Who starts in midfield? - Poll

[Broxi-Bear]

On 7/28/2017 at 22:32, Foxxed said:

Drinky looks poor so far. James seems much more up for it. Ndidi and Iborra/James for me. Still no attacking threat though...

+1 from me.    

1st Ndidi / 2nd Iborra.   James marginal before Drinkwater.   Danny looks to be as bad pre-season as end of last.

Danny nowhere near as bad as pass-back-king whos always shit unless hes noone to pass back too.

Iborra looks a cert for starting 11. 

 

[RODNEY FERNIO]

Think who partners N'Didi in in midfield is the big uncertainty at the moment , assuming Mahrez stays.

Shakey's ideal line up would probably be :

 

                                               Kasper

                         Simpson   Maguire   Huth   Fuchs 

                                       N'Didi      ?????

                          Mahrez   Ineacho    Albrighton

                                            Vardy  

 

 

[ZeGuy]

9 minutes ago, RODNEY FERNIO said:

Think who partners N'Didi in in midfield is the big uncertainty at the moment , assuming Mahrez stays.

Shakey's ideal line up would probably be :

 

                                               Kasper

                         Simpson   Maguire   Huth   Fuchs 

                                       N'Didi      ?????

                          Mahrez   Ineacho    Albrighton

                                            Vardy   Slim

 

 

Interesting 4-5-2 formation.

[Wymsey]

Ndidi and Iborra.

 

One individual - big potential, and already developing well (At perhaps most fans' expectations).

 

One individual - very experienced and has has strong knowledge (having been playing in the Champions League and a tough Spanish domestic league for a while).

 

A good blend, imo.

[KingsX]

3 hours ago, foxes21 said:

We have four potential first XI CM's (Drinkwater, Ndidi, James & Iborra) who have different attributes and styles of play. We can rotate all of them depending on their form and the opposition.

 

Current voting shows only one “first choice” quality option.  No one but Ndidi scrapes even ten percent.  Given the excess of quantity over quality, rotation would appear sensible.  But this squad is still largely the one which excelled once a consistent XI was named, including a fixed and complementary midfield pair.

 

The club is going nowhere fast without acquiring a CM proficient at ball-playing and passing, and good enough to become a fixture alongside Ndidi.  Even though it’s getting late, and now requires the risk of going outside the “Proven PL” category.   

 

The rest can rotate as subs and cover.  Their different attributes do not include what is desperately needed.

[WigstonWanderer]

Just don't see how Drinkwater should get a starting spot ATM. Too negative and has been for some time. Hopefully somehow he'll get back to his 15/16 form at some stage but just not on it now.

[RumbleFox]

On 7/30/2017 at 14:11, RODNEY FERNIO said:

Think who partners N'Didi in in midfield is the big uncertainty at the moment , assuming Mahrez stays.

Shakey's ideal line up would probably be :

 

                                               Kasper

                         Simpson   Maguire   Huth   Fuchs 

                                       N'Didi      ?????

                          Mahrez   Ineacho    Albrighton

                                            Vardy  

 

 

I think you are probably about right (obviously Morgan to start the season as Huth injured) but I would say that is about our strongest set up if we stick to 442/4411/whatever you want to call it (assuming we do, in fact, sign Iheanacho).  If that is the case and we assume the second midfield spot is rotated, how do people feel about that?  In general, if you take out the miracle season, I would say it is an improvement on what we have seen before (on paper)?  Chilwell would be pushing Fuchs and Gray would be pushing Mahrez and Albrighton. Okazaki could come on for Iheanacho for tactical reasons or to stretch a tired defence and Slim replacing Vardy to go more direct is an option?  Iborra could also be used anywhere from DM to No. 10 depending on how a game is going.

 

The one area of doubt (if we assume Mahrez stays for the sake of this post) is about creativity from central midfield.  I understand people's concerns but not sure what we are best to do?  Our team is built to press high and counter quickly.  It is just a case of getting it right and not "hoofing" it.  It seems to be about timing and accuracy.  No room for error and patience is a key factor.  We need a player that can hassle the opposition when not in possession and spot a pass when they are.  We know that Drinkwater CAN be that player but we also know he can struggle.  If we signed no one else (apart from Iheanacho) I would be fairly OK and confident of not being relegated at the very least.  If we signed someone like Silva as well as a RB to challenge Simpson I would be happy and fairly confident of a good finish (possibly pushing the top six with hard work/good luck).

 

We would also have the opportunity to switch to something more like the below (yes, I may have got the positioning of the centre backs the wrong way round and there are options in midfield but you get my drift):

 

                                            Kasper

                             Morgan   Maguire   Huth   

                  Albrighton            Iborra          Chilwell

                                    N'Didi      Drinky

                                   Mahrez/Iheanacho    

                                            Vardy 

 

I dunno, I know we are all still shell-shocked by the title win and that, in many ways, last season was a let down but the above two teams are, in my humble opinion, as good on paper as most teams I can remember (including MON and the title win).  It depends what we want/expect?  As long as tactics (high press) and mentality are correct from the start I reckon we'll be OK?

 

Anyway, up the Foxes!!

 

Rumble

 

X

[biggs]

A little surprised all those sticking with DD after the season he just had. He is now in a position where he has to fight for a spot and if preseason has shown anything, imo he's not there yet. Wouldn't select him on present performance and to select him on merit from early last season and the season before is weak.

 

Drinky has so much talent to offer when he's playing well....just haven't seen it for quite a while and that concerns me.

[BlueTillIDie]

Ndidi & Drinky its Drinkys place to lose.

 

Most people just pick Iborra as he is the new summer sigining and actually haven't seen him play

[funkyrobot]

Ndidi is getting a lot of love on here. I think he's a great player but I would say that he did tail off in the latter part of the run-in last season. At times he started to do a Kingy (passing it backwards.) He'll likely start against the Arse with DD but I would expect that if either have bad starts, they'll be put under pressure from Iborra and MJ, followed by Kingy.