De Laet, the new "Wellens"

[coolhandfox]

Playing fallback is'nt as easy this days as it was back in the 80's, 90's, players like Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Dani Alves have change the way modern fallbacks are judged. Now you are expected to defender one minute and attack like an extra winger the next!

 

People are mainly judge De Laet on his defending, not what he bring to the team as a whole, his not as bad as people make out!

[RonnieTodger]

He has been poor so far but it's the way people have turned on him so quickly that's embarrassing. As if he's never done anything for Leicester. 

[Carl the Llama]

Playing fallback is'nt as easy this days as it was back in the 80's, 90's, players like Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Dani Alves have change the way modern fallbacks are judged. Now you are expected to defender one minute and attack like an extra winger the next!

 

People are mainly judge De Laet on his defending, not what he bring to the team as a whole, his not as bad as people make out!

Fullbacks.

[Foxymcoxy]

Personally, I think he gets a bit too much criticism. Regardless of what you think of him long term though, he is quite clearly our best option at RB for now, so let's give him a bit of credit for his role in an unbeaten team. 

[ARTY_FOX]

I wouldn't of had a problem with him against villa if it wasn't for that stupid run he always makes.

We've conceded so many goals from him passing it to the winger and then I stead if just overlapping he makes a run to the left hand side of the box or the the edge of the area. We lose the ball he's miles away from his position and we concede. It's annoying. If he cuts that out he'll look a lot more solid to me

[lev72]

Stats say RDL is the best tackler in the division, are we a tad harsh on him? His commitment to us is fantastic and will have a key role to play again and will chip in with the odd goal, his strong points out weigh is weak.

[Wymsey]

De Laet should be classified as an attacking wingback (like Schlupp), then he'd get criticized less for poor defensive play.

[Stadt]

I don't think De Laet is a particularly good attacking right back either, he's not a very good crosser.

He's decent in the air and very quick but they're not the defining attributes for a rightback

[Russell sprout]

I think his contribution is great,what he maybe lacks in one area he makes up for in another,

He's by no means a poor player,

It's interesting that with de laat and also drinkwater not featuring much towards the end of last season that there currently regulars,drinkwater looking better each week imo,

2 players who I don't think would have featured as often or at all if Nigel was still with us,that's not a critism of Pearson either,just that cr clearly feels they have a lot to offer.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Nah, really dislike him as a player. He's made a career on being quick, but what else does he offer? Technically, poor ball control, terrible terrible passer, criminally one-footed. Positionally, poor defensively and offensively.  Strength? - average at best. Doesn't seem like a big personality in changing rooms either.

 

He constantly looks like the worst player on the pitch in most games. He's a Championship player who we brought up with us and have yet to bin off, but it won't be long under Claudio.

[Jordan]

De Laet should be classified as an attacking wingback (like Schlupp), then he'd get criticized less for poor defensive play.

Yes.

RDL and Schlupp are bombing up the wings while Mahrez and Albrighton are cutting inside when we are on the attack. We're playing 4-4-2, but we're definitely not using our RB & LB as classic fullbacks in a flat back line. We're doing all this with one less CB than we were using at the end of last season, and without Cambiasso directing traffic in front of the CBs.

We're going balls to the wall on the right wing, because right now, Riyad Mahrez is on some of the best form in the entire world.

Other teams are targeting RDL/or right side? No shit--Claudio's letting them do it. Leicester are a dynamic, fast team, but there's a method to our madness. If we make it a 2v2 game down the right wing, the other team might get two scoring opportunities out of it, but we'll get four... And I'll take this every time.

When this advantage isn't there (Arsenal away might be one such instance), I'm sure Ranieri will change the formation, the personnel, and/or the role of the wing backs.

[brigfox]

Nah, really dislike him as a player. He's made a career on being quick, but what else does he offer? Technically, poor ball control, terrible terrible passer, criminally one-footed. Positionally, poor defensively and offensively.  Strength? - average at best. Doesn't seem like a big personality in changing rooms either.

 

He constantly looks like the worst player on the pitch in most games. He's a Championship player who we brought up with us and have yet to bin off, but it won't be long under Claudio.

Interestingly Leicester City have been praised for their attacking this season, but it is a Foxes defender who is the best tackler in the league.

Position Team Won Tackle Appearances Mins Played

Ritchie de Laet DF Leicester 21 5 410

Jordan Amavi DF Aston Villa 19 5 450

Francis Coquelin MF Arsenal 19 5 384

Patrick van Aanholt DF Sunderland 18 5 450

Simon Francis DF Bournemouth 16 5 450

Nyom DF Watford 16 5 450

Belgian Manchester United graduate Ritchie De Laet has been the best tackler in the league this season and his form has certainly been terrific this term as Leicester continue their excellent start to the season.

Yep, this is the RDL I have been watching

[Captain...]

To be fair best tackler doesn't make a great defender he has made the most tackles a number of them because he gets exposed and has to make a last ditch tackle, or they are tackles much higher up the pitch. You generally find the best defenders don't need to make many tackles because of their positioning and ability to force the play out of the danger area without having to commit themselves.

It is still a good stat but not one that absolves him of all criticism.

[Anon]

Hi guys, first off I've been a lurker on this forum for near on 10+ years but I finally have a good reason to post!

I would really love if you all read this and think about it carefully before you respond!

First off De Leat is Good!

Ok, so in this world we have two types of defenders the ones that are I would say are steady eddies, they are 90% of the time in position, 90% of the time they don't get beat by there man BECAUSE they play safe they stand there man up/jockey and force them to pass it to the next man, thus consider there job done, which is fine if you want that from your team/players and looking to play a slow and possession style of play, now on the flip side there is another type of defender, the defender that commits himself to win the ball whole heartily (think sergio ramos)

 

Now if you all football man like myself, we all would agree that ramos is a world class defender right? Now if you watch enough of ramos he don't always win the ball and gets beat and made to look silly sometimes, but does this make him a bad defender? example ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzGHSmjTtiY ---- For a second forget the names and reputations of the players in the video, does this look like some one we know? Remember Im not comparing Ramos to De laet im just comparing styles and giving an example.

 

Back on track, defenders that commit 100% to win the ball, gain you possession of the ball and put us on the front foot right away, rather than forcing your man to pass it and waiting for the other team to make a mistake, now wonder what type of football we play? Is it with pace and counter attack winning the ball back quick then breaking? What type of defender would suit this style I wonder?

Can anyone remember the goal we got against  man utd were de laet committed 100% to win the ball that lead to our important goal? Let's not forget the game was poised at 3-3 and could of maybe gone either way, but guess what de laet did what he does and committed himself to win the ball, would a steady eddie right back do that at 3-3 after being 3-1 down to man utd? I think a steady eddie would be happy to stay in postion and not make a mistake and get beat to the ball after getting back level with man utd after being 3-1 down ------- Skip to 5.50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9PaERIW_m0

Damn if you want to watch the highlight previous to see him again in action!

 

What I'm saying, the way we play he's a good defender he try's to win the ball and get us on the front rather that passing the buck, pretty sure if he wanted he could stand a yard of his man and force his man just to pass it because shit we all know none is going to turn then beat him for pace if he don't get tight and rolled!!

Another point I would like to make is if De laet does go to win the ball and gets beat its not solely his fault, because if any of you know anything about football, a flat back is built around covering each other on the diagonal so if de laet gets beat huth comes across if huth gets beat morgan comes across if morgan gets beat the left back comes across etc etc, you gotta take the rough with the smooth!

Now if I was the manager and I wanted to play high tempo counter attacking style at pace I would sure as hell as would want fullbacks with pace that attack and want to win the ball back rather than a steady Eddie that just jockeys his man.

All comments welcome

[VLC86]

Hi guys, first off I've been a lurker on this forum for near on 10+ years but I finally have a good reason to post!

I would really love if you all read this and think about it carefully before you respond!

First off De Leat is Good!

Ok, so in this world we have two types of defenders the ones that are I would say are steady eddies, they are 90% of the time in position, 90% of the time they don't get beat by there man BECAUSE they play safe they stand there man up/jockey and force them to pass it to the next man, thus consider there job done, which is fine if you want that from your team/players and looking to play a slow and possession style of play, now on the flip side there is another type of defender, the defender that commits himself to win the ball whole heartily (think sergio ramos)

Now if you all football man like myself, we all would agree that ramos is a world class defender right? Now if you watch enough of ramos he don't always win the ball and gets beat and made to look silly sometimes, but does this make him a bad defender? example ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzGHSmjTtiY ---- For a second forget the names and reputations of the players in the video, does this look like some one we know? Remember Im not comparing Ramos to De laet im just comparing styles and giving an example.

Back on track, defenders that commit 100% to win the ball, gain you possession of the ball and put us on the front foot right away, rather than forcing your man to pass it and waiting for the other team to make a mistake, now wonder what type of football we play? Is it with pace and counter attack winning the ball back quick then breaking? What type of defender would suit this style I wonder?

Can anyone remember the goal we got against man utd were de laet committed 100% to win the ball that lead to our important goal? Let's not forget the game was poised at 3-3 and could of maybe gone either way, but guess what de laet did what he does and committed himself to win the ball, would a steady eddie right back do that at 3-3 after being 3-1 down to man utd? I think a steady eddie would be happy to stay in postion and not make a mistake and get beat to the ball after getting back level with man utd after being 3-1 down ------- Skip to 5.50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9PaERIW_m0

Damn if you want to watch the highlight previous to see him again in action!

What I'm saying, the way we play he's a good defender he try's to win the ball and get us on the front rather that passing the buck, pretty sure if he wanted he could stand a yard of his man and force his man just to pass it because shit we all know none is going to turn then beat him for pace if he don't get tight and rolled!!

Another point I would like to make is if De laet does go to win the ball and gets beat its not solely his fault, because if any of you know anything about football, a flat back is built around covering each other on the diagonal so if de laet gets beat huth comes across if huth gets beat morgan comes across if morgan gets beat the left back comes across etc etc, you gotta take the rough with the smooth!

Now if I was the manager and I wanted to play high tempo counter attacking style at pace I would sure as hell as would want fullbacks with pace that attack and want to win the ball back rather than a steady Eddie that just jockeys his man.

All comments welcome

I stopped reading when you said De Leat is good, sorry.

[Dan]

I re-iterate what I said last week. Does a lot of good things but undoes it all with moments of lunacy.

[Anon]

I re-iterate what I said last week. Does a lot of good things but undoes it all with moments of lunacy.

 

Trying to win the ball back for your team and failing now and then is lunacy??

[Father Ted]

I re-iterate what I said last week. Does a lot of good things but undoes it all with moments of lunacy.

Yesterday was a prime example. I thought he had a good game on the whole but getting turned for their first was criminal. Although, that doesn't excuse Inler who backed off the runner far too much and sat too deep, nor Morgan and Schlupp who between them didn't track Bojan nor Schmeichel who was perhaps snoozing on his line (perhaps a tad harsh though). Goals are often conceded through a string of mistakes, a string of misjudgements. Not just one horrific error. Even their second yesterday, yes Morgan was largely at fault but Huth should not have let it bounce and had such a relaxed approach once it did bounce. 

 

All I'm saying is that I'm glad we have De Laet rather than that absolute anti-footballer fraud Danny Simpson at right back but it's not always down to De Laet. Look at the players covering.

[Anon]

Yesterday was a prime example. I thought he had a good game on the whole but getting turned for their first was criminal. Although, that doesn't excuse Inler who backed off the runner far too much and sat too deep, nor Morgan and Schlupp who between them didn't track Bojan nor Schmeichel who was perhaps snoozing on his line (perhaps a tad harsh though). Goals are often conceded through a string of mistakes, a string of misjudgements. Not just one horrific error. Even their second yesterday, yes Morgan was largely at fault but Huth should not have let it bounce and had such a relaxed approach once it did bounce. 

 

All I'm saying is that I'm glad we have De Laet rather than that absolute anti-footballer fraud Danny Simpson at right back but it's not always down to De Laet. Look at the players covering.

 

Finally someone that understands, and yes getting turned yesterday was bad and lead to the goal, but like you said there should of been covering players that also failed, on the flip side he could of also came out with that ball if he junged it right and put us straight back on the attack and who knows what could of happened!

 

It's all about players fitting into the system we play, and yes he will not always win the ball and yes he will get beat but there should always be cover, hes right back no playing lastman/sweeper, but hes the type of right back we need in this system.

[Guest Col city fan]

He's ok.

But it's no coincidence that teams are targeting our right side.

I'd love to see a real top RB at our club. If we got one, we'd notice the difference I'm sure of that.

[Anon]

He's ok.

But it's no coincidence that teams are targeting our right side.

I'd love to see a real top RB at our club. If we got one, we'd notice the difference I'm sure of that.

Targeting the side were we only have one player, when there should be two yes! (mahrez)

[Guest Col city fan]

Targeting the side were we only have one player, when there should be two yes! (mahrez)

I think that's part of it, but RDL IS shaky defensively.

I think teams aren't targeting the left actually because of Schlupp. He's not easy to get past, although his positioning is sometimes suspect.

RDL is just ok. And I reiterate, I think if we signed a very good RB we'd notice the difference.

[Anon]

I think that's part of it, but RDL IS shaky defensively.

I think teams aren't targeting the left actually because of Schlupp. He's not easy to get past, although his positioning is sometimes suspect.

RDL is just ok. And I reiterate, I think if we signed a very good RB we'd notice the difference.

 

Ramos is a great right back https://www.youtube....h?v=SzGHSmjTtiY  Shit happens.....

[Guest Col city fan]

Ramos is a great right back https://www.youtube....h?v=SzGHSmjTtiY Shit happens.....

are you REALLY pulling a defender up for getting mullered by Messi and Ronaldinho?

[Anon]

are you REALLY pulling a defender up for getting mullered by Messi and Ronaldinho?

 

Ramos is a world class defender getting beat by a world class players

 

De laet is a PL defener getting beat by PL players

 

Point is they both try to win the ball and guess what, sometimes why it dont work, I guess thats why is a team game if you fail you "should" have team mates to cover......