Should we be playing an injured Vardy?

[mozartfox]

6 hours ago, ZeGuy said:

The recruitement this summer has been just fine, except for the Silva story.  The 4-4-2 is not a long term solution unless you have have a world class DM. Hoofing the ball ain't either.

And last summer??

[ZeGuy]

Just now, mozartfox said:

And last summer??

last summer was shit. on that we all agree.

[deep blue]

14 hours ago, SkidsFox said:

If we rest Vardy for this game I wouldn't put it past bloody Southgate to play him in the internationals.

So long as he's sharp I'd play him in the starting 11 against Bournemouth, which is a must-compete type of game. If we go two or three goals up (unlikely I know, but sometimes things CAN go our way), then we can substitute him.

 

So how did Vardy's inclusion help us compete in the game today?

[deep blue]

16 hours ago, nnfox said:

But we are clearly trying to.  We play exactly the same formation and with as many of that title winning team as possible.  The only difference between that team and the current crop is Maguire in for the injured Huth.  Ndidi in for Kante (who left) and now King/James/Iborra/Silva/Whoever in for Drinkwater (who has also left).  Show me one of our title winning regulars that have been dropped to the bench and replaced by any new signing.  No?  That's because there aren't any.  £27m Slimani - Bench, £25m Iheanacho - Bench, £16m Musa - Bench, £15m Iborra - Bench.  Are people seriously saying that these players are not good enough to play in the Premier League for Leicester City?  Or are we just too scared to try anything different?

I'm beginning to think that your last sentence is correct. We're too scared to break up the Prem-winning team and formation, having bought in players for exactly that intention. After all, hardly any of the players we've bought in the last 2 years are like-for-like replacements for the players already here. We buy a number of new midfielders but they all seem fitted for a 3-man midfield. Slimani is nothing like Vardy but looks to have been brought with a plan B intention, but is played with little conviction and rarely in a formation/style that looks to suit him (Albrighton, who is the ideal man to provide crosses for him, often seems to be taken off when Slim comes on). Is it any wonder that Musa's confidence seems shot when his rare opportunities are in a position that doesn't suit him (I accept that many on here don't rate his ability, and with good reason, but he has had a few good cameos that have never been built on. He did v well at Everton last season and was dropped for the next game). Hernandez was another odd case. Never given a chance in his true position but there have been reports of him performing well for his new club.

 

Also, the excuse that a player isn't yet ready for the Prem is beginning to wear a bit thin. There comes a point where a player just has to be thrown in and the quickest way to get Prem-sharp is to play in it.

 

Are we afraid that changing formations will cause us to lose too many points during the experimentation, or is there an element of player power from the incumbents who don't want to get dropped from new formations?

 

It certainly looks as if something has gone very wrong within the club and it's hard to put your finger on what it is.

[STUHILL]

Imagine if we did rest Vardy and Slimani came in as the focal point of our attack and actually performed well and scored goals for us. 

 

It's not actually that unlikely, due to him scoring when he has had game time and also his record for SP. 

 

I think it would take a lot of pressure or Vardy. Zidane restricted Ronaldo's game time last season and he performed to a higher and more consistent level due to being fresher.

 

We need to start having some more faith in our squad and rotating more, with players like Iheanacho, Slimani and Gray etc. 

 

We're not playing well or winning, so if something isn't working, change it!  

 

Change of formation and a shake-up in the starting 11 too. It may not work, but at least show us that you are willing to make big changes!

[Dames]

7 hours ago, STUHILL said:

Imagine if we did rest Vardy and Slimani came in as the focal point of our attack and actually performed well and scored goals for us. 

 

It's not actually that unlikely, due to him scoring when he has had game time and also his record for SP. 

 

I think it would take a lot of pressure or Vardy. Zidane restricted Ronaldo's game time last season and he performed to a higher and more consistent level due to being fresher.

 

We need to start having some more faith in our squad and rotating more, with players like Iheanacho, Slimani and Gray etc. 

 

We're not playing well or winning, so if something isn't working, change it!  

 

Change of formation and a shake-up in the starting 11 too. It may not work, but at least show us that you are willing to make big changes!

Agree with this. It will give some of the other players confidence as well as giving Vardy a rest as he's starting to look knackered. 

 

Also the team needs to figure out a way of playing without that long aimless punt to Vardy as an outball - seems like the only way of doing this is by dropping them in at the deep end as I believe this is now habitual throughout the squad.