We need an identity

[Milo]

We are looking a bit lost - most teams have an easily identifiable way of playing, but we don't. 

 

We're not the counter attacking threat that we were, nor are we the all action gegenpressing team that we were a little over a season ago.

 

There doesn't seem to the team unity and spirit of the past few seasons and we are definitely not the powerful, dominating type of side, nor are we a tiki-taka  type of team.

 

So - what is our identity? Hoof it around and try and win a penalty? Surely there is more to the team than that? 

[DatfoxesKid23]

shakespeare is to blame for this one he hasn't got a style of play

[Guest]

We need to go back to the pressing team we were before the 10 men behind the ball thing came in

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Don't seem to have any idea how to play at all so far. 

 

Arsenal away it seemed like we were similar to when we won the league. 

 

Now we just look slow to react to the oppositions and at times don't look motivated from the start of games/halves. 

 

For me I'm turning against 442 now 

We're playing it to accommodate a second striker but it just isn't working well.

[Sir Shep]

I've no idea! I think we are just too reliant on how we used to play but we don't have the players capable any more so it just seems that we are winging it. 

[Legend_in_blue]

We look limited.  We have limited options.  We have a limited manager as well.  

 

We don't play the expansive game.  We play a damage limitation game.  

 

Despite not getting a decent result today, we still shouldn't be being outplayed on the field.  Which we were.

 

A poor showing.

[lgfualol]

At the moment we look completely void of confidence. Look a bit like last year's Leicester that got Ranieri the sack tbh.

 

Don't think we have enough quality to do anything other than press and counter, and that has disappeared for some reason. Shakespeare needs to sort it out.

[Countryfox]

Perhaps we are going through a period of transformation ....      Let's wait till a fully fit team gets a bit of game time together ...     Not saying all will be well but a bit more time required imo.

[DennisNedry]

When we have a midfield we can start debating playing styles.

[waylander]

3 hours ago, DennisNedry said:

When we have a midfield we can start debating playing styles.

Quite right Dennis .

[volpeazzurro]

4 hours ago, DennisNedry said:

When we have a midfield we can start debating playing styles.

True, but in the meantime, if we accept that our midfield in a 442 is not strong enough then we need to alter tactics to accommodate and work with that weakness. I still believe that we are lucky enough to have some very good players, on the surface is not our playing staff stronger than the promoted sides for example? Why is it Huddersfield did a job on us yesterday?  Their players are either superior to ours or their tactics and desire were better.

 

Whether even with Silva and Iborra fit and available they would be able to directly replicate the performances of Kante and Drinkwater is debatable but, if they could, what happens if one gets injured? Do we have to keep losing until that one player returns? Are we that shallow? There has to be a recognition that you can't just slavishly follow a set system of play and just hope it all falls into place on the day, surely you have to have the requisite players to fill the requirements of that system. Arguably just as an example, if you wanted a more passing style of play then on paper the best proponents could be Mendy , Iborra and Silva in a midfield three or in a five with wing backs, Albrighton, Silva, Iborra, Ndidi and Chilwell.

 

I'm aware Mendy has gone but I believe this was part of the reason he was bought in the first place. Without Kante and with an injury to Drinkwater, transition and change was inevitable and I think Ranieri for one saw that despite what followed. But how in the players eyes these days do you break up what is a once in a lifetime Premiership winning team.

 

Whether Shakespeare can't see the problem or, whether a hardcore of players are reluctant to change and are too powerful and controlling for Shakespeare to handle, there does seem some kind of illogical impass. I can't put my finger on it but the way some of the players are reacting with each other doesn't seem quite right. For example,  the edginess between Morgan and others with Slimani and the seemingly at times, breakdown in chemistry/relationship between Vardy and Marhez. Probably I'm imagining it but there seems to be an uneasiness and non-togetherness at times reminiscent of when things were going wrong under Ranieri.  Shakespeare appears a very decent man and is clearly a very respected coach in football but just possibly it was perhaps an attempt to paper over the cracks by making him the manager. Possibly we did need a completey new manager and staff to stamp their authority on the team and if necessary a clearout like when Pearson and Shakespeare arrived.

[Suzie the Fox]

3 hours ago, waylander said:

Quite right Dennis .

Check the Silva thread ... think you night be smiling  

[Gazza M]

Shakey is still in caretaker mode at the min, just keeping things ticking along. 

 

For f**k sake, leave 15/16 behind and try something different. Appleton has just got a team promoted and has much more managerial experience than Shakey, yet I fail to see what he has brought to the party yet.

 

If the players are still calling the shots like last year, we are in for trouble as you wonder if Shakey is too nice. 

 

Craig, please go 3 central midfielders away from home and let's have some possession higher up the pitch rather than in our final third and let the opposition run around like blue arse flies chasing us rather than the other way around as we just keep giving the ball back. We handle it like a grenade at times!!!!

[m4DD0gg]

14 hours ago, Milo said:

We are looking a bit lost - most teams have an easily identifiable way of playing, but we don't. 

 

We're not the counter attacking threat that we were, nor are we the all action gegenpressing team that we were a little over a season ago.

 

There doesn't seem to the team unity and spirit of the past few seasons and we are definitely not the powerful, dominating type of side, nor are we a tiki-taka  type of team.

 

So - what is our identity? Hoof it around and try and win a penalty? Surely there is more to the team than that? 

We need a new manager. 

[Lovejoy]

Shinji. 

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Agree with this to an extent. I still think we're a good proposition at home,mind.

[Finn Claw II]

We have bedded in one of our three main summer signings and with Chillwell and Gray to establish themselves we are a team in transition and will be for a while.

 

in the short-term we have an incredibly weak midfield and we haven't solved that problem.  

[Jakemoore]

I just think we look so boring at the moment. We used to be one of the most exciting and dynamic teams in the league possibly even in Europe. We had flair and an incredible ability to counter attack at pace with precision. I don't see any of that now. I don't know what is going wrong but it's depressing to say the least. 

[StriderHiryu]

Worrying reading.  I could not watch the game yesterday but reports don't sound great.

 

A lack of an identity is indicative of problems that fester themselves later down the line. Scarily just like last season we started off getting thumped by the big boys weekly and then that dropped confidence when going into games we should win.

 

I hope I am wrong and we turn it round. Post Liverpool we have a good run of games that we should be able to build from. I also think we should beat Liverpool in the cup as they have bigger fish to fry. In theory we have a very string squad (when Silva comes in), but we do need to have a clear game plan, which currently we don't.

[CollinsLCFC]

We just hope the other team do not turn up.

If the other team show more determination and attacking threat, we just sit deep and crumble.

[Mr Mister]

We should look to becoming a side that plays beautiful attacking football. That is to be all, end all. Attacking is what wins games as it is all about the goals.

[HighPeakFox]

Whatever hasn't been right this season, crumbling we don't do - compare it to last season, that was crumbling.

[SheppyFox]

Silva & Iborra are vital really, we need both fit and up to speed before we can change it up, unless we want AK starting

[HighPeakFox]

1 minute ago, SheppyFox said:

Silva & Iborra are vital really, we need both fit and up to speed before we can change it up, unless we want AK starting

Did we re-sign Knocky...?

[Max Power]

It's fine to remain a counter attacking team. We have slow defenders and quick, direct attackers - it suits us. But 4-4-2 isn't looking the right shape. We don't have the midfield duo to play it and we look a broken team.