Have we performed a U-turn

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-rodgers-form-relegation-7744043

 

Leicester City's Champions League form prompts big question – but answer is not yet definitive
A closer look at Leicester City's recent games and whether they have indeed performed the U-turn they needed to after one of the worst starts in Premier League history

ByJordan Blackwell
12:07, 25 OCT 2022

Brendan Rodgers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City (Image: Getty)

Jamie Vardy downs a can of Red Bull, finishes off an incisive counter, and taunts the home crowd, capping the club’s biggest away win since that night in Southampton three years ago. It is textbook Leicester City. They are back. Or are they?

This is an undeniably good run. Ten points from five games is Champions League form. The last time City claimed a greater haul over the same period was in January 2021, during which they briefly sat top of the Premier League table. So to earn that many points immediately after one of the worst starts to a campaign by any club in Premier League history is impressive.

What it almost certainly means is that Brendan Rodgers will still be in charge of the club when the league pauses for the World Cup, which in turn means he is very likely to be in the dugout when it all kicks off again on Boxing Day. He has stoically got on with his job and begun to rescue a situation that many doubted he could turn around.

 

The consensus among supporters was that 11 points from a possible 15 were required for it to be considered that City had turned a corner. They may have fallen one short of that, but four clean sheets out of five may mean that many fans overlook that discrepancy.

But for the direction City were heading, turning one corner was not enough. They needed a full U-turn to get back on track. They are making progress, but it does not feel like that 180 is yet complete.

Let’s start with the considerable improvements. City are enjoying longer spells of control in matches and in the period where they are not, they are at least putting up some resistance. Earlier in the season, when City lost grip of a match, usually in the second half, they would utterly crumble. They were played through and played around. There was no semblance of a contest.

At Wolves, City were the dominant side from the middle of the first half through to the five minutes before the break, and then from the hour mark to the full-time whistle. In those periods, City’s cohesion, intensity, co-operation, and tactical idea made them a very good team. Wolves didn’t have a sniff.

That one of their big periods of control came at the end of the match was significant. That they are fourth in a table of first-half results shows seeing out games has been a major barrier to success this season. At Molineux, and against Leeds a few days earlier, City earned the three points comfortably because, through cool heads and composed, high-energy play, they did not let the opposition back in.

City’s defence is also much better, in more ways than one. There have been showings where they have completely shut down the opposition, like against Crystal Palace, whereas the rearguard action at Wolves was tested, but performed like a fully-functioning defence should.

Wolves had chances, but they did not breeze through to create them (at least not after the first quarter of an hour). City put up a fight when they did reach the box. Players threw bodies in the way of shots, and if they weren’t there, Danny Ward dived to make saves. The Welshman, perhaps buoyed by the improvements the likes of Wout Faes have brought to the defence, looks more confident and it is having a tangible effect on his form.

In the early weeks of the season, it felt like City laid out the red carpet for the opposition the moment they got into the final third. There is a greater doggedness to them now.

Players have been adapting to individual instructions to help out the back-line too. Youri Tielemans has been doubling up his duties to fill in at right-back, while James Maddison marshalled Wolves’ attack-minded full-back Hugo Bueno rather than pushed forward.

At the other end, there was a team that ran hard and exploited Wolves’ weaknesses. Recognising that they were uncomfortable in possession at the back, City pressed hard and caused turnovers. Recognising that Jonny was incapable of keeping pace with Harvey Barnes, City targeted his side.

These are all signs of a good football team. But those aspects need to be continued when the games get tougher.

City have won three matches and those three clubs now occupy the relegation spots. It is important that those games were won, but it means there will be much more difficult opponents to come, where the improvements will be put to the test, not least in the next three weeks.

And further progression is required. City were perhaps fortunate not to concede at least once in the game. Wolves had more shots and more touches inside the box than they have had in any other fixture this season. A lot of those good moments came in the first 15 minutes, when City were all at sea. If any of those chances had found the net – and they’re not going to stay out every week – then the match could have been very different.

Plus, Tielemans cannot be relied upon to score goal-of-the-season contenders from 25 yards every game. City are not going to score four goals from five shots every game. That dazzling individual quality throughout City’s team should be the icing on the cake. A team is not successful on that alone.

Supporters are beginning to see what they have known to be true about these players: they are a talented, competitive, and intelligent group. But one good five-game run is not enough to get them from the depths they were to the heights they can reach.

Is this Leicester City? Nearly, but not quite yet.

[volpeazzurro]

No.

[turlo]

No we've beat the 3 shittist  out of form teams in the division, while continuing to blow points against slightly less shit teams such as Bournemouth & Palace. 

[Trelleh]

“Champions league form” Christ.. we haven’t beaten Man City, Both Madrids and Bayern

[dmayne7]

I genuinely stopped reading at the Champions League reference. What an idiot. If the local rag is peddling that nonsense then it helps to just completely takes the pressure of Rodgers. If we get to the half way point averaging less than a point a game that will be utterly pathetic and regardless of any upturn in form, it should be an automatic sacking.

 

It's not just about having a mediocre season, it's that by doing so, we will lose a number of big assets such as Tielemans, Maddison etc.

[Fox92]

He writes some shit.

[FoyleFox]

2 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

He writes some shit.

Getting his notes from Brendan's little black book...

[Dan]

I think we've discovered there are worse teams than us but we're still definitely not anything like what we could be. So it's a relief rather than a success.

 

Said all along though this is a good side. Not perfect but there's too much talent in this side to be bogged down with some of those down there.

[Vlad the Fox]

Quite possibly, we’re a tory club after all   

[Sol thewall Bamba]

[Mike Oxlong]

What a fvckin muppet ! 

[Pliskin]

What a ridiculous article to write…. Considering it’s been essentially been three games. 
 

We won’t know until we‘be hit a consistent run of form. Even a pattern of win a couple lose a couple won’t exactly mark a return to form. 
 

By the time the World Cup starts, we will know if the corner has been turned. 

[foxfanazer]

Nothing else to add other than NO! 

[HybridFox]

Rodgers at the wheel

[winteriscoming]

Is this guy for real??? Champions league form. Going 3 games without losing against very poor opposition. We didn’t even beat palace. I’ve heard about getting ahead of yourselves but this is ridiculous. 

[Mike1983]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Leicester City's Champions League form

Lmao, only through pure delusion can someone utter that sentence when it's based on our last few games against dogshit teams.

Edited 25 October 2022 by Mike1983

[Dusty]

Whilst he’s clearly got carried away, the over reaction here is ridiculous as well. Even when the football is going well you lot still find something to get annoyed about.

[ARM1968]

What a rancid article

[Gazza M]

We are still not even averaging a point per game yet after that dreadful start. It is going to be a long slog up to midtable. A couple of bad results and we could be bottom going in to the World Cup break. 

 

A lot of hard work to still do but we have played well against the lesser sides and got a decent points haul in the last 5 games. 

[somebum]

Total garbage

[Suzie the Fox]

Ok bring the pelters.. i can take it .. But why so many laugh emojis? What in the article is so funny? 

 

I thought he stated quite a few factual aspects but then i didnt pick and chose one liners.... 

[Chiltern Fox]

No. Need to see reaction after being down by a couple of goals or losing a game.

[Dahnsouff]

The same people that mock the article will be wanking themselves senseless to stick the boot in once we inevitably lose to Man City.  

 

 

[Dahnsouff]

24 minutes ago, Dusty said:

Whilst he’s clearly got carried away, the over reaction here is ridiculous as well. Even when the football is going well you lot still find something to get annoyed about.

Because it’s easy and lazy to be a naysayer

[BenTheFox]

Let's see how we get on against Everton and West Ham and then we'll talk. Wolves played some decent football at times but were punished when they lost the ball in their own half and were poor in front of goal, Leeds were hopeless in front of goal and Forest were arguably the worst team we've ever played at our place since being back in the premier league. In all three of those games you could argue that we were fortunate to keep a clean sheet. Crystal Palace showed no desire whatsoever to pick up a win against us.