Leicester news: BBC Sport Q&A – Why have we become so uncompetitive?

Our football news reporter Nick Mashiter has been taking your Leicester City questions.

Stuart asked: Why have we become so uncompetitive and unable to score under Ruud van Nistelrooy, compared with Steve Cooper, when we have the exact same squad ?

Nick: Steve Cooper did not win over the entire squad and therefore had a problem with getting his messaging over, yet his stock has risen given where the Foxes were when he left and – you are right – how they were still more competitive under him.

The players like the clarity and honesty Van Nistelrooy has brought, they respect that, and assistant Brian Barry-Murphy has also impressed the squad with his coaching methods and how clear he makes things.

That said, they can enjoy the sessions at Seagrave as much as they want but if they are losing every week it does not carry much weight.

Players are human – often forgotten – so confidence and momentum will play a part. You can see the confidence drain as soon as they go behind and the goal drought at the King Power will become a psychological problem soon, if it has not already.

There is sympathy for Van Nistelrooy at Seagrave and the fact he hasn’t come under the scrutiny many would expect shows the expectations. There is also an understanding he was unable to add significant quality to the squad in January.

Colin asked: What is the single most important thing that Leicester City need to accomplish in order to bring back the fans’ pride in the club?

Nick: The communication has to improve. Supporters cannot get behind a club or a project – even though I dislike describing it like that – without understanding the direction of travel and what the club wants to achieve – and why.

Fans want to feel part of their club, understandably, but it has almost felt like and us v them situation when it comes to the relationship with the board.

If there is dialogue about why certain decisions are taken – or, almost more importantly, why they were not taken – then supporters can understand and empathise. Without that they cannot buy into what the club wants to do.

I know Susan Whelan and others at the club have met with the Foxes Trust in what was a candid discussion and those lines of communication must continue. Fans feel numb to the team’s plight at the moment, mainly because they feel disconnected from the club.