Ric Flair Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 I've worked out how we can regroup, give our heads a wobble, tinker and turn up to Vicarage Road and win what'll be the first game of a 20+ game unbeaten run. The international break might not be good news for Ranieri, not being able to have his players together to work on the array of problems we have and the predictability of our play, but it gives him and the coaches a chance to plan where we go from here. I've done it for them though, I've not reinvented the wheel or made a packet of crisps that taste like dominos pizzas, I've just looked at our squad, warts and all and managed to produce on paper what's needed to be a menace at this level again. 4-4-2 for us right now is at a crossroads, we just don't have the players to play it week in, week out and punch above our weight. The lack of central midfield options is painful to see and our aging backline are being exposed more and more. Although defensively we've shored things up, if you watched the lack of movement in midfield on Sunday it was as alarming as the goals we shipped against Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea. We look devoid of confidence, ideas and quality. Inverted wingers on both sides are now being made redundant due to teams sitting back on us and being able to easily clear floated crosses in to the box. Mahrez who was able to ghost in time and time again from the right due to Albrighton's work on the left and Okazaki and Vardy dragging defenders out of position is long gone, Mahrez has popped up in the box only twice this season in such fashion once against Copenhagen and the other in the dying minutes against Crystal Palace. Quite alarming given the fine margins it took for us to win games last season. Jamie Vardy is every bit as bad this season as he was good last year. His first touch has regressed back to the early part of his time with us in the Championship and now Slimani is here he finds it difficult deciding whether to lead the line or drop deep. It's easy to say he just needs a goal but the way we now play or are allowed to play by the opposition is worryingly serving up anonymous performances for Vardy like we've had to watch him do with England when we all thought they didn't and couldn't play to his strengths. The players we've bought in this summer, it's hard to consider they've improved us but then how do you improve a team who against all the odds won the league. Let's just say they are still settling in and it's too early to judge them. What is quite clear right now though is we're too top heavy on wingers and strikers and to pick who we think are the best players isn't necessarily what's going to work for us. You can't play Musa, Slimani, Vardy and Mahrez all together with the central midfield options we have or in a 4-4-2. You can have as many attackers in your team as possible but if the blend supplying them and protecting the team isn't right then failure beckons. Anyway, the solution to all of this? 3-4-1fcuking-2. By playing wingbacks it means we'll have players on both sides of the pitch crossing on their strongest foot in to the back of defenders for Slimani to attack and end their world. Marc Albrighton as a right wingback is his best position, he is relentless, he can defend and get forward all day. What he can't do is be expected to produce silky skill to beat a player on his weaker foot. Get him to the byline though and he'll bend a ball in to the box like no mans business. Fuchs we don't even need to talk about. He'll turn up and do the fcukin job. The central defence of Morgan and Huth can be further complimented with Daniel Amartey who will bring youth and an ability to bring the ball out of defence, he can also support our central midfield which right now needs all the help it can get. Drinkwater is putting in so much graft that it's a ticking time bomb before he breaks. He's still the first name on the teamsheet and alongside King or even Kapustka with Amartey supporting then it's the little things that count. That leaves the attacking options which don't have to be as conventional as a number 10 with two strikers ahead of them. Mahrez we've seen, struggles playing centrally but given a free role alongside Slimani or Vardy where he can split and shift out wide could work. Okazaki is obviously gold at number 10 and I'd have him cemented in the team for as long as possible. I'm still not sure Vardy and Slimani will work together but if the top 2 is any of Slimani/Vardy and Musa/Mahrez then with the spine of the team behind them I think we'll be far more devastating, dynamic and give us our unpredictability back of last season. We are suffering a crisis of direction and confidence, teams have caught up with us and we have to evolve. The team to play in 10 days time is as follows Zieler Morgan Amartey Huth Albrighton Drinkwater King Fuchs Okazaki Mahrez Slimani I'm not going to patent this, it's a free resource for Claudio and his chaps to read and then win the Champions League and retain our PL title with.
Nick Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Well reasoned Ric. It'll never happen mind as you've overlooked the fact that your formation is not a 442.
foxes21 Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Problem is we are overloaded in some positions whereas in other positions we have few options for the 3-4-1-2. Overloaded: back 3, lwb, cam & strikers. lacking in options: rwb, cm. Due to the lack of options in some positions, it will be difficult to rotate each game which is necessary due to fitness. Without rotation & keeping players fresh, we won't be able to return to our high energy style of play. Options for 3-4-1-2: back 3: Simpson, Hernandez, Morgan, Huth, Waysl, amartey rwb: albrighton cm: Drinkwater, mendy, king, james lwb: Fuchs, schlupp, chilwell cam: mahrez, Okazaki, Kaputska strikers: Vardy, slimani, Musa, Ulloa, Gray?
Barky Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Mahrez up front? Fuchs on the wing? Amartey at centre back? Ooh ya bugger. I can see why claudio hasnt tried it. Lets see how well mendy fits in before we go reinventing the wheel. The players also need to buck up their ideas and start doing what claudio tells them. It was clear from the anger on his face first half on sunday that he wasn't getting what he asked for. And if thats the case then further complicating matters isnt going to help.
Ric Flair Posted 8 November 2016 Author Posted 8 November 2016 20 minutes ago, foxes21 said: Problem is we are overloaded in some positions whereas in other positions we have few options for the 3-4-1-2. Overloaded: back 3, lwb, cam & strikers. lacking in options: rwb, cm. Due to the lack of options in some positions, it will be difficult to rotate each game which is necessary due to fitness. Without rotation & keeping players fresh, we won't be able to return to our high energy style of play. Options for 3-4-1-2: back 3: Simpson, Hernandez, Morgan, Huth, Waysl, amartey rwb: albrighton cm: Drinkwater, mendy, king, james lwb: Fuchs, schlupp, chilwell cam: mahrez, Okazaki, Kaputska strikers: Vardy, slimani, Musa, Ulloa, Gray? You're right but the problem still stands in 4-4-2 we're painfully thin in central midfield nor are we playing overly well in it. I'm not saying we have to play wing backs every game but right now it gives us the best chance of getting two natural crossers in Fuchs and Albrighton providing ammo to Slimani. Vardy is horribly out of form and Mahrez's goal threat has been severely thwarted so we have to play to Slimani's strengths until we find another alternative.
KingKante Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 if it aint 442 it aint happening brother! can i get woooooooooooo!?
yorkie1999 Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Because of our overload of wingers i think the ideal formation would be Schmeichal huth morgan fuchs albrighton musa schlupp gray Kapustka Mahrez Vardy Obviously with 3 at the back with Fuchs playing a wing back role yet Mahrez being allowed the occasional drift over to the right to fulfill his defensive duties
Ric Flair Posted 8 November 2016 Author Posted 8 November 2016 17 minutes ago, Barky said: Mahrez up front? Fuchs on the wing? Amartey at centre back? Ooh ya bugger. I can see why claudio hasnt tried it. Lets see how well mendy fits in before we go reinventing the wheel. The players also need to buck up their ideas and start doing what claudio tells them. It was clear from the anger on his face first half on sunday that he wasn't getting what he asked for. And if thats the case then further complicating matters isnt going to help. I'd see Mahrez and the number 10 being dynamic enough to support the front man in any way they see fit either through the middle or drifting out on the left or right. Plenty of teams are having a lot of success like this right now. Fuchs wouldn't be on the wing as such he'd be a wingback, he gets forward plenty enough as it is but this would give him more license to get crosses in. Amartey is is another whose playing between defense and midfield a role he cut his teeth at in Sweden and Denmark, it's a fluid system rather than the predictable 4-4-2 we're at a crossroads with. Mendy might not be back for some time yet so are we happy to maintain this poor start to the league?
foxy boxing Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 why not stick Morgan upfront for a few games, it worked for Steve Walsh?
FireFox Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 39 minutes ago, foxes21 said: lacking in options: rwb, cm. CM is gonna be lacking no matter what we play. Claudio has already played Hernandez as a RWB twice, though for only like 75 minutes total, but he didn't look too bad there if needed. Quote Options for 3-4-1-2 / 3-4-2-1 / 3-5-2 / 3-4 3: CB: Morgan, Huth, Hernandez, Amartey RWB: Albrighton, Hernandez, Amartey LWB: Fuchs, Schlupp, Chilwell CM: Drinkwater, Mendy, Amartey, King, Kapi CAM: Okazaki, Mahrez, Gray, Kapi ST: Slimani, Okazaki, Musa, Ulloa, Vardy (in my order of preference) 32 minutes ago, Barky said: Mahrez up front? Fuchs on the wing? Amartey at centre back? Ooh ya bugger. I can see why claudio hasnt tried it. Lets see how well mendy fits in before we go reinventing the wheel. Mahrez wouldn't be playing up front, it would be a fluid front 3, Slimani usually leading the line, Okazaki dropping back centrally, Mahrez drifting wide or central, wherever he can find space but also tracking back too when needed. Fuchs has played LWB many times for his previous club and country. Amartey too at CB. 15 minutes ago, Ric Flair said: ... Vardy is horribly out of form and Mahrez's goal threat has been severely thwarted so we have to play to Slimani's strengths until we find another alternative. This. I've said it pretty much all season: Play to Slim's strengths. Albrighton on the right, Fuchs on the left, Hernandez + Fuchs long throws, Mahrez linking up with Slimani, etc.
foxes21 Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Alright so, here's our options for rotation: Zieler Simpson, Huth, Morgan Albrighton, Drinkwater, Mendy, Fuchs Mahrez Vardy, Slimani - Zieler Wasyl, Hernandez, Amartey Gray, King, James, Schlupp Okazaki Musa Ulloa Players not used: Kasper (Injured), Chilwell, Kaputska, Benalouane (). The only player I could think of to rotate at RWB for Albrighton, is Gray... And he is definitely not a RWB. Also, if we are pushing Amartey to LCB it puts pressure on James returning to his best. Don't forget about the fixture congestion in December/January which burned our players out last season. So we'll need even more rotation during that period. Another conundrum with this formation, is Musa as we've already seen he's poor upfront but good on the wing. The only way we can get the best out of Musa when playing a back 3, is if we switch to a 3-4-3 when he plays. Quote Claudio has already played Hernandez as a RWB twice, though for only like 75 minutes total, but he didn't look too bad there if needed. Hernandez would excel in a back three, but not at RWB.
harpendenfox Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Can't fault your logic @Ric Flair. Really interesting post which does indeed play to our strengths.
Libertine Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Good idea IMO. It worked during the great escape, puts Mahrez in a more free role (disagree with some who have said he's been poor when not on wing). Albrighton did a great job on the left last year but really wanna see him on the right more often. It gives great cover all over the pitch. Can't see it happening though.
Ric Flair Posted 8 November 2016 Author Posted 8 November 2016 8 minutes ago, Libertine said: Good idea IMO. It worked during the great escape, puts Mahrez in a more free role (disagree with some who have said he's been poor when not on wing). Albrighton did a great job on the left last year but really wanna see him on the right more often. It gives great cover all over the pitch. Can't see it happening though. Albrighton did indeed do very well last season and I believe this was down to Okazaki and Vardy pulling defenders in to all sorts of trouble and freeing up Albrighton to get that ball diagonally in to the ghosting Mahrez, it was our signature move. This season though he's been shown up as having no left foot and as teams have sat deeper against us they've cut off the supply line to Mahrez and his floated crosses in to Slimani and Vardy haven't worked. In his rightful position out right gives him his natural cross which he can do first time and not slowing down play to allow defenses to settle.
foxes21 Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 @Ric Flair http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/claudio-ranieri/stationen/trainer/456/plus/1 Click on 'matches' . Ranieri has only used three at the back about 10 times in his entire managerial career.
4everfox Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Couldn't agree more my pedigree chum, we are probably best suited to the mentioned formation then any other formation going +1
Harry96 Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Id play Hernandez at CB in a back three instead of amartey personally. One of the few defenders of ours that is actually good on the ball
deep blue Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 2 hours ago, Barky said: Mahrez up front? Fuchs on the wing? Amartey at centre back? Ooh ya bugger. I can see why claudio hasnt tried it. Lets see how well mendy fits in before we go reinventing the wheel. The players also need to buck up their ideas and start doing what claudio tells them. It was clear from the anger on his face first half on sunday that he wasn't getting what he asked for. And if thats the case then further complicating matters isnt going to help. I think you're wrong. I do agree that our players need a kick up the backside. But, in addition, we need a different formation. This season has shown that we haven't currently got the midfield resource to perform with consistent success with a 4-4-2. We need a Kante to do that, and haven't yet found a like-for-like replacement. Furthermore, as someone has already pointed out, more and more is being asked of Drinkwater, and the addition to his defensive duties only reduces his attacking contribution. Looking longer term, it has been suggested that some of our stars - Mahrez in particular - may look to move on if our turgid style doesn't help them to perform and develop. The OP is correct, we need to change to a formation that better suits the players we have, not the ones we wish we had, and my feeling is that his suggestion is on the right lines.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Hernandez > Amartey as far as centre back is concerned.
st albans fox Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Claudio has used three at the back on a couple of occasions but the personnel/system used made it look as though he wanted it to fail! We have the template from two years ago. We were irresistible at home playing it. Away we were terrified of losing so played it too cautiously. We should utilise it now before things get scary and the players too scared to make any errors
fuchsntf Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 3 hours ago, foxy boxing said: why not stick Morgan upfront for a few games, it worked for Steve Walsh? And Mat Elliot...
Renart Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 Amartey Zieler Morgan Huth Albrighton Drinkwater WATFORD King Fuchs Okazaki Mahrez Slimani This is my new formation. It is in-effect a circle. The team all hold hands and spin around the opposition as quickly as they possibly can - occasionally they might want to put their left leg in and then out and maybe they could shake it all about? Got to be worth a fuchsntf try?
Guest Col city fan Posted 8 November 2016 Posted 8 November 2016 1 minute ago, Renart said: Amartey Zieler Morgan Huth Albrighton Drinkwater WATFORD King Fuchs Okazaki Mahrez Slimani This is my new formation. It is in-effect a circle. The team all hold hands and spin around the opposition as quickly as they possibly can - occasionally they might want to put their left leg in and then out and maybe they could shake it all about? Got to be worth a fuchsntf try? Funniest thing you've ever posted!
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