Leicester City’s miserable start to April shouldn’t cost Claude Puel his job

Though some sections of our support may not agree, a loss away at Burnley felt inevitable. Sean Dyche’s incredible season continues while ours has all but fizzled out. A 2-1 loss hasn’t cost us eighth, nor should it cost Claude Puel a job. Most Foxes fans are left wondering if our owners stay patient with the Frenchman, or if we’ll be left searching for a new manager once again.

Changing of the guard isn’t making life easy for Puel

Claude Puel seems like a methodical manager. Fully aware by now of our strengths and weaknesses he’s trying to develop us. Our counterattacking game has long been found out and part of Puel’s first season in charge has been trying to find a successful alternative option. A job that could be made much easier with a change in the squad.

We have an ageing back-line. All have served their time faithfully and are well respected. Puel faces the tough job of easing them out and making way for younger players to take over. Not an easy task if you want to maintain squad happiness. The Frenchman is trying to adapt us and as recent weeks have shown, it’s pretty painful going.

A true transfer window would help. Back in January, Puel hadn’t had long to assess the squad and certainly not to identify targets. He’s more hands on in terms of naming players he wants. Fousseni Diabate a prime example, even if he still looks like a raw talent.

Making a case for putting faith in Puel

I can understand why some want us to seek a new manager. What I find frustrating though is that when you ask one of the Puel out crowd who they want, they have no idea. The selection of available managers isn’t great and I genuinely believe anybody who could take over would face the same challenges and questions to answer.

Similar to Rome not being built in a day, we’re not the kind of side who can just switch styles overnight. Puel has tried various methods, team selections and formations to achieve a new style. It’s worked, or not, to varying degrees but you can’t deny we need to try. We have players in almost every position whose playing time, at this level anyway, is limited. Coupled with young and exciting upcoming players.

To let Puel go prior to a summer transfer window and the chance at a full season from the start seems a rash decision. To achieve the results he wants, we need changes. We also need a full squad of players that are receptive to and willing to try the required changes. Something we don’t currently seem to have.

It’s not been perfect but there have been moments and decisions that give Puel a solid case. Not least his efforts to play and develop our younger players. I can’t remember the last manager who put so much emphasis on the future. It’s refreshing.

Foxes still on course for highest finish in some time (ignoring that season of course)

Despite our current run of form, we’re still on course for our highest finish (ignoring that title winning season) in my lifetime. With Burnley in the season of their lives so far, eighth is realistically for our current squad, the best possible outcome. Yet fan unrest is commonplace. Frustrations at both performances and individual players paramount. Some of it is deserved, some a complete overreaction.

Yes, another European tour would have been brilliant, but given our current performances it’s difficult to see us progressing. A new season presents a fresh start, the chance to really try and target the best of the rest group and push for a Europa League spot. We’ve been spoiled by a title and Champions League in recent years. Something that as our club we need to realise isn’t so easy to replicate.

Hamza Choudhury’s full Premier League debut offered a reminder of what we have to look forward to. We’ve not yet seen Demarai Gray reach his full potential at Leicester and there are the likes of Harvey Barnes waiting in the wings for their chances. Put that alongside the planned stadium expansion and improvements and there’s a lot to look forward to. Even if we are just waiting for this season to reach its end.