A question of balance

[Kaewbudda]

13 hours ago, catfordfox said:

Starting to think that the core problem we're seeing this season is ultimately the same one that Pearson was wrestling with for most of the first season in the top flight - namely getting a coherent balance within the first 11. While the players we had in the Championship were too good for that league, once we'd come up, Pearson found it hugely difficult to come with a tactical system which enabled us to be tight at the back and yet still create chances - for a lot of the season it was either one or the other, we'd look better at the back but then stop looking like scoring, or look better in attack and start letting in stupid goals. He chopped and changed tactics loads that season, and never managed to find a way of fitting Mahrez and Vardy in the team, playing to their strengths at all - hence Vardy out wide for a lot of games, and Mahrez in and out of the side (off the top of my head i can't remember how often he tried 4-4-2, but it clearly didnt work if he did). By a stroke of luck Pearson finally managed to discover the 3-5-2, which did at last strike the right balance, and the rest is history. The one thing Pearson did have on his side though was the incredible team spirit he and Shakespeare had built up over the past couple of seasons, better than any team spirit I've seen at any club ever, and that ensured the players kept fighting even when everything was going wrong.

 

Then when Ranieri arrived, he was faced with the same problem - either good going forward and bad at the back (the arsenal 5-2 game), or vice versa. Kante solved that problem - once he was established in the side, he made it possible to play 4-4-2, because he provided enough cover that we didn't need 3 centrebacks, and won the ball back quickly enough that Mahrez consistently got the ball high up the pitch. We were also helped by other teams treating us like relegation fodder, so leaving plenty of space for Vardy to exploit, as long as we shifted the ball to him quickly - the speed with which we were able to move the ball from front to back meant that we could afford to have pretty one dimensional full backs who rarely joined the attack. Once Ranieri had worked that balanced system out, he managed the team masterfully - especially towards the end when teams had worked our tactics out and sat deep. A combination of the aforementioned team spirit and some very smart game management by Ranieri got us through that period.

 

In many ways, this season with the loss of Kante, Ranieri is faced with the same problem as Pearson had two seasons ago - it had become clear by October (probably earlier) that 4-4-2 without Kante wasn't going to work, the midfield was being overrun and there was no cover for the centrebacks. The new signings didn't really add to our options tactically, they were basically attempts at upgrades on what we already had, or an attempt to replace Kante. Ranieri was aware at the end of last season that our title winning tactics weren't going to work as well this season, due to teams figuring it out by the end of last season, so initially wanted a more possession based, passing style. Unfortunately it some became clear that we don't have the players to play that style, and without Kante winning the ball back quickly Mahrez and Vardy no longer get the ball in space, so our main attacking threat is blunted.

 

By October Ranieri realised 4-4-2 wasn't working, so started to change it up to try to find a solution - but like Pearson in 14-15, nothing is working. But unlike Pearson's side, the team spirit is no longer there in the same way (for whatever reason), plus players like Morgan and Huth are a couple of years older now. Ranieri's faced criticism for changing the 'tried and tested' method of 4-4-2 recently, but it hasnt worked properly for nearly half a season now. He had to change it, but because those changes havent worked he's gone back to it for one last try - but same team, same lack of balance, same result - but with added dissent within the squad.

 

The only way we get out of this is by finding a system that works. It's a problem that we've had for years now, and which Kante and other teams arrogance allowed to us to briefly solve for 8-9 months last season. You can blame Ranieri for the way he's tried to solve the problem, but the not the problem itself - nor the players that have been signed which havent really added any real alternative options. You can also blame him for losing the team spirit that Pearson had built up, but that was extraordinary, and probably unsustainable with a bigger squad. Basically I don't think there's an easy answer. Changing managers might work in terms of motivation for a bit, but i don't believe there's a magic solution to the balance problem. Just hope that now he'll finally give up on the last remnants of last season's tactics/players and try something completely new, based around the core of newer/young players (Gray, Chilwell, Slimani, Benalouane), because its the only option we have left.

Superb post. We're back to where we were two years ago which resulted in 352 and a more attack minded philosophy. If we carry on as we are we will definitely be relegated. CR needs to learn the lessons from the past and throw caution to the wind. We need to start each game like we're 2-0 down!

[st albans fox]

Teams just aren't as naive is they were back then. We used to fly at them and press them into giving us a corner or an attacking situation as we won't the ball high up the pitch. We did the same to sland first game last season. Then Spurs came to the KP and passed us to death at the back, dropping very deep and not allowing us to get near the ball. it's very rare for us to get at the opposition from the kick off now. alternatively, they give us the kick off so we can't win the ball off them high up and are reduced to the drinkwater hoof to the sideline, giving away a throw in. 

 

one one of our major problems this season is teams preparing in detail for us and not taking any chances (apart from citeh)

 

maybe later on when everyone thinks we are completely gash we may get some opportunities as they can't be bothered to take us seriously any longer

[Thracian]

49 minutes ago, Kaewbudda said:

Superb post. We're back to where we were two years ago which resulted in 352 and a more attack minded philosophy. If we carry on as we are we will definitely be relegated. CR needs to learn the lessons from the past and throw caution to the wind. We need to start each game like we're 2-0 down!

We can't carry on scoring "no goals" a game. Though quite why it's taking so long to understand - or do anything about - that fact, I don't know.

 

But what I do know is that there's more than Ranieri responsible. 

 

"Nil" is the dirtiest word in a coaches notebook. To work full-time on a training ground to produce "nil" is a form of sacrilege to me. Yet we've managed it for more than a month at Premiership level.

 

I'd love to hear the excuses but can promise that none of them would count for one minute.

 

And yet it's even worse than that. Not only do we fail to score. We hardly have any chances. Or shots on target. Nor are we offering anything to warm the hearts of our fans from one week to the next.

 

Strikers live and breathe for one footballing purpose....to score goals.

 

Yet we've somehow created a situation where four strikers - Vardy, Slimani, Shinji and Ulloa, plus various supplementaries, are either  failing  to score goals, to have shots, to get a game or even to want to play at all.

 

How does our manager and staff live with that week in, week out? Or the kind of performances  whereby, if you nip out for a piss, you might miss our only shot of the game? 

 

Perhaps the Press could ask someone, whether they get a straight answer or not.

 

Or perhaps they could write to our owners for their views.

 

I can just imagine the reply..

 

"Nil Comment". 

 

     

 

   

[st albans fox]

Our local press are a disgrace. They never ask any tough questions because they are petrified of getting the 'stringer' treatment. 

[Dr The Singh]

In summary to the great opening post, we all believe CR has had a mare, and rightfully should fook off, and give someone else a go before it's too late?

[Twitcher]

5 hours ago, smudgerfox said:

Yes agree with every word of the original post...

 

The summer transfer window is the killer. No reinforcement in central midfield or defence (unless you count Hernandez, which would be very unwise) - was a disaster, the scale of which was immediately revealed when Mendy got injured. Zieler is an inadequate replacement for Schmeichel and we ended up with a squad full of wingers and only two Premier class strikers. When January came around we seemed to be chasing yet more wingers instead of improving our spine. And while we were trekking the continent trying to sign players who European giants were after, Brady went to Burnley, Snodgrass to West Ham - both players with dead ball quality and Premier experience. Olsson went to Swansea. These type of canny signings got us to where we are but they have completely dried up since CR took over.   

Agree. The summer signings should have been of a quality that made last years' first 11 feel threatened. They didn't.  They were squad padders. 20th richest club, don't make me laugh. We'd just won the league. Where was the ambition to bring in real quality and press on like Man U and Chelsea do? It was all too cushy for the team to retain their places. Big mistake.

[Guest Mickyblueeyes]

1 minute ago, Dr The Singh said:

In summary to the great opening post, we all believe CR has had a mare, and rightfully should fook off, and give someone else a go before it's too late?

Would also like an answer to this.

[Kaewbudda]

31 minutes ago, Thracian said:

We can't carry on scoring "no goals" a game. Though quite why it's taking so long to understand - or do anything about - that fact, I don't know.

 

But what I do know is that there's more than Ranieri responsible. 

 

"Nil" is the dirtiest word in a coaches notebook. To work full-time on a training ground to produce "nil" is a form of sacrilege to me. Yet we've managed it for more than a month at Premiership level.

 

I'd love to hear the excuses but can promise that none of them would count for one minute.

 

And yet it's even worse than that. Not only do we fail to score. We hardly have any chances. Or shots on target. Nor are we offering anything to warm the hearts of our fans from one week to the next.

 

Strikers live and breathe for one footballing purpose....to score goals.

 

et we've somehow created a situation where four strikers - Vardy, Slimani, Shinji and Ulloa, plus various supplementaries, are either  failing  to score goals, to have shots, to get a game or even to want to play at all.

 

How does our manager and staff live with that week in, week out. Or the kind of performers whereby if you nip out for a piss you might miss our only shot of the game? 

 

Perhaps the Press could ask someone whether they get a straight answer or not.

 

Or perhaps they could write to our owners for their views.

 

I can imagine the reply..

 

"Nil Comment". 

 

     

 

   

It's the Italian mentality. This ultra defensive approach is based upon the notion that if we defend well, sooner or later we will get a chance, score and then win. That approach got us over the finish line last year. But this way of playing football is dull and uninspiring. It's the reason why I hate watching international football tournaments because most of the managers have this mentality. Brazil v Italy in 1994, the World Cup Final in America, probably being the best example, and quite possibly the worst game of football I have ever seen.

 

Regarding our beloved manager, the only cause for optimism that I have is that he can (through sheer desperation) revert back to the attack minded approach that the team displayed for the first half of last season. It's exactly what Pearson was forced to do at the end of season 14/15. And that attacking approach is what won us the league last year. It's far more risky, but I think we've reached the point where we now have to roll the dice.

 

The problem is, Ranieri waits until we have conceded before he throws the kitchen sink at the opposition. It's clear, that after these miserable last few months of ultra defensive football, that we now have to take more chances, and just go for it in games. This will require a change in players and mentality. Players who are more comfortable on the ball and have a more attack minded approach. Our full backs - whether 442 or 352 - are hugely important. They need to push on and support the other players when attacking. 

 

I just hope Claudio will change his approach before it is too late.

 

 

[Kaewbudda]

34 minutes ago, Dr The Singh said:

In summary to the great opening post, we all believe CR has had a mare, and rightfully should fook off, and give someone else a go before it's too late?

Look, everybody is desperately unhappy with how things have gone and I don't even think Ranieri can quite believe how poorly the team have played. What makes me so mad is that he has been doing the same thing, week in, week out, for months, hoping that this team (minus you know who) will start getting results again. 

 

But it's now crystal clear that the team, and more importantly the way that the team plays, is not going to get results. For Ranieri, the penny dropped after the Swansea game (for most of us, it was months ago).

 

He has to abandon his loyalty to certain players, but more importantly, revert back to the attack minded approach of the first half of last season. 

 

If he is willing to change then he definitely deserves more time. If he keeps on doing the same thing, then yes, it's perhaps better if he is replaced. 

[Dr The Singh]

3 minutes ago, Kaewbudda said:

Look, everybody is desperately unhappy with how things have gone and I don't even think Ranieri can quite believe how poorly the team have played. What makes me so mad is that he has been doing the same thing, week in, week out, for months, hoping that this team (minus you know who) will start getting results again. 

 

But it's now crystal clear that the team, and more importantly the way that the team plays, is not going to get results. For Ranieri, the penny dropped after the Swansea game (for most of us, it was months ago).

 

He has to abandon his loyalty to certain players, but more importantly, revert back to the attack minded approach of the first half of last season. 

 

If he is willing to change then he definitely deserves more time. If he keeps on doing the same thing, then yes, it's perhaps better if he is replaced. 

I don't agree, CR has lost the team, months ago, I fact crisis talks are a regular thing these days.  The rott has set in too deep, we are going down with him

[Kaewbudda]

1 minute ago, Dr The Singh said:

I don't agree, CR has lost the team, months ago, I fact crisis talks are a regular thing these days.  The rott has set in too deep, we are going down with him

I see where you're coming from. And five straight defeats in a row seem to back up your point. But I hope he gets a bit more time to turn things around. If results don't improve soon he will probably be sacked anyway.