‘Puel in’ Vs ‘Puel out’: Leicester City supporters’ Claude Puel conflict

#PuelIn: it could be worse

A common question asked of folks in the ‘Puel out’ faction is: which boss could replace Puel and play good football? There are many managers around the world whom are more than capable of achieving that, as the current playing style of the Foxes has been heavily criticised as ‘boring’. Though, there are benefits to his tenure, involving promising youth, as well as making starlets like Ben Chilwell permanent. This helping their careers too.

Whether or not a new gaffer with attacking modus operandi would achieve the same satisfactory level in the league and cup is debatable. Leicester City is not a huge club. It is not a superpower club. What is being achieved – Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha‘s legacy of the team – is exceptional. In other words, us Foxes can’t ask for more. To survive as a premiership club must be our collective minimal expectation.

Evidently and undeniably, the 57-year-old is attempting to overhaul the style of the King Power side. Being intense and hitting opposition on the break is not his approach. Methodical build up play is his way. Consequently, the limited but talented Leicester City squad has not accepted that mould, for one reason or another. Chelsea’s world-class defenders looked unconfident with the ball, before taking the lead against – and ultimately defeating – Manchester City on Sunday.

Confidence is a factor. Possession based football needs class throughout. Maybe the method only works with adept quality as possessed by the likes of Man City, Barcelona, Liverpool etcetera. Although, the Reds under Jurgen Klopp and the Citizens, under the ingenious tutelage of Pep Guardiola, impose on teams their high-press and counters similarly to the Leicester City of 2015/16 or, say, when the Foxes beat Watford in that fashion last week. While retaining the ball with ease.

An area that comes across particularly unfair, nasty and with complete irrelevancy is the assassinations of Puel’s disposition. When a sportsman does not exhibit hilarious or constantly effortlessly entertaining behaviour, subsequently a small minority of ‘fans’ – most likely inarticulate themselves – call for the man’s head. Strange.

Especially when, as we do, you sit and watch an interview with the man he is often quite funny, while unassuming. Although, the content of his characters seems warm and convivial to staff, friends and family, it must be said. Calling the aggressors provocateurs is so flattering, let’s go with troll.

There is no way Puel will be given an infinite period to successfully implement his philosophy, not to mention his side’s transformation in the East Midlands. It is only a matter of time – unless performances improve – until ownership will question, or convene on the former Southampton manager’s future. He was, let’s not forget, apparently employing uninspiring football with the Saints too; yet look at them now, he overachieved there!