Stoke Match Thread

[TornadoShaunUK]

We are losing games because of bad defending AND missing chances.

Tommy Wright isn't the answer to our problems, we have to keep faith with a Connolly/De Vries partnership.

As for the defence, Dabizas and Dublin aren't a good partnership so hopuly Levein can bring someone in before the transfer deadline.

70172[/snapback]

I definately think its the defence that needs sorting most either way. It'd be nice to get a more prolific goalscorer back in the side but goals can come from any player in any situation. We aint doin bad at goalscoring even if the strikers arent getting them..

Id like to see us get some center backs and someone to replace jordan stewart - as hes crap IMO, heck I think if we shoved someone out of position in there we'd get a better job out of them, maybe if David Conolly fancies defending we can whack dion upfront with De Vries...

[shen]

Do you know who Mark De Vries is really starting to remind me of?

Emile Heskey.

Not sure if thats a good or a bad thing...

70152[/snapback]

Funny you should say that. Someone today started saying de Vries is fat, but of course it's muscle. Silly people Then my mate butted in, and said de Vries is all muscle, he's built like Emile Heskey. You were probably on about a different point, but o well.

Anyone got any ideas whose picture we can put on the back of the net. I think a bit of target practise is in order

70171[/snapback]

There was that, but thers also something about the way he plays...

70175[/snapback]

does he spend more time on the ground than on his feet?

[Benji]

We are losing games because of bad defending AND missing chances.

Tommy Wright isn't the answer to our problems, we have to keep faith with a Connolly/De Vries partnership.

As for the defence, Dabizas and Dublin aren't a good partnership so hopuly Levein can bring someone in before the transfer deadline.

70172[/snapback]

heck I think if we shoved someone out of position in there we'd get a better job out of them, maybe if David Connolly fancies defending we can whack dion upfront with De Vries...

70176[/snapback]

thats not even funny,

[Simon]

No its just the strength, power, holding up ability, heading while not leaving the ground and the ability to go past players, and not score many goals. A perfect foil if our other striker could actually score... (which is why Heskey and Cottee made a good partnership)

[shen]

We are losing games because of bad defending AND missing chances.

Tommy Wright isn't the answer to our problems, we have to keep faith with a Connolly/De Vries partnership.

As for the defence, Dabizas and Dublin aren't a good partnership so hopuly Levein can bring someone in before the transfer deadline.

70172[/snapback]

I definately think its the defence that needs sorting most either way. It'd be nice to get a more prolific goalscorer back in the side but goals can come from any player in any situation. We aint doin bad at goalscoring even if the strikers arent getting them..

Id like to see us get some center backs and someone to replace jordan stewart - as hes crap IMO, heck I think if we shoved someone out of position in there we'd get a better job out of them, maybe if David Conolly fancies defending we can whack dion upfront with De Vries...

70176[/snapback]

Maybury on the left with Stearman on the right. Canero as cover for both flanks

CL should consider giving Jordan a break to take some pressure off him, but he's still good enough I believe...

[Benji]

what a partnership that was

and claridge when he was here

to be fair we've created so many chances this season, if a natural goalscorer was in the team he'd score for fun

but at the end of the day you have to look at it, we're not this low in the league for nothing, it would be quite foolish to think we're going to get anyone here of good scoring reputation

the only real answer can be to stick by the connolly and hope he works off of de vries, as frustrating as it may be

[shen]

No its just the strength, power, holding up ability, heading while not leaving the ground and the ability to go past players, and not score many goals. A perfect foil if our other striker could actually score... (which is why Heskey and Cottee made a good partnership)

70180[/snapback]

I seem to remember that Cottee ended as our topscorer 2 seasons in a row with 12 goals only bloody prolific

[Anish]

I'm fast losing patience with our defensive set up and organisation at set pieces. We have conceded far too many goals from free-kicks and corners under Levein (Reading home, Sunderland, Ipswich away and now today)...once is forgivable, twice is careless but this is infuriating. We look extremely dodgy at set pieces and this is when EVERY f*king player is back in our box.

I don't blame one or two players - yes Dabizas and Dublin are a rubbish defensive partnership - I blame the whole team. We defend set pieces as a team and we attack set pieces as a team. How can we let the oppposition have a player unmarked 25 yards out when we have every single player back and therefore outnumber them? That's a disgrace.

Levein needs to sort this out big time and quick - because it's costing us goals and games and we are going to continue to lose vital points.

On the subject of the strikers - I agree with Dan and Benji. Even Matt Elliott on the commentary said that Connolly drifts out wide too much and makes too many pointless runs into the channels. That's the job of the midfielders or wingers for ****s sake. Connolly should stay on the 2 central defenders where he is most likely to cause damage. We simply cannot afford to have our lone striker drifting wide with nobody in the middle.

I definitely think Connolly needs to be told NOT to make silly and counterproductive runs which isn't going to be effective for the team. And he has missed far too many chances when he does get into the positions to score. There's absolutely no point in being technically good on the ball and not being able to stick the f*king ball in the back of the net when you get the chance - that's what he's paid to do!

[Steven]

... also Connolly is the king of the one touch too many.

[Muz]

Just got bk from snowy stoke.

Well what can i say , good game, good football by ourselves in patches but the Finishing once again Woeful.

Williams miss

MDV should have scored , Dont know how Conners did not finish from 10 yards he hit it straight at the keeper

Other than that I thought we played ok , just alot of bad luck with Gillespie hitting the post aswell.

Just got to push on.

Just to add .... Ive never been so cold

[Nationwider]

I don't think defence is the main priority at the moment, although ours would be a joke in the Prem. We have conceeded 8 less goals (I think) than Ipswich this season, yet Ipswich are 1st and we are 18th. Fact.

We do miss a straight-forward out-and-out striker - with pace ideally - although it's great having a player like Tony Cottee who will do sod all for 89 mins, but score with the one touch he gets.

Players like Kevin Phillips and Nathan Ellington are proof that there are goalscorers to be found at reserve/lower league levels. Alan Smith went from Alvechurch to LCFC to scoring the winning goal in a UEFA Cup Final !!!!!

I see a bit of lower league football now and then when it's too far/too expensive to see City - hence me name! Two players worth a look who I've seen this season are Kirk of Boston, who I believe we've been linked with, and Adam Boyd of Hartlepool who is the most skillful young player outside of the top two leagues, and a calm finisher.

[Steven]

I don't think defence is the main priority at the moment, although ours would be a joke in the Prem.  We have conceeded 8 less goals (I think) than Ipswich this season, yet Ipswich are 1st and we are 18th.  Fact.

We do miss a straight-forward out-and-out striker - with pace ideally - although  it's great having a player like Tony Cottee who will do sod all for 89 mins, but score with the one touch he gets.

Players like Kevin Phillips and Nathan Ellington are proof that there are goalscorers to be found at reserve/lower league levels.  Alan Smith went from Alvechurch to LCFC to scoring the winning goal in a UEFA Cup Final !!!!!

I see a bit of lower league football now and then when it's too far/too expensive to see City - hence me name! Two players worth a look who I've seen this season are Kirk of Boston, who I believe we've been linked with, and Adam Boyd of Hartlepool who is the most skillful young player outside of the top two leagues, and a calm finisher.

70208[/snapback]

                      W      D            L            F        A

Ipswich Overall 19      9          6            62    41        66  +21

City Overall      9        13        10        35    33        40    +2

The stats clearly point to the area that requires most immediate surgery.

[Scow]

We dominated the game. Stoke were a poor side, so it displays how poor defensively we were that a team who had scored less than 20 goals in 30 odd games before this match go and score 3.

The first goal arrived by no one picking up Brammer on the edge of the box - Extremely poor.

Stewart was at fault for the second when he was dispossessed by Harper, who then supplied the cross for the second goal.

The third saw Taggart head in unmarked from a corner.

On a positive note, we looked very good going forward and created plenty of (clear-cut) chances. We used the width of the pitch well, and we stroked the ball around crisply in midfield.

I am gutted, they were there for the taking.

[Ric Flair]

This is another wake up call of the situation we are in. After saturday's phenomenal win at Charlton it's back to earth with a bang. Stoke on paper are a truely shocking team, as are alot of teams in this league but we can't cope with them. We are still lacking the galvanisation of a team and we are lacking that killer edge, i'd say we're lacking quality but in this league that isn't an essential factor.

We continually seem to be getting somewhere, putting together a good run of performances and results and then this happens. It's frustrating, but Levein is building something and this is often what happens. Some managers come in and instantly turn things around, but even the least knowledgable Leicester fan can realise that there have been deep routed problems at Leicester for a long while and it will take alot of time and effort to sort it out. Joe Royle has had a tough time turning Ipswich in to a major force in this league again after a fruitless few years at Portman Road, the same with George Burley at Derby. It's hard in this league and any league to instantly make a team successful. Also Levein is in this for the long haul and wants to lay some foundations for this club to make it stable and powerful, short fixes don't work all the time as we have seen.

That doesn't excuse some of the defending and gilt edge chances we have missed this season, but again this has been going on for some time at this club and doesn't surprise me. When teams are under-achieveing and going through a re-building process anything can happen. What doesn't help is us fans are confused at the minute, we don't know whether we're coming or going. One week the optimism is high and we finally think this is it, then this happens and it's doom and gloom again. I'm keeping my cards close to my chest, I was upset last night but i'm fully behind Levein and his regime i'm prepared for some more inconsistency until we get it right.

I know there will be people out there in the Chandler mould who could argue that we weren't this understanding when Adams starting doing damage to this club, but i've realised since then that football is a complex game and it isn't easy making a team successful. Levein deserves time to sort things out, whether we're lower in the league since he's arrived is irrelevant to me at present. From what i've seen and heard from Levein i'm impressed, really impressed. This is the calm before the storm at the minute and we've got to ride it out, rome wasn't built in a day and I think there's cause for optimism.

However I personally think we've got more than enough talent in our squad to be in the top 6 of this league, but if it was just on the quality of players alone teams would never under-achieve. Managers play a big part in making a team successful or unsuccessful and if Levein is as good as his record shows from his time at Hearts and Cowdenbeath then his qualities will come through and he'll sort us out. Belief is what we need, fans and players. I believe in Levein, and it will take alot more than this to change my mind. You can see that we're close to turning things around, i've not seen us play football like this for a long while. Strikers are missing chances, defenders are making mistakes and everything that could go against us is doing just when we think we've cracked it. Well life's a bitch, it's down to the players on the pitch to knuckle down and show what their made of. Connolly and MDV have a hell of alot of goals between them before they came here, the law of averages says they'll come good at some point. If we got rid of them, they'll only go elsewhere and find their form. Continuity, consistency and patience is what we need. Next season will be interesting, really interesting. Derby wouldn't of thought they'd be where they are now if you asked them their opinions this time last season, neither would Crystal Palace.

New centre half and striker though please to increase competition throughout the squad.

[kirkup21]

Dont know how Conners did not finish from 10 yards he hit it straight at the keeper

70206[/snapback]

Sums up the season really.

[Guest]

I'm not a fan of this zonal defending at set pieces. It's so easy to play against, Stokes equaliser last night a classic example of the time and space it can allow you the attacking side keep a couple of men outside the area.

I noticed at the weekend that Chelsea defend corners with two or three players up the pitch. Newcastle would then leave three or four players out to cover them, and prevent the counterattack. This left room to see what was happening in the box, made it harder to lose your man, but you also had a player over to deal with the loose ball.

Not a brilliant example, because they lost, but I'd rather see us defending like this. Crowding the 18yd box did us no favours at Ipswich, and what use are Tiatto, Connolly, and Gudjonnson with high balls, they're not much taller than me!

[Alexikokopops]

I see a bit of lower league football now and then when it's too far/too expensive to see City - hence me name! Two players worth a look who I've seen this season are Kirk of Boston, who I believe we've been linked with, and Adam Boyd of Hartlepool who is the most skillful young player outside of the top two leagues, and a calm finisher.

70208[/snapback]

Even though I really don't like Andy Kirk, I may be forced to admit he's not a bad player.

As for Adam Boyd, I thought it was bloody marvellous that he came on loan to Boston, and then snubbed the permanant move and went back to become Hartlepool's top scorer.

I laughed.

I don't like Boston.

[Steven]

I see a bit of lower league football now and then when it's too far/too expensive to see City - hence me name! Two players worth a look who I've seen this season are Kirk of Boston, who I believe we've been linked with, and Adam Boyd of Hartlepool who is the most skillful young player outside of the top two leagues, and a calm finisher.

70208[/snapback]

Even though I really don't like Andy Kirk, I may be forced to admit he's not a bad player.

As for Adam Boyd, I thought it was bloody marvellous that he came on loan to Boston, and then snubbed the permanant move and went back to become Hartlepool's top scorer.

I laughed.

I don't like Boston.

70312[/snapback]

Boyd has a one in two average this season.

[Ric Flair]

I see a bit of lower league football now and then when it's too far/too expensive to see City - hence me name! Two players worth a look who I've seen this season are Kirk of Boston, who I believe we've been linked with, and Adam Boyd of Hartlepool who is the most skillful young player outside of the top two leagues, and a calm finisher.

70208[/snapback]

Even though I really don't like Andy Kirk, I may be forced to admit he's not a bad player.

As for Adam Boyd, I thought it was bloody marvellous that he came on loan to Boston, and then snubbed the permanant move and went back to become Hartlepool's top scorer.

I laughed.

I don't like Boston.

70312[/snapback]

I'd rather see Lita here from Brizzle City. Deadly infront of goal, makes Connolly and MDV look like amatuers. I think there's a curse over Leicester.

[Steven]

,Feb 23 2005, 2:19 PM]

I see a bit of lower league football now and then when it's too far/too expensive to see City - hence me name! Two players worth a look who I've seen this season are Kirk of Boston, who I believe we've been linked with, and Adam Boyd of Hartlepool who is the most skillful young player outside of the top two leagues, and a calm finisher.

70208[/snapback]

Even though I really don't like Andy Kirk, I may be forced to admit he's not a bad player.

As for Adam Boyd, I thought it was bloody marvellous that he came on loan to Boston, and then snubbed the permanant move and went back to become Hartlepool's top scorer.

I laughed.

I don't like Boston.

70312[/snapback]

I'd rather see Lita here from Brizzle City. Deadly infront of goal, makes Connolly and MDV look like amatuers. I think there's a curse over Leicester.

70316[/snapback]

Average a goal every 2.5 games or so.

[Alexikokopops]

,Feb 23 2005, 2:19 PM]

I see a bit of lower league football now and then when it's too far/too expensive to see City - hence me name! Two players worth a look who I've seen this season are Kirk of Boston, who I believe we've been linked with, and Adam Boyd of Hartlepool who is the most skillful young player outside of the top two leagues, and a calm finisher.

70208[/snapback]

Even though I really don't like Andy Kirk, I may be forced to admit he's not a bad player.

As for Adam Boyd, I thought it was bloody marvellous that he came on loan to Boston, and then snubbed the permanant move and went back to become Hartlepool's top scorer.

I laughed.

I don't like Boston.

70312[/snapback]

Boyd has a one in two average this season.

70315[/snapback]

I'm confused

I just found it funny that Boston thought they had a good player on their hands, and he snubbed them and went on to be even better.

[Nationwider]

I'm confused

I just found it funny that Boston thought they had a good player on their hands, and he snubbed them and went on to be even better.

70353[/snapback]

I got it.

Funny place, Boston. Can't say I'm in a hurry to go back.

[Alexikokopops]

,Feb 23 2005, 5:49 PM]I'm confused

I just found it funny that Boston thought they had a good player on their hands, and he snubbed them and went on to be even better.

70353[/snapback]

I got it.

Funny place, Boston. Can't say I'm in a hurry to go back.

70379[/snapback]

I've lived my whole live in Lincoln, I have to hate Boston

[davieG]

I'm not a fan of this zonal defending at set pieces.  It's so easy to play against, Stokes equaliser last night a classic example of the time and space it can allow you the attacking side keep a couple of men outside the area.

I noticed at the weekend that Chelsea defend corners with two or three players up the pitch.  Newcastle would then leave three or four players out to cover them, and prevent the counterattack.  This left room to see what was happening in the box, made it harder to lose your man, but you also had a player over to deal with the loose ball.

Not a brilliant example, because they lost, but I'd rather see us defending like this.  Crowding the 18yd box did us no favours at Ipswich, and what use are Tiatto, Connolly, and Gudjonnson with high balls, they're not much taller than me!

70300[/snapback]

Well I didn't go but can only go on what the man himself said:

form the OS

City boss Craig Levein says that a combination of missed chances and poor defending from set pieces cost Leicester dearly against Stoke on Tuesday evening.

The Foxes went down 3-2 at the hands of their Championship rivals at the Britannia Stadium.

But things had looked different in the early stages as Leicester took the game to the home side and scored through Gareth Williams in the 15th minute.

But that lead was short lived and goals from Dave Brammer and Gifton Noel-Williams gave Tony Pullis' men a 2-1 advantage going into the break.

City were guilty of missing good opportunities to redress the balance in the second half before old boy Gerry Taggart made it 3-1.

Joey Gudjonsson grabbed one back from a spectacular free kick in the closing stages, but Leicester were unable to score the all important leveller.

Speaking after the game, Levein said: "In some ways it was similar to the Ipswich game in the fact that we played well going forward and defended reasonably well in open play. But a couple of set pieces have cost us.

"We had so many chances to at least get a point and probably enough to win the match. But if you don't put the ball in the net then you don't win matches.

"To be fair their second was a good strike and was scored from fully 25-yards out. But we switched off and one player in particular was supposed to be on patrol at the edge of the box. He lost concentration and didn't do his job properly.

"The same thing happened with their third goal. [/u]We were going man for man at corners and somebody hasn't picked up his man and they've scored. If that sort of thing happens then no matter how many miles you put through the legs into the game you are going to lose matches. We put an enormous amount of effort in but a lack of concentration cost us.

"As crazy as it may seem at 3-1 I thought that we could still win the match. We certainly had enough chances to do that and they were opportunities that I would normally expect us to take.

"We are now keen to go to Reading and get something there. Interestingly we have created our best chances all season in our last twp league games. You could put together maybe five other games from the season and we wouldn't have created as many chances as we have done in those two.

"We made it difficult for ourselves and in effect we contributed to our own defeat by missing chances."

Man for man - Who's the gulity person(s)

[Anish]

I'm not a fan of this zonal defending at set pieces.  It's so easy to play against, Stokes equaliser last night a classic example of the time and space it can allow you the attacking side keep a couple of men outside the area.

I noticed at the weekend that Chelsea defend corners with two or three players up the pitch.  Newcastle would then leave three or four players out to cover them, and prevent the counterattack.  This left room to see what was happening in the box, made it harder to lose your man, but you also had a player over to deal with the loose ball.

Not a brilliant example, because they lost, but I'd rather see us defending like this.  Crowding the 18yd box did us no favours at Ipswich, and what use are Tiatto, Connolly, and Gudjonnson with high balls, they're not much taller than me!

70300[/snapback]

Excellent points there Lisa. Ever since Levein took over I have voiced my unhappiness (both on here and at the matches) with our defensive organisation at set pieces. Having every single player back in the box simply invites the opposition to throw all their players forward and cause mayhem - and it had cost us sh*t loads of goals. How long will it take for Levein and the players to realise this?