Could Shinji be the missing jigsaw piece in midfield??

[Donut]

No Okazaki shouldnt be in midfield.

 

Its the toughest position to play, matching a number of skills with having an exceptional engine.

 

Its about far more than the ability to run around and get in peoples faces.

 

Its the ability to pick a pass, make the right decision, receive the ball on the half turn and have spacial awareness of whats going on around you. Sniff out danger before you have to make a tackle and can make an interception, holding when one goes forward, going forward as someone holds, lasting 90 mins whilst running 10.5km in the process.

 

Hes a defensive forward and plays the role well. Not a midfielder.

[Fennec-Fox]

Shinji get payed just to pretend doing something

 

[MPH]

7 hours ago, justfoxes said:

So Kante jumped ship to Chelski but now that's history!

Amartey looked a bit out of his depth at times yesterday and Mendy is out injured, but as read somewhere for the champions league Okazaki and Musa have been noted as midfielders so until we get a decent  midfielder hopefully silva coming in January don't you think give our little Japanese Dynamo a run in that position?

he's quick tackles well goes at players like a terrier after a bone why not try him there and see how he goes can't be as bad as yesterday?

That then leaves Slimani upfront with Either Vardy or Musa to grab the goals so what's your thoughts on giving Shinji Kantes old role surely can't be worse than what he have already?

 

 

Not it quite sure of your logic, here... 

 

A great attcking mid like Silva to replace Kante?

[Thracian]

3 hours ago, Juvenile said:

Mendy is the only one who can partner Drinkwater. Amartey isn't technically gifted, King isn't good enough and James still isn't fit? If he is then he clearly isn't in Ranieris plans. We have no valuable options. Dont know how Kaputska would fair as he's more of an attacking mid. We need composure through the team. We currently have none at the back and very little in the middle. Okazaki, as mentioned by many shouldn't be in our starting 11 hense the reason we bought Slimani.

So far i've seen nothing convincing from Mendy in the limited time I've had to watch him. And it didn't look as if his injury would be a five-minute hiccup either.

Purely on what I've seen rather than what I'd expect, I'd choose King without doubt. Or anyone who could deliver a 10-20-yard pass quickly and consistently under pressure  having watched the Liverpool fiasco.

[Bamba's Babes]

8 hours ago, justfoxes said:

So Kante jumped ship to Chelski but now that's history!

Amartey looked a bit out of his depth at times yesterday and Mendy is out injured, but as read somewhere for the champions league Okazaki and Musa have been noted as midfielders so until we get a decent  midfielder hopefully silva coming in January don't you think give our little Japanese Dynamo a run in that position?

he's quick tackles well goes at players like a terrier after a bone why not try him there and see how he goes can't be as bad as yesterday?

That then leaves Slimani upfront with Either Vardy or Musa to grab the goals so what's your thoughts on giving Shinji Kantes old role surely can't be worse than what he have already?

Go to bed.

[desertfox2]

Think if you were looking at a wildcard player to play that role then Schlupp would probably have the best chance of working. Quick, has shown he can adapt position. Can tackle and doesn't have to do anything spectacular or have much time on the ball. Just has to win the ball back and play short passes. 

 

[Clever Fox]

Shinji would never make it in midfield. The whole formation needs to change.

Firstly lets start with up top even though our problems are further back.   Vardy and Slimani up top. that gives us two options instead of the present 1.

We still need a ball playing midfielder which we can't sign until January. So I'd try Ulloa behind the front two with Mendy / Amarty and Drinkwater providing the defensive cover. This would give us the option of going short or long, left or right.

Ulloa is a much better footballer than many on here give him credit for. Alternatively I'd bring in Kapuska to do the same job as I think he'll have a big future with us once he gets trained up physically.

I'd then switch Albrighton to the right of centre and play Schlupp on the left using his strength and pace to get forward while also providing defensive cover.

Alternatively, I'd move Fuchs forward into midfield and bring in Chillwell at full back. 

 

This way we have alternative options all over the Park with pace, power and plenty of triangles to play the ball around with.

Mahrez would get support from Slimani inside and Albrighton behind, while Ulloa can either support or fill the space left by Slimani. Similarly down the left.

[hatasi]

no.

[Gazza M]

no way.

[okie fox]

Okazaki is a striker who seldom scores, i.e., a luxury.  He wins the ball back sometimes from behind when the opponent doesn't see him coming, but he is not quick enough or strong enough for defensive midfielder.

[fuchsntf]

Shinji played more than  a few times for Mainz in midfield...attacking midfielder.

What I am not liking is the crucifixtion of Amartey. Yesterday he was poor, but so was the whole team.

DDrinkwater was good or he was poor according to ones thought that he  seemed to be playing alone.

Amartey had a good game against Swansea, and was well off the pace yesterday.So was DD just 2 yrs ago

according to many on this forum.We are 4 games into the season, Amartey is work in progress, he like DD

in his early days will blow hot and cold.

We see regular posts on demeaning our new buys, before they have had a chance to get going.

ffs let Musa, Mendy, Hernandez first get into the teams rythm, and not expect great things when

the team is losing, when they then  come on as a sub.

 

Our defence was split open yesterday, but you all seen that defence yesterday split and lose

that discipline , they had been holding for over 30+ games.We saw last season the defence hold firm

and then slowly during a game the midfield and forwards  start to strutt their stuff.

Thats why we depended on that solid defence, because we only had 36-44% possesion.

The defence gave us time. Yesterday I am  sorry to say Morgan departed from his own

tight discipline, he went walk about.This made the midfield very nervous they couldnt fill

the holes...but give also credit to Liverpool, they have that type and group of players,

who can come at you in Waves, they  are the best in the PL for taking advantage,

of blackholes appearing in front of them.We presented them yesterday through loss of

defensive discipline the space to destroy us.

Now lets see if it was a one off, and Claudio can iron out these cracks.

It was the more experienced players who cracked first, so again I say its too early

to thrash Amartey or Musa.

 

[les-tah]

If you've ever played football at a remotely competitive level you would understand you cant just change someones another position .. ESPECIALLY center mid, the hardest position to play in terms of positional awareness. 

[Strokes]

Yeah we should also stick vardy at right back, musa as the main front man please.

[desertfox2]

17 hours ago, progmusfreak said:

First, it was utmost stupidity from Ranieri to play the defence near the center line, and what is more, in away games. Even in matches where Leicester were behind last season, they stayed deep and scored from counter attacks (Southampton, Stoke City) .

Second, so far no one has fitted the role of Kante. If Leicester has to keep playing 4-4-2, the coach should try Okazaki as replacement. He may not be as good as Kante in tackles, but he definitely will make the opposite forwards' life difficult, as he does with their defenders.

If we are in a position  where we have to take a 30 year old striker and try and play him as a center midfielder ahead of king, amartey James then we are really screwed. We might as well play Drinkwater in goal because his distribution is good. 

[Guest Bob Hazels shorts]

1 hour ago, les-tah said:

If you've ever played football at a remotely competitive level you would understand you cant just change someones another position .. ESPECIALLY center mid, the hardest position to play in terms of positional awareness. 

 

Agree

 

Need to tell Fat Sam that

[foxfanazer]

My 14 month old daughter would be a more physical presence in midfield than Shinji and she only started walking at the weekend. Shows how bad our trasfer dealings were if this is considered an option

[MrSpaM]

I remember people saying the exact same things about him this time last season

 

He was still in the squad at the end of the season

[Benguin]

I think the best man for the job is Andy King. Drinky and kingy as a pair or those two and Armartey in a 4-5-1 

[foxy boxing]

he just hasn't the tackling ability or the physical presence to play in midfield but can be the link between midfield and attack.his work rate is exemplary but needs to improve on his awareness and ability to get onto the ball and distribute it accordingly

[kingcarr21]

We've tried 4-4-2 without Kante now and can safely say it doesn't work especially away from home. Amartey played a blinder against Swansea so at home it might be a formation to use but away from home it looks like we need more in midfield. From what ive seen of Andy King he operates better in a midfield 3. With Slimani in the squad now we need to start thinking of changing it up. 4-4-2 wont always work especially now teams have sussed us out.

 

4-2-3-1

 

Kasper

 

Simpson       Morgan       Huth       Fuchs

 

Drinkwater       Amartey

 

Mahrez           Slimani             Musa

 

Vardy

 

4-1-3-2

 

Kasper

 

Simpson     Morgan     Huth     Fuchs

 

Drinkwater

 

Mahrez        Okazaki       Musa

 

Slimani       Vardy

 

I look at those line ups and think that is a lethal side. What do you guys think?

 

Hopefully that heavy defeat will have taught Ranieri a few things like the Arsenal game did last season.