A few thoughts

[HighPeakFox]

A longish drive today gave me the opportunity to think about our team and the difficulties they are currently experiencing. Lots of you here are offering good insights as to why, I agree with some, not others. I fully understand some being brassed off/concerned/angry/other too, and I'm not here to tell anyone what to think or how to react.

 

But my thought is this - that although it's likely that yes, preparations have been poor, they might have bought better over the summer, and tactics/players may be less than spot on - I reckon the enormity of what has been achieved has hit home with some/all, and it probably takes time to come to terms with. Unexpected success is a shock, and perhaps that affects us fans too. Perhaps it will take a while to adjust, to settle, to relax, to find the old rhythm again. My suspicion is this will not be an easy season, and I realise that may be difficult for a lot of us.

 

Strangely, I think it may well be that next season goes better, when expectations are lowered again and time has passed. Who knows? But good luck to us all.

[StanSP]

7 minutes ago, HighPeakFox said:

A longish drive today gave me the opportunity to think about our team and the difficulties they are currently experiencing. Lots of you here are offering good insights as to why, I agree with some, not others. I fully understand some being brassed off/concerned/angry/other too, and I'm not here to tell anyone what to think or how to react.

 

But my thought is this - that although it's likely that yes, preparations have been poor, they might have bought better over the summer, and tactics/players may be less than spot on - I reckon the enormity of what has been achieved has hit home with some/all, and it probably takes time to come to terms with. Unexpected success is a shock, and perhaps that affects us fans too. Perhaps it will take a while to adjust, to settle, to relax, to find the old rhythm again. My suspicion is this will not be an easy season, and I realise that may be difficult for a lot of us.

 

Strangely, I think it may well be that next season goes better, when expectations are lowered again and time has passed. Who knows? But good luck to us all.

Reckon we'll dominate The Championship as well 

[Izzy]

Too much / , & - in that post for my liking. But I mainly agree with your suspicion 

[HighPeakFox]

4 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

Too much / , & - in that post for my liking. But I mainly agree with your suspicion 

Sorry to have let you down  I'll try and do it fewer......

[st albans fox]

I have a feeling that those behind the scenes are doing a good job in advancing our club over the 5/10 year period. Taking the opportunity to use the league win to increase total annual wage bill  ahead of what is allowed under PL rules. (We are clearly a social case). This means that next summer we can increase again by an amount which will probably be out of kilter with our league position. we know that last season apart, wage bill broadly equates to league position. that's what will keep the palaces and west broms struggling to attract the players who demand the bigger wages. 

 

Keep smiling - this season will be a roller coaster and far more typical of what we expect. Without the stresses of the last two campaigns, perhaps we can really enjoy it throughout! The ups and even the downs. 

 

 

[Bunyip]

Well I won't be happy till we are past that 40 point marker. Yesterday's performance was relegation form , the sort you expect from those fighting to stay up not last season's champions . no getting away from it that was a shambolic performance on par with the Hull match . Very worrying indeed.

 

[HighPeakFox]

11 minutes ago, Bunyip said:

Well I won't be happy till we are past that 40 point marker. Yesterday's performance was relegation form , the sort you expect from those fighting to stay up not last season's champions . no getting away from it that was a shambolic performance on par with the Hull match . Very worrying indeed.

 

Whilst I sympathise entirely, I think the essence of what I am driving at is to encourage worriers to wonder why -  it's less stressful than reacting, worrying or getting angry.

[Guest]

31 minutes ago, Bunyip said:

Well I won't be happy till we are past that 40 point marker. Yesterday's performance was relegation form , the sort you expect from those fighting to stay up not last season's champions . no getting away from it that was a shambolic performance on par with the Hull match . Very worrying indeed.

 

This is reactionary bollocks.  Liverpool hit 5 past man city last season and are a much better team now. Mane will be ripping open many many arseholes this season. It's how we fare againot those mid table and below we should be worrying about

[FoyleFox]

Keeping a bit of perspective,  this time last year we lost to Arsenal 5-2. We took a point the week before last. The 'much better now' Liverpool team lost to Burnley last week. We beat Swansea last week, which the improved Chelsea failed to do today.

We're not firing on all cylinders but there are still reasons to be positive. 

[Guest Col city fan]

I'm not sure I know what to say/write to this thread/subject/content/discussion/debate?

It's all too grammatically correct/precise/spot-on/high-brow

So I think I'll leave it/swerve it/not bother.

 

 

[Izzy]

10 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

I'm not sure I know what to say/write to this thread/subject/content/discussion/debate?

It's all too grammatically correct/precise/spot-on/high-brow

So I think I'll leave it/swerve it/not bother.

 

 

[KFS]

14 minutes ago, Col city fan said:

I'm not sure I know what to say/write to this thread/subject/content/discussion/debate?

It's all too grammatically correct/precise/spot-on/high-brow

So I think I'll leave it/swerve it/not bother.

 

 

Haha was going to say

 

The poor bloke has apologised for being grammatically correct!

[Guest Col city fan]

14 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

I do apologise if I come across as a piss-taker/banter merchant/knob-end..

I'll stop now as I have to go to work. Monday morning...I hate it/detest it/wanna go back bed

 

Have a good day buddy..

[Livid]

I don't think we've been too bad at home. 

 

I had us to beat Hull and I expected defeat maybe a draw at Anfield. The Arsenal and Swansea results I'm happy with.

 

Three points down on where I thought we would be at this stage.

[Guest Sharpe's Fox]

Just for a bit perspective we have the same amount of points from these fixtures than we had from the same fixtures last season, if we replace the lowest Prem team from last year in Villa with the lowest finishers from those who went up in Hull.

 

Hull (A) 0 points - Villa (A) 1 point

Arsenal (H) 1 points - Arsenal (H) 0 point

Swansea (H) 3 points - Swansea (H) 3 points

L'pool (A) 0 points - L'pool (A) 0 points

 

Total 4 points - Total 4 points

[Fox92]

38 minutes ago, Sharpe's Fox said:

Just for a bit perspective we have the same amount of points from these fixtures than we had from the same fixtures last season, if we replace the lowest Prem team from last year in Villa with the lowest finishers from those who went up in Hull.

 

Hull (A) 0 points - Villa (A) 1 point

Arsenal (H) 1 points - Arsenal (H) 0 point

Swansea (H) 3 points - Swansea (H) 3 points

L'pool (A) 0 points - L'pool (A) 0 points

 

Total 4 points - Total 4 points

It's the performances that are concerning though, regardless of the results. Both away games this season have been shocking performances.

 

Last season we lost twice to Arsenal - but twice we gave a good account of ourselves. We were applauded off after losing 5-2 to Arsenal. I walked out on 90 mins at Hull this year, didn't even want to clap them off after that performance. Liverpool last season was tight, 1-0, this season they battered us.

[foxfanazer]

The preparation for this season has been laughable really. Whoever was responsible for our pre season shouldn't be involved next season. We've also not strengthened the defence at all imo and we're missing a ball winning centre mid. 

 

Survival really is the target this season unfortunately. Burnley at home on saturday is a massive game

[HighPeakFox]

I guess it's a win when you get the piss taken for writing well...

[Ric Flair]

As always when things start to get iffy it's very easy to over think things or try to ignore them and say everything will be alright. The fact is we've not had to really worry about football for the best part of 17 months because we became the best team in the land somehow and although not many of us could truly relax and enjoy it without some feeling of anxiety and panic the sickness in your stomach from a weekend ruining defeat were few and far between and we've had 2 now in a month and it never gets any easier. It's horrible. The difference between Saturday's defeat and the one at Hull was I don't think fitness levels are a problem I just think we were played off the park by a better team on the day.

 

The first 20 minutes we were half decent but once they got a foot hold on the game we were chasing shadows and all of our weaknesses that we got away with last season were exposed. We've seen this now on a few occasions and certainly saw it against PSG and Barca in pre-season, we simply cannot go 2 in the middle away from home against the best sides in the league. If we do and we aren't 100% on it then we'll get taken apart and it's criminal to continue to do so. We've found ourselves with a squad that is top heavy on strikers and wingers, mainly left wingers and we will need to go 3 in the middle of the park which given we only have 3 fit central midfielders is quite alarming but that's the way it is. At home against the likes of Burnley, Swansea and a lot of the dross we can afford to be more attacking and go 4-4-2 but continue this away from home and we'll fastly go from being a success story to a sad sight.

 

We are also seeing teams stick 2-3 players on Mahrez and once he's been done early in games he seems to go within himself like a tortoise. Only vs Arsenal this season whom gave us far more space have we seen anything like what he's capable of, now we should be exposing the areas of the pitch that are left free from this doubling and tripling up but we just aren't doing so. Albrighton has done the square root of fcuk all so far out left, it's not all his fault as he's always been relatively limited on the left, he finds it harder to get to the byline and do what he's best at, which is why I'd consider swapping them around if needs be or even drop him for a while. No team unless they have Kante can put 2-3 players on one player and not leave holes to exploit, we need to be cuter and more ruthless in taking advantage of that and then eventually Mahrez will get more joy again and when he does he needs to hurt teams.

 

It's early days yet though, a few teething problems that can be rectified but that they must otherwise it'll be such a huge opportunity missed. Ranieri will have to start to tinker, he's done unbelievably well here and I'm confident he'll sort it out. These brutal away games we've got at the start of the season must not be taken lightly though. Get 3 in the middle and go back to soaking it up and hitting teams on the counter. Wednesday needs to come around ASAP and get a confidence boosting win under our belts.

 

We never do things easy, remember that. Last season was too good, a little bit of pain and anguish before we get back to our best to make it all the more special. That's what I keep telling myself anyway.

 

 

[Bunyip]

11 hours ago, toddybad said:

This is reactionary bollocks.  Liverpool hit 5 past man city last season and are a much better team now. Mane will be ripping open many many arseholes this season. It's how we fare againot those mid table and below we should be worrying about

Like Hull you mean ?

[MrSpaM]

I can't help but notice the people who are most upset about our results are the same people who claimed anything other than a top 6 finish would be a complete failure this season

 

I know a lot of these people have been supporting us for more than one season so I just don't get it

 

Last season was unbelievable, but I can't help but feel people have got way too carried away with their expectations for this season

[Manwell Pablo]

13 hours ago, HighPeakFox said:

A longish drive today gave me the opportunity to think about our team and the difficulties they are currently experiencing. Lots of you here are offering good insights as to why, I agree with some, not others. I fully understand some being brassed off/concerned/angry/other too, and I'm not here to tell anyone what to think or how to react.

 

But my thought is this - that although it's likely that yes, preparations have been poor, they might have bought better over the summer, and tactics/players may be less than spot on - I reckon the enormity of what has been achieved has hit home with some/all, and it probably takes time to come to terms with. Unexpected success is a shock, and perhaps that affects us fans too. Perhaps it will take a while to adjust, to settle, to relax, to find the old rhythm again. My suspicion is this will not be an easy season, and I realise that may be difficult for a lot of us.

 

Strangely, I think it may well be that next season goes better, when expectations are lowered again and time has passed. Who knows? But good luck to us all.

 

It's just all too much for me atm, Leicester forum been painful to read for about a week. Knee Jerk is not the word, so many people lack perspective it's unreal. 

 

One good game Amartey is the next Kante (who's name I am beginning to get sick of hearing), one bad game against Liverpool away "oh so much for that" you could not make it up.

 

One away defeat to Liverpool is hardly a reason to rip up your tactical outlook, formation, players, etc and go for a completely new ethos. We weren't at the races at Anfield and got beat by a better side on the day (no different to last year btw) it is what it is no need to suddenly think we are terrible we've got a chance to bounce back Weds, a winnable PL fixture 3 days later, and we've just taken 4 decent points in the league. It's hardly the end of the world.

 

I know some of you think we are Barcelona now, but I'd advise you to get out of the mindset where you think this team can just rock up at Anfield and take three points (not that even our title winning side managed that) because those days are gone. Back to reality of 40 points being objective 1 now I am afraid. 

[Ric Flair]

Just now, Manwell Pablo said:

 

It's just all too much for me atm, Leicester forum been painful to read for about a week. Knee Jerk is not the word, so many people lack perspective it's unreal. 

 

One good game Amartey is the next Kante (who's name I am beginning to get sick of hearing), one bad game against Liverpool away "oh so much for that" you could not make it up.

 

One away defeat to Liverpool is hardly a reason to rip up your tactical outlook, formation, players, etc and go for a completely new ethos. We weren't at the races at Anfield and got beat by a better side on the day (no different to last year btw) it is what it is no need to suddenly think we are terrible we've got a chance to bounce back Weds, a winnable PL fixture 3 days later, and we've just taken 4 decent points in the league. It's hardly the end of the world.

 

I know some of you think we are Barcelona now, but I'd advise you to get out of the mindset where you think this team can just rock up at Anfield and take three points (not that even our title winning side managed that) because those days are gone. Back to reality of 40 points being objective 1 now I am afraid. 

But come on pal, we can't keep going 4-4-2 away against the likes of Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs? It'll return zero points if we do. We still have a great squad but we have to respect that to compete against teams of this ilk on their turf with only 2 in the middle is nigh on impossible unless you're playing out your skin. We did it last season due to them all being bang on it and the player with no name who fcuked us off for Chelsea being able to get around the park like shit off a shovel. If we don't grasp this and make the change then it's criminal. Away against them lot we must become a little more reserved but against the majority we still go and take bodies, simple.

[Manwell Pablo]

3 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

But come on pal, we can't keep going 4-4-2 away against the likes of Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs? It'll return zero points if we do. We still have a great squad but we have to respect that to compete against teams of this ilk on their turf with only 2 in the middle is nigh on impossible unless you're playing out your skin. We did it last season due to them all being bang on it and the player with no name who fcuked us off for Chelsea being able to get around the park like shit off a shovel. If we don't grasp this and make the change then it's criminal. Away against them lot we must become a little more reserved but against the majority we still go and take bodies, simple.

I can see why you'd say that.

 

A little worrying for me we seemed toothless in attack with two strikers so gawd knows what we will be like with one, Lucas was our most creative player.

 

Perhaps we should do it but reverting to what's probably going to be a 4-5-1 seems to be accepting defeat to me.

[Ric Flair]

Just now, Manwell Pablo said:

I can see why you'd say that.

 

A little worrying for me we seemed toothless in attack with two strikers so gawd knows what we will be like with one, Lucas was our most creative player.

We've somehow got to shore up the centre of the park to protect our aging defence and also allow us the same creative attacking force that we had last season. Mahrez being nigh on anonymous hasn't helped matters but because he's got extra players all over him we're yet to exploit the gaps this must be leaving elsewhere on the park. Too many players yet to hit top gear but then again this can happen and manifest so we just need to keep calm, look at how we can improve and try and do it. I think 4-3-3 with Mahrez and Musa either side of Vardy or Slimani with then protection of Mendy, Amartey and Drinkwater can work against the better sides. Or we go wing backs again and allow Mahrez the freedom of being behind the strikers with an extra central defender and hope that gives us more protection. Over to Don Claudio to sort.