Are we getting tired ... not much rotation in key spots

[LinekersLugs]

They looked tired today ! 
 

need to expand the squad and quickly 

[Beliall]

im not sure tiredness was the issue, Man city were the issue, they were good today

[Matt]

I think a few players have looked fatigued since the Everton league game.

[splinterdream]

I think either our tactics were the issue or we didn't carry out our tactics properly that cost us today, tiredness may have come into it

[Chrysalis]

I think Youri needs replacing by Praet for a few games.

 

Otherwise if we tired its a fitness problem, they havent been playing that much games compared to those in Europe.

 

The issue today was mainly about tactics.  Our entire midfield was missing, no pressing from them at all, Chilwell was isolated.  Plus trying to play it around was never going to work.  Should have done quick counter's when we got the ball.

 

Liverpool fans did warn Rodgers weakness was playing the top 4-6 teams.

Edited 21 December 2019 by Chrysalis

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

We certainly look flat and I agree that tiredness did seem to creep in early today, perhaps unsurprisingly when you've been run a little ragged.

 

Tielemans is certainly off the pace at the moment. I think we probably needed Hamza to work with Ndidi today. 

 

Back to more generally, we do seem a little leggy of late. Is conditioning an issue? The title season was unreal for fitness. 

Edited 21 December 2019 by Cadno'r Cymoedd

[Pliskin]

What can we really do? We’re fairly limited in depth. Praet can fill in and do a good job. Gray isn’t up to it, Albrighton is hard working but limited, Kalechi fairly unknown where he is at, at the moment, Fuchs I agree with, however what could he have done today against Mahrez? Justin is unproven too. 
 

We’re a work in progress that is ahead of its time at the moment. We do definitely need to make some signings in January, especially if we want to ensure top four, which we will.

[Dr The Singh]

Tielemens 

[Chrysalis]

2 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

What can we really do? We’re fairly limited in depth. Praet can fill in and do a good job. Gray isn’t up to it, Albrighton is hard working but limited, Kalechi fairly unknown where he is at, at the moment, Fuchs I agree with, however what could he have done today against Mahrez? Justin is unproven too. 
 

We’re a work in progress that is ahead of its time at the moment. We do definitely need to make some signings in January, especially if we want to ensure top four, which we will.

Mahrez should have been doubled up on by Chilwell and Barnes, Barnes like the rest of the midfield and wingers didnt do any pressing.

[Pliskin]

Just now, Chrysalis said:

Mahrez should have been doubled up on by Chilwell and Barnes, Barnes like the rest of the midfield and wingers didnt do any pressing.

Mahrez is doubles up on, then De Bruyne is free, Sterling is free Jesus can get involved as can their deeper midfielders who are all capable...

 

Its so easy to sit and criticise the way to approach City.... but when they’re on it you’re screwed either way. If we pressed they would have passed around us, if we double’d up on Mahrez it isolates our other players against equally as dangerous players. 
 

They were up for this today, when that happened a it’s a bad day for anyone. 

[shailen]

I don't put this performance down to fatigue only. Our best player was Vardy who was incredible today and he's played pretty much every minute this season. 

 

We were poor today as much as Man City were good. Simple 5/10 yards went astray and we just didn't get our game going. There's something about 'big' games this season where we seem to freeze. Man United, Liverpool and Man City (all away) are our three defeats and we seemed to have shown the opponents too much respect in those games. 

 

I'm not complaining as we have had a phenomenal season till now. We are one point better off then our title winning season which says it all imo. But if we want to be competing where we are currently, we need to have more belief in that we can compete with the big boys. 

[st albans fox]

We haven’t played well for a few games  .... whether that’s down to tiredness I dont know .....what I do know is that with 11 games in 37 days upcoming it’s not a question I want to be asking just now ! 

[Leeds Fox]

56 minutes ago, Chrysalis said:

Mahrez should have been doubled up on by Chilwell and Barnes, Barnes like the rest of the midfield and wingers didnt do any pressing.

 

Tracking back and pressing are completely different things. We tried to press from the front but with how Man City set up and the quality they have, it’s almost impossible to do it effectively. You can’t press on our left and double up on Mahrez at the same time. 

[January47]

I thought we didnt press from the front but allowed their defenders to have the ball and then close their midfield...it didn’t work.

whereas they pressed our back four and it ended with evans kicking it long to Vardy on his own. 

[Clever Fox]

While tirdness may have played a little part the real problem was poor tactics and a lack of a physical presence in our team. 

Starting with two wingers was brave given the opposition. Apart from the pass for the goal they contributed nothing. Similar from Madison and Tielemans, they were both bullied but Silva and Gudogan.

Still, we also have to take account of the fact that our pads are still learning, wheras man city are at their prime.  

Once we learn from it we'll be ok .

[Dr The Singh]

Tactics killed us today

[Stadt]

The distances were wrong today the defence were too deep and the midfield were too high. We've got a long way to go but it's natural we lost to the team that set the record points total in English football, ever. We need to remember we've built a great side for relatively little compared to a European juggernaut that have spent billions and years leading up to getting arguably the best manager in world football in. I was disappointed that we offered very little but we've had a storming season so far and lost to much better team, wow what a shock.

[cstrafe]

4 hours ago, Beliall said:

im not sure tiredness was the issue, Man city were the issue, they were good today

It's probably both. Look at the depth of Man City and look at the depth of Leicester. There are very few clubs in the world that have the options that City have. That said, January should be an opportunity to strengthen. 

[Deeg67]

6 hours ago, LinekersLugs said:

They looked tired today ! 
 

need to expand the squad and quickly 

Yes, we’re tired. And it’s going to get worse before it gets better. This was the choice BR made by riding his first team with no rotation when the schedule wasn’t as rigorous.

[foxes_rule1978]

Man City were on it today; they were unreal, best team I have seen for awhile... however we need to learn from this, and not give these sides the space to operate 

[The whole world smiles]

Not a tiredness issue we were a 91st minute wonder strike away from a deserved away win against in 90 mins against a full strength and resurgent Everton a few days ago. 

 

The issue is our starting 11 isn't quite as good as Man City's or Liverpool and our squad doesn't have as much depth. Hardly surprising when you look how much money they have both spent in the last 4 years.

 

The question should be more how have we competed with them for so long when there is such a gap? rather than why are we coming up short now?

Edited 22 December 2019 by The whole world smiles

[Lesta2014]

In answer to the thread title yes. We need 3/4 top signings to maintain our position! Only really Praet on the bench who can come on who you would say doesn’t make us weaker! We need to be able to have equally as good players in the bench which I know is difficult trying to get and keep them happy but we have to find a way to do so. Otherwise we will have good starts and ultimately the big 6 will pick off the ones from us they want and it’s another rebuild job! 

[dayday]

Maybe the intense training we do is taking its toll, it’s hard to believe that we could of got fatigued from playing matches, Man City are in the champions league and have had a fair few injuries, they didn’t look fatigued.

 

It was simple for me yesterday we got beat because Brendan put the wrong team out.

[Deeg67]

Only good thing about all the wingers being equally mediocre is you don’t really seem to lose anything when you sub them out.  Barnes, Perez, Gray and Albrighton are pretty much of a muchness.  

[Nicolo Barella]

1 hour ago, Deeg67 said:

Only good thing about all the wingers being equally mediocre is you don’t really seem to lose anything when you sub them out.  Barnes, Perez, Gray and Albrighton are pretty much of a muchness.  

That's the worst thing about it! No improving the game in any way unless the subs seem to be inspired randomly. 

 

That said, the midfield was the problem yesterday, the wingers can't be relied upon too much. The mids left too much space, couldn't play through Man City, left too much on the backline and frontline. That said, a large reason for that was that Man City were really good.