Managers that produced the sexiest football ever seen live

[blue blood]

im afraid quality costs. its a downward spiral. are you a coach?

[Fez of Mahrez]

You like others persist in airing the myth that attacking football is somehow more dangerous than defensive football but defensive football has constantlty let Leicester down and been extremely risky, leaving us for the last two seasons running, in a nail-biting fight against relegation.

Ding ding! Round 792!

Attacking football is dangerous when you haven't got the players to play it. Our lot are either useless passers of the ball or haven't got enough pace.

These teams that you propose invariably have Levi Porter, Stephen Hughes and Andy King as part of a midfield three. Who's winning the ball there then? Who's performing when Porter drifts out of the game for 45 minutes as per usual? Why is Stephen Hughes suddenly capable of playing in a Thracian wonder-team when, if anything, he's got even worse since you slagged him off mercilessly at the start of the season? Stearman's no Greg Halford and we haven't got an attacking left-back worthy of the name that's not in short trousers. Elvis with a key role up front. Dodds expected to come in and ensure 20 goals a season presumably. It's all a pipe dream.

I air no myths about attacking football. But if you think the introduction of a couple of youth team players and the instruction to attack more is going to make that lot capable of scoring over 70 goals in a season, that's your prerogative.

I'm realistic. There are two teams in every football game and if it was as easy as selecting a bunch of players who have scored goals at youth level and playing them in an attacking formation, I'm sure someone would have noticed by now. You're welcome to mention Brian Clough, Bill Shankly or whoever you want here but we're talking about a very average club with a fairly decent Academy team who play in a poor league, not a potential European Cup-winning team.

I make no excuses for the football we are served up every other Saturday. But this squad is not capable of glorious attacking football.

[blue blood]

now movin on a little, do u think we, at the moment play to the best of our limited attacking abilities?

do we play with an ethos based on defence? would we be a better team if we played to our attacking strenghts? do u think we already do?

What sort of changes and in what sort of time frame do we need to implement to become a sound attacking team?

[stez]

i think we play with an ethos of not wanting our, slow poor, defence being caught on the counter attack with more than 1 of our midfielders in an attacking position

we require 3 solid intelligent (football-wise) central defenders

two fast, skillful wing backs

two snappy midfielders who can win and pass the ball (one of whom can run forever)

to one skillful central midfielders capable of pick out a killer pass to

one of two strikers who can either head the ball or score or both

and a decent keeper

[Thracian]

Ding ding! Round 792!

Attacking football is dangerous when you haven't got the players to play it. Our lot are either useless passers of the ball or haven't got enough pace.

These teams that you propose invariably have Levi Porter, Stephen Hughes and Andy King as part of a midfield three. Who's winning the ball there then? Who's performing when Porter drifts out of the game for 45 minutes as per usual? Why is Stephen Hughes suddenly capable of playing in a Thracian wonder-team when, if anything, he's got even worse since you slagged him off mercilessly at the start of the season? Stearman's no Greg Halford and we haven't got an attacking left-back worthy of the name that's not in short trousers. Elvis with a key role up front. Dodds expected to come in and ensure 20 goals a season presumably. It's all a pipe dream.

I air no myths about attacking football. But if you think the introduction of a couple of youth team players and the instruction to attack more is going to make that lot capable of scoring over 70 goals in a season, that's your prerogative.

I'm realistic. There are two teams in every football game and if it was as easy as selecting a bunch of players who have scored goals at youth level and playing them in an attacking formation, I'm sure someone would have noticed by now. You're welcome to mention Brian Clough, Bill Shankly or whoever you want here but we're talking about a very average club with a fairly decent Academy team who play in a poor league, not a potential European Cup-winning team.

I make no excuses for the football we are served up every other Saturday. But this squad is not capable of glorious attacking football.

This squad is capable of a damn sight more than it is producing at the moment if we didn't forever impose unnecessary handicaps on ourselves like playing people who are unfit, playing people in totally unsuitable positions and playing a system that doesn't compliment the limited capabilities of the players we have.

Porter, in the role he's given, is to a great extent reliant on the service he has around him and there are very few would disagree that our central midfield is woeful. He is also recognised by the opposition now as the source of most of our dangerous attacks making it even more vital that team-mates provide him with passing support when he is denied space.

Of course, if we improve the attacking balance of our side it will be riskier for the opposition to devote extra attention to Porter but another perfectly valid alternative is to play the 4-3-3 which would not only suit Porter but the capaibilities of our tema in general.

Hughes wouldn't play in my favoured team anyway. Nor would Stearman on current form. Dodds wouldn't need to come in with 20 goals because four would be an improvement on Fryatt, six would be an improvement on Hammond and three would beat Horsfield.

And what you get with Dods is a player with the good control Hamond and Horsfield can only dream of, a far greater range of scoring capability than Fryatt, the ability to pass which seems to trouble both Hammond and Horsfield and the ability to forage back into attacking midfield

You are of course right that we don't have a pedigree team. But would be nice to organise them in such a way as to get the most out of them and perhaps the sort of performance some of them gave against Sheffield United at home last season but on a more regular basis.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Okay fair play, some interesting points there. Two things I'd pick up on;

1) Hughes has been in loads of teams you've put on here that I've seen. I guess your alternative would be Tiatto?

2) I haven't seen much from Porter to convince me he's capable of playing in a three-man midfield. He is extremely reliant on other players giving him the ball in the current system, as you say. I don't think simply parking him a few yards further away from the touchline with one fewer midfielder alongside him is going to help this.

[blue blood]

may i say this is quite a good thread and im seeing the current team in its true light now. thanx!!

[Milky]

I'm not saying porter and lennon are the same here, but in the chelsea spurs game on monday lennon was asked to play a central role just behind the front two. He's a hugley effective winger, but lost all effectiveness when moved into the centre and was none existant.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I'm not saying porter and lennon are the same here, but in the chelsea spurs game on monday lennon was asked to play a central role just behind the front two. He's a hugley effective winger, but lost all effectiveness when moved into the centre and was none existant.

He was garbage when he moved to the left in the second half though. I lost count of the number of times he received the ball in a decent position and pretty much every single time he either overran it or misplaced his pass.

And he was extremely effective playing through the middle in the first tie at Stamford Bridge.

I'm not particularly arguing with your point here, it just struck me at the time how incredibly useless he was in the second half of the replay.

Having said that, I agree nippy players like them are better on the wing. I don't see Porter as a central midfielder in a million years. If we had a couple of decent central midfielders Porter would be a proper asset on the left wing.

[Joe.]

I'm not saying porter and lennon are the same here, but in the chelsea spurs game on monday lennon was asked to play a central role just behind the front two. He's a hugley effective winger, but lost all effectiveness when moved into the centre and was none existant.

Lennon's strengths are beating players and his ability to get to the byline and cross the ball in. These are probably similair to Levi's strengths.

I very much doubt Levi would be useful in a three man midfield.

[TrickyTrev]

Lennon's strengths are beating players and his ability to get to the byline and cross the ball in. These are probably similair to Levi's strengths.

I very much doubt Levi would be useful in a three man midfield.

Except Levi never does beat his man.

[Thracian]

Lennon's strengths are beating players and his ability to get to the byline and cross the ball in. These are probably similair to Levi's strengths.

I very much doubt Levi would be useful in a three man midfield.

Why's that?. Porter is essentially a central midfield player rather than a winger and I mentioned this when he first came into the team.

Porter played most of last season like a little Napoleon in the centre of the Reserves midfield and, apart from his first game as I remember in that position, he was outstanding, spraying passes to left, right and through the centre.

Times I've tried to emphasise that Porter's big strength is his passing - its range, accuracy and choice. He simply doesn't have the raw pace to be a dribbling winger but, as a winger, will be more like Beckham or Alan Hinton insomuch as he will move the ball deftly to give himself the opening to deliver a cross or whatever.

But it is as a creative central midfielder that I am sure Porter will really shine in the end. The more he's in the game the better.

[Geo V]

I'm not saying porter and lennon are the same here, but in the chelsea spurs game on monday lennon was asked to play a central role just behind the front two. He's a hugley effective winger, but lost all effectiveness when moved into the centre and was none existant.

I disagree. Lennon was one of the main reasons why Chelsea couldnt cope with Spurs in the first game in his free-role position and he plays OK on the left too. Anyway, Levi isnt Lennon and not many can play like Lennon does.

As for some of the other stuff on here, its typical lunacy without thinking by some. There is no way in hell that the donkeys we have can play free flowing attacking football. This is one of the worst City sides I have seen in years and it doesnt surprise me that we are doing so poorly, infact i am surprised we arent in the bottom 4 or 5. Playing attacking football wouldnt guarantee better performances or results. To play good attacking passing football you need mobile and athletic players who are intelligent footballers. Imagine our team at the start of the season with the midfield of Tiatto, AJ, Low and Hughes trying to play like that. It would be a great funny watch if you got off on seeing Leicester get hammered every week.

Horses for corses and donkeys for the beach and thats what we have, donkeys!

[Thracian]

I disagree. Lennon was one of the main reasons why Chelsea couldnt cope with Spurs in the first game in his free-role position and he plays OK on the left too. Anyway, Levi isnt Lennon and not many can play like Lennon does.

As for some of the other stuff on here, its typical lunacy without thinking by some. There is no way in hell that the donkeys we have can play free flowing attacking football. This is one of the worst City sides I have seen in years and it doesnt surprise me that we are doing so poorly, infact i am surprised we arent in the bottom 4 or 5. Playing attacking football wouldnt guarantee better performances or results. To play good attacking passing football you need mobile and athletic players who are intelligent footballers. Imagine our team at the start of the season with the midfield of Tiatto, AJ, Low and Hughes trying to play like that. It would be a great funny watch if you got off on seeing Leicester get hammered every week.

Horses for corses and donkeys for the beach and thats what we have, donkeys!

It would never be the right time for you. There would always be some reason, some excuse.

You might have picked Tiatto, AJ, Low and Hughes but I would never have had more than one of those four anywhere near the club, much less in the team.

[Geo V]

It would never be the right time for you. There would always be some reason, some excuse.

You might have picked Tiatto, AJ, Low and Hughes but I would never have had more than one of those four anywhere near the club, much less in the team.

You are totally wrong mate.

The way I have played football, obviously at an amateur level has always been attacking. As someone who has managed sunday league teams, 5-a-side and all sorts I demand that everyone passes the ball and plays with flair. Infact embarrasingly, one of the things I used to coach my teams is that each player must develop one skill and use it during the game whether it was the Cruyff turn or the Hazard change of play.

Anyway, as for the proffesionals. At this level you very rarely can get players to change in ability if they are of a certain age. Players like Andy Johnson may well have the odd decent game but asking them to play one twos and play intelligently will never ever happen. The same goes for players like Low, Hughes and many of the others. THEY HAVENT GOT THAT ABILITY!!

Dont ask my how but somehow, the previous manager and RK have managed to put together a really terrible footballing squad and thats where we are today. I have agreed with you that I would like the odd academy player thrown in late in the season, even instead of the loanees to see if they can shine but when it comes to this topic of turning shite into gold, it wont happen. I`d be the happiest fan alive if we somehow attracted players who can play (like Danny Murphy who BTW isnt fast!) but we shall see what happens there. Ive also been banging on about Kevin keegan as my perfect choice as manager as he isnt famous for being defensive. The thing is I am a realist and your are not so we will ahve to agree to disagree on this matter.

[Thracian]

You are totally wrong mate.

The way I have played football, obviously at an amateur level has always been attacking. As someone who has managed sunday league teams, 5-a-side and all sorts I demand that everyone passes the ball and plays with flair. Infact embarrasingly, one of the things I used to coach my teams is that each player must develop one skill and use it during the game whether it was the Cruyff turn or the Hazard change of play.

Anyway, as for the proffesionals. At this level you very rarely can get players to change in ability if they are of a certain age. Players like Andy Johnson may well have the odd decent game but asking them to play one twos and play intelligently will never ever happen. The same goes for players like Low, Hughes and many of the others. THEY HAVENT GOT THAT ABILITY!!

Dont ask my how but somehow, the previous manager and RK have managed to put together a really terrible footballing squad and thats where we are today. I have agreed with you that I would like the odd academy player thrown in late in the season, even instead of the loanees to see if they can shine but when it comes to this topic of turning shite into gold, it wont happen. I`d be the happiest fan alive if we somehow attracted players who can play (like Danny Murphy who BTW isnt fast!) but we shall see what happens there. Ive also been banging on about Kevin keegan as my perfect choice as manager as he isnt famous for being defensive. The thing is I am a realist and your are not so we will ahve to agree to disagree on this matter.

Ah that's it. If you've been a manager you would be more realistic than me!

[Geo V]

Ah that's it. If you've been a manager you would be more realistic than me!

If I was the manager I would have punted out some of these nobodies ages ago because they are not Leicester class. The fact is that we are who we are and we cant expect someone as basic as RK to make these players any better than they are. Infact RK has shown remarkable powers by actually managing to help the youngsters like Stearman, Fryatt and Weso have a worse season that last. Magical stuff.

[blue blood]

FYI this is the longest thread ive started!! im getting good at starting discussions!!

[The People's Hero]

Scruffier - Ian Marshall or Steve Claridge or Mr Scruff or Jonny Vegas?

[Fez of Mahrez]

Scruffier - Ian Marshall or Steve Claridge or Mr Scruff or Jonny Vegas?

Got to be the Marsh. I don't envisage any of the others drinking cider on a park bench at 3am and to be honest, it's not a lifestyle that encourages sophistication or elegance.

[The People's Hero]

Got to be the Marsh. I don't envisage any of the others drinking cider on a park bench at 3am and to be honest, it's not a lifestyle that encourages sophistication or elegance.

I reckon JV does that sort of thing as a matter of course.

[lcfc_jme]

Scruffier - Ian Marshall or Steve Claridge or Mr Scruff or Jonny Vegas?

I'm going for Jonny Vegas.

And for sexy football, any team which contained David Ginola. Allegedly.

[The People's Hero]

Ahh.. Daveeeed. Good point.