Preparation

[Thracian]

Here we are coming up to three months through the season and I am still appalled by shortcomings that should long ago have been corrected by the coaches.

1) Free kicks. We leave our best dead ball specialist at home (Sheehan) but can ANYONE remember an inventive free-kick by Leicester this season, let alone one that worked. Most sides score from perhaps a dozen free kicks every season but we don't even threaten. What has Craig got to say about it Mr Barber?

2 Corners: Someone has listened a little cos we are putting them in with pace. But they are all the same. Corners need to be varied. Some long, some short, some low, some swung outwards, some swung inwards and so on. Again most sides score some goals as a result of corners. We got one against Watford but it doesn't happen often.

3) Throw ins: It's a small point but one that reflects lack of attention to detail and that is we never give ourselves enough space at throw ins. Everyone comes too short and crowds the space. No-one makes a dummy run while someone occupies their space. Can't imagine there is any practice done on these. And yet, they provide simple opportunities to get the ball in the box.

4) Movement. Pass and move has been the paramount philosophy of many grat teams yet we show little of it. Time and again I look up (not just tonight) and see a defender with the ball but no-one making diagonal runs. There are very few decoy runs too. This should be a major feature of training ground work.

5) Backing up: Too often there is too big a gap between the forwards and the support players and at corners everyone crowds into the box so that a cleared ball goes into space rather than to one of our waiting midfielders. Runs should be specific and late. We need to launch our attacks from much further out of the box at corners. At present there just a melee. Everyone is relatively easy to mark and relatively static.

6) Passing: There's lots of passing to feet in the pre-match warm up but it quickly gets forgotten when the match starts. Too many players are allowed to get away with making hopeful aerial passes and we pose virtually no threat in the air. Passing and moving on the ground is where we might benefit. Even from wide we lift the ball in instead of utilising a near-post runner.

7) Specialist forward play. There seems no signs that this is being coached at all. Free-kick routines, turn and run movements, wall-psses with a dummy runner, cross-over runs etc. Which coaches are inspiring imagination?

8) In-the-team analyst. Is there no player on the pitch with the ability and authority to recognise weaknesses in his own team's tactics or weaknesses in the opposition and to adjust our tactics to combat or take advantage of that information? It needs to be done. EG: If a team plays one up there is no need for a three man backline.

None of these things can be asked for on the pitch without preparation. Can someone tell me the coaching IS being done but the players are ignoring it? Can't believe that's the case cos they defend quite well as a support unit so some work has obviously been done.

The final thing still concerns motivation. Is anyone actually getting into the minds of players before a match and hyping them up so far they believe they are supermen? It doesn't appear so.

All the above seem neglected to me but I may be wrong about some aspects. There may be much work done and it is simply that the players go their own way on the pitch. But that is not my experience. I've found that players will do exactly what you ask of them if they understand why.

Anyway, its gonna be hard work for City if they don't improve these matters. Especially the free kicks and corners.

[Jonbluefox9]

My advice, if you've got the time, maybe pop down to Belvoir Drive on Saturday morning. I was thinking of going myself but I want to be 100% sure that the first team will be training ahead of Sunday's game. Must be honest, the last time I went to Belvoir Drive on a Saturday the first team were training a fair distance away from where spectators can watch but you never know. It's best to go during the week but that's hard for working people to make.

[Gené and Tonic]

Thracian, you really should try and apply for a coaching job at Leicester!

[Thracian]

Thracian, you really should try and apply for a coaching job at Leicester!

Yeah. They'd really love my arthritic knees.

[Gené and Tonic]

Well, you could just sit down and bellow out orders

[Thracian]

Well, you could just sit down and bellow out orders

Armchair coaching ... now there's a thought.

[Sly]

Armchair coaching ... now there's a thought.

I still can't uderstand why we bring Kisnorbo half way across the pitch and out of position to take a short throw!!! THE GUY HAS A GOOD LONG THROW ON HIM...........LETS USE IT.

[Hitesh]

Thracian - You need to write all this stuff out into a letter and send it to CL. He will appreciate the comments, and although he might not take them in. some aspects are bound to take note!

its worth a try and you have nothing to lose, plus you will have the backing of most people of FT!

[Guest Gist]

nice post thracian some good points that need to be taken note of

[Muz]

Sack Craig appoint Thracian.

Simple as

[Thracian]

Thracian - You need to write all this stuff out into a letter and send it to CL. He will appreciate the comments, and although he might not take them in. some aspects are bound to take note!

its worth a try and you have nothing to lose, plus you will have the backing of most people of FT!

I voice things here in the belief that the will help and that they may get through to someone and have an effect. I have no objection to anyone taking a copy and putting it on someone's desk if they are near enough.