Stoke(a) post match 2-2

[Charl91]

I'd play Inler against West Ham and then rest him for the Arsenal game.

 

2 class finishes cost us against Villa

2 individual mistakes cost us today.

 

Great result though, Huth was class, Mahrez got snuffed out well, but that is a good point at the Brittania.  Stoke are a big strong side that can play a bit and they will win more than they lose at home.

 

Can't wait for us to get stuck into Arsenal!!

 

 

Are they?

 

Other than Shawcross, who is injured (or Crouch, who's tall, but not exactly strong and wasn't playing most of the game), who else do they have that you would say is bigger and stronger than average?

 

They're not the same type of team that they were under Pulis.

[Foxes1]

Just seen the ratings on Skysports Kante and Morgan 5, Inler 6 they must have been watching a different game to me.

[Charl91]

Just seen the ratings on Skysports Kante and Morgan 5, Inler 6 they must have been watching a different game to me.

 

 

Hahahahaha, surely not?

 

Why did they think Inler was pulled off? Because he was too good?

[narboroughblue]

Yet again another fantastic come back, frustrating it needed a comeback. Tweeted at half time that we had set up wrong again but the changes not only in bodies but mentality made the difference as we came out the blocks all guns blazing again in the second half.

Want to see the second goal again as it looked like confusion between both centre backs before Morgan scuffed his back pass. First goal was poor by RDL and then by us not tracking the run of Bojan.

Not sure we can keep getting out of jail every game but unbeaten after 6 games is a fantastic achievement.

My one biggest annoyance is with Kante. I'm nearly half the age of Ranieri and haven't been around professional footballers for the best part of half a century nor managed some of the biggest clubs in Europe but I could tell you on first viewing that Kante needs to play centre midfield. Why he persists with wasting him out wide baffles me completely. It's hard to criticise the manager after the start we have had but please please please whatever you do don't waste Kante out wide!!!

12 points and a third of the way to safety, on to the cup then a mouth watering battle v Arsenal.

PS another woeful refereeing performance today!!!

[leicesterisme]

Whatever we payed for Kante was an absolute steal.

What a player

[Nick]

Kante is quite simply a remarkable signing.

[Nick]

Oh and I don't care about the Carling Cup just the FA. Our priority has to be the league - no moaning when he makes 11 changes please.

[Thracian]

Haha - you speak for yourself - I'd like us to compete for everything and our likeliest path to European football just now is through the Cups.

 

That's not to say we can't stay near the top of the Premiership - just that it isn't likely given that we're the only side in the Premiership that habitually gives our opponents a one or two-goal start.  

 

Changes are certain against West Ham a) Because Ranieri said so and b) Because so players players need another chance to make an impact or to remind the manager that they might still have a use.     

[BigMicky]

Why has he tried to do that DiCanio style scissor? He didn't need to jump.

To meet the ball instead of waiting for it to drop. Do you play footy?

[Father Ted]

The difference between Kante and Inler in terms of endeavour, hunger, attitude and willingness is unreal, it's like when Muzzy Izzet had to play with Junior Lewis

[st albans fox]

Yet again another fantastic come back, frustrating it needed a comeback. Tweeted at half time that we had set up wrong again but the changes not only in bodies but mentality made the difference as we came out the blocks all guns blazing again in the second half.

Want to see the second goal again as it looked like confusion between both centre backs before Morgan scuffed his back pass. First goal was poor by RDL and then by us not tracking the run of Bojan.

Not sure we can keep getting out of jail every game but unbeaten after 6 games is a fantastic achievement.

My one biggest annoyance is with Kante. I'm nearly half the age of Ranieri and haven't been around professional footballers for the best part of half a century nor managed some of the biggest clubs in Europe but I could tell you on first viewing that Kante needs to play centre midfield. Why he persists with wasting him out wide baffles me completely. It's hard to criticise the manager after the start we have had but please please please whatever you do don't waste Kante out wide!!!

12 points and a third of the way to safety, on to the cup then a mouth watering battle v Arsenal.

PS another woeful refereeing performance today!!!

Re kante - agree 100%. Wonder how long before we see Fuchs at LB and Jeff pushed up on the left side midfield. Then albrighton can protect RDL on the right and Riyad floats. Seems the opposition are coming to terms with doubling up on him.

Kante + DD in the middle if rainieri persists 4-4-1-1

[egg_fried_rice]

To meet the ball instead of waiting for it to drop. Do you play footy?

 

Every week mate, at a pretty mediocre level, and rarely do I miss-time a ball that badly.

[lestajigs]

for everyone saying ranieri's subs are masterstrokes, imagine the scenes if he just decided to set us up to win from minute 0. we'd probs have a better record than man city.

Dont think it works like that though!

[Bluetintedspecs]

We actually started the game pretty well .hen went to shite! Kante was a beast when changes made and we looked much better. Enjoyable game and I hope CR realises Inler is not ready....yet! Great spirit again though COYB

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Defo would have taken a draw before game so delighted we battled back for the draw, just need to concentrate on stupid goals we are letting in. 0-0 vs Arsenal would be good result!

[Livid]

Frustrating first half where for the third game in a row we appeared not to turn up in the first half. Half of me is thinking this is a deliberate tactic to ease into the game as playing at our crazy all out pace for 90 minutes just isn't possible.

Fantastic turn around in the second half where we seemed to have wrestled control of the game. Rather than feeling nervous about us hanging on I was willing us to go on and win it.

Although having doubts over the initial team selection have total faith in CR's experience to spot the problem and remedy it. Hope he doesn't have to do it every week though.

[Thracian]

Just seen the ratings on Skysports Kante and Morgan 5, Inler 6 they must have been watching a different game to me.

 

Just seen the ratings on Skysports Kante and Morgan 5, Inler 6 they must have been watching a different game to me.

 

 

I guess they've also seen elephants fly!    

[Harry - LCFC]

Oh and I don't care about the Carling Cup just the FA. Our priority has to be the league - no moaning when he makes 11 changes please.

 

All that means is that you never want to win a cup. If you aren't willing to go all out for both of them in the position we're in you're essentially writing them off forever. Your aim is to drift along and achieve nothing.

 

Is there any justification for your statement that our priority has to be the league? What are the consequences if it isn't? Perhaps we'll finish 14th instead of 11th, how awful would that be...

[Steven]

3-4-1-2

[The Doctor]

All that means is that you never want to win a cup. If you aren't willing to go all out for both of them in the position we're in you're essentially writing them off forever. Your aim is to drift along and achieve nothing.

 

Is there any justification for your statement that our priority has to be the league? What are the consequences if it isn't? Perhaps we'll finish 14th instead of 11th, how awful would that be...

 

We're not that established that a cup run just means finishing a bit lower mid table than normal. I'd rather get to a comfortable points tally (20-25) by December and give the FA cup a real go than try to juggle two cups and the league, particularly at this point,

[bovril]

I'd love to go on a League Cup run. Those runs under O'Neill were magical, I'd happily trade a few positions in the Prem for a semi final night and a feverish atmosphere at Nu-Filbo.

[RobHawk]

It's on sky sports 2 if anyone's interested!

Watching it back without the crappy stream, and RDL did ok today. Much worse performances that his today!

[pazzerfox]

Are they?

 

Other than Shawcross, who is injured (or Crouch, who's tall, but not exactly strong and wasn't playing most of the game), who else do they have that you would say is bigger and stronger than average?

 

They're not the same type of team that they were under Pulis.

Walters, Peters is a beast and out muscled Mahrez, Whelan is strong and tenacious.  Arnautovic is very strong on the ball.

[Charl91]

Walters, Peters is a beast and out muscled Mahrez, Whelan is strong and tenacious.  Arnautovic is very strong on the ball.

 

Outmuscled Mahrez? I could do that.

 

Of course they have a few strongish players, but in comparison to most of the teams in the league, they're actually quite a weak side, physically.

 

Quite a technically proficient side though. Opposite to the stoke of old.

[Harry - LCFC]

We're not that established that a cup run just means finishing a bit lower mid table than normal. I'd rather get to a comfortable points tally (20-25) by December and give the FA cup a real go than try to juggle two cups and the league, particularly at this point,

 

The result of this kind of attitude is that we're unlikely to ever win a cup because we'll just keep kicking the can down the road crying about how we're only 'pretty safe' rather than '100% safe'. If you can't take the League Cup seriously in this position I'm not convinced you ever will.