funkyrobot

Hendo obv

He looks quality. Great finisher, potential attacking midfielder role. Get him in the 1st team squad.

Let's give it a go with Mahrez on the right and Gray on the left on Saturday. Albrighton ready on the bench if it needs shoring up.

Shakespeare said after the Brighton game in an interview with Stringer that Hamer was ahead of him as he had showed up better in training. Presumably nothing much has changed and it's Hamer's to lose. I don't think there's that much between the two of them tbh. Benny H is allegedly good with the #bantz too so that will help edge it.

It's been quite beautiful to read this argument descend into name calling and then come out the other side into what could be a loving and possibly sexual relationship. Congratulations guys.

You've nailed your colours to the mast with James now. You clearly don't rate him or he's done something to upset you. I guess you'll be analysing his performances to pick out his failings which you'll no doubt give us a breakdown of after the Chelsea match and going forward. If you watched every other player with this negative mindset I'm sure you'd be able to pick out errors with them too. There are a good proportion of us though that remember James as a player that was arguably performing better than Drinkwater before his injury in the Premier League. A player with an excellent range of skills as well a admittedly some flaws like most other players (he lacks a bit of pace and like Drinky is more Miss than hit when shooting.) James missed the reputation enhancing skills of playing alongside Kante, and now he's only 3 games into a top level comeback and has been totally written off by you. I really hope he shows you are wrong and we can remind you of your folly for the rest of the season. Let's be fair, If you do end up being correct, we basically are fcuked in midfield until at least January!

Are you on the wrong forum? This is LCFC not LFC. We haven't got much cover in central Midfield.

That's the glamour move he must've planned for when he rejected new terms with LCFC

Last year's player of the season with us. FACT. BIG BIG signing for T-Watford

Spot on. Fabulous player.

For me as a utility player who can do an effective job in possibly 3 positions - he's a very useful match day squad member.

For me, Simmo is a diligent and competent defender but offers little going forward and isn't a great passer of the ball. He certainly didn't help Mahrez much going forward and probably vice versa. Not convinced that Amartey offers enough to be a proper rival for him or a different enough option.

Got to say, I didn't for one second expect us to ever be in for Iheanacho. Up until Pep, the lad looked absolute quality. I remember looking at him and thinking fkin'Ell Man citeh have found another world class player. Then last season, he was injured and then Pep brought his preferred youngster Jesus in. Now we're looking likely to get him and he is top quality. If we get him he has the potential to be a real player for us. I just hope the rest of the team step up. Vardy and Kasper will. It's the defence and midfield including the wings that need to prove it. Like a lot of people, I'm concerned about the lack of a proper #baller in midfield, about the downturn in both drinky and Ndidi's form (even the latter dipped at the end), about the lack of proper competition for Simpson at right back and about the lack of club commitment demonstrated by both Mahrez by his stated desire to leave and by Gray through his constant agitating with the press, presumably because he's had his head turned by his agent. If neither wants to stay then we'll need to buy another creative player of Iheanacho's standard to play in the same team! But I certainly would relish the thought of a front two of Vardy and Iheanacho!

Not only is Vardy unavailable for this, Musa and Ndidi aren't due to Nigeria's continued presence at AFCON17.

Can't believe we have to resort to playing two defensive midfielders against Scotland FFS.

He was poor tonight but equally so was his central midfield partner NDidi. The latter is starting to lose the impetus and drive he had in his first few games. He was no better than Amartey tonight. Both have got into the habit of passing and stopping rather than moving into space and seemed unable to help the defence or the attack. They gave the ball away and seemed unable to gee themselves up to win it back or even track a player. Both got a footballing lesson from Wanyama.

Atletico were so on the ropes and still so desperate that Mahrez had to be doubled up on that Benny C had loadsa space and little in the way of defensive responsibilities. IMO, he didn't quite have the guile/confidence to make the most of this situation. Such was the paucity of Madrid's attack, that Shakey could've stuck Gray out there instead. Benny did well enough, despite a misfiring final ball but I think in hindsight (and how could Shakey predict such a poor 2nd half by Atletico), Gray might've been the missing link.

Yeh true but I think the doubt was more in Claudio's mind.

Not really, there was no counselling required for James or any risk that he might lose his leg.

The only chance James had of coming back and playing a role was with Claudio no longer at the club. He hopefully now has a chance if Shakey is a success but the general practice of loaning out an experienced elder pro (fit or regaining fitness) is to move them off the playing roster for the club or the players benefit without any significant transfer fees and is usually because the manager doesn't need the player around enough to justify getting them fit or keeping them at the club. I'm sure other higher profile players wouldn't've been consider for loan with the same injury (e.g Vardy.) A non youth loan usually results in that player leaving at the end of their contract or before. That's the reality that the vast majority of elder loan players face. Hardly any come back. Ramsey was a loan of a young player who had experienced such an awful injury that the loan was as much about getting the lad to decide whether he was mentally able to play football at professional level again never mind physically able, such was the nature of his injury.

Falcao was loaned out with the intention to sell. He wasn't good enough so MUFC and Chelsea didn't buy him. The common practice of loaning out a player to get fit and then to bring back that Doctor talks about isn't very common is it?

1 player does not make it a common practice

Actions speak louder than words when it come to CR and Matty James. Tell me what players have been loaned out to get them back to full fitness and then get reintegrated. I can't think of any and yet you say it's common place. Ultimately James, though seemingly physically unable to play for LCFC, can mysteriously play full 90 minutes and get goals and MOTM ratings in a very physical and competitive Championship for Barnsley.

Name an older player that's been loaned out that comes back to play. Doesn't usually happen. Mostly it's a long drawn out goodbye. The change in manager might buck that trend this time hopefully. Oh and CR deemed it a wise idea to play a not match fit (or even premier league standard) Mendy when we were deep in relegation so why not James? Tbh the forum baffles you because people disagree with your viewpoint.

If Ranieri wanted him, he would've kept him around. It's not that he couldn't choose him, he wouldn't choose him. If Mahrez or Vardy got a long term injury, they wouldn't be shipped out on loan, they'd be reintegrated into the squad and given game time to regain fitness. I personally think that's what CR should've done with Matty J based on our lack of quality midfield options.