A few thoughts

[Guest Col city fan]

I think Fox 92 is spot on. As usual to be fair. It's not losing, it's the manner of the losses that's worrying. I watched Sats game back again yesterday and Liverpool were like Moses parting the Red Sea  (I think it was the red Sea?) It's hard to believe the space we gave them and time and time again it was runners not tracking back, which forced Morgan and Huth to have to anticipate these runs themselves, thus losing their own defensive shape.

I made this point in the summer. Morgan and Huth were ROCKS last season. We went game after game not conceding goals. Why? Because our MIDFIELD was sorted. Just like Lenton did for Walsh and Elliott, so did Kante for Huth and Morgan.

My worry is this.. if we continue to concede at this alarming rate, Morgan particularly will be once again scapegoated. Just as he was in Pearson's season when oncoming midfielders were running past Cambiasso at will, in the 442. 

It's the midfield that's weak again. Claudio..sort it.

[Manwell Pablo]

1 minute ago, Ric Flair said:

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.

 

I think points against the bigger teams are going to be few and far between anyway, no matter the approach, this is perhaps why full on panic because of one result is uncalled for in my book, if it happens again against Yoonited then that's when we know we have a problem, the same setup did keep Arsenal at bay in a game we should of won albeit that was at home. We got results thanks to our setup last season, this over flowing the midfield and trying to not lose before trying to win is what most teams try against the big hitters and it fails more often than it works. But if it's keeps tight and we can perhaps nick a draw here win there against the top 4 I suppose it's better than losing 4-0 every time we are away at a good side. 

 

[Ric Flair]

7 minutes ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

I think points against the bigger teams are going to be few and far between anyway, no matter the approach, this is perhaps why full on panic because of one result is uncalled for in my book, if it happens again against Yoonited then that's when we know we have a problem, the same setup did keep Arsenal at bay in a game we should of won albeit that was at home. We got results thanks to our setup last season, this over flowing the midfield and trying to not lose before trying to win is what most teams try against the big hitters and it fails more often than it works. But if it's keeps tight and we can perhaps nick a draw here win there against the top 4 I suppose it's better than losing 4-0 every time we are away at a good side. 

 

I suppose you're right, it's all about finding the right balance. If our attack are no more threatening playing in a 4-4-2 than they are in a more compact set up then we need to look at alternatives. Getting ripped apart is hard to watch and whatever system we deploy it must be balanced.

[whetstonefox]

Most teams in this league more or less know where they are going to be eg Man City, Man Utd towards the top and Burnley Hull near the bottom.

 

For us though we have no idea , we could easily click and be top 6 but given how poor defensively we look as a team we could end up bottom 6.

 

need a few more games to assess, but CR now needs to redefine how we set up, I'm sure he will given his experience 

[HighPeakFox]

Some great points made. I deliberately avoided formation and Kanté discussion because I think we all know the score. I'm more about the psychological impact of the last 18 months and remembering that everyone at the club is pretty much in uncharted waters. 

 

I know they're paid vast sums too, but human responses are human responses.