It’s been another week of ups and downs for City. We played well against Reading on Saturday but came away pointless and there was a bit of doom and gloom around the place after the game. However, the signings of Japanese international Yuki Abe and fans’ favourite Martyn Waghorn are a huge bonus and I’m sure everybody is looking forward to next week’s trip to Coventry.

I think bringing Waghorn back on a permanent deal and selling DJ Campbell on to Blackpool is a great bit of business for the club. We saw the potential and hunger that Waggy possesses, during his loan spell last season, and I can see him developing into a City legend. He’s a good lad and I know the players and the fans think very highly of him. It’s the sort of arrival that will give everybody at the club a lift and the 20-year-old’s contagious enthusiasm will put an extra spring in the step of every single player.

I actually saw Waggy at the Marriot Hotel on deadline day. He’d had his medical and agreed terms, but it was just a matter of waiting for Sunderland to finalise the Asamoah Gyan deal. I can imagine City fans feverishly clicking refresh on the BBC football website and checking the official site for confirmation of the deal as the minutes clicked down, and we were all mightily relieved when it was announced.

I think the fact that the transfer window has closed will help give the players focus. Any of them angling for a move away now know that they’re staying and it’s time for them all to put even more effort into training and apply themselves on the pitch. From seeing their body language after the goals went in on Saturday evening, I think their confidence is fragile at the moment, but maybe knowing their future is a little more settled and that they’re part of the manager’s plans will give them a boost.

Paulo was clearly in the market for another centre half with the likes of Ashley Williams and Kamil Zayatte heavily linked and on the evidence of Saturday’s game we certainly need another body in that position. Both of the goals we conceded were avoidable. Firstly, Moreno got himself in a bit of a tangle and gifted Gylfi Sigurdsson a goal. Then, to allow Matt Mills a free header inside the six yard box for the winner is criminal. Someone should’ve stopped that and maybe the keeper could’ve come for it. To be fair to Conrad Logan he had another solid game between the sticks, saving well from Jimmy Kebe and looking assured with his handling and distribution.

City actually played quite well against The Royals and were clearly the better side. We carried more of an attacking threat and created the better moments of the match, even if they didn’t translate into clear cut chances.

I was disappointed to see Michael Morrison and Andy King left out of the starting eleven as I thought they were two of City’s better performers against Leeds in the Carling Cup. Morrison has a good understanding with Jack Hobbs and Kingy changed the game when he came on at Elland Road. Perhaps Sousa thought he’d be more dangerous as an impact sub, but for me he’s got to be in there from the start. He made a difference again when he came on, scoring a perfectly legitimate goal in my opinion. The referee had a shocker with that one and plenty of other decisions throughout the course of the game.

This may sound strange coming from a centre-back, but the defenders were man-handling Stevie Howard and getting away with it and any time the City striker backed in slightly, the whistle blew! Reading stopper Adam Federici pulled off a top class save to deny Lloyd Dyer too and, looking back on it, I can believe we lost that game.

I thought Howard was one of our better performers on the day and he really seems to have stepped up a level this season. Matt Oakley was solid in the first half and Richie Wellens showed glimpses of what he can do, but the most impressive player on the pitch was without question, livewire Lloyd Dyer.

Returning from injury, the pacey winger was fielded on the right wing and whilst I’d prefer to see him on the left, he delivered a determined and energetic display which ensured the Reading defence weren’t afforded a moment’s rest throughout the game. Dyer capped one of his best performances in a City shirt with a cracking goal and he, like many of his team-mates, deserved so much more from the game.

That’s the second home game we should’ve won as we completely outplayed Middlesbrough at the Walkers too. The lads are still getting to grips with the new manager and his tactics and it does take time, but the encouraging signs are that the performances are there. It’s another three points lost and the league table isn’t looking too healthy for Leicester City at the moment, but we all have to remember that it’s still very early days.

It’s the club’s worst start to a season in 16 years and that’s four league games without a win, but it’s not time to panic. There were a few boos on Saturday and I think it’s a little early for that. We can’t dwell on what’s happened before, it’s time for everybody at the club to dig in and start putting points on the board.

I’d usually say having an international break after a defeat is a bad thing as you want to get back out on the pitch and put things right as soon as possible, but I think it’ll be a good thing for City. It will allow the likes of Waghorn and Yuki Abe a little time to settle in and gave the manager and his coaches an extra week to prepare the players.

I was at the City Rooms last night for my Q&A night featuring Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby, Richard Cockerill and club captain, Geordan Murphy. It was a cracking night and both Cockers and Geordy were great value. I’d like to say a big thank you to them both and to Daggers who did a sterling job as MC.

I’ve confirmed the line-up for my next big event, which will take place on Thursday December 16th in the 1884 Sports Bar at the Walkers Stadium. Billed as ‘The Return of the Cup Kings’, Stevie Claridge and everyone’s favourite Swede, Pontus Kaamark, will be returning to Leicester for a Q&A with The Birch as MC.

Tickets cost £25 per person and a pie and pies is included. For more information contact Legends UK on 0116 202 9663, email steve@legendsuk.com or visit www.legendsuk.com

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* Please note: the views expressed on these websites are not those of Soar Magazine.