StriderHiryu

We can only hope so, but just like last season, at least one team is going to get docked points again this season and that might save them.

Southampton - lost both games, despite playing with a man advantage for 70 mins at Newcastle. Ipswich - lost both games, though played two of the best. Everton - conceded 7, scored 0 Palace - lost both games, selling all of their players This division is brutal. Our issue is that whilst we are currently 1 point ahead of all of the above teams, in reality we are between 5 to 9 points behind them. I think we could get 40 points, but we need 50. That's a tough ask. But if there's a team stinking out the division so far, it's Everton, not us.

I think it's a bit doom and gloom on here, but though we deservedly lost today, it's not a total write-off. There were two big issues, Reid was poor, and we couldn't build from the back. Without signing anyone else, we could already address those issues within our squad. The other key issue is the Striker. Vardy should be an impact player not a starter, and that was obviously the plan at the start of the season, but Daka got injured. Vardy was good against Spurs, but today he could have done a bit better with his decision making in the second half. If we don't get anyone, that will not be something easy to fix. This season was always going to be tough. Had we not given away the goal on transition, we may well have got a point as I don't think we were clinging on. But we must say that we didn't really deserve to score either and it was a bit fortunate we did off the corner.

I'll make a tactical analysis later in the week, but Marco Silva watched our game against Spurs and countered Cooper's system easily. Though they palyed 4231 against Man United, Andrea Perreria pushed up to play more of a 4141, with him and Smith-Rowe doubling up on Winks, leaving Ndidi free for the most part. They were trying to tempt us into playing into Ndidi, which we rarely did. Thus we never really got going. In the second half, once Skipp came on, we actually were able to build as Winks and Skipp together gave us multiple passing outlets whilst retaining physicality. I also though Ndidi was better up high to win the ball back with the press. So for me against teams that are around our level (though Fulham were above our level today), we need to have two ball playing midfielders as the double pivot for this system to work. Which means Ricardo or Skipp instead of Ndidi. I thought Riccy P was sensational last season in the double pivot, but I can understand why he a manager might not want to play him there in the Premier League. So play Skipp if we won't play Ricardo, though I think it's insane not to play one of the best players we've had over the last 5-6 years in the team.

This. Ayew looked better than him when he came on, though Ayew was playing more up top it seemed once Mavididi came on. Reid is supposed to be Premier League proven, ready to go and make an instant impact. Compare him to Buonanotte, who is the young player who is inexperienced and you'd think needs time to get used to the system. The difference is night and day.

Will be going live here at 17:15 if anyone wants to talk about the game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSMbAJIPYI

I think we were OK in that first half. Competitive, though we do not deserve to be equal at the half! Some quick notes: Andreas playing further up field for Fulham to give them an overload. They did not do this against Man United. Fulham are going 2 v 1 against Winks, letting Ndidi have space. This is hurting us playing out from the back. When Ndidi receives the ball, he is being pressured. Could see Skipp coming on but... Ndidi is winning a lot aerial balls and recovering it high up though. Whi is Reid marking the tallest man at corners again! Reid and Kristiansen doubled up on Traore at times Facundo good physical strength. Lost it a few times as the half went on, but he's impressive to me. VK getting bullied a bit against Muniz / Traore Think we are going too direct at times. Fatawu shot, Buano shot, etc. There's a balance to it and we need to be a bit more patient. Lots of playing out from the back. Makes me a bit nervous but think it has worked at times. Got a lot of corners, and ultimately the goal from one.

Never in doubt

I cannot remember something like that ever happening before! Ally McCoist GOATED for that spot! (If watching on TNT)

This guy was recommended by quite a few people on here. I think he’s a great signing, though don’t think he’ll necessarily hit the ground running. But he’s the type that would go for 2-3x what we paid for him in a few seasons. Very impressed whenever I’ve seen him.

Fulham (A) Match Preview Time! After getting a point and having an impressive performance against Spurs, will Cooper keep the same lineup, or change it slightly? I could see the manager drop Bobby Reid, who was probably our worst performer, to bring in Skipp next to Winks instead. This would allow Ndidi to push up higher where he could help press the opposition. Given Fulham love to play out from the back, having him up high has benefits, and in a game that could be a battle of who transitions better, it could be a difference maker. A feature of Fulham's play is the use of triangles and rotations. Different players can attack down the wing, trying to draw players our of position so someone can get a run in behind for a cut back. ^ Here we can see Antonee Robinson combining with his team mates before driving down the line after attracting several players towards him who pressed him. Assuming he keeps his place, Viktor Kristiansen vs Adama Traore will be a key battle in the game. Traore used to give Chilwell a torrid time when he played for Wolves, so we know full well what he can do. Given Kristiansen pushes up in our system, on the transition, Fulham will attack the space in behind him and he has the power and pace to give anyone a problem. Wout Faes may be crucial to move across and help out if needed. ^ Up against Noussair Mazraoui who had signed from Bayern Munich, Traore powered his way past him on multiple occasions and almost setup a goal several times. ^ Emile Smith-Rowe joined Fulham in the summer and has already looked good for him. He's acting as a real box-crasher, supporting the attack by arriving late. This is something Winks and whoever partners him will have to keep an eye on. However, he may also present an opportunity for us to explot. Fulham also like to use him to build the play, so if we can rob the ball from him, we can start our own attacks. I'm going for a 2-2, but really I have no idea how this will go! I'd expect a pretty even game, and the way we played in the second hlaf against Spurs was really positive. I think the game will come down to who is better on transition, I think it's likely the goals will come from losing the ball when attacking rather than creating something organically, but both teams have quality to mean that might not be the case. Fulham losing Palinha is a big miss, and though they signed Sander Berge, he's nowhere near the same level of quality. A win here would really make us optimistic for the season, despite the points deduction, as Fulham comfortably stayed up last season.

Match Preview Time! After getting a point and having an impressive performance against Spurs, will Cooper keep the same lineup, or change it slightly? I could see the manager drop Bobby Reid, who was probably our worst performer, to bring in Skipp next to Winks instead. This would allow Ndidi to push up higher where he could help press the opposition. Given Fulham love to play out from the back, having him up high has benefits, and in a game that could be a battle of who transitions better, it could be a difference maker. A feature of Fulham's play is the use of triangles and rotations. Different players can attack down the wing, trying to draw players our of position so someone can get a run in behind for a cut back. ^ Here we can see Antonee Robinson combining with his team mates before driving down the line after attracting several players towards him who pressed him. Assuming he keeps his place, Viktor Kristiansen vs Adama Traore will be a key battle in the game. Traore used to give Chilwell a torrid time when he played for Wolves, so we know full well what he can do. Given Kristiansen pushes up in our system, on the transition, Fulham will attack the space in behind him and he has the power and pace to give anyone a problem. Wout Faes may be crucial to move across and help out if needed. ^ Up against Noussair Mazraoui who had signed from Bayern Munich, Traore powered his way past him on multiple occasions and almost setup a goal several times. ^ Emile Smith-Rowe joined Fulham in the summer and has already looked good for him. He's acting as a real box-crasher, supporting the attack by arriving late. This is something Winks and whoever partners him will have to keep an eye on. However, he may also present an opportunity for us to explot. Fulham also like to use him to build the play, so if we can rob the ball from him, we can start our own attacks. I'm going for a 2-2, but really I have no idea how this will go! I'd expect a pretty even game, and the way we played in the second hlaf against Spurs was really positive. I think the game will come down to who is better on transition, I think it's likely the goals will come from losing the ball when attacking rather than creating something organically, but both teams have quality to mean that might not be the case. Fulham losing Palinha is a big miss, and though they signed Sander Berge, he's nowhere near the same level of quality. A win here would really make us optimistic for the season, despite the points deduction, as Fulham comfortably stayed up last season.

High pressing, positions on the pitch and work rate is what I suspect the similarities are. Buonanotte had a fantastic debut, on the ball he was great. But he was also great off the ball. He pressed more than Vardy did! With Ayew the biggest thing I can say is he will put in a shift. When we went down, too many players pulled out of challenges and frankly did not do the hard running. He will. Is that work 8M all in? Not for me to say. Premier League prices are mental.

Great insights! I might have to hire you for my channel

They’ll also likely be able to sell a lot of these players too given their ages, Szmodics being the exception. It’s still a big gamble, hoping all of these step up. We were the only promoted team to get points and I think our experienced players like Vardy, Ndidi and Winks were a big reason why. But I think Ipswich’s strategy is quite sensible compared to when Forest got promoted.

Ha ha ha very good, I’m stealing that!

Let's be honest this is Chelsea signings the player and loaning him to Strasbourg. So in that sense I don't think we ever had a chance.

New season, new way to talk tactics! Head on over here.

Hello Foxes Talk! Over the years I've been posting content on here talking about the tactics, style of play and structure of the way we play under various coaches. A few of you on here said to me "you should make a You Tube channel / Twitter and post your stuff there" and like the naive fool that I am, I decided that would be a good idea! So here we go! On YouTube I have to use static screenshots, which don't do the topics discussed justice. So I am going to use this thread to post the detail, so you can see for yourself. Leicester City 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur ^ Facundo Buananotte had a really impressive debut. Pressing from the front, linking play, and being able to play under pressure. Brighton loaned this guy out to sign Rutter!? I don't know why, but I'm glad they did! Sadly the move broke down as Kristiansen and Reid were a bit under par in the first half, though improved drastically in the second. ^ Kick it long or play out from the back? In the Premier League sometimes you have to go long, but the issue is that the top teams will mop up those long balls and it puts you on the back foot. ^ Spurs attacking structure with 6 men forwards meant that James Maddison had plenty of time and space on the ball. He was able to find pockets and use that space for devestating effect. For the Spurs goal, we are structurally set up well, but Bobby Reid is beaten by Pedro Porro to the header. Reid does at least follow his man and stay close, but I feel he could have been a bit more physical here. ^ Spurs targeted Ndidi to win the ball back, causing us problems when trying to build out from the back. ^ But Ndidi overall had a good game. His physicality high up the pitch allowed him to help win the ball back, and working with Kristiansen allows us to score our goal after the ball arrives for Fatawu to cross to Vardy. ^ Vestergaard started instead of Okoli, but had a strong showing. Here he draws the press, allowing him to find Ndidi, who is now free to turn and drive forwards. He must do better with the ball to Kristiansen though! ^ In the second half, Cooper instructed the players to push up and be way more aggressive in the press. Early on Reid has a good opportunity after Ndidi pushes up to Bentancur before James Justin steps in on Brennan Johnson to feed the impressive Facundo Buananotte. ^ Under Cooper we are prepared to be more direct. Kristiansen supporting as an auxilary left wing position does his best Leif Davis impression with a great deep cross that finds Vardy. The young dane had a great second half. ^ Kristiansen and Reid getting more and more involved to generate attacking opportunities. ^ Is this what Leicester City under Steve Cooper will look like this season? Playing out from the back, through the lines, quick vertical transitions to create a breathtaking move that the GOAT really should have buried! Overall after that second half I am feeling a lot more excited for the rest of the season. I was worried Cooper was a coach in name only, who didn't really know what he was on about. But there are clear structures, pressing triggers / traps and attacking patterns of play here to see. He's got a tune out of Buonanotte in just a week! Please let me know what you think of the video, good and bad, and would appreciate liking / subscribing / sharing the content. But only if you found it to be worthy of doing so! And finally, you can follow us on Twitter here:

Fulham saw this: They shit the bed, and this is their response:

Glasner at Frankfurt liked to play a high line and Andersen is not the fastest. That said I find Palace's activity weird, everyone was tipping them for a big season, but now they are losing quite a few players and already lost their first game. Looks like more mid-table mediocrity for them. There's no doubt that we have been left behind in the Premier League for quite some time, but all teams are throwing crazy amounts of money around. There used to be the top 6 and then maybe 2-3 ambitious teams that spent a bit on occasion. Now you have 40M for Rutter, Brentford spent 37M on Igor Thiago, Bournemouth 40M on Evanilson, Fulham this window spending 30M on Smith-Rowe and then the the two picked up this week, etc. The division has become brutal.

Fulham casually dropping 55m on Sander Berge and Joakim Andersen this week shows the insanity of the Premier League. The 32m we spent on Tielemans was in 2019 right?

This was suggested by Benjamin Bloom who has a great Championship podcast too. If Mads, Fatawu and Mavididi step up you might have a point.

And Skipp for 20 + 5, which looks better are seeing those prices. Fees in the league are ridiculous. You can try to go abroad, but even they jack up the prices when a Premier League team is involved. I'm not sure what the answer is... it's unsustainable.

Good news, he deserved it after last season. Will be interesting to see if he goes out on loan or not. In his short cameo against Spurs his tendancy to be a ball of energy was extremely useful and he helped us make sure we got something from the game. It might be unfair for his development to be used like that, but it's a pretty useful set of skills to have in the squad. He's definitely the sort of player you can bring on with 30 to go whose energy goes a long way.