So, 5 games in...

[l444ry]

13 hours ago, KingsX said:

Huh?

 

Today’s fatal flaw was a damn-the-torpedoes game plan, a high line with fullbacks committing forward, putting acres of space around a slow-footed CB pair. 

 

With the ball, we finally started to work through Maddison to Vardy, not just down the wings.  Vardy was fed three dangerous through balls in the first half alone.  We had 14 shots, eight  on target.  Not good enough today.  But “sideways and backwards passing”?   That has been less and less in evidence. 

 

So spare us that tired saw.  Or I’ll see your   and raise you a       .

Still seem to be playing with a slow build for long spells in areas where opposition defences are quite happy to allow us. Leicester might well have dominated the ball possession stats but Bournemouth controlled the game.

[dynamark]

Pretty lucky to have the 6 points IMO .Good news is there are probably three worse teams in the PL.

Next week is very important but our expectations bearing in mind the spend are much higher than 14th

Madison is easy on the eye but I'm seeing Vardyy isolated to an extent and playing the attack through Madison is taking vital time

[mozartfox]

We will be fine.  Things to sort out at the back that is for sure.   Every Team has a stinker or tow during a season.  Hopefully this is just that and we will bounce back next week.

[Guest Col city fan]

I wrote right at the start of the season I wasn’t so much bothered about positions this season as about playing some entertaining football, according to some clear plan

I remain unsure what the plan is? It still seems to be some square pegs in some round holes.

We’ve played some decent stuff, but something still doesn’t feel right and I can’t put my finger on it yet.

[robski]

Don’t let’s be slating our Puel

It’s plain nasty and cruel

He’s our Boss and employed to rule

Never mind he’s an ineffectual tool

Who’ll get us relegated...Bloody Fool 

[Livid]

I've not felt truly happy after any performance so far.

 

Not exactly convincing against Southampton and Wolves, left me nonplussed.

 

Games against Man Utd and Liverpool where I think we deserved more, left me feeling upbeat but aggrieved.

 

Typical Leicester City of old performance yesterday has really put me in a foul mood today.

 

If we're not beating top six sides I at least expect us to give teams like Bournemouth a decent game. Yesterday was pathetic.

 

I like what Puel is trying to do but in recent memory I can only remember the Arsenal home game where we've got the win and I've been happy with the performance. That's not great.

Edited 17 September 2018 by Livid

[Fox92]

44 minutes ago, robski said:

Don’t let’s be slating our Puel

It’s plain nasty and cruel

He’s our Boss and employed to rule

Never mind he’s an ineffectual tool

Who’ll get us relegated...Bloody Fool 

You can repost this when we finish 10th.

[UniFox21]

13 hours ago, dynamark said:

Pretty lucky to have the 6 points IMO .Good news is there are probably three worse teams in the PL.

Next week is very important but our expectations bearing in mind the spend are much higher than 14th

Madison is easy on the eye but I'm seeing Vardyy isolated to an extent and playing the attack through Madison is taking vital time

Glad to see your glass is half full like a lot of posters... 

 

We're 5 games in for crying out loud, why is everyone dead set on us being relegated

[Plastik Man]

We're a young team still developing, there will be set backs.  There has been many positive individual performances this season.

 

My biggest disappointment yesterday (other than the result) was still the lack of pace in central defence.  I can understand Puel sticking with Morgan over Evans after his start against Wolves, but was disappointed not to see Söyünçü even on the bench. I didn't see any of his games for Turkey or the U23s this week but heard he was fairly average? Let's hope he is upto speed very soon as I'm sure Puel wants him in his defence. Next weeks team selection will be very interesting.

 

 

Edited 17 September 2018 by Plastik Man
Weak week

[UPinCarolina]

4 hours ago, Plastik Man said:

We're a young team still developing, there will be set backs.  There has been many positive individual performances this season.

 

My biggest disappointment yesterday (other than the result) was still the lack of pace in central defence.  I can understand Puel sticking with Morgan over Evans after his start against Wolves, but was disappointed not to see Söyünçü even on the bench. I didn't see any of his games for Turkey or the U23s this weak but heard he was fairly average? Let's hope he is upto speed very soon as I'm sure Puel wants him in his defence. Next weeks team selection will be very interesting.

 

 

According to the Mercury, Söyünçü was middling to poor against the Chelsea U23 today.

[Plastik Man]

1 hour ago, UPinCarolina said:

According to the Mercury, Söyünçü was middling to poor against the Chelsea U23 today.

Which suggests Puel was right not to select him at Bournemouth. Frustratingly I'm sure as we're desperate for some pace in central defence.

 

So for Huddersfield does Puel select a slow Jonny Evans, an inconsistent Söyûnçü or go against his natural instinct and play 3 at the back? I guess the threat, or lack of, that Huddersfield offer will influence his decision.

[mozartfox]

2 hours ago, UPinCarolina said:

According to the Mercury, Söyünçü was middling to poor against the Chelsea U23 today.

Personally, I do not always believe what I read in the Mockery.  I watched the game on LCFCtv and he looked alright to me.  In fact, he, Josh Knight and DJ looked substantially more rapid than our 2 'statues' on Saturday. Let us not forget, he played against Russia and Sweden last week, so Huddersfield are unlikely to terrorize him too much. The sooner he is given minutes for the first team, the sooner he can get up to speed.

 

[bpfox]

2 hours ago, UPinCarolina said:

According to the Mercury, Söyünçü was middling to poor against the Chelsea U23 today.

soyuncu is most likely, like all the other players we sign confused as to why we buy them and then let them rot on the bench or out of the squad. i like mendy and ndidi in the midfield but feel they just dont create enough, maybe we need to go 3 at the back so we can bring in either silva or ibborra to help set up the plays after they win the ball.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

On 15/09/2018 at 17:18, Monsell1976 said:

To early to say, but seems it’s going to be a frustrating, inconsistent season.

 As long as it’s not like the bad run last season, I’d stick with puel, a lot of new faces bedding in.

 All this said, puel needs to find his best 11 and system, as his tactics and decisions are a bit baffling at times.

 Hate to say it, as vardy has been great for us, but I don’t think he suits puel’s style, where nacho probably does more, or he needs to play them both.

 Going to be a long season, as long as we seem to improve as the season goes on, I’m not feeling the manager change, and starting over yet again at present, but puel and his players have a lot to prove still 

After almost a year in charge I’d argue it’s not to early.

 

Among many many flaws Puel has, surely as you say the stupidest of the lot is the tactics employed that isolates one of the PL top strikers to the detriment of the team.

 

Vardy probably cannot repeat his goals rate from chances per last season. He was superb DESPITE the manager’s the playing style.

[oadby.fox]

It's natural that people overreact a bit after drubbing, especially when it seemed nailed on for us to finally get a result at Bournemouth (in some ways). I was hoping for a win and thought that if we could repeat the second half performance against Liverpool (and take our chances), then we would win comfortably. 

 

Having said that it was a pretty poor performance. For me it's just the basics of football which are missing, we sometimes look more easy on the eye moving the ball around - but what's the point if we don't take our chances, or if we couple that with terrible defending? I don't want Puel to go, not because I like him, but just because it'd be nice to have some stability and I'm not sure who would really be an available upgrade. Despite that, if after 10 games, he doesn't manage to get more than 10 points then I think that his position has to be seriously questioned - and for me that possible world isn't that far away. 

 

The most frustrating thing about his management is that the problems seem to be glaringly obvious and can be noticed within most games, yet where is the attempt at a remedy? It reminds me of Wenger at Arsenal 2008 onwards. Morgan shouldn't be starting every game, I love him but come on. Ricardo is clearly better going forward than doing defensive work, we have had a lot of trouble down that right handside starting with the first game of the season (Amartey's peno). So why play the inexperienced Ghezzal (who isn't very physical or willing to track back) in front of Ricardo away from home when you have Albrighton on the bench? Similar questions have to be asked of the formation and team selection more generally, why not go three at the back given the players we have? Are Mendy and Ndidi really suitable to play every single game in a midfield two, or would we benefit from having someone else in there to offer a little more going forward and linking up play? Can we get Nacho and Vardy playing together (well) in the same side? Why sign one of the more promising CB's from the Bundesliga, only to pick both Evans and Morgan ahead of him? 

 

Like others have said too, the substitutions seem to come too late and are far too negative. The starts we make to games are also far too negative, consistently since the start of 2018. I can't imagine Puel amping the players up at all for games, or getting stuck into them when they need it, and that should be demonstrated by the tepid negativity he shows at times. I want us to turn a corner and I hope Puel will see the light, but I have a feeling he will continue to stumble and win here and there and eventually be sacked towards the end of this season or the next. 

Edited 17 September 2018 by oadby.fox

[ozleicester]

expected 5-7 points, achieved 6.... happy

Expected an improved style and formation, achieved, happy

Expected an improved defensive structure, not achieved, not happy

 

2 out of 3 aint bad.

[rachhere]

11 hours ago, Livid said:

 I like what Puel is trying to do but in recent memory I can only remember the Arsenal home game where we've got the win and I've been happy with the performance. That's not great.

Think I am still on a high from that match!

 

I really enjoyed the Liverpool game too - it didn't feel like a loss. I missed the Wolves match, so for me those have been the last two competitive home matches I have been to, and on both occasions I left happy. Now compare that to the Newcastle match last season... 

[Guest worth_the_wait]

I've lost count of the number of times I've seen words to the effect of: " ... teams like Bournemouth ..."

 

Bournemouth are currently 5th in the table.  Forget Bournemouth's small ground and support.  

 

Last season their income was about £138 million.   That's one hundred and thirty eight million pounds.   Say it again slowly.

 

I suspect Bournemouth are one of the richest clubs in Europe  (probably in the top 50).

 

By all means critice the defeat away to a team now in 5th, if it makes you feel better.   But stop staying "it was only Bournemouth".

[Sol thewall Bamba]

5 hours ago, UPinCarolina said:

According to the Mercury, Söyünçü was middling to poor against the Chelsea U23 today.

Speaking to mates in Germany, none of them reckon he stood out enough for Freiburg to walk into our side. 

[oadby.fox]

3 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

I've lost count of the number of times I've seen words to the effect of: " ... teams like Bournemouth ..."

 

Bournemouth are currently 5th in the table.  Forget Bournemouth's small ground and support.  

 

Last season their income was about £138 million.   That's one hundred and thirty eight million pounds.   Say it again slowly.

 

I suspect Bournemouth are one of the richest clubs in Europe  (probably in the top 50).

 

By all means critice the defeat away to a team now in 5th, if it makes you feel better.   But stop staying "it was only Bournemouth".

They are only currently fifth in the table because we lost to them... 

 

I think what people are getting at, is that we should at least be aiming to be competitive with teams like Bournemouth who are a decent, but mid-table side. If we get battered because Bournemouth are just 'that good' then fair enough, but looking at it realistically it was a mixture of tactical ineptitude and poor performances. 

[RODNEY FERNIO]

11 minutes ago, oadby.fox said:

They are only currently fifth in the table because we lost to them... 

 

I think what people are getting at, is that we should at least be aiming to be competitive with teams like Bournemouth who are a decent, but mid-table side. If we get battered because Bournemouth are just 'that good' then fair enough, but looking at it realistically it was a mixture of tactical ineptitude and poor performances. 

Bournemouth seem like a genuine bogey team for us … seventh time we've played them in the Premier since they got promoted

at the start of our title winning season. Played 7 , won none , drawn 5 , lost twice … 5 points from 21 available.

This needs pining up on the noticeboard before our home match against them.

[RumbleFox]

12 hours ago, robski said:

Don’t let’s be slating our Puel

It’s plain nasty and cruel

He’s our Boss and employed to rule

Never mind he’s an ineffectual tool

Who’ll get us relegated...Bloody Fool 

One of the worst posts I have seen on here in ages, and I remember Thracian.  I'm impressed.  X

[foxinsocks]

6 hours ago, UPinCarolina said:

According to the Mercury, Söyünçü was middling to poor against the Chelsea U23 today.

But surely chagar is the next in line

[Nick]

On 15 September 2018 at 17:08, Webbo said:

When we played Man U and Liverpool it was "we played well" but we still lost. When we played Wolves and Soton it was "it's the sign of a good team when you play badly but win". Today we played badly and lost. The only thing we haven't seen is us playing well and winning. We have a good squad, we are worse than the sum of our parts. 

[Nick]

13 hours ago, Col city fan said:

I wrote right at the start of the season I wasn’t so much bothered about positions this season as about playing some entertaining football, according to some clear plan

I remain unsure what the plan is? It still seems to be some square pegs in some round holes.

We’ve played some decent stuff, but something still doesn’t feel right and I can’t put my finger on it yet.

 

The Plan Col is 4231 or bust. Even if our personnel would be far better suited to alternative formations and tactics.

 

It was the same plan over 20 games of dross last season and has been the same plan over this season. We've bought some good players but I doubt we'll get the best out of them under this manager.