Jamaal Lascelles was not what the majority of the King Power faithful expected, nor was he the messianic defensive anchor Newcastle partisans had promised. While a segment of the Magpies support remains shrouded in a mystifying admiration for the veteran, the overall Blue Army appraisal was swift and searing.
Indeed, Foxes of Leicester had long been cognisant of the player's manifold shortcomings. Red flags were abundant: Newcastle utilising him so sparingly in meaningful competitions and ultimately sanctioning his release. There were definite issues beyond a harrowing, injury record.
When revisiting this outlet's immediate conclusion of the New Year signing, skepticism was not merely present - it was rife. Nevertheless, ​this writer must concur with certain (yet obviously biased) Tyneside voices who argue that Lascelles did not constitute even 0.01 per cent of the systemic rot that precipitated Leicester City's catastrophic descent.
However, that negligible fraction he did supply remained profoundly underwhelming and utterly useless to the LCFC cause regardless of Black and White-tinted North East views. They even, bafflingly, appear to rate and admire Jason Tindall, for another partisanship example.
To any Geordies still baffled by the lack of Lascelles reverence, the directive is simple: scrutinise every full ninety minutes he laboured through for the Foxes. The footage reveals a bog-standard defender increasingly bypassed by the relentless velocity of the EFL Championship.
Credit where credit is due, from the depths of Leicester city
​Nevertheless, a singular moment of fortitude emerged amidst the debris of relegation on Tuesday night. Lascelles, visibly terrified and clearly nervous, displayed a rare brand of courage by fronting up to a justifiably furious mob of the City faithful outside the stadium.
— Munshi (@munshhii) April 21, 2026
In an era where pampered athletes often retreat behind the tinted glass of luxury cars coaches, the Fox stood his ground against a cacophony of righteous indignation. His trepidation was palpable (mumbling that he tried his best like a scolded child), yet his willingness to absorb the collective vitriol of a broken fanbase deserves partial, if somber, credit.
​While his technical limitations in the top flight became an agonizing refrain for Leicester support, this confrontation suggests a psychological resilience that may yet find its place in Leicestershire. As the club prepares for the sobering realities of the third tier, Lascelles could, perhaps, reinvent himself as a League One stalwart.
The former Nottingham Forest man does still possess the rugged temperament to be a solid leader next season. Whether the Blue Army can ever forgive his on-field anonymity remains to be seen; a willingness to face the music ensures intact dignity.
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