Who plays and where when Harvey Barnes is fit again?

[lcfc sheff]

We’ve at times had such a weakened bench that we’ve had to nick a few of the u23s... I’m glad we’ve now got this dilemma, but this is just the start I want us to have more of these “dilemmas”

[deep blue]

20 hours ago, enmac said:

Can't remember off the top of my head. Has Vardy ever played this role on the right? He's right footed, so surely he could? A front 3 of Barnes, Kel and Vardy sounds pretty tasty to me. 

Off the top of my head, Vardy scored the goals at home against Man U and Liverpool in 2015-6  by running on or towards the right wing. Similarly, his goal from Mahrez pass v Man C in 2016. There are probably many other instances, so I suspect he could do it from either wing.

 

Thinking of a formation to accommodate Vardy, Iheanacho and Barnes, when he's back (4-3-3?), the rigid thinking of left and right wing could go anyway and opens up the thought of the havoc they could wreak with fluid interchanging. Just think - Ndidi, Maddison and Tielemans as the 3 in midfield to support them.

Edited 24 April 2021 by deep blue

[SpacedX]

17 minutes ago, foxes_rule1978 said:

The 3 at the back works, when you have class like that... I don’t see why so many are against it. I understand when you have to use a makeshift centre back just play two.... as for Barnes, well Vardy, nacho partnership is proving to be surreal, you couldn’t break that up at the moment. He will be starting on the bench for me and coming on when needed 

Absolutely. I'm not sure why this is so hard to comprehend. We employed 3/5 at the back begrudgingly or in cases in which it afforded tactical advantage, but very often within a makeshift side. At one point we had Fuchs playing left CB ffs. Historically at Leicester, I always think of O'Neill - the system defined the MON era because we had the balance of players to make it work. Currently, the recent victory over Manchester United had all those elements. Brendan his historically favoured a flat back four but with a squad largely returning to full fitness and the addition of Fofana last summer, a back three of the latter, Evans and Söyüncü is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. Of course, the next game we lose the same people will materialise as usual solely attributing it to the formation, amusingly overlooking that the ignominious fall from grace last year was brought to you courtesy of a back four. Of course, it's vastly more involved that that, but now we have Cags back, an in-form Castagne on the right - I would venture JJ would currently be in on the left, but Thomas is looking more and more assured. 

 

The Ricardo conundrum is looking ever more perplexing though. 

[car1os]

I can see us keeping this formation and Barnes being the long-term Vardy replacement. I think Barnes and Nacho could work well together as Barnes would help stretch any defence and Nacho is a great finisher

Edited 24 April 2021 by car1os

[foxes_rule1978]

32 minutes ago, car1os said:

I can see us keeping this formation and Barnes being the long-term Vardy replacement. I think Barnes and Nacho could work well together as Barnes would help stretch any defence and Nacho is a great finisher

Barnes is capable, worked on his finishing and we know he has pace and skill 

[Detroit Blues]

I think with the timing of when barnes comes back, it won't really be an issue this season. Next season, with everyone healthy, we will certainly have decisions to make. Luckily we will have champions league football, so we can rotate players to keep everyone happy and in match fitness.

[foxes_rule1978]

8 minutes ago, Detroit Blues said:

I think with the timing of when barnes comes back, it won't really be an issue this season. Next season, with everyone healthy, we will certainly have decisions to make. Luckily we will have champions league football, so we can rotate players to keep everyone happy and in match fitness.

It is great to have such problems, shows you how much struggle we are getting, we seem to not really rely on one or two players 

[murphy]

Reading through this thread, I'm just grateful that we have Brendan Rodgers to make these decisions.  Imagine if it really were up to us.  The Foxestalk Union Committee of Useless Proposals (FUCUP for short).  Chaos.

 

It's amazing to think that going into our final six games of the season, we have never had a fully fit squad to choose from. 

[fuchsntf]

21 hours ago, murphy said:

Reading through this thread, I'm just grateful that we have Brendan Rodgers to make these decisions.  Imagine if it really were up to us.  The Foxestalk Union Committee of Useless Proposals (FUCUP for short).  Chaos.

 

It's amazing to think that going into our final six games of the season, we have never had a fully fit squad to choose from. 

Funny but true...

And many fans underwhelmingly misunderstanding of our  Chronic injury crisis....through The whole season...Easily forgetting what it needs 

for the returnees After 1St then niggling 2nd-3rd outages...( Maddison,Riccardo,Vardy & Ndidi)  Soyuncu seems an Exception ,

to find rythme  & get into their high Quality game again..

I have mentioned in many posts squad & Rodgers deserve nothing  but the utter respect....All players have stepped up...

And this squad with Rodgers still having us not competing for Top 8-6 ( like many suggested) Bit actually be competing for Top 2-3...& FA.cup-final..

 

I believe we will be strong enough to hold onto that Top 3....

but if we didnt,   I expect, even demand our fans Dont go into meltdown & start agreeing with outside  pundits, that we have somehow ...faileded

We should Stand Proud ,tall & defend why it was LCFC pushing the Top 4 challenge,with a 10 months  decimated squad..

I Curse any fan who states  that we even came near to  bottling it..!!...

 

Edited 25 April 2021 by fuchsntf

[Wolfox]

He can go through the middle too…. He could be pushing Maddison ?

[Blue-fox]

I’d play him in the Perez/Maddison role but he would be first choice. 

[gerblod]

21 hours ago, Line-X said:

The Ricardo conundrum is looking ever more perplexing though. 

It occurred to me, whilst reading several excellent posts, from some of the most respected contributors to FT (imho) that albeit injuries are a curse, they have served this season to oblige the squad to establish some quality(ies) they just couldn't put together last season. 

Ricardo's return was viewed almost as the Relief of Mafeking. Yet it's not turned out to be hugely significant. All the misfortunes suffered this season, and there have been enough to believe we were cursed, have made the team stronger and better than last year.

Even Vardy's unusual goal drought (and they're never unusual for a striker) hasn't fazed the lads - they've adapted and made do.

Watching Chelsea play the 'ammers yesterday and musing on N'Golo and Chilly playing, I asked myself would I swap Wilf and Luke Thomas for the two and I thought calmly... "meh".

Once JJ and Barnes are fully fit again then we have a squad capable of handling most of the challenges thrown its way.

I trust BR and his team to do their job, so it's up to the players to translate the training and support they're given into success (however any of us fans measure that).

Adversity isn't a bad thing - it provokes growth and, more importantly, resilience.

Here endeth Sunday's sermon 

 

[Mickyblueeyes]

On 23/04/2021 at 16:30, deanolegend1989 said:

Depends on Justin. If Justin comes back to his best then he goes straight in.

Sadly to say I think Ricardo looks a shadow of himself and don’t think he’ll ever get back to the levels he showed in 2019.

Castange is very good but both at peak Ricardo and Justin are both another level above. It’s a shame both have had such serious injuries where now I’d stick Castange in 100% and depending how Justin recovers, between them 2 for the other spot.

I think it’s far too early/naive to write Riccy off at this stage. Any player who misses out on Pre-season (without an injury) spends most of the season playing catch up. This is more so apparent when the player is coming back off a major injury. The sensible approach is not to expect more until next year and this year is simply about him building back up. He’s shown glimpses of pre-injury Riccy which suggests that the summer is key to his recuperation. 

Edited 25 April 2021 by Mickyblueeyes

[Gav_LCFC14]

We don't play with wingers anymore but we also can't forgot how hot Harvey was for us before the injury. Brendans got a real dilemma on his hand.

[foxes_rule1978]

1 minute ago, Gav_LCFC14 said:

We don't play with wingers anymore but we also can't forgot how hot Harvey was for us before the injury. Brendans got a real dilemma on his hand.

Big team problems, but it is why he earns the millions 

Edited 26 April 2021 by foxes_rule1978

[volpeazzurro]

I don't personally see a dilemma unless you're an advocate of rigidly playing the same players and same formation. Surely it's a great advantage, if players are able to digest more than one way of playing, to have the ability to play a different system against different threats or oppositions or, even for a change of tactics when called for within a particular individual game. All formations can have a time and a place tactically and can also assist with squad rotation over a long season, particularly if you're in the Champions League. 

[turlo]

is there any more recent news on when Barnes is back from injury? The last update i recall from BR was from before the Southampton game when Rodgers said he was still a number of weeks away

[Ric Flair]

7 hours ago, turlo said:

is there any more recent news on when Barnes is back from injury? The last update i recall from BR was from before the Southampton game when Rodgers said he was still a number of weeks away

I thought he'd be back in full training by now, which would then mean he's back for the final 4 games of the season. I reckon we won't see much of him which is a shame as he brings a dimension to this team that could be essential vs Chelsea in the final.

[psychonaut]

I think the most we'll see if him this season will be a few sub appearances in the last couple of games. Which means it's set up for him to come on and score the winner against spuds.

[deanolegend1989]

On 25/04/2021 at 09:40, Mickyblueeyes said:

I think it’s far too early/naive to write Riccy off at this stage. Any player who misses out on Pre-season (without an injury) spends most of the season playing catch up. This is more so apparent when the player is coming back off a major injury. The sensible approach is not to expect more until next year and this year is simply about him building back up. He’s shown glimpses of pre-injury Riccy which suggests that the summer is key to his recuperation. 

Not writing him off as he was absolutely world class and a top lad. However he’s 27 and had an injury that often never fully recovers and he looks a shadow of what we know.

Hopefully your right and it is down to fitness and he does recover to peak but I’m not expecting it.

My heart hopes he does but my head thinks he might never be the same as that young 24-26 year old powerful runner. Newcastle at home coming up reminded me of that goal he scored and I hope he gets back to that dynamic best!

[HighPeakFox]

7 minutes ago, deanolegend1989 said:

Not writing him off as he was absolutely world class and a top lad. However he’s 27 and had an injury that often never fully recovers and he looks a shadow of what we know.

Hopefully your right and it is down to fitness and he does recover to peak but I’m not expecting it.

My heart hopes he does but my head thinks he might never be the same as that young 24-26 year old powerful runner. Newcastle at home coming up reminded me of that goal he scored and I hope he gets back to that dynamic best!

I'm sure a lot of us share both your fears and your hopes on this. 

[Foxxed]

I'd reckon we'll bench Barnes but experiment with 4 3 3.

 

         Kasper

Riccy Fofa Soy Timmy

          Ndidi

Maddison Tielemans

  Ian Vardy Barnes
 

Edit: You can swap Evans in...

Edited 27 April 2021 by Foxxed

[los dedos]

3 minutes ago, Foxxed said:

I'd reckon we'll bench Barnes but experiment with 4 3 3.

 

         Kasper

Riccy Fofa Soy Timmy

          Ndidi

Maddison Tielemans

  Ian Vardy Barnes

Good Evan's look at that line up .

[TeamRocket]

Lets just have an 11 man sub that way everyone plays 😆 but honestly a nice headache to have means everyone is always fighting for a spot to be on the team sheet

[Clever Fox]

21 minutes ago, Foxxed said:

I'd reckon we'll bench Barnes but experiment with 4 3 3.

 

         Kasper

Riccy Fofa Soy Timmy

          Ndidi

Maddison Tielemans

  Ian Vardy Barnes

Evans is the number 1 CB and that's not going to change anytime soon.

 

I doubt we'll see Timmy to much on the left as Thomas is progressing nicely and not letting anyone down.

Though we may still bring in another LB to provide cover as Fuchs will be off to USA.