Leicester City v Stockport County (Pre-Match Thread)

[Thracian]

All well and good Thracian, but Howard is a centre forwad, something Porter and Adams are not. The other options up front right now are Dickov and DJ. Dickov isn't 100% match fit and DJ Campbell is equally as bad as Howard. The academy strikers aren't yet ready either IMO.

Porter is up against it really, finally we seem to have 4 wingers that will be a danger at this level (Porter being one of them). He might well be able to play in the centre, but I can't find room for him there. Who do you play him alongside? You need a very robust and disciplined midfielder to be alongside Porter as I think he'd be over run at times, even if you do think he's as strong as anyone when challenging for the ball.

I'd much rather continue with King in the centre and see how he develops than Porter, purely because I think King has the better attributes for central midfield.

The way Howard is playing I'd happily play 4-5-1. I even suggested it as an option last week, before Dickov's signing.

Seems to me we'll get further with fast passing and moving than by playing a target man and anyone who's seen the clips of Gradel's goals will see that he can play just as easily on the left as the right.

With Adams, King, Oakley, Porter and Gradel in a 4-5-1 and Fryatt up front we'd have five potential goalscorers and stacks of possession.

Howard's not really done it for me since he arrived. Yes he got a hat-trick against nine men but most games he's been disappointing.

Dickov still neds to get fully fit but DJ's hardly been a prolific goal-getter either.

And seeing as Pearson seems to believe in blanket defence after scoring, whats wrong with five half-decent possession footballers in midfield? Cos I don't see what Howard does in a defensive covering role.

With the midfield five mentioned our break-out would be about as fast as it could be and with Dyer/DJ/Dickov as alternatives I cannot see why the pressure should falter.

United won last year's title playing one up front lots of the time.

And Chelsea have often done it with Drogba.

Gradel cutting in from the left, Adams from the right and Porter feeding those two plus Fryatt in the centre! Defenders nihtmare, especially when Kingy gets the confidence to join em.

[Tommy G]

The way Howard is playing I'd happily play 4-5-1. I even suggested it as an option last week, before Dickov's signing.

Seems to me we'll get further with fast passing and moving than by playing a target man and anyone who's seen the clips of Gradel's goals will see that he can play just as easily on the left as the right.

With Adams, King, Oakley, Porter and Gradel in a 4-5-1 and Fryatt up front we'd have five potential goalscorers and stacks of possession.

Howard's not really done it for me since he arrived. Yes he got a hat-trick against nine men but most games he's been disappointing.

Dickov still neds to get fully fit but DJ's hardly been a prolific goal-getter either.

And seeing as Pearson seems to believe in blanket defence after scoring, whats wrong with five half-decent possession footballers in midfield? Cos I don't see what Howard does in a defensive covering role.

With the midfield five mentioned our break-out would be about as fast as it could be and with Dyer/DJ/Dickov as alternatives I cannot see why the pressure should falter.

United won last year's title playing one up front lots of the time.

And Chelsea have often done it with Drogba.

Gradel cutting in from the left, Adams from the right and Porter feeding those two plus Fryatt in the centre! Defenders nihtmare, especially when Kingy gets the confidence to join em.

exactly. Two of the best teams in European football can do it but I doubt we could manage it!

[Koke]

4-5-1 is an option and we do have the players for it, but I don't think Howard sucks as badly as you make it out to be. I thought he was OK on Saturday and I'm sure he'll get his fair share of goals in this division.

[Benji]

I don't think Fryatt could cut it up top alone, too sluggish and lazy for me.

The amount of times in the first half Howard won an albeit inaccurate header but partly down to Fryatt's inability to make a move or make any attempt to read the ball.

Even with the pacey midfield you mention there will be many times when he would be isolated and made to work very hard, something he really would struggle with.

[Simi]

Especially physical? Is it hell. I didn't see anything physically intimidating about MK at all. People just can't risk whacking people these days. And all three you mentioned will take any buffetting you like, just look at the videos of Gradel. He doesn't easily get muscled off the ball by anyone.

We conceded more goals in midfield with Weso and Oakley than with Weso and King and we certainly wouldn't score more. I just fail to see the logic.

Weso is combative and brave but he's never struck me as genuinely hard. I'd stand correcting but doubt Weso would beat any of the three you mentioned in a bundle.

You can't base how strong League 1 is going to be based on one game at home against a newly promoted side. Plus they've just got a new manager.

Lets judge when we're away to someone like Carlise on a Tuesday night in December.

[Thracian]

You can't base how strong League 1 is going to be based on one game at home against a newly promoted side. Plus they've just got a new manager.

Lets judge when we're away to someone like Carlise on a Tuesday night in December.

I didn't sugest there'd by no tough, physical matches. But I wouldn't even call the Championship especially tough let alone Division One. And even then, however tough they are, I'm sure Gradel, Porter and Adams will cope just as well as any other midfielder or attacker. I don't know much about Adams other than what I've seen in our friendlies but it really is a myth about Gradel and Porter not being strong enough to cope physically. Besides I never saw Cruyff, Zola or George Eastham as especially tough but they seemed to cope well enough.

[The People's Hero]

I didn't sugest there'd by no tough, physical matches. But I wouldn't even call the Championship especially tough let alone Division One. And even then, however tough they are, I'm sure Gradel, Porter and Adams will cope just as well as any other midfielder or attacker. I don't know much about Adams other than what I've seen in our friendlies but it really is a myth about Gradel and Porter not being strong enough to cope physically. Besides I never saw Cruyff, Zola or George Eastham as especially tough but they seemed to cope well enough.

Someone tell me this is a wind up.

Please?

[Simi]

I didn't sugest there'd by no tough, physical matches. But I wouldn't even call the Championship especially tough let alone Division One. And even then, however tough they are, I'm sure Gradel, Porter and Adams will cope just as well as any other midfielder or attacker. I don't know much about Adams other than what I've seen in our friendlies but it really is a myth about Gradel and Porter not being strong enough to cope physically. Besides I never saw Cruyff, Zola or George Eastham as especially tough but they seemed to cope well enough.

Comparing Levi to Cruyff really isn't fair is it. I'm not sure he played this low down his career, plus his technical ability is far superior to Porter's, surely not even you'd question that!

Adams WOULD get pushed around, he's not a physical player, you can see that without question. Gradel may be tough, but he's still going to get pushed off the ball by physical midfielders regardless of how tough he might be.

I wouldn't consider them as a midfield three, not one of them, for me would have the knowledge to look after the ball when we needed it or be able to have the defensive discipline to play in the centre.

[Samilktray]

Expected attendance any one ?

And how many of that will be away fans?

[Simi]

Expected attendance any one ?

And how many of that will be away fans?

I'd guess the West Stand will be full and probably some of the Kop.

Stockport will probably bring about 300.

[Joe.]

I reckon 9,000 ish.

[Tilley]

Up until what time can you buy tickets & is it in the hole in the wall or ticket office?

[Anish]

I reckon 9,000 ish.

That's being optimistic. I'd go for 4,300.

[Mickey O'Neil]

Dandannieldanok, I've updated your sig to a more modern version of Michael Morrison.

God, I'm good at photoshop!!!!

[Joe.]

Up until what time can you buy tickets & is it in the hole in the wall or ticket office?

You should be able to buy tickets for tonights game in both the ticket office and the sub ticket offices. Normally the subs are open until about 10-15 minutes after kick off.