Why do we take so long to get going?

[Merging Cultures]

So where do you think we are going wrong to be 2-0, Their goals were not fantastic, is it down to quality or concentration? or both?

Tough to say.

3 at the back worked well at the end of last year. Perhaps that means the defenders have to take more responsibility and can't shut off?

I think Morgan and Huth are quality. Undeniable quality from Fuchs. The right side still has question marks.

The midfield, especially with Kante (even if he gives the ball away), are defending well. Even Mahrez.

I do question KS and whether or defenders feel confident in him.

[ThaiFox]

First 10/15 minutes we were fantastic, then for the rest of the half we were awful. Okazaki isn't Premier league standard I'm sorry to say, Schlupp and Albrighton were poor. 2nd half with Mahrez & Dyer we were a revelation adt that team have to start next week with the exception of Ulloa for Albrighton. Could have won it but happy with the draw and loved the faces on the Southampton fans next to us...

PS.... Drinky needs shooting lessons....

Up the City... From a pub full of Saints fans ha haa...

Pretty much spot on report. Although I thought Albrighton worked really hard. Fuchs and Kante was awesome and showed real class. Vardy should have had a hat trick.

[Benji]

Someone needs to send Ranieri a Letter or something 

 

You realise that real life is not the same as football manager, don't you?  A formation change here or a player change there is no guarantee to success.  I trust CR (a man with decades of experience in the game and who spends all week with the players) much more than I trust anyone who thinks they have more tactical nous on a football forum.

 

It's all about the complete package, and at the moment that complete package has us in 5th.  That'll do me just fine.

[Frank to be]

So where do you think we are going wrong to be 2-0, Their goals were not fantastic, is it down to quality or concentration? or both?

One was clearly offside. The other we could have done better but it's really no great calamity to concede one goal away at Southampton.

[cityfanlee23]

One was clearly offside. The other we could have done better but it's really no great calamity to concede one goal away at Southampton.

 

It was offside, and sometimes that makes or breaks a game, Didn't really break ours though as the goal was coming at the time, and it put us 2-0 down, not like it was a last minute sinker, fortunately we came back!

 

You realise that real life is not the same as football manager, don't you?  A formation change here or a player change there is no guarantee to success.  I trust CR (a man with decades of experience in the game and who spends all week with the players) much more than I trust anyone who thinks they have more tactical nous on a football forum.

 

It's all about the complete package, and at the moment that complete package has us in 5th.  That'll do me just fine.

 

It was a joke?

 

I've actually said time and time again on here 3 at the back is not a long term solution. 

[davieG]

I think we were quite poor in the first half and his changes to the defence with Simpson  and Fuchs hasn't really improved us defensively especially as we've  forfeited  Mahrez. 

 

Obviously bringing on Mahrez  and Dyer made us a more potent attacking team plus they went more defensive.

 

You could argue that we should have started with the two subs but it's obvious he's trying to improve our defense, he hasn't  got it yet maybe a hit more time  the current back 4 will come good if not he'll  need to try something else or buy improvements in January. 

[adam]

I don't always criticise you fool,

I've posted tonnes of positive posts about out play, and how players are playing. Don't be a cock.

"probably playing the best football in the league" Great, glad you have an opinion, I think we are playing well, but not the best in the league..

The difference between me and you, is I am a progressive, I want to see progression no matter where we are.

You seem to think constructive criticism is not allowed because we are 5th, therefore everything is perfect and will always be that way.

Fix the roof when the sun is shining, you clearly don't understand that.

Now now don't get offensive .The roof is fine. Grab yourself a beer and enjoy the team's performance . Were flying .

[dylanlegend]

It was offside, and sometimes that makes or breaks a game, Didn't really break ours though as the goal was coming at the time, and it put us 2-0 down, not like it was a last minute sinker, fortunately we came back!

It was a joke?

I've actually said time and time again on here 3 at the back is not a long term solution.

3 at the back didn't do us too badly during our most successful period of our history

[ImBlue]

Dyer > Schlupp

Mahrez > Okazaki

Simple really. Score goals early, kill the game

[NewquayFox]

Maybe I was a bit harsh on Albrighton tbh, Kante is so strong in midfield and Fuchs & Simpson have steadied our defence, we just can't defend corners.....

Up the City.....

[Wymsey]

We initially play games as if it's a game of Chess.

 

Trying to see what the opposition do, where they are going and we eventually exploit them when they open up.

 

Edit: We seem comfortable when not being in front; a strange method, but it's clearly effective.

[desertfox2]

Imagine how good we would be with a better defense. Pretty sure Ranieri already has a few targets lined up for jan

[Tielemans63]

I don't think the problem is starting slowly, the problem is that we start really well but keep conceding when we're well on top - then we lose our way for a while and that's where we've had problems. It's happened a few times this season - today, Villa, Arsenal, Stoke where we started really well, conceded and then temporarily lost the plot.

Fantastic character though, great to see. I don't think there's a fan who wouldn't have taken 5th place at this stage. Also, the conceding maybe frustrating but it's making us probably the most entertaining side in the country right now!

[Merging Cultures]

3 at the back didn't do us too badly during our most successful period of our history

That and it probably suits our players better. Last season we went through a number of formations to settle on it.

I even wanted us to try 4-4-2 last season! But this year I feel we are being shoehorned into it.

[Stadt]

We have to absolutely go for it when we're 2-0 down, we don't play with the sane intensity at 0-0.

[ScouseFox]

it is a bit weird. we clearly went for it from the off vs sunderland and west ham & were 3-0 and 2-0 up at ht. then games like stoke, villa, today, bournemouth we were conservative and tried to be a bit more defensive, and it took us until half time to get going & the second half results in those games were 2-0, 3-1, 2-0 & 1-0. 

 

why don't we just go for it all the time? it's not even like we concede loads of goals when we press on (bar arsenal but they could score that many vs anyone at any time, ask united). we concede when we try to defend and we score when we try to attack. attack attack attack 

[fuchsntf]

I think we were quite poor in the first half and his changes to the defence with Simpson  and Fuchs hasn't really improved us defensively especially as we've  forfeited  Mahrez. 

 

Obviously bringing on Mahrez  and Dyer made us a more potent attacking team plus they went more defensive.

 

You could argue that we should have started with the two subs but it's obvious he's trying to improve our defense, he hasn't  got it yet maybe a hit more time  the current back 4 will come good if not he'll  need to try something else or buy improvements in January.

Yeh, but if he does that, we would be top , and wouldnt have exciting come-backs.Other fans will hate us.

No no, Claudio will take us there, slowly but surely, he knows too many 3-0 wins before christmas, will ruin it...

[The Guvnor]

To answer the title of the thread we must be the fittest team in the Prem and the second half brings a change of fortune because of this accompanied by tactical attacking play, This hasn't just been a trend since CR came in we have been a better second half team for a while.

[EnglishOxide]

Really?

I did not think so, and reading through the match thread there are plenty of people who thought we were playing poor at the time.

How many clear cut chances did they create, that weren't the result of a corner?

[kyleolly]

To answer the title of the thread we must be the fittest team in the Prem and the second half brings a change of fortune because of this accompanied by tactical attacking play, This hasn't just been a trend since CR came in we have been a better second half team for a while.

we have had better 1st halves against west ham, Arsenal, Norwich and Sunderland.

[MPH]

Thought we were pretty good for the first ten minutes...

[Nick]

I think our superior pace and fitness comes into play in the second halves of matches - plus we get more opportunities because our strength of pace off the bench in terms of impact players is also excellent against a tiring opposition.

[Captain...]

Really?

I did not think so, and reading through the match thread there are plenty of people who thought we were playing poor at the time.

The match day thread is full of morons and I tend to avoid it and form my own opinions, we were the away side at a very good team, we started very well made some good chances, we wrre holding our own in all areas of the pitch except defending set pieces it cost us 2 goals and not being able to deal with those corners was costly.

[Mint_Fox]

I don't think the problem is starting slowly, the problem is that we start really well but keep conceding when we're well on top - then we lose our way for a while and that's where we've had problems. It's happened a few times this season - today, Villa, Arsenal, Stoke where we started really well, conceded and then temporarily lost the plot"

Spot on

[The Guvnor]

we have had better 1st halves against west ham, Arsenal, Norwich and Sunderland.

 

Obviously I meant when the chips are down, as I suspect the poster was alluding to.