Valencia pre-season friendly Match thread.

[Ross-Kemp]

Kasper

 

Ricardo

Johnson

Maguire

Chilwell

 

Afroman

Ndidi

Maddison

 

Gray

Vardy

Diabetes

[Webbo]

Just now, Col city fan said:

Central defence still the main concern I think. If Maguire isn’t back and fit, I fear big Romelu will have a field day.

Surely he was at the WC as long as Vardy and Maguire? Is he back in training yet?

[Lesta2014]

1 minute ago, Ric Flair said:

Matt Elliott was talking at length about how gifted he is and the club have known this for years, he lost his way from the age of 16 for a few years but seems to be knuckling down know. We need to get him out on loan.

 

The confidence Puel must be giving our academy players is massive, they just seem to be revelling in the game time they get and it's the less obvious players who are shining and you wonder if it's the difference between having the faith of your manager and not trying too hard because you think you've got to impress. 

 

Most of them won't make it as PL players, but a couple might and Puel will always try and get them involved.

Small thought I had, obv Puel came in during October (I think) and we into season etc so didn’t change drastically our game. Do you think the 23s coming 2nd has anything to do with Puel getting them to play a certain way with the pressing etc as that’s how the first team appear now and he has taken pre season to implement this? Just a thought and I could be totally wrong!

 

Also Beagleole went out to the first training camp, I wonder if that was a learning mission for him to see how first team do it so he can implement with the 23s?

[Ric Flair]

Just now, Lesta2014 said:

Small thought I had, obv Puel came in during October (I think) and we into season etc so didn’t change drastically our game. Do you think the 23s coming 2nd has anything to do with Puel getting them to play a certain way with the pressing etc as that’s how the first team appear now and he has taken pre season to implement this? Just a thought and I could be totally wrong!

 

Also Beagleole went out to the first training camp, I wonder if that was a learning mission for him to see how first team do it so he can implement with the 23s?

I think you're spot on, Puel has said in the past he wants to have a clear pathway from U23 to the first team with methods and style. 

[Guest Col city fan]

1 minute ago, Webbo said:

Surely he was at the WC as long as Vardy and Maguire? Is he back in training yet?

No idea. I wasn’t talking about his fitness level. I was talking about if Lukaku is up against Morgan and Benny, at home in front of 80+ thousand fans. We need Maguire back for that game.

[Mehrez]

Puel just said on RL Vardy and Maguire likely won’t be playing against Man Utd

[Bert]

2 minutes ago, Mehrez said:

Puel just said on RL Vardy and Maguire likely won’t be playing against Man Utd

I did say so earlier. 

[StriderHiryu]

12 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

The confidence Puel must be giving our academy players is massive, they just seem to be revelling in the game time they get and it's the less obvious players who are shining and you wonder if it's the difference between having the faith of your manager and not trying too hard because you think you've got to impress.

Puel is far from perfect and honestly quite lucky to still be in the job, but this mindset of his is brilliant to see in action. He said he joined Leicester "for the project, not just the job" and that project is creating a sustaining setup that consistently produces good quality players that either get into the first team or are sold and keep the academy going.

 

We can't count our chickens before they've hatched but it would be a big surprise if none of those players we saw at the end go onto be first team regulars.

[harpendenfox]

11 minutes ago, Mehrez said:

Puel just said on RL Vardy and Maguire likely won’t be playing against Man Utd

Mind games from Claudine. We’ll launch a bid for Pogba soon

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

That was encouraging but I think we need to keep our feet on the ground regarding the kids that played. Obviously it's better to be beaming about positive performances but it was *only* a friendly run out.

 

Choudhury screened the back four really well, and Maddison and Silva were combining excellently before the subs. Please, no more Benalouane.

[sdb]

1 hour ago, Mehrez said:

I think we were clearly watching different games

 

Really? Ricardo passing and positioning not great at all. Simpson reliable defensively. I know who I’d want away to Utd. 

[southfox66]

I think all we can hope for is late spending spree in transfer market and Puel resigns, but doubt we'll see either

[OhYesNdidi]

11 minutes ago, sdb said:

Really? Ricardo passing and positioning not great at all. Simpson reliable defensively. I know who I’d want away to Utd. 

Simpson hasn't been defensivly reliable since about December 2017. 

[Foxwolf]

Have I just been watching the same game as many on this forum? What was the point of that game. I would have thought the idea of pre season, especially after the loss of Mahrez, would be to find a structure for the FIRST TEAM not to play the reserves and under 23s. All these games have told me nothing except Puels vision is not mine. Where is the direct attacking pace we have used to such great effect. It seems to be tippy tapped backwards and sideways football without a target man, either on the floor or in the air. Surely we have to give Musa another go and what has Slimani done to be so obviously pushed away. Our attack tonight was gutless and no real threat to their defence. Chilwell is not a fullback in my view and leaves massive gaps behind him on numerous occasions. Fuchs is getting past it so urgently need someone to be made available in that position. Caspar looks jaded and his distribution was poor tonight, like he wasn't really there. Madison needs time but is lightweight, most massive premier league defenders will eat him for breakfast. I am honestly worried folks and for goodness sake Puel get Vardy and Maguire back asap and at Old Trafford please otherwise it may be an embarrassing start to the new season. Where was Gray, is he injured and Okazaki?

Fingers crossed he fields a more realistic team for the last friendly.......

[gurru991]

Very enjoyable game for me, I love seeing the young guys getting a run-out & I get the feeling that Puel is more than prepared to play some of them in the regular season.

This is path forward for City, promoting academy players & buying promising youngsters  like Maguire & Maddison from other teams. 

We can't complete with the spending of the Manchesters but we can attract youngsters that deserve a chance .

[gurru991]

5 minutes ago, Foxwolf said:

Have I just been watching the same game as many on this forum? What was the point of that game. I would have thought the idea of pre season, especially after the loss of Mahrez, would be to find a structure for the FIRST TEAM not to play the reserves and under 23s. All these games have told me nothing except Puels vision is not mine. Where is the direct attacking pace we have used to such great effect. It seems to be tippy tapped backwards and sideways football without a target man, either on the floor or in the air. Surely we have to give Musa another go and what has Slimani done to be so obviously pushed away. Our attack tonight was gutless and no real threat to their defence. Chilwell is not a fullback in my view and leaves massive gaps behind him on numerous occasions. Fuchs is getting past it so urgently need someone to be made available in that position. Caspar looks jaded and his distribution was poor tonight, like he wasn't really there. Madison needs time but is lightweight, most massive premier league defenders will eat him for breakfast. I am honestly worried folks and for goodness sake Puel get Vardy and Maguire back asap and at Old Trafford please otherwise it may be an embarrassing start to the new season. Where was Gray, is he injured and Okazaki?

Fingers crossed he fields a more realistic team for the last friendly.......

You certainly didn't watch the game I watched

[Foxxed]

58 minutes ago, Mehrez said:

Puel just said on RL Vardy and Maguire likely won’t be playing against Man Utd

Benny and Wes against United then...

[UniFox21]

15 minutes ago, Foxwolf said:

Have I just been watching the same game as many on this forum? What was the point of that game. I would have thought the idea of pre season, especially after the loss of Mahrez, would be to find a structure for the FIRST TEAM not to play the reserves and under 23s. All these games have told me nothing except Puels vision is not mine. Where is the direct attacking pace we have used to such great effect. It seems to be tippy tapped backwards and sideways football without a target man, either on the floor or in the air. Surely we have to give Musa another go and what has Slimani done to be so obviously pushed away. Our attack tonight was gutless and no real threat to their defence. Chilwell is not a fullback in my view and leaves massive gaps behind him on numerous occasions. Fuchs is getting past it so urgently need someone to be made available in that position. Caspar looks jaded and his distribution was poor tonight, like he wasn't really there. Madison needs time but is lightweight, most massive premier league defenders will eat him for breakfast. I am honestly worried folks and for goodness sake Puel get Vardy and Maguire back asap and at Old Trafford please otherwise it may be an embarrassing start to the new season. Where was Gray, is he injured and Okazaki?

Fingers crossed he fields a more realistic team for the last friendly.......

Guess we may as well call it a day now then, right?

 

1. The first 45 minutes to an hour was mainly composed of "first team" players getting minutes in their legs. The tempo was fairly high and for the returning WC players you're building up game time. And you aren't just building up fitness for 11, its for the whole squad and potential academy players stepping up.

 

2. Your vision may not match Puel's, but considering his entire life has been playing or coaching professionally, I'm gonna suggest his is probably the better option.

3. How on earth you're judging the likes of Madison after a few pre-season games amazes me tbh.

 

For crying out loud, the season hasn't even started and you sound as if we're bottom and 10 points adrift. 

[UPinCarolina]

Just listened to Radio Leicester’s post-match coverage. I feel like we were watching different matches. What a bunch of moaners those fans were/are.

[steflcfc]

Pleasantly surprised tonight by some of the play tonight.

 

Maddison showed glimpses of why we paid £25 million for him, some of his passes were weight perfect.

If he can manage that in the Prem, Vardy and Iheanacho will get chances.

 

I did feel like Diabate seemed a little lost, and needs to be loaned out to a top 6 Championship side to get roughed up a bit. Gray needs to take his chance this season it’s make or break for him.

 

Silva, Iborra and Ndidi all controlled the midfield at different times of the match, which was great to see, although I did feel they all want to drop deep for the ball, surely all 3 cannot play that role, so someone will be benched I would have thought.

 

As in previous threads, we seen tonight most first team players bar Maguire and Vardy, some decent youngsters that may make the grade, and we still have King,Ulloa ,Musa, Okazaki amongst others.

Hopefully a restructure of the squad to keep it fresh and a decent enough size squad for healthy competition with experience and youth being the way forward 

[WigstonWanderer]

The refreshing thing about watching the youngsters was their energy, and enthusiasm. Too often in recent times the veterans have looked jaded and CBA.

[onekeithweller]

2 hours ago, Foxwolf said:

Have I just been watching the same game as many on this forum? What was the point of that game. I would have thought the idea of pre season, especially after the loss of Mahrez, would be to find a structure for the FIRST TEAM not to play the reserves and under 23s. All these games have told me nothing except Puels vision is not mine. Where is the direct attacking pace we have used to such great effect. It seems to be tippy tapped backwards and sideways football without a target man, either on the floor or in the air. Surely we have to give Musa another go and what has Slimani done to be so obviously pushed away. Our attack tonight was gutless and no real threat to their defence. Chilwell is not a fullback in my view and leaves massive gaps behind him on numerous occasions. Fuchs is getting past it so urgently need someone to be made available in that position. Caspar looks jaded and his distribution was poor tonight, like he wasn't really there. Madison needs time but is lightweight, most massive premier league defenders will eat him for breakfast. I am honestly worried folks and for goodness sake Puel get Vardy and Maguire back asap and at Old Trafford please otherwise it may be an embarrassing start to the new season. Where was Gray, is he injured and Okazaki?

Fingers crossed he fields a more realistic team for the last friendly.......

Leave it Claudio, it was magical but it's over.

[Koke]

5 hours ago, Webbo said:

Surely he was at the WC as long as Vardy and Maguire? Is he back in training yet?

 

Mourinho confirmed Lukaku will stsrt against us.

[fox_favourite]

Don't know if it has been mentioned as I'm being lazy to go through all the posts, but didn't Albrighton look sluggish and slightly wider? Didn't look like his usual self at all. 

[MC Prussian]

8 hours ago, Foxwolf said:

Have I just been watching the same game as many on this forum? What was the point of that game. I would have thought the idea of pre season, especially after the loss of Mahrez, would be to find a structure for the FIRST TEAM not to play the reserves and under 23s. All these games have told me nothing except Puels vision is not mine. Where is the direct attacking pace we have used to such great effect. It seems to be tippy tapped backwards and sideways football without a target man, either on the floor or in the air. Surely we have to give Musa another go and what has Slimani done to be so obviously pushed away. Our attack tonight was gutless and no real threat to their defence. Chilwell is not a fullback in my view and leaves massive gaps behind him on numerous occasions. Fuchs is getting past it so urgently need someone to be made available in that position. Caspar looks jaded and his distribution was poor tonight, like he wasn't really there. Madison needs time but is lightweight, most massive premier league defenders will eat him for breakfast. I am honestly worried folks and for goodness sake Puel get Vardy and Maguire back asap and at Old Trafford please otherwise it may be an embarrassing start to the new season. Where was Gray, is he injured and Okazaki?

Fingers crossed he fields a more realistic team for the last friendly.......

You certainly weren‘t watching the same game as me.

 

There was plenty of intensity, fast-paced football (from both sides), delightful short passing (not completely working yet, but will soon), players giving their all, lovely one-twos and everybody generally seemed to enjoy themselves on the pitch.

It also helped Pereira and Albrighton getting a better understanding for each other on the right flank, and many youngsters gave a great account of themselves.

 

Just imagine how good this team can be with Vardy and Maguire back, plus two more wingers and a bit of the deadwood shifted...