10 Games In - The Verdict So Far

[StriderHiryu]

The Puel thread is on fire right now, but this is a slightly different topic. We are now 10 games into the season, usually a good time to evaluate any team. We are currently in 12th position with a goal difference of 0.

 

What do you think about not only the manager, but the team, our new signings and so on. What do you think the rest of the season will hold in store?

 

 

My summary of the season as a grade would be a C Minus. Scraping a passing grade, but generally under-performing.

 

The Good
 

- Comfortably clear of the relegation zone and have seen off teams involved down there quite easily.

- We have the youngest team in the division and some of our new young players look good, Maddison in particular.

- Some of our possession football is good on the eye.

- We've scored in every league game we've played so far.

- In patches against the big teams we've dominated them for spells.

- Still in the league cup.

- We've gained the most points from losing positions of any team in the league this year.

- Some players brought back into the fold have done well. Mendy and Amartey (who will sadly likely miss the rest of the season now) have been quite good IMO.

 

The Bad
 

- We are behind Bournemouth, Brighton, Wolves and Watford. Bournemouth really gave us a good hiding.

- Despite good performances against the teams involved in European competition, we got nothing out of any of the games.

- Some of our new signings have made a very indifferent impact. Ghezall and Evans primarily.

- Our defence is still very poor. We concede first so many times and Morgan / Maguire are still the usual starting two at the back.

- It doesn't feel like we've made any real progress from the the end of last season. We still concede first most of the time, have the ball a lot but don't make too many chances. We've given Puel a chance and invested into players for him, but it still feels a lot like trying to solve a puzzle for which we don't know the answer.

The Ugly

 

- Poor Dan Amartey. I like his character and thought he was decent this year, but that was a nasty injury.

- The Vardy being dropped newspaper headline and 3 at the back tactics leaked in recent games... something is wrong behind the scenes.

- Two of the most expensive players we've ever signed, Slimani and Silva aren't involved at all with the first team.

 

 

As for our players, rating them out of 10:

 

Kasper Schmeichel - 7.5 / 10. Been good when needed. I can't think of a mistake he's made this season, but at the same time hasn't pulled out any worldies to earn us a point. Very solid as per usual though.

Danny Ward - 7/10. Great performance against Wolves in the cup where he literally was the reason we got through. Hard to judge after just 2 games. Seems decent if pricey at 12.5m.

Ben Chilwell - 8.5/10. Our player of the season for me so far. Consistently very good. Final ball could be improved but his improvement in the last 12 months has been impressive.

Wes Morgan - 5/10. Two sending offs in the first 10 games tells it's own story. In most games he's been quite solid though.

Harry Maguire - 6/10. In my opinion very disappointing this season. I think he needed a longer rest after the World Cup as he also looked shaky for England.

Jonny Evans - 5/10. Made serious mistakes against Wolves, Huddersfield, Everton and Arsenal for me. I thought he would be a great signing, but not so sure now.
Daniel Amartey - 7/10. Very solid for me. A huge mistake in the first game of the season stops him ranking higher. Shame it's probably the last we see of him this season though.

Nampalys Mendy - 7.5/10. Our best central midfielder this season. I've been impressed with him and that 16m we spent now looks quite good value.

Wilfred Ndidi - 6.5/10. Not playing to his best ability. Surprisingly inconsistent this season compared to his career with us so far.

Adrien Silva - 4/10. I thought he was OK against Manchester United but average against Fleetwood and poor against Wolves. He can't even get into the matchday squad right now.

Vicente Iborra - 5/10. Ok in the cups, but looked off the pace in the league.

Rachid Ghezzal - 5/10. Faded fast after impressing in his first two games. A poor man's Mahrez.

Ricardo - 6.5/10. Started very well in terms of an offensive contribution but defensively weak. Not replaced Danny Simpson as we thought he had been signed to do. In terms of technique I think he's a very good player, but his lack of physicality has been exposed so far.

Marc Albrighton - 6/10. Will forever be a legend, but been average at best in his starts and off the bench appearances.

Demari Gray - 6.5/10. Before his injury he looked quite good. Expect more goals and assists from him, but maybe he would have got them had he not got injured.

James Maddison - 7.5/10. Hard to believe he's only played 10 games in the Premier League because he's settled very well indeed. 7.5 might seem harsh but I'd say that's more indicative of the team's position currently. As the 10 he is THE player we look to for inspiration, especially given Mahrez has gone.

Jamie Vardy - 6/10. Started well but the sending off and performance against Arsenal suggest he's misfiring slightly.

Kelechi Ihenacho - 5/10. Good against Huddersfield, but that's been about it. Given the money we spent for him and the ability we know we have, been disappointing. I thought at the end of last season he had finally clicked, but I guess not.

Shinji Okazaki - 5/10. Limited to mostly sub appearances so hard to judge.

Christian Fuchs - 7/10. Only played in the cups but been very good when he's played.

Caglar Soyuncu - N/A. Can't judge a player after one game.

 

 

And the manager. 5/10. I think we are under performing as a team. There hasn't been a game where we've really battered the other team, though to be fair other than Bournemouth there hasn't been a game where we've looked dreadful. Even in that game we started quite well. But it's just very average overall. I think bringing Mendy back in was a good managerial call, and bringing in Amartey over Ricardo to tighten up the Right Back position, but other than that there haven't been too many inspired subs or tactical changes. Had we beaten Arsenal then the switch to 3 at the back would have got a lot more credit, but he changed it back after we were winning!

Based on all this, I think we will finish between 10th and 14th this season. Now given that we are trying to bring through a lot of young players that isn't necessarily the worst thing that can happen, but if you look at the players we have, it's hard to not be underwhelmed overall. My gut feeling is that the owners will replace him either in December or at the end of the season. Not because we are in a relegation fight, but because the progress won't be considered good enough.

 

Edited 27 October 2018 by StriderHiryu

[Tuna]

We're behind Brighton FFS.

[urban.spaceman]

A bit ****ing schizophrenic. 

[The Doctor]

We've been fine. Great at times, infuriating at others. When most of the starting 11 are under 24 that's to be expected but good signs for me. Fanbase has lost all common sense and perspective since the title win

[southfox66]

Let's be honest it isn't good is it! 

[Ric Flair]

Exactly as I thought we'd be, a team that flatters to deceive. A team with a soft underbelly and a team that at first glance might look useful but we are so easy to play against and we'd have loved playing us when we were a counter attacking team and we used to trick teams in to having the ball out wide to cross aimless balls in to the box. 

 

It's looking like the cups are our only hope for a bit of excitement, massive game on Tuesday.

[foxes_rule1978]

13 from 10 is mid table stuff, no progression really... but we aren’t going to get relegated that is for sure, so if you are happy with that then Puel is the right man that is what he does. 

[Corky]

I think, if it was a new manager in charge blending the players in, there would be a bit more positivity around. Puel is struggling to shake off last season and every result like this isn't helping.

 

We've spent good money on players, have a pretty large squad yet still look light. It's incredible how we've managed it.

[Monsell1976]

Where we are expected to be, not progressing as quick as we want, the sooner we get rid of the rest of the ? in the squad, the manager whoever it may be might have a chance.

 Pattern forming, they will be at the chairman office soon

[Kitchandro]

Pathetic. A good squad of players but a dull excuse for a team with an ambitionless manager.

 

If football is entertainment, and frankly if any of you have any love for the sport, Puel is a huge failure.

 

Who cares where we finish if there isn’t any matches worth remembering?

[East Langton Fox]

Puel has been in charge for one year, a long time in football terms. Long enough to know what team to play. I’m not sure he knows. We play well for periods in a game, but that’s all. 

I don’t think Puel connects with his players, which means he won’t connect with the fans. 

I don’t think ten games is long enough. However at the moment we are below par.  Some reasonable performances at times but no consistency. 

I would like to be more optimistic but you want managers to inspire and I’m afraid Puel doesn’t inspire. 

[m4DD0gg]

Hopefully the end for this joke of a manager. If we stick with him we are fkd

[FLAN]

What’s his plan?  Isn’t clear to me. Too much faith in his kids project despite them having little end product 

[Ric Flair]

8 minutes ago, Monsell1976 said:

Where we are expected to be, not progressing as quick as we want, the sooner we get rid of the rest of the ? in the squad, the manager whoever it may be might have a chance.

 Pattern forming, they will be at the chairman office soon

Look at how abysmal we are at breaking teams down, Puel wants us to be the possession based team hes creating yet we are poor going forward like that. We are still only dangerous when we counter. Maddison is really struggling from open play too, it's a shame we've got zero skill out wide to create some space for him and stretch defences. 

 

We are like them grotesque sausage rolls they sell in every corner shop in the land, called Pete's or something. You know they're going to be filth, but you still have one every time you're in there and instantly regret it. That's us under Puel.

[1972 Fox]

Not good enough.

[Suzie the Fox]

About where i thought we would be, would have hoped to been in the top half but there is plenty of time and we are only slightly below it. 

 

With regards to the team, we have some good players who we have paid decent money for but we lack consistency. Even with our better players, for example Harry Maguire, he blows hot and cold depending on the game. Chilwell for me has been our most consistent player so far this season. New signings have been ok but for me its too soon to judge them on whether they will fit into the team or not. The only one who has seemed to slot right in from the start, is Maddison. 

 

Same feelings about Puel, (nothing has changed after the game.) I'm not in or out and still prepared to give him until at least Christmas time. 

 

ps Not sure you will get many positive replies to this topic on the back of that game - tempers/stress levels are too high right now. 

Edited 27 October 2018 by Suzie the Fox

[yks]

A bit disapointing, but still 2 points from 8th and 8 above the relegation line, so nothing to worry about for now.
Let's hope we'll be a bit luckier the next games.

Edited 27 October 2018 by yks

[kingfox]

We're nothing more than an inconsistent mid table team and us fans need to get used to that.

 

We have a decent squad, although very young, it's just going to be hot one week, cold the next.

[ealingfox]

Not that far off tbh, as said 8 points away from danger. Big few games coming up and we need a few more wins before Christmas.

[bovril]

It's tight. We could easily be sitting 8th right now. C+ for the first ten games. 

[FLAN]

Cardiff are the sort of team he won’t be able to set us up to beat 

[surrifox]

Said it before but this team is less than the sum of its parts - expensive , well regarded  international players mostly on six figure weekly salaries unable to master a coherent attack without wandering offside against 10 pretty average men is summing it up for me . 

I want CP to stay and sort it but he's making it hard to get behind him 

 

 

[surrifox]

2 minutes ago, F1_AN said:

Cardiff are the sort of team he won’t be able to set us up to beat 

Correct . I think we might nick a 0-0 but nothing more 

[Poznan34]

The table means nothing at this stage. Slightly disappointing maybe, but nothing major. We're one of the youngest teams in the league, mistakes happen. It should pay off in future seasons. 

 

A bit of patience wouldn't go amiss.  Puel in.

 

(unless he's lost the dressing room, then get rid)

[East Langton Fox]

I think we are good enough to beat teams near the bottom of the table, it was very comfortable at Newcastle and I’m looking for the same at Cardiff.