The Weakest Link?

[ImBlue]

Based on minutes played Okazaki would be on track to get ten goals over a full season, which isn't terrible for his first season in a new country in a new team in which he is playing in a new more withdrawn role.

It's harsh to call anyone a weak link really, but if we're talking about the 'least good' players then Ulloa stands out. As good as he was last season he is having an absolute stinker this year.

Just outside of the first team players like King, Inler and Schlupp have looked a very noticeable level below.

Simpson has looked rock solid. He's a totally different player in a quietly revolutionised defence and all credit to Ranieri for that.

1. Id put my life on him not making double figures.

2. Ulloa hasn't really had the run of games he had last season or Okazaki has had this season. On the back of scoring and winning 3-0 against Newcastle, dropped for man Utd, win against west Brom, dropped for Watford, starting in 2 good wins against Chelsea and Swansea, dropped for Everton, Liverpool and Man city. Then we chuck him in against Bournemouth and expect goals.

3. Totally agreed, a good window moving us on would be making the likes of King, Simpson and Inler expendable players.

[MooseBreath]

1. Id put my life on him not making double figures.

2. Ulloa hasn't really had the run of games he had last season or Okazaki has had this season. On the back of scoring and winning 3-0 against Newcastle, dropped for man Utd, win against west Brom, dropped for Watford, starting in 2 good wins against Chelsea and Swansea, dropped for Everton, Liverpool and Man city. Then we chuck him in against Bournemouth and expect goals.

3. Totally agreed, a good window moving us on would be making the likes of King, Simpson and Inler expendable players.

Well the stats are against you. Shinji has scored enough goals per minute for him to bag double figures were he to play every minute of the campaign. That's not a bad return in the premier league, especially not for someone new to the club, league, country and position.

Ulloa has had plenty of games. There's no reason why he shouldn't be fully match fit and sharp. I don't buy this excuse about strikers not scoring because they were on the bench last week. Maybe some strikers might benefit from knowing they'll be picked week in week out but to get to that stage you need to take your opportunities and Ulloa hasn't done that this season. If he can't score this week because he was on the bench last week then that's nothing more than his own psychological weakness, and a debilitating one at that

[Sampson]

Ulloa had a good season last time out as the main striker but he's not a target man/support striker and he's never going to oust Vardy as the main striker now.

Just suffering from playing out of position. I still love him but I'm not sure he fits into this side anymore.

[ImBlue]

Well the stats are against you. Shinji has scored enough goals per minute for him to bag double figures were he to play every minute of the campaign. That's not a bad return in the premier league, especially not for someone new to the club, league, country and position.

Ulloa has had plenty of games. There's no reason why he shouldn't be fully match fit and sharp. I don't buy this excuse about strikers not scoring because they were on the bench last week. Maybe some strikers might benefit from knowing they'll be picked week in week out but to get to that stage you need to take your opportunities and Ulloa hasn't done that this season. If he can't score this week because he was on the bench last week then that's nothing more than his own psychological weakness, and a debilitating one at that

Do you watch us? Seriously.

He isn't capable of playing every minute of every game, as he is often gassed by half time. He is hooked as he becomes totally ineffective, so regardless of the maths you can do, I can tell you had he played every minute, his tally wouldn't be much higher, if higher at all.

It's almost as stupid as bringing someone on for 20 minutes, him scoring and saying on his ratio he would get 5 a game. It's true, but totally irrelevant and idiotic. You're smarter than that ffs.

And if you don't think strikers play better with a run of games and it doesn't affect them to be getting a start every three weeks then that's your opinion, I think you're wrong, but I respect it.

Ulloa has had 5 starts and 542 minutes

Okazaki has had 11 starts and 900 minutes

[Staffs Fox]

Simpson is doing a decent job but when you compare him with Fuchs, the gulf in quality is clear to see and that is the quality we should be aiming to have all over the pitch.

 

Also a 2nd striker that scores is vital. Ulloa is a big man who rarely wins the ball, Kramaric is in Morrison's most Saturday afternoons and after a promising start I'm not sure what Okazaki brings to the team.

[MooseBreath]

Do you watch us? Seriously.

He isn't capable of playing every minute of every game, as he is often gassed by half time. He is hooked as he becomes totally ineffective, so regardless of the maths you can do, I can tell you had he played every minute, his tally wouldn't be much higher, if higher at all.

It's almost as stupid as bringing someone on for 20 minutes, him scoring and saying on his ratio he would get 5 a game. It's true, but totally irrelevant and idiotic. You're smarter than that ffs.

And if you don't think strikers play better with a run of games and it doesn't affect them to be getting a start every three weeks then that's your opinion, I think you're wrong, but I respect it.

Ulloa has had 5 starts and 542 minutes

Okazaki has had 11 starts and 900 minutes

Okazaki hasn't been pulled off at half time since Southampton nearly three months and 15 games ago. Keep up.

He's perfectly capable of finishing the 90. He doesn't wane any more than anyone else.

The stats say if he played every minute he'd get 11.5 goals. Ulloa, has similar fitness levels, would be on track for 6. Hence Okazaki is twice the goalscorer from a midfield role in a new team in a new country. Imagine how good he'll be when he's settled and playing up front!

[kingcarr21]

Okazaki hasn't been pulled off at half time since Southampton nearly three months and 15 games ago. Keep up.

He's perfectly capable of finishing the 90. He doesn't wane any more than anyone else.

The stats say if he played every minute he'd get 11.5 goals. Ulloa, has similar fitness levels, would be on track for 6. Hence Okazaki is twice the goalscorer from a midfield role in a new team in a new country. Imagine how good he'll be when he's settled and playing up front!

Somebody loves his stats

[whoareyaaa]

How anyone can say Simpson is beyond me he is having a great season, ok he doesn't offer much going forward but at least he is solid in defense a different player to last season, I wouldn't be replacing him anytime soon look for competion in the summer by all means.

[okie fox]

Weakest link for me is Ulloa (too slow and clumsy) / Okazaki (too lightweight).  Simpson has improved a lot although he sometimes gives the winger too much room.  But perhaps he has been asked to play narrow to provide cover for the centre backs.  We badly need a mobile striker who can support Vardy and fill in for him when he is injured.  

[ImBlue]

If we're talking our usual starting XI, it's obvious, Okazaki and Simpson.

Simpson - scared to tackle, weak 1 vs 1, and not much of an attacking outlet although positional sense is decent.

Okazaki - puts in a shift all the time, but clear lack of quality, pace and strength.

[Thracian]

He's had a couple of poor games recently and we all know how short sighted people are and can't look past the past couple of games.

He's one of the top assisters and chance creators in the league. Also the top chance creator in our side this season, even over Mahrez.

Add to that his endless defensive work rate and pressing and honestly, he's our most underrated player by far. Just doesn't get the credit he deserves because he's not flashy and crossing is one of the hardest things to do well in football and people seem to expect it to hit every time.

Even though he didn't have the best of games against Bournemouth, he'd still ran the most miles before coming off - even over Kante and also played one beautiful through ball which would have sent Vardy one-on-one had Vardy not screwed up his first touch and had to go back on himself.

It's not as easy as just brining in a "faster, trickier winger", it means also having to find one with his work rate, energy, concentration, defensive positioning and pressing ability, especially when our side our side is built round its work rate, pressing and concentration and he's one of our best players in that regard alongside Vardy and Kante.

 

Mahrez won't make many with only Vardy as an in-the-box option now but, you're right in that our team's now built around workrate rather than pace on the counter attack. It's partly why our goals tally's gone down for the last three games (or a couple + 1 if you prefer).

 

I'd not consider Albrighton a weak link if we had any aerial attackers but we don't. I know Ulloa gets picked sometimes and know also that he can be an excellent header of the ball.

 

But for me he ploughs a lone furrow now in that respect and all the crosses even the combined efforts of Albrighton and Fuchs can muster (a considerable number against Bournemouth) didn't produce the excitement of a potential goal save for one glaring miss by Morgan       

   

So why, I ask, do we keep wasting our moves with aerial crosses when there's no-one showing the slightest signs of scoring? I've thought it before this season as well - and not just in the last few matches?

 

For me we need people to get behind defenders and defences like we used to and on both sides of the pitch. But right now we've no-one to do that on the left. Hence what I perceive as a weakness.

[Monsell1976]

We don't have the best players, and all have their limitation, but the way we have started, you could say we have no weak links, because collectively as a team we have been strong enough to be top two for a while.

The team have played out of their skins, it's just a matter of if they cannot keep the results up.

[Charl91]

When you go through our regular first team 11 / 12,  imo we don't have a WEAK link, but who do you think is our weakest link?

 

I am naming 12 players because Ranieri regularly changes Ulloa for Shinji.  Please give each player a rating out of 10.

 

My ratings are as follows.

 

Schimeichel         7.5

 

Simpson              7.5

 

Huth                    8.0

 

Morgan               8.0

 

Fuchs                 8.5

 

Mahrez               9.0

 

Drinkwater          8.0

 

Kante                  8.5

 

Albrighton           7.5

 

Ulloa                   7.0

 

Vardy                  9.5

 

Okazaki              7.0

 

 

Therefore my weakest link(s) are Ulloa & Okazaki & imo this is the part of the team that needs strengthening in the January window.

 

I agree almost entirely with these ratings. Only one I would say who should he higher is Kante - would probably also give him a 9.

[Chester Dontlie]

@@ImBlue, please stop that Shinji hate mate! He probably pisses you off because he's smiling all the time, even when he's fouled. I understand that looks a bit weird but says a lot about his positive attitude. He just doesn't give up (and that's why I value him over Ulloa atm, given their current season form). He's one of the hardest working players in the team. How not to value the lad? The thing both he and Leo lack most, imo, is confidence. I reckon it must be very difficult to build that, when the only forward player making regular first team appearances this season was this record-breaking, standard-setting sensation Jamie Vardy turned out to be. The sooner they can get out of Vardy's looming shadow, the better.

[Charl91]

@@ImBlue, please stop that Shinji hate mate! He probably pisses you off because he's smiling all the time, even when he's fouled. I understand that looks a bit weird but says a lot about his positive attitude. He just doesn't give up (and that's why I value him over Ulloa atm, given their current season form). He's one of the hardest working players in the team. How not to value the lad? The thing both he and Leo lack most, imo, is confidence. I reckon it must be very difficult to build that, when the only forward player making regular first team appearances this season was this record-breaking, standard-setting sensation Jamie Vardy turned out to be. The sooner they can get out of Vardy's looming shadow, the better.

 

 

He has been a bit better than Ulloa, and he does work hard, but he just gets pushed off the ball far too easily, and his passing/first touch, etc. isn't as good as I first thought it was (I remember in his 1st/2nd game, I thought it was brilliant!).

[ealingfox]

Simpson and Schmeichel are our weak links. Need upgrades in both positions if we are to further improve.

[NewEnglandFox]

Right back

 

It's the position we know we can upgrade for the least amount of money. £5m would buy us a much better right back even though I wouldn't be surprised if our next RB costs much more. As much as most of you would like a better second striker, how are we going to find a better replacement for £5m? Ulloa and Okazaki both cost more than that. RB is also a position that can be upgraded without worrying how it effects the ethos of the team.

 

Why there are so many posts in this thread without anyone mentioning the cost of replacing them is beyond me. That's exactly how we'd replace these weak links, by buying a new guy.

[stingray]

1 Simpson - bog standard RB. Not PL player.

2 Ulloa - been poor this season, awful first touch, too slow

3 Shinji - willing but limited at PL level. bit lightweight and ineffective.

 

Keep Kasper, who I rate highly.  

[Shinji-San]

@@ImBlue, please stop that Shinji hate mate! He probably pisses you off because he's smiling all the time, even when he's fouled. I understand that looks a bit weird but says a lot about his positive attitude. He just doesn't give up (and that's why I value him over Ulloa atm, given their current season form). He's one of the hardest working players in the team. How not to value the lad? The thing both he and Leo lack most, imo, is confidence. I reckon it must be very difficult to build that, when the only forward player making regular first team appearances this season was this record-breaking, standard-setting sensation Jamie Vardy turned out to be. The sooner they can get out of Vardy's looming shadow, the better.

Well said 

[americanfox]

When you go through our regular first team 11 / 12, imo we don't have a WEAK link, but who do you think is our weakest link?

I am naming 12 players because Ranieri regularly changes Ulloa for Shinji. Please give each player a rating out of 10.

My ratings are as follows.

Schimeichel 7.5

Simpson 7.5

Huth 8.0

Morgan 8.0

Fuchs 8.5

Mahrez 9.0

Drinkwater 8.0

Kante 8.5

Albrighton 7.5

Ulloa 7.0

Vardy 9.5

Okazaki 7.0

Therefore my weakest link(s) are Ulloa & Okazaki & imo this is the part of the team that needs strengthening in the January window.

My, you're kind. Some inflated match ratings there -- has Huth actually been that great, and Ulloa/Okazaki good (referring to 7 as a good performance).

Kasper 7

Simpson 6.5-7.0

Huth 7

Morgan 7.5-8.0

Fuchs 7.5-8.0

Mahrez 8.5

Drinky 7.5-8.0

Kante 8.5

Albrighton 7.5

Ulloa 6.0

Shinji 6.0

Vardy 8.5

[Oxfordfox83]

1 Simpson - bog standard RB. Not PL player.

Err, he is though, isn't he? He's in fact the first choice RB for the team second in the league. He's improved shed loads since last season, and while it certainly wouldn't hurt to see if we can do better (as with everyone), "he's not as good as Fuchs, so he's not good enough for the league" is a ridiculous point of view.

Almost as daft as judging Shinji after 6 months playing out of position in a new country.

[ImBlue]

Err, he is though, isn't he? He's in fact the first choice RB for the team second in the league. He's improved shed loads since last season, and while it certainly wouldn't hurt to see if we can do better (as with everyone), "he's not as good as Fuchs, so he's not good enough for the league" is a ridiculous point of view.

Almost as daft as judging Shinji after 6 months playing out of position in a new country.

Playing out of position

[Oxfordfox83]

Mahrez won't make many with only Vardy as an in-the-box option now but, you're right in that our team's now built around workrate rather than pace on the counter attack. It's partly why our goals tally's gone down for the last three games (or a couple + 1 if you prefer). I'd love to know how you think our team has become slower over the last three games. Albrighton is quick, clever, hardworking and has plenty of assists. Also, when he's not in the thick of creating chances, he's still having an impact on the game. One of our most important players.

I'd not consider Albrighton a weak link if we had any aerial attackers but we don't. I know Ulloa gets picked sometimes and know also that he can be an excellent header of the ball.

But for me he ploughs a lone furrow now in that respect and all the crosses even the combined efforts of Albrighton and Fuchs can muster (a considerable number against Bournemouth) didn't produce the excitement of a potential goal save for one glaring miss by Morgan Only produced one sitter in a 0-0 draw? Definitely the kind of performance so bad we should be using it to judge an entire season on.

So why, I ask, do we keep wasting our moves with aerial crosses when there's no-one showing the slightest signs of scoring? I've thought it before this season as well - and not just in the last few matches?

For me we need people to get behind defenders and defences like we used to and on both sides of the pitch. But right now we've no-one to do that on the left. Hence what I perceive as a weakness. Like we used to? When exactly? Do you mean before we brought Albrighton in and were bottom of the league? Or when Marshall and Knocky where tearing down the wings? When Weller was playing? Certainly hasn't been a successful tactic in my lifetime.

I know you rate Schlupp. I rate Schlupp. But this whole post is a bizarre collection of observations which boil down to "I don't like crossing, so I don't like Albrighton." Well he's done plenty that isn't crossing this season, and provides a totally different approach to Mahrez. He's had the very occasional quiet game (Bournemouth wasn't his finest, but he still created chances in a game that had very few). Overall he's been one of the main reasons we've done so well, and it's surprising you can't see that...

[Oxfordfox83]

Playing out of position

How good did Vardy look playing as a foil to Ulloa? So good that this forum would have driven him to West Brom for 5m last January. Shinji is like for like with Vardy, and has so far been played out of position.

[ImBlue]

How good did Vardy look playing as a foil to Ulloa? So good that this forum would have driven him to West Brom for 5m last January. Shinji is like for like with Vardy, and has so far been played out of position.

Vardy was being deployed wide a lot in a front 3 and we always had Vardy on the shoulder of the last defender when he was up top, just often sent aimless balls over.

Vardy's main strength is his pace, breaking the line and forcing mistakes, Shinji isn't fast enough nor strong enough to do that. Even when played in the wrong position you knew what vardy's strengths were. Shinji played up top against Hull and what happened? Probably the worst performance I've seen from him, I don't think I seen a defence have an easier time all season, nevermind that it was a second string championship defence.

The fact Shinji is even being mentioned in the same breath as Vardy is insulting to Vardy