lcfc_forever

Yeah, fully agree. Wasn’t as bad as being made out but there are clear issues (press resistance in midfield, creativity and hold up play to help get us up the pitch) that need sorting fast.

I’d just written something similar so seeing you say it makes me think I might have got it right! 😀 Enjoying your video analysis as well.

There needs to be a bit of acceptance that we’re a newly promoted side and will take a little bit of time to adjust - the standards are simply so much higher and the sides we’re playing are far more streetwise at this level. The positives are the defensive compactness, resilience and hard work, they kept going. And set pieces are so far looking so much better, especially defensively. But the big issues are press resistance and lack of creativity. Fulham bullied us in midfield, and Ndidi in particular struggled with their press. In the 2nd half, Ndidi seemed higher up the pitch but it was Winks who then struggled against their press - he had a poor second half and couldn’t get us up the pitch. So I can see why we’ve signed Skipp to help us get through the press - Fulham’s defence wasn’t all that and we got in some good situations when we got through the midfield but then lacked composure and creativity in the final third. A lot of people are criticising Justin’s selection but he played well against Spurs and his pace was important against Traore and Iwobi so understand why he started. That said he made two big errors, and got caught upfield leaving Vestergaard exposed. Personally, I don’t see what Kristiansen as an attacking LB gives us over and above Ricardo in an inverted role when we’re struggling to break through the press, and he’s one of the best at getting through it. Also, he gives us much need composure. He surely has to come in for one of the fullbacks.

Their midfield was outmuscling ours, Buononotte and Ndidi were struggling and Fatawu kept giving the ball away. Much improved since the goal but we need to compete better in midfield and show more composure in the final third. As an aside, the OTT remarks in this thread are a joke, not been pretty but we’ve shown resilience.

Yep, would be very surprised if it is true.

He’s sharing an article from the Turkish press: https://kontraspor.com/futbol/zahanin-yerine-osayi-samuel-transferi-iki-kulup-resmen-gorusmelere-basladi-15323

I thought an EPL club couldn’t sign him in this window anyway?

You know how slow we are, and guess Palace will hold things out as well so he doesn't play for another PL team in the next round of fixtures. I'd have been more shocked if the deal was done in time!

Puertas going to the Saudi League:

Brilliant analysis, the Youtube video was excellent as well!

Puertas

Yeah, here’s another quote more generally about attacking players. Maybe Ayew was the other one but the deal has been delayed?

Maybe not @Ric Flair

Yeah, get the impression that the board aren't pulling out all the stops for Cooper that they would have done for Enzo given the genuine threat he might leave the club (and the fact he did go to Chelsea reinforces that). I get the reasoning for focusing on PL experience, especially given all the issues we've had this summer getting players over the line, but as we saw with Skipp, it's so much more expensive.

Watch the friendly vs Lens and see whether you think they're good enough. After Winks and Ndidi, we're severely lacking in quality in midfield.

Imagine if clubs made an informal pact not to purchase Chelsea players - they'd be screwed, and soon enough you'd get those players for a far smaller fee. But football is a zero sum game, so clubs won't do that (as well as the optics of collusion etc.).

Wouldn't surprise me if this actually is us because they're trying to keep it a secret this time!

Tanner said it's well known among journalists that Cooper exaggerates how long someone is out for. Guess it's to keep that information more private/not make the opposition aware.

Don't think that's wholly true given we pushed for Soule and Hlozek. It's probably a mix. Tanner suggested we're going for players where it's harder to sign them due to the prices and competition.

Tanner has done a piece about the club’s issues in the transfer market - inference is we’ve been going for overly ambitious deals (where this is more competition/higher wages) given our PSR position and think the market will open up closer to the end of the transfer window - it reeks of complacency. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5702809/2024/08/16/leicester-city-transfer-window-psr/

Tanner says this is the deal that’s most likely to progress from the rumours but personal terms and the deal with Palace still need to be agreed 🤦‍♂️

According to Tanner (it was written before the Hlozek fell through): With two weeks left of the transfer window there is still time for Leicester to find some similar solutions and, while there is concern among the fanbase, and Cooper has expressed his desire — and that of his players — to have reinforcements quickly, there appears to be little panic internally at Leicester — although the clock is ticking. The belief is this window could explode towards the end, in the final few days, as other clubs look to move players on with their own finances in mind. Leicester hope to be in the thick of it — and they need to be. 🤣 https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5702809/2024/08/16/leicester-city-transfer-window-psr/

Going to Hoffenheim:

We can hope, right?

We don't get Keita for 9m including wages (vs. Zaha where we paid a fee that covered wages).