Ric Flair

Curious one is Yunus. Played the majority of his career as a right winger, but bar his full debut vs Hull where he wasn't very good, he's played as an 8 and got better and better in recent weeks. Some say he's lightweight but the amount of times he also wins the ball when he's supposedly being lightweight is impressing me. I'd like to see him run with the ball more. Enzo signed him because he was supposedly strong 1 v 1, but maybe they've quickly realised in the short term his skill at being efficient with the ball in close areas serve us better as an 8. Either way it was a good display tonight. He weren't happy he came off though!!!

Stonking

He's been brilliant

I find that hard to believe. So much so he came back over a week early to pre-season, a player who wanted out would unlikely do that. He was the 1st day to try and impress Enzo.

Yunus has been sensational. Souttar colossal (mystery why he never plays) and Hamza class.

Same

Remember when Ricardo was asked to try and run off a broken leg in the quarter final here two years ago?

Coady not captain? That's surprising.

Coady is surely captain?

HS15

Rather would be frustrating for Ben given his skill set. I presumed he was more a right sided defender bit I stand corrected, Nelson is as two footed a player as you can get.

Ipswich played Wolves, who are dog shit for a start. We haven't beaten Liverpool at their gaff for 23 years. Promotion is critical, the only focus for this season. Cup runs are a bonus but should not be risking key 1st team players during extremely busy periods like we are currently in. We've lost Doyle for possibly several months and the only two other full backs we have are the most injury prone players in our squad. We've also 2 other long term absentees at present and Winks has had previous issues at Spurs. Ndidi is usually good for 1 lengthy spell out a season. All should be protected in the cups.

I hope we win, especially with a reserve team 😂

High chance we'll get hammered anyway. I'll be absolutely livid if any important 1st team player plays tonight and gets injured. It's stupidity beyond belief. We've absolutely no business in this competition this season, other than as an outlet to rotate the squad and get them minutes.

Yes he's completely different to Justin. If we want to be similar to what we've played in the league this season then Nelson may well be the closest we have to Doyle, other than another academy lad Tom Wilson-Brown.

I'd go something like this: Stolarczyk Albrighton Souttar Coady Nelson Casadei Hamza McAteer Yunus Iheanacho Daka

Most important thing tonight is none of our players get injured. Strong contributions from Yunus, Coady and hopefully Daka.

We have a huge potential issue at full back / inverted full back though. The two obvious candidates (Justin and Ricardo) have both had at least 1 serious injury each in the last 3 seasons (4 for Ricardo). It would be of no surprise if they succumb again this year, even one of them doing so is a nightmare for us. Fingers crossed they don't, but both have to be managed extremely carefully and I'd be using Hamza, Albrighton, Coady and Nelson in varying roles against lesser opposition in the league to ease the burden.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Ndidi's form in 2024. He's going to miss a chunk of the season with AFCON in Jan and Feb and depending on just how well he'll have done up until then, will set the scene for interest in him come the summer. I really hope his form and his motivation at Leicester don't tail off, as we've been victims of this last season for its entirety with players soon to be out of contract. We need to get over the line this season and get straight back up. I'd expect some business in January if we are in a good position, we cannot ease up.

Nelson is both footed.

Nelson playing last night for the U21s, does not suggest he's being primed for a start tomorrow night.

Ben Nelson, surely?

Really hope he gets a chance. I suspect Justin will play, but he'll need to be handled carefully. I don't think Coady, Jannick or Faes can cover the LCB/LB role.

Enzo bothered with a presser for this?

Bring back Steve Beagleholes