Show us you're fit to wear the shirt

So here we are at the tail end of the season. Four games to go and whilst it's not impossible or promotion hopes have all but faded in the Far East distance.

Now I have gone into the reasons for this in another post - Reality Check, but the first of the Easter Weekend's matches throws up a local derby at a very interesting time.

The fact that we have just failed to break into the play off's will I am sure be forgiven by most fans, whilst blaming the recent form shown in the last few matches they will realise it was more to do with the poor start we had to what has turned out to be one of City's most eventful seasons.

But that recent form problem is causing me concern ahead of this afternoons match.
I have just watched back the highlights of the Reading game. We were not 'played off the pitch' at all. The stats showed that we we equal except where it mattered, that is putting that while round thing in the back of the net.

We played some nice passing, flowing football at times, and it is a style we are getting to be recognised for playing under Sven.
A style we haven't really seen since the Bloomfield era, and it is great to see it back.

However, and here's my problem. We can pass the ball around for 20 minutes but if you have no end product, as we didn't against Reading then what's the point ? And you have to have a mix, a mix that is of fancy football with a lot of passion thrown in.

And that appears to be our problem. We seem to have lacked any passion over the last few games.

Andy King. Ex captain, just signed a (I am sure) lucrative extension to his contract scores with 10 minutes still on the clock.
Where was the passion? He scored, then just walked away. Where was the clenched fist, the come on lads we can still do this?
Games can be turned round and won with 10 minutes on the clock. Doubt could had started to creep into the Reading players mind ? Where was Captain Oakley? Was he doing any geeing up of the City players? I saw no evidence of this.
Just a total acceptance of a 'consolation' goal and 3 points not worth fighting for.

This was the attitude of players on a contract, but what of the loan players?

We are currently a team top heavy with loan players. Players with no commitment to the club. Players loaned out by their parent club because they are either not good enough, not fully fit after injury, or not yet had enough experience to make it into their parent clubs first team.

What commitment do they have. With the exception of a certain Mr Naughton do loan players give a dam about the clubs they are loaned out too? If Yakubu does well will he really want to stay at City or will he want to go back to Everton and guaranteed Premiership football. Even Naughton? Will he stay or if Spurs don't want him be tempted by the top league with newly promoted QPR?

And what do they know of local derbies? Yakubu will understand Everton v Newcastle, Naughton possibly Spurs v Arsenal.
But will they know what today's games means to Leicester fans?

Now we all have the teams we feel are our 'local rivals' . In a recent Leicester till I Die Poll on the subject of our most hated team
the results were:

Nottingham Forest 23.08%
Coventry City 19.23%
Derby County 15.38%
Other 15.38%
Leeds 7.69%
Chelsea 7.69%
Neil Warnock's Team 7.69%
Man Utd 3.85%

Now I will admit I am in the Coventry City camp, but would hate to lose against The Forest.

Looking at the table it could be a close game with both teams on a bit of a slide at the moment, and being live on TV doesn't seem to help Leicester City.

If we lose it will be the final nail in the coffin of any outside chance of gate crashing the top 6, but I will live as long as make a impassioned fight of it.

For me this is THE last chance for the loanees to impress.
I hope the likes of Oakley & King tell them what this game means to the City fans & I hope more than anything they listen.
Its time for the senior players to step up to the mark & say their piece, for the younger players to shown some passion & for the loanees to earn the right for LCFC to allow them to pull on the beloved blue shirt.

Keep the faith!!!

Fozza1 / LTID