Atalanta match thread

[North Leeds Fox]

Thought that was a really positive run out. Soyuncu was rash at times but thought he improved as the game went on and thought he ended the game very well. We all seemed to be a bit shocked at the start with atalantas style and improved after 20 mins as we adapted. Interesting that Silva came on and not mendy. Think someone like Cahill and a winger that can play attacking mid is a must even though perez looked like a goal threat 

[brucey]

[ARTY_FOX]

Hopefully that’s Soyuncu getting the nod to step in for Maguire now 

[kyleolly]

Evans looked very shakey for a change, Perez is going to annoy the hell out of me looks like he’ll be pushed off the ball a lot but he’s always available and will do well, willing silva to do well but he always looks half arsed. All in all very positive especially considering the opposition top 6 is a possibility I’d like to see us bring in another top striker and winger out of the Maguire money but the squad is looking very strong!

[StriderHiryu]

Really good watch that.

 

First it's rare I do this, but I have to compliment the opposition. They are the least "Italian" Italian team I have seen other than Napoli. I don't often watch Serie A, but it's fascinating to see that even over there modern football is taking over the top performing teams. To make a team play like that with essentially cast-offs and loan signings is a wonderful job. Their coach must be in high demand, because if he can get a team playing like that he's destined for big things despite his age. They were good to watch and went for it, making the game very competitive and a perfect last match.

 

I think we were overall the better team, but Atalanta's pressing game was superb - the way their midfielders were so tight to ours meant that although our defenders managed to play their way through the first press, TIelemans, Maddison and Hamza were often blocked to the out ball, which generated them turnovers time and time again. Honestly that was almost better than Man City and Liverpool in that aspect of the game, though you can see that a ball over the top leaves them massively open.

 

Onto us and for me the most encouraging thing was that this was another all round team performance. We have good players but we are playing and winning games without relying on individuals or moments of magic. We make lots of chances through overloads and generate a good number of clear cut chances. I still think we aren't quite clinical enough, but we got two goals and in most matches that will win you the game.

 

I'm fast becoming a fan of Perez. I feel like he's a mixture of Albrighton and Okazaki. He's very tenacious and gets stuck in despite being quite roughly man-handled in the first half. Should have scored two, but he didn't let his head drop and his goal was very well taken. He's got a great attitude and feels like a massive improvement over our other players in that position.

 

Ricardo was superb other than his clumsiness at the end. Tielemans I think impressed by eventually winning the midfield battle. He was definitely under the cosh for the first half but in the end his class shone through. Evans and Soyuncu solid, with Soyuncu for me easily passing his audition for a starting place. I feel he deliberately played more safe tonight, but it was solid overall. Vardy should have scored more but netted, Hamza superb, Maddison good, Chilwell good, etc, etc. Don't think anyone had a poor game even the subs that came on were OK.

 

Think the Wolves game will be quite similar to this in terms of how tight and competitive it was, but really looking forward to the match now.

 

 

[Farrington fox]

Jeez, had forgotten about Ndidi. Will he get in the starting 11 v Wolves?!

[Mehrez]

Just watched the Vardy goal back, and I hope Fuchs is teaching Chilwell his throw in technique it’s pretty phenomenal 

[tsintskaro]

i agree with that Soyuncu positioning being questionable 

whole defense was not doing great tho

Tielemans motm and watching ricardo on the wing is pure joy 

[La-li-lu-le-lo]

Soyuncu has something about him, which is enough to convince me he needs a proper run out. Overall we looked very comfortable against a pretty decent side. I’d like to see the money gained from Maguire pumped into another quality attacking player. All in all we look strong going into the new season!

[wardyfox86]

6 minutes ago, Dusty said:

My view of Soyoncu’s game seems to be very different to everybody else’s. Positives first. He got forward well and his movement further up was good, couple of misplaced passes, but nothing major. But I thought his defence performance was pretty woeful. Gave away numerous free kicks and always seemed to be chasing the forwards as they’d always got passed him. His positioning is not good enough. Even at the end there was that lobbed pass that he completely misjudged and the player was in. Similar example with Rotherham, poor positioning and had to dive in, he missed and the player scored. I hope he’ll come good and that it’s just a confidence issue but I really didn’t feel like he was good enough. I know I may be in the minority on this one.

I agree with you. As an option he's a fantastic player, but with our current squad he's an automatic starter and I don't think he's quite the yet.

 

We are an Evans injury (and he's known for a few) away from Soyuncu and an untested Benkovic or a 35 year old Wes.

 

He's good, but if we really want to compete at the top end we need a powerhouse defender. 

[martyn]

Few people talking about Cahill. He isn't coming here unless it's for guaranteed first team football, and I'd rather Soyuncu or Benkovic get that opportunity first. Soyuncu has shown enough I think to deserve a go. His recovery pace could be very important in a Rodgers system which may leave us exposed to the counter. 

 

Even with Maguire gone, the priority should be to splash the cash on a quality winger/Wide forward as that is the #1 immediate, obvious improvement we can make. 

[LCFC FOX]

Really odd that benkovic hasn’t played at all. Was expecting to see at least 15 minutes tonight. Another season I loan for him maybe?

[kingfox]

Just got back.

 

That was the perfect test before Wolves. First 30 minutes I thought we looked terrible, they were killing us in midfield and out wide. Luckily we grew into the game and from about 30 mins onwards I thought we were the better team.

 

Evans for the majority was outstanding, Tielemans ran the show especially in the second half, Perez was very hit and miss for me but I see a lot of similarities to Shinji, a very sensible signing.

 

It was a big game for Soyuncu tonight, I thought he did ok but I still don't see him as a starter, he gets too bullied for my liking and he gets caught out a lot when balls are played over the top.

 

Overall a good run out, a good win and tbh we should have had four.

[BoyJones]

2 minutes ago, Dusty said:

My view of Soyoncu’s game seems to be very different to everybody else’s. Positives first. He got forward well and his movement further up was good, couple of misplaced passes, but nothing major. But I thought his defence performance was pretty woeful. Gave away numerous free kicks and always seemed to be chasing the forwards as they’d always got passed him. His positioning is not good enough. Even at the end there was that lobbed pass that he completely misjudged and the player was in. Similar example with Rotherham, poor positioning and had to dive in, he missed and the player scored. I hope he’ll come good and that it’s just a confidence issue but I really didn’t feel like he was good enough. I know I may be in the minority on this one.

Tend to agree, he has promise, but needs games under his belt to improve, particularly his decision making. But can BR take the risk? The lad could learn from Hamza, who played really well tonight, he cut out his gang ho tackling and used some clever feints to get out of trouble. Impressive mature performance from him.

 

Thought overall it it was a good work out against a clearly talented team and all our lads contributed. Fitness and closing down was very good and with such attack minded full backs, it is inevitable that on occasion the remaining defence will be out of position, but no doubt they practice this eventuality in training.

 

It is clear that wherever we end up league position-wise this season, it's going to be a fantastically exciting season with such a talented attack minded team. Technically, this must be the best squad we have ever had. Can't wait. 

 

 

[Lcfclad2013]

5 minutes ago, LCFC FOX said:

Really odd that benkovic hasn’t played at all. Was expecting to see at least 15 minutes tonight. Another season I loan for him maybe?

I'd imagine with him not playing much pre-season and being injured not long ago, maybe Rodgers is easing him rather than rushing him back into action and getting injured again? 

[Ric Flair]

I'm sorry but Soyuncu was brilliant tonight against a team as in your face as we'll face, he is improving. He's both footed, quick, very good under pressure and capable of starting attacks. Theres evidently a lot to come from him but there's definitely enough of a nucleus for him to be first choice. Evans was more shaky than he was tonight but he will help him develop no end.

 

First Half I thought we were workmanlike with flashes of decent play which was very much like I saw us vs Man City and Chelsea as we ended the season. Thankfully 2nd half we were superb at times, there was some great movement and play. Tielemans is just next level, likewise Ricardo. Those two and Vardy just ooze class and end product in a burgeoning team that still is nowhere near it's maximum potential. It is great to see. Perez had a topsy turvy game but that finish was great and highlighted how key he ought to be for us, also his pressing and winning the ball under pressure is another huge asset.

 

All in all we look in decent for going in to next season. I am massively happy with things, feels very alien.

[mucfox]

Evans was reliable as always. Soyuncu is too slow and always too late in his tackles, but his backpasses to Kaspar are very safe...

Fuchsy's throw-ins are more dangerous than any Chilwell crosses in recent months...

And Tielemanns is simply outstanding...

Brendan Rogers and his lads will give us a lot of joy this season...I'm looking forward  

 

[Stevosevic]

1 hour ago, Happy Fox said:

We are just short of a Top quality winger if we add that to the first team I genuinely feel we could be pushing for a top 4 finish.

This. 

 

 

[FoxyJim1987]

5 minutes ago, Stevosevic said:

This. 

 

 

Let's spunk the 80 mil on wilf zaha

[foxinsox]

I thought Caglar was sound tonight. I see no need to replace HM. 

[HighPeakFox]

So, people, opinions please. Is Silva in the shop window or has BR seen something he values in him, and aims to integrate him?

 

I suspect it's irrational of me, but I'd dearly like him to stay and succeed.

[urban.spaceman]

3 minutes ago, HighPeakFox said:

So, people, opinions please. Is Silva in the shop window or has BR seen something he values in him, and aims to integrate him?

 

I suspect it's irrational of me, but I'd dearly like him to stay and succeed.

I think it's over for him here. He's surplus to requirements and deserves a chance somewhere out.

[ARM1968]

Getting another CB in when we’ve got two cracking young lads, Evans and Wes would be stupid and we’d get rinsed. 

 

Far better to invest that money in a top quality winger. 

 

Good result tonight. Good performance in patches. Think we’ll have to be even more switched on to get something out the Wolves game. 

[ThurmastonFox]

Floodlights seemed odd tonight? Big shadow down the kop end. Temporary issue or 50p needed for the meter?

[Clever Fox]

A good test and a difficult side to play against. Nice to see so many good performances from our Team.

Perez looked good value for 30 million as I thought he would. I liked the way he used his strength art times to hold off defenders. He's going to be nother big player for us taking the pressure of Vardy. His Goal was a touch of class.

Tilemans again showed his class over the 90 minutes and his going to create lots of chances for others.

Maddison was Maddison , full of deft little tricks though his timing was off tonight he'll be fine once the season gets going.

Hamza done some really good work then also fell asleep at times, but that's to be expected given his level of experience. I don't see him taking NDiddi's place anytime soon.

But he is closing the gap and getting closer to a permanent place in the team the trouble is who to leave out.

Silva is just too slow for the premiership. Gray has little to offer. he stood watching while Tielemans was struggling to retain possession when he should have gone out to him and offered himself for a pass.

Vardy was Vardy , out of the game for periods yet ready when the chance came.

 

All in all a good nights work.