Do you guys honestly think our players were purposefully crap to get Ranieri sacked?

[lifted*fox]

1 minute ago, Struwwelpeter60 said:

Poor tactics?

CS played tonight the same formation (442) and,

with the exception of N'didi, the same line-up,

that CR played for 95% of last season. 

CS is now here praised for doing so, while

CR was pilloried here for playing that 

formation and that line-up. 

Sorry, but that is not logical.

What you seem to be missing is that whilst it was the same formation, Shakey unleashed the players and told Vardy to play on the shoulder and everyone to press. Ranieri may have been playing a 442 but he killed the high press. 

 

That's the difference. 

[MC Prussian]

5 minutes ago, Struwwelpeter60 said:

Poor tactics?

CS played tonight the same formation (442) and,

with the exception of N'didi, the same line-up,

that CR played for 95% of last season. 

CS is now here praised for doing so, while

CR was pilloried here for playing that 

formation and that line-up. 

Sorry, but that is not logical.

It's not logical because you don't acknowledge the change in shape and the change in tactics.

Nothing to do with formation or line-up, I'm afraid.

 

It's been mentioned several times, not only in this thread, that Ranieri wanted his team to sit deeper and wait, trying to play a passing and/or possession game from the back going forward.

Problem is, we neither have the most skilled players to do that nor players who have flourished in that system.

We thrive on counter-attacking football and 40% or less time on the ball.

 

Insofar, some pundits may be right when they say that we've got "average" footballers on our books. They sometimes come across as a bit one-dimensional, but when it clicks, it can be pure ecstasy. Just like tonight.

 

[Tielemans63]

36 minutes ago, Struwwelpeter60 said:

For Christ's sake, Ranieri was crucified here by many people for sticking to 442 in the early months 

of this season. Now, suddenly, the same people are praising CS for returning to it. 

What about logic???

I think you're missing the point a bit here mate. Don't get me wrong, I love Claudio but he said publicly that he wanted us to evolve into a more possession based, 'Italian-style' team. He tried to do that whilst sticking to 442 and it bombed but he stuck with it in the belief the players could adapt.

 

Tonight we played 442 as well but with a totally different approach - we went back to last seasons tactic of pressing the ball and making attacking moves with as few passes as possible. Same formation - completely different approach. 

 

Ps for what it's worth I think CR tried to switch back to last seasons approach in recent weeks but he'd lost the players by that point so it's reasonable to say they upped their game massively today but you can't say it's all down to attitude- playing to the team's strengths was one of the main reasons we looked so much better tonight.

[Struwwelpeter60]

11 minutes ago, shen said:

I understand your apprehension, I do. We're still in neck deep, but surely you must be uplifted that we've put a performance in like the Man City one after many lacklustre shows this year. I would say we looked better today, bar Mahrez. Ndidi playing to this standard was the key factor. We also have Slimani to give us a good option instead of Okazaki (which worked so well notably against Man City). If we stay injury-free, I trust CS will get enough performances out of this team to keep us out of the relegation zone.

If we beat Hull, I will praise our team and CS.

Scout's honour!!!

But not before.