Leicester 1 Copenhagen 0

[Babylon]

17 minutes ago, foxinsocks said:

Its academic now - but the pix shows that the lino can't possible judge if the right fullback is keeping slimani on side- so why did he raise his flag?

I don't think he shows that he can't judge, i'm sure he called what he thought he saw.

 

He's being kept onside by the oppo's toe of an outstretched leg. very difficult to see that the other end of the pitch. To him it looked offside and I can see why.

[carled]

So two schools of thought on here:

1. We played somewhere between crap and ok but still got the win

2. We played crap and got lucky, which only papers over the cracks

 

Those that think we played crap/ok and won, so "what's the problem?" - can I just remind you of the Peter Failure years when we went top after 8 games but were playing appallingly. Most of us fans could see we were in a false position as our performances were not supporting the results we kept fluking.  This is a world apart from last season when we were winning with poor possession stats because the team played to a system and we kept a good run going with confidence and enthusiasm.  Many sensible publications continued to point out that we could not build a season on such defiance of odds and, to an extent, they were right if you look at how the team adapted from the "we'll score one more than you" approach to a much tighter defence in the second part of the season. Long-term statistics will always show a return to the norm and that's where we're headed now with the lack of chances we create.

 

Now we have reverted to aimless hoofing again and it's not working as teams have dropped their defences deeper. The strikers and, more particularly, the management, should be recognising this and getting the strikers to pull back a bit. Defending from the front ONLY works if the midfield backs it up. Otherwise any decent team (our defenders do not have the passing skills for this, which is why they're now getting caught out) will just pass around the isolated strikers and they're left knackered and disillusioned.  The press can still be done, but it needs to be done closer to the halfway line and compress the game into that region. In doing this, the midfield will be closer to the strikers and there is the possibility to create passing angles and space.  At present, other teams are finding it easy to position their defenders to cut off the passing angles and all that is left is the hoof over the top.

 

We also need the defence to play more like last year. Pull the full backs in narrow, encouraging teams to go wide.  At the moment they are getting Wes & Huth to go wide, leaving space behind to be exploited.  This has to stop. As does the "I can play football" exhibition that Morgan is trying to put on. All this passing around the back bollocks is what we used to criticise Spurs for and it doesn't work if you want to launch fast attacks. We were only successful last season as the speed of transition caught teams out before they could reorganise. Now it gets to midfield and Drinkwater/Amartey turn back to look for square balls and it just slows everything right down again.  We end up doing the England-style pathetic and ineffective sideways passing crap until one of the defenders gets bored or panics and launches it.

 

It's simply an observation. I expect to be labelled a moaner for pointing it out, but that's not really the case. I enjoyed watching how we played last year because it was vibrant, fast and exciting. Now we've gone slow and predictable with horrible hoofball and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more from the players we have.

[ScouseFox]

11 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I don't think he shows that he can't judge, i'm sure he called what he thought he saw.

 

He's being kept onside by the oppo's toe of an outstretched leg. very difficult to see that the other end of the pitch. To him it looked offside and I can see why.

based on the stills his positioning is wrong so he looks blatantly offside. if the lino is perfectly in line he should spot the man on the far side playing him on. but he's not, and he's just noticed slimani is ahead of the two in the middle so flagged. 

[Number 6]

7 hours ago, Danishfan said:

And thats the point, really. After the game in England people in Denmark are starting to talk about that you are not even a favorite in the next game. As a fan of English football I find that a shame, i love watching the premier league just as must i love the danish league. But that people and some "experts" start to say that Copenhagen might the the favorite in Denmark is just wrong. Any danish side should never be considered a favorite against the English champions no matter which team is the champions. So I really hope that you do prove that you are the champions and show Copenhagen that they are by danish standards a really great team, but compared to the champions of England the are no match. 

 

Of cause. But to get 2-3 great goalscoring chances in a game against a danish side really isn't impressive? And to be fair Copenhagen did also have 2 chances that normally end up giving them 2 goals. 

Putting two on a plate for an unmarked striker I think is good going against any side were likely to be playing. I'd rather than than 10 half chances.

[Number 6]

7 hours ago, Babylon said:

To be fair to the line I can see why he'd give that as offside, it's not but it's an almost impossible one to judge.

Quite funny that attempting to block the cross is what's played him onside. Very tough to call that one correctly though.

[NewEnglandFox]

3 hours ago, the fox said:

Shinji is "the at least" kind of player. In the end of the day you will say. "At least he ran". "At least he tried".At least this. At least that. We should name him the  "at least shinji"

@Foxes21 says everything is proof that Shinji should be in the lineup, even getting tripped by the ball and giving it straight back to the opposition. That's just the kind of Shinji circlejerker he is. Yet no one ever calls him out on it so here it is....

[Guest the fox]

2 hours ago, NewEnglandFox said:

@Foxes21 says everything is proof that Shinji should be in the lineup, even getting tripped by the ball and giving it straight back to the opposition. That's just the kind of Shinji circlejerker he is. Yet no one ever calls him out on it so here it is....

shinji and schlupp gonna be the end of me . they are exactly the type of players we need but. Shinji can't stay on his feet to save his life. And schlupp doesn't have a brain. So frustrating to watch. For me the worst two opinions in this forum are." Marc should start because he is a good defender" and "shinji should play because he supports the midfielder and he can link up the play". And for that I have to say. Just play a LB instead of marc.  because 1- a LB is a better defender. And 2- The LB will cross with his natural foot. And for shinji. Just play a natural midfielder instead. He will support the midfield and link the play better because that is his job. 

[Jakewilk]

23 hours ago, Wymeswold fox said:

His hand wasn't, and I classify that as part of body unfortunately.

Has to be a part of the body he can legally score with. Therefore he is onside.

 

sorry didn't see previous responses ignore me.

[Smudge]

6 hours ago, carled said:

So two schools of thought on here:

1. We played somewhere between crap and ok but still got the win

2. We played crap and got lucky, which only papers over the cracks

 

Those that think we played crap/ok and won, so "what's the problem?" - can I just remind you of the Peter Failure years when we went top after 8 games but were playing appallingly. Most of us fans could see we were in a false position as our performances were not supporting the results we kept fluking.  This is a world apart from last season when we were winning with poor possession stats because the team played to a system and we kept a good run going with confidence and enthusiasm.  Many sensible publications continued to point out that we could not build a season on such defiance of odds and, to an extent, they were right if you look at how the team adapted from the "we'll score one more than you" approach to a much tighter defence in the second part of the season. Long-term statistics will always show a return to the norm and that's where we're headed now with the lack of chances we create.

 

Now we have reverted to aimless hoofing again and it's not working as teams have dropped their defences deeper. The strikers and, more particularly, the management, should be recognising this and getting the strikers to pull back a bit. Defending from the front ONLY works if the midfield backs it up. Otherwise any decent team (our defenders do not have the passing skills for this, which is why they're now getting caught out) will just pass around the isolated strikers and they're left knackered and disillusioned.  The press can still be done, but it needs to be done closer to the halfway line and compress the game into that region. In doing this, the midfield will be closer to the strikers and there is the possibility to create passing angles and space.  At present, other teams are finding it easy to position their defenders to cut off the passing angles and all that is left is the hoof over the top.

 

We also need the defence to play more like last year. Pull the full backs in narrow, encouraging teams to go wide.  At the moment they are getting Wes & Huth to go wide, leaving space behind to be exploited.  This has to stop. As does the "I can play football" exhibition that Morgan is trying to put on. All this passing around the back bollocks is what we used to criticise Spurs for and it doesn't work if you want to launch fast attacks. We were only successful last season as the speed of transition caught teams out before they could reorganise. Now it gets to midfield and Drinkwater/Amartey turn back to look for square balls and it just slows everything right down again.  We end up doing the England-style pathetic and ineffective sideways passing crap until one of the defenders gets bored or panics and launches it.

 

It's simply an observation. I expect to be labelled a moaner for pointing it out, but that's not really the case. I enjoyed watching how we played last year because it was vibrant, fast and exciting. Now we've gone slow and predictable with horrible hoofball and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more from the players we have.

An articulate and thoughtful post.

The tactics are part of the problem but the team is still full of journeymen with notable exceptions and I believe that's another issue at this level.

None of the top teams would have Morgan, Fuchs, Simpson, Amartey, King, Albrighton, Schlupp, Ulloa, or Hernandez in their first team selection.

As Premier League Champions and CL contenders, you have to wonder what our thought process was in the summer. I suppose there's the sentiment in rewarding the success of last year but I feel that if that is the case, that loyalty will cost us. You can carry a couple of average players but not 9.

[Foxxed]

7 hours ago, carled said:

So two schools of thought on here:

1. We played somewhere between crap and ok but still got the win

2. We played crap and got lucky, which only papers over the cracks

 

Those that think we played crap/ok and won, so "what's the problem?" - can I just remind you of the Peter Failure years when we went top after 8 games but were playing appallingly. Most of us fans could see we were in a false position as our performances were not supporting the results we kept fluking.  This is a world apart from last season when we were winning with poor possession stats because the team played to a system and we kept a good run going with confidence and enthusiasm.  Many sensible publications continued to point out that we could not build a season on such defiance of odds and, to an extent, they were right if you look at how the team adapted from the "we'll score one more than you" approach to a much tighter defence in the second part of the season. Long-term statistics will always show a return to the norm and that's where we're headed now with the lack of chances we create.

 

Now we have reverted to aimless hoofing again and it's not working as teams have dropped their defences deeper. The strikers and, more particularly, the management, should be recognising this and getting the strikers to pull back a bit. Defending from the front ONLY works if the midfield backs it up. Otherwise any decent team (our defenders do not have the passing skills for this, which is why they're now getting caught out) will just pass around the isolated strikers and they're left knackered and disillusioned.  The press can still be done, but it needs to be done closer to the halfway line and compress the game into that region. In doing this, the midfield will be closer to the strikers and there is the possibility to create passing angles and space.  At present, other teams are finding it easy to position their defenders to cut off the passing angles and all that is left is the hoof over the top.

 

We also need the defence to play more like last year. Pull the full backs in narrow, encouraging teams to go wide.  At the moment they are getting Wes & Huth to go wide, leaving space behind to be exploited.  This has to stop. As does the "I can play football" exhibition that Morgan is trying to put on. All this passing around the back bollocks is what we used to criticise Spurs for and it doesn't work if you want to launch fast attacks. We were only successful last season as the speed of transition caught teams out before they could reorganise. Now it gets to midfield and Drinkwater/Amartey turn back to look for square balls and it just slows everything right down again.  We end up doing the England-style pathetic and ineffective sideways passing crap until one of the defenders gets bored or panics and launches it.

 

It's simply an observation. I expect to be labelled a moaner for pointing it out, but that's not really the case. I enjoyed watching how we played last year because it was vibrant, fast and exciting. Now we've gone slow and predictable with horrible hoofball and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more from the players we have.

Easily one of the best posts I've read on here, and definitely this season. Pressing closer to the midfield line, stop Morgan playing to his weaknesses and bring the full backs inside sounds like an excellent remedy. Add in understand and play Shinji and that's pretty much what I think we need to do to get back to a much more competitive level.

[davieG]

• Last 16 dangers

Speaking of top twos, it is becoming clearer that winning a group and earning seeding in the round of 16 could be a rather mixed blessing. As it stands, Paris, Manchester City, Bayern, Madrid and Sevilla all lie second in their sections – not teams anyone would want to land, even with the return leg at home.

[st albans fox]

1 minute ago, davieG said:

• Last 16 dangers

Speaking of top twos, it is becoming clearer that winning a group and earning seeding in the round of 16 could be a rather mixed blessing. As it stands, Paris, Manchester City, Bayern, Madrid and Sevilla all lie second in their sections – not teams anyone would want to land, even with the return leg at home.

We can't play an English team - we need to hope that arsenal and citeh both finish second and that we get lucky with besiktas/benfica or potentially Leverkusen if spurs win their group

 

whatever happens, it seems there will be no really weak side in the last 16 and the likelihood is that with the luck we had with the group draw, a difficult last 16 tie awaits

[st albans fox]

14 hours ago, Foxxed said:

Easily one of the best posts I've read on here, and definitely this season. Pressing closer to the midfield line, stop Morgan playing to his weaknesses and bring the full backs inside sounds like an excellent remedy. Add in understand and play Shinji and that's pretty much what I think we need to do to get back to a much more competitive level.

I think the passing around we are doing at the back is simply to give the midfield/attack a breather before they have to go chasing an interception again once we have conceded possession 

[kingcarr21]

Bring it on. I really want to get Barcelona. Hoping for an easier Round of 16 then take on the mighty Barca in the quarters. Dispatch them then ruin Real in the Semis before playing Spurs in the final and winning it with a tap in goal off Danny Simpsons arse.

 

Easy

[Shelf Side Spurs]

Three out of three......top of the group and well deserved brilliant! congrats all round.

[ScouseFox]

11 hours ago, st albans fox said:

whatever happens, it seems there will be no really weak side in the last 16 

well we will be... 

[st albans fox]

21 minutes ago, ScouseFox said:

well we will be... 

But we can't draw ourselves. We'd lose anyway!!

[Aidan]

On 10/19/2016 at 03:24, Koke said:

Mahrez spends way too much time defending for my liking. I wish he was more centrally cos I think he'd be more effective. 

 

Ranieri's post match interview was rather concerning to be honest.

Speaking like a true coach! Excellent comment. Making a player like Mahrez defend (galloping up and down that right corridor) is not only ineffective but seriously hampers the player's superior creative work. Any decent coach understands that.

[Aidan]

On ‎10‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 05:46, carled said:

On ‎10‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 12:33, Smudge said:

An articulate and thoughtful post.

The tactics are part of the problem but the team is still full of journeymen with notable exceptions and I believe that's another issue at this level.

None of the top teams would have Morgan, Fuchs, Simpson, Amartey, King, Albrighton, Schlupp, Ulloa, or Hernandez in their first team selection.

As Premier League Champions and CL contenders, you have to wonder what our thought process was in the summer. I suppose there's the sentiment in rewarding the success of last year but I feel that if that is the case, that loyalty will cost us. You can carry a couple of average players but not 9.

So two schools of thought on here:

1. We played somewhere between crap and ok but still got the win

2. We played crap and got lucky, which only papers over the cracks

 

Those that think we played crap/ok and won, so "what's the problem?" - can I just remind you of the Peter Failure years when we went top after 8 games but were playing appallingly. Most of us fans could see we were in a false position as our performances were not supporting the results we kept fluking.  This is a world apart from last season when we were winning with poor possession stats because the team played to a system and we kept a good run going with confidence and enthusiasm.  Many sensible publications continued to point out that we could not build a season on such defiance of odds and, to an extent, they were right if you look at how the team adapted from the "we'll score one more than you" approach to a much tighter defence in the second part of the season. Long-term statistics will always show a return to the norm and that's where we're headed now with the lack of chances we create.

 

Now we have reverted to aimless hoofing again and it's not working as teams have dropped their defences deeper. The strikers and, more particularly, the management, should be recognising this and getting the strikers to pull back a bit. Defending from the front ONLY works if the midfield backs it up. Otherwise any decent team (our defenders do not have the passing skills for this, which is why they're now getting caught out) will just pass around the isolated strikers and they're left knackered and disillusioned.  The press can still be done, but it needs to be done closer to the halfway line and compress the game into that region. In doing this, the midfield will be closer to the strikers and there is the possibility to create passing angles and space.  At present, other teams are finding it easy to position their defenders to cut off the passing angles and all that is left is the hoof over the top.

 

We also need the defence to play more like last year. Pull the full backs in narrow, encouraging teams to go wide.  At the moment they are getting Wes & Huth to go wide, leaving space behind to be exploited.  This has to stop. As does the "I can play football" exhibition that Morgan is trying to put on. All this passing around the back bollocks is what we used to criticise Spurs for and it doesn't work if you want to launch fast attacks. We were only successful last season as the speed of transition caught teams out before they could reorganise. Now it gets to midfield and Drinkwater/Amartey turn back to look for square balls and it just slows everything right down again.  We end up doing the England-style pathetic and ineffective sideways passing crap until one of the defenders gets bored or panics and launches it.

 

It's simply an observation. I expect to be labelled a moaner for pointing it out, but that's not really the case. I enjoyed watching how we played last year because it was vibrant, fast and exciting. Now we've gone slow and predictable with horrible hoofball and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect more from the players we have.

Thank you for a great post. I hope many in this forum see this and share it with others.

[FireFox]

Juve could potentially finish 2nd to Sevilla in Group H. PSG too in Group A to Arsenal. And then there will be Real/Dortmund and Atletico/Bayern.

 

20 hours ago, st albans fox said:

We can't play an English team - we need to hope that arsenal and citeh both finish second and that we get lucky with besiktas/benfica or potentially Leverkusen if spurs win their group

Monaco and Spurs are probably going to go thru in that group.

 

20 hours ago, kingcarr21 said:

Bring it on. I really want to get Barcelona. Hoping for an easier Round of 16 then take on the mighty Barca in the quarters. Dispatch them then ruin Real in the Semis before playing Spurs in the final and winning it with a tap in goal off Danny Simpsons arse.

 

Easy

As if Spurs get to the final.

 

Hope we draw Monaco. (Spurs would need to finish top though). Revenge for Ranieri.

Then Atletico. Revenge for our previous campaigns.

Then Spurs/Arsenal.

Then Barca in Wales.

[Chico1958]

Lets get out of the group first, then continue to dream.

 

Watched the last two games in Greece, Saturday was a mare, Tuesday left the bar feeling so much better.

 

Kasper save was incredible, bit worried about Wes though. I think he needs a break.

[st albans fox]

4 hours ago, Aidan said:

Speaking like a true coach! Excellent comment. Making a player like Mahrez defend (galloping up and down that right corridor) is not only ineffective but seriously hampers the player's superior creative work. Any decent coach understands that.

when Riyad has been used behind the striker he has struggled physically. also easier to double up on him infield.  He hasn't done a bad job scoring and assisting from the wing and it works both way - yes he has to defend his full back at times but that full back has to be more aware going forward than would otherwise be the case. I trust Claudio's judgement on this one.  

[RUDZY]

Well done you Foxes that never quit.

Stronger with Andy king on the pitch.

Just need Jeff Schlupp to have a good run in the first team - this will boost his confidence and get him up to full speed.

KEEP THE FAITH