full part of that set-up now. He is helping us now with all his knowledge and experience of this football club."
On why he has brought the Premier League winner into the coaching set-up: "What has impressed me most is his eye for the team and for the details of the game. He's very bright in his ideas and we're aligned in the idea of how to bring Leicester City forward. When you feel that connection with someone of that stature, he has been the example of winning a championship, a league, but also being relegated. He is someone we can all learn from - a great addition for our coaching team."
Van Nistelrooy believes the Foxes have "missed" points they deserved but says there is "no mercy" in the Premier League and "consistency" is the key for them to avoid relegation.
Asked if there are now just three times fighting to avoid two relegation spots, Van Nistelrooy said: "There are 13 games remaining and we have to do our bit. It is about results and performances, and after 13 games the table will be clear. So, for me, it is not a topic - we have to do it ourselves, we really have to."
He added: "I feel that commitment from the team and their performances on that pitch. I can't ask more than that. I cant ask for more than the maximum of my team."
The Leicester boss praised opposite number Thomas Frank for the "excellent" job he has done at Brentford and said it is "a dream for a manager to be able to think in those long terms" and believes they are an "example" for other clubs.
Leicester v Brentford: Did you know?published at 11:26 19 February
11:26 19 February
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Leicester are unbeaten in their last four home league games against Brentford (W2 D2), having failed to win in any of their first eight home meetings with the Bees between 1937 and 1953 (D4 L4).
However, the Foxes have lost each of their last five Premier League home games – they have never lost six in a row on home soil in their league history.
'Time and games are running out'published at 15:13 18 February
15:13 18 February
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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper says the Foxes will need to learn how to grind out results "quickly" if they are to fight relegation from the Premier League this season.
Last weekend's defeat and the results of rivals saw Ruud van Nistelrooy's team drop to 19th place on goal difference.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Piper said: "They will have to find a way to do it - and quickly. If you can replicate the kind of performance we saw against Arsenal against Brentford, then you are going to have a big opportunity to grind out that result at home.
"Ruud should set up in most of the games that are left to play aiming to keep a clean sheet.
"That has to be the basis to build from because staying in the game as long as you can gives the players confidence. Then you can try to build on that.
"It is just about ironing out the small details because time and games are running out.
"If you want to stay in the Premier League, you have to find a way to start picking up points - and that needs to happen really quickly."
'Goal threat has depleted since Van Nistelrooy's appointment'published at 07:52 18 February
07:52 18 February
Kate Blakemore Fan writer
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Yet again, we find ourselves talking about activities off the pitch and this week it came in the form of an organised fan protest.
'Project Reset' is a fan movement demanding change within the Leicester City leadership team and some took to the streets prior to Saturday's match against Arsenal to let their voices be heard.
The rumblings during the week obviously reached the Leicester board as owner, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, released his matchday programme notes a day early - acknowledging that improvement is needed, calling on fans to get behind the team and outlining that the lack of activity during the January transfer window was hampered by Leicester's PSR predicament.
Finally, some communication! A starter for 10? Who knows.
Sadly, the performance on the pitch, while resilient and competitive in periods, had an all too familiar ending for Leicester - zero goals scored and two late goals conceded.
Playing defensively can be useful when you are up against it, but there has to come a point - especially when you find yourselves 19th in the table with 55 goals conceded - where you have to accept that goals are going to be conceded in every game and attention has to be turned to creating some of our own to try to counteract our terrible defensive record.
Our goal threat has depleted since Ruud van Nistelrooy's appointment and while one can see some cohesion and style of play under him, the aim of any match is to score more than the opposition and the hard facts are that we are not creating or threatening enough.
We have not scored at home since early December and have only scored four goals in the league since then. The old adage of "attack is the best form of defence" could not be more apt right now and in this apparent mini-league of four teams in the relegation scrap, I think we need to place more focus on scoring goals.
Leicester 0-2 Arsenal - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:06 17 February
09:06 17 February
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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Leicester City and Arsenal.
Here are some of your comments:
Leicester fans:
Louise: Depression has set in at Leicester City. We all know negativity spreads and infects everything around. Our fans are at a loss. They don't know what to think or do. We all love our club and will always carry on supporting Leicester City through the good and bad times. But right now, we all need to come together. We have to believe and push our club out of this funk. Is Ruud van Nistelrooy the right man for the job? Yes, and I do believe he can keep Leicester City up, but my confidence is draining as weeks pass by.
Brad: Gutted. The lads dug in deep and even had chances to have got a result. Sadly it's been the story of our season two 50/50 breakaways fell to Arsenal and the rest is history.
Chris: Really proud of the whole team. Played resolutely and as a team for the whole game. Unlucky not to get something from the game, but this should give us some much-needed confidence for the next few games.
Mike: Great performance for 80 minutes. As RVN says, "the results will come". Need to get behind the team. We can stay up if we play like this.
Arsenal fans:
Michael: Poor performance but they got the job done. No-one came away with any real credit aside from maybe two players. The annoying thing is how many, without any original thought, blamed Raheem Sterling for all their ills while he was on the pitch. Give the man a break.
Leigh: We're not alone in having injuries. We've just got to get on with it and, as we did against Leicester, find a way to win. I trust the youth and scouting set-up to unearth talent at home or overseas and we must strengthen over the summer. A good run in the Champions League will make an offer from Arsenal an attractive one. Ridiculous to suggest that Mikel Arteta be given the push. We're going in the right direction!
Martin: I had an inkling that Mikel Merino would work as a false nine, but I didn't imagine he'd work out this well. Both his finishes wouldn't look out of place from Erling Haaland or Chris Wood. Ethan Nwaneri is playing well beyond his years. Sadly, it looks like Sterling is finished at the top level - all the pace that made him great is gone. Merino needs to start at least until we get Bukayo Saka back.
David: Fantastic that we won but - and it's a big but - we struggled to score against a team that has won four games all season. They have a goal difference of -30. Yet we had to wait for two goals from a midfielder who has never played up front before coming off the bench. Great work, Merino, but what will we do when we meet a more in-form side?
'Like trying to tell him to ice-skate up a hill'published at 07:52 17 February
07:52 17 February
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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper thinks Ruud van Nistelrooy will have been told the club had money to spend on more transfers in January.
Speaking after the Foxes' defeat by Arsenal on Saturday, Piper told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast: "In 'Top's' [Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha] notes this afternoon he spoke about PSR and that's why they were unable to bring anyone in.
"If we're restricted because of PSR and the rules created around that, I understand.
"But, when you take someone on like Ruud van Nistelrooy, they clearly would have said we've done our homework and we're going to have a little money to spend in January.
"That has turned out to be a lie. We had the money to spend but we couldn't spend it in January due to PSR. That is what 'Top' is telling us.
"What you've done to Ruud there is like trying to tell him to ice-skate up a hill."
🎧 'In the end - disappointment once again'published at 19:02 15 February
19:02 15 February
The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast has landed, listen to post match analysis of Leicester's game against Arsenal from Matt Piper and hear reaction from Foxes boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Leicester attacker Bilal El Khannouss has been speaking to Sky Sports after their loss: "I think we did well for 80 minutes to take a result today but you cannot lose concentration against those teams. It is easy for Meriono to head it in. We have to do better in those situations.
"We were fighting all together as a team. We know we have to fight for each ball and it's what we did for 80 minutes. It's hard to take.
"When you defend like that, you always know something will fall at the other side. We had some opportunities but we didn't take them. It's a hard fight but we played a lot of good games already that we didn't take results in."
'I believe the results will come one day'published at 15:01 15 February
15:01 15 February
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Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after today's defeat: "Thin margins. The chance of Bobby just by Lewis-Skelly, you can get up with a game in a goal. That makes it hard.
"We did what we could for all parts of the game. Playing out and playing in certain moments when we could. We didn't really look long. Two chances from Ndidi with the header and the volley. You need some luck to get a goal and go up against a side like this.
"The players know and are disappointed that we couldn't take anything from the game. Arsenal are contending for the title so we know if we keep putting in performances like this then eventually you're going to win games and pick up points.
On James Justin: "It was an unfortunate moment to take him off before half-time. He couldn't continue so it's definitely something.
"It's ups and downs. When you are a promoted team and fighting for the bottom places, you have to deal with losing games but it's a matter of keeping working. I believe the results will come one day."
Leicester 0-2 Arsenal - send us your thoughtspublished at 14:25 15 February
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