Fryatt

[Scow]

Fair play to Fryatt - I thought at the end of last season/start of pre-season that perhaps a move would be good for him. He's shown that a good pre-season and a regular strike partner has done him the world of good.

I still think he has the ability to play at Championship level, but it's all about playing the right way. We know he's not the quickest, but he has good feet, control and clever movement. Last season, he often found himself stuck on the wing or dropping too deep and not getting in to the right areas.

[Flynny]

I have this feeling that a confident Fryatt is going to be important in games we don't dominate. We all know he's capable of quite brilliant close control when he wants to be, and it was the only thing he had going for him last season, the odd run from deep past about 5 men ending in a weak shot.

If he's firing on all cylinders and knows what he can do, a goal like that in a dead game where we're not creating could prove crucial.

This is all ifs and buts, true, but I think the reason Fryatt got given so much slack despite being awful was only how classy he looked occasionally with the ball at his feet. If he can carry on getting into goalscoring positions but also utilise that we'll be set.

[The Blur]

Yeh hes doing well, but if we do get promoted do you think he will do well in the Championship

When he first came here when we was struggling in championship under Rob Kelly,didn't he scored about 4 in 9 games to save us from the relegation?

[iancognito]

I've maintained for a long time that Fryatt wasn't given enough of a chance last year. Niggling injuries, a poor pre-season prep and constantly being played out of position to accomodate others killed his season. The whole 3 goals in 21 starts is testimony that you can prove anything with stats. The guy was a winger, midfielder and odd-job man most of those 21 times.

He doesn't need to do a lot else apart from score goals. I'll be very happy if ALL he does is score goals. If needed, Howard can go back and defend corners or set pieces, the wingers can chase back and cover full backs. I'm a bit traditional in that I like my strikers to stay up front and give defenders something to think about.

[Ultra]

A lot of the animosity towards Fryatt stemmed from him being indulged by previous managers (Allen being a notorious exception), who kept him in the squad when his form didn't really warrant it.

He's started this season well though, and I hope his goalscoring run continues. And it may well do, with Dickov and Campbell around to keep him on his toes and challenge for his place.

His transformation into a goal machine has to rank as one of Pearson's finest achievements to date.

[Russell352]

Any1 know when the decision that Fryatt wins player of the month is made?

[Unabomber]

Any1 know when the decision that Fryatt wins player of the month is made?

I know it will be on Big League Weekend 2 on Monday on Sky Sports 1, not sure if when it is announced for the first time though.

[Alexikokopops]

But you need to remember that Howard was played up front in all his games, Fryatt was on the wing for quite afew games under Holloway. At least Howard had a settled position and wasn't in and out of the team.

Megson stuck with Fryatt last season for afew games and played him up front and he was starting to show he deserved a place in team and Holloway came in and he was dropped or played on the wing.

Now he is in his best position he is running through defences, no end of times against Cheltenham he made great runs and ran thro there defence (granted he should've done done better in front of goal and not caught off-side as many times, but at least he's making the runs and looking positive), he's a clever footballer and gets in great positions and makes decent runs and gives options for the other players. Alittle more confidence in front of goal and i think he could score at least 20 goals this season.

Under Allen:

Accrington away, forward, 0 goals

Under Megson:

Forest away, forward (sub), 0 goals

Charlton away, forward, 0 goals

Villa away, forward, 1 goal

Stoke home, forward, 1 goal

Wolves home, forward, 0 goals

Wednesday away, forward, 0 goals

Sheff Utd home, forward, 0 goals

Under Burrows and Taggart:

Barnsley home, forward, 0 goals

Chelsea away, forward, 0 goals

Colchester away, forward, 0 goals

Preston away, forward, 0 goals

Burnley home, forward, 0 goals

Under Holloway:

Bristol City away, forward, 1 goal (plus red card)

Cardiff home, forward, 0 goals

(3 games missed due to suspension)

Ipswich away, forward, 0 goals

Hull away, forward, 0 goals

Wolves away, forward, 0 goals

Ipswich home, forward, 0 goals

Charlton home, forward, 0 goals

QPR away, forward, 0 goals

Southampton away, forward, 0 goals

(dropped for the first time under Holloway, after 9 games and 1 goal playing up front under him, 5 games and 0 goals up front under Burrows and Taggart, and 7 games and 2 goals under Megson. That's 21 games and 3 goals playing as a forward since Megson took charge, having missed just four games since then, with three of those through suspension. To suggest he wasn't given a chance was ludicrous)

Plymouth home, wing (sub), 0 goals

Norwich home, forward (sub), 0 goals

Preston home, forward (sub), 0 goals

Bristol City home, wing (sub), 0 goals

Southampton away, wing/forward (sub), 0 goals

West Brom away, wing, 0 goals

Hull home, wing, 0 goals

S****horpe home, forward, 0 goals

Sheff Utd away, forward, 0 goals

Colchester home, forward (sub), 0 goals

Wednesday home, wing/forward (sub), 0 goals

Stoke away, forward (sub), 0 goals

Disclaimer: This isn't negativity towards Fryatt this season. It is merely to shatter the myth that he wasn't given a chance up front last season. 21 games (only one of those a sub appearance) played as a striker with three goals scored before he was dropped vindicates the decision if you ask me. It was only after this that he was played on the wing. Can we please put it all to bed now?

[Simi]

I see your point, but if Fryatt had started in his natural posistion we wouldn't have been relegated.

The daft twat Holloway played him on the wing to much and Fryatt never really got his chance.

Chosen men like Howard played week in week out and never scored.

Give Our Matthew a chance and he'll be our top scorer no problems. He's the best natural finisher you know?

[Anish]

So much for forgetting about the past. Yes he was awful last season and hasn't lived up to the hype when he first came, but isn't that the Leicester tradition of getting reputable players and turning them into turd? Our whole squad was garbage last season, but most of them are still here and their performances last season have been forgotten (unlike Fryatt's).

Just because Fryatt has a loyal fanbase (and I admit to being a big fan of his), he has come under more criticism from those people who aren't his fans. While he's performing like he is and scoring goals for fun, let's give him some credit without playing up his failings last season.

[Alexikokopops]

I see your point, but if Fryatt had started in his natural posistion we wouldn't have been relegated.

The daft twat Holloway played him on the wing to much and Fryatt never really got his chance.

Chosen men like Howard played week in week out and never scored.

Give Our Matthew a chance and he'll be our top scorer no problems. He's the best natural finisher you know?

Nadler's got you marked bwoy.

[Simi]

Nadler's got you marked bwoy.

No matter how you present the cold facts, that is the response you will get.

[Thracian]

I see your point, but if Fryatt had started in his natural posistion we wouldn't have been relegated.

I've been with you 100% so far but I don't know about that. You might be right given the narrow margin by which we went down. But there's a huge difference this season to last that would explain Fryatt's form:

a) He and the rest of the team are clearly fitter.

b) There's infinitely more chances being created from all over the field.

c) Fryatt is, as you say, playing where he belongs, up front.

d) He's playing at a lower level.

e) And he's been able to form a proper understanding with the same strike partner instead of the constant chopping and changing we went through previously.

There are one or two other reasons I might add but, whatever, I'm thrilled with his resurgence so far and hope it continues unchecked.

[Simi]

I've been with you 100% so far but I don't know about that. You might be right given the narrow margin by which we went down. But there's a huge difference this season to last that would explain Fryatt's form:

a) He and the rest of the team are clearly fitter.

b) There's infinitely more chances being created from all over the field.

c) Fryatt is, as you say, playing where he belongs, up front.

d) He's playing at a lower level.

e) And he's been able to form a proper understanding with the same strike partner instead of the constant chopping and changing we went through previously.

There are one or two other reasons I might add but, whatever, I'm thrilled with his resurgence so far and hope it continues unchecked.

It was a paradoy Thrac of what I would expect from the Fryatt supporters and what they would post, I am still very much behind my original argument. Don't worry about that.

[Alexikokopops]

No matter how you present the cold facts, that is the response you will get.

I'll be happy if just one person who thought otherwise actually admits that maybe Fryatt was given a chance last season before he was dropped/played on the wing. Starting with clazkel

The fact is that he was in the team for 25 games out of 21 (three of those missed due to his red card), only one of those was a sub appearance (the first one), he played up front in them all, and he only scored three goals. Also, Holloway gave him nine matches up front (during which he scored 1 goal in the first one) before he dropped him and then started bringing him on as a sub (not always on the wing). All I want is for people to admit that he got just as good a chance as Howard et al. last season but didn't perform. There could be a whole plethora of reasons, but playing on the wing and being in and out the team certainly isn't one of them.

[Fez of Mahrez]

If anyone's deluded enough to think that Fryatt will be the league's top scorer, I'd be happy to take their money off them, and offer better odds than any bookie.

But I've seen enough of Fryatt during the past two seasons to know that my money's safe...

Shame no-one took him up on this. Looking a bit dicey early doors.

[JakeShingler]

Hes bad.

[Webbo]

I'm a Fryatt fan, was last season, still am. Obviously he didn't perform as well last season as we all would have liked, why, I don't know I'm not going to make excuses for him. But I saw a good touch and footballing brain to convince me he had something. Maybe, like a lot have suggested he's found his level. Let's just be glad he's playing for this season and enjoy.

[Unabomber]

I'm a Fryatt fan, was last season, still am. Obviously he didn't perform as well last season as we all would have liked, why, I don't know I'm not going to make excuses for him. But I saw a good touch and footballing brain to convince me he had something. Maybe, like a lot have suggested he's found his level. Let's just be glad he's playing for this season and enjoy.

How were you a Fryatt fan last season?

[Thracian]

I'm a Fryatt fan, was last season, still am. Obviously he didn't perform as well last season as we all would have liked, why, I don't know I'm not going to make excuses for him. But I saw a good touch and footballing brain to convince me he had something. Maybe, like a lot have suggested he's found his level. Let's just be glad he's playing for this season and enjoy.

Not wishing to take more than one step at a time, I'll still be interested to see how Fryatt does with the benefit of good service in The Championship if/when we return. Always assuming he's offered and is prepared to sign a new contract.

[Webbo]

How were you a Fryatt fan last season?

I'm a Fryatt fan, was last season, still am. Obviously he didn't perform as well last season as we all would have liked, why, I don't know I'm not going to make excuses for him. But I saw a good touch and footballing brain to convince me he had something. Maybe, like a lot have suggested he's found his level. Let's just be glad he's playing for this season and enjoy.

[James.]

But I saw a good touch and footballing brain to convince me he had something.

I saw him in the match against Bristol City. Holloway's first game and a 2-0 win. It was one of the best performances from a striker that I've seen at Leicester for quite some time.

One game doesn't make a striker. I know that. And I'm not saying that he had a good season in any way (earlier in the thread I explained why I think that was the case and it was more to do with the environment he was working under than any particular weakness with himself). But I agree with Webbo - on more than one occasion I saw a clever striker who looked like a proper footballer. He might have found his level. Or maybe he just found his form. Whatever the case I hope he keeps it up and makes Ultra look a bit silly with the comments Fez picked up on.

[Koke]

I was one of Fryatt's biggest critics last season. All the shit that was howled at him was deserved, in my humble opinion.

This season, however, I'm starting to like him again and kudos to Matty for getting himself into shape, fit and sharp. He looks a totally different player. Whether that's down to Nigel Pearson or the fact that we are playing League One football is another matter.

[clazkel]

I agree with Ched if Fryatt was played in his natural position last season then we wouldn't have been relegated, but Holloway stuck with Howard every game, when it was obvious it didn't work.

I don't want to get involved with the Fryatt debate at is goes round in circles, and for all the people who say people idolise him, i don't idolise him, i just think he has a very good footballing brain and if he gets the service (which he didn't last season) he will do well, and if he signs a new contract and we get back into the championship he will prove he can make it in that league aswell.

I think he is better than this level but he has to have the service! Maybe i will be wrong (and if i am i take it back) but i'm glad he is finally getting a chance in his best position to prove himself and i hope it continues. He may have not scored many goals last season but when Howard played up front we looked static and didn't look like scoring but when Fryatt played up front we looked more like scoring as there was more movement up front

[Koke]

Personally, I just think he has found his level. Some might argue that he's more than good enough at Championship level, but I'm very skeptical about that.

If we happen to get promoted, I certainly wouldn't trust Fryatt to lead our front line.