Please don't make us favourites!!

All Leicester City fans will shudder at the news that Bet365 and Ladbrokes have installed the club as favourites to win the Championship Title next season. The same happened last summer and that was a spectacular misjudgement! Let's hope they've got it right this time. Meanwhile, the club have announced a series of pre-season fixtures, culminating in the return of Martin O'Neill to the Walkers Stadium on Saturday 11th August. The full list is as follows:

Tuesday 24th July - (a) Hinckley United
Saturday 28th July - (a) Shrewsbury Town
Wednesday 1st August - (a) Burton Albion
Saturday 4th August - (a) Lincoln City
Saturday 11th August - (h) Sunderland

Fleetwood Star In, Deadwood Out!

Fleetwood striker Jamie Vardy has completed his move to the King Power Stadium. Although the fee has not been disclosed, it is believed that he has become the most expensive non-league player of all time, costing in the region of £1m. 25 year-old Vardy, who scored 34 goals last season in helping Fleetwood gain promotion to the Football League, had been a target for Nigel Pearson in the January transfer window. Meanwhile, Pearson has released six players today. Vassell, Howard, Tunchev, Oakley, Weale and Chamberlain have all been shown the door. They may not be the only departures this summer with rumours rife that Celtic are interested in signing out of favour Matt Mills. I suspect that if there is any truth in that rumour, Pearson will bite Neil Lennon's hand off.

Pearson Sets His Stall Out

Leicester have completed the signings of 23 year-old defender Ritchie De Laet and 20 year-old midfielder Matty James. The duo, both from Manchester United, have signed on 3 year contracts and the deal is believed to have cost Leicester City a total of £2 million. With Marshall and Drinkwater arriving last season, these signings fit in with Pearson's policy of bringing in young, relatively cheap and low profile players, who have impressed in loan spells at other clubs. It is the right policy to build for the future, rather than to bring in journeymen who are approaching the end of their careers. The squad is starting to take shape and the rumour is that Fleetwood Town's James Vardy is set to be the next arrival. To replace Beckford or to play along side him? My money is on replace!