Ric Flair

You can tell there's no dedicated work done on what to do when chasing games in the final minutes. Absolutely no urgency to get the ball in to the attack. Still expecting to draw the opposition out who've just gone 1 nil up against the run of play with minutes to go? Brainless.

Sunderland was before QPR

The lack of subs cost us today. Our game plan is usually around taking teams apart in the final 20 minutes, something that's enhanced by numerous fresh legs. I think the last two games tells us enough about what he thinks about what's left of the bench. Yes we're 3-4 players down from our full squad but I'm concerned.

???? We scored two from open play vs QPR. However those goals and the general attacking performances of late show a worrying sign.

Not a lot. This is now where we get to see what Maresca is about. My gut says he'll double down on his vision, and the performances we've put in this side of the international break won't be viewed as a concern like they should be. Teams have grown in confidence in how to play vs us. Sunderland and Leeds were very dangerous. Today wasn't an impressive performance by Middlesborough but they had confidence to press us, knowing that it's now not inevitable we break teams down eventually. We are very bit as bad at finishing as the teams we've mocked this season. Warning signs are there that we could easily lose our way. This is where we get to see how good Maresca is.

I didn't say he wasn't. You said he's been doing great, he hasn't. I wanted him here but he'd be another no doubt that wouldn't be flexible enough to play this death by football system.

The angle of his body when he receives the ball makes it so easy for the opposition to press him.

That's on Maresca today. Keeping him on when it was clear his head had gone from nutmegging himself, fluffing an open goal pass in to the net with his left foot to just getting disposessed over and over again is poor. The lack of subs the last 2 games is pretty unexplainable.

Piroe has been dog mess

He came on vs QPR. Then didn't get any minutes vs Leeds.

McAteer was an absolute bombscare that half, wouldn't want to shatter his confidence but I'd be tempted to drag him. Thought we were good up until the final ten mins. There's a few off it though so far.

He's been back over 2 weeks.

McAteer is still pretty quick, not Fatawu pace but he's nippy.

Given neither are doing very well of late, Cannon ought to get chances anyway but its going to be a challenge to keep them all involved.

It's going to be interesting how we use him. If him, Vardy and Iheanacho are all match fit each game, then 1 of them's not getting any minutes unless he goes two up top, which I can't see very often.

0-3 KDH, Mavididi, Vestergaard

The amount of long term injuries Chilwell, Fofana, Barnes and Maddison have had is staggering.

Spotted that. He's done well so far since coming here and was probably our best player in the week.

With Yunus and Ndidi both still out, I wonder if Alves is in with a small shout of a spot on the bench tomorrow.

WHEN'S ENZO'S PRESSER

Only thing I'd say is, we are better away from home. Won every game. Whether our away form continues to be stronger, I don't know. Tomorrow will be a big test.

Do you mean Dallinga? Adingra is at Brighton (also very good)

No difference in terms of subjectivity to the positions we got in to with Fatawu and Mavididi that broke down either through poor positional play from our players or quality positional play and defending from Leeds. Our expected assists stat shows the positions we got in were more dangerous than Leeds in that regard (Leeds chances / snuffed out chances by Ricardo came from passages of play less expected to result in an assist/goal). Leeds just shaded it for me, but they are all lauding their performance as monumental and we don't think we played overly well, which tell its own story.

If the bloke could stay fit and prove he has the motivation to play to his maximum then I totally agree. That RCM role at this level is ideal for him in Ndidi's absence.

We should take that as a compliment. If they've played incredibly and beaten us by a fortuitous goal with neither side creating much else then I think that puts us in good stead.