Since Simpson and Fuchs became 1st choice full backs:

[TrentFox]

Another set of stats that give more sway to the argument to pick Ulloa, too. His aerial ability in defending set-pieces is a huge bonus in addition to his attacking prowess.

[Babylon]

Another set of stats that give more sway to the argument to pick Ulloa, too. His aerial ability in defending set-pieces is a huge bonus in addition to his attacking prowess.

He was much better when being near the near post and heading anything away that came in low. We seem to have switched him to normal man marking duties and it certainly didn't seem as effective.

 

Can't remember what he did against Newcastle, but remember that from a previous one.

[Guest CityFan 06]

I've been very impressed to be fair on how well these two have adapted to playing for us. Simpson looks soild and Fuchs just looks so classy at left back - you can tell he's played in the Champions League before. I'm not doubting De Laet and Schlupp are still good players though, and they do give us some more options at the full back position if need be.

[Wortho]

Collymore was on Talksport the other night, he said that Leicester can't win the Prem because we let in too many goals.

 

He obviously doesn't understand that in fact our team/defence has improved immeasurably.

[Thracian]

Schlupp will never be as good as Fuchs. Also Fuchs is an out and out left back. Schlupp isn't.

 

I was surprised Fuchs signed for us - I thought and still think that he is a better/more important signing than Inler. The left back position was our weakest position, it needed to be improved. Fuchs was the type of player we needed. He is a massive step up in class for us.

 

 

Schlupp is a totally different kind of player to Fuchs, essentially an attacker who is excellent at providing support defensively and occupying defenders when going forward.

Given our results in the games he's played for us I really don't understand the cheap and undeserved lambasting of Schlupp, for all that he has much to improve on.

Fuchs is a time-served international full-back of the kind we've needed for years and full marks to Ranieri for welding together a back four that clips together like a mortice and tenon joint.

I've mentioned the Ulloa aspect a couple of times - including in relation to King - but also accept the argument about the pressing qualities of Shinji. I don't know that there's necessarily a right or wrong to the arguments, it's more dependent on what's needed most at the time or on the day.

But it's brilliant to be considering details of a team where the choices are all fairly good ones instead of desperately trying to remedy glaring faults in a team when we know we've no-one good enough on the books to provide real answers.     

[Gerard]

Collymore was on Talksport the other night, he said that Leicester can't win the Prem because we let in too many goals.

 

He obviously doesn't understand that in fact our team/defence has improved immeasurably.

 

Well he's right in the sense that teams that concede 1.5 goals per game on average just don't win titles.

 

The stat that we haven't conceded in open play for six games and it coinciding with Simpson and Fuchs starting indicates we might be bringing that average down to maybe under one goal per game? Conceding from four corner in six games is a lot and far too much but if we can sort that problem out we just might be genuine title contenders come the end of the year?

 

Liverpool beating Man City last Saturday was the first green shoot for my hopes of doing it. I can't completely rule it out at this point. 

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Does letting in goals matter that much, if you score more?

 

Not saying we're going to win the league, but how many times has the PL title been settled on goal difference?

[AKCJ]

Does letting in goals matter that much, if you score more?

 

Not saying we're going to win the league, but how many times has the PL title been settled on goal difference?

 

Agueroooooo

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Yeah I remember that one, but surely there can only be another 2 or 3 instances in the last 20 years?

[Gerard]

Does letting in goals matter that much, if you score more?

 

Not saying we're going to win the league, but how many times has the PL title been settled on goal difference?

 

It's not so much about goal difference.

 

If you concede 1.5 goals per game on average then you probably have to average three goals a game to have a chance of winning enough games to win a title.

 

If we concede 1 goal on average at home and two away we have to score three goals away to win and we aren't going to do that too often.

[fuchsntf]

I wanted to dig this out again..

We are now seeing, not only the stability of the CBs, and Fuchs showing his european experience, becoming a city favourite.

There is that Right Back, who for me, since christmas is really making the role his own.

Today Simpson had imo, another top game.He of late not only today, pushes forward more ,

gets involved in higher midfield play, more importantly his becoming the 4th 1st team solid defender.

Simpsons defending today, his positioning, and interceptions along the backline were damn good.

The back 4 in this most spoken about Febuary, are going to have their work cut out for them.

Against 3 teams who have all round pace, and attack , and not unlike City with 5-6 players.

Claudio has prepared them well, now we will see if we can hold, but also move out confidently.

[dan_fox]

Simpson was quality today again, his positional sense and heading ability make him a great defender imo. He reads the game well and is always behind Huth and Morgan to cut out the danger.

[LegendOfJoe]

Cant praise him highly enough for the work that he does - he does the basics well and that is hard to come across sometimes. Im not bothered if he doesn't wrap around mahrez a lot if he does the defensive work well and two headers today amongst other things proved that he's a very solid RB and a shrewd bit of business by NP last year.

 

I thought he was reasonably solid last year when he got a run of games together as well.

[TJB-fox]

It's bizarre isnt it the situation our back 4 ,and you can chuck schmeichel in if you want too, finds itself in. On paper the back 4 looks relatively poor, probably mid to low prem standard, some would even say championship standard (Fuchs aside probably). But, we seem so organised and all of them are so desperate to keep a clean sheet and win its evident to see. Simpson and Morgan especially have played out of their skin this year, with both players really told they weren't good enough time and time again. Our defence has come on leaps and bounds.

[fuchsntf]

It's bizarre isnt it the situation our back 4 ,and you can chuck schmeichel in if you want too, finds itself in. On paper the back 4 looks relatively poor, probably mid to low prem standard, some would even say championship standard (Fuchs aside probably). But, we seem so organised and all of them are so desperate to keep a clean sheet and win its evident to see. Simpson and Morgan especially have played out of their skin this year, with both players really told they weren't good enough time and time again. Our defence has come on leaps and bounds.

ERR.The negatives came from within this forum, not, I repeat not from within the club.So I doubt that some of the dosos

on here would tell them,personally they aren't good enough.

AND TBF, there were others, and many who have rated their performances.

[Gerard]

Well he's right in the sense that teams that concede 1.5 goals per game on average just don't win titles.

 

The stat that we haven't conceded in open play for six games and it coinciding with Simpson and Fuchs starting indicates we might be bringing that average down to maybe under one goal per game? Conceding from four corner in six games is a lot and far too much but if we can sort that problem out we just might be genuine title contenders come the end of the year?

 

Liverpool beating Man City last Saturday was the first green shoot for my hopes of doing it. I can't completely rule it out at this point. 

 

We've conceded 12 goals in 16 games since Simpson & Fuchs became our full backs. That's 28.5 goals in a season on average and you have to go back to 2008/09 since a team won the league conceding less goals than that, just saying like. 

 

The handsome bastard who wrote the above post is obviously incredibly clever and knows what he's talking about. 

[Charl91]

 

 

 

People were slating Simpson last season (don't get me wrong, I'm not defending him, as he was pretty poor too), and wondering why we weren't playing De Laet, but let's remember that when Simpson came in, he looked so much stronger than De Laet did.

 

 

 

I got slated by some for saying Simpson looked stronger than De Laet at the end of last season. He always has been much more solid defensively, and has improved a lot since last season.

[Grewks]

Simpson is a better 'defender' than fuchs.

 

 

Gives away less cheap free kicks and rarely gets skinned, pretty impressive considering mahrez's defensive capabilitites are so often lacking and inconsistent.

[Tielemans63]

Amartey can play RB can't he? Maybe that was a bit of extra motivation for Simpson? Either way I thought he was superb yesterday, he defended brilliantly and is a much better option than RDL in that formation.

[EnglishOxide]

Hodgson needs to seriously consider who his first choice right back is. Simpson seems far more defensively sound than Clyne.

[Webbo]

Hodgson needs to seriously consider who his first choice right back is. Simpson seems far more defensively sound than Clyne.

Ffs, is there an English qualified player in our squad that shouldn't be playing for England?

[Guest Col city fan]

Yet again, I thought Simpson was exemplary yesterday. Especially in the first half.

And Fuchs is just class..solid, dependable, good with the ball, good off the ball. I think some were suggesting Chilwell was very near the first team after his performance against Spurs.

He's not in the same league as Fuchs...He might be at some point, but not now.

Simpson, for me, is the most improved player this season. He looks completely different to last season.

[EnglishOxide]

Ffs, is there an English qualified player in our squad that shouldn't be playing for England?

Would you prefer Phil Jones in contention?

[Dr The Singh]

Hodgson needs to seriously consider who his first choice right back is. Simpson seems far more defensively sound than Clyne.

Simpson has been solid defensively, but offers very little going forward, whereas fuchs is the complete fullback. For Simpson to be even considered he will have to massively have to improve that part of his game on par with the limes of clyne. Phil Jones however can play multiple positions which is helpful to England

[Guest CityFan 06]

Pretty much agreeing with what others have said but I thought Simpson was excellent once again yesterday. Made one key header in particular which could of saved us from conceding, and his overall performance was steady and solid. Fuchs is quality, you can tell he's played Champions League football before. He supports attacks and is calm in his defensive work. He continues to prove what a great signing he is.