January / February 2024 - Season defining

[Foxmeister]

27 minutes ago, Bordersfox said:

You said he had a poor record, it's a very specific statement but one made without factual basis.  I was just pointing that out.

 

The other stuff is just your opinion and you're perfectly entitled to it.  

It's not entirely without factual basis, he averages a goal every 5 appearances at that level.

[Lillehamring]

2 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

There are only two major issues, one is lose of Ndidi. Without him our win percentage is 50% when he has been unable, playing 4 (W2 L2).

 

 

I wouldn't say it's a major issue.  Of those 4 games, we really should have won the Boro game, or at least got a draw, even the leeds game we could have got something from it - and even then, a 50% win rate isn't bad - that would still give us 6 points from 12 even if we failed to draw the other two.

 

 

it's also worth considering that in his 20 appearances he's only played 70+ minutes 8 times and 6 of his appearance he's played less than half a game - so it's not like he's been an ever-present.  He also was in the squad for the Hull game, and came on as a sub in the wednesday draw - the other games where we have dropped points and underperformed - so it's no guarantee that when he plays, we play well.

 

Contrary to popular opinion, I also think Casadei has looked much better in his last couple of appearances, maybe with a run of four games he might start to show his obvious potential.

 

At bottom, if we can't get 6 points from coventry, ipswich, stoke and watford - then the problem is more than just missing ndidi

 

[Lillehamring]

2 hours ago, Bordersfox said:

All totally fair enough but irrelevant to the post I was commenting on really which was the blithe comment that he has a poor record at the top level. He doesn't.

 

Subbed not subbed, whatever, you can argue not starting actually makes it harder to score regularly or that it makes it easier I don't know the answer to that.  I do know to be on that list you need to be performing at least fairly regularly at the top level.  

 

 

 

I think the OP is wrong to say he has a poor record (he has had some great seasons), but equally a one figure summary of his career is not an adequate representation of his form at the top level - his recent output has not been to that standard - his last PL season it dropped to 224, in 21/22 it was even worse at 316.

[Bordersfox]

6 minutes ago, Lillehamring said:

 

 

I think the OP is wrong to say he has a poor record (he has had some great seasons), but equally a one figure summary of his career is not an adequate representation of his form at the top level - his recent output has not been to that standard - his last PL season it dropped to 224, in 21/22 it was even worse at 316.

Sure but once again my point and my only point in my initial reply is that his record at the top level is, demonstrably, not 'pretty poor'.  

 

No disrespect to the OP but there are lots of statements made on this forum that are said with breezy confidence that don't stand the most basic scrutiny.  Usually I simply can't be bothered to comment on it but on this occasion I did.   

 

Someone's 'record' is essentially just a bunch of stats and a one figure summary does enough here to make the point.  And I'm lazy.  

 

In terms of my opinion I think it's time for Kel to move on, but that he's been a good player for us and I wish him well.  Hope he goes on to do well elsewhere.  

[midland_red]

2 hours ago, grobyfox1990 said:

We’re going up, relax. If we don’t it will be a story worthy of lcfc recent history 

yes it will....and it could easily happen. I really worry about the level of optimism with half the season still to play

[Simonb]

I think we'll be fine. Full squad for Huddersfield so hopefully we kick start January with a win, hopefully after scraping a win against Cardiff, but even if we draw against Cardiff and beat Huddersfield we'll have 63 points before players go off to tournaments.

 

Ideally Enzo will change near enough everyone for the FA Cup giving the majority of whoever is starting against Coventry a 12 day break, then there are 9 days before the Ipswich game. 

 

After that it's four winnable games in Swansea, Stoke, Sheffield Wed and Watford regardless of whose available to play so I don't think we need to panic too much.

 

Middlesbrough at home might be tough, but everyone should be back by Leeds away shouldn't they?

 

I don't think we need to worry too much myself. If we can get a decent number 8 In we will be fine 

[Tuna]

Some of these games may not take place if we or our opponents progress in the cup

[grobyfox1990]

1 hour ago, midland_red said:

yes it will....and it could easily happen. I really worry about the level of optimism with half the season still to play

Record points score at this stage of the season without breaking sweat. What could easily happen? If you can’t be optimistic now….

Edited 28 December 2023 by grobyfox1990
Typo

[DJ Barry Hammond]

5 hours ago, filbertway said:

How people were going on about him I assumed he was a regular.

 

The blokes made 2 appearances (1 minute and 4 minutes) for them since October 2018

 

I see - he got in first - that’s clever 😂

 

Let’s hope the Egyptian FA kick up a fuss and ban him from playing for Ipswich during the tournament whilst also not picking him! 

[coolhandfox]

2 hours ago, Lillehamring said:

I wouldn't say it's a major issue.  Of those 4 games, we really should have won the Boro game, or at least got a draw, even the leeds game we could have got something from it - and even then, a 50% win rate isn't bad - that would still give us 6 points from 12 even if we failed to draw the other two.

 

 

it's also worth considering that in his 20 appearances he's only played 70+ minutes 8 times and 6 of his appearance he's played less than half a game - so it's not like he's been an ever-present.  He also was in the squad for the Hull game, and came on as a sub in the wednesday draw - the other games where we have dropped points and underperformed - so it's no guarantee that when he plays, we play well.

 

Contrary to popular opinion, I also think Casadei has looked much better in his last couple of appearances, maybe with a run of four games he might start to show his obvious potential.

 

At bottom, if we can't get 6 points from coventry, ipswich, stoke and watford - then the problem is more than just missing ndidi

 

 

I agree on Casadei.

 

But our best midfield, is Ndidi, KDH and Winks.

 

Which ever way you slice it we have dropped more points without Ndidi then we have with him.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

I think what’s clear from that is Casadei will be starting games - so it may pay us to start sending out positive vibes rather than shitting on his every move.

 

The same can be said of Coady! 

[Aus Fox]

5 hours ago, brucey said:

Morsy and Sulemana aren't going to AFCON. 

 

Some clever work going on behind the scenes at Ipswich, that’s the second key player for them to retire from international football in the lead up to the tournament. 

[Lillehamring]

1 hour ago, Bordersfox said:

Sure but once again my point and my only point in my initial reply is that his record at the top level is, demonstrably, not 'pretty poor'.  

 

No disrespect to the OP but there are lots of statements made on this forum that are said with breezy confidence that don't stand the most basic scrutiny.  Usually I simply can't be bothered to comment on it but on this occasion I did.   

 

Someone's 'record' is essentially just a bunch of stats and a one figure summary does enough here to make the point.  And I'm lazy.  

 

In terms of my opinion I think it's time for Kel to move on, but that he's been a good player for us and I wish him well.  Hope he goes on to do well elsewhere.  

No it's not 'pretty poor' but neither is it, as you say, 'far from poor' - whilst paradoxically it's arguably both; as with everything he seems to do his record stretches from the sublime to the dismal.  But the overall picture (laziness accepted) doesn't tell anywhere near the full story, simply because it is comprised of massive extremes - from his first season at man city where he registered a goal every 94 minutes, to his 18/19 season with us where it was every 931 minutes. It is this wild lack of consistency that i feel justifies the claim that his record in the top flight is poor, because you don't know what you're going to get with him - a goal a game, or a goal every 10 - and i think that's why there's never been any interest in him from other clubs.

 

[Lillehamring]

1 hour ago, midland_red said:

yes it will....and it could easily happen. I really worry about the level of optimism with half the season still to play

I would suggest that the general sense of optimism is based on 3 things: 1. the head start that we have (and thus how far we'd have to drop off to capitulate now), 2. the quality of the chasing pack and 3. that we seem to be improving rather than just doing enough as we were earlier in the season. 

 

Anything can happen, but the reasons for optimism are clear.

[fuchsntf]

15 hours ago, Aus Fox said:

13 points from the 8 games this month leaves us sitting at the end of February on 72 points with 14 games left, having navigated the AFCON/Asian Cup and the transfer window. 
We will have already played Leeds and Ipswich twice and be ready for one final assault on the season.

Also with 13 points, we’ll still be in the top 2 regardless of other results.

Anything better than that and we are just about promoted.

Why not 20-22 pts from 8 games…

I know football tends to get in the way,like Ipswich result….,

 

But until football and it’s quirks ,slaps me in the face,.

knowing FT panics,just they try and think & predict negative slants..

Enzo will play his cards has he sees fit…thankfully..

 

I will sit on the fence, enjoy & embrace what’s played  out in front of us,

believe in 3pts,every game through above mentioned sequence,if not

wait snuggly for 3pts next game.

There has to be a massive 5 game turn over,from both Southampton & Leeds to start with.plus an implosion of confidence in squad,while losing players to something or other…

 

We have played without AFCON/Asiancup. Boys in the past this season.

The major reason I supported th tinkering,tweaked not accepting we have an

automatic first choice selection. Enzo has been wise and canny through his

game selection,including hiding any player loss,that would hamper,the system

procedings…

So far,not one small set back,or “expert” outside opinion-plates,or FT-opinion induced have had  upto now any effect,on Enzo.-system-routine…

 

A Game at a time,no further is the balanced way,I try and keep to.

 

[Lillehamring]

33 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

 

I agree on Casadei.

 

But our best midfield, is Ndidi, KDH and Winks.

 

Which ever way you slice it we have dropped more points without Ndidi then we have with him.

Yes, but the point is we haven't dropped that many points - it's not like it was a few seasons back when we simply didn't win games when he didn't play - dropping to a 50% win rate is hardly a major issue.   It's also not a coincidence that the games we lost were (especially the leeds game) amongst the toughest opponents we have faced) - whereas the games he'll miss include stoke watford and wednesday - all games we should win even without him.

 

I get that he's important but i don't think we lost those games because he didn't play - but for the woodwork we'd have got points from both.  Not a major issue, for me.

[coolhandfox]

1 minute ago, Lillehamring said:

Yes, but the point is we haven't dropped that many points - it's not like it was a few seasons back when we simply didn't win games when he didn't play - dropping to a 50% win rate is hardly a major issue.   It's also not a coincidence that the games we lost were (especially the leeds game) amongst the toughest opponents we have faced) - whereas the games he'll miss include stoke watford and wednesday - all games we should win even without him.

 

I get that he's important but i don't think we lost those games because he didn't play - but for the woodwork we'd have got points from both.  Not a major issue, for me.

I get your point, but it leave us in a position were a injury to KDH we are in trouble.

[Lillehamring]

20 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

I get your point, but it leave us in a position were a injury to KDH we are in trouble.

Sure but that's a problem even if ndidi plays.

Ultimately, losing these players is a situation we'd prefer to do without but not one that we shouldn't be able to ride out - especially if casadei or praet can seize the opportunity.

[coolhandfox]

7 minutes ago, Lillehamring said:

Sure but that's a problem even if ndidi plays.

Ultimately, losing these players is a situation we'd prefer to do without but not one that we shouldn't be able to ride out - especially if casadei or praet can seize the opportunity.

The only thing his seizing is the physio table.

[brucey]

37 minutes ago, Lillehamring said:

Yes, but the point is we haven't dropped that many points - it's not like it was a few seasons back when we simply didn't win games when he didn't play - dropping to a 50% win rate is hardly a major issue.   It's also not a coincidence that the games we lost were (especially the leeds game) amongst the toughest opponents we have faced) - whereas the games he'll miss include stoke watford and wednesday - all games we should win even without him.

 

I get that he's important but i don't think we lost those games because he didn't play - but for the woodwork we'd have got points from both.  Not a major issue, for me.

My concern is that I thought we looked less than convincing even in the 2 games that we did win in that 4 game period. 

[LCFCJohn]

10 hours ago, Bordersfox said:

Sure but once again my point and my only point in my initial reply is that his record at the top level is, demonstrably, not 'pretty poor'.  

 

No disrespect to the OP but there are lots of statements made on this forum that are said with breezy confidence that don't stand the most basic scrutiny.  Usually I simply can't be bothered to comment on it but on this occasion I did.   

 

Someone's 'record' is essentially just a bunch of stats and a one figure summary does enough here to make the point.  And I'm lazy.  

 

In terms of my opinion I think it's time for Kel to move on, but that he's been a good player for us and I wish him well.  Hope he goes on to do well elsewhere.  

I agree with you on this. I think often people on this forum have to make things to opposite extremes. It seems that those you have been in debate with seem to have the impression you are saying Kel is some

sort of world beater or otherwise up with the names on that list posted. It is clear you are not but just combating the point he has always had a poor record (the negative extreme of views).

 

His problem has been holding down a regular place. This is why counter arguments like scoring one in 5 don’t hold up as with Nacho, those 5 appearances probably only equate to a game or so of minutes. 
 

Ultimately, not everyone in the squad can be a starter and he has been very professional in being second fiddle to Vardy for a number of years without complaining. 
 

I think we must all agree his time is at an end either this coming month or in the summer but he has given us some good contributions and we should thank him and wish him well in his next move.

Edited 29 December 2023 by LCFCJohn