Season Review League Start-Christmas
They have been lots of ups and downs this season, and we will be going from the beginning across all the drama right to the end:
The season kicked off on 6th August 2011, away to Coventry getting all three points in a 1-2 victory kicking off our season well. We had lots of debutees that game and we went with confidence to our first home game to eventual champions Reading but it finished 0-2 and it was a poor performance, and I remember it well because of the air of hope from the crowd as we stumbled down to the King Power, but we left wondering about some of the teams investments already after 2 games! We had back-to-back home losses when Bristol came and won 1-2 after a transfer prospect Maynard hit 2, and he eventually left City for West Ham. We had a decent performance against rival Forrest away even after a dodgy decision by the ref to send off Kasper and it finished level 2-2 with goals from Nugent and Fernandes. The last game in August was that of Southhampton, who also were instantly promoted after amazing seasons from Lambert and Lallana. It was a stunning game and it started well with an early goal from Vassell, who I doubt will be a part of Pearsons plans. The game finished 3-2 and gave us our first home win.
September started average with City and Barnsley sharing the points after a 1-1 with the goal from substitute King, who I wanted to see more of but he really was plagued by injury! We then followed that with a simple 1-0 win at home to Brighton, Yuki Abe grabbing the goal. Abe wasnt really a star performer but was usually just there, and his presence of a solid CDM will be missed by me! We then went on a double away draw at Cardiff and Middlesbrough, meaning we were undeafeted in the league during September.
October was a real turning point for our season, we began with a great win against rival Derby 4-0 with new boy Jeffery Schlupp getting the third, and Dyer completed the 'Silence of the Rams' with an injury time fourth. At that point we sat 8th 1 point of the playoffs. We went to Birmingham with high hopes on 16th October and we were put back into perspective once again which was far too frequent this season, and the tie ended 2-0 Birrmingham but we bounced back at home against Watford winning 2-0 with one each for Nugent and Beckford. We then suffered a terrible defeat to Millwall at home finishing 0-3 and I remember tha tgame clearly as well, because I had gone with my cousin to a box expecting a great show from City and we were disappointed again at not being able to string points together. The Millwall game was the last under Sven. I had the honour of meeting him and having an indepth conversation prior to the game, and I clearly remember him saying his high hopes for the club and he knew the results weren't showing the money we spent and he wanted to build slower than what the fans expected. 2 days after the game on the 24th, he and Leicester City parted ways under mutual consent, and I think this was a MASSIVE turning point not just in the season but in the upcoming future of Leicester City, because I know his presence brought the players to the club rather than the wages and fund, and under Pearson I can't see highly experienced players coming this summer, or the pre-season friendly of Real Madrid, which was a once-in-a-lifetime event costing the owners £1million and Sven pulling a lot of the strings to get his friend Mouriniho's team to come to the King Power. We had the cartakers in when we went away to West Ham, and it started for a dramatic 2-3 loss with a late King double almost nabbing us a point. We finished October in 14th, no manager, and lots of high priced players not producing goods.
November began with a comfortable 3-1 win away to Burnley with Gally getting the third with a penalty after 6 weeks out. 5 days later on 5th we had another derby against Leeds with them finishing the victor after a 2nd half Adam Clayton goal. The day after was one of the worst as a city fan with a barrage of texts, emails, tweets and insults thrown in by my leeds mates who I promised a resounding win for Leicester. On 15th November, my birthday Nigel Pearson joined as manager for his second spell, and it was the best present in years since I got a new, red bike when I was 8! His first game in charge brought the Pearson factor and a 3-0 home win to Crystal Palace with two absolute beauties from Gallagher which really left us wondering why we hadnt held on to Pearson. The following game was a simple 1-1 at Pourtsmouth, it was a gritty affair and honestly desereved the scoreline. November ended with Blackpool visiting and it was another I clearly remember. It was the first game after Gary Speed had passed away, and I remember shedding a tear for the Newcastle man becasue I had met him on once before by accident in a city centre ending with a cheery goodbye. The game finished 2-0 City with goals from King and Danns.
December began with an away trip to Hull, Pearsons former club and it was a bitter ending after former fox Fryatt scored from the spot and Koren scored in the final minutes, with City leaving empty handed after another fustrating result. Our first home game in December ended evens with Peterborough 1-1, and of course after a local derby the barrage of abuse came from the Peterborough faithful. We then had three very poor performance, starting with a 2-1 loss against Doncaster, and two 1-1 draws against Ipswich on Boxing day and Pompey on New years eve. That performance really sticks out to me beacause my liverpool stained cousin coming from America had seen the match. I started promising a fantastic performance and saying he should be come an international blue, and it ended with him leaving still a red. Thanks city you never perform when I need to make a point :) December finished with City sitting in 14th 7 points off promotion, and Pearsons old stomping ground, Hull finishing the promotion places in 6th. That will be the end of this section, look back soon at our humble blog for our ideas on the rest of the season, our measly league cup results and our great FA cup run.