18 years since Walshy's double... So what's changed?

I know it's been a while since my last post, but trust me, it's been a busy one for me!!

One of the things I've been busy doing is clearing out my parents old house before they move. In the loft, I found my collection of old programs from the first season I started really following football, and it got me thinking... It's 18 years since Walshy's double at Wembley against Derby put us into the Premiership - but what's changed?

Well, in terms of the club personnel and the players, obviously a hell of a lot. Brian Little's starting lineup in our first Premier League game (a 3-1 loss to Newcastle at Filbert Street) consisted of:

1. Gavin Ward

2. Simon Grayson

3.  Mike Whitlow

12. Richard Smith

19. Colin Hill

14. Nicky Mohan

6. Steve Agnew

8. Mark Blake

10. Mark Draper

5. Steve Walsh

7. Julian Joachim

Not actually too bad a starting 11. Not to mention Steve Thompson, Iwan Roberts and Kevin Poole on the bench.

We've seen some great players come and go over the years. This was the season Emile Heskey made his first team debut. We saw Neil Lennon, Muzzy Izzet, Robbie Savage, Kasey Keller, Steve Clariage, Matt Elliott and lots of other quality names at Filbert Street under Martin O'Neil (or Martin O'God, whenever normally mentioned in my flat!!).

That brings me neatly on to managers. In that 18 years, we've had no less than 13 contracted managers since Little departed 3 months into the season (not to mention the 9 periods where we've been managed by caretakers). Quite a lot when you consider MON was at the club for 5 years, but not that many if you also consider that Milan Mandaric changed twice in one season during the ill-fated 2007/08 campaign.

While there have been some understandable lows (a couple of Premiership relegations, and a short tour of League 1!), we've had some really good times as Leicester fans in the last 18 years. Our most successful period was under MON - Promotion to the Premier League, where we stayed for 5 years (and we topped it too, for about a week!!) and 2 League Cups, not to mention some serious strengthening to the squad.

We've swapped Filbert Street for the King Power stadium, giving us a bigger platform to strengthen the fan base. We all miss Filbert Street, but personally I think it was a good decision to move.

Overall, a lot has changed. We're a completely different club when you look at how we were back then. I don't believe our squad now is any weaker than the one that made it into the Premiership 18 years ago. The Championship has changed completely, and it's more difficult than ever to get out of. As we always say though, This Time Next Season...


TTNS...

Incoming!!

So we covered the current outgoings in the last post - it's time for us to have a good look at someone who may shortly be coming into the squad.

The most widely known rumour doing the rounds at the moment is that of Jamie Vardy.

BBC Radio Leicester are advising that we're close to securing the signature of Jamie Vardy from Fleetwood Town for around £750k. Personally, I've never seen the guy play (I don't think too many City fans have), but I'm quite hopeful that he'll do well for us. Nigel Pearson and his team have quite a good reputation for picking up this kind of player, and chances are he's not going to come over to us with an ego which needs to be appealed to! Some may argue that while he did score 34 goals last season, they were only in the Conference, but I do think he'll do us a good job. I will say this - I think we'll end up selling Beckford, and bringing in another 'bigger name' striker, meaning we'll see Vardy sitting on the bench more than he plays.

While we probably will loose Beckford, I don't think he'll be the last of our strikers to leave - be it permanently or on loan. Nugent'll stay, but then we've got Vassell and Waghorn (both just back from injury and by no means a 'shoe-in' to the first team any more), along with Jeff Schlupp, and now probably Jamie Vardy. I think we'll probably end up getting rid of at least 1 if not 2 of them, depending on who else we bring in.

Lots of other rumours doing the rounds, as you'd expect. Names I've heard in the last day or so include James Chesters, Robert Koren (reportedly we've made an offer already), Jordan Henderson (possible loan), Zeki Fryers (a youngster from Man United - no, I've never heard of him either!), Robert Snodgrass (part-exchange for Beckford perhaps?), and there's even talk of a big offer to Wolves for the services of Matt Jarvis. Personally I can't see that happening - he's a little too good for the championship in my eyes, so I think he'll end up at one of the newly promoted teams. Still, would be great if we did manage to get him!

It's still very early days, so any of these may or may not happen. I'm really interested in any thoughts you have on any of the above possibilities, as well as any others you may hear of in the coming weeks. Either drop me a comment below, or send me something on twitter - @TTNSblog

While clearing out my old house, I've found a huge load of old programs dating back to 1994/95 (our first season in the Premiership) so I'm going to be looking to write a post soon looking at how much we've changed as a club in the last 18 seasons (really - it is that long!). Any thoughts you may have on this, again, let me know.

TTNS...

Quick update on our Twitter...

I've set up a Twitter account for This Time Next Season to give quick updates, snippets of news and rumours between full posts - give us a follow @TTNSblog - and if you like what you read, pass it on!!

The End Of Season Clear-out Begins!

The curtain has barely closed on the 11/12 season and already the wheels are in motion in the transfer market. Lets start with the outgoings...

Since the weekend, the club have confirmed the departures of Steve Howard and John Pantsil. While John Pantsil won't be overly missed, it's a shame we've got rid of Super Steve. That being said, I can understand the decision - he's been past his best for a couple of seasons now, and while it's true he's been a good servant to the team, the time is probably right for him to move on. I spoke to him at the Fans Player Of The Year awards last week, and he said he'd already had some Championship interest so good luck to him - he's a top bloke. My money's on him to be wearing a Charlton shirt next season under Chris Powell - You heard it here first, folks!

Matt Oakley (now a free agent) and Bruno Burner (retired) both left during the season, and Franck Moussa & Alex Tunchev are both expected to leave in the coming days, but with the Financial Fair Play rule coming into force next season, none of these are likely to make a large dent in the sizable wage budget. One player whose departure would substantially reduce the wage bill would be Jermaine Beckford. I've got mixed feelings about this one...

We paid £2.5million for Jermaine back in August, and I have to admit, it took me a long while to warm to him. While he scored one in October and one in November, he really didn't start firing them in regularly until January this year - kicked off by his hat-trick against F*rest. Since then though, he's done really well for us, and although his movement isn't as good as some, I don't think you can have a go at someone who is scoring regularly. Some people are keen to see the back of him, and with Leeds rumored to be preparing their offer already it may well happen, but I think it's worth remembering that he's only scored 1 less goal this season than David Nugent. Another player who it can only be assumed will be shown the door is centre back Matt Mills. For me, he was the most under-utilized player for us last season. It's a shame that he seemed to fall out with Nigel Pearson earlier in the year, as at the time his partnership at the back with Sean St. Ledger was just starting to work. I have a feeling that Nigel's stubbornness  may have harmed the team in this case.

But who else do you think is likely to go? Will Kasper be poached by one of the Premier League's elite? Are you as keen to see the back of Paul Gallagher as the people who sit behind me in SK1? 

Let me know what you think - I'd be really keen to include other people's views in this blog going forward and the only way I can do this is if you tell me!!

I'll give it a few days for the rumors of incomings to start coming in (I know a few have already started!) and I'll post my opinion on those then.

TTNS...

So, a bit about TTNS...

So, this is the first of many blogs for This Time Next Season!

This blog will be dedicated to Leicester City Football Club, and everything surrounding it. I've been a season ticket holder at the King Power stadium for the last 4 years, and have followed the Foxes for my whole life. This season though, funds don't allow me to have a Season Ticket (although I'll be re-evaluating that at Christmas when the half season tickets come out!!), so I've created TTNS as an outlet for my opinions on all things LCFC.

A bit of background about myself...

• I'm Dan Bromley, and I'm 26 from Leicester.
• My first LCFC game was at Home vs QPR with my Dad in August 1994 (we drew 1-1 - Jimmy Willis own goal and Phil Gee with a last minute equalizer - LCFC's first ever Premiership point).
• Favorite ever City player was Muzzy Izzet (although Walshy's something of a legend too!).
• One of my favorite moments as a Leicester fan was seeing us win the Worthington Cup in 2001 at Wembley - my dad and I had queued up from 4am to get the tickets!

Not sure what else I can tell you, but feel free to ask! Follow me on Twitter @DanBromleyTVT

Until Tomorrow!

TTNS...