Chelsea away pre-match

[TJB-fox]

If we turn out another Utd/Liverpool performance in which we get outnumbered in midfield and totally torn apart at the back Ranieri needs to have a serious rethink about things. Worried about this one

[Guest CityFan 06]

I've actually got an alright feeling about this, albeit early. I'm hoping we do not lose/concede by 4+ goals again though, at both Liverpool and Manchester Utd away this season we have conceded four. I certainly believe we should go with a three man central midfield for this one to add that solidity to our play especially as we're away from home against a top side. I think we can manage 4-4-2 at home though.

 

Early predicted line up:
 

GK Schmeichel

RB Simpson CB Morgan CB Huth LB Fuchs

CM Drinkwater CM Mendy CM Amartey

RW Mahrez CF Vardy LW Gray.

 

[erlee]

Chelski 1.55    LCFC 5.50

 

want some beer money?

[foxfan92]

14 hours ago, CityFan 06 said:

I've actually got an alright feeling about this, albeit early. I'm hoping we do not lose/concede by 4+ goals again though, at both Liverpool and Manchester Utd away this season we have conceded four. I certainly believe we should go with a three man central midfield for this one to add that solidity to our play especially as we're away from home against a top side. I think we can manage 4-2-2 at home though.

 

You are confident with our home performances - even suggesting we play with fewer outfield players.

[Guest CityFan 06]

2 minutes ago, foxfan92 said:

You are confident with our home performances - even suggesting we play with fewer outfield players.

Thanks, didn't notice that. 

[NotTheMarketLeader]

On 6 October 2016 at 18:32, UPinCarolina said:

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. 

The answer to that is no.

 

Why I don't know, but what I do know is that for us to be competitive we have to have everyone flat out. 

[NotTheMarketLeader]

On 6 October 2016 at 12:08, davieG said:

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

Published on: 06 October 2016

.

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."

I read this as Ranieri, in a subtle way, being critical of the effort / performances of the four more attacking players mentioned there.

 

I am pleased to read that he sees the problem, and how that has affected the overall team performance. As well as the Liverpool and Manure games, it was clear as day that the effort particularly from Vardy was just not there. 

[st albans fox]

Teams have worked out that by keeping our wide men pre occupied, they will stretch the centre of midfield where we only have two.

 

its ok for Claudio to mention it but he has to find a way to stop the opposition feeling confident enough to do this. 

[Keith Wellers Tights]

On 10/6/2016 at 14:05, les-tah said:

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.

Despite sporadic heroics as a sub last season I'd agree that we may be better served with Musa replacing Ulloa on the bench but I'm really struggling to find a reason why Shinji should be removed from the match squad. Given the away performances, it wouldn't be the worst idea to have him back in the starting 11.

[foxfan92]

Having Mendy injured has kind of forced us to keep to a 4-4-2 formation.

 

It also served us so well last season and there have been games when we've still looked good and Amartey has stepped up to the mark and begun to develop an understanding with Drinkwater. It's clear Ranieri recognises our shortcomings in a few matches but I also feel he thinks (as I do) playing 1 up front will negate our counter attacking prowess. 

 

I dont like the formation but wonder if we can go back to 3-5-2 especially if Amartey can drop to give us a back 4 at times. He's a bit of a utility player. Would give us strength in the middle and we have fast wingers who help out with defensive duties.

 

Like I said I'm not a fan and would prefer 4-4-2 normally against most opposition especially at home but perhaps something to consider. I think 4-3-3 will slow our counter attack down and leave us with 1 target man at times but then 3-5-2 won't be as quick on the counter as 4-4-2 either...

[RoyFox]

This please Claudio....

[lcfcdamo]

1 hour ago, RoyFox said:

This please Claudio....

100% my team aswell 

[Koke]

CR press conference is tomorrow so we will know if Mendy is fit or not. If he isn't fit then we will go 4-4-2 again - and God help us. 

[RoyFox]

6 minutes ago, lcfcdamo said:

100% my team aswell 

451 when we defend, bringing Gray and Mahrez into a packed defensive midfield, then breaking into 433 on attacks, with drinkwater coming further forwards.

 

Gray deserves a start, having Drinkwater and Fuchs behind him makes up for Albrightons defensive impact. Vardy can come on for Slimani around 70 mins if the score is level/ or leading.

 

King on for Mendy when he tires. If we're down then we'll have to be more aggressive and play 2 up top.

 

 

[RoyFox]

10 minutes ago, Koke said:

CR press conference is tomorrow so we will know if Mendy is fit or not. If he isn't fit then we will go 4-4-2 again - and God help us. 

I literally will be touching cloth from the start if that's the case. And I'm going to a party after the game at a Chelsea fans house 

[norwichfox]

1 hour ago, RoyFox said:

This please Claudio....

I hope it's not significant that we are all facing our own goal , although I can understand the team turning their backs on Judas Kante

[Nalis]

Rest the key players that have played during the international break, play the key players that didnt for match practice.

 

If it transpires that we beat Copenhagen, I wouldnt give two fvcks if we lose this one 4-1.

 

 

[Guest Col city fan]

Have a bad feeling that we are gonna get tonked at Chelsea. Can see it being by at least two goals as well.

[Guest CityFan 06]

27 minutes ago, Koke said:

CR press conference is tomorrow so we will know if Mendy is fit or not. If he isn't fit then we will go 4-4-2 again - and God help us. 

To be honest I think King could do well for us in a three man midfield, I reckon he could really flourish especially if he were to play in a more advanced role. Amartey in perhaps a CDM role, with King and Drinkwater just in front of him could be good. Of course, this is assuming Mendy isn't fit.

 

Agree regarding 4-4-2. We can manage it well at home but away from home we need to keep a solid shape and 4-3-3 could be just the job to do that. It doesn't necessarily restrict us going forward either, we've got a wealth of quality attacking players.

[jammie82uk]

Stat time 

 

• Chelsea are without a win in their last two Premier League meetings with Leicester (W0 D1 L1), after winning the six before that.
• Leicester have registered just one win in their 10 Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge (D3 L6), with that win coming in September 2000 via a 2-0 scoreline.
• This will be Claudio Ranieri's third top-flight clash with Chelsea, with each of those meetings coming against a different manager (2-1 v Mourinho, 1-1 v Hiddink and this game against Conte).
• Cesc Fabregas has netted three goals in Chelsea last two meetings with Leicester in all competitions, including a brace in a 4-2 EFL Cup win for the Blues in September.
• Leicester City have lost on just one of their last five top-flight trips to London (W3 D1 L1), this after losing 17 and drawing three of their previous 20.
• Leicester City have lost all three of their away league games this season. The last reigning top-flight champions to lose their opening four away games of the season were Blackburn in 1995-96 (also Liverpool in 1964-65 – 4, and Arsenal in 1953-54 - 4).
• Jamie Vardy has averaged a goal every 281 minutes in the Premier League this season (two goals in seven games), a significant drop from 2015/16's 131 mins per goal average (24 goals in 36 games).
• Since he joined Chelsea in July 2014, only Sergio Aguero (55) and Harry Kane (48) have scored more Premier League goals than Diego Costa (38).
• Eight of Chelsea's last 13 top-flight games at Stamford Bridge have ended in a draw (W3 L2).
• Excluding penalties, Chelsea are one of just two sides yet to score a goal from a set-piece situation this season (also Sunderland).
   

[Ric Flair]

I'd be happy with

 

Kasper

 

Morgan

Amartey

Huth

 

Albrighton

King

Drinkwater

Fuchs

 

Mahrez

 

Vardy

Slimani

 

If we have to play both Vardy and Slimani away from home then the above could work. Amartey can split between midfield and defence, you could always play Okazaki instead of Vardy to support the midfield more and leave Amartey protecting the defence. Andy King has hardly pulled any trees up of late but he always has a fair old game vs Chelsea, he came on last season at home and was superb.

[David Guiza]

12 minutes ago, jammie82uk said:

Stat time 

 

• Excluding penalties, Chelsea are one of just two sides yet to score a goal from a set-piece situation this season (also Sunderland).
   

Please, no!

[filbertstreet]

1 hour ago, norwichfox said:

I hope it's not significant that we are all facing our own goal , although I can understand the team turning their backs on Judas Kante

it's just our trademark shit defending of corners

[norwichfox]

54 minutes ago, filbertstreet said:

it's just our trademark shit defending of corners

[RoyFox]

Who else is deeply concerned that we're going to be on the end of a drubbing? 442 and we're in massive trouble, Hazard and Fabregas will tear us a new one and simply pass through our midfield (Amartey) with ease. We need to pack the midfield and park the bus initially, using our quick counters when we get the ball.