So, 5 games in...

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Win at the weekend, 9 from 6 games and it'll all look rosy again. 

[FLAN]

12 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.

 

 

What puzzles me is why Evans is written off after a nervous first home game yet Morgan can be as/more error prone for runs of games and maintains his place. Same happened with dragovic although I don’t think he actually had a bad game 

[STUHILL]

17 minutes ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Win at the weekend, 9 from 6 games and it'll all look rosy again. 

I do think next week is a huge game for us and Puel. It's a game we should win, but also a chance for a big reaction to the disappointment of Saturday. Everyone is fit, Morgan is forced out which is a positive, so there really are no excuses for us. Lose though.. and boy do we have a problem! 

[WilmslowFox]

Happy with Chilwell and Ricardo's attacking qualities, but they leave too much space behind for the opposition to exploit, and something needs to change to account for this.  After the Crystal Palace drubbing it seemed obvious that we needed to switch to three CBs to better cover the space left at the back by playing attacking wing backs.  With several new CBs arriving in the summer it looked as though we were heading down this route, but no, Puel's answer seems to be playing two (excellent) defensive midfielders instead, which almost paid off against Liverpool, but has evidently not worked playing a higher line against Bournemouth.  Personally I would start to phase in a back three of Maguire, Söyünçü and Johnson (so that there is a bit more pace than would be offered by Morgan or Evans) as soon as possible.

 

Also would rather see Albrighton (or Ndukwu) starting than Gray.

 

We are always being told that Puel is great at introducing young players, with Chilwell and Gray cited as evidence, but they both made their first team debuts several seasons (and managers) ago - where are the opportunities for the likes of Darnell Johnson and Leyton Ndukwu who impressed in pre-season, but have been confined to the development squad since?

Edited 17 September 2018 by WilmslowFox
spelling

[fairbanksh]

I don't see progress. We are trying to play the Puel way but at the moment it's not an impressive style. People say to give him time and I would love him to be a success, I can't see this. He seems tactically naive, completely out thought at Bournemouth and selections don't make sense. Yes Wed is passed it but this is not the only problem. A right back who is a winger, very slow defence and short on support for Vardy. Maddison can't carry us alone. Early days yes but very worrying sugns

[fuchsntf]

1 hour ago, F1_AN said:

What puzzles me is why Evans is written off after a nervous first home game yet Morgan can be as/more error prone for runs of games and maintains his place. Same happened with dragovic although I don’t think he actually had a bad game 

What I find more amusing, are the fans sitting at home making up issues,and go on worry moments..

we don't know what Puel and coaching staff,have planned,and what tact and tactics,they have for our team and those individual players.

Yes manager and players,still have to earn the right,to our hearts,but we still have to give them some slack....

[Ric Flair]

We've scored 8 goals and conceded 9, of those 8 we've scored 4 of them have been consolation goals, 1 has been an own goal, another a deflection. Defensively we have been very suspect this season, we are gifting the opposition goals and head starts in games and it's a dangerous combo. So defensively we are poor and attacking wise we seem to only become effective when we're chasing the game and often when it's too late to get a result. When you consider we've spent the majority of this season chasing games, you'd think we'd try and maximise the options off the bench to be able to effect a change, yet we're going in to games with only 1 striker and 1 attacking midfielder on there and 3 defenders. It's just completely out of kilter and smacks of Puel not having a clue. We need to get the most out of this squad. I'm not saying Okazaki and Silva are guaranteed to be game changers but surely given how we're constantly having to chase games we'd be better to have them as an option than another full back. We have made a massive error in letting go the majority of our attackers and not replacing them. We barely have any alternatives to who we start the game with out wide and up front. It's worrying. There's very little in the academy too, Diabate seems out of his depth, Barnes is on loan and Nduwku is apparently out until Christmas. This could come to haunt Puel.

 

We've spent in excess of £55m on new defenders and yet seem worse at defending than we've ever been. Our focus was improving our defence, but we haven't. The obvious answer is to go 3 at the back and allow Pereira and Chilwell more licence to focus on what they do best, moving forward with the ball. We've 4-5 first team centre backs, not to mention the highly regarded Sam Hughes, Josh Knight and Darnell Johnson which seems unnecessary unless we're going to play 3 at the back and it gives us better protection to our attacking full backs.

 

Puel seems to have a touch of the Craig Levein's about him. A pragmatic manager who had a vision of lowering the age of the squad and building a lasting legacy but managed to make his team worse at defending which is supposed to be his bread and butter. I could almost tolerate being less effective going forward if we had a defensive record to be proud of but we haven't. It's not good enough at the minute and he needs to rectify it, I don't see any other short term solution than to change formation. The way Vardy has become a passenger in this team is a disgrace as well, how can the future be bright when our most lethal and explosive player is reduced to a peripheral role like this? Bring me back effective and direct football any day over this shit. It's a complete myth this revolution of Puel's. If we continue to under achieve, these so called young superstars will be off elsewhere very quickly and the plan is then a load of bollocks.

[Nick]

7 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

We've scored 8 goals and conceded 9, of those 8 we've scored 4 of them have been consolation goals, 1 has been an own goal, another a deflection. Defensively we have been very suspect this season, we are gifting the opposition goals and head starts in games and it's a dangerous combo. So defensively we are poor and attacking wise we seem to only become effective when we're chasing the game and often when it's too late to get a result. When you consider we've spent the majority of this season chasing games, you'd think we'd try and maximise the options off the bench to be able to effect a change, yet we're going in to games with only 1 striker and 1 attacking midfielder on there and 3 defenders. It's just completely out of kilter and smacks of Puel not having a clue. We need to get the most out of this squad. I'm not saying Okazaki and Silva are guaranteed to be game changers but surely given how we're constantly having to chase games we'd be better to have them as an option than another full back. We have made a massive error in letting go the majority of our attackers and not replacing them. We barely have any alternatives to who we start the game with out wide and up front. It's worrying. There's very little in the academy too, Diabate seems out of his depth, Barnes is on loan and Nduwku is apparently out until Christmas. This could come to haunt Puel.

 

We've spent in excess of £55m on new defenders and yet seem worse at defending than we've ever been. Our focus was improving our defence, but we haven't. The obvious answer is to go 3 at the back and allow Pereira and Chilwell more licence to focus on what they do best, moving forward with the ball. We've 4-5 first team centre backs, not to mention the highly regarded Sam Hughes, Josh Knight and Darnell Johnson which seems unnecessary unless we're going to play 3 at the back and it gives us better protection to our attacking full backs.

 

Puel seems to have a touch of the Craig Levein's about him. A pragmatic manager who had a vision of lowering the age of the squad and building a lasting legacy but managed to make his team worse at defending which is supposed to be his bread and butter. I could almost tolerate being less effective going forward if we had a defensive record to be proud of but we haven't. It's not good enough at the minute and he needs to rectify it, I don't see any other short term solution than to change formation. The way Vardy has become a passenger in this team is a disgrace as well, how can the future be bright when our most lethal and explosive player is reduced to a peripheral role like this? Bring me back effective and direct football any day over this shit. It's a complete myth this revolution of Puel's. If we continue to under achieve, these so called young superstars will be off elsewhere very quickly and the plan is then a load of bollocks.

[fuchsntf]

18 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

We've scored 8 goals and conceded 9, of those 8 we've scored 4 of them have been consolation goals, 1 has been an own goal, another a deflection. Defensively we have been very suspect this season, we are gifting the opposition goals and head starts in games and it's a dangerous combo. So defensively we are poor and attacking wise we seem to only become effective when we're chasing the game and often when it's too late to get a result. When you consider we've spent the majority of this season chasing games, you'd think we'd try and maximise the options off the bench to be able to effect a change, yet we're going in to games with only 1 striker and 1 attacking midfielder on there and 3 defenders. It's just completely out of kilter and smacks of Puel not having a clue. We need to get the most out of this squad. I'm not saying Okazaki and Silva are guaranteed to be game changers but surely given how we're constantly having to chase games we'd be better to have them as an option than another full back. We have made a massive error in letting go the majority of our attackers and not replacing them. We barely have any alternatives to who we start the game with out wide and up front. It's worrying. There's very little in the academy too, Diabate seems out of his depth, Barnes is on loan and Nduwku is apparently out until Christmas. This could come to haunt Puel.

 

We've spent in excess of £55m on new defenders and yet seem worse at defending than we've ever been. Our focus was improving our defence, but we haven't. The obvious answer is to go 3 at the back and allow Pereira and Chilwell more licence to focus on what they do best, moving forward with the ball. We've 4-5 first team centre backs, not to mention the highly regarded Sam Hughes, Josh Knight and Darnell Johnson which seems unnecessary unless we're going to play 3 at the back and it gives us better protection to our attacking full backs.

 

Puel seems to have a touch of the Craig Levein's about him. A pragmatic manager who had a vision of lowering the age of the squad and building a lasting legacy but managed to make his team worse at defending which is supposed to be his bread and butter. I could almost tolerate being less effective going forward if we had a defensive record to be proud of but we haven't. It's not good enough at the minute and he needs to rectify it, I don't see any other short term solution than to change formation. The way Vardy has become a passenger in this team is a disgrace as well, how can the future be bright when our most lethal and explosive player is reduced to a peripheral role like this? Bring me back effective and direct football any day over this shit. It's a complete myth this revolution of Puel's. If we continue to under achieve, these so called young superstars will be off elsewhere very quickly and the plan is then a load of bollocks.

strangely enough...Vardy was involve d   in a few top chances in the games he has played,...So I don't go with this passenger lark..not yet anyway!!

[RoboFox]

Sorry folks, but Gray needs binning off in the short term. 

 

Yes, he's young, but the guy's been given ample opportunities to prove he's good enough to be consistent at this level. Despite having a rare standout game, his development seems to have plateaued. He was awful at the weekend yet again, and I worry that he's destined to be an inconsistent performer with massive confidence issues. 

 

Marc Albrighton must be boning one of Puel's immediate family to not make the starting eleven. Defensively he offers so much, always gives 110% and on Saturday within a short cameo, showed just what he's about. 

 

If the side is the same on Saturday after the weekend's sh*t-show, then we really need so start asking questions of the manager. The supporters' patience is wearing thin, and quickly.

[fuchsntf]

40 minutes ago, fairbanksh said:

I don't see progress. We are trying to play the Puel way but at the moment it's not an impressive style. People say to give him time and I would love him to be a success, I can't see this. He seems tactically naive, completely out thought at Bournemouth and selections don't make sense. Yes Wed is passed it but this is not the only problem. A right back who is a winger, very slow defence and short on support for Vardy. Maddison can't carry us alone. Early days yes but very worrying sugns

Selections don't make sense...absolute codswallop..what do YOU want..!!!

Every game this season,the first pages of game threads,for the first time for awhile shown high % of fans agreeing with selection...

So where does that leave your comment on selection...

You want to criticise those selections...It's been only 5 games,now even with hindsight..what selections would you of come up with,that

Would of won us the games...leaving subs out!!    

names that would...change the outcome..!!!  And for every one of your selections,another forum member would agree and laugh it off

Equally......Get real.!!

[Fox92]

2 hours ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

Win at the weekend, 9 from 6 games and it'll all look rosy again. 

Tbh 6 points from our 5 games isn't bad anywhere when you consider we've played two top four sides (one of which is a genuine title contender), a dangerous attacking side in Bournemouth and a decent side in Wolves on the back of high levels of confidence from promotion.

 

We should win on Saturday. Huddersfield won't be set up like Bournemouth, they'll come from a point. It'll be interesting to see if we can break them down but I think we will.

[Ric Flair]

35 minutes ago, fuchsntf said:

strangely enough...Vardy was involve d   in a few top chances in the games he has played,...So I don't go with this passenger lark..not yet anyway!!

He was anonymous vs Wolves and I may be guilty of using the majority of last season as a barometer of this where he spent a lot of games very quiet. He scored a lot of goals last season from very few chances and I hope he can do the same this season, but I think it's unrealistic to expect him to convert nearly every decent chance he gets and that's what he was doing last season, he was ruthless.

[fuchsntf]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

He was anonymous vs Wolves and I may be guilty of using the majority of last season as a barometer of this where he spent a lot of games very quiet. He scored a lot of goals last season from very few chances and I hope he can do the same this season, but I think it's unrealistic to expect him to convert nearly every decent chance he gets and that's what he was doing last season, he was ruthless.

Seen over a season and not 5 games

[AKCJ]

Man United

We conceded a daft penalty and a bit of a fluke. We were generally considered to have played very well and many felt we deserved something from the game.

 

Wolves

They started very well and should have scored through Doherty, other than a few pot shots I thought we were very comfortable after the opening 15 minutes. Even with 10 men we controlled the tempo of the game and deserved to win.

 

Southamton

Not a vintage performance but we went away and deservedly won against a poor side. Not much more you can ask.

 

Liverpool

We played very well in patches, other times we were a bit complacent and showed Liverpool too much respect.

 

Bournemouth

We didn't deserve to win or draw the game but we conceded 4 from 5 shots. 4-2 was harsh on us I think.

 

 

For me, had we had Vardy with a full preseason we'd have had more than the 6 points we currently have. He's only played 170 odd minutes this season.

 

There's cause for concern, but some on here are acting like we're in a crisis when we're definitely not.

[Mapperleyfox]

Sooner or later all managers get the sack...

 

Unfortunately for Puel his decisions and tactics, not to mention some of the performances and results at the back end of last season and the start of this will mean he is unlikely to last past December in my opinion.

 

It's inevitable and whether people admit it or not, everyone knows he just isn't, and never has been, the right guy for the job.

 

That's not to say everything he's done has been negative, but the likes of Crystal Palace last season and Bournemouth on Saturday will be in the owners' minds and if there's no improvement in results, starting against Huddersfield, then he'll be gone pretty sharpish.

[Guest worth_the_wait]

Having just suffered our 5th successive thrashing of the season, which leaves us rooted to the foot of the Premier League with 0 points ...

 

Ruyard Kiplings words "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs", springs to mind.

 

C'mon.  Get a grip.  Grow a backbone.  Stiff upper lip.   Man up. (woman up?)    Fight!

 

Anything but this incessant moaning.   We're in danger of drowning in a pool of moral incontinece here.

 

I'm quite looking forward to Saturday's game. 

[Old Fox]

6 hours ago, Fox92 said:

Tbh 6 points from our 5 games isn't bad anywhere when you consider we've played two top four sides (one of which is a genuine title contender), a dangerous attacking side in Bournemouth and a decent side in Wolves on the back of high levels of confidence from promotion.

 

We should win on Saturday. Huddersfield won't be set up like Bournemouth, they'll come from a point. It'll be interesting to see if we can break them down but I think we will.

Not aiming my comments at you but I absolutely hate the fact we lost to two of the top 6 makes it okay....we won the league two seasons ago and ambition should be to compete with those sides especially as I think United were there for the taking and we were too cautious and not in Liverpool’s face and both could have had points taken off them. We were lucky against Southampton and Wolves so could easily be on less points and I don’t see the improvement or the signs of encouragement but the next 5 games will be very revealing imo

[Fox92]

53 minutes ago, Old Fox said:

Not aiming my comments at you but I absolutely hate the fact we lost to two of the top 6 makes it okay....we won the league two seasons ago and ambition should be to compete with those sides especially as I think United were there for the taking and we were too cautious and not in Liverpool’s face and both could have had points taken off them. We were lucky against Southampton and Wolves so could easily be on less points and I don’t see the improvement or the signs of encouragement but the next 5 games will be very revealing imo

It doesn't make it okay, but there's got to be a bit of perspective. We won the league two seasons ago has completely nothing to do with us now. We've lost two great great players since then (Mahrez and, more so, Kante). And I'm sorry but if we want to compete with these teams then you keep these players... but we didn't... because we're Leicester City. We've won the league more recent than United, Arsenal and Liverpool but would a player choose us over those clubs? Of course he wouldn't.

 

I don't think we were lucky against Southampton or Wolves at all and I don't the fact people keep saying this. We weren't good at Southampton but they weren't better than us and a fair result was probably a draw. Wolves had a good 20 mins and failed to score. I've been to games plenty of games home and away including Old Trafford earlier this season where we've had an half hour spell of battering an opposition but not scoring. It means **** all if you can't score, like Wolves couldn't, in fact it just highlights your're not clinical enough. 

Edited 17 September 2018 by Fox92

[Matt]

7 hours ago, Fox92 said:

Tbh 6 points from our 5 games isn't bad anywhere when you consider we've played two top four sides (one of which is a genuine title contender), a dangerous attacking side in Bournemouth and a decent side in Wolves on the back of high levels of confidence from promotion.

 

We should win on Saturday. Huddersfield won't be set up like Bournemouth, they'll come from a point. It'll be interesting to see if we can break them down but I think we will.

Before I start for the record i'm not saying Shakespeare should have kept his job, he shouldn't, he was out of his depth and it was only going to end one way but I made these points yesterday when someone made the point "we've played two top four sides".

 

So, last season in the first 8 games (Up to when Shakespeare was sacked) we'd got 6 points, playing (And losing) Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, and Liverpool, beating Brighton, drawing to Huddersfield, Bournemouth and West Brom.

 

I didn't see anyone using "playing the top sides" as a defence for Shakespeare and given the way we set up, played and performed, I didn't expect them to, likewise I don't understand why how people are with Puel.

 

I'm merely making comparisons to the start of seasons/situations but given last seasons start was arguably harder and we're in similar situation, potentially the same (with an 'easier' start), Puel needs a dramatic upturn in form, no excuses.

 

Edited 17 September 2018 by Matt

[Great Boos Up]

I understand the need to evolve and I'm patient and I'm not scared of being relegated (the owners are) I'm struggling to see past plan A and only plan A under what seems to be perhaps a stubborn manager. By that I mean to win football matches we change things in the game when we are losing even if it's not what you want then go back to training and work on the set up. Even Pep said he should be sacked under his first season at man city. We're not Man City and so my worry here is; can Puel in his quite voice and introvert demeanour express to the players what he wants and is he going to blindly stick with his ideal even if we are not there yet.

[Fox92]

20 minutes ago, Matt said:

Before I start for the record i'm not saying Shakespeare should have kept his job, he shouldn't, he was out of his depth and it was only going to end one way but I made these points yesterday when someone made the point "we've played two top four sides".

 

So, last season in the first 8 games (Up to when Shakespeare was sacked) we'd got 6 points, playing (And losing) Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, and Liverpool, beating Brighton, drawing to Huddersfield, Bournemouth and West Brom.

 

I didn't see anyone using "playing the top sides" as a defence for Shakespeare and given the way we set up, played and performed, I didn't expect them to, likewise I don't understand why how people are with Puel.

 

I'm merely making comparisons to the start of seasons/situations but given last seasons start was arguably harder and we're in similar situation, potentially the same (with an 'easier' start), Puel needs a dramatic upturn in form, no excuses.

 

So it took Shakespeare 8 games to accumulate 6 points? We've got 5 points already. And we play better now. I got bored of going to games under Shakespeare not not even attempting to win (Huddersfield away springs to mind). It was the football and the way that we set up that annoyed me. And in the big games we got battered (aside from Arsenal), we were rarely in the game. Compared to the two games this season we've been decent and a side from a dodgy penalty probably would've drawn at Old Trafford.

 

Puel needs an upturn in form? We've played 5 won 2 and lost 3. If we'd have drawn at Bournemouth (a good side with a good manager) you wouldn't be saying this. We'll win on Saturday and suddenly it turns into 3 wins and 3 defeats. It's really not as bad as you're making it out to be. When we start struggling against shit sides this season, like we did under Shakespeare (Huddersfield away, West Brom home), that's when I'll start worrying. Vardy missed two good chances on Saturday before Bournemouth even scored, no mention of that though is there? We are at least creating a few decent chances.

[fuchsntf]

Maybe still too early,but after the 5 games,including tonight's football...

It seems the league is already showing us,where points/results need to be gotten,and where we might struggle,in this 5 game form...

Obviously this could all change again after another 5 games....

It's between the 10-12 game mark where one sees the shape of bottom 6-8.strugglers, hard working midfield 14-9th,still with high hopes,

10-6,earning the right to be considered good PL teams. Top 6 just too much quality and finances,to try and Gatecrash  into!!!

That's why like 'em or not Spurs (better catchment area than many) with no major finance,do a good job...

Can Watford,now after 3 reasonable seasons,scrape their lot into top 6-4.

Everton like us are still wobbly,and inconsistent,but have potential.

I follow other clubs ups and downs,but not so intently as leicesters. Tonight's teams...I reckon will stay up,but not show their heads above top 11,

After November...

All that said far too early,to get into any nitty-gritty. Fortune,and finding/keeping any type of good form,is in the laps of the footballing gods...

Teams like West Ham and CPalace can have form surges...Newcastle poor one moment,then find some great runs...

If our midfield can find a front foot positive vain,then we could go above avg expectations....

[l444ry]

Just as well Maguire sneaked that winner in added time at Southampton or we'd be 2 points off the relegation places. I genuinely admire some peoples positive slant on things.  

[fuchsntf]

 

1....Chelsea
2		Liverpool	5	9	15
3		Man City	5	11	13
4		Watford	5	5	12
5		Bournemouth	5	3	10
6		Tottenham	5	4	9
7		Arsenal	5	1	9
8		Man Utd	5	0	9
9		Wolves	5	0	8
10		Everton	5	-1	6
11		Leicester	5	-1	6
12		Crystal Palace	5	-2	6
13		Southampton	5	0	5
14		Brighton	5	-2	5
15		Fulham	5	-5	4
16		West Ham	5	-6	3
17		Cardiff	5	-6	2
18		Huddersfield	5	-9	2
19		Newcastle	5	-4	1
20		Burnley	5	-7

if this was EOS...would you be happy,or disapointed