Our system detected that your browser is blocking advertisements on our site. Please help support FoxesTalk by disabling any kind of ad blocker while browsing this site. Thank you.
Jump to content
FireFox

Next up... Barcelona

By FireFox, in Leicester City Forum

Recommended Posts

AKCJ

AKCJ

Posted
Posted
34 minutes ago, Grewks said:

So why did you take offense to my comment of us being short of the sides 'at the top of the game'.

 

Because we're clearly not slower than the top teams. I'd say we're one of the fastest sides in Europe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ric Flair

Ric Flair

Posted
Posted

Grewks take a large dose of MDMA and then watch extended highlights of our games against Liverpool at home and Man City away. We were absolutely ruthless. The pace was incredible. That is what we're capable of when we are fully firing. As of last weekend we were operating at about 30-40% output and fitness. This will be improved and quickly. Life isn't this bad mate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Thracian

Thracian

Posted
Posted

Missing this due to a golf match but I committed myself to play so I will.

 

If the football's like the PSG match at least I won't be missing much. It won't be of course - it'll probably be a famous victory for all that it's a friendly.

 

But at least there'll be chance to see a recording. Pretty choked though.        

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
The Doctor

The Doctor

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, Grewks said:

 

And PSG started the game with a largely second string side.....

 

We overrate our pace. At the top of the game, we are way short of pace imo.

Do you actually watch any games or understand what pace is? We're absolutely lightning - as we demonstrated game after game last season; surely you're not watching one pre-season game in horrifically warm conditions where everyone is just getting back up to speed anyway and declaring that more typical than an entire years worth of performances?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
davieG

davieG

Posted
Posted

Leicester with a point to prove against Barcelona despite Vardy absence

Former Leicester City striker Emile Heskey says the Foxes' title win is good for the world, not just the city of Leicester.

Leicester City finish a whirlwind preseason against Spanish champions Barcelona in Stockholm on Wednesday night and will look to bounce back from a convincing 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Los Angeles last time out.

Results don't hugely matter in friendlies, but the defeat to the French champions was a little demoralising.

The advantage of facing football's A-listers in the International Champions Cup is global exposure. The games are clearly useful tests, too. You could make a case that, in terms of preparation, it's probably better to lose to Europe's elite than beat a bunch of lower league teams from England. Yet a balance between those two extremes is clearly necessary. After all winning, and scoring goals, breeds confidence even when points aren't at stake.

The danger of facing PSG and Barcelona is Leicester can't really play their usual game and that means they head into the new Premier League season needing a few matches to gel. Most teams, though, will need a month to really find their feet so that's no major cause for alarm.

Given City scoff at possession and Barcelona rarely surrender it, you could argue a matchup with Luis Enrique's men is worthwhile, but if the latter score early Leicester could spend the whole game out of their comfort zone and risk another drubbing.

The match in Stockholm may appear an exhibition, but given the fact that is City's last before the Community Shield against Manchester United next weekend Claudio Ranieri must show his hand. That's why his formation and selection will be really intriguing.

If City meet Barca in the knockout stage of the Champions League they may play a very different way, perhaps with three centre-backs or more likely in a 4-5-1. Or just everyone behind the ball.

Yet Ranieri still needs to work out his best XI in a 4-4-2. This is clearly a risky way to play against Barcelona. Without three central midfielders there's a danger Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets will run riot in the centre of the park, but it might be better to stick to the style Leicester plan to play against United at Wembley and Hull the week after in the Premier League.

The only thing that could sway Ranieri into just fielding one striker is the absence of Jamie Vardy. The England striker continues to recover from wrist surgery and was never an option, though he should be fit for the start of the season. He is so important to the team that, without him, City can't really pick up where they left off last season. Behind closed doors he is at least training with the squad.

The Leicester boss could potentially partner record signing Ahmed Musa with Shinji Okazaki, who is capable of dropping into midfield; Leonardo Ulloa may also get the nod because he's capable of holding up the ball.

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri says their loss to PSG was a learning experience for the Foxes.

However given Nampalys Mendy and Daniel Amartey looked uncomfortable together in midfield against PSG it is also possible that Danny Drinkwater will come into the side alongside Mendy. Then either Amartey or Andy King will be utilised in central midfield at the expense of one of the above forwards.

The upside of this is Barcelona will be easier to stifle. The downside is it's just not how City will play during the course of the season. Should Leicester deviate from 4-4-2 they are more likely to switch to 4-3-3.

The other question is whether Riyad Mahrez starts. Ranieri has conceded the Algerian is distracted by transfer speculation linking him with Arsenal although maintains he is "100 percent" sure the PFA Player of the Year will remain at Leicester. If the 25-year-old was dropped from this game it would lead most to conclude Mahrez wants out.

Mahrez scored a wonder goal against Celtic in the Foxes' International Champions Cup opener but looked out of sorts against PSG. He would relish playing in a 4-5-1 since the extra central midfielder would allow him to cut in from the right and play behind the lone striker.

At the back there's also one intriguing selection to look out for. City will almost certainly start the season with Kasper Schmeichel, Christian Fuchs, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Danny Simpson in defence. All five are basically automatic picks. However 19-year-old left-back Ben Chilwell has had plenty of game time this pre-season as Fuchs recovers from his Euro 2016 exploits with Austria.

Fuchs doesn't deserve to be dropped, but this could be Chilwell's breakthrough season. If he starts against Barca it will be a bold move by Ranieri and one that proves he has faith in the youngster for a more pivotal role this campaign.

Barcelona is a really exciting fixture and one that again underlines just how far Leicester have come in the past 12 months. It is important to enjoy the occasion and there may well be no disgrace in a heavy defeat, either.

Yet City need, at least in patches, to put in a confident and fluid display to prove they are ready for challenges ahead and that their global tour against Europe's big boys hasn't backfired.

Ben Jacobs is ESPN FC's Leicester City blogger. Follow him on Twitter

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Babylon

Babylon

Posted
Posted
18 hours ago, Grewks said:

 

We have played only one side 'at the top of the game'. That side was PSG, and they were quicker than us in every position.

 

 

In a friendly, playing a chopped and changed team with our fastest players not involved or playing bit parts. That team 'at the top of the game'' got done by Man City... the same team we but whipped 3-1.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ronnup

ronnup

Posted
Posted

Would be sensible to play our way here and sod the result. We need practice in organisation and we need match fitness as much as possible. Attempting to play more defensively against Barca would be useless as practice and ineffective. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Babylon

Babylon

Posted
Posted
7 minutes ago, ronnup said:

Would be sensible to play our way here and sod the result. We need practice in organisation and we need match fitness as much as possible. Attempting to play more defensively against Barca would be useless as practice and ineffective. 

Is our way not playing defensively anyway? With Barca being the best at keeping the ball it stands to reason we'll end up being more defensive anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...