End Of Season Review 2016-17 Part Five

We end this week’s look back at last season with the thoughts of Kate Thompson, while her aims for next season are based on lifting an elusive trophy

Before the season started what were your hopes on what we could achieve ?

I hoped for a top half finish; to win the FA Cup and get out of the group stage in the Champions League

So on that basis out of 10, how would you rate last season overall and why?

Middling.  We achieved more than I hope and expected in the CL but yet again failed dismally in the FA Cup.  As for the PL, we would have been in the top half but for a wrong decision by a linesman in the last game

Why do you think we had relative success in the Champions League while struggling in the Premier League ?

I don’t really know, but perhaps the players were encouraged to concentrate on the CL

When it was announced, did you agree with the sacking of Claudio Ranieri ?

Yes.  I was saddened by it but it had become clear that he had reverted to the ‘Tinkerman’ and the players were left confused by being asked to play in different formations

And now with the benefit of seeing the results, were the owners proved right ?

Again yes, however sad it was; and I was also upset at the amount of opprobrium the club and players were subjected to

What was your personal highlight of the season? 

It has to be the home leg against Sevilla although the first away win of the season, against West Ham, was also a highlight

Kasper won the Player of the Year Awards, would he have been your choice and who else do you think deserves praise for their performances

Yes, he would.  Others who made a good impression were Ndidi and the ever-reliable Danny Simpson and Marc Albrighton

Which player do you think made the most progress last season and why? 

Probably Ndidi who hit the ground running; although he did not always achieve the high standards he set in the FA Cup game against Everton, he was usually a steady presence

Which player did you think underperformed the most last season and why ?

It has to be Mahrez.  For reasons I don’t understand he failed to meet his high standards of the previous season, although he was not alone.  As to why, he did have more players blocking him but this does not explain why he insisted on going into blind alleys and losing the ball on so many occasions.  Another who disappointed early on was Christian Fuchs, but like others he improved significantly once Shakespeare was in charge

What were your views on the signings made during last season ?

Generally poor, Ndidi apart.  Musa looked the real deal in the game against Barcelona, when he scored two cracking goals, but this was a false dawn.  Mendy had no chance to show what he was capable of.  The others – Zieler, Slimani and Hernandez – flattered to deceive and the last didn’t even last the season

For match reporters who attended away games, which ground gave you your best away experience and why ?

Difficult to say, but perhaps Everton in the FA Cup because I never expected us to win that match, especially after we went one goal down

Moving onto next season

What changes do you think are necessary to improve on this year’s squad?

A good start has been made with the signing of Maguire. We need another CB and a number 10 at least.  And I would like the players who went out on loan and did well to be given a chance, especially Matty James and Tom Lawrence

While watching Premiership games during the 2016/7 season, which player from another club would you advise Shakey to sign?

Sigurdsson from Swansea; he would make a good no 10 behind Vardy but it appears he is more likely to go to Everton

What would you set as the target(s) for next season ?

To stay in the Premier League and win the FA Cup

Any other observation you would like to make

Like others, I hoped the PL title would inspire the players to lift the club into the higher echelons of English football so that they could compete regularly against the ‘big boys’.  It irritates me beyond measure when I read reports of other clubs, some of them no bigger than Leicester, apparently eyeing up one of our players.  The arrogance takes my breath away!  If we had managed to elevate ourselves to the level of the top six in the PL, this would not happen

Several of the players have said they want to play in the CL again so I hope someone has noted that winning the FA Cup would give them a route!  I know I bang on about it every year but it would be wonderful if we could finally lay the ghost of having lost more finals than any other team

The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation