"All we do is pass the ball sideways and backwards" - Not any more!

[StriderHiryu]

Here is the full move for our goal we scored today at Wembley stadium against Spurs with the youngest team in the league:

 

 

What a glorious, glorious team goal! I literally cannot remember us ever scoring a team goal like this... ever! Evans, Kasper, Maguire, Chilwell, Barnes, Maddison, Ndidi, Ricardo, Tielemans, Ihenacho, Vardy all involved. Literally the entire team had at least one touch in the move!!!

 

- Yes there were several times during the move it could have broken down, but it didn't.

- Yes we still lost the game.

- Yes this is the only goal we've scored like this all season. Is it a one-off, or the norm?

- Yes, but can we score a goal like this against teams that sit back with 10 men for much of the match? It remains to be seen.

 

I don't want this thread to be about the manager, as there are too many of those already. But I made this thread to say this; if this is the identity of our team from now on, then sign me up! In 15/16 we have a brilliant style that was not only effective, but exciting too. Some of the breakaway goals we scored were simply stunning, e.g. Vardy against West Brom away (that interchange with Drinkwater!) or Mahrez away at Man City (those tackles from Kante, that hop over Otamendi by Mahrez!). But the following season our counter attack broke down and we've been struggling to find a style of play that works ever since.

 

We've all been to or watched too many games over the last 12 months where we've been duller than watching paint dry. Passing the ball sideways and backwards and doing nothing with it. But today despite the result being a loss, it felt like a turning point with a new set of players at the nucleus of it. There were several other moves that although not quite as good as this one, were very good nonetheless!

 

So come on Leicester! Let's see us turn on the Sexy Football every week! Let's play like this against Palace at home! Let's do it for Vichai!

 

 

 

[Nickfosse]

But we lost 3-1  

[Tuna]

[StriderHiryu]

1 minute ago, Tuna said:

But it really genuinely was liquid football! Alan Partridge would definitely approve!

 

The only time I can think of in the last 20 years that even comes close is this move against Liverpool in 2016:

 

 

If I was Puel, on Monday I would show that video to the team 10 times in a row minimum, and explain to them THAT'S how I want you to play. Be brave, be fearless, trust in your technique and your team mates. You can do it, because you've just shown me you can do it! Every single one of you was involved in this goal! So keep moving off the ball, pass quickly and incisively, shift the team from one side to the other, and do it all game because Foxes Never Quit!!!

[EverybodyDannsNow]

I think you could easily find quite a few clips of us having sustained periods of possession like that this season, including in other games against the big 6.

 

The difference here is that Tielemans was there to break the line and put Ricardo into a great crossing position. Too many times this season that pass has been missed for a more conservative option.

 

The midfield had a really nice balance today - Ndidi did his job and Tielemans was left to do his. Puel's persistence with the unsuccessful Ndidi and Mendy partnership has arguably been one of his biggest downfalls this season. Great to see us finally using another option.

[Dave Fishwick]

great goal. How do you get that footage?

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

7 minutes ago, EverybodyDannsNow said:

I think you could easily find quite a few clips of us having sustained periods of possession like that this season, including in other games against the big 6.

 

The difference here is that Tielemans was there to break the line and put Ricardo into a great crossing position. Too many times this season that pass has been missed for a more conservative option.

 

The midfield had a really nice balance today - Ndidi did his job and Tielemans was left to do his. Puel's persistence with the unsuccessful Ndidi and Mendy partnership has arguably been one of his biggest downfalls this season. Great to see us finally using another option.

Who to date this season really was/is capable of the role that Tielemans played today? What he did today allowed Ndidi to play his role as you say and I suspect it would been the same with Mendy. We have been crying out for a genuine creative CM like Tielemans showed today for well over a season. What Puel is trying to do requires that sort of player. 

[Vardinio'sCat]

 

Wow, it really went on for ages. Proper football and everything. Bodes well for our long-sufferering home support.

 

Could we get Tielemans shot up too, just to remind us how close he came to humiliating one of the better keepers around.

[EverybodyDannsNow]

2 minutes ago, Cadno'r Cymoedd said:

Who to date this season really was/is capable of the role that Tielemans played today? What he did today allowed Ndidi to play his role and I suspect it would been the same with Mendy. We have been crying out for a genuine creative CM like Tielemans showed today for well over a season. 

 

I think there's an argument to say that Maddison could have been dropped in there at times this season to offer some creativity from deep - especially against the bottom-half teams at home.

[NeilLCFC]

As beautiful as it was How often do we score goals playing Puels passing style vs our pacey counterattacking style?

[danny2997]

Although it wasn't the case all game, in this period of play we saw the lads break down a team throwing everyone behind the ball defending a lead. I'm very optimistic going forward with the rest of this season after we've finally seen something like this come off.

 

Tielemans instrumental in the final passage of play as well, very impressed with him in particular. If he continues to put in performances like that, I'd want us to do everything we can to keep hold of him.

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

3 minutes ago, EverybodyDannsNow said:

 

I think there's an argument to say that Maddison could have been dropped in there at times this season to offer some creativity from deep - especially against the bottom-half teams at home.

I don't disagree but have doubts that Maddison has that in him either technically or in terms of getting stuck in enough. Happy to be wrong. 

[420Hashish]

I think this is exactly how Puel wants us to play, judging from that footage. While it isn't the quick counterattacking style that fans love, this style if done correctly could be the key to unlocking teams that sit deep, which could be possible now judging by Tielemens performance against Spurs today.

 

Passing it around constantly for long periods of time among teammates frustrates the other team's players, which would cause them to try to regain possession of the ball and press our own players. In turn, this creates a bit of space left behind the opposition players who put pressure. With a player like Tielemens, he could be able to find that crucial pass into that small bit of space that would allow us to either have a shot on goal or pass to someone else who could put in a low cross, like Ricardo's today, to someone in the box.

[kingfox]

The best poster on Foxestalk strikes again 

[Deeg67]

Yes, that was a gorgeous buildup but worth considering that we basically dominated the stat sheet away against a top 3 side.  The issue is we haven’t had anyone who could do what a Tielmans did - not just as well, but even fill the same role. Puel knew this, and the better we look with Tielmans out there the more it assures that even if Tielmans himself winds up pricing himself out of our shopping cart, the club will have no option but to sign somebody who fills the same role in a side.

[urban.spaceman]

46 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

Here is the full move for our goal we scored today at Wembley stadium against Spurs with the youngest team in the league:

 

 

What a glorious, glorious team goal! I literally cannot remember us ever scoring a team goal like this... ever! Evans, Kasper, Maguire, Chilwell, Barnes, Maddison, Ndidi, Ricardo, Tielemans, Ihenacho, Vardy all involved. Literally the entire team had at least one touch in the move!!!

 

- Yes there were several times during the move it could have broken down, but it didn't.

- Yes we still lost the game.

- Yes this is the only goal we've scored like this all season. Is it a one-off, or the norm?

- Yes, but can we score a goal like this against teams that sit back with 10 men for much of the match? It remains to be seen.

 

I don't want this thread to be about the manager, as there are too many of those already. But I made this thread to say this; if this is the identity of our team from now on, then sign me up! In 15/16 we have a brilliant style that was not only effective, but exciting too. Some of the breakaway goals we scored were simply stunning, e.g. Vardy against West Brom away (that interchange with Drinkwater!) or Mahrez away at Man City (those tackles from Kante, that hop over Otamendi by Mahrez). But the following season our counter attack broke down and we've been struggling to find a style of play that works ever since.

 

We've all been to or watched too many games over the last 12 months where we've been duller than watching paint dry. Passing the ball sideways and backwards and doing nothing with it. But today despite the result being a loss, it felt like a turning point with a new set of players at the nucleus of it. There were several other moves that although not quite as good as this one, were very good nonetheless!

 

So come on Leicester! Let's see us turn on the Sexy Football every week! Let's play like this against Palace at home! Let's do it for Vichai!

 

 

 

@StriderHiryu continues to be my favourite poster on here. 

[Blue'nWhiteFox]

I don't agree. We are improving match by match, and i see a great potensial in this team. Next season will be great!

[StriderHiryu]

37 minutes ago, Dave Fishwick said:

great goal. How do you get that footage?

I've literally edited the footage from the game my mate recorded for me whilst I was at the game which we uploaded onto a hard drive, into a GIF which was ridiculous in size, meaning I had to then find a way to compress it so I could upload it to a site that could host it. Jesus I sound like Puel giving one of his interviews in writing this down .

 

Basically I saw the goal live and thought it was awesome, so wanted to see it again when I got home. When I did, I didn't realise it was actually much better than I first thought because I didn't realise it was one passage of play, at the time it felt like it started from a free kick or throw-in.

 

But it's worth it IMO! I know the inconsistency of our results is driving us all mad, but how many teams in the entire country could score a goal like that away to Spurs at Wembley Stadium. And with an average age of less than 23 years? Of course it could just be a false dawn, but I honestly think that is one of the best goals I've ever seen us score. If Tottenham scored it you can bet Jenas and co would be spaffing all over the MOTD screens over it.

 

Why do we watch football? To be entertained, to see the beautiful game played at the very highest level. This goal IS of the very highest level, and we scored it! Too bad we lost, but from small acorns do mighty oak tress grow!

 

 

 

[FireFox]

Felt like a lot of the build-up was unnecessary.  

  

The goal basically comes from Ricardo playing a one-two with Youri, and then Ricardo crossing into the box. You might say the space was made for them with all the build-up, but I don't buy that. If we move it quicker, the space will be there.

[Nickfosse]

5 minutes ago, FireFox said:

Felt like a lot of the build-up was unnecessary.  

  

The goal basically comes from Ricardo playing a one-two with Youri, and then Ricardo crossing into the box. You might say the space was made for them with all the build-up, but I don't buy that. If we move it quicker, the space will be there.

thanks Pep

[StriderHiryu]

Here's the James Maddison chance. Away supporters were down the other end so whilst it looked like a good opportunity, we didn't really get to appreciate the move in all it's glory. Fantastic play by Tielemans, that deft turn and pass opened Spurs right up! Silva, Iborra, Ndidi, Mendy, King, James... none of these players have that sort of play in their locker. At least they never showed it for us.

 

Also another quality cutback by Harvey Barnes! The kid has played less than 10 Premier League games... he could be a revelation for us!

 

[Keiriel]

59 minutes ago, EverybodyDannsNow said:

I think you could easily find quite a few clips of us having sustained periods of possession like that this season, including in other games against the big 6.

 

The difference here is that Tielemans was there to break the line and put Ricardo into a great crossing position. Too many times this season that pass has been missed for a more conservative option.

 

The midfield had a really nice balance today - Ndidi did his job and Tielemans was left to do his. Puel's persistence with the unsuccessful Ndidi and Mendy partnership has arguably been one of his biggest downfalls this season. Great to see us finally using another option.

Claude has persisted with Ndidi/Mendy, but who could have replaced either of them? King isn't as good as either of them, and James is so slow and cumbersome that he makes Ghezzal look like Musa. Hamza has been an option, but he's still young; Puel has rightfully taken his time incorporating him into the first team. After today though, Tielemans is looking to be a difference maker.

[StriderHiryu]

Last one, Gray's header straight at Lloris. Another good team move and again Tielemans and Ricardo are highly involved. Those two and Barnes / Chilwell were real creative outlets for us in this game:

 

[Deeg67]

The other thing I want to note is that with Evans in for Morgan and N'didi looking assured and decisive on the ball (thanks to Tielemans' presence freeing him up to play to his own abilities and not try to do more), we had 10 guys out there who were at least decent on the ball.  There were none of those groaner moments when you see N'didi or Mendy or Morgan or Simpson get the ball and know it's going backwards or into the stands for no reason.  People underestimate how crucial it is to have a player fill the role Tielemans did - it literally connects the entire side - but having Evans and Maguire as CBs is critical too.

 

Tielemans was fantastic.  He had a "hockey assist" and should have had two proper ones with decent finishing.  But as long as we have somebody out there providing the service he does - calmness, forward-thinking, threatening the over the top ball - this attack can thrive.  Remember, we went into Wembley and dominated Tottenham on the stat sheet.  How many teams have done that this season, I wonder?

[That_Dude]

23 hours ago, Keiriel said:

Claude has persisted with Ndidi/Mendy, but who could have replaced either of them? King isn't as good as either of them, and James is so slow and cumbersome that he makes Ghezzal look like Musa. Hamza has been an option, but he's still young; Puel has rightfully taken his time incorporating him into the first team. After today though, Tielemans is looking to be a difference maker.

Spot on, mate. Tielemans came in and as soon as it was possible he was in the starting XI. 

 

What we saw today is what Puel had in mind and the kind of football he wants to achieve. Anyone, I repeat anyone who took a bit of time to see what he did with Nice or Lillew ould've known that's he not defensive minded, just rather cautious out of necessicity. If we can keep Tielemans and add another striker we'll be spoiled next season. With or without Puel.