In the fifth of our series of articles where we have asked our match reporting team to give an end of season report and then have an early look forward to next season, today Paul Weston provide his thoughts
What was your highlight of the season
Winning in the FA Cup at Norwich with an excellent team display. Norwich City was comprehensively beaten and it showed that we could raise our game when we wanted to. If only we had that desire for every match!
What was your biggest disappointment
Losing away at Watford for the umpteenth time to a team who were inferior in skill but which completely outfought and outmuscled us. It was so predictable.
Losing away to Peterborough and never looking like we had the mental resolve to win. At that point our play off hopes died.
City started as one of the favourites for Promotion, yet failed to make the Play Off’s, what do you feel were the main reasons for this?
Expectation was too high at the beginning, fuelled by Svens spending on a mixed bag of players from his contacts book but this did not weld together into a team. When Pearson arrived he went back to his tried and trusted players but found that some of them were no longer up to the mark.
Eventually, more by accident, Danns was selected in central midfield and stiffened things up, but his red card and suspension weakened City just when we might have scraped into the play offs.
Our away form was not impressive and generally we did not have enough physical and mental strength to grind out away wins against the teams especially in the bottom half of the table.
Kasper Schmeichel won all the official player of the season awards, would he have been your choice and who else impressed you this season
Schmeichel started the season well but in my opinion did not excel. He made some great saves, including penalties. However, he does not dominate the defence with crosses and stays on his line for corners. I think other teams sussed this out and we let in some poor goals when he allowed himself to be blocked off at corners. His long kicking occasionally is impressive but all too often it gives possession back to the other team.
My player of the season would be either Konchesky or St Ledger (who I thought was unreasonably dropped when Bamba came back from the Africa Cup). Konchesky always gives his all. Occasionally he gets caught out in defence but always tries to make something happen.
Which of the players failed to live up to your expectations ?
It has to be Mills who was really poor both as player and captain. Reading must be laughing all the way to the bank.
I also expected more from Beckford. I know he scored a reasonable amount of goals but rarely got stuck in and changed a match with his goals when the chips were down. I will always remember his appalling display of petulance at the end of the Peterborough away match and am not convinced he is the attacking solution for us.
Off the pitch, the financial accounts up to May 2011 revealed significant losses, that wages equated to 95% of turnover and with further loans added since, the owners had now loaned the club £53m, what are your thoughts on these figures?
I worry that the owners will run out of patience and, if that happens, goodness knows what melt down will follow as the figures are unsustainable. I feel that it is promotion or bust next season.
Season Ticket prices were recently announced for the 2012/13 season and while the Family Stand prices were frozen, the average price increase was 8%, with some areas as high as 15%, what is your reaction to the prices and do you feel attendances will be affected next season
I think the rises are acceptable. Attendances will remain and increase as long as we keep winning!
Looking forward to next season, where do you think are the main areas that Nigel Pearson needs to make signings
We need to stiffen up midfield with a player in front of the defence. All too often we were beaten easily through the middle. I also think a decision has to be made about Bamba. I know he is a crowd favourite but, for me, he is an enigma. He overplays in dangerous areas and always makes two bad mistakes in a match, whether in midfield or central defence. These mistakes have often led to goals against us.
I am intrigued to see how the two ex Man Utd players will perform. I want to see young hungry players who have the desire to win and the right mental approach.
Name two players that you would like Nigel to sign next season (and believe we have a realistic chance of signing)
A younger version of Shaun Derry would be good, Mark Davies or David Norris who might be available in the Portsmouth sale.
Before having any knowledge of the squad make up, how do you rate our chances of automatic promotion for next season
I hope that I am wrong but I think we will be in the play offs but not automatic promotion. Not sure my nerves can cope with play offs.
With 2 clubs left to be decided by the Play Offs, which 3 clubs do you as the main threat for promotion next season ?
I can see Bolton being a favourite for promotion but Wolves and Blackburn may have their difficulties at first, although probably in the mix for the play offs.
Leeds could be in the shake up under Warnocks direction. My dark horse is Charlton to get into the play offs. What would be the odds of City playing Charlton in a playoff penalty shoot out and Schmeichel saving from Kermorgant?
Any other observation you would like to make
I hope that we start well at home and especially away so we can get some early momentum. I was disturbed to hear some murmurings anti-Pearson later in the season on the phone-ins. He is a good manager and we cannot afford to have yet another season wrecked by a manager change and player upheaval.
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