Foxxed

Much maligned from the start, something that only changed because of this thread, but Shinji really is one of our most vital players - his role ahead of a currently lacking midfield is not only vital but his work rate, especially in the last match, seems to remind us of who we are, and who were were when we won the league: a hard working, hard pressing football team. He's getting on, and will rarely be able to play a full match, but regardless of his price tag I can't see anyone giving the team what he gives. A sixty minute role ahead of Iheanacho on Saturday please.

I've wanted three at the back, but not because I think that'd sure up our defence, but because it could mean Chilwell and (you know, in form) Albrighton giving us the creative spark our midfield and a doubly marked Mahrez fails to deliver at present. If we had a quality creative midfielder I'd not be so keen on three at the back.

Courtinho may be courted by the world's best clubs and he may have ran rings around our midfield yesterday, but Shakespeare's steadfast commitment to Andy King in midfield, Ulloa and Slimani as our attacking duo for par excellence and a frank refusal to drop underperforming players will finally bare fruition.

Did Shakespeare promise Ulloa all the league cup games in return for him staying or is there some devilish new tactic that involves two target men?

I find bitterness the sign of weakness but after Everton stole Walsh and most of our pre season transfer targets with their open checkbook I'm finding a peverse pleasure in their current problems.

We have a manager in his first full season and a midfield that is lacking...

The word is delusional! Seriously though, it's possible, but they'd need to be a tremendous turn around by a manager in his first full season without a full midfield. If the team spirit can survive these initial shocks then we could do well. I can't see anything than lower mid table though, but then no one saw the result two seasons ago.

Before the season started all by the most optimistic could see more than six points from these games. We've got four. And hopes of anything more than mid table was fairly unrealistic. And we're cruising above the relegation zone. His biggest test is getting the team back on track for the games to Christmas after these fairly large blows in quick succession. The remaining half season games may not be as difficult but if the team is shafted it won't matter. I hope he manages it but this is uncharted territory for him.

Well, I'm not disagreeing based on that performance. They are a very decent newly promoted team. So a draw is fair I guess...

The problem is we're trying to replace Kanté and everyone fails since no one will become the engine of our counter attacking system. We've accidentally had an illicit affair with Scarlett Johansson and now it's over and no matter how much we try to readjust to the wife's cellulite the imagine of Scarlett's lavish curves remain siloetted on our mind's eye and the staring blankly at the bedroom ceiling only serves to intensify the suffering. Or maybe Silva will start passing the ball to players at some point. Dunno.

Will he be having a party? Perhaps going to a festival, or even a parade? And who will he be having the party with, because of course he did go a festival lately... I joke, I joke. I don't want the mods to delete this thread too.

Playing in 30 minutes against Villa. He is on tele?

Scraped an away draw against an up and coming dynamic side with a great team spirit and well-loved and tactically-adept manager. All without trying to fix our glaring creative midfield problem. Result!

So our midfield is poor. And we have players that could make it less poor. But instead we take off our two strikers and winger. There's some strange new innovative tactic here that I'm too mentally weak to ascertain.

I don't know. King's magical disappearing act is impressive. But didn't we buy a midfielder some people suggested wasn't shit? Maybe we should play him. Maybe he'll be able to pass the ball to that striker we bought. These are just my opinions though. Why would Shakey change a winning formula?