Leicester pay tribute to former boss Erikssonpublished at 14:07 26 August
14:07 26 August
Image source, Getty Images
Leicester City have paid tribute to former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has died at the age of 76.
Eriksson managed the Foxes while they were in the Championship, between October 2010 and October 2011, and was known for his "easy and warm character".
During his time in the East Midlands, he most notably signed Kasper Schmeichel, David Nugent and Paul Konchesky, who all went on to be vital players for the club.
In a statement the club said, external: "Sven will be remembered for the many successes in his career and all at Leicester City continue to look back with warmth and fondness at his time in charge of the Foxes. The thoughts of all at the club are with Sven’s family and his friends at this sad time."
'Foxes need to find their style' - Fryattpublished at 08:58 26 August
08:58 26 August
Image source, Getty Images
Former Leicester City striker Matty Fryatt believes the Foxes are currently stuck between two different styles, after losing Championship-winning manager Enzo Maresca and appointing former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper during the summer break.
"Cooper will want to put his own tweak on things but all of that success last season, and the core of the team, was based on players who had been programmed," Fryatt told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast.
"Everything was set and there wasn't anything off the cuff. Sometimes you could say it was a bit rigid and boring to watch.
"If it can go forward in this Cooper team, it sometimes feels like they just play it forward. Under Maresca, sometimes if it wasn't perfect it wasn't going to go forward.
"It is about finding that balance, of course. A new manager has come in and he is going to have his own tweaks. At the same time, there will need to be a bit more resilience to a Steve Cooper team - it won't be all Leicester's way [this season].
"They have to find the balance of going for it themselves and also being aware of the opposition, rather than being too respectful or fearful of how they play. They have got to find out how that can be delivered.
"Cooper is in a difficult position at the minute but, after the first two games, you probably would have taken one point [before the season started]. So it's not the end of the world, but it does need to get better.
"It's going to take time for the players to adjust to Cooper's style but if there is a mistake, it is going to be punished. Yes, there was a way that worked in the Championship but Burnley proved that they tried to do it again in the Premier League and it didn't work.
"So there has to be a mix - it is about finding out how it can be improved and how the team can put their game on the opposition and show their qualities.
"They just haven't found that right balance at the right moments, as they did last season. It takes a long time to do that as well, especially when you've got a team that has had success with a previous way of playing.
"It will take time and patience, but they need to find their style."
Fulham 2-1 Leicester - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:21 26 August
08:21 26 August
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Fulham and Leicester City.
Here are some of your comments:
Fulham fans
Simon: This was always going to be a tough game, especially with Leicester coming off a good first game. They were set up to defend and counter-attack, but we were better from start to finish and controlled the game. There were grumblings about a lack of cutting edge, but this will come with more games and as our new players bed in. Overall, very positive.
Alex: The first half was very strong from Fulham. Emile Smith Rowe is off to a great start thanks to Adama Traore. I was optimistic after so many key players leaving, but I think we have made up for that with players like Sasa Lukic stepping up. A strong performance from Fulham but a nervy final 10 minutes, which is expected. Bring on the next game.
James: Smith Rowe scoring on his home debut was great to see. I was a little frustrated with the equaliser after dominating the first half. I felt Fulham deserved to win the game and Iwobi made sure of that. We look better defensively but we need to be more clinical when on the front foot. I'm happy to see three points on the board. Ipswich away next!
Toppy: If Marco Silva gets out of his own way on the touchline and stops transmitting panic to the team, all of his positive attributes will see us excel this season. We don't need another Manchester United meltdown. Passion is not an excuse for stupidity.
Leicester fans
Gav: We gave the game away. We offered very little up front after signing Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew as Premier League standard upgrades, but they both look League One standard. Fulham won in second gear.
Chris: I'm not going to criticise the effort but when you're crying out for creativity and you see no striker on the pitch, Jordan Ayew being 'neat and tidy' and Wilfred Ndidi being the most advanced player, makes you concerned. How Steve Cooper can somehow seemingly not fancy arguably our best player in Ricardo, I just don't understand!
Fred: I think it's inevitable that we are going to have wins and losses, but we need to be better at the back and up front as well. I think Steve Cooper is doing very well to adapt the team to the Premier League. We just have to stay positive and get behind the team to cheer them on. It is the least we can do.
James: I think we Leicester fans need to keep our expectations in check. We are expected to struggle and pick up points where we can. We deserved nothing, with any hint of a repeat of the second half against Spurs quickly extinguished. Back to the training ground to work on our attacking threat, which needs a signing or two and quickly.
Catch up on the Premier League actionpublished at 11:22 25 August
11:22 25 August
Gary Lineker presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.
🎧 Post-match reaction from Craven Cottagepublished at 20:55 24 August
20:55 24 August
The latest episode of BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast is available now on BBC Sounds - and it contains all of the post-match reaction from the Foxes' loss to Fulham.
Former Leicester City striker Matty Fryatt gives his thoughts on the performance, while Foxes manager Steve Cooper discusses what went wrong for his side and whether there will be more incomings before transfer deadline day.
Fulham 2-1 Leicester: What Cooper saidpublished at 19:50 24 August
19:50 24 August
Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side's defeat to Fulham: "Disappointed we lost the game. It was a game we were very much in. In reality, we have been punished by the ruthlessness of the league. We have got the tactics of our defending not quite right - those positions weren't right and we have conceded the goals from there. Fulham took advantage of those two lapses.
"We were in the game the whole way through. It looked like two even teams playing it out and seeing where the game was going to end up. Unfortunately for us, it hasn't ended on the right side in terms of the result.
"We were at Premier League level in our first game away from home, so there is positives to take and loads to learn. I just said to the guys there, be gutted that we haven't taken something from the game because we absolutely should have. We have to move on from that."
On VAR intervening for Leicester's goal: "It is a farce really, why it was stopped. I don't want to go on about that."
On new signings: "We want everyone pushing for positions. To be more of a competitive Premier League squad, you need competition for places. The guys need to train well and play well to stay in it and, if they're not, then they have to work even harder."
On whether he expects more signings: "We hope so. There is hope but I'm at the point where there is a week left, so it is what it is. I'm in competition mode and we have got enough to think about with everyday work.
"If we are in a stronger place when the window shuts, then great. If not, then we believe in these players."
Fulham 2-1 Leicester: Foxes caught lacking at both endspublished at 19:16 24 August
19:16 24 August
Image source, Reuters
Steve Cooper was adamant after the match that his Leicester side had pushed Fulham all the way.
Perhaps he was reminiscing about the Foxes' second-half performance against Tottenham on Monday.
Jamie Vardy had starred then to secure a point on their Premier League return, but he was absent at Craven Cottage.
So too were his fellow attackers Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Facundo Buonanotte.
The trio failed to create any clear cut chances and had just one shot between them.
In truth, Leicester looked like they were lucky not lose by a much larger margin and their weaknesses at the top of the pitch were matched at the other end.
Mads Hermansen was the only reason the visitors went into half-time level, while mistakes from Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes nearly cost Leicester right after the break.
And on a different day Rodrigo Muniz, with his seven shots, could have fired Fulham clear.
Football finance expert Rob Wilson tells The Football News Show why, if permanently introduced, it could make the top Premier League sides less competitive against their European counterparts.
'I'm here to work hard and make sure I help the team reach targets'published at 19:42 23 August
19:42 23 August
Image source, Getty Images
Jordan Ayew wants to use his "experience and quality" to help Leicester City enjoy a successful season on their return to the Premier League.
The 32-year-old forward completed his transfer from Crystal Palace on Friday, signing a two-year contract.
Ghana international Ayew told club media: "I think it's a big opportunity for me to show what I can do. I want to show that I can help everyone and add my little experience and quality to make the team better - hopefully it will work.
"Even though I'm 32, I still need to improve in a lot of aspects, and [manager Steve Cooper] assured me that I am going to improve as a player and as a person.
"I'm not just coming to hang around, I'm here to work hard and make sure that I help the team to reach the targets. Hopefully we have a great season all together with the fans and I'm really confident that this will be a good year."
PFA concerned at PSR's 'unintended consequences'published at 12:25 23 August
12:25 23 August
Media caption,
Maheta Molango, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association tells The Football News Show why he is concerned at the current and potential future financial rules in the Premier League.
'This may be the pond Leicester are fishing in'published at 11:31 23 August
11:31 23 August
Image source, Getty Images
Former Leicester City academy graduate Ian Baraclough says signing Jordan Ayew from Crystal Palace would bring much needed experience to the Foxes' squad.
Leicester are closing in a deal for the 32-year-old Ghana forward, who has made 195 top-flight appearances for Palace, scoring 22 goals.
"I think Steve Cooper wants bodies and if he can get bodies who have Premier League experience then I think that will benefit the group at this moment in time," Baraclough told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast.
"Certain senior players within the club are fantastic and they are going to be vital throughout the season but I'm not sure there is enough there at the moment that can keep the club out of the bottom three.
"I know that sounds harsh this early in the season but I think he definitely needs to add players with that Premier League experience and Jordan Ayew fits that bill.
"Now, has he been the number one target for Leicester? I don't know. When you go into a transfer window it's forever changing, you're spinning plates. You've got a first, second, third and fourth target and you're competing against other teams as well.
"We don't know how much money Leicester would have been able to spend as well, which would put a lot of players out of the equation.
"To get someone like him for £5m might just fit the bill in all areas in that respect.
"It probably won't be to Leicester fans an exciting signing but he's someone who knows his way around the Premier League and this may be the pond Leicester are fishing in. We have to come to terms with that.
"You're not going to be able to get the profile of striker the manager thinks the team needs because prices are escalating now to ridiculous numbers. That's probably not something we can do at the moment especially with something hanging over us."
Leicester close to signing Crystal Palace's Ayew published at 09:48 23 August
09:48 23 August
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Jordan Ayew has been at Crystal Palace since initially joining on loan in 2018
Leicester are close to signing Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew for an initial £5m.
The Foxes want to bring in at least two offensive players and Ayew, 32, is poised to move to the King Power Stadium in a deal rising to £8m.
Promoted Leicester struggled for attacking options in Monday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Tottenham, with Jamie Vardy starting - and scoring the equaliser - despite boss Steve Cooper ruling him out through injury just three days before.
Cooper, who takes Leicester to Fulham on Saturday, has made no secret of his desire to add more forward options to his squad and Ayew offers crucial Premier League experience.
He has made 212 appearances for Palace, scoring 23 goals, since initially joining on loan from Swansea in 2018. Ayew was a second-half substitute in Palace's 2-1 defeat at Brentford on Sunday.
He previously played for Aston Villa, joining them in 2015, before moving to Swansea two years later.
Ayew will join Oliver Skipp as a new signing at the King Power Stadium, with the midfielder arriving from Tottenham for £20m on Monday.
🎧 The Fulham previewpublished at 08:46 23 August
08:46 23 August
On the latest episode of the When You're Smiling podcast, Ian Baraclough and Charlie Carmichael join Owynn Palmer-Atkin to preview Leicester's trip to Fulham on Saturday.
Cooper on Skipp, Vardy fitness and strengthening the squadpublished at 15:40 22 August
15:40 22 August
Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Cooper said new signing Oliver Skipp is available to face Fulham and added: "He is a good young player, he has plenty of games under his belt in the Premier League. We have nice variety and balance of midfield options... I believe Skippy offers a calming influence in midfield and we look forward to introducing him into the system."
On keeping striker Jamie Vardy fit: "Jamie doesn't need any special words from me on capabilities and impact he can have and talent he has around the box. Keeping him fresh for games is going to be important. He is an older player now with his age; as they get older they understand their bodies well and know what is needed to prepare for games. It is important we work with him collaboratively to get him ready for games."
On players they are being linked with: "Everybody. We are being linked with everybody. But, no names to mention. We want to strengthen the squad. We want to keep a lot [of momentum] going from last year and part of that is adding and strengthening and we will look to do that with a week to go."
Adding to their forward line is "definitely" an area Leicester want to strengthen but it "might not be done in this window, but one we will look at".
Cooper said "there were a lot of learnings" from the draw with Tottenham, adding: "There were players making Premier League debuts and club debuts and all of that can show. We needed to be a lot braver in the second half, and that's on all of us, but we played with ambition and intent in the second half."
On facing Fulham: "They're always a well set-up team with a clear way of playing and we're going up against a team that have, mostly, been together for a while so we will be aware of that. But we are mostly focusing on ourselves and establishing ourselves back in the Premier League."
Image source, Getty Images
