Howard and Gradel Out

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

GRADEL AHSNT BEEN PLAYING WELL BIT HOWARD I THOUGHT HAD A GOOD GAME TODAY AS HE WON ALL THE BALLS IN THE AIR. BUT BRINGING HIM OFF WAS ALSO A GOOD DECISION AS IT MEANT GIVING US NEW OPTIONS

[Head Honcho]

Gradel was shit, ran into players and failed to deliver more than one decent ball in.

Howard was (again) good. Our improvement did not come from his being substituted off, it came from us adopting a 3-4-3 formation.

According to RL there was an awful corner just prior to his substitution that was the last straw for NP.

[dandannieldanok]

According to RL there was an awful corner just prior to his substitution that was the last straw for NP.

Probably just about right. I can't remember him putting one corner into a decent area, and that isn't me exaggerating.

[Thracian]

Gradel was shit, ran into players and failed to deliver more than one decent ball in.

Howard was (again) good. Our improvement did not come from his being substituted off, it came from us adopting a 3-4-3 formation.

Spot on. I'm a big fan of Gradel but the only compliment I can pay him today is that he never stopped trying to beat his man. Time after time it didn't work but still he persevered. Pearson made the right decisions and the team benefitted beyond relistic expectations. But never fear. Gradel will be back.

[FleckneyFox]

Did you notice Howard actually chased a few balls down today. Definately not lazy.

[DB11]

I agree with just about none of that

[dandannieldanok]

Spot on. I'm a bnig fan of Gradel but the only compliment I can pay him today is that he never stopped trying to beat his man. Time after time it didn't work but still he persevered. Pearson made the right decisions and the team benefitted beyond relistic expectations. But never fear. Gradel will be back.

Disagree, I thought he checked back too often personally. I'd give him another chance when Gilbert returns, who'll give him more support, but if he then continues to perform poorly then I'd drop him (again).

[Koke]

The fact that he got no support whatsoever from Jack Hobbs did not do Gradel any favours at all. At times he was looking for an overlap but he got nothing.

Still, he was awful in just about every other aspect of his game today.

[JoeyB]

Gradel was shit, ran into players and failed to deliver more than one decent ball in.

Howard was (again) good. Our improvement did not come from his being substituted off, it came from us adopting a 3-4-3 formation.

Spot on

[Stuliasz]

I thought without being spectacular, Howard did well and worked extremely hard for the team today. I kept a very close eye on him and he was winning almost everything in the air but didn't get much support for his knock downs from the midfield.

As for Gradel, I'd echo Thracian's sentiments that despite having a very poor game, he did not shy away from anything which wingers of the past have done when things aren't going their way.

[colbo68]

The weak links in the team.

Gradel consistently lost the ball and wasted set pieces in great positions.

Howard just remains too slow and lazy.

Pearson's subs today turned out to be superb, Adams and Hayles completely changed the game.

As soon as Howard went off we just looked a lot brighter, more lively and faster, Howard is just a big fat drain on the team and the less he plays the better.

Hayles is slow but has the effort and ability to run about the box, trick defenders and find the space, Howard just never moves.

It was Hayles who made the first goal and Adams great cross the second.

Hayles may not last 90 minutes but he should start the games with Fryatt, once again he transformed the game just like Barnsley away last season.

Gradel was just poor, awful crosses, passes, losing the ball constantly etc.

Fryatt didn't really touch the ball all game and was never in it, but came away with 2 more goals somehow.

Central midfield remains an issue, with uninspirational captain Oakley and King who i rarely notice during a game, most of the forward runs are down to Dyer and Mattock on the left side.

We could do with a striker and centre mid on loan, we can't really afford to wait until the window.

When Dj, Clemence and Dickov are back from injury we will have a real quality squad.

Or defence remains strong, well done Pearson for dropping Martin, bad luck Hendo for conceding your first goal of the season, not many would have stopped that

couldnt agree more - the orient game was exactly the same - Howard and Gradel brought off (that time for Adams and DJ)

and the difference in pace up front led to the victory - Howard wins stuff in the air BUT IT DONT GO TO OUR FOOKIN PLAYERS!!! - he has gotta be dropped, and the long-ball game changed to a quicker passing game - the evidence is there for all who care to see that when the big man comes off, the tempo is upped and we create more chances

[Lovejoy]

Gradel is the most predictable player I've ever seen. Everytime he gets the ball, his man knows exactly whats coming and deals with it . I've thought for a while that Adams is a better alternative, and today proved that .

[SamL]

On their day, both are decent players.

I've given Howard stick in the past, but I think he's playing pretty well at the moment. He may not be scoring but he's doing most things right. He's doing what he's in the team to do, which is win headers and put himself about a bit.

Since Gradel's injury, he hasn't been the same player. I think everyone knows the lads got quality, he's just not showing it at the moment. He seems to lack the confidence to run at people and go past them like he was doing in the early part of the season.

Pearson got his substitutions spot on today. Nicky Adams came on and played his part, so I think he's got to start against Rotherham.

Come on Max, get it together son.

[Uncle Albert]

The weak links in the team.

Gradel consistently lost the ball and wasted set pieces in great positions.

Howard just remains too slow and lazy.

Pearson's subs today turned out to be superb, Adams and Hayles completely changed the game.

As soon as Howard went off we just looked a lot brighter, more lively and faster, Howard is just a big fat drain on the team and the less he plays the better.

Hayles is slow but has the effort and ability to run about the box, trick defenders and find the space, Howard just never moves.

It was Hayles who made the first goal and Adams great cross the second.

Hayles may not last 90 minutes but he should start the games with Fryatt, once again he transformed the game just like Barnsley away last season.

Gradel was just poor, awful crosses, passes, losing the ball constantly etc.

Fryatt didn't really touch the ball all game and was never in it, but came away with 2 more goals somehow.

Central midfield remains an issue, with uninspirational captain Oakley and King who i rarely notice during a game, most of the forward runs are down to Dyer and Mattock on the left side.

We could do with a striker and centre mid on loan, we can't really afford to wait until the window.

When Dj, Clemence and Dickov are back from injury we will have a real quality squad.

Or defence remains strong, well done Pearson for dropping Martin, bad luck Hendo for conceding your first goal of the season, not many would have stopped that

You talk out your arse.

[Thracian]

On their day, both are decent players.

I've given Howard stick in the past, but I think he's playing pretty well at the moment. He may not be scoring but he's doing most things right. He's doing what he's in the team to do, which is win headers and put himself about a bit.

Since Gradel's injury, he hasn't been the same player. I think everyone knows the lads got quality, he's just not showing it at the moment. He seems to lack the confidence to run at people and go past them like he was doing in the early part of the season.

Pearson got his substitutions spot on today. Nicky Adams came on and played his part, so I think he's got to start against Rotherham.

Come on Max, get it together son.

I don't think it was injury or lack of confidence. Nothing he tried came off. It happens sometimes, particularly for wingers, and against certain opponents.

To me it just emphasised the value of having a good substitute like Adams and I was pleased both he and Hayles were able to be utilised.

[Poakey]

The weak links in the team.

Gradel consistently lost the ball and wasted set pieces in great positions.

Howard just remains too slow and lazy.

Pearson's subs today turned out to be superb, Adams and Hayles completely changed the game.

As soon as Howard went off we just looked a lot brighter, more lively and faster, Howard is just a big fat drain on the team and the less he plays the better.

Hayles is slow but has the effort and ability to run about the box, trick defenders and find the space, Howard just never moves.

It was Hayles who made the first goal and Adams great cross the second.

Hayles may not last 90 minutes but he should start the games with Fryatt, once again he transformed the game just like Barnsley away last season.

Gradel was just poor, awful crosses, passes, losing the ball constantly etc.

Fryatt didn't really touch the ball all game and was never in it, but came away with 2 more goals somehow.

Central midfield remains an issue, with uninspirational captain Oakley and King who i rarely notice during a game, most of the forward runs are down to Dyer and Mattock on the left side.

We could do with a striker and centre mid on loan, we can't really afford to wait until the window.

When Dj, Clemence and Dickov are back from injury we will have a real quality squad.

Or defence remains strong, well done Pearson for dropping Martin, bad luck Hendo for conceding your first goal of the season, not many would have stopped that

BOOOOO,you out!

[SamL]

I don't think it was injury or lack of confidence. Nothing he tried came off. It happens sometimes, particularly for wingers, and against certain opponents.

To me it just emphasised the value of having a good substitute like Adams and I was pleased both he and Hayles were able to be utilised.

Agreed.

When Adams came on, I was pleased to see him and Lloyd switch wings which is something Pearson should try when Gradel is playing. When Gradel is playing on the right, he's looking to cut inside on his left foot all the time and he simply hasn't got a left foot. Lloyd's obviously made the left wing his own position but it'd be nice to rotate both wingers a little.

[Daggers]

Nothing he tried came off. It happens sometimes

[insert stock Daggers Gradel put-down here]

[Thracian]

Agreed.

When Adams came on, I was pleased to see him and Lloyd switch wings which is something Pearson should try when Gradel is playing. When Gradel is playing on the right, he's looking to cut inside on his left foot all the time and he simply hasn't got a left foot. Lloyd's obviously made the left wing his own position but it'd be nice to rotate both wingers a little.

I wish you'd ring Pearson and tell him that. You'd think he'd hae figured it for himself by now.

[Salieri]

I wish you'd ring Pearson and tell him that. You'd think he'd hae figured it for himself by now.

Pearson out!

Thracian in!

[Nod.E]

All i'll say is this:

People annoy me.

Some Leicester fans, annoy me.

You are those people, Maddog.

[Milan]

Howard, Gradel and KING.

[Nod.E]

Howard, Gradel and KING.

[syston_fox]

Howard, Gradel and KING.

Gradel yes.

Howard - would be harsh but would be interested to see how Hayles and Fryatt work together on Tuesday in the cup after the promising end today.

King - if he'd had another bad performance then I'd have agreed but he played well today and deserves to keep his place

[craigadams22]

I vote to get rid of Steve Howard "but" keep Max Gradel.

I'll be glad when Paul Dickov returns to the squad, Probably get rid of Steve Clemence too.

Kind Regards

Craig A