LCFC V WBA Post match 2-2

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

Feeling much better about the game this morning - if we play like we did last night for the rest of the season we will be challenging for the title right down to the wire. West Ham have had some great results against top teams this season so could get something against Spurs - and with Spurs also playing Arsenal on Saturday there are certainly points to be dropped

[Len Finsbury]

You know, just because a few of us have criticised Mahrez's decision to attempt that overhead kick doesn't mean that we're slating and hating him. Or that we don't appreciate his tricks and touches that do come off. All we're saying is that sometimes, the simple things ARE okay to do and it's making those decisions that determine if you're a top player or just one with a few tricks.

It was definitely a poor and selfish decision on that one occasion. Anyone disputing that is deluded.

[Leicesterpool]

You know, just because a few of us have criticised Mahrez's decision to attempt that overhead kick doesn't mean that we're slating and hating him. Or that we don't appreciate his tricks and touches that do come off. All we're saying is that sometimes, the simple things ARE okay to do and it's making those decisions that determine if you're a top player or just one with a few tricks.

It was definitely a poor and selfish decision on that one occasion. Anyone disputing that is deluded.

I wouldn't say he was being greedy but attempting to bicycle kicking it in was a little daft. 

[Larry_LCFC]

I feel more like we lost having slept on it. Gutted we didn't win. Wouldn't be so bad if we played shit but the ridiculous amount of chances that we fluffed makes it worse. Can only hope West Ham do something for us tonight.

[Pasty1]

"We've just beaten Leicester and lost 3-2 to Man U ok, and you wonder sometimes about the excessive reactions. Do people think football is only winning and never losing any more games?"

 

Arsene Wenger.......

 

Well said that man!!!

 

 

If Spurs go top for a couple lets see how they handle it..... Don't believe we have showed any signs of pressure yet!!! 

[Always Next Year]

I can not beleave some of the posts on this thred, if we had won it would not even exist. But no we drew so let's all ( well some of us look for someone to blame.

I admit that at times our forwards could have passed the ball to a team mate in a better position, but all teams have such players.

If we had lost the last six games, then I would be the first calling for whole sale changes, but where still top of the league, so please no more knee jerk reactions it's not needed the players don't need it, the club don't need it.

Spurs don't worry me, like us they will slip up before the seasons ends.

Blue Army

[kingcarr21]

Imagine if the Mahrez overhead kick went in. Great technique. Should have headed it back across the box though but what he has given us this season im not too bothered with him trying it.

[Captain...]

You know, just because a few of us have criticised Mahrez's decision to attempt that overhead kick doesn't mean that we're slating and hating him. Or that we don't appreciate his tricks and touches that do come off. All we're saying is that sometimes, the simple things ARE okay to do and it's making those decisions that determine if you're a top player or just one with a few tricks.

It was definitely a poor and selfish decision on that one occasion. Anyone disputing that is deluded.

 

I think he misjudged the ball to start with, it dropped shorter than he was expecting and tried to improvise, whether he was initially setting himself for the bicycle kick or something else, he should have been underneath the ball, but he was a step too far back.

 

Don't think he should be slated for it, and I hope he learns from it, but not to the point where he is too scared to improvise, we need to encourage his creativity, like for the assist, and not get too hung up when it goes wrong.

[Larry_LCFC]

Imagine if the Mahrez overhead kick went in. Great technique. Should have headed it back across the box though but what he has given us this season im not too bothered with him trying it.

What if Okazaki scored, What if Vardy s scored. The point is he didn't score it and from that angle, I don't think he ever would.

[Guest Col city fan]

Disappointing, but also encouraging that we put in a decent display. We looked all over the place at the back without Kante being around to mop up though. Could have been 8-0 another day, lets hope we have more "other days" than ones like that.

Completely agree about Kante (there's a surprise). His 'mopping up' as you aptly describe it is crucial to our success. I would go as far as to say it underpins it. Our defence IS better when marshalled by him in front of it.

[Guest Col city fan]

Over the years we've had a number of strikers where you pretty much know they get a few chances, they'll take them. Cottee, Sir Les, Dickov, Fryatt to some extent. Players where you know if they are slipped in, you can feel a goal coming.

I don't sense that with Shinji. He's clumsy, all action, not cool or composed in front of goal. This actually could be the difference in terms of us winning the title. That said, such strikers are hard to get hold of. See Arsenal for example.

[Larry_LCFC]

The thing is with Shinji, can you honestly say if he went through on goal, you'd feel confident of him slotting it away. I wouldn't I'm afraid. He lacks composure and a strong gust of wind would knock him off his feet. I think he's the best we have alongside Vardy, but we could also do so much better - easier said than done though.

[MC Prussian]

Okazaki is not much of a goalscorer, and that's a problem in a 2nd striker. I love his work rate, his link-up play and all round attitude, but his lack of a decent shot and his tendency to get knocked off the ball are major negatives. As neither Kante nor Drinkwater are regular scorers either, it means we're heavily reliant on a few players to get us goals.

It's not his tendency of getting knocked off the ball per se, it's that he usually goes for the unnecessary extra step forward without really being put under pressure, leading to him losing posession.

 

He wants too much at times and in those situations resembles a bull trying to push through a brick wall. I don't know whether he can still adapt his style of play, but it'd be great if he either attempted to shoot (from distance) or passed the ball to a teammate instead.

[Len Finsbury]

Completely agree about Kante (there's a surprise). His 'mopping up' as you aptly describe it is crucial to our success. I would go as far as to say it underpins it. Our defence IS better when marshalled by him in front of it.

 

While King provides more of a goal threat, as yesterday showed, he doesn't off the same defensive capabilities. 

So essentially, if it comes down to an either/or between Kante and King, you're essentially changing your philosophy to some extent.

King played well last night but he's a different type of player than Kante. I can't remember applauding King like I do Kante for the interceptions/blocks and tackles he makes but then he is quite something special.

[Shinji-San]

Mahrez mostly glory hunting for me, believing the stuff written about him his heads in the clouds looking at money

With the Norwich match I was inclined to agree with that, but not this match, thought he worked his ass of for the team defensively as well as offence.  His assist gained us a point

[Wymsey]

The way Vardy chased McAuley down and nearly scored and how Huth and Morgan wanted to go up in every attack, just shows the current confidence levels.

 

Thought Schlupp was immense tbh, he's slowly getting around his problems with decision-making.

 

Berahino is one ridiculous footballing attention-seeker. Nuts.

[ARM1968]

The best strikers hit the ball early. Confidence can help in this but much of it is instinctive. Taking even an extra touch often sees good chances become poor.

Shinji's energy cannot be faulted, nor his commitment. He just needs some goals. I'm not sure though whether he will ever be an instinctive finisher.

However after last night the pressure passes to Tottenham now. They are expected to win tonight, which I doubt they will, and many pundits seem to think they will dismantle Arsenal. I can't see that either.

Having said that it is a tall order winning at Watford. I hope we can. Could still be a good few points clear after the weekend, or it could still be very tight.

[FantasticMrFox&Son]

How ANYONE can knock the team after that performance is beyond me.

 

Go back to FIFA 16, get all the best players in your team and hammer some young kid 27-0 match after match because that seems to be what you expect from the lads.

 

FFS we are likely to be in Europe next year, isn't that good enough for you ?

 

Of course I WANT the title, every fan, every player, all the backroom staff and even Claudio want it, .......doesn't mean it will happen.

 

But don't knock or complain about individual team members who have played as a UNIT and lead the Premier League on the morning of 2 March.

 

On to Watford, another tough game, they have some decent players and work well as a TEAM.

[Shinji-San]

FoxesTalk once again proving it knows nothing about Goalkeeping. No keeper is saving that free kick.

No human keeper

[shen]

Did he really have to do the flick though? If he'd have tried any other method of shooting it surely would have been on target or at least not over the bar from 4 yards out!

 

It was an instinctive reaction. A little gentler touch on it and it would've been a brilliant finish. If he'd tamed the ball and swung at it, it would have given the defender the chance to recover and the keeper time to adjust.

You can't criticise him for trying that flick and under the circumstances, it was a decent effort from a chance that wasn't straight-forward.

 

Okazaki is not much of a goalscorer, and that's a problem in a 2nd striker. I love his work rate, his link-up play and all round attitude, but his lack of a decent shot and his tendency to get knocked off the ball are major negatives. As neither Kante nor Drinkwater are regular scorers either, it means we're heavily reliant on a few players to get us goals.

 

We've always known he's not a great goalscorer at this level, in that respect his international stats are deceiving. His record isn't great, but then again is Troy Deeney's? He's been lauded and praised and is part of what is widely recognised as the best front pairing in the Prem this season. Yet he has 8 goals, where 5 have come from penalties. He has a couple of assists to his name, so he's got marginally more end product from open play than Shinji. Now I know the two have different roles and play styles, but it just goes to show that you can't just measure Okazaki's contribution through goals alone, just because he's classed as a "striker". After all, Deeney is doing alright despite him lacking the same stat padding.

 

That said, I fully accept and understand that his limitations mean we're not likely to ever see much more than the odd goal every handful of games. Ideally, we should get the same type of player but whose weaknesses aren't as pronounced. Seems like that player wasn't available in January.

 

You cannot have a good game overall as a striker if you miss 4 sitters. And it's not a one off. The bloke has not scored at home all season has he? Let's put that in context. He's a striker in the highest scoring team who are also top of the league.

I can't complain about his industry, but his finishing is of a school boy standard, and that's being generous. That is why some of us were begging for a quality player to come in January to help JV out. Not to do it for an extra 3 or 4 million quid was daft, when we have a chance of a lifetime opportunity.

 

He didn't miss 4 sitters, come on. Doesn't really matter if he scores home or away, point is he hasn't scored many, which I fully accept. We don't know the circumstances in January if you're referring to Musa.

Funny you should talk about context though, because in the context of this game, Vardy was just as guilty if not more so, of missing chances. In the context of this season, Vardy has scored more than we expected and Shinji has scored less (which is also in part due to different roles in the team, no one denies this surely?). Shinji obviously cost 8 times more than Vardy as well (different circumstances, but still). Does that mean Vardy should get some slack and Shinji shouldn't?

[ImBlue]

How ANYONE can knock the team after that performance is beyond me.

Go back to FIFA 16, get all the best players in your team and hammer some young kid 27-0 match after match because that seems to be what you expect from the lads.

FFS we are likely to be in Europe next year, isn't that good enough for you ?

Of course I WANT the title, every fan, every player, all the backroom staff and even Claudio want it, .......doesn't mean it will happen.

But don't knock or complain about individual team members who have played as a UNIT and lead the Premier League on the morning of 2 March.

On to Watford, another tough game, they have some decent players and work well as a TEAM.

I would have been happy with safety.

Does that mean I wouldn't be unhappy/asking questions if we lost every single game left? No. Expectations have changed, and we have progressed to a level where we should be beating the West Brom at home. It's not the worst point ever, but it's definately more about 2 dropped.

[Countryfox]

 we should be beating the West Brom at home. It's not the worst point ever, but it's definately more about 2 dropped.

 

It shows how far we have come.  WBA had some very good players in their team but nowadays it doesn't bother me who we play against as we just run them off the park and attack like our tails are on fire.  Our defence looks very solid now and we have one of the best midfield pairings in the prem.   It was 2 points dropped but not for lack of effort or commitment and that is the big positive that I clung on to keep my spirits up.      Can't wait for the next one.

[ImBlue]

It was an instinctive reaction. A little gentler touch on it and it would've been a brilliant finish. If he'd tamed the ball and swung at it, it would have given the defender the chance to recover and the keeper time to adjust.

You can't criticise him for trying that flick and under the circumstances, it was a decent effort from a chance that wasn't straight-forward.

We've always known he's not a great goalscorer at this level, in that respect his international stats are deceiving. His record isn't great, but then again is Troy Deeney's? He's been lauded and praised and is part of what is widely recognised as the best front pairing in the Prem this season. Yet he has 8 goals, where 5 have come from penalties. He has a couple of assists to his name, so he's got marginally more end product from open play than Shinji. Now I know the two have different roles and play styles, but it just goes to show that you can't just measure Okazaki's contribution through goals alone, just because he's classed as a "striker". After all, Deeney is doing alright despite him lacking the same stat padding.

That said, I fully accept and understand that his limitations mean we're not likely to ever see much more than the odd goal every handful of games. Ideally, we should get the same type of player but whose weaknesses aren't as pronounced. Seems like that player wasn't available in January.

He didn't miss 4 sitters, come on. Doesn't really matter if he scores home or away, point is he hasn't scored many, which I fully accept. We don't know the circumstances in January if you're referring to Musa.

Funny you should talk about context though, because in the context of this game, Vardy was just as guilty if not more so, of missing chances. In the context of this season, Vardy has scored more than we expected and Shinji has scored less (which is also in part due to different roles in the team, no one denies this surely?). Shinji obviously cost 8 times more than Vardy as well (different circumstances, but still). Does that mean Vardy should get some slack and Shinji shouldn't?

If you can't hit the target from 4 yards, regardless of how awkward (it wasn't that awkward) it is then it's poor. He panicked, nothing else.

Deeney has 6 assists. 33 key passes.

Shinji has 0. 15 key passes.

Deeney wins over 50% of his aerial battles

Shinji wins just above half that

Do not even try to compare Deeney with Shinji.

Vardy scores almost every week and is a big reason we are where we are, that's why he gets slack for missing the odd few, and often is heavily involved in making his own chances. Shinji isn't a massive part of why we are there, has often been carried by the team, misses a lot of guilt edge chances, and doesn't create many either.

Hence he doesn't get slack.

Comittment, Hard work, harassing is all I ever hear. Did we ever get any less than that from Nugent?

[shen]

I would have been happy with safety.

Does that mean I wouldn't be unhappy/asking questions if we lost every single game left? No. Expectations have changed, and we have progressed to a level where we should be beating the West Brom at home. It's not the worst point ever, but it's definately more about 2 dropped.

 

Yeah, in the context of the season, this is probably true. By contrast we "should've" been losing a lot of the games we've already played, but no team ever wins all the games they're favourites in. We haven't beaten West Brom at home in over 24 years, so statistically we shouldn't be beating them anyway

[Manwell Pablo]

If you can't hit the target from 4 yards, regardless of how awkward (it wasn't that awkward) it is then it's poor. He panicked, nothing else.

Deeney has 6 assists. 33 key passes.

Shinji has 0. 15 key passes.

Deeney wins over 50% of his aerial battles

Shinji wins just above half that

Do not even try to compare Deeney with Shinji.

Vardy scores almost every week and is a big reason we are where we are, that's why he gets slack for missing the odd few, and often is heavily involved in making his own chances. Shinji isn't a massive part of why we are there, has often been carried by the team, misses a lot of guilt edge chances, and doesn't create many either.

Hence he doesn't get slack.

Comittment, Hard work, harassing is all I ever hear. Did we ever get any less than that from Nugent?

 

Don't really see why we are discussing Deeney anyway, Watford have made it obvious they want a kings ransom for him. Pointless.

 

EDIT: Oh I see reading back.