Kitchandro Posted 20 January 2016 Posted 20 January 2016 If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We haven’t changed our style – teams are just a lot more wary of us than they were earlier in the season. Up until recently teams have seriously under-estimated us, which has really worked to our advantage. Look at Chelsea playing a 35 year old Central defender against Vardy’s pace. Look at the space Swansea, West Brom and Villa (home) gave to Mahrez. Look at Stoke subbing off Bojan and Arnautovic, thinking that they could give their stars a rest with the game won at 2-0. But this was never going to last forever. Mahrez now has two men on him most of the game, and defenders are so scared of Vardy they just won’t give him any space behind them, and teams are playing at 100% for the whole of the game, knowing that we never know when we’re beaten. This was always going to happen. Changing our style isn’t going to change an opponent’s attitude towards us now. We are ‘a team to beat’. Everybody will now be on their ‘A game’ when we roll into town. The fans just need to be realistic, and give the team their full support rather than expecting us to continue to win almost every game. Anybody who saw Man City demolish C Palace on Saturday will realise that the only way we will finish above them is if they self-destruct. We have Mahrez, but in Da Silva, De Bryne and Augero they have THREE versions of Mahrez. If Man City want it, they will walk the League. Our real rivals are West ham, Palace etc. West ham lost at Newcastle, and Palace lost at Villa. So drawing against a great Bournemouth side and away at a resurgent Villa aren’t bad results. If we can regain some form then I think 3rd place is very ambitious, but achievable. HOWEVER… 5th or 6th is realistic, and we all should remember this. No I think your post is just very negative and lacks ambition. When we beat Spurs we were 9 points clear of 5th. The top 4 has been an extremely realistic aim for several weeks now. Frankly, I'd be gutted if we finished 5th because I know this team is capable of better. That's not me being biased, look at the bookies odds and all the pundits. They think we should finish in the top 4. The players need to think like that, because if they think like you they won't fulfil their potential. We have changed our style somewhat - in terms of we're playing deeper and deciding to play more long balls. That's not really up for debate, it's blatantly obvious.
ThaiFox Posted 20 January 2016 Posted 20 January 2016 I've mentioned this in another thread, but I found it significant that Ranieri, after the Liverpool game, stated the players could not keep up the pace that we'd been playing at. This statement could have been for a number of reasons. We could really be knackered, we could be playing mind games to make other teams think we are tired, it could be an excuse for Ranieri to keep the heat off him fearing a drop in form, or a change in his tactics. There is no question our playing style has changed. This could be because of the reasons above, or it could be some players have lost some hunger now we are safe, they are believing they are better than they are, they are slightly injured, the transfer window has turned their heads and their focus. Many players are having patchy spells at the moment. Even the brilliant Kante and Fuchs had poor matches against Villa. Huth is up and down, Mahrez seems disinterested because things are not happening for him, or he's hoping a huge club will come for him, I'm sure Vardy needs a break as he only looks 65% fit, Albrighton is working his socks off, but not much is coming off for him. That is over half the team and we have no hope competing at the top when we are not firing on all cylinders. The players who do seem to be performing to previous standards are Kasper, Simpson, Morgan, Drinkwater, and Okazaki really seem to have stepped up. Ranieri is now coming into a difficult part of his first season. Does he stick with the tried and tested? Or does he start changing the team and playing some fringe players to give our usual starters a rest, or a kick up the ass? I bet tonight against Tottingham we play mostly fringe players, and I bet we look as sharp tonight as we did at their place in the cup 10 days ago. We have not played that well in the league in the past 6 or so weeks. Teams were scared stiff of our pace. I don't think we've had to change because other teams have worked us out, because pace always frightens. We have changed to concede less goals, and because of minor injuries, tiredness, loss of forms, inconsistent performances, and maybe Ranieri's tactics.
Fox Ulike Posted 20 January 2016 Posted 20 January 2016 No I think your post is just very negative and lacks ambition. When we beat Spurs we were 9 points clear of 5th. The top 4 has been an extremely realistic aim for several weeks now. Frankly, I'd be gutted if we finished 5th because I know this team is capable of better. That's not me being biased, look at the bookies odds and all the pundits. They think we should finish in the top 4. The players need to think like that, because if they think like you they won't fulfil their potential. We have changed our style somewhat - in terms of we're playing deeper and deciding to play more long balls. That's not really up for debate, it's blatantly obvious. Well I think being gutted about finishing fifth is incredibly negative. It also indicates a lack of awareness about the capabilities of the other sides in this league. Would you really be gutted if only Man City, Arsenal, Spurs and Man United finished above us? You’re a dreamer. I doubt we have suddenly ‘decided to play more long balls’. It’s probably because opposition sides are now focusing on closing out Mahrez and Vardy which means we are being forced to rely more heavily on the long ball. This seems a lot more likely than Ranieri suddenly decided to change successful tactics. Don’t you think?? Either way, if it’s not up for debate, then you probably shouldn’t post your ‘blatantly obvious’ view on an Internet forum!
dibbdroid Posted 20 January 2016 Posted 20 January 2016 Well I think being gutted about finishing fifth is incredibly negative. It also indicates a lack of awareness about the capabilities of the other sides in this league. Would you really be gutted if only Man City, Arsenal, Spurs and Man United finished above us? You’re a dreamer. I doubt we have suddenly ‘decided to play more long balls’. It’s probably because opposition sides are now focusing on closing out Mahrez and Vardy which means we are being forced to rely more heavily on the long ball. This seems a lot more likely than Ranieri suddenly decided to change successful tactics. Don’t you think?? Either way, if it’s not up for debate, then you probably shouldn’t post your ‘blatantly obvious’ view on an Internet forum! This We should never forget the other teams are allowed to be involved in the game
dorsetboy Posted 20 January 2016 Author Posted 20 January 2016 And tonight first half is proving the point it's like watching us at the start of last season
st albans fox Posted 20 January 2016 Posted 20 January 2016 Just watching shinji come on and wondered what happens if he goes over on his ankle. Guess we'll see a lot of 4-5-1
Arriba Los Zorros Posted 20 January 2016 Posted 20 January 2016 We start passing it and attack and look so much better!
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