The "do they mean us?" thread pt 3

[Sunbury Fox]

According to Jamie Redknapp just now, Tottenham only have 1 tricky game left against Man U, all the other games including "at Leicester" are ones that they should be winning.

[Yes]

3 minutes ago, Sunbury Fox said:

According to Jamie Redknapp just now, Tottenham only have 1 tricky game left against Man U, all the other games including "at Leicester" are ones that they should be winning.

On Sky I assume, can’t stand the “big 6” love in, by contrast today thought the BBC gave us some decent coverage before the game which was nice to see, wasn’t all about Man United.

[foxes_rule1978]

3 minutes ago, Yes said:

On Sky I assume, can’t stand the “big 6” love in, by contrast today thought the BBC gave us some decent coverage before the game which was nice to see, wasn’t all about Man United.

Felt the coverage was good and knowledgeable for once 

[The whole world smiles]

13 minutes ago, Yes said:

On Sky I assume, can’t stand the “big 6” love in, by contrast today thought the BBC gave us some decent coverage before the game which was nice to see, wasn’t all about Man United.

They were always gonna with 2 Leicester lads in the gantry. 

[Webbo]

1 minute ago, The whole world smiles said:

They were always gonna with 2 Leicester lads in the gantry. 

I seem to remember Dion being a Man U fan. 

[The whole world smiles]

Just now, Webbo said:

I seem to remember Dion being a Man U fan. 

Was he? Seem to remember a big deal being made him returning to his boyhood club when we signed him. 

[Corky]

2 minutes ago, Webbo said:

I seem to remember Dion being a Man U fan. 

West Brom, I think. His hero was Cyrille Regis.

[st albans fox]

25 minutes ago, Sunbury Fox said:

According to Jamie Redknapp just now, Tottenham only have 1 tricky game left against Man U, all the other games including "at Leicester" are ones that they should be winning.

Nah, he’s right  - we will be comfortable in second place and preparing for a cup final .........playing the kids ......  

Edited 21 March 2021 by st albans fox

[The whole world smiles]

Either way he's deffo a Leicester lad ex player and is fond of the club. 

[Nalis]

31 minutes ago, Sunbury Fox said:

According to Jamie Redknapp just now, Tottenham only have 1 tricky game left against Man U, all the other games including "at Leicester" are ones that they should be winning.

He's such a simpleton, dont understand how he's been a pundit for so long.

[Sir Shep]

Dion played for both clubs, but will always be a Cambridge United legend! Seriously though it’s just nice to see to local lads on the beeb along with shearer who despite booting Lennon in the face ain’t too bad a lad and at least doesn’t have a hard on for the “big” 6. I imagine sky won’t be covering the FA cup now as Man U and pool aren’t in it anymore. Pass the black armbands around please. 

[tom27111]

17 minutes ago, The whole world smiles said:

They were always gonna with 2 Leicester lads in the gantry. 

 

15 minutes ago, Webbo said:

I seem to remember Dion being a Man U fan. 

 

I remember him getting sent off on his debut for us, against West Ham, after about half an hour.

 

No doubt he has a soft spot for us, but he was shite as a player.

 

In fairness, it was at the end of his career and we were signing the wrong players. 

 

Eg: Martin Keown.

[TrickyTrev Benjamin]

2 minutes ago, tom27111 said:

 

 

I remember him getting sent off on his debut for us, against West Ham, after about half an hour.

 

No doubt he has a soft spot for us, but he was shite as a player.

 

In fairness, it was at the end of his career and we were signing the wrong players. 

 

Eg: Martin Keown.

He was pants for us but he did score a cracker at Rotherham on the volley about 30 yards out and then scored the winner at charlton in the cup what was amazing at that time. Unbelievable how far we’ve come when you think how big a moment that was. 

[Fox in the North]

https://thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/threads/other-matches-fred-2020-21.36876/page-1166 

[Jordan]

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-manchester-united-cup-5211716

 

A comprehensive victory - The Telegraph
Memo to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Manchester United are simply not good enough to rest players against one of the Premier League’s best teams. Leicester City were quicker, slicker, better and are deservedly in the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1982 where they will face Southampton.

Another memo to the United manager: neither is it a good idea to suggest that trophies are not a measure of progress and can be an “ego thing”, as he did last week. After all, what kind of message does that send out especially when fielding a weakened line-up?

For United, it is the Europa League or bust if they are going to win the first piece of silverware under Solskjaer whose gamble in shuffling his team, making five changes, claiming the tie away to AC Milan last Thursday had taken a lot out of his players, spectacularly failed to pay off.

Not that their problems should overshadow Leicester’s excellent performance, marshalled by manager Brendan Rodgers. They were without James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and James Justin but had the best goalkeeper, the best defenders, the best midfielders and the best strikers.

It was as comprehensive a victory as that sounds and it was only when Solskjaer made a little bit of history on 64 minutes with a quadruple substitution — with five changes allowed in this competition — that it became more of a contest.

But even after that, it was Leicester who scored again through the outstanding Kelechi Iheanacho who whooped for joy in his post-match interview and now has five goals in his last two games.

 

 

Foxes have too much for ‘miserable’ Man United - BBC Sport
Injuries have robbed Leicester of the creative edge provided by James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, as well as the defensive excellence of James Justin, but they still had too much for miserable Manchester United here.

And it was fitting that the two players who got the goals to secure that precious semi-final place, and only their second win over United in 23 years, were Iheanacho and Tielemans - the Foxes' two most influential performers.

Iheanacho has had mixed fortunes since his £25m move from Manchester City in August 2017 but it is testimony to the player's own attitude and persistence, alongside the patience and coaching of manager Rodgers, that he has re-emerged as such an influential figure.

He has always had the natural scorer's instinct but here he provided goals and link-up play while the cultured Belgian Tielemans was the architect of most good things.

Leicester City will now face Southampton - the team they beat 9-0 at St Mary's last season - but the prize at stake is now so enticing it is unlikely there will be a hint of complacency from Rodgers and his players.

There could have been nerves when Jamie Vardy missed the sort of opportunity he normally gobbles up at 2-1 but there was no wavering in self-belief and Iheanacho's second sealed the deal.

Leicester are in a very favourable position in the Premier League's top four and now have an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to in what is shaping up to be a potentially memorable season.

Team triumphs over individuals - Mail Online
When Manchester United made four substitutions with 25 minutes left, Brendan Rodgers looked across at Bruno Fernandes with a smile. United’s cavalry was about to come over the hill and it felt as though it may be time to hang on and hope.

But in the end this was an afternoon when the collective trumped the individual. United’s gathering of disparate internationals – at least that was how they appeared here – were not a match for a Rodgers’ team that continues to grow on the back of clever buying and very good coaching.

This was not easy for Leicester. United are a strange team but they have match winners and can be resilient. An opposing team can never really feel safe.

But it was in the end a more straight forward victory that Rodgers could have hoped for. Leicester had missed a huge chance at 2-1 – Jamie Vardy the culprit of all people – but were the more progressive, more disciplined and more cohesive team throughout.

United’s gift to in-form Iheanacho - The Mirror
If there was one player Manchester United didn't want to gift a golden opportunity to, it was Leicester's red-hot striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who had scored five times in his previous three games.

So when Fred's wayward back-pass was picked up by the Nigerian in the six-yard box, he was never going to miss and coolly rounded Dean Henderson to put the Foxes ahead.

Playing out from the back comes with a risk and with Leicester pressing perilously high, Dean Henderson would have been much better off hoofing the ball long than playing the ball to the under-pressure Fred.

The passing error was one of many United committed in the first half which only spurred on Leicester's dynamic attacking trio of Iheanacho, Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez.

Harry Maguire had a particularly gruelling evening up against Iheanacho and was shown a yellow card for body-checking the on-rushing striker on the edge of the area.

And Iheanacho capped another impressive display to head in his second of the match, securing Leicester's victory in the 78th minute.

Foxes seemed to want it more - The Guardian
The run had to end at some point but, when it did for Manchester United, it did so in comprehensive fashion. They had not tasted defeat on their domestic travels for 14 months – a sequence of 29 matches – yet they were second best in all departments here to see another avenue to silverware closed off.

In simple terms, Leicester seemed to want it more. Brendan Rodgers’s team pressed high, they snapped into challenges and refused to allow United to establish any rhythm. But once they had possession, they were slick and incisive. There were times when United gasped for breath.

Leicester had the star turn in the two-goal striker Kelechi Iheanacho, although to single him out would be unfair. There were heroes in blue all over the pitch, taking in at the back and pretty much everybody in midfield, where the groundwork for the victory was laid. Youri Tielemans crowned a driving performance with the low shot for 2-1. Wilfred Ndidi was a dominant presence in front of the back three.

It is remarkable to think that Rodgers was without a clutch of key players through injury, chiefly James Justin, Ricardo Pereira, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.

[deep blue]

10 hours ago, tom27111 said:

 

 

I remember him getting sent off on his debut for us, against West Ham, after about half an hour.

 

No doubt he has a soft spot for us, but he was shite as a player.

 

In fairness, it was at the end of his career and we were signing the wrong players. 

 

Eg: Martin Keown.

I thought it was against Cov. Must be my memory letting me down ... again.

[davieG]

Probably should be in a Do They Mean Tielesmans Thread.

 

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/man-utd-leicester-youri-tielemans-20225275

 

Manchester United transfer mistake saw them embarrassed by Leicester City midfield
The Man Utd midfield was outclassed by Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-final and it exposed mistakes made in recruitment at Old Trafford.

Tyrone Marshall
ByTyrone Marshall
07:00, 22 MAR 2021
 

United's midfield was taught a lesson by Youri Tielemans (Image: 2021 The FA)

When Manchester United were consumed by the Paul Pogba transfer saga in the summer of 2019, Youri Tielemans was a name mentioned as a possible replacement for the World Cup winner.

The Belgian had just spent six months on loan at Leicester City from Monaco and he’d shown he could cut it in the Premier League. He’d have been a welcome addition to any team in the division.

In the end Pogba remained at United and the uncertainty over his future remains as big an issue now as it was nearly two years ago. Tielemans, then 22, had been happy with life at the King Power Stadium and he made his move permanent for £35million, the same fee United paid for Donny van de Beek last summer. Right now one of those looks like a steal and the other is beginning to seem a questionable use of resources at a financially constrained time.

But the comparison with Van de Beek, beyond their transfer fee, is a red herring. It’s in a deeper role where Tielemans does his best work and where he would walk into this United team.

The battle between Tielemans and Wilfried Ndidi, in the blue corner, and Fred and Nemanja Matic, in the red corner, was as one-sided as the rest of the contest. For United this was like sending two lightweights into a heavyweight title fight.

The three-year contract handed to Matic, 32, nine months ago is beginning to look like another error of judgement at United, but the balance of the midfield, in general, is all wrong. While Leicester had a natural defensive midfielder in Ndidi and a passer capable of breaking lines and breaking forward in Tielemans, United don’t. Matic, Fred and Scott McTominay all prefer the defensive side. McTominay can at least offer well-timed runs into the final third, but a combination of Matic and Fred leaves United short of creative passing options.

 

That midfield set-up is something you would expect of a team in the bottom half of the Premier League, not one with ambitions of winning the Premier League and the Champions League. It was ruthlessly exposed by Tielemans, in particular.

He ghosted away from a flat-footed Matic after a sharp one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho in the lead up to his crucial goal and then remained socially distanced from Fred, who didn’t do enough to get near him. The finish was smart and the goal decisive, but Tielemans’ crisp and creative passing was an asset for Leicester all night, regularly finding Iheanacho, Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy in dangerous positions.

United had nobody who could offer the same threat and razor-sharp cutting edge from deep and when the changes came just after the hour mark they failed to fix the obvious problem in midfield. It was an opportunity to drop Van de Beek into a deeper role and introduce Bruno Fernandes further forward. Instead, Matic went off and McTominay came on, while somehow Fred remained on. It was rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic and it was no surprise the ship sank when Leicester killed the quarter-final off.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had a point when he raised the demanding schedule United have had recently and how much that has taken out of them, but the paucity of play in midfield is not a new problem.

Since Pogba’s injury against Everton in the first week of February United have gone into every game with a midfield axis of two of Fred, Matic and McTominay. It’s just not adventurous enough and for all the talk of progress this season, of which there has been plenty, it’s still hard to comprehend such a cautious midfield set-up taking United and Solskjaer to where they want to go. The game at the very top level now is dominated by the adventurous. It's time to be brave and bold and that means abandoning a midfield more suited to defence than attack.

They need a better passer in one of those deeper roles in a 4-2-3-1. Without it this is a team relying on Fernandes or a moment of magic in the front three. That’s not sustainable.

At £35million Tielemans would have been perfect. He’d still be perfect now, but Leicester’s sharp recruitment left United in the shade and in this quarter-final they paid the price for that on the pitch.

[Dahnsouff]

 

That is some horrendous sense of entitlement and dreamt for protectionism. Football really is becoming a fashion decision for some so called fans, where the slightest bit of challenge to the perceived normal is greeted with fear, anger and a demand for change to offset it, something that must be unwelcome in a competitive environment.

 

It at this point that money says hold my beer....  

Edited 22 March 2021 by Dahnsouff

[AmyLGK]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Manchester United are simply not good enough to rest players against one of the Premier League’s best teams

😅😅😅😅 bloody hell, the world's gone mad (and I flipping love it...)

[LCFCCHRIS]

Regarding Ndidi

How deluded are these clowns? So used to chucking money at things they just expect it. Also, we play hard ball so well on transfers these days, so good luck getting him for less that 80 million. Even then I wouldn't sell.

 

[foxfanazer]

Just now, LCFCCHRIS said:

Regarding Ndidi

How deluded are these clowns? So used to chucking money at things they just expect it. Also, we play hard ball so well on transfers these days, so good luck getting him for less that 80 million. Even then I wouldn't sell.

 

I'd be sick if we sold him for the same amount as the human wardrobe we flogged them 

[LCFCCHRIS]

9 minutes ago, LCFCCHRIS said:

Regarding Ndidi

How deluded are these clowns? So used to chucking money at things they just expect it. Also, we play hard ball so well on transfers these days, so good luck getting him for less that 80 million. Even then I wouldn't sell.

 

Yeah it we're going on 'Maguires' a a currency he's worth at least two or three 😁. Things like this make me even happier to be a Leicester fan though. Competing with these idiots whilst doing it for a fraction of the price. 

[StanSP]

42 minutes ago, LCFCCHRIS said:

Regarding Ndidi

How deluded are these clowns? So used to chucking money at things they just expect it. Also, we play hard ball so well on transfers these days, so good luck getting him for less that 80 million. Even then I wouldn't sell.

 

This is the problem with a lot of big clubs and the mentality of their fans. Throw enough money at clubs and players and they think they'll just sign right there and then. 

 

Rodgers mentioned in the interview with Lineker on Saturday, when recruitment was brought up, that we look for a certain profile of player. A lot of bigger clubs don't do this and their fans think that money solves all of the issues. So unless you're Man City and you can throw enough money around anyone because the proverbial shit (read: class players) will stick, then it won't always work for clubs like Man Utd or Arsenal or Spurs. 

[Jordan]

1 hour ago, Dahnsouff said:

 

That is some horrendous sense of entitlement and dreamt for protectionism. Football really is becoming a fashion decision for some so called fans, where the slightest bit of challenge to the perceived normal is greeted with fear, anger and a demand for change to offset it, something that must be unwelcome in a competitive environment.

 

It at this point that money says hold my beer....  

What’s even funnier is that this person calls for United to pluck Tielemans from an upstart rival, but then immediately decries this sort of thing happening in other leagues.