Negative chants towards a manager perceived to be underperforming are not unusual. But the crowd turning on a potential new boss before he’s stepped foot in the dugout is rare.
For the Leicester City fans at Bournemouth, their point was made. The action on the pitch was inconsequential and so the focus was expressing their feelings.
There were ‘Rudkin out!’ chants throughout, most notably before kick-off in each half, and there was a banner too.
Pre-match, lots of supporters held up A4 pieces of paper. From the other side of the ground, they were not legible, but a reasonable guess could be made as to what they read, with photos then confirming they were indeed calling for the removal of the director of football.
But there was also a chant about Russell Martin, the man at the centre of rife speculation around the City job and the favourite to succeed Ruud van Nistelrooy.
While the chant – “Russell Martin, what a ******” – was unnecessarily harsh towards the former Southampton manager, it was at least effective in showing the fans’ thoughts on his possible arrival, especially with Jon Rudkin at the Vitality Stadium to hear them.
For lots of fans, appointing Martin is akin to signing Jannik Vestergaard and Ryan Bertrand despite their involvement in the 9-0 game at St Mary’s.
Last season in the Championship, City won their two games against Martin’s Saints 9-1 on aggregate. Plus, in the Premier League, he took just five points from 16 matches before being sacked. To many, it feels like a backwards step.
Beyond those facts, the style of play is something that is putting fans off. Supporters became irritated by Enzo Maresca’s football at times, and Martin’s version of a similar idea feels even more extreme.
But, he does at least have a distinct style of play, something supporters often crave, and it may be one suited to the players City have. Plus, he has experience of getting teams promoted to the Premier League. Financially, that’s where City need to be.
When speaking recently about what he is looking for in his next job, Martin said that part of his consideration would be “what the fans have been used to, maybe what’s brought them success previously”.
That does feel like it fits with City, because of how they operated under Maresca, but the issue is that despite the success, fans weren’t always happy under the Italian.
But also, when supporters now reflect on the Championship-winning campaign, the wins, the goals, the glory, and the connection with the team instilled by Maresca overshadow the occasional groans about the style of play.
So it’s not that Martin could not win over supporters. But the chant at the Vitality Stadium shows he would start on the backfoot in trying to do so.
But the chant and the discussion around it may be for nothing. It remains speculation that Martin will take charge.
Equally, if it was a direction the club were thinking of heading in, they may now change course.
Drab display fitting for season
So, to the actual game. Perhaps fittingly, given it’s the lowest points total they have ever finished with in the Premier League, City signed off with a display in which they were overwhelmingly second-best.
Defensively they were solid enough, the back four protecting the box with commitment, but Bournemouth was so dominant that even with that, City were reliant on Jakub Stolarczyk to produce a series of excellent saves.
On the ball, City were really poor. The midfielders didn’t put their stamp on the game, Victor Kristiansen looked out of place on the left wing, Patson Daka was barely involved.
Only in two matches, both under Steve Cooper, have City completed fewer passes this season. The shot count finished at 20-3 – albeit that was only the fifth-highest deficit of City’s season – with Kepa Arrizabalaga not needing to make a single save.
Without Bilal El Khannouss, Wilfred Ndidi, and Jamie Vardy, without Stephy Mavididi, Abdul Fatawu and Harry Winks, and with Ricardo Pereira and Facundo Buonanotte only on the bench, it looked on paper like the poorest side City had fielded all campaign. It showed in the performance.
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Jamie Vardy souvenir edition of the Leicester Mercury
It was certainly a fairytale ending to Jamie Vardy's Leicester City career - netting his 200th goal in his final match for the club.
To celebrate, we are launching a this special edition of the Leicester Mercury where we look back at the striker's amazing career - his journey from non-league to England international, his greatest goals and where he stands in the Foxes' list of all-time greats.
We also revisit the trophy-winning campaigns - the 2021 FA Cup and, of course, the 2016 Premier League title.
And there are plenty of tributes from those who played with him, against him and worked with him.
Jamie Vardy, it's certainly been a party!
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Stolarczyk provides more evidence for number one claim
There are very few players who were with City during the Championship-winning campaign whose reputations have improved this season, but Stolarczyk is one.
With Mads Hermansen’s injuries, the Pole has had more opportunities to impress, and he has done so for the most part.
It was already the case that he looked a strong contender to take over as number one should Hermansen be sold this summer, but cemented that claim against Bournemouth.
There were several good stops where he positioned himself well to close the angle and parry away, but there were also a couple of exceptional saves.
He would not have known it would be flagged offside when he dived at Evanilson’s feet and stopped him scoring from just a few yards out. It was quick, brave goalkeeping.
Then, at the start of the second half, the one-handed fingertip stop to keep out Marcus Tavernier’s drive was excellent.
But if he wants to make absolutely sure he is City’s next number one, then he could do with spending the summer practising with the ball at his feet. He’s got the confidence to do it, but not yet the accuracy.
Van Nistelrooy's 'depends' answer hints at parting of ways
It’s ominous for van Nistelrooy. Even more than the noise around his position, the lack of constructive talks with the board make it seem like the writing is on the wall.
It is difficult to think of any reason why the senior management wouldn’t engage with him over the future and next season unless they were certain he would not be in charge.
In any case, he’s now cast doubt himself over whether he even wants to remain at the King Power Stadium, saying his stance on an extended stay “depends” on the conversations he has with the board.
It feels like the answer to that question should always start with ‘Yes’, with the caveats then added in.
If this was his last game, his time at the club won’t be reflected on fondly. There will be elements of sympathy, especially with the lack of business in January, but there have been a lot of poor performances too.
Fans that had been won around by the Dutchman in recent weeks may be reconsidering after the Bournemouth loss.
Interestingly, against the 12 opponents they both faced, van Nistelrooy and Cooper picked up exactly the same number of points, with 10. Van Nistelrooy’s problem was that in the extra 13 fixtures he was afforded, he earned just five points.
If he is to leave now, a league win rate of 16 per cent won’t look good on his CV. But that figure should be a reflection on the club as much as it’s a reflection on van Nistelrooy himself.
Timely gift for new season delivered
The season at least finished with a smidgen of good news. In the final answer of his last press conference of the season, van Nistelrooy dropped into conversation after a question about Bade Aluko that Jeremy Monga was very close to signing a new deal.
Firstly, it suggested van Nistelrooy is kept more in the loop than he sometimes lets on. But it also suggests that City have been successful in showing the 15-year-old his short-term future at the very least is best spent at the club that’s raised him.
For months, it seemed like these fleeting appearances would be all fans got to see of Monga in a City shirt, and that he was destined to join Manchester City or some other high-profile side in England or Europe.
But now it looks like he’s on course to at least be a part of their squad next term. In the Championship, and with more minutes on the pitch, he can really show what a prodigy he is.
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