What to do about the defense?

[Dan]

On 20/09/2018 at 07:09, Captain... said:

The problem isn’t just the defence/defensive shape it is also our lack of threat with the ball. We are in danger of becoming the sort of team we would rip to shreds 2015/16 possession for possession’s sake fanny about with it in midfield get caught on the break. We don’t control games when we have the ball and grind teams down and we don’t offer enough of a threat to dictate the game from a higher line. The opposition don’t worry about us enough in possession to keep players back, when we lose the ball they know they can pile forwards because we will give them time to get back.

 

Playing with attacking full backs means we do get an overload on the flanks but it takes longer for the full back to get up in support, so you need to wait to use the overlap and then it is often wasted as we have nobody to cross it in to.

 

If we can dictate the play dominate the possession and have a greater attacking threat then we can play a back 4 with a high line and attacking fullbacks but when we give away the ball cheaply or pump aimless crosses into the box we are just asking to be punished.

Could not agree more. I think exactly this - we are the absolute dream opponent for 2015/16 Leicester in every single sense of the word.

 

We aren't good enough collectively to slowly open teams up. We just haven't got the players to do it. You need better midfielders and wingers to do it. Maddison and possibly Ghezzal are suited to it. Ndidi isn't, Gray isn't, Mendy you just about get away with as your deepest midfielder as he can keep the ball in fairness, but the rest haven't got the quality. It isn't their game to probe, they're still based on being quick and physical.

 

We've created next to nothing for our strikers in five games.

 

Combine that with playing slow defenders in a high line and full backs who attack (and do help going forward, granted) and it's a recipe to be beaten by anyone well organised. I wouldn't be shocked if Huddersfield came here and got a point tomorrow. They're the ultimate bus parkers and that worryingly works against us quite often.

 

4-2-3-1 does not suit the majority of this side, certainly not in a patient build up.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

10 hours ago, Hanan96 said:

Like I just said, there are too many adjustments we need to accommodate back 3. Aside from nacho and madison, the rest aren't used to it. Also, the rest of the team are rarely play with the back 3.so we need some more time aside from already waiting the half of our team which is new to the team. 

The back 4 can be back 3 when needed, our dm can drop back. With high defensive line they will be comfortable enough to play there. 

 

 

 

 

Sensible post. Finally 

I don’t understand why someone advocating the status quo, is a ‘sensible post’ when the situation for 8 months is one of a decline in results and performances.

 

The last twelve months has been a complete waste of time, the clubs stagnation continues unabated, and people are content with that? 

[Babylon]

20 hours ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

I don’t understand why someone advocating the status quo, is a ‘sensible post’ when the situation for 8 months is one of a decline in results and performances.

 

The last twelve months has been a complete waste of time, the clubs stagnation continues unabated, and people are content with that? 

Because the manager has been here less than a year, he's having to transition the team away from an aging squad (and one full of failures) to a new younger one. We've finished top ten and we're currently midtable. I'd have thought it was patently obvious why people are more than willing to give the team and the manager time. We've signed quite a few new players and they only started training together after the season has started due to the world cup.

 

That doesn't mean people aren't concerned, I have doubts about the manager. But I totally agree about what he's trying to achieve, even if he's not managed to implement it on the pitch yet. I really don't understand what the great rush is, you act like there won't be another season after this one, or one after that. The clubs aims are long term, so long as we don't dip into serious trouble (that's possible but we haven't yet under him), then he'll continue to be given time.

 

You say we've stagnated, but in terms of transition of the squad and off the field stuff that couldn't be more wrong. So long as those things aren't threatened by relegation, then I'm happy to wait for those things to fall in place and give us an extra boost to kick on.

Edited 22 September 2018 by Babylon

[NotTheMarketLeader]

19 minutes ago, Babylon said:

Because the manager has been here less than a year, he's having to transition the team away from an aging squad (and one full of failures) to a new younger one. We've finished top ten and we're currently midtable. I'd have thought it was patently obvious why people are more than willing to give the team and the manager time. We've signed quite a few new players and they only started training together after the season has started due to the world up.

 

That doesn't mean people aren't concerned, I have doubts about the manager. But I totally agree about what he's trying to achieve, even if he's not managed to implement it on the pitch yet. I really don't understand what the great rush, you act like there won't be another season after this one, or one after that. The clubs aims are long term, so long as we don't dip into serious trouble (that's possible but we haven't yet under him), then he'll continue to be given time.

 

You say we've stagnated, but in terms of transition of the squad and off the field stuff that couldn't be more wrong. So long as those things aren't threatened by relegation, then I'm happy to wait for those things to fall in place and give us an extra boost to kick on.

I appreciate your patience, but it’s not something I can sit by and  tolerate watching. A year is a long time in football these days. 

 

My cat could get this squad top 10 and she’s on deaths door. Wasn’t his job to get us Europa League last season?

 

- He was miles off it.

 

I have no faith in this guy improving our club to be the best it can be. I didn’t believe he was right initially, and there has been absolutely nothing I have seen since to make me believe otherwise.

 

Passing it around for passings sake, can’t score, can’t defend, talk of bringing young players through (who gives shit unless they are local - we may as well buy them). 

 

Smoke and mirrors thus far and no progress in the arena that matters, on the pitch with performances allied with results.

Edited 21 September 2018 by NotTheMarketLeader

[murphy]

9 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

I appreciate your patience, but it’s not something I can sit by and  tolerate watching. A year is a long time in football these days. 

 

My cat could get this squad top 10 and she’s on deaths door. Wasn’t his job to get us Europa League last season?

 

- He was miles off it.

 

I have no faith in this guy improving our club to be the best it can be. I didn’t believe he was right initially, and there has been absolutely nothing I have seen since to make me believe otherwise.

 

Passing it around for passings sake, can’t score, can’t defend, talk of bringing young players through (who gives shit unless they are local - we may as well buy them). 

 

Smoke and mirrors thus far and no progress in the arena that matters, on the pitch with performances allied with results.

I think the youth policy is one thing we can give Puel credit for.

 

It allows us to build a team with longevity, to bring in players with the potential to grow and become better/more valuable rather than buying a player already at his peak and also, some of these players may improve to become top 6 players that wouldn't have come to us if we hadn't brought them in young.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

38 minutes ago, murphy said:

I think the youth policy is one thing we can give Puel credit for.

 

It allows us to build a team with longevity, to bring in players with the potential to grow and become better/more valuable rather than buying a player already at his peak and also, some of these players may improve to become top 6 players that wouldn't have come to us if we hadn't brought them in young.

Fair enough.

 

Not a lot has happened though has it....probably because none of them are good enough?

 

Not sure why he gets credit for things that may happen, but may not. He’s been responsible for bringing one player into the first team in the PL - Hamza. And nothing this season! 

 

Really, how is he getting credit for this? 

[Babylon]

47 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

I appreciate your patience, but it’s not something I can sit by and  tolerate watching. A year is a long time in football these days.

That just sounds like a meaningless soundbite to me, why is it a long time in football. Why does it matter if we finish midtable two seasons running?

 

47 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

My cat could get this squad top 10 and she’s on deaths door. Wasn’t his job to get us Europa League last season?

According to who? The owners never said that was the objective did they? Read what they said this summer and it's pretty clear they know that what he's being tasked with is actually a very big job.

 

I'm not sure where the faith in the squad comes from, the title winning squad is long gone. Sure we've spent money, but most of them have proven absolutely nothing yet. He's still hampered with expensive flops throughout the squad. Sure on paper it looks like it should be good, but people like Silva and Iheanacho have shown little to warrant the faith people seem to have in them.

 

47 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

I have no faith in this guy improving our club to be the best it can be. I didn’t believe he was right initially, and there has been absolutely nothing I have seen since to make me believe otherwise.

 

Passing it around for passings sake, can’t score, can’t defend, talk of bringing young players through (who gives shit unless they are local - we may as well buy them). 

 

Smoke and mirrors thus far and no progress in the arena that matters, on the pitch with performances allied with results.

Can't score: we've scored more than or the same as 12 teams in the league.  Can't defend: We've conceded less or the same as 8 teams in the league. Pretty average, but far from the disaster you are making out, hence why we're 11th.

 

Progress compared to what? The last two managers have been sacked for being in the bottom three. Whilst it's very frustrating and we're stuttering along, we've not not yet slumped to the depths we did under them.

[Babylon]

2 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

Fair enough.

 

Not a lot has happened though has it....probably because none of them are good enough?

 

Not sure why he gets credit for things that may happen, but may not. He’s been responsible for bringing one player into the first team in the PL - Hamza. And nothing this season! 

 

Really, how is he getting credit for this? 

The age of our starting 11 has been slashed drastically since he's been here. That's not even a debating point.

[NotTheMarketLeader]

8 minutes ago, Babylon said:

That just sounds like a meaningless soundbite to me, why is it a long time in football. Why does it matter if we finish midtable two seasons running?

 

According to who? The owners never said that was the objective did they? Read what they said this summer and it's pretty clear they know that what he's being tasked with is actually a very big job.

 

I'm not sure where the faith in the squad comes from, the title winning squad is long gone. Sure we've spent money, but most of them have proven absolutely nothing yet. He's still hampered with expensive flops throughout the squad. Sure on paper it looks like it should be good, but people like Silva and Iheanacho have shown little to warrant the faith people seem to have in them.

 

Can't score: we've scored more than or the same as 12 teams in the league.  Can't defend: We've conceded less or the same as 8 teams in the league. Pretty average, but far from the disaster you are making out, hence why we're 11th.

 

Progress compared to what? The last two managers have been sacked for being in the bottom three. Whilst it's very frustrating and we're stuttering along, we've not not yet slumped to the depths we did under them.

Yes all very balanced of you.

 

We were a mid table team the year after the title win. 

 

Over two years later we aspire to be better than mid table but with Claude we are not, I and many others want better than the shit that has been served up in terms of results and entertainment; which we pay for I might add; under his tenure.

 

All I ask of a manager is to get the best out of the players we have.

 

Again, not happening.

Edited 21 September 2018 by NotTheMarketLeader

[NotTheMarketLeader]

4 minutes ago, Babylon said:

The age of our starting 11 has been slashed drastically since he's been here. That's not even a debating point.

Because he’s bought younger players than the old guys who should have gone previously!

 

‘Bringing through the young players is his forte’ now includes those he ****ing buys as well!

 

Come on Baby! 

 

 

[Babylon]

4 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

Because he’s bought younger players than the old guys who should have gone previously!

 

‘Bringing through the young players is his forte’ now includes those he ****ing buys as well!

 

Come on Baby! 

 

 

The person you quoted said nothing about it being youth team players? He said bringing players in with room to grow than just buying players at their peak. Even if we're just going to discuss players we already had, he's giving Gray and Chilwell game time to improve that they weren't given before. You can't deny Chilwell looks to be improving. In fact for me he's looked our best defender so far this season.

[Babylon]

10 minutes ago, NotTheMarketLeader said:

Yes all very balanced of you.

 

We were a mid table team the year after the title win. 

 

Over two years later we aspire to be better than mid table but with Claude we are not, I and many others want better than the shit that has been served up in terms of results and entertainment; which we pay for I might add; under his tenure.

 

All I ask of a manager is to get the best out of the players we have.

 

Again, not happening.

According to who? The owners haven't been speaking like that this summer, I'm sure they are well aware that we've totally screwed the pooch when it came to progression with multiple transfer window failures. Not the current managers fault who has been picking up the pieces of that.

 

If people actually think we're ever going to be anything other than a midtable team for foreseeable future then they are kidding themselves I'm afraid. We don't invest enough, and there are bigger teams than us floating about who you'd expect to take up the first few positions outside the top 6.

 

8th - 12th on a consistent basis is about the best a club like Leicester can expect. It's all very well aspiring for more, we all do. But the reality of it is that the whole club needs to make the step up (which we're trying to do), before we can ever expect anything above that to be a regular thing.

[Bigboss204]

Schmeichel

Ricardo

Evans

Maguire

Soyuncu

Chilwell

Silva

Ndidi

Maddison

Vardy

Iheanacho

 

Hi guys, long time viewer on this board, hardly posted so far. Can't see why we aren't picking this team it seems to just resolve so many problems.

 

Edited 21 September 2018 by Bigboss204

[BraunstoneFox23]

4 minutes ago, Bigboss204 said:

Schmeichel

Ricardo

Evans

Maguire

Soyuncu

Chilwell

Silva

Ndidi

Maddison

Vardy

Iheanacho

 

Hi guys, long time viewer on this board, hardly posted so far. Can't see why we aren't picking this team it seems to just resolve so many problems.

 

Not a bad idea at all! I do worry a bit about Silva, but I also believe he still has unfulfilled potential. I'd be happy with Mendy/Silva/Iborra/Hamza (why not?!) there to dictate the pace of the game in front of the back 3. Really hope Puel can make it happen in future.

[Bigboss204]

17 minutes ago, Crashtoasted said:

Not a bad idea at all! I do worry a bit about Silva, but I also believe he still has unfulfilled potential. I'd be happy with Mendy/Silva/Iborra/Hamza (why not?!) there to dictate the pace of the game in front of the back 3. Really hope Puel can make it happen in future.

Yeah, i mean it would be nice to see Puel try it, what has he got to lose after the shower of shit at Bournemouth?

I'm not sure Mendy or Hamza have the experience or quality to dictate the pace of a game yet, I'd be more confident with Silva or Iborra.

[Guest Col city fan]

If Puel starts with a CB pairing of Evans and Maguire, I think you’d struggle to find a slower partnership.

It’s a good job Huddersfield aren’t quick up top. Aerially, we should be ok

[l444ry]

2 hours ago, Col city fan said:

If Puel starts with a CB pairing of Evans and Maguire, I think you’d struggle to find a slower partnership.

It’s a good job Huddersfield aren’t quick up top. Aerially, we should be ok

This seems to be  becoming a standard myths that become "fact" if repeated enough. The first ten yards are in the head if you can read the game. Most strikers at top level these days are quick or they wouldn't be playing. Defending on the halfway line with full backs pushing on would even catch Des Walker and Rio Ferdinand found wanting. .   

[st albans fox]

4 hours ago, Col city fan said:

If Puel starts with a CB pairing of Evans and Maguire, I think you’d struggle to find a slower partnership.

It’s a good job Huddersfield aren’t quick up top. Aerially, we should be ok

The pairing got rinsed several times by wolves first half hour ...... yet second half they were fairly comfortable. Infect once neves had induced the injury break first half to get us tactically tweaked.  Will be interesting to see if Wagner can come up with a plan 

[mozartfox]

1 hour ago, l444ry said:

This seems to be  becoming a standard myths that become "fact" if repeated enough. The first ten yards are in the head if you can read the game. Most strikers at top level these days are quick or they wouldn't be playing. Defending on the halfway line with full backs pushing on would even catch Des Walker and Rio Ferdinand found wanting. .   

Bring back Alan Woolett. Quicker than Bluebird and more skillful than Junior Lewis.

[Guest MattP]

Why has a mod not changed the title of this to the English spelling? 

[FoxNotFox]

1 minute ago, MattP said:

Why has a mod not changed the title of this to the English spelling? 

They probably haven't notised.

[UniFox21]

2 minutes ago, MattP said:

Why has a mod not changed the title of this to the English spelling? 

If we let them have this spelling of defence they might stop calling it soccer 

[Guest MattP]

Just now, FoxNotFox said:

They probably haven't notised.

Well they need to realize.

[Guest Col city fan]

2 hours ago, l444ry said:

This seems to be  becoming a standard myths that become "fact" if repeated enough. The first ten yards are in the head if you can read the game. Most strikers at top level these days are quick or they wouldn't be playing. Defending on the halfway line with full backs pushing on would even catch Des Walker and Rio Ferdinand found wanting. .   

Oh don’t be daft. The pair of them have the turning circle of an Aircraft carrier..

[jim5000]

10 hours ago, Babylon said:

Because the manager has been here less than a year, he's having to transition the team away from an aging squad (and one full of failures) to a new younger one. We've finished top ten and we're currently midtable. I'd have thought it was patently obvious why people are more than willing to give the team and the manager time. We've signed quite a few new players and they only started training together after the season has started due to the world up.

 

That doesn't mean people aren't concerned, I have doubts about the manager. But I totally agree about what he's trying to achieve, even if he's not managed to implement it on the pitch yet. I really don't understand what the great rush, you act like there won't be another season after this one, or one after that. The clubs aims are long term, so long as we don't dip into serious trouble (that's possible but we haven't yet under him), then he'll continue to be given time.

 

You say we've stagnated, but in terms of transition of the squad and off the field stuff that couldn't be more wrong. So long as those things aren't threatened by relegation, then I'm happy to wait for those things to fall in place and give us an extra boost to kick on.

If only he was a bit more lively though. Imagine his pre match team talk: "remember zee tactic, Jamie.... I want to see zee quality..... Ben, reember zee intensity.... All, remember we need zee intentsity and zee quality, now go, show me zee quality" then he slowly claps them out of the changing room. I just can't see his personality getting the team pumped up for kickoff, and the teams performance at the start of matches seems to bear that out....

 

Edited 21 September 2018 by jim5000