LCFCJohn

Tough place to go. Doesn’t matter if we weren’t our best, any win away at places like Watford are a good win. Southampton and Leeds always going to win today but it’s a game ticked off and the same large lead!

To be fair, there was a goal and a sub in stoppage time so whatever else happened and however lucky Ipswich might get, I’m not sure we can use that one

Wow, longer ago than I thought. If you’d asked me I’d have said maybe 2006. That spell between relegations to and from the Championship are a blur of 1-0 home defeats to Rotherham and shit signings from Scotland! Lonergan still playing for Everton too!

There’s a difference between being scared of and acknowledging and respecting another strong team doing well. Plus some people aren’t tribal and/or insecure enough that they can praise other clubs/manager/players without feeling that detracts from their support for Leicester. And Armstrong pony? The guy has the most goal contributions in the league and it’s not even close. That may be why he is picked in strongest teams etc no? The team of the season isn’t just the Leicester 11!

Watford never seems an easy place to go. Whilst we have had the odd good win (off Wood’s face 3-0 game) , we have had the Deeney day, a defeat on Rodgers (1st?) game and the last minute equaliser on the Covid return. We seem to have had the better results at home against them in the last number of years. If we win comfortably tomorrow, it is down to this side showing how good they are and not because Watford is an easy place to go. A win and any win will be a fantastic result given that Leeds and Southampton have absolutely bankers at home and will both pick up 3 points tomorrow.

Hamer, Archer, Ahmedhodzic? They may not fetch as much as Maddison and Barnes did but equally, they won’t need to raise as much as their outgoings/expenditure will be significantly less than us. Alternatively they have some very good players for the Championship. I thought they had done decent business in the summer but maybe held on to Heckingbottom too long and with the memories of their last season in the Prem being a disaster, have just had their heads down since the season started.

No one going for Andy Lonergan for Preston

Direct does not mean not good football though. As has been pointed out numerous times, it depends what set up you are facing. A side with 11 behind the ball have to be worked around patiently and picked apart which is quite slow going but understandable. But when teams come forward like Stoke did, we were able to play great football and direct. Look at Vardy’s first, ball won back in our area, beat the press within a single pass and a further pass later, Justin is crossing for Vardy to tap in. That goal was a direct as you will see but was a result of the way Enzo has built us to be comfortable at the back and beat the press.

I work with 3 Sheffield United season ticket holders. I said to them yesterday, I normally want them to win (living in Sheffield I have adopted Utd over Weds as my ‘Sheffield side’) but that as they are all but down now, I want Luton to beat them at the weekend to help send Forest and/or Everton down. I expected to get shit from them but they agreed with me! They really don’t like Forest and have given up staying up themselves. They just want to beat Derby’s record and contribute if they can to Forest coming down

Your previous post re being spoilt with Vardy, spot on. And this also which I can see is in reply to him needing to score 20 next season if we are in the Prem. I agree with you here. The theme of this side under Enzo seems to be goals from across the pitch but particularly wingers and the ‘8s’ when you look at the return KDH and Mavididi have. Add Wilf to that when he’s been fit. If we can keep this up next season, there isn’t the pressure on our central striker to bag 20 like there has been in the past when we have been overly reliant on Vardy.

Interesting! If you had asked me what the most likely finishing position to win the playoffs was I’d have said 5th for some reason. Maybe that’s going back a few years and there being a run of those as this is the last 10 years I guess.

I thought Hull had a tidy looking squad at the start of the season and they have added well to it so I agree. A good test is that after years away, whilst many of us try to keep in touch with the championship, many of the clubs have a lot of players I hadn’t really heard off but Hull stood out (aside from the obvious names) had most of the side jump off the page to me. I reckon they are a good shout.

If us and Southampton take the top 2 spots, it would be typical for one of the sides in 5th/6th to win the play offs and stop Leeds getting promoted anyway…fingers crossed anyway!

I have said before in relation to other players, I’m not sure you can really judge anyone who either came into the club (Daka/Vestergard) or into the team from the academy (Thomas) after the covid lockdown properly as this is when Rodgers first started destruction mode. I always felt we needed to see some of these guys under a fresh environment and new management and sure enough, look at Daka and Vestergard who have been given the chance. Thomas was different as he doesn’t fit the style but who knows for example, about Soumare? I mean I’m happy to see him shipped out in the summer if Enzo has his own targets but it just makes me wonder if he could have worked with Soumare…

I mean if he gets a goal contribution or two per game but falls over his feet a couple of times I would say that’s worth it . Would rather that than a striker who stands up for 90 minutes but has nothing to show for it!

I do think Enzo could be the first manager since Pearson to have success on and off the pitch so to speak. Managers since have had quick success on the pitch but we have gone backwards of it (Rodgers) and Ranieri (backwards seems harsh but the success was definitely on the pitch not off it). Or like Puel who did good work squad building wise but couldn’t find success on the pitch. Enzo has shown signs of both. About the Pep comment. He hasn’t been with Pep the whole time so I’m not sure we can call him the brains behind Pep! Also think another Prem title is not at all realistic and is an unfair expectation to attach to Enzo. The door at the top has been closed further since we broke through it!

Definitely, I think we showed we can adapt and have more than a ‘plan A’ as early in the season as games like Southampton and Blackburn. It’ll be interesting to see how we do in the Prem (again assuming we see it through). Teams will come at us more. We will have less possession as in even if we have more than our opponents, it may be say 55% than 65% as an example. We will get more opportunities to play with pace as a result but I also can’t imagine top flight teams being as open as Stoke were yesterday!

The main reason I was being argumentative the other day was (ironically) because the divided extremes of our fan base is doing my head it. Apologies if I was an arse to you as a result of that 👍 I think also I was answering in terms of what I’d prefer. The answer to that is I’d prefer every team to approach us like Stoke so we can somehow how most of the ball, play fluid football whilst picking them off and playing with pace . Obviously I know that won’t always be the case and we have to approach each game in its own right whilst sticking with our core principles. I like to see us play a variety of ways in game and score all types of goal. Ones scored after 50 passes and with all 11 players contributing are fascinating and technically brilliant. But you can’t beat the adrenaline of goals like the late break away winner at West Brom. To reiterate back to the conversations the other day, I don’t advocate those who genuinely feel it should be lump it up to the big man nor those who waste seats in the ground moaning and groaning about everything!

This is a…brave shout! I reckon is could go a bit later than this (hope to be wrong of course). It looks like Leeds are now picking up some more consistent momentum and seeing out some narrow games 1-0 which has been where they have struggled. Southampton obviously on a role too. I think we will now see the top 3 break away from Ipswich but also probably a record points haul for 3rd place. If we can be 16 points ahead of 3rd with 5 games to go after Birmingham this will be a phenomenal achievement!

Yes, I realise this so not sure what point you’re making? Thats twice Schumacher has used those tactics and played into our hands but we played what was in front of us and put them away with ease which is the job at hand. In fact, those worrying about next season, these sort of games are a positive as yeah, Stoke are shit compared to the sides we will fact next season (if we see the job through). It shows we can deal with sides who sit back and try to attack us. What’s not to like?

This basically. I think some people think the term direct equates to hoof ball and go snobby about it. But that first Vardy goal was the absolute hybrid of great football but also direct. Win the ball, play it out, break forward, fantastic ball to Justin and a peach of a cross.

Let’s wait a see the fixture list before we say this! I was under the impression teams played other teams twice per season until I looked at the fixtures for next week and saw Southampton and Leeds are playing Huddersfield and Rotherham again next weekend

Exactly. And not to mention loads of young kids ‘support’ the likes of Man Utd, Liverpool and now Man City. It’s always been the case. Many that aren’t professional footballers change their allegiance as they grow up and become mature. Being a professional football and coming through a clubs academy and into the first team, that can only help that connection.

I think so too. A young centre back isn’t going to develop with just a handful of minutes at the end of a game like Tuesday so I think this is Enzo easing him in. Give him the cup game, then on towards the end mid week and then with looking comfortable at half time, a longer stint. Maybe thinking Vestergaard is definitely off as well? Seems like a cleverly timed introduction from Enzo.

Brilliant win! Pleased for Daka and Vardy to get a brace each. Regardless of Stoke’s ability level, 5-0 wins away don’t come around often. Points gained on Ipswich, a game more ticked off against Leeds and Southampton. Lovely stuff 👍 I have been concerned about the depth in midfield but if Yunus and McAteer and even Praet can be fit it is at least numbers until Ndidi comes back. As long as we avoid any injuries in that area we should be fine! Shame to see so many rush to try and wind up fellow supporters and rub others faces in it rather than just enjoy a great away win .