Chelsea away pre-match

[StriderHiryu]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri considering Daniel Amartey tactical switch ahead of Chelsea trip

Published on: 06 October 2016

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Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri is considering adopting a new tactical approach centered on Daniel Amartey ahead of their trip to Chelsea after the international break.

The youngster has impressed heavily alongside Danny Drinkwater at the King Power stadium but has struggled in the same role away from home.

On home soil the Ghanaian has been a worthy replacement for N'Golo Kante and has impressed with some combative and mature performances.

However, away from home the 21-year-old may need some help, and it is a tactical switch Ranieri is considering.

"It depends how our midfielders play together because remember the other team play with three or four, depending on how they are used to playing," said Ranieri. "We have only two.

"If the strikers don't help Drinkwater and Amartey, if the wingers don't close the space and go narrow then they always up against a lot of players.

"It happened at Liverpool when it was always four versus two. It is difficult when you see people pass around you.

"The same could have happened against Porto in the last 15 minutes and for this reason I changed in the last 15 minutes and put on a third midfielder to stay together.

"Maybe we made some little mistakes away but I spoke with the players and I believe they understood why we made mistakes.

"I think Amartey has improved a lot I'm very happy with him. He has played so many matches on flank in his previous team and sometimes as a centre back or central midfielder.

"I always feel his best position is as a central midfielder, but slowly, slowly, at 21 years-old it is not easy to take this position."

Very interesting, thanks for posting this.

 

Whilst we have been quite static at times in terms of formation this season, I really do rate Ranieri for being an excellent tactical coach. Some examples I can think of:

- Versus Southampton away last year. 2-0 down, brings on Mahrez (previously out of the team) with Dyer. We get back to 2-2.

- Changes fullbacks after Arsenal 5-2 defeat at home. Takes a while but ends with one of the best defences in the league.
- Versus Watford away during the run-in. Takes off Okazaki to go 4-5-1 despite needing to win. Resulted in a a much better performance, many more chances and Mahrez magic securing the game.

- Versus Man City away. Team start very aggressive with Mahrez running at the opposition and getting the early goal. Despite that we continued to work the channels and ball over the top, culminating in possibly our greatest ever victory.

 

We'll have to wait and see what happens, but I trust Ranieri to sort it out eventually.

[les-tah]

if mendy is Fit id try him in the centre with DD and have amartey sit and  cover the back 4. Id also have slimani up top on his own as vardy has looked sh1te so far. Needs a kick up the arse.

 

Id also make subs quicker and not have both ulloa and shinji on the bench, instead have musa on it.

[foxes21]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

 

 

"If the strikers don't help Drinkwater and Amartey, if the wingers don't close the space and go narrow then they always up against a lot of players.

"It happened at Liverpool when it was always four versus two."

Well said by Don Claudio.

 

This is why we are getting slumped away from home, it isn't the formation. Last season, we didn't really play with 2 CM's lol, off the ball Mahrez, Albrighton & Okazaki would flood the middle to help DD/Kante and push teams wide. If teams got past that blockade in the middle, Morgan would step forwards to tackle/block/intercept hence why we've seen him do similar this season, but not pull it off unfortunately.

 

4-4-1-1 is still our best formation & do-able, as long as we follow the blueprint we had last season, with the wingers coming narrow & Okazaki/Slimani dropping deep.

 

[UPinCarolina]

Okazaki clearly needs to be on the pitch. I worry that we gave ourselves too many mouths to feed up front, without enough diversity in their strengths to allow them to work off of one another. This has proven to be troublesome, and will continue to be troublesome until we can figure something out. 

[Koke]

Shame Andy King isn't good enough. What's the point of having King in the squad if he isn't even in the reckoning when we desperately need an extra CM. He was useless against Chelsea and he didn't really help matters against Porto when he came on. 

 

I'm not sure what purpose King serves at he moment to be honest.

[Guest CityFan 06]

For King, he needs to be in the CAM role for me as that's his best position. We could have Drinkwater & Amartey/Mendy holding in the typical CM role, with King just behind the strikers in CAM. 

[Foxxed]

So we're now saying the problem is our midfield is being outnumbers, not just because kante's superhuman presence isn't there, but because Mahrez and Albrighton aren't coming in, and nor is Shinji and Vardy.

 

I'm assuming Albrighton and Mahrez aren't acting massively different from last season. So this means either we need Shinji back doing his midfield role again or have Slimani mimick that if he can.

 

So, basically, Shinji is the answer else we won't be able to push teams out wide, which was the blueprint to last season's success? Since if we lose Kante we can't also lose the other reason for our midfield success, Shinji? 

[Winchesterfox]

On 5 October 2016 at 16:47, cruzFOX said:

First of all we aren't in the doldrums yet lads so let's get behind the team and push them along these are the times when the players really need to see and hear us!

secondly If we can arrest the away thrashings away to the big boys than that's positive step forward.  Especially while Ranieri is trying to figure out what our new effective style of play is going to be.  

Third is we need vardy and slimani to be real pests when they don't have the ball (defending from the front) like last season.  This will keep the opposition teams on their toes and relieve some pressure in midfield.  This has to be a requirement every game irregardless of who we play against home and away.  If either of them get knackered then put musa on.

i agree with many of you when you say teams had us figured out last season but they still couldn't combat our style of play.  The longer this malaise goes on the less fear the oppppsition will have of us and more doubt will creep into our players instead of confidence and belief.  

So what we need is a resounding win at Stamford bridge and let the whole world know the foxes are back!  I'll happily take a 1-0 score line

I agree with this, particularly the need to defend from the front.   Vardy and Okazaki were brilliant at it last season, harrassing defenders constantly and getting them to give away cheap throw ins or lose possession in midfield.  It really got the crowd going too.  There hasn't been nearly enough of it this season, particularly from Vardy.  And when there has, it's usually been just one forward pressing with the other one static, so the defender has an easy pass.  

[UPinCarolina]

27 minutes ago, Winchesterfox said:

I agree with this, particularly the need to defend from the front.   Vardy and Okazaki were brilliant at it last season, harrassing defenders constantly and getting them to give away cheap throw ins or lose possession in midfield.  It really got the crowd going too.  There hasn't been nearly enough of it this season, particularly from Vardy.  And when there has, it's usually been just one forward pressing with the other one static, so the defender has an easy pass.  

Now the follow-up question becomes: is Vardy giving full effort? If he's giving full effort, the next question must be: why is he less effective in his role than before?

These are vexing things to consider, and I don't envy Claudio and his staff one bit. 

[foxes21]

2 hours ago, UPinCarolina said:

Okazaki clearly needs to be on the pitch.

Agreed! But doesn't he have a trip to Australia? He's going to be knackered

 

[FoxinNotts]

2 hours ago, Foxxed said:

So we're now saying the problem is our midfield is being outnumbers, not just because kante's superhuman presence isn't there, but because Mahrez and Albrighton aren't coming in, and nor is Shinji and Vardy.

 

I'm assuming Albrighton and Mahrez aren't acting massively different from last season. So this means either we need Shinji back doing his midfield role again or have Slimani mimick that if he can.

 

So, basically, Shinji is the answer else we won't be able to push teams out wide, which was the blueprint to last season's success? Since if we lose Kante we can't also lose the other reason for our midfield success, Shinji? 

Yes, this appears to be the answer as to why we are playing different to last season. But, Shinji for the Chelsea game will be tired. So, why not just go 4-3-3/4-5-1 and have three in the middle. Sorted. The wingers will need to work hard, tuck in and then break to support Vardy or Slimani 

[biggs]

When defenders play deep on Vardy and Slimani or whoever, I'd like to see us drop the long ball over the top which apparently we are having a hard time giving up and instead pass quickly on the ground using the wingers and midfield. This requires those players wanting/demanding the ball which they are not. Their positioning when our backs have the ball is on many an occasion almost as if they expect the ball to bypass them.

[Foxxed]

I'm believing the shinji explanation even more. It explains so much about our defence as well. It's well known Morgan and Huth are old school defenders. And they only excel at that when we push teams out wide.

 

I think we've just bought a 30 million pound replacement for Ulloa, who should only really be playing after Shinji has tired himself out and we have someone who's still able to put in a good cross.

 

All that panic last season about not buying a new striker, all that excitement this season about a new striker, all that jeering towards shinji, when what we should have been marveling at Shinji's pressuring and cheering every time we force teams out wide.

 

I can't even remember us playing well against good opposition on more than half a handful of occasions without Shinji. I do remember this fairly well though.

[Vardinio'sCat]

36 minutes ago, Foxxed said:

I'm believing the shinji explanation even more. It explains so much about our defence as well. It's well known Morgan and Huth are old school defenders. And they only excel at that when we push teams out wide.

 

I think we've just bought a 30 million pound replacement for Ulloa, who should only really be playing after Shinji has tired himself out and we have someone who's still able to put in a good cross.

 

All that panic last season about not buying a new striker, all that excitement this season about a new striker, all that jeering towards shinji, when what we should have been marveling at Shinji's pressuring and cheering every time we force teams out wide.

 

I can't even remember us playing well against good opposition on more than half a handful of occasions without Shinji. I do remember this fairly well though.

 

Great points all, but he is gonna be cream crackered.

 

I would prefer to only start Slim and Vards at home currently, even though I think the fixture list lottery hasn't helped us.

[Winchesterfox]

13 hours ago, Koke said:

Shame Andy King isn't good enough. What's the point of having King in the squad if he isn't even in the reckoning when we desperately need an extra CM. He was useless against Chelsea and he didn't really help matters against Porto when he came on. 

 

I'm not sure what purpose King serves at he moment to be honest.

Andy King looks comfortable on the ball, and when we need to kill the last 20 minutes of a game he can pass it sideways and backwards OK and retain possession.  He doesn't make a fuss about having limited appearances.  And there's an emotional connection to a player who was with us in League One, which lifts the crowd.  But for me, that's about it.  He doesn't score often, almost never makes a killer pass and doesn't defend that well, particularly when the other side is running through midfield.  In 53 Prem games (of which 26 have been starts), just four goals, one assist and between one and two tackles a match.  What am I missing?

[foxy boxing]

i really hope all our players don't come back knackered from international duty or get themselves injured, i know it is the same for every team in the league.i just hope we don't just hit the ball up to vardy and slimani all the time, when it is right yes but not all the time. we need to obviously try to dominate the midfield and don't let them have too much time on the ball and also watch out for costa's antics especially huth.,get our wingers on the ball to put crosses in for slimani while getting the ball to vardy when he makes his runs. we need to be defensively solid so amartey needs to keep his wits about him and be aware of what is going on around him. i would like us to keep possession more this season and to really build on our football and not to be just a hit and rush team

[Foxxed]

13 hours ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

 

Great points all, but he is gonna be cream crackered.

 

I would prefer to only start Slim and Vards at home currently, even though I think the fixture list lottery hasn't helped us.

I know what you mean about the international break, but in general I agree we need Shinji.

 

Without his crazy energy pushing teams out wide, Morgan and Huth are exposed in the middle. And like that, they can't quickly head away a cross etc, and without that our quick attacks with Drinky, Vardy and Mahrez are much less threatening.

 

Shinji's a damn Japanese sheep dog! The first and essential part of last season's success. And N'golo's job last season was to capture anything Shinji et al failed to push out wide. That may explain why he's not lit up the Chelsea team.

 

 

[brucey]

Shinji picked up an ankle injury yesterday.

 

Chelsea started using Kante correctly in the second half of their last league match.

[FoxinNotts]

8 minutes ago, brucey said:

Shinji picked up an ankle injury yesterday.

 

Chelsea started using Kante correctly in the second half of their last league match.

That's the spirit! Positive vibes ffs

[FoxinNotts]

Basically, no Shinji (no Kante) = no 4-4-2 away from home, in the Prem. We get out numbered in midfield each time. 

 

God, I'm boring myself. How long till the next city match?!

[Wymsey]

Hope Terry and Luiz are the defender pairing, as Slimani and Vardy will go straight through them like butter.

[the fox]

Chelsea think that they can control the game by using kantè to break our build-up play.  the joke's on them. because we don't have any build-up play. 

[NotTheMarketLeader]

On 6 October 2016 at 13:56, StriderHiryu said:

Very interesting, thanks for posting this.

 

Whilst we have been quite static at times in terms of formation this season, I really do rate Ranieri for being an excellent tactical coach. Some examples I can think of:

- Versus Southampton away last year. 2-0 down, brings on Mahrez (previously out of the team) with Dyer. We get back to 2-2.

- Changes fullbacks after Arsenal 5-2 defeat at home. Takes a while but ends with one of the best defences in the league.
- Versus Watford away during the run-in. Takes off Okazaki to go 4-5-1 despite needing to win. Resulted in a a much better performance, many more chances and Mahrez magic securing the game.

- Versus Man City away. Team start very aggressive with Mahrez running at the opposition and getting the early goal. Despite that we continued to work the channels and ball over the top, culminating in possibly our greatest ever victory.

 

We'll have to wait and see what happens, but I trust Ranieri to sort it out eventually.

This.

Many 'experts' on here either state Ranieri is simply an old dud who got lucky, or that it was Pearson's brilliance the season before that ensured we became Champions! 

[st albans fox]

4 hours ago, brucey said:

Shinji picked up an ankle injury yesterday.

 

Chelsea started using Kante correctly in the second half of their last league match.

assuming not serious, could be good news if it means he is fit for next weekend but not fit enough to stay with the japanese squad

[Chico1958]

I think Claudio should sit them all down in front of a TV and show them a dvd of them beating Man City last year.

 

Then, when it's finished say........."This is what you are acapable of doing to one of the best teams in the league."

 

"Now go and do it again" Pleeeeeeeease

 

Probably one of the best days in my life