gerblod

Ever the optimist, eh Rowlatts ?

It's difficult to see what's at the root of this eagerness to disrupt a team which these people should be hoping remain a unit which can advance the reputation of English football. Is it a mindset or a deliberate policy designed to keep certain clubs as 'special'? I don't believe there was any justification for English football to create a Premier League - it was a successful attempt to create an elitist display case. It's fundamental driving force has been the enrichment of the broadcasters (Sky etc) who used their already vast resources to buy off the rights from this separated league while leaving the other leagues relatively powerless and impoverished as a consequence. It's a traditional feudal English operation. It has devalued the FA Cup - which was, in its own way, as meaningful as the League title. It has devalued the Scottish League. I guess it's also, to an extent, reduced the standards of the other European leagues - Portugal and Holland in particular. Maybe even it's been the cause of the weakening of South American football. So it's only been for the benefit of five or six English clubs, Sky (and now BT and Amazon) and the Premier League set-up. Who owns these clubs and should they own English clubs? Well, City have also been sold off to a foreign company. But I like to believe that Vichai and Top have a certain morality which Abramovitch, the Glazers, the Kroenkes, al Muburak, the "Fenway Sports Group" and "ENIC" (registered in the Bahamas) dont' have. But maybe I'm twisting the 'facts' to make my argument. Does this three-headed monster want to lose all this wealth and clout? Of course not. Do the execs at Sky have a word with all of the ex-player pundits - telling them to play down Leicester City because they'll disrupt the 'normal service'? It seems that they're always eager to suggest that one of our players should make a move to 'better' themselves with a bigger club, rather than saying that Leicester are a club who're bucking the trend by creating excellence in all areas of their operation and succeeding in challenging those expected, via their wealth, to walk off with all the prizes. The concentration of the best players (most expensive) in England has led to the belief that we see the best football...ever. That's not provable. Maybe we watch the fittest footballers ever, but there have always been players, even back in the dark ages :-), whose skill would match modern players. However, my theory isn't about who are and were the best footballers - it's about whether the Premier and all its associated money-grabbing is a 'good thing'.

That irritated me for a couple of days! Glad you've changed your mind :-).

In six decades of watching City, I've rarely seen the intricacy with which this current group of players is regularly capable of performing. Tielemans, Vardy and Maddison in particular, yet all seem confident on the ball. N'Didi surpassed himself yesterday - his ability to disrupt and steal ball matches N'Golo. I haven't seen many "ugly" goals scored by the team. I'd maintain that the four goals scored against Stoke would win the first prize for three or more goals in a game for quality and variety - if such a competition existed. I think Covid has deprived Liverpool and United, in particular, of much of the drive they drew from their now absent support. If your diagnosis of a need to showboat is accurate (and Man City can be guilty of that too) then the title is going to be won by the team who wants it most. Last season they lost belief in themselves after being taught a lesson by Man City and Liverpool. This season they've added steel into the mix - a couple of combative recruits in Fofana and Castagne and the emergence of the immensely capable Justin. Jenas stated on MotD that, as he said United could do it, then he'd have to say the same for Leicester. Amen to that.

Certainly last night he was - on and on about Southampton's qualities when City were equally as accomplished and, as the game progressed, clearly creating more scoring opportunities. I'm biased of course but not so much that I'm imagining this favouritism.

We've seen it even more in the mature and very talented Luke Thomas.

There was once an admirable Manchester United - pre-Fergie and the many flops who've followed him. That was in the days of Matt Busby and Charlton, Law, Crerand and Best. The days when ex-players showed some class and kept their mouths shut about what the club should do. Now everyone's got an opinion and they have the social media platforms waiting on their every sound bite - sensible or stupid. And Scholes is well in the latter slot. It's the sense of entitlement - that City would somehow bend to the will of United to give up a player for some huge sum to better a team which isn't anyway ahead of us - except in the way they use their vast resources to create teams to win trophies. Sad b'stards.

Last Saturday's third goal indicated that there's class there - the manner in which he took that ball and then travelled with it was outstanding. He is one of those players who isn't constantly being referred to in match commentaries and sometimes it's hard to pick him up in play. However, he's a more effective player than Choudhury. Perhaps it's a confidence thing.

Yes - but they dropped the 'S', as opposed to Scunthorpe which added one.

This should be renamed the 'What If' thread. If Chelsea come knocking and Rodgers wants to go, then it would be regrettable, but I suspect Top knows more about choosing a replacement now than he did two years ago ago. Vichai and Top were new to our culture and our football culture when they bought the Club. It must have been a steep learning curve for them, but they've succeeded in a manner we couldn't get have thought possible. Would anyone argue against the assertion that LCFC is now one of the best run clubs worldwide? Rodgers would have more to lose than City if he chose to chase money and silverware. For me, he hasn't proven anything yet - trophies and a better rep. might come easier to him with this Club and squad. Even amongst the big six, there's still a hierarchy - with Liverpool and Man City still stronger than the others. So his opportunity, should he go elsewhere, might prove a fruitless and futile move. He could replicate MoN's legendary status here, rather than being seen as the guy who didn't really make it anywhere.

For some time I've been wondering how BR could justify to himself dropping Justin to make way for Pereira - who has to still return to match sharpness. I honestly believe Justin is the better defender and has not been found wanting up front - indeed he has excelled. His confidence on the ball is exceptional. My overall impression of Pereira has been that he excels in fast dashes into attack. The stats are there to prove his ability in creating and taking goals, but those stats only tell half the story. Sure, I'd love to see how Ricardo would once again enhance this team, but Justin is not so far behind. And all this talk of 'world-class' hasn't seemed to have provoked the inevitable rumours of Real, Barca, PSG or Juve knocking at the door.

There are always those who will question the place of a 'luxury' player - they did when Hoddle played for England. He wasn't considered hard-working enough. Maddison has all the attributes of a fine football player - technical ability par excellence, vision, guile, he works and he is a leader. It's up to BR to make all that work for the team, and up to Maddison and Tielemans to complement each other. Another England analogy was the 'Lampard and Gerrard can't be in the team together', but how could either of two players of such ability be left out of the team? It's not yet a critical problem, especially having exhibited dominance in the Spurs game and resilience in the United game. Patience and creativity are necessary to maximise the potential of the extremely talented squad City have assembled.

Yo-ho-effing-ho. Fat Santa does a scally smash-'n-grab on Klopp's Scousers. Just what we all wanted for Christmas.

No ref. is ever going to give him a 2nd yellow for anything less than a 'flying dropkick' - a le Cantona. He's earned himself Teflon grade ref-proof protection by becoming United's main playmaker overnight. Too big to send off - although I don't think he did owt that bad yesterday - bar score and assist.

City showed a level of determination that they did against Spurs. In such a closely matched game it's often small errors that turn out to be the decisive turning points, however, we kept at it and scored the better goals - from being behind twice, and that is a huge progression from caving in to 'average' sides. I didn't see the game some posters here saw. I thought Madders had a decent enough game. Had not Rashford (?) got in the way of his free kick the game might have changed then. He is a classy player - able to hold the ball in tight situations. I wish they'd do something with these short corners, though. What's the point of a corner if you're just going to recycle it back to Schmeichel? There was some lovely intricate play on both sides. Barnes made the best of the game. Castagne looks a 100% professional in his play and attitude. N'Didi was again magnificent - as was Tielemans. Vardy did what he's the best at - being in the right place at the right time. Evans had a great game. Fofana is a tough bugger, is he not? Albrighton showed he can throw a defender. A draw was a fair result - either team could have shaded it but didn't. I'm happy that we matched them and I don't understand how anyone can be snarky about individual players when we, statistically, had the upper hand. We bought on one sub to their three! Now we have to carry on this standard to one of the tricky sides. Win against the Palace and we have continuity at last. I'm proud of what the boys done. Oh, and BT, please drop Hoddle. As great a player as he was, he's equally as dire as a commentator.

For sure those two are a level above. There are several players who I'd hate to see replaced - after all, squad cohesiveness is the key factor - yet I'd love to see Fofana, Soyuncu, Tielemans, Barnes and Maddison making that step up.. and maybe Thomas has that potential too.

Yes - it's an international poll. The usual suspects occupy the top ten places - although Messi & Co. have had to make way for Lewandowski this time around. Kane is very high (and Son). As ever, these choices reflect the fame of certain clubs - although players representing less fashionable clubs do get a look in. 2016 saw Vardy, Mahrez, Kante and Schmeichel listed - so the judges are swayed not only by the individual player's performance in isolation - can you ever achieve that anyway in a team game? - but by the club's relative success. For instance, Mahrez has slipped significantly down the rankings.

The Guardian publishes its 100 best male (and female) players about this time every year. Of course I looked for any Leicester players they might have mentioned and, expectedly, Vards was there - moved up from 48 last year to 35. Which reflects on the team's performance as well as his own. But Wilf wasn't there. Now, maybe his time out this year has done his reputation a bit of damage, but, as far as I'm concerned, he's as capable as N'Golo Kanté, who's in at 55. Maybe next year he'll get the recognition he deserves.

Grazie, mio amico!

There was no intention on my part to imply this is anything approaching a done deal, yet I thought the way the whole team performed against Spurs hinted at a more disciplined and steadfast approach. So the proviso is that they don't fold under the 'onslaught' or don't fold if they go one or even two goals down. Even if they experience the latter, I'd still like to see them keep going at United. You're so right about the "rabbits in a headlight" response - in life you have to develop a coping mechanism to deal with adversity and some of the younger guys haven't got that. There also has to be an identification with the team - last season both Soyuncu and Evans forgot that in their fits of temper. I think, as I stated, that N'Didi and Castagne brought two stabilising influences and Castagne's reported comments about not giving "stupid" goals away suggest that he demands as much of himself as anyone else might demand of him. That's just the kind of attitude that City need. Schmeichel is a top goalie and he tries to lead from in between the sticks, yet he can be awfully sloppy at times. 'Leading by example' is the phrase that comes to mind. I agree totally about Maddison, he has the technique to justify his operating at the heart of the forward midfield. I think we also need a player who combines the attributes of Perez and Iheanacho - clever feet combined with the ability to hold the ball and then turn a defence. Hands up who wouldn't want to see Mo Salah arrive on Santa Top's sleigh this transfer window

If we play the same controlled defence game we did against the Lillywhites, then there's nothing to fear. That was a true XI man game and, if they've caught on to how that clicks, then it will be a tight game in our favour. I honestly believe that City are a better team, man-for-man - it's up to them to believe in themselves, to dig in and deal with the initial onslaught in a disciplined way. I'd prefer Ünder to start - to give them a bit of a guessing game and to test them out. I like the way he'll take a poke from distance. Fair play to Albrighton, but United's defence isn't as well-drilled as Spurs'. I'd love to see Slabhead lose his rag after being given the runaround. N'Didi and Tielemans should be the key factors in this. It'll be interesting to see how BR and his crew have figured out how to deal with Fernandes. I suspect, because it's United, they'll be well up for it. Nothing gives the country more festive cheer than when United get a good stuffing.

I don't believe these two factors can be separated. Behind every successful team there's an individual whose will-to-win infuses the players' approach with the same commitment. It can be, rarely these days, an on-field leader like Roy Keane, but predominantly it's the manager. Klopp, Guardiola, Ferguson and Mourinho all share(d) a commitment to win which is prioritised over any other issue. If Spurs do win the title it will highlight the difference between Mourinho and Pochettino's differing approaches. I suspect Poch, Rodgers and the much-mourned Gerard Houllier lacked that overriding ruthlessness. Tielemans, in particular, has to develop a more intense approach to enhance his technical and perception qualities. Schmeichel cannot lead from goal and Vardy is very much an individualist. I think Maddison has to step up as a leader - foregoing the primadonna mentality which seems to engage him atm. Maybe Castagne has the potential, or Soyuncu. I feel Evans is an organiser more than a captain. I'd like to see more demands made of each other by the players and more aggression than displayed generally. Maybe we're too nice a team.

Couldn't agree with you more. When I saw Fuchs and Mendy in the starting eleven my heart sank. Including Morgan would have freed up N'Didi to, as you state, be in his optimum role. And, however slow Morgan is now said to be, he wouldn't need to move far to stymie crosses from the byeline and from corners. His sheer height and weight was what was needed and his passing out from defence is calm and accurate. Isn't it time BR committed to Luke Thomas? In being cautious about picking him, he puts in someone whose speed is waning. Still a Prem player but this game was as important to confidence as the Liverpool game was and Thomas has shown, very quickly, how focused, inventive and quick he is. He works well with Barnes and yet that opportunity to discomfit Everton was passed over. If Chilwell got in ahead of Fuchs, then Thomas should. To matters in attack, I consider that BR is thinking percentages rather than opportunities. I've not read the thread, because I was too disappointed to think about the result until today - so if I've duplicated other posts apologies, but Ünder should not have been swapped for Perez. The dogma is that Vardy represents the best chance of scoring, but how many times, under Puel in particular, have we seen Vardy patiently waiting for the ball to arrive and nothing's appeared. We keep reassuring ourselves that he's got x seasons in his legs, and that's all well and good when the midfielders are giving him opportunities, but what's the alternative structure. Perez is that guy with the quick feet who should be scoring goals - he needs to be the alternative route to be doing so. Mendy is the guy you bring on when you have a lead - in Prem terms anyway. The stuffing seems to go out of them when they get behind - there was sloppiness from Fofana, Tielemans and Schmeichel. Someone needs to step up and rally the lads in situations like this. After all it wasn't a good goal - just lucky.