Thoughts and a bit of a moan

[little Brian]

Here goes ….with every team expected to play a deep block does Enzo have the knowledge how to dismantle it ? 
is Iheanacho even trying ? 
wilfred Ndidi ?  So so poor technically, couldn’t trap a medicine ball ? 
where’s James Justin ? 
do we have enough firepower to secure promotion ? 

[The whole world smiles]

False advertising... I would argue there's more moaning than thinking going on here. 

[AKCJ]

1 minute ago, little Brian said:

1) with every team expected to play a deep block does Enzo have the knowledge how to dismantle it ? 
2) is Iheanacho even trying ? 
3) wilfred Ndidi ?  So so poor technically, couldn’t trap a medicine ball ? 
4) where’s James Justin ? 
5) do we have enough firepower to secure promotion ? 

1) 5 wins from 6 suggests yes he does.

2) It'd be impressive if he wasn't.

3) Tad harsh.

4) On the bench.

5) Be surprised if we don't.

[Strokes]

15 minutes ago, little Brian said:

Here goes ….with every team expected to play a deep block does Enzo have the knowledge how to dismantle it ? 
 

hopefully 

15 minutes ago, little Brian said:

 

is Iheanacho even trying ? 
 

I’m not sure.

15 minutes ago, little Brian said:

wilfred Ndidi ?  So so poor technically, couldn’t trap a medicine ball ? 
 

Only questions require a question mark.

15 minutes ago, little Brian said:

where’s James Justin ? 
 

Dont know.

15 minutes ago, little Brian said:

 

do we have enough firepower to secure promotion ? 

Hopefully.

[Raj]

If seagulls follow the trawler, is it because they expect sardines to be thrown?

 

 

[Gamble92]

Everyone talking about how much the other games could have gone the other way, they didn't. This style of play works on the theory that having the ball for 75-80% of the time with enough quality will mean the opposition is limited to scoring purely based on probability and in this league genuine quality when they do get them chances.

Just off top of my head Man City had Brentford last year where similar happened. 

When you think back to last time we were in the Championship and we would stick Wes Morgan up front and just boot the ball up with absolutely zero effect. I think this philosophy is worth sticking with. 

 

I do admit though that Ndidi is a poor option to start with. He should only be used when we are winning and need to constantly win possession back. 

[davieG]

27 minutes ago, little Brian said:

where’s James Justin ? 

Enzo Maresca promises game-time to Leicester City player he 'loves'
The full-back is fit again after an Achilles rupture ruled him out of the final six months of last season, but he is yet to start a Championship game under the new manager

ByJordan Blackwell
11:58, 5 SEP 2023

James Justin will be an integral part of Enzo Maresca’s Leicester City side, the manager has insisted, even as the full-back awaits his first Championship start of the season.

The England international has started both of the Carabao Cup ties at Burton and Tranmere and got his first outing in the league at Rotherham, playing the final few minutes, but he has been an unused substitute for the other four Championship fixtures.

Fully-fit again after an Achilles rupture kept him out for the final six months of last term, it was expected that Justin would have a key role to play in the Championship, and Maresca has said he will, even if he hasn’t had the game-time to show it yet.

“The only thing I can say is that I love JJ,” Maresca said. “The way he works, the way he is, I really love JJ. He is going to help us 100 per cent. Now he is not playing but I am sure he is going to play a lot of games with us.

"With Hamza (Choudhury), they work very well. These players are going to stay. We need them. We need JJ, we need Hamza, we need these types of players.

“JJ can play full-back when we use full-backs up and down, if that happens. But also when we build three at the back on the right side, and we use him sometimes going inside. He’s learning and improving a lot. It’s a journey.”

Justin does appear to be Maresca's first-choice back-up for the defensive trio, and so he would be a beneficiary if Jannik Vestergaard was to leave for Anderlecht before the transfer window deadline in Belgium on Wednesday night, especially while Conor Coady is out injured.

But while the manager sees his best role as being on the right side, Justin himself prefers to play on the left. It was at left-back where he impressed at Luton before getting his move to City in 2019. The ultimate aim is promotion though, with Burnley's achievements last season providing a blueprint for City.

[Scotch]

29 minutes ago, little Brian said:

Here goes ….with every team expected to play a deep block does Enzo have the knowledge how to dismantle it ? 
is Iheanacho even trying ? 
wilfred Ndidi ?  So so poor technically, couldn’t trap a medicine ball ? 
where’s James Justin ? 
do we have enough firepower to secure promotion ? 

I think point 2 is harsh, especially taking point 1 into consideration. 

 

One of the solutions Enzo seems to have for the low block is Nacho making runs deep, dragging defenders with him and creating space in behind which he's been doing but he's not going to get into many scoring positions as a result. 

[StanSP]

A little bit of a moan in that several of these questions are answered in the Tactics Under Maresca thread. 

 

[fuchsntf]

20 minutes ago, Raj said:

If seagulls follow the trawler, is it because they expect sardines to be thrown?

 

 

Yeh but what are we..

seagulls?
Sardines?
Net ?

Trawler..

 

Or Nikos Fish n chips shop..

 

[Chelmofox]

1 hour ago, little Brian said:

Here goes ….with every team expected to play a deep block does Enzo have the knowledge how to dismantle it ? 

In the 2020 -21 season, Watford were automatically promoted even though they drew 10 and lost 9 games. In the 2021-22 season Fulham won the league even though they lost 10 and drew 9. Last season Sheffield united lost 11.

 

We don't have a divine right to blitz this league, and we are not always going to be able to get through teams when they play everyone at the back. We have to dismantle teams enough to get out of this league.

 

I know we are all annoyed by the weekends result, but for the last 15 mins or so Hull were clinging on for their lives and they did well to hang on. Its sometimes going to be like this, and if one of our chances did go in i think they would have crumbled.

 

 

[AjcW]

1 hour ago, little Brian said:

Here goes ….with every team expected to play a deep block does Enzo have the knowledge how to dismantle it ? 
is Iheanacho even trying ? 
wilfred Ndidi ?  So so poor technically, couldn’t trap a medicine ball ? 
where’s James Justin ? 
do we have enough firepower to secure promotion ? 

Everyone loses games, Manchester City lost 5 and drew 5 last season. Can you ever remember thinking 'this lot are a bit shit, wonder if Pep has got a clue'

 

Those 5 games were against Liverpool, Brentford (x2), Man Utd and Spurs. They actually routinely dispatched those who played against them with a low block.

 

For me, looking at the start of the league season, Hull will be in the top 6 come the end of the season, so yes we've lost to a competitor, but that's not always the end of the world. I think as uninspiring as the 4 wins were, they were WINS, something we hadn't experienced in a long time. 

 

We've got a few weeks of rest and bonding coming up then two tough games back to back against teams that will give us more space to attack, lets see where we are after that

 

*footnote, JJ is composed of 90% shortbread biscuit so i'm quite pleased to see us manage his return accordingly... learning from last seasons mistakes. 

[Xen]

3 hours ago, little Brian said:

Here goes ….with every team expected to play a deep block does Enzo have the knowledge how to dismantle it ? 
is Iheanacho even trying ? 
wilfred Ndidi ?  So so poor technically, couldn’t trap a medicine ball ? 
where’s James Justin ? 
do we have enough firepower to secure promotion ? 

It's a work in progress with half a new squad and a brand new system. Let us get plan A in order first before stressing too much about plan B, seeing as - Hull aside - we're still getting results.

 

We've seen quite a bit of upheaval in our attacking midfield and several late arrivals in our wide positions, and generally a lack of experience. Maybe Iheanacho could have been better, but its a bit harsh to single him out.

 

Harsh. He's not the level we used to expect but he's still capable, and our options during the transfer window have been limited.

 

Managed return after consistent injury problems, and if he's being moulded into the FB-cross-CDM role then he's behind Ricardo in the pecking order.

 

Our strikers have been less than clinical, however we've just signed another striker (Cannon) as well as two wingers who both had very lively starts in their debuts, despite having very limited time learning how the system works. It'll come in time. Not to mention the likes of Casadei who are still being integrated.

 

 

We could've performed a lot better so far, yes, but after a summer with a huge amount of upheaval, contesting with a number of injuries and having to rely on inexperienced players in certain positions, I think we've done alright. Averaging 17.6 shots per game (11.6 against) is encouraging, especially as we know we can tighten things up at both ends with what we have available.

[phoneticerror]

 

[MPH]

5 hours ago, Raj said:

If seagulls follow the trawler, is it because they expect sardines to be thrown?

 

 

 

download (1).jfif

[winteriscoming]

I think it’s a work in progress. There is too much passing that doesn’t go anywhere but I believe we will click sooner or later. I still believe we’ll finish top 2. There’s enough quality in the final third to break sides down but we have to move the ball quicker. 

[Raj]

14 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

download (1).jfif 8.28 kB · 0 downloads

Eric the Great🙏🙏🙏😁

[Lillehamring]

On 05/09/2023 at 14:11, AKCJ said:

1) 5 wins from 6 suggests yes he does.

2) It'd be impressive if he wasn't.

3) Tad harsh.

4) On the bench.

5) Be surprised if we don't.

Close the thread. I think this nails it.