Howard99 Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 Liverpool away and man United away both pretty much identical performances. To me it seems as though all the preparation is going into the following champions league match. Ranieri probably looked at the Liverpool and man United away games and thought, even if we put 100% effort and preparation into these games we will probably still lose anyway. Also I have noticed the players have done a lot less pressing in these games and it has basically been hoof ball a lot. This is my take on it anyway, I imagine Ranieri and the players on new deals have massive incentives for winning the champions league group etc. Obviously not all about money, there's pride and the once in a lifetime opportunity to do well in the champions league too. Not sure who we've got next prior to a champions league game but will be interesting to see if it happens again.
Matt Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 Interesting theory. Generally teams who are involved in European action struggle with the game after the European tie but it seems we're struggling with the game prior to them.
Alan lcfc Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 I'm pretty sure it's Chelsea away before Copenhagen at home
Howard99 Posted 24 September 2016 Author Posted 24 September 2016 There's obviously a lot of preparation for the game on Tuesday been going on. There's no way they can just turn up to training on Monday and just start preparing for it then. I'm pretty sure this is a big reason for the poor Liverpool and man united games. If any nerds out there want to check out last seasons champions league sides, and how they performed the game before champions league will be appreciated
Monsell1976 Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 Does look that way, we really are poor the game before, maybe coincidence, but there could be something in it.
STUHILL Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 We really do seem to missing the hunger we had last season where we attacked every ball. Even Vardy seemed to pull out of challenges and not close down like he is so well known for. Our squad simply isn't good enough to play at anything less than full throttle and expect to win consistently. I hope we see that intensity back on Tuesday, as we really are a shadow of ourselves without it!
Howard99 Posted 24 September 2016 Author Posted 24 September 2016 3 minutes ago, STUHILL said: We really do seem to missing the hunger we had last season where we attacked every ball. Even Vardy seemed to pull out of challenges and not close down like he is so well known for. Our squad simply isn't good enough to play at anything less than full throttle and expect to win consistently. I hope we see that intensity back on Tuesday, as we really are a shadow of ourselves without it! Vardy hasn't been the same for ages now. I don't get it personally, if Ranieri is telling him not to press and close down then just bench him and play Musa. And then play vardy at full pelt Tuesday
Sharpe's Fox Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 No we are just getting on the wrong end of hidings because we're playing shite against good sides. No excuses.
jayfox26 Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 I think there could be something in this. It's not just the scoreline in these games that is alarming it's how poor we have played. The 2 games against Liverpool and united are by far the worst performances we've had under Ranieri by a distance. Against Hull we could easily have won had we taken our chances but we never looked like beating united or Liverpool
shailen Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 I'm sure G.Neville said before the game the players were excited about playing Porto and talked to him about that so there could be truth in that they are not fully concentrating on these games. Not to pick on anyone but I saw Vardy and others pulling out of tackles and not showing the same levels of commitment as though they were not risking injury. I think it's understandable given its the first time and potentially the only time some of these players will play in this competition. Apart from Drinkwater and Gray when he came on no one was on their game.
lgfualol Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 1 hour ago, STUHILL said: We really do seem to missing the hunger we had last season where we attacked every ball. Even Vardy seemed to pull out of challenges and not close down like he is so well known for. Our squad simply isn't good enough to play at anything less than full throttle and expect to win consistently. I hope we see that intensity back on Tuesday, as we really are a shadow of ourselves without it! Hunger left when we gave out mad contracts, though reasonable at the time so nobody left, I imagine once you're earning 70-100k a week (especially for our aging players) and won the Prem, the hunger would subside a little in the league games. However our team of rejects do want to prove themselves in the CL so I expect to see better performances. It is late so maybe I sound paranoid or whatever.
HighPeakFox Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 I think I've said elsewhere that psychologically this domestic season is hard for us - I think next season will be far 'easier'.
STUHILL Posted 24 September 2016 Posted 24 September 2016 27 minutes ago, lgfualol said: Hunger left when we gave out mad contracts, though reasonable at the time so nobody left, I imagine once you're earning 70-100k a week (especially for our aging players) and won the Prem, the hunger would subside a little in the league games. However our team of rejects do want to prove themselves in the CL so I expect to see better performances. It is late so maybe I sound paranoid or whatever. If we see another strong performance on Tues and another flat performance at the weekend, then I will start to believe you. It's a risky game though, as we could end up in a fight to avoid the drop if we don't up the intensity in the League games. I doubt it will come to that, but would be nice to get a solid top 8 this season so that the doubters don't completely write us off, but that will require us to get back to high intensity, ruthless football. Hopefully today was a wake-up call.
Vardinio'sCat Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 The schedule is different this season, front-loaded with top teams if you like. This means that instead of being fresher than the top teams we played last year, we are busier, and have one eye on a strong CL campaign. I think we can still do well in the league this year, and losing at OT and Anfield is not the end of the world. I expect CR to go conservative when we play Chelsea away.
Dan Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 I thought this myself. There was a particular lack of application in both games I thought. Unfortunately our next two are Chelsea away & Spurs away so I'd not be surprised if we're battered four away games running. I don't think it's out of Ranieri's character to completely chuck a game if he feels we can pick up a more important result in his eyes elsewhere.
Grewks Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 Who knows? Disagree with the 'next season will be easier' post from above. Surely fan expectation for next season will be to finish in the top 4 if we don't have European Football? Is that unrealistic? Not for a side which were champions 2 seasons prior.
ScouseFox Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 hope so I'd much rather win the champions league games than the league games and it seems mighty hard to win both in 3 or 4 days so gotta prioritise the big ones.
CosbehFox Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 Problem is it puts lots of pressure on the home games to keep the points totals ticking over. If we start to fault there... The fixture list has been cruel this year mind.
st albans fox Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 57 minutes ago, Cardiff_Fox said: Problem is it puts lots of pressure on the home games to keep the points totals ticking over. If we start to fault there... The fixture list has been cruel this year mind. In the same way it was fairly kind last season ? it allowed us to build momentum in a way which just isn't possible this time, especially with the CL fixtures taking mental precedence. what has happened since mid August puts the hull result in perspective. It's was a shocker.
foxfanazer Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 Really hope not. Don't want to gamble with our premier league status
Fox92 Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 No. We're just getting hammered by better teams. We've lost a World Class player who practically mopped everything up defensively and covered our rubbish defence (and this season they are exposed without him). The lack of preparation started in the summer. We needed to improve the squad and the only positions we've improved is the attacking third.
Thracian Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 I guessed it would be like this and it's worse than pathetic. But is it down to Ranieri, the players, the priorities of the owners, something else I'm not aware of or a combination of factors? Whatever, It's a bad advertisement for sure. I've not commented on the coaching aspects because, when I made a list, it was too long, too depressing and scarcely believeable. The sort of nonsense which could have led to us losing to anyone, including the Faroe Islands. Hull, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and all in next to no time - and people still say it's nothing to worry about. Well, there's everything to worry about. There are days when you lose that can be easily and reasonably excused. But not a rash of defeats where so much is indefensible. Is Ranieri even coping with the weight of such unexpected responsibility? I don't know but it doesn't seem like it. We're paying out a lot more money for a lot less on the football field and it needs to change now. Ranieri has earned some slack - and slack is exactly what we are in countless ways. It needs to end now.
CosbehFox Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 1 hour ago, st albans fox said: In the same way it was fairly kind last season ? it allowed us to build momentum in a way which just isn't possible this time, especially with the CL fixtures taking mental precedence. what has happened since mid August puts the hull result in perspective. It's was a shocker. Agreed. It worked out fortunate last time around as it did with the season previous during the great escape. Its a factor, not decisive mind
David Hankey Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 Without doubt something is different this season with many of the same players, why? Do they think they can't repeat the magnificent feat of last season with an improved squad? Are minds concentrating on their Champions League fixtures? Perhaps they feel as a repeat is not expected so why bother. I don't know but Ranieri has to show leadership and sort the failings out. A lot of money has been spent in the close season and the players need to know what is expected of them particularly as many are on improved contracts. The season is not over by a long way but an unbeaten run is required sooner rather than later.
Beliall Posted 25 September 2016 Posted 25 September 2016 Errr no. Liverpool played really well, and UTD got insanely lucky. the end
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