Do you prefer Ahmed Musa or Shinji Okazaki up-front next to Jamie Vardy and why?

[Drygon]

There's been a lot of talk how great Musa has been during pre-season and did well against Hull and Arsenal.

 

Okazaki has been a key-player for Leicester last season and was great during the against against Swansea.

 

But as the title says, should Musa or Okazaki be the main striker partner to Vardy and why do you think so?

[StanSP]

Vardy and Okazaki for now. It's working and there's the familiarity from last season. Reckon Musa will be used more as a winger for his pace but he does suit our counter-attacking style as well to a tee.

 

 

[IslamSlimani]

Slimani.

[TheMightySystem]

Vardy and Okazaki for now, would have liked to seen Musa playing centrally against Arsenal and Swansea rather then being pushed onto the wing, showed how dangerous he is running at defenders against Barcelona and Swansea, needs more time as well instead of the last 15 minutes.

Think we will see Musa and Slimani both start in the cup and maybe push Okazaki out that way if they have good games. One thing we can say know is that we have great strength in depth.

[foxes_rule1978]

Slimani and Vardy will be the new forward two... Slimani is a natural fit he is a target man with some pace and will put the work in up top, not only that he can finish. 

[Matt]

Vardy and Okazaki for me.

 

I'm excited about all our strikers and realise there will have to be rotation this season, but I struggle to see where they're all going to fit in and how, especially when two were/are our record signings.

 

I believe in all our games this season Musa should have come on (Against Hull) and come on earlier/perhaps even started ahead of Vardy v Arsenal.

 

Slimani has to play imo, for the money we've paid, I just struggle to see how he'll start games.

 

Okazaki doesn't score goals, but that's not what he's about, he provides, he has a very important role in the team and has started the season very well.

 

I've seen some people suggest we push Vardy out wide - Have they not watched England games? That's simply a non-starter.

[Sampson]

Easy answer for me.

 

We know Shinji works alongside Vardy and brings the best out of him as well as others.

 

We don't know that about Musa yet, so it has to be Shinji.

 

Our XI is so well balanced that players have to wait their chance, it's harsh, but I'm sure they'll have time to prove themselves with the extra games this season.

[themightyfin]

Why have you left the beast Slim Arnie out?

[foxes_rule1978]

I'm shocked Slimani isn't an option... 

[Guest CityFan 06]

Perhaps add Slimani to the question/poll  ?

 

Okazaki has formed a good partnership with Vardy now after the title winning season and we're a very settled team with Okazaki in the lineup. He wins possession, tracks back and starts counter attacks. His technical ability is top draw. Musa is an exciting player to have because of his pace and ability to create opportunities for himself & others. Our strike options are superb, in my opinion and Slimani has just added that. 

[Bluetintedspecs]

I'm surprised this is a poll, a question or even being discussed after just 3 games and without giving players time to settle or find our best formation.

Shinji Is undoubtedly proven and works hard yet better options may be here and only time will tell.

I prefer Claudios opinions on these things, he's not done too bad has he?

[StanSP]

1 minute ago, Bluetintedspecs said:

I'm surprised this is a poll, a question or even being discussed after just 3 games and without giving players time to settle or find our best formation.

Shinji Is undoubtedly proven and works hard yet better options may be here and only time will tell.

I prefer Claudios opinions on these things, he's not done too bad has he?

 

I don't think this is set up to lead to a petition to get Claudio to change  

 

Presumably just to get fans' opinions on who and what partnership they prefer.

[lestajigs]

Musa defo better coming on as an inpact sub 

[Ted Maul]

Okazaki for now, he seems to be a big link in our style of play which was clearly missing against Hull.

 

We've got so many options though. A better question would have been Okazaki or Slimani, because I think Claudio's fancies Musa out wide.

[dbtcity]

Musa doesn't have the build or style of play to play in the hole imo he's a winger who could fill in if vardy was out of form/injured... I personally think Slimani will fill the role in behind vardy as he's basically looks a better version of Troy Deeney! Oka will still have a massive role to play and it wouldn't surprise me if he grabbed a load more goals coming off the bench after slimani and vardy have run a defence ragged for 60/75 mins

[Bluetintedspecs]

17 minutes ago, StanSP said:

 

I don't think this is set up to lead to a petition to get Claudio to change  

 

Presumably just to get fans' opinions on who and what partnership they prefer.

Based on what though Stan , short substitute appearances and we're only 3 fookin games in 

[lgfualol]

Shinji for Liverpool but has to be Slimani. I'm excited about having a second striker that can strike.

[Guest kristianity77]

We didn't just break the transfer record to play either of them along side Vardy. It'll be okazaki until Slimani is up to speed after a few sub appearances and then Slimani all the way. Okazaki and Ulloa will be back up / impact subs. I fully expect Musa to nail down the LW position over time.

[Guest]

Okazaki works tirelessly but isnt good enough in front of goal for me. Just like Nugent really at this level. Would rather see Musa or Slimani start with Vardy.

[Thracian]

First we seem to be evolving some exciting selection problems which might result in three or four established players lifting their own performances even higher. 

 

Drinkwater's already done that over recent seasons - to the point of winning an England place. Amartey seems to be emerging too and Albrighton's shown that he's sometimes more effective than he looks.  

 

Stats never tell all the story. Sometimes a team just cogs better with certainly players in it than not.  Or should I say some players seem to bring a bit more out of others for the influence of their being there.

 

I've no idea how anyone could judge the comparative merits of Musa over Shinji in such a short time. Musa hasn't looked as fit as he should be (any more than Mendy) whereas Shinji's looked a tad sharper if anything, for all that it's reflected in his invaluable industry rather than any suggestion that he might develop into a serious goal threat. 

 

And there's something of the problem. Should Shinji stay in the team because his constant harrassing when we lose the ball is so important or should Musa or Slim be there because they are both acclaimed to be the greater goal threat? Do we stick or twist with our system? 

 

In our three league games so far it has worried me that our goal threat has been limited to just two or three players when I've always believed in having six or seven.

 

But that doesn't blind me to the truth that there are more ways of winning things than one as we've proved ourselves so emphatically. 

 

So right now I don't care who plays and am happy to trust the manager's good judgement in the absence of any concrete evidence in other directions. 

 

I was just glad to see us playing with something approaching the spirit of last season in our last two matches - and trust that the players are now exhibiting the level of fitness likely to maintain that. Because big tests are coming thick and fast now and everyone will have to play their part to the full and in every competition. It's a massive challenge and require teamwork in capital letters.                      

[Koke]

I wish Okazaki added assist or goals to his game. 5 goals and 0 assists last season playing next to a guy who scored 24 PL goals is abysmal. That said, the team functions better when he plays so I'd keep him in the side.

[st albans fox]

Depends who we are playjng

 

Okazaki plays as a withdrawn striker who harasses the opposition holding midfield players 

 

we don't know if slim could play that role - funnily enough, vards could with his fitness levels

 

we will rotate over the next few months but for the time being, we will stick with the recipe that works for us in the toughest fixtures and may experiment in those where the opposition are just going to sit deep

 

[Merging Cultures]

Musa was out on the right wing for Nigeria against Tanzania tonight. He looked very good. Obviously we know he is fast, but he was nicking balls of Tz so easily and was involved in most of Nigeria's attacks. He kept coming in to the middle, playing behind the front pair as well, and had a crack at goal. I wouldn't mind him on the left to offer something different from Albrighton. The conundrum now being that we have a header of the ball and Albrighton's crosses are likely to be more effective. 

 

Anyway, re your question, the main 11 are likely to evolve (as players settle) into the following;

 

                        KS

Simpson - Huth - Wes - Fuchs

Mahrez - Mendy - Drinkwater - Albrighton

              Slimani - Vardy

 

For the next few games, I expect so see Amartey and Okazaki start.

 

Once the new players settle, Musa will come on to replace Ablrighton at 60mins. Okazaki might also start being subbed on to be used in the more CM role to break up play and provide energy in the midfield. Amartey will be used a lot in cup matches, and after CL games.

[Steven]

I prefer whatever team Claudio chooses.

[Tuna]

We spent a fortune on Slimani. He is the only partner for Vardy.