Promising New Signing Confirmed, As Impatient Fanbase Must Give The RM Project 15 League Games or More – TCF – FILBERT WAY
The current situation at this football club is far from settled. The fans who travelled to Ipswich for last nights Carabao Cup fixture were amazing, backing the team from the first minute. Expectations were low and the way this team responded from start shows what could be coming. The connection between players and fans is one crucial factor that must be there to get success.
Often talking of Borussia Dortmund and their support, being in that area once, makes it evident they never gave up, even in the darkest moments. We all know that Leicester are in a place at the moment, they do not belong, and to get them back to a higher shelf, they need a fanbase of support, not the opposite.
Leicester do have a group of young exceptional talented players and the way they managed to control this game vs. Ipswich, makes this a good project to support, going forward. Conor Chaplin will be one very important player in this set up, being one of very few to call on with experience when the transfer window close. Harry Souttar hopefully staying, but if he leaves, would have loved to see the pairing of Olebade Aluko and Ilari Kangasniemi. A very exciting and special partnership, of two very talented 19 year old defenders.
Wes Burns is also an experienced player who will also play his part. Bobby De Cordova-Reid can contribute at this level, but he needs to either play wide in a flank position or in midfield. He can also play full back if needed. We would love to see Louis Page in this team this season, he will be an amazing asset if he stays.
The new signing of centre-back Ilari Kangasniemi is also one exciting addition. He has been influential in Europa Conference League games this summer and we hope he will flourish and progress going forward. Having seen him in action, Leicester should be satisfied to see him inside the building.
We’ve signed centre-back Ilari Kangasniemi from Finnish top-flight side FC Inter Turku, subject to league and international clearance 🤝
Welcome, Ilari! 🦊 pic.twitter.com/sCBfmsa0OE
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 26, 2026
A number of places will be up for grabs, and as we look at it at the moment, Russell Martin has no real idea what his best eleven is, so far he has not played it, and what we did see yesterday was a random pick of different indivduals that clicked, not really having any idea of what was put out there in the first place.
We are uncertain, but are ready to give Russell Martin 15 games or more to get this project on the correct path, hopefully things are settled at that time, because he should have enough quality in there to build a solid unit.
The major challenge so far is to get the experienced players into a shape and form so they can compete and deliver what is needed, if not, you will again have a squad out of balance.
An exciting eleven to call for would be this one;
Stolarczyk, Joseph, Aluko, Kangasniemi, Thomas, Braybrooke, Page, Chaplin, Alves, Bristric, Watson
Howell and McFarlane would be players who should challenge for a position, but having more experienced players on the bench and on the fringe, will never help you in this situations as they were originally signed to play a significant role.
Ravizzoli is the only of those experienced players that possibly understand that he is just a cover. Other players are on major saleries and believe they should be in the team, but at this point they are not delivering what is needed to deserve their positions.
At the moment you have an upside down squad, that will never work in an environment of individuals moving forward for success and progression.
You can’t pay one on the subs bench five times more, than one of your players in the starting eleven, that will give you a severe headache.
You can’t put kids in the team, and just overlook players on the highest wages, then you will get a toxic environment and you have to make difficult decisions.
The problem at the moment is that Tommy Watson (20) and Will Alves (21) are the two best flank players that should be in the starting line-up. Howell (18) is a good enough alternative on both sides. Riley Carr (18) could be another back up, not upsetting the hierarchy. Burns (31), Cullen (27) and Reid (33) are the other options, all of them possibly believing they are entitled to play, but at this point not really showing the ability needed to be playing instead of Howell, Watson or Alves. This is an upside down squad situation, seeing these three experienced players on possibly much higher salaries and also having higher demand of playing week in and week out.
If you decide to overlook your old dogs, you can’t just let them rot on the bench or give them five minutes of game time. You will take away their confidence in seconds, and reduce them to players far from their ability, because they will fall from a higher self belief. Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka came to Leicester as good players for Crystal Palace and Red Bull Salzburg, but reduced to something ugly being signed on the belief of being played in their best positions. This ended up in seeing them as bad and terrible signings.
Russell Martin is on a dangerous path, but hopefully he will see the growing talent of his great youngsters. Having signed Wes Burns and Liam Cullen on terms of playing, he will soon find out that other options will give him a better team. To make mistakes in the transfer market, will fast define your destiny as a manager at this football club.
If you need a few old dogs to fill your squad, they have to know their situation. You also have a dilemma if you pay them more than your youngsters in the team, then you will suffer. We will give Russell Martin time, but his valuation of players and their age and position will define his project.
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