Rival Lines: 'You have always been our bogey team,' says Leicester Till I Die

Rival Lines
Leicester City v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Leicester Till I Die
Twitter: @Leicestertid

This week I spoke with Leicester Till I Die blogger Chris Forryan about his team's start to the season and the impact that Brendan Rodgers has had at the club. Leicester have also lost one of their main central defenders to Manchester United and yet they seem to still be able to get some good results as they sit fourth on the table.

CC: Were Leicester City fans annoyed at the lateness of the Harry Maguire deal to Man Utd going through or did you feel Leicester got the best of the deal with the final price-tag that was achieved?

LTID: To be honest, No. Deep down think we knew he was going would have been more annoyed to lose him last summer post world cup when he was playing better and err yes £80m+ for a player we paid £17m for and we didn't wear a mask lol.

CC: How do you feel the defence has done since Maguire's exit?

LTID: Maguire who? Soyuncu & Benkovic were bought last summer ready for a possible Maguire exit and Morgan retirement, so despite being linked with every defender available with two man of the match performances from Soyuncu, lets just say we havn't missed him.

CC: Were you happy with signing Ayoze Perez from Newcastle United for £30m and has he shown signs of repaying some of that yet?

LTID: Was a shock and very un-Leicester like. Target a player, check his get put price and pay it. He's being used as an Albrighton replacement at the moment, but has scored a few pre-season and may prove an adequate replacement for any Vardy injuries.

CC: Just how good is Youri Tielemans and are you surprised that Leicester beat off the competition for him and breaking the Foxes transfer record?

LTID: Watch out for the big boys knocking on our door next summer, this guy could be the new Hazard and I think it speaks volumes of our club that he WANTED to come to Leicester following his loan spell with us over some of the so called top six sides that were chasing him.

CC: How important was the win against Sheffield United and was it a harder game than expected?

LTID: Always hard against the new boys but that first win is always going to be important, and it keeps us unbeaten.

CC: Who do you see as the three weakest sides in the Premier League this season?

LTID: Wow that's a difficult one. I think it will be very tight down at the bottom, more so than for many a year. Brighton I think will struggle as will Newcastle who are like the Titanic looking for the Iceberg. Sheffield United will find it tough going and I hope to see Villa in the bottom three, but that is more personal.

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CC: What have you seen about Brendan Rodgers way of playing that has been better than Claude Puel?

LTID: We now play, fast, attacking, football aimed at getting the best out of Vardy. None of the aforementioned could be said in the same breath as Puel.

CC: Which player form Bournemouth's team would you happily have in your squad this season if you could and why?

LTID: Nathan Ake was linked during the 'will he won't he' leave Maguire saga and if we had managed to sign him I would have been very happy. Callum Wilson would be a good addition as we do struggle if Vardy is out, but that said I have never been happier over a LCFC squad going into a new season.

CC: Would it be disappointing not to get European football at the end of this season for Leicester fans?

LTID: Winning the League has meant we always start a new season thinking we can do it again. Blue tinted glasses off though, and yes it would be disappointing. Having a good, young, squad with an experienced attack minded manager, I think we could break into the top six. But then what do I know? Lol.

CC: How do you expect to line up against Bournemouth and has Leicester any major injury worries or long-term absentees?

LTID: Nothing long term from the main squad Ndidi, & Chilwell short term worries but -

Schmeichel

Pereira, Soyuncu, Evans, Chilwell/Fuchs

Chowdry/Ndidi, Praet

Perez, Maddison

Vardy

CC: What is your score prediction for the match?

LTID:You have always been our bogey team but I think we might just have too much for you this game so I'm going a 2-1 win to the Foxes.

CC: A big thanks to Chris who is no doubt feeling pretty good about the table at the moment and the prospects for Leicester City. Fo Bournemouth, this is a chance to go up against a side that is likely to finish in the top 10 and to try and get against a team that is unbeaten so far. Such games between Leicester and Bournemouth are usually tight, so it is bound to be quite a nervy watch this weekend. To read more about Leicester City and to see my answers to Chris' questions on AFCB Bournemouth, head over the the Leicester Till I Die website.

Rival Lines: "Puel was given a poisoned chalice," says Leicester Till I Die

Rival Lines

Match Preview: Leicester City v AFCB

Blogger Interview: Leicester Till I Die
Twitter: @Leicestertid

While AFCB were soaking up the hot temperatures in Dubai, I sent a quick request off to Chris  Forryan at Leicester Till I Die to answer some questions ahead of the game with Bournemouth. Leicester City have had am improving season and yet have still changed their manager as well as suffered a horrible tragedy losing their owner. So are their fans confident they can finish the season in good for with a tilt at trying to get into Europe?

CC: Has the mood changed much around Leicester now that you have a new manager?

LTID: OMG YES YES & YES!!!  The atmosphere was flat under Puel. Played like crabs side to side nothing to get the crowd excited, but a top manager has been appointed and the future looks bright with the exciting players we have in our squad.

CC: Do you think Brendan Rodgers was the right appointment?

LTID: Personally yes, sooner have had Rodgers then Benetiz, as did the majority of the fans so they can’t complain if it goes wrong, that said we are football fans so of course we will.

Puel was given the poisoned chalice of breaking up the old Premier League winning squad bringing through and in the youngsters which to be fair he had started to do. But the results were not there as the changes were made. Rodgers likes young attacking teams, hopefully will be a perfect match – time will of course, tell.

CC: Are Leicester strong enough to play in Europe next season if you do finish seventh?

LTID: Were we strong enough to play in the Champions League when we won the title? Nuff said.

CC: Has James Maddison been one of Leicester's best buys in a long time?

LTID: Was overjoyed when we signed him, I think Rodgers will give him more freedom to express his natural talents.

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CC: The home form has been good but clean sheet seem to have escaped you, but can you see the team keeping more clean sheets in these final games?

LTID: Our back 3/4 is a work in progress. Maybe not this season but once Rodgers gets his best players in the positions he wants I think it will come but maybe it will be next season.

CC: Leicester had a strange match at Bournemouth earlier this season, but Leicester fought back to get two goals. Do you expect Leicester to be better organised to deal with Bournemouth's pace this time?

LTID: I’ll let you know at 5pm on Saturday!! Rodgers came in to steady the ship till the end of the season and see his squad in competitive games, but I really do hope so.

CC: Have Leicester got any major player injuries?

LTID: Albrighton who is out till the end of the season.

CC: How do you expect Leicester to line up for this game?

LTID: Its anyone's guess as Rodgers is experimenting, but Morgan should return to defence to cover Maguire’s one game ban. But would like to see Gray get some more time under Rodgers as he is one player that could benefit form Rodgers coming in and he has great potential.

CC: Where do you think Bournemouth and Leicester will finish in the table?

LTID: Top 10 for us which I would take after the season we have had to endure, and if you can get your early season form back no reason why you couldn’t join us.

Thanks for the answers Chris. I'd like to think this will be an entertaining game with plenty of goalmouth action at both ends. It could be one of those games which just comes down to who finishes their chances better as the league table shows there is not much between these two sides.

To read more of Chris' views pop over to Leicester Till I Die .

Cherry Chimes also previews Leicester v AFCB on Leicester Till I Die.

Score Predictions
If you fancy winning a Cherry Chimes' T-Shirt send in your score prediction for Leicester City v AFCB to @CherryChimes on Twitter or email Cherrychimesblog@gmail.com with your score. I'll pick a winner from the correct entries.

Rival Lines: "We just want Mahrez to go now," says Leicester Till I Die

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Match Preview

Leicester City v AFCB

Blogger Interview: Leicester Til I Die
Twitter @Leiestertid

This week Cherry Chimes talked with Chris Forryan who runs the Leicester Till I Die blog for the Foxes. They have had a pretty good season and are till involved in the FA Cup as well as hunting down a Europa League spot, but they have had their dramas too with the Mahrez story. Are things now calm at the Kong Power Stadium under Claude Puel or is there any mid-season complacency that the Cherries can take advantage of?

CC: Have your opinions on Claude Puel changed much since he became Leicester City's manager?

LTID: He started off well and got us out the relegation zone and mid-table security, so he’s done what he was brought into to do.

Some decisions baffle us but what team’s managers don’t. The problem is after what Ranieri did we expect every manager to perform miracles.

CC: Does the FA Cup take on any more importance now for Leicester City that Man City are out or is it all about trying to finish seventh on the league?

LTID: BOTH. We are the team that has been in the final the most times without winning it so after the PL success it would be nice to win it, but with four big teams still in it, it looks a hard task. The battle for seventh and a probable Europa League place seems to be a better route into Europe for next season. I would take losing at some stage in the FA Cup and finishing seventh in the league.

CC: Leicester had good home form in January so what has been the reason for the draws in February against Stoke City and Swansea City?

LTID: Swansea City had come off wins against Liverpool and Arsenal and were on a good run under
a new manager, so a draw against them was a good result.

Don’t mention the Stoke game, as the saying goes "We’re were you when we were sh_t?" I was watching us play Stoke last Saturday!

CC: Has Iheanacho been a disappointment or do you think now is his time having seen Ulloa and Slamni go out on loan in January?

LTID:  Too early to say, not been with us a season yet and has only just started to play regularly due to the injury to Okazaki. Give him time he will come good and an excellent replacement for Vardy.

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CC: Will you be pleased if Mahrez and Vardy finally leave this summer and the club can reinvest in more new players?

LTID: Yes to Mahrez just want him to go now. I don’t believe Vardy will, he's coming into the twilight of his career and will see his days out at Leicester as he has come to realise we suit his style of play.

CC: What might your season have been like had you not brought in Harry Maguire last summer?

LTID: We are short at the back with Huth being out all season. He and Morgan are getting past it and Maguire and Dragovic are solid at the back. To be honest, it doesn’t bare thinking about.

CC: Would you like to see Derby County get promoted just so that you had a gritty local derby match?

LTID: Nope. Don’t want any Midland club to get promoted would like to see them all in League 2

CC: What's the injury list looking like for Leicester City coming into this match?

LTID: Okazaki is the main injury worry, Morgan is back (unfortunately) no other major problems.

CC: If you could have your pick of strikers for Leicester from Defoe, Wilson or King which would you pick?

LTID: Defo Defo. As an impact sub late on when to need to pinch a goal he would be perfect.

CC: How do you expect Leicester to line up against Bournemouth?

LTID:  Schmeichel – Fuchs, Maguire, Morgan, Simpson – Albrighton, Ndidi, James, Mahrez – Vardy, Inachio

CC: Thanks for those answers Chris. It is good to see Leicester City doing well and backing up their Premier League win of a couple of year's ago with a changing squad that has some new names that are staring to get known. Whether Leicester are a long way ahead of AFCB we will find out this weekend, but both teams have a shot at finishing well inside the top 10 and recent games between these teams have been draws so I don't see it easy to pick a winner this weekend.

Check out why Leicester City Till I Die was so displeased with the club's last home game by visiting the wesite.

T-Shirt Competition
Predict the correct score between Leicester City and AFCB this weekend to be in with a chance to win a Cherry Chimes T-Shirt. If we have more than one correct answer we will draw a winner out of the hat.

To enter Tweet your prediction to @CherryChimes

Rival Lines: Ranieri prefers pizza to Ostriches - Leicester Till I Die

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Leicester City v AFCB Preview

Blogger Interview: Leicester Till I Die
Twitter: @Leicestertid

Over the Christmas period I asked Chris Forryan, who writes on the Leicester Till I Die website, what he thought about Leicester's chances of grabbing the title or at least finishing in the top four and whether he reckons that the Foxes will hold on to Vardy and Mahrez.

CC: Do you think the difficult times that Leicester City in the first half of last season is something that has made you a better team today?

LTID: Defiantly. We appeared, come April to have learnt by our mistakes and improved. The main thing I believe going through that difficult period did was to bring the team closer together. It is an overused phrase but I honestly think it helped develop a siege mentality at Leicester and that can only be a good thing.

CC: Do you think the atmosphere that Claudio Reniera creates around the players has been not only better for the team but more positive for the fans than when Nigel Pearson was at the club - nevermind the results?

LTID: Not an Ostrich in sight any more!! He's like everyone's favourite uncle isn't he? He has brought the Italian flair & style to a good old fashioned team. Pearson had the team behind him, he never lost them, but I think Ranieri has the team with him, and there is a difference.

CC: Which game has given you most pleasure so far this season?

LTID: From a personal point of view the Bournemouth away game when Vardy started his 11 match record breaking goal scoring run. Not just saying that but living in Poole I had to sit in the away end and you could see my face on Match of the Day and Vardy runs past to celebrate, with me not lol. But that game showed out fighting spirit.

CC: Do you hope that Jamie Vardy's record is never broken and do you believe it helped the team keep winning matches with his team mates knowing he wanted to beat the consecutive Premier League goal record?

LTID: The team were 100% behind Vardy but it wasn't all about Vardy, The Swansea match which followed the Man Utd game where he'd achieved his 11 in 11 would have beaten an even older record, But he failed to score as he passed by a chance to shoot and pas to Mahrez to get his hat trick. That shows the team ethic of LCFC at the moment. Do I hope its never broken, Of course but records are there to be broken so it will one day, but lets live the dream for now.

CC: Riyad Mahrez has been sensational on the right wing as well but if one next summer you had to sell wither him or Vardy who do you think the club would fight harder to keep?

LTID: Mahrez. Vardy is good the last question highlights that point, but Mahrez is a creator, Some games he doesn't turn up but when he does watch out. Vardy can get us goals but just as, if not more so, are the player who help create the opportunities for him to score. Mahrez does that, and oh yes, chips in with a few goals of his own.

If Leicester finish in the top six and play European football next year do you expect the team to change significantly with the money that will come into the club?

LTID: We did spend last summer and have got quite a strong squad, but yes we would have to buy as though the squad is strong it is not big, This season we have not had Europe to distract us like the other clubs around us. I think it would be good to get in some players who have actually played in the Champions League or Europa League as now is and have that experience we would need.

CC: Every club has a dip in form they say so are Leicester fans biting their nails wondering when that might happen?

LTID: One word YES. But its not happened yet so fingers crossed even with bitten nails.

CC: Leicester drew against the Cherries down at Dean Court but do you expect a similar tight game at the King Power Stadium?

LTID:  Leicester are now on amazing run and Bournemouth have had a few good wins recently. A month ago to be honest I though this would be a sure 3 points, but with your current good form I am not so confident now.

CC: How do you think Leicester will line up for this game?

LTID:  The same as the last 18. If its not broken why fix it, and only two losses means it ain't broken and Ranieri refuses to tinker which is good. Rumours are circulating regarding illness's to Vardy & Mahrez after the Liverpool performance. Let's hope Vardy's party was the reason.

CC: How do you think the top four will look at the end of the season and who are the three teams going down?

LTID: Difficult this season, its so open at the top. In no particular order I think the top 4 will consist of Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and yes I am going to say it Leicester City.

Going down? Well one has to be Aston Villa. Bottom with less points than even Leicester had this time last year. They are not playing with the team spirit that Leicester were either.

The other two? Swansea are in free fall and Sunderland are still struggling despite Big Sam's arrival.

I would like to see Newcastle go down though. They have flirted with relegation for a few years and are the new Wigan, Its nice to see the big boys struggle and the so called little teams do well. Would love Bournemouth to stay up I really do. Not because I like in Poole either but there’s is a true rags to riches story. The modern day Wimbledon and I think they are vying for first place with Leicester for everybody’s favourite second team this season.

CC: It is good to hear that Leicester City fans are enjoying themselves. May be AFCB can pick a brief moment when the Foxes might slowdown a little with their points accumulation, but going to the King Power stadium is probably the last place any Premier League team is expecting an easy game. There is such a great atmosphere at the ground and it is always a great day out so if you are going up have a good day. There are more previews on the Leicester Till I Die site and before the game there should be my answers to the questions I was given about Eddie Mitchell and Peak 6 among others.