Guest Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Which of the two do you think will be more crucial the remainder of the season? Of course we're phenomenal going forward with pace and being clinical in our goal scoring attempts, but these last couple of months we've really tightened things up in the back. In worst case scenario (vardy or mahrez injury) I get the feeling we could still hold out for a nil-nil draw in just about any match. Speculating on Amartey's potential at RB, I'd say we're well above 'adequate' in every area, enough so that if one side of the pitch is having an off day, the boys on the other end will more than make up for it.
MPH Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 It's really hard to choose. We have conceded1 in 6 now? I think in the league.. Our defense has improved no end this season... But they say that the best form of defense is attack and there is some truth in it... We are so dangerous on the break that people are too scared to commit so many men into the attack which makes it easier for our defense so I'm going to say attack not just for the goals scored but because of how it helps our defense too.
DJ Barry Hammond Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 This question has strange comparisons to last season... let me explain; We started off on fire, with the highlight being that crazy win over United, but my concern during that period was we couldn't keep a clean sheet for toffee and felt a dip in form was inevitable because of that. We then let that two goal lead slip against Burnley before an international break, it knocks the stuffing out of everyone at the club and we go on that horrible 8 game losing streak. Things then began to change for us when we got our first clean sheet - we'd tinkered enough to figure out how to defend, which then allowed us to attack with more confidence - and the great escape happened. So, start of this season, we again look a bit shite at the back (being 2-0 down against Villa at home?!?) but our sheer belief and attacking skill won us more games than we probably should of and puts us in this unbelievable lofty position... but CR has no doubt been working on the defensive side throughout the season (hence the pizza reward) and I expect it's clicked in the players brains that for any team to be successful (i.e. Win things) they need to be tight at the back. And so over the past couple of months, it is probably our defensive play that has been as impressive as our attacking - and a bloody good job too, because games are easier to win when you only need to score once / twice. Hopefully this hasn't put the kibosh on things ahead of the biggest two tests of our defensive capabilities yet... And if we got two clean sheets out of them, I think the Don should comendeer the owners plane and fly the whole squad to the South of Italy to sample a real authentic italian pizza pie! So in short to answer your question - I think defence
Guest Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 A poll would have been nice. Top of the league and people still find something to complain about
Guest Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Incidentally, if one of the mods can add a poll that would be brilliant...
Sionnach gorm Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Ranieri has always been defensive minded (perhaps because he was a defender as a player). Leicester would be a mid-high table team by now, if it wasn't for the massive improvement in its defense in the last half dozen games. I suppose, though, having an Italian manager with a poor defense is unlikely... Never mind...
Grewks Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 I think our approach to the games is key...Because at some point, if we continue getting results we no longer can play the "No pressure, we are just enjoying it" card. 2 Defeats in our next 2 will only leave us a maximum of 3 points off the top....As well as spurs still having to play arsenal, man united, man city, chelsea etc.
Bagworthblue Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 A clean sheet assures a draw. A goal is needed to win a game
Guest CityFan 06 Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Good post, interesting. We seem to have found exactly the right balance between an organised defence and a quality, fast, attack which has ultimately lead to our wonderful success.
Thracian Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Can't really separate one from the other. If we don't attack and don't score we'll win nothing and if we don't stay organised and focused when defending, good Premiership attackers will take advantage. What concerns me is the balance. I don't rule out Ranieri manipulating our approach to suit particular opponents but it seems we have a fundamental style now that allows us to marry the requirements of both defending and attacking quite naturally and effectively. Contain and destroy sums it up. But it's a fine balance. The problems arise when we've insufficient pace in the team to effect the "destroy" bit properly. Or when we fall back too far and too readily, particularly away from home, and give our strike force to much ground to cover in seeking to score on their counter-attacks. Villa away illustrated it clearly. The game should have been settled at 2-0 through the penalty we missed but Villacouldn't believe their luck and we lost so much belief in ourselves we conceded far more space than they were entitled too and virtually disappeared as an attacking force. The temptation to do that will become greater as we get nearer the finishing line yet we really shouldn't change our so-far successful philosophy which is to smother opposition attacks, hunt down and dispossess at the instance of any opposition error, and counter attack with pace, directness and ruthlessness. . There should be no compromise on this. "Settling" for draws makes no sense. It's winning games that will keep and increase pressure on the chasing pack. And we should never allow opponents the luxury of thinking we've abandoned attacking for the day. We should continue trying to score goals at every opportunity. It's what's got us where we are, and the best way to keep us there. We can't allow opponents the luxury of reinforcing their own attacks with additional midfielders or defenders because we've abandoned ambition. Games have to be won not surrendered on the altar of the fear that our declared philosophy so mocks. Let's win this title, not try to beg it.
STUHILL Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 I've always thought we have had an excellent attack and forward thinking players, but the defence has astonished me this year. They are immense and everyone works so hard. It is incredible to think how well that back four have played all season. Long may it continue and I think as long as we keep Vardy, Mahrez and Okazaki fit, we will always be pushing up, pressing and looking to attack. They don't seem to play any other way! Claudio has often said, if we try to play a different way, then we are not so good, so I strongly believe, even with injuries, we will look to attack every game.
Kitchandro Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Interesting question. When we weren't scoring many goals, as in boxing day until last Saturday when we beat Stoke, we only picked up 6 points out of 15. That was our worst run of the season. But cast minds back to the first 3rd of the season, we were leaking goals all over the place, yet were still winning games. You mention 0-0 draws, but 0-0 draws only get you 1 point. That will not win us the title. To win the title you need to have quality at both ends but you certainly need to score a goal to win a game. We seem to have the balance right at the moment which is a very good sign. I'd be more confident with a better striker than Shinji/Ulloa to partner Vardy and a better right back than Simpson, but as a unit we're getting it right.
weller54 Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 I've always thought we have had an excellent attack and forward thinking players, but the defence has astonished me this year. They are immense and everyone works so hard. It is incredible to think how well that back four have played all season. Long may it continue and I think as long as we keep Vardy, Mahrez and Okazaki fit, we will always be pushing up, pressing and looking to attack. They don't seem to play any other way! Claudio has often said, if we try to play a different way, then we are not so good, so I strongly believe, even with injuries, we will look to attack every game. And who would have thought after 'Throttlegate ' that Danny Simpson would be such an integral part of this defensive unit?
foxychik Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 CR got us scoring first Then he got us defending And now he's got us doing both
Kitchandro Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 And who would have thought after 'Throttlegate ' that Danny Simpson would be such an integral part of this defensive unit? I wouldn't say that. As a unit we defend well but as an individual he's clearly a weak link. I appreciate Mahrez doesn't give him much help but he shows an alarming lack of urgency when he needs to be closing players down. Compare him with Fuchs on the other side and you'll notice the difference in the amount of space he gives. Moments of worry often come down his side and he's erratic in possession. He's more solid than De Laet but in truth he's benefiting from being in a good side that currently has no other player that can compete for his position.
weller54 Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 I wouldn't say that. As a unit we defend well but as an individual he's clearly a weak link. I appreciate Mahrez doesn't give him much help but he shows an alarming lack of urgency when he needs to be closing players down. Compare him with Fuchs on the other side and you'll notice the difference in the amount of space he gives. Moments of worry often come down his side and he's erratic in possession. He's more solid than De Laet but in truth he's benefiting from being in a good side that currently has no other player that can compete for his position. Granted, but to be fair he's done well to make the RB position his own. Credit where credits due!
weller54 Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Currently I think Albrighton is our weakest link!.. He's lost a bit of form since Christmas and his main weapon (crosses into the box) are largely beneficial to Ulloa, who isn't getting much action... Perhaps Amartey will replace him in the side?
car1os Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Its almost like Ranieri was happy for us to attack at will at the beginning of the season, got the team to concentrate on defending for the Christmas period, and now has managed to get the team to manage both parts of the game for the final third... If he has successfully managed this, we're in for one hell of a run in!
jim5000 Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 It's the centre of defence that's so solid. The entire team collapse back but keep their positions and the middle of our box is neigh on inpenetrabal. Teams get to the edge of the area sefveral times a match, but it's rarely on a break and they just can't play through the middle of our 18 yard area. We invite pressure onto us and repeatidly clear back to the opposition defenders for another wave, but teams just can't seem to break through the last line. We then pay no heed to possession and attack with some of the most dynamic attackers in the country at the moment. One stat I love is that we have played almost 33% of our passes in the attacking third. Leicester are awesome for neutrals as we attack so much and invite the opposition onto us so we can break on them - results in a cracking match most of the time!
Thracian Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 I wouldn't say that. As a unit we defend well but as an individual he's clearly a weak link. I appreciate Mahrez doesn't give him much help but he shows an alarming lack of urgency when he needs to be closing players down. Compare him with Fuchs on the other side and you'll notice the difference in the amount of space he gives. Moments of worry often come down his side and he's erratic in possession. He's more solid than De Laet but in truth he's benefiting from being in a good side that currently has no other player that can compete for his position. Couldn't agree more about the space last night. I didn't raise it because I was so high on the Vardy spectacular and felt it party-pooping to criticise a defender who's just played his part in another clean sheet and a night of so few chances for a supposedly capable Liverpool team. There's no doubt it's harder for Simpson to stay tight with Mahrez not being a natural defender for all that he's willing to try at times. So did we simply close out all the space in the box and accept the crosses coming in because we knew Huth and Morgan would gobble em up with Benteke sat on the bench? If so it worked. Might not have done on a couple of occasions but, otherwise, the crossing was disappointing and the threat on the other end was token. If Simpson had gone tighter just maybe Liverpool could have stretched our centre-backs and made some space they hardly found at all in the event. Just a thought. No hard and fast conclusions I'm afraid.
Thracian Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 Its almost like Ranieri was happy for us to attack at will at the beginning of the season, got the team to concentrate on defending for the Christmas period, and now has managed to get the team to manage both parts of the game for the final third... If he has successfully managed this, we're in for one hell of a run in! Being fair to Ranieri some of our players really did look knackered or badly in need of time to mend their wounds.
Livid Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 I feel our defence are a lot more calm and composed than I am when watching them.
cjslcfc Posted 3 February 2016 Posted 3 February 2016 I wouldn't say that. As a unit we defend well but as an individual he's clearly a weak link. I appreciate Mahrez doesn't give him much help but he shows an alarming lack of urgency when he needs to be closing players down. Compare him with Fuchs on the other side and you'll notice the difference in the amount of space he gives. Moments of worry often come down his side and he's erratic in possession. He's more solid than De Laet but in truth he's benefiting from being in a good side that currently has no other player that can compete for his position. To be honest I have to disagree with this bit. There were several times last night when he would rush in to close down an attacker or to nick the ball away. Just because he doesn't do it as often as Fuchs doesn't mean he's worse. I actually think Simpson knows when to go and when to not. Personally think occasionally Fuchs gets caught out or slightly mistimes his closing down, not that he's not a fantastic player! Because he's Danny Simpson I'm not sure he gets enough credit but recently he has been phenomenal. Numerous blocks and tackles last night. Didn't he nick the ball off Can in the Liverpool attack before our goal as well? (admittedly Can was surrounded by a few players)
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