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West Ham fans will have released a huge sigh of relief last Sunday as our beloved team finally posted 3 points on the board with an emphatic win over the Wolves. This weekend we face a tougher prospect, away to Leicester City who battered Man City last time out. Ahead of the game I once again chatted to Chris Forryan of online fanzine leicestertilidie to discuss the coming match and season. We also chatted on LeicestertileIdie TV which can be watched "here"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzdE9IMPp6g&ab_channel=LeicesterTillIDieTV.
Hi Chris, Leicester have got off to a flying start this season, you must be delighted?
Very much so, tempered with a dose of realism. Remember how well we started last season, but hey its 3 wins and a massive one over Man City.
Last season you finished up 5th – a very creditable position to most of us, were you satisfied by this, or are you expecting to be in the top 4 every year now?
Of course we are football fans, but let me take off my blue tinted spectacles, breaking into the top 6 on a regular basis is hard as the likes of Arsenal & Spurs get their acts back together. For me its not about breaking into the top 6 but making it a top seven and Leicester being the seventh team.
After a few rapid changes at the helm of your club, you seem to have settled with Brendan Rogers, how do the Leicester City fans rate him?
Take away the moaners that every club has and take a bite of realism and I have to say we are very happy with him. Yes he took some stick for the way we trailed off last season and some fans still don’t like the passing game, preferring the counter attack exciting play of the Ranieri year, but the problem may be keeping hold of him, but Rodgers/Leicester is a long term project.
*I note you have just bought a new French defender Wesley Fofana (who apparently preferred you lot to West Ham), is he needed? How do you feel about your close season transfer dealings?
We saw last year how thin our squad is especially at the back. Once you get past the Evans/Soncyu partnership our back up is thin. Yes we have Morgan but he is getting on a bit, and its great to have Amarety back but with the PL, Europa and FA cup we need the cover, and again referring back to the long term project I was talking about all Rodgers 3 signings have been young players that can develop. I was worried, but after 3 signings I am happy.
Early days yet, but who are your picks for the top 4 this season, in order?
Liverpool / Man City / Chelsea / Man Utd
Similarly who’s going to be relegated?
Fulham / West Brom / Southampton
Is David Moyes going to prove to be the man to get West Ham in the top half of the table?
Moyes has never replicated his Everton success. He will keep you up but not top 10 and that might not be enough for your owners.
Which players if any would you like to swap the West Claret and Blue for a Leicester City shirt, if so why?
The question is who would I drop from the current Leicester side to accommodate a West Ham player? Declan Rice is an obvious choice though still young and will end up at a top club (no disrespect) but I like Antonio & Anderson.
Likewise which of your players would you prefer to see playing for us?
Demari Gray, take him please. Had long enough to develop and hasnt under 3 different managers not fancying him which says it all.
Should the Premier League be paying to bail out the lower professional leagues?
My heart says yes 100% but my head? Well would you expect Tesco to help out the little corner shop? It wouldnt happen in business and football is business. But when you see the £millions PL clubs are still spending this transfer window there is a moral question to be asked. Maybe PL clubs could but lower division clubs and use them as feeder clubs?
How are Leicester going to live up against us this weekend – Players/Formation?
Rogers tried something different against Man City and seems to set up to soak early opposition pressure for the first 20 mins, then go for it. You will be confident after the Wolves win so we could see no changes from the Man City side. The only change is that Madison may be ready to start a game but Praet would be dissapointed to be dropped after his good start to the season.
Are you confident you can make it 4 wins in the bounce, or are West Ham going to throw a spammer in the works? Predictions for score?
Up until your win over Wolves I was feeling confident, not so much now but still going 3-1 to Leicester.
Very confident! Well thanks to Chris Forryan once again for his time and thoughts. I was originally hoping to get a draw against Leicester, then edged towards a win after our victory against Wovles, but after our loss to Everton, I’ve reverted to the original draw. 1 – 1. Come on you Irons!