Chilwell

[Thracian]

I don't think we're buying for the sake of it - just that I don't think we'll show belief in the kids we do sign.

Saturday was a classic example - the perfect day for Gray to build confidence, have a positive impact and feel like a hero. And what do we do? Use him for five minutes. Why? What earthly point was there in that?

 

I agree entirely that the game is about results - hence why I'd give penalties to a centre-forward or a penalty specialist.

 

From the moment we missed our penalty we started losing faith in ourselves and rarely looked likely to get a result. So why would the manager not try to make things happen and give some rein to a signing who's been specifically bought to make a difference and provide some impact?     

 

Okay there's no guarantees it would have worked. But if not Saturday then when would you show faith? Wasn't a potential win worth the risk against two points already dropped?

[Thracian]

Who would you go for as support for vardy??

 

 

It depends who's available.

 

From what I've read I might well have gone a lot harder for Austin. Maybe what he said was just an excuse but I don't think I'd have lost him over "playing time" or wages. as someone else suggested. Good goalscorers are a must for me.

 

I even mentioned Boney the other day (if he were available) because he's so hard to mark when playing well and as able to put a team-mate in on goal as he is to score himself.

 

Whatever I'd have known every potential striker option well before the window opened and earmarked a list of preferred options with the hope of landing at least one and perhaps two targets.

 

I really don't doubt we've done our groundwork but am just not sure we realise what an incredible chance we've got of actually making the Champions League this season - one that might be much more elusive in future if the big guns get themselves properly sorted again. Cos this year, they're well below their best as a group.      

[Thracian]

I disagree with that. The reason for our careless long balls is down to Ranieri's  tactics and not the personnel. Ranieri has become far more cautious within the last 6 or 7 games I would say, sitting far deeper to try and protect our poor defence. Teams have the ball against us on the half way line and we are camped on the edge of our 18-yard box. This is becoming a monotonous and negative tactic and win possession back, we are far too compact and far too deep to play out. Teams pounce on us like a rash and sometimes playing risky balls into midfield when you're so deep is just asking for trouble. Hence, the only solution is a long ball down the line for Vardy to chase. This is not Fuchs' fault. When he can, he looks to play it feet to Albrighton or inside to Drinkwater but sometimes it's just not possible.

 

Compare Fuchs to Konchesky who lumped it long at every opportunity possible and you can see the difference. The solution is to gamble a bit more and start pressing high up the pitch, harass defenders, play a higher line like we were earlier in the season rather than bottling it now.

 

 

I'd agree with that entirely. Ranieri calls the tune and conducts the orchestra. And I saw Fuchs looking for options in exactly the way you describe before running out of time and space. I don't see it as much of a gamble to defend a bit higher. It's what we used to do in the main. It's only recently we've started falling back further and turning an essentially positive approach (enabling quick breaks to be effective) into a negative approach (where the break is virtually impossible coming from so deep and without the raw pace of someone like Schlupp).       

[Thracian]

And Chilwell is going to single-handedly turn that around, because he is a better passer than Fuchs?

 

I've only seen him play once, so I can't really contradict you, but I would suggest that Fuchs is almost certainly technically better, due to his experience and his rather useful left foot.

 

 

I don't remember saying any of that but can well imagine the difficulty any youngster would have in ever getting the nod in a team of yours. It would always be tomorrow.  

 

Me, I've seen so many teams of old heads get relegated, i'd keep every option open. I actually believe half the reason Fuchs flighted long passes to nowhere was because team-mates failed to show for the short pass that would help him but whatever the reasons Ranieri should have put them right.

 

That he didn't suggested they were playing to orders and that only made it worse to me.         

[Vardinio'sCat]

I don't remember saying any of that but can well imagine the difficulty any youngster would have in ever getting the nod in a team of yours. It would always be tomorrow.  

 

Me, I've seen so many teams of old heads get relegated, i'd keep every option open. I actually believe half the reason Fuchs flighted long passes to nowhere was because team-mates failed to show for the short pass that would help him but whatever the reasons Ranieri should have put them right.

 

That he didn't suggested they were playing to orders and that only made it worse to me.         

 

From what I've seen of Fuchs, he doesn't look like a 'lump it up the park' kind of guy, and if he is doing regularly it's probably because his options are limited, which implies it's a tactical thing.

 

I also agree we are dropping deeper than before, and its not good. I'm not sure if thats CR responding to our diminishing goal threat, or a tactical response to this 'top half heavy' part of the season, or what.

 

About Chilwell, I'm glad to see him getting chances in the cup, and I approve of the current buying policy. I suppose I've got used to people slagging off players who have done magnificently to get us where we are (Albrighton, Simpson etc), but would have thought Fuchs was safe from that.

 

You clarified your view about Fuchs, in response to other posters skepticism when I got further down the thread, and that extra context helped.

[Vardinio'sCat]

Fuchs is a quality defender but when it comes to accurate foot-to-foot distribution Chilwell looks a natural.

Against Villa Fuchs too often just followed the rest of the side in lofting the ball hopefully forward - and losing possession - instead of passing it with purpose.      

 

That was the post that set me off, btw.

[narboroughblue]

It's a tricky position, we have 3/4 of our defence who aren't particularly comfortable on the ball so when those in front of them aren't confident or making space the 'lump it' tactic seems to take over. I like Huth but the amount of times he puts it out for a throw in or back to Kasper to hit up field is starting to grate on me.

If we want to develop as a side getting defenders more comfortable on the ball is a must so they can carry the ball allowing others to receive it higher up the field but to feet. Will take time to put all that in place though.

[char123]

I thought ben chilwell had a really good game tonight. Very confident on the ball and not afraid to go forward. Definately keep him

[johnny the fox]

I thought ben chilwell had a really good game tonight. Very confident on the ball and not afraid to go forward. Definately keep him

needs to put 2 stone on...that will come in time...needs to go on the lash with grealish....just joking.

[Jaspa]

They definitely looked to exploit his side in the first half, conceded too much space to attacking movements and they got a goal off him but everything else was superb offensively, defensively and looked confident. Probably prayed better in the second half.

 

Physically yeah, he has some way to grow but looks at ease in what he does and can only improve with the right application and attitude.

[Guest seanfox778]

Feels like the ball is in his court regarding his future. If he feels that he won't get first team football here next season then he'll have a lot of options. It'll be interesting to see what happens with him in the summer.

[Thracian]

needs to put 2 stone on...that will come in time...needs to go on the lash with grealish....just joking.

 

 

 

Spot on and a point I mentioned elsewhere - he'll need to toughen up. The Academies breed nice guys but you need attitude to survive in the Premiership. The lad seems focused, intelligent and capable but so lightweight in certain situations.  It showed with the goal - you don't "show" a bloke the near post and allow him a free shot however high your confidence in the goalkeeper. There are times when even the most elegant players have to scrap and that's the first thing he could learn from watching Fuchs.    

[bald reynard]

I thought ben chilwell had a really good game tonight. Very confident on the ball and not afraid to go forward. Definately keep him

 

 

They definitely looked to exploit his side in the first half, conceded too much space to attacking movements and they got a goal off him but everything else was superb offensively, defensively and looked confident. Probably prayed better in the second half.

 

Physically yeah, he has some way to grow but looks at ease in what he does and can only improve with the right application and attitude.

Agree with all that.  Man of the Match for me.  I really hope we manage to keep him - now and in the summer.

[Thracian]

Even with a point off for their first goal i rated him a 7 and arguably MoM given how much he created and tried to create notwithstanding his generally sterling efforts in defence.  It wasn't a game of great performances from any of our players but his was the most memorable - and the most positive.  

[Dan]

Blatant natural talent. Most exciting youth product of ours in years for me. I can forgive the odd defensive error at 18, he'll improve on that. 18 years old and his dribbling and crossing is quality already.

[AKCJ]

Blatant natural talent. Most exciting youth product of ours in years for me. I can forgive the odd defensive error at 18, he'll improve on that. 18 years old and his dribbling and crossing is quality already.

 

He needs to focus on bulking up. He needs to be a few yards quicker, a stone heavier and a lot stronger. But that's to be expected.

 

Could well be a future England left back (maybe even a left wing).

[Thracian]

Blatant natural talent. Most exciting youth product of ours in years for me. I can forgive the odd defensive error at 18, he'll improve on that. 18 years old and his dribbling and crossing is quality already.

 

 

 

 

His crossing looked deft, assured and accurate but he'll get better returns when he varies the kind of cross.

Too many slow floaters are relatively easy for defenders to deal with unless specifically directed to a specific player. Otherwise there needs to be a variation in pace and spin.

But, as you say, a real prospect and any criticism is mere detail. The lad looked a clever player and completely assured even after his mistake. In fact, like a few others, I thought he played better in the second half than the first - a sure sign that he can rationalise an error and put it behind him.       

[ithuriel]

The youngsters looked good, Leo looked a little static and Dyer looked like a chibbi doll on skates.

[NewquayFox]

Definitely a City star in the making, love the way he dinks his crosses in but its just a shame we had no one capable of getting on the end of them last night.....

Up the Titty.....

[lee7]

After watching him yesterday he strikes me as the type of player who with confidence could take on 2-3 players with ease.

His defending was sloppy for their first goal and he put in a few dodgy crosses (he also put in a few quality crosses might I add) but you can forgive him for the dodgy ones as he's still only 18 and hopefully can only improve.

I think we would be silly to let him go.

[Mark]

After watching him yesterday he strikes me as the type of player who with confidence could take on 2-3 players with ease.

 

 

3:30, not sure it's a definite penalty though

[Clever Fox]

A very solid and confident performance from the young man. I'm sure he'll learn from his error and improve. Things looking good for the future.

[lee7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE05cxqhRoo

3:30, not sure it's a definite penalty though

Definitely a dodgy pen!

Although that is exactly how I think he'll end up playing for us given the chance.

I know the step up from reserves/u21's/development squad is huge but I really think he has a bright future.

[Guest]

chilwell was possibly our best player of the evening. Yes he made a few mistakes but he also made some of the best plays. Gray too, but he needs to add a little muscle

[fox_favourite]

I agree with most, Chilwell looks like a real talent. Yes he made a mistake against Spurs, but he's a 19 year old defender, he's bound to make mistakes. But I think he's a quick learner and he seems to adapt quite quickly. The raw talent is there, and his liking for defending is refreshing. All he needs is a full season with the coaches to work on his game and building himself up. I also think the Fuchs will be a great asset in his development as well as he has played at a very high level and is a great player. I'm very excited by him and I hope he stays at Leicester for a long time, but doesn't fade like Moore has in recent seasons.