MGLCFC

Who would you drop for him as Vestergaard and Faes have been outstanding this year. I don't see Maresca as having favourites, until they drop off in form, I'd say Faes and Vestergaard are playing on merit.

This is nothing like Rodgers football. There is a purpose to what we are doing and it often takes 60 minutes to wear teams out. Sometimes the fluidity and intensity is missing, but I like how the team have confidence in the system working eventually (which it has 14 out of 17 times this season so far). When people talk about us getting found out in the Premier League is there a naivety to think that better payers won't be brought in who can play the system more effectively? I agree that even at this level we are short of quality in one or two areas, but with an almost fully fit squad now there is enough depth to be good enough to beat most teams, whilst allowing rotation. I looked at the bench yesterday - I wonder how many teams could afford the luxury of omitting Albrighton and Daka from their match day squad? This season is all about one thing - promotion, So I'm not too bothered if things take a year to bed in properly as long as we keep winning.

When you have two decent managers at this level trying to outsmart each other, sometimes you don't come out on top. When we beat Man City 5 - 2 a few years back, Rodgers got his tactics spot on that day, it doesn't make him a better manager than Pep. Enzo and the players appear to believe in the system and the odd defeat here and there isn't going to change things. We weren't battered last night, just a team who played to their full potential against one that didn't. I do agree with other posters though that in certain areas of the pitch we have players who struggle to play the system effectively and that includes Vardy.

I said this to a mate, that we don't seem to disclose the extent of our injuries this year. Apart from McAteer where it was obviously a hamstring issue, all we know is Cannon (back) Wilf (muscle) Doyle (knee) Yunus (knock) Praet (back). I suppose Maresca might ask, why we need to know?

I've a feeling we may lose one of our two next games (and win the other) - if so I hope it's Middlesboro. I just don't see any team making 17 points up on us over the remaining fixtures, if we beat Leeds

Lots of decent recent runs that rarely come to anything, from what I could make out.

We will not be the only team that pick up injuries, but our squad is superior to most and we should be able to cope. I think we lose 4 players to AFCON - Daka will be no loss as Cannon will replace him Hopefully Cannon and Vardy can rotate once Nacho goes to the AFCON. Fatawu could be the main loss, but we do have McAteer and Yunus who can play on that wing. Hoping Praet and Casadei can cover for Wilf. There is also a transfer window in January where we could strengthen, particularly if we are still well ahead of 3rd place.

Where we have been pretty consistent this year, the same can't be said for Leeds. On their day there is enough talent to cause us problems and take all 3 points, but they have a tendency to be very inconsistent, particularly away from home. It will be interesting to see what alternative tactics Maresca has in his locker should we be struggling against them. We are top for a reason and the points we have amassed means a defeat isn't a disaster, whereas for Leeds, a defeat would mean a 17 point gap. The pressure really is on them.

Not sure their away form is brilliant. They've slipped up several times. They are under more pressure than us to win. If we win they are 17 points behind us. That means we could lose 5 games and they still would be behind us. I honestly think it unlikely we lose a further 5 games all season. Perhaps this is arrogant, but I've not seen a team as yet that have been better than us or deserved to beat us, and that includes Hull.

Hoping Yunus and Wilf are available next week. Wilf to start and Yunus and McAteer are great alternatives from the bench. Hoping today's somewhat substandard performance means we'll be really up for it on Friday. Great KDH and Winks stayed booking free. This is a team that could break so many records - looking forward to a complete performance and a crushing defeat for Leeds as my son law is a Leeds fan, whilst the rest of his family are blue through and through.

Gap to third even wider now

Promotion is the bare minimum, so first or second doesn't bother me. However, from the position we are in it would be brilliant to achieve promotion as Champions with all sorts of records that are unlikely to be broken.

I'd go for quite a few changes with Leeds and Middlesboro up next. QPR shouldn't present us with too many problems, unless Chair wants to showcase himself for a potential January move to us! Hermanson Ricardo Coady Souttar Choudhury Winks Casadei KDH Yunus Daka Mavadidi If Ndidi has a slight tightening of his leg muscles then no point risking him. He can have a bit of a break before 2 more challenging games. The only other change would be McAteer for Mavadidi, if he is passed fit to play.

Donna know about that! Perhaps his first chance yes.

Didn't think he did too much wrong with his chances - just two very good saves. Best games he's had for us by a long way and gives us a somewhat different option in that he's more of a box to box player. Can't think of a decent 10CC reply, not to worry, Life's a Minestrone!

I just wonder how much someone would cost who has Vestergaard's skill set as a centre half and also pace. Probably out of our price bracket?

Yes, that what I'm trying to say. These gash strikers are scoring more against our opponents defences, so by that metric our defence is the best in the league, but I agree, not good enough for the Prem.

I'm sure there will be upgrades next season and I do agree Premier League strikers would do much better against our defence. We do however have the best defence in the League regarding goals conceded. This suggests that other teams aren't as good as us at defending against the same poor standard of strikers.

Hope that's not Out Before Easter if he continues at this rate

I take your point, but I think we've only room for one more loan players this season, so I'm not sure we can add that many more in January, unless they are prepared to not be part of the match day squad.

Reserve judgement on him until we have another Premier League transfer window and the kind of contracts and salaries he dishes out then. Hopefully lessons have been learnt!

Yes, I did that, but that was over 2 weeks ago - it seems the club keep injuries issues very much private this year. I suppose we have no right to be informed, but it all seems a bit secretive this year - Coady, Cannon, Praet, Doyle all have had long term issues that haven't been totally disclosed. Even McAteer, which we could all guess as a hamstring injury, hasn't been elaborated upon.

I know we've been told it's 10 to 12 weeks injury, but is anyone aware of what the actual injury is or if it required surgery. Sorry if this has been published earlier.

It's a good point - hopefully they have learnt a lesson from the Rodgers debacle. I do feel that Maresca is unlikely to be tempted to leave at present and I hope he sees this as a long term project. Getting us back into the Premier League would be part 1 completed. Being able to compete in it is part 2. Perhaps in 12 months time if all is going well would be the time to consider renegotiating his contract. My main fear is that he exceeds expectations and he is poached by one of money rich clubs and we have to start the whole process again finding a similar replacement.

You may well be correct or could it be we've developed a system that actually suits his qualities? I do think if we extend his contract, neither Faes or Coady next to him will be the answer in Premier League as it would be a back line exposed to any team with pace and an adequate press. It maybe that those mentioned above would do ok against the bottom half of the Premier League, but I would nervous about the outcome against the top sides.