Stoke away.... Pre match thoughts...

[Blue Ed]

We need to be able to control games better without having to press teams so hard. And I think this game will be a test of our ability to do that...So for that reason I'd stick with Inler because although he didn't have a great game on Saturday I think he'll come good and should be the rock in our midfield.

 

 

 

           Kasper

 

RDL Huth Wes Jeff

 

            Inler

 

Marc- Drinky - Kante

 

         Mahrez

 

          Vardy

[goose2010]

I think he will stick Inler in front of the defence, there biggest threat is surely Shaqui and surely there is no one better to nullify that threat than his national captain?

 

Kasper

Shulupp - Huth - Morgan - RDL

 

                  Inler

 

Dyer Drinkwater Kante Mahrez

 

                 Vards

 

 

That is give the defence cover if Mahrez doesn't get back to support Ritchie.

[Thracian]

A 2-1 win is perhaps best the best we can expect although a 1-1 draw would be better than nothing. We've shown no signs of being able to go with two banks of four and keep a clean sheet which means we'll have to score.

 

Trouble is - Sunderland excepted - we usually take the brakes off when the opposition have gone in front and I'm not sure we can afford to do this against Stoke because they do have the capacity to hold a lead. 

 

My belief is that we'll have to score at least twice to win and that means playing with enough people who retain a willingness to defend but who can pass and move quickly and accurately. 

 

A slightly withdrawn and flexible system based on 4-4-2 seems plausible.

 

King and Ulloa add something at defensive set-pieces, we have goalscoring potential from open play and free-kicks/corners and we have a reasonable balance of pace,  passing and moving with Mahrez available to use his trickery against tiring legs and Okazaki/Drinkwater available to give us renewed energy in the passing and moving department.

 

Ulloa also offers a "desperation" outlet and a target for Kasper. Albrighton's preferred to Mahrez as a starter because he's a better defender and our best bet for finding Ulloa, two things we'll need in this particular game. 

 

Kasper,

 

DeLaet, Huth, Morgan, Schlupp;

 

Albrighton, King, Kante, Dyer;

 

               Ulloa, Vardy.

[Bamba's Babes]

We'll out-sing, out-play and out-score them.

[maxwelld_]

Schmeichel

 

    De Laet         Huth          Morgan        Schlupp

 

                    Drinkwater     Kante

 

      Albrighton          Mahrez       Dyer

 

                                 Vardy

 

Schwarzer, Kramaric, Ulloa, Was, King, Inler, Okazaki

This would be my team only change maybe would be inler for drinky ( not a fan ) and inler can't play that bad twice on the bounce

[sapalmer]

A 2-1 win is perhaps best the best we can expect although a 1-1 draw would be better than nothing. We've shown no signs of being able to go with two banks of four and keep a clean sheet which means we'll have to score.

 

Trouble is - Sunderland excepted - we usually take the brakes off when the opposition have gone in front and I'm not sure we can afford to do this against Stoke because they do have the capacity to hold a lead. 

 

My belief is that we'll have to score at least twice to win and that means playing with enough people who retain a willingness to defend but who can pass and move quickly and accurately. 

 

A slightly withdrawn and flexible system based on 4-4-2 seems plausible.

 

King and Ulloa add something at defensive set-pieces, we have goalscoring potential from open play and free-kicks/corners and we have a reasonable balance of pace,  passing and moving with Mahrez available to use his trickery against tiring legs and Okazaki/Drinkwater available to give us renewed energy in the passing and moving department.

 

Ulloa also offers a "desperation" outlet and a target for Kasper. Albrighton's preferred to Mahrez as a starter because he's a better defender and our best bet for finding Ulloa, two things we'll need in this particular game. 

 

Kasper,

 

DeLaet, Huth, Morgan, Schlupp;

 

Albrighton, King, Kante, Dyer;

 

               Ulloa, Vardy.

So you would leave the most in form player in the country out

Barmy......

[eddylcfc]

Kasper

De laet

Morgan

Huth

Fuchs

Kante

Drinky

Dyer

Mahrez

Schlupp

Vardy

[BigWesMorgan]

                     Kasper

 

De Laet    Huth   Morgan   Schlupp

 

             Kante   Drinkwater

 

    Albrighton  Mahrez  Dyer

 

                      Vardy

 

Schwarzer, Kramaric, Ulloa, Wasilewski, King, Inler, Fuchs

 

or

 

                       Kasper

 

         Huth    Wasilewski  Morgan

 

               Drinkwater  Kante

 

   Albrighton     Mahrez        Dyer

 

                 Vardy    Ulloa

 

Schwarzer, Kramaric, Okazaki, Schlupp, Inler, King, De Laet

[ScouseFox]

A 2-1 win is perhaps best the best we can expect although a 1-1 draw would be better than nothing. We've shown no signs of being able to go with two banks of four and keep a clean sheet which means we'll have to score.

 

Trouble is - Sunderland excepted - we usually take the brakes off when the opposition have gone in front and I'm not sure we can afford to do this against Stoke because they do have the capacity to hold a lead. 

 

My belief is that we'll have to score at least twice to win and that means playing with enough people who retain a willingness to defend but who can pass and move quickly and accurately. 

 

A slightly withdrawn and flexible system based on 4-4-2 seems plausible.

 

King and Ulloa add something at defensive set-pieces, we have goalscoring potential from open play and free-kicks/corners and we have a reasonable balance of pace,  passing and moving with Mahrez available to use his trickery against tiring legs and Okazaki/Drinkwater available to give us renewed energy in the passing and moving department.

 

Ulloa also offers a "desperation" outlet and a target for Kasper. Albrighton's preferred to Mahrez as a starter because he's a better defender and our best bet for finding Ulloa, two things we'll need in this particular game. 

 

Kasper,

 

DeLaet, Huth, Morgan, Schlupp;

 

Albrighton, King, Kante, Dyer;

 

               Ulloa, Vardy.

 

some of the things you say interest me and every once in a while i think hold up he might actually be sane. 

 

but then you suggest dropping both our best players from last week and comfortably the best player in the country at the moment, as well as completely changing the style that has been so effective for the best run in our history. nice. 

[FoxinNotts]

Kasper

De laet

Morgan

Huth

Fuchs

Kante

Drinky

Dyer

Mahrez

Schlupp

Vardy

This would be great

[Babylon]

So you would leave the most in form player in the country out

Barmy......

And the one who got fans MOTM in the last game.

 

Good old Thrac.

[Culletonfox]

Start with the team we finished with against the chokers! and I'm going for a 1-2 with Vardy and Mahrez on the score sheet

[Thracian]

So you would leave the most in form player in the country out

Barmy......

 

 

Thankyou.

 

Yes, I would and Mahrez's form has neither escaped me nor failed to impress me. Why would planning to introduce him when a little of the heat has gone out of the match be so much worse than starting with him at a time when we're most likely to be under pressure in defence and later taking him off? How is it "leaving him out of anything?" 

 

Mahrez has immense ability but he's not the greatest defender and DeLaet may well need the help of the more defensively proficient Albrighton to begin with - particularly the way Bournemouth dealt with Mahrez last time we travelled away.

 

For me the best time to use him against Stoke will be when defenders are tiring and when we might choose to stretch them some more and open some gaps. Furthermore given my reasons for playing Ulloa I reckon having a specialist crosser might give us more chance of pinching a goal than otherwise.

 

Fortunately people like King and Albrighton look on their services as being part of a team which is picked in such a way as to do the best in the particular situation they're faced with.

 

Are you suggesting Mahrez is somehow above this?

 

Perhaps you'll say how you'd play and who'll provide the necessary cover to a suspect defence when it's hard under the coast because you're clearly so tactically astute you'll have ideas up your sleeve that I'd never have dreamed of and there's nothing like learning when it comes to tactics.

[Thracian]

And the one who got fans MOTM in the last game.

 

Good old Thrac.

 

 

Can't see what that has to do with the Stoke game at all but it's quite ironic that Mahrez's impact (after a poorish 45 minutes) actually happened in the second half when we had a much greater focus on attack.  Perhaps you'd stick your head above the parapet - for once - and actually say what you might do Babs. Don't worry. I won't hold my breath!       

[Thracian]

some of the things you say interest me and every once in a while i think hold up he might actually be sane. 

 

but then you suggest dropping both our best players from last week and comfortably the best player in the country at the moment, as well as completely changing the style that has been so effective for the best run in our history. nice. 

 

some of the things you say interest me and every once in a while i think hold up he might actually be sane. 

 

but then you suggest dropping both our best players from last week and comfortably the best player in the country at the moment, as well as completely changing the style that has been so effective for the best run in our history. nice. 

 

some of the things you say interest me and every once in a while i think hold up he might actually be sane. 

 

but then you suggest dropping both our best players from last week and comfortably the best player in the country at the moment, as well as completely changing the style that has been so effective for the best run in our history. nice. 

 

 

 

Totally different game and place. I've already explained in depth about Mahrez, and Drinkwater's not normally the best player under physical pressure.

 

Weneed our best pinchers of the ball and fastest passers at Stoke to help us retain possession instead of squandering it as we did so much against Villa in the first half and against Spurs for the whole game. Okazaki's a ball pincher too but we'd lose too much in starting him instead of Ulloa for this game.  

 

Drinkwater doesn't fit the pickpocket role for me and he's of not normally of great value at defensive set pieces either.

 

I'm always happy to be proved wrong but have gone for a team I believe will have the best chance to win or draw the match.

 

Drinkwater's already been playing his part and will continue to do so. But I don't see the expected problems at Stoke as likely to bring the best from him.     

[ScouseFox]

drinkwater was great at stoke away last year, too 

[Thracian]

I didn't say he'd never played well under pressure or that it was an easy call. With more choices these days, the whole problem of using our squad to best effect gets harder.   

[blue blood]

Thankyou.

 

Yes, I would and Mahrez's form has neither escaped me nor failed to impress me. Why would planning to introduce him when a little of the heat has gone out of the match be so much worse than starting with him at a time when we're most likely to be under pressure in defence and later taking him off? How is it "leaving him out of anything?" 

 

Mahrez has immense ability but he's not the greatest defender and DeLaet may well need the help of the more defensively proficient Albrighton to begin with - particularly the way Bournemouth dealt with Mahrez last time we travelled away.

 

For me the best time to use him against Stoke will be when defenders are tiring and when we might choose to stretch them some more and open some gaps. Furthermore given my reasons for playing Ulloa I reckon having a specialist crosser might give us more chance of pinching a goal than otherwise.

 

Fortunately people like King and Albrighton look on their services as being part of a team which is picked in such a way as to do the best in the particular situation they're faced with.

 

Are you suggesting Mahrez is somehow above this?

 

Perhaps you'll say how you'd play and who'll provide the necessary cover to a suspect defence when it's hard under the coast because you're clearly so tactically astute you'll have ideas up your sleeve that I'd never have dreamed of and there's nothing like learning when it comes to tactics.

 

Thats like saying Real Madrid should bench Ronaldo on the basis he will have more of an impact coming on after 60 mins.  To me thats 60 mins less he has had to impact the game.  The same rules apply here.

[Countryfox]

Totally different game and place. I've already explained in depth about Mahrez, and Drinkwater's not normally the best player under physical pressure.

 

Weneed our best pinchers of the ball and fastest passers at Stoke to help us retain possession instead of squandering it as we did so much against Villa in the first half and against Spurs for the whole game. Okazaki's a ball pincher too but we'd lose too much in starting him instead of Ulloa for this game.  

 

Drinkwater doesn't fit the pickpocket role for me and he's of not normally of great value at defensive set pieces either.

 

I'm always happy to be proved wrong but have gone for a team I believe will have the best chance to win or draw the match.

 

Drinkwater's already been playing his part and will continue to do so. But I don't see the expected problems at Stoke as likely to bring the best from him.     

 

Thats all very well but you are not a manager ...... CR has it sorted and the answer to any defensive worries is to offer the team a pizza if they keep a clean sheet ....

 

Leave it to the professionals !

[Spudulike]

Seems that most want to Kante to start (I agree) but I'm not sure how we get Inler up to speed without playing him. I don't expect many occasions that we will have a comfortable enough lead to give him cameo appearances off the bench. Tricky situation but he must start against West Ham to speed up the transition.

[NEXTGOALWINS]

 

Hi All, here is my Preview of the Stoke game! Please check it out and subscribe if you enjoy! Just a fan who loves the club.

[Spudulike]

 

Hi All, here is my Preview of the Stoke game! Please check it out and subscribe if you enjoy! Just a fan who loves the club.

 

Just an observation: it's Stoke Vs Leicester and it's pronounced Kon-Tay

[Thracian]

And you may be right. We might also lose a goal or two while our suspect defence is trying to cope with some nippy attackers - just as Villa should have scored a tap in at the far post against Villa when Huth had been exposed.

 

If you're arguing that Ranieri will or should commit to a fast all-out attacking game I'm the last one to put the brakes on but I don't think he will. I wouldn't be surprised if we have the two almost stationary banks of four and try to pinch the game.

 

And if that's the case I just don't think Mahrez will get enough good ball for all that he scored when feeding off crumbs against Spurs. There just won't be the runners around him and Hughes will surely have done his homework in terms of curbing his effect.

 

I'm for changing our approach and keeping the Stoke boss guessing. Mahrez could still win the game for us - or earn a valuable point - when the time comes.

 

People are still ecstatic about the Villa win just as I am but that result and others shouldn't mask our desire to continue improving as a unit.

 

We could and probably should have lost that Villa game before ourt comeback ever had chance to materialise.

 

Yes, our players and management deserve every praise for confounding all expectations but Sherwood's management was lamentable. And Mahrez's great effect came when he had runners all around him and support coming from all directions- and that's how it needs to be .

 

It didn't happen in the first half when he ran into cul-de-sacs trying to do everything like the Lone Ranger while Tonto was on holiday although he sure deserved credit for continuing to try everything he knew. Sadly the same couldn't be said for the team as a whole and we could have been three down before any improvement from Mahrez or anyone else.

 

The team I've gone for attempts to prevent that.

 

PS: Are you sure Ronaldo's various managers have never utilised him as a substitute and to considerable effect. I'm sure Babs will have the facts somewhere! .    .  

[Thracian]

Thats all very well but you are not a manager ...... CR has it sorted and the answer to any defensive worries is to offer the team a pizza if they keep a clean sheet ....

 

Leave it to the professionals !

 

Thats all very well but you are not a manager ...... CR has it sorted and the answer to any defensive worries is to offer the team a pizza if they keep a clean sheet ....

 

Leave it to the professionals !

 

 

 

I hope it's a recipe for success. Helping ourselves to another three points will turn the 'eat up on everyone! 

[Adster]

How do you have time to write such long posts Thrac? I honestly think most people dont both reading past 1 paragraph.

No matter how much justification you try and give it with your long paragraphs, dropping Mahrez and Drinkwater would potentially be the most stupid thing anyone could ever do, Stoke away or not.