However, Leicester won just 3 of their last 17 league games - a win ratio of less than 18%. This included a winless run of 9 matches, their poorest sequence for 6 years. City dropped from 2nd to 6th and scraped into the play-offs by the skin of their teeth. In no other Championship season would 68 points have been enough to secure 6th. Wood and Nugent, having netted 21 times in 34 league matches for City, managed just 6 more between them in the final 17 games.
Much has been made of City's youthful squad. Indeed, with an average age of just 23, Leicester have the third youngest squad in the entire football league. However, this doesn't explain the dramatic loss in form of key players like Nugent. The defence is not exempt from criticism either. City conceded twice in each of their final 5 league games and went through a sequence of 13 games without a clean sheet. At the crucial climax of the season at Watford, they conceded 3 goals in 1 game for the first time all season. Even though Leicester were a penalty kick away from a trip to Wembley, it would be difficult to say that they deserved the opportunity after such a poor run of form.
So where do City go next? The owners' silence has been deafening in terms of their support for the manager. It might be a case of - we back you because we can't afford to sack you. Financial Fair Play rules are looming and the money has clearly run out. If Pearson is kept on, he will need to clear a few players out before he can bring more in. St. Ledger, Wellens, Gallagher, Danns, Waghorn and Beckford are all contracted to Leicester and are on good wages. In my view, they are all surplus to requirements. However, they won't be easy to shift and this may be Pearson's biggest challenge over the next few months.
In terms of the rest of the squad, it seems almost certain that Schmeichel will leave, Hull are understood to be prepared to pay £4m for the Dane. Other than that, City should hang on to their key players and will undoubtedly be contenders again next year. In terms of new signings, I would like to see a reliable partner for Wes Morgan brought in. Konchesky's days at left back may be numbered and back-up in central midfield and upfront is a must.
My view is that Pearson should be given one more season at least. He is putting together a young squad and the signings of Wood, Knockaert, Morgan and James have been excellent. If he does manage to get rid of the old guard, I would back him to bring in quality replacements at a reasonable price. Of course, there is no doubt that Pearson has made mistakes. He didn't adjust his tactics quickly enough when things weren't going to plan, especially away from home. Substitutions were predictable and uninspiring at times, and playing a weakened team at Huddersfield in the FA Cup was a huge error. City were in top form at the time and the season lost momentum from that point onwards.
However, despite his stubborn demeanour in interviews, Pearson will have learnt lessons this season. If Leicester managed to get into such a strong position next season, you would back them to finish the job properly. Starting all over again with yet another new manager cannot be the answer. After all, Pearson has lead City to their 2 highest league finishes in the last 9 seasons. Are we sure that anyone else out these could do any better? If the answer is not 100% yes, then it surely can't be worth the risk. Sometimes it's a case of better the devil you know.
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