Uninspiring. Post match thread.

[MC Prussian]

im guessing if he plays so well and looks rediculously too good for this leage then the big guns will snap him up... cant buy him if they dont see him playing, i guess....

That's what I was thinking, too.

But then again, he played well on loan for Bournemouth in League One before so scouts and managers must be already aware of his potential.

[BoneDog]

Max Gradel needs to start getting some match time. Not just for the fans but himself. I don't see any point in whoever saying they tryin to keep him out of sight of predators (if that is the case). Surely he won't be happy here if he keeps getting left on the sidelines?

I love Dyer too, but Gradel is gettin near to no time on the field.

[Thracian]

GRADEL

For all those asking why Gradel did not start or at least come off the bench.

Gradel has been told "your too good for this league and we are saving you for next season"

This was said by someone in real power.

I kid you not and I find it silly and sad.

Max was only brought on against MK Dons to stop Max moaning about not getting anytime on the pitch. Then Max went and did that!!!

Will he be forced to play Max?

Is that the truth or is that a bit of bullshit he's been fed cos Dyer's got his starting spot virtually nailed on like Oakley?

We didn't play him last season when we got relegated because we preferred the way past-in Newton and now we're doing the same again.

It's the lad's career we're talking about. And good money that the fans have paid to see someone worth watching.

[Raj]

As said already that was a pile of shite.

Again for long periods of the match we were second best.

Same old routine and tactics.

Some players just dont seem upto it...unfortunately they are the journeyman experienced players who should be showing the young uns how to do it.

Think they may need to be 'rested'

It says something when our GK saved us on numerous occasions.

Some of our lot are having difficulty making the most straight forward pass....and thst from a team of players who are top of the league so confidence shouldnt be an issue

BUT with 12 points over PBoro i still think NP will do the job he had to do for us,which was get us promoted at the first attempt.

ALL teams have a stutter(Wolves!) and if our stutter means instead of losing games we draw them,i'll take that at the moment.

I personally couldnt give a fcuk about the winning straek,being champions(Of League One isnt that much of an accolade to have an open top bus tour of Leicester ending at Vicky Park for a Lord Mayors gathering!!).

Just getting out this Divison will be a success.......then watch us rock in The Championship.

MASSIVE CLUB!!!

[BoneDog]

Old gits rule

[Candidcamera]

Leicester should play Gradel right and Dyer left and miss out Berner.

[Lillehamring]

Not enough games left, this link is predicting 80 points will get promotion

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/engla...e-one/2008-2009

85 - millwall - look down!

In 99.999 percent of all cases, yes.

Max-Alain Gradel "too good for this league"? What an idiotic statement - that is NO reason not to play the lad.

Makes no sense whatsoever.

This decision baffles me and leaves me wondering. Hard.

What did he do to "deserve" such special treatment?

.....This was said by someone in real power.....

ie. not pearson - this has to be an MM intervention.

[Lillehamring]

Can i make an open request for the word 'davies' to be given the 'shhhshhh' treatment.

yes he was good, yes he had moments of sheer class - but he only started FIVE games and we have won 21...

he is not coming back and we have proved that we can be creative this season when he isn't playing, so please stop banging on about him, it is like those who constantly referenced the watford win last season.

when we are promoted it will not be down to davies' 7 appearances on the pitch, but down to a defence conceding well under a goal a game, the finishing of matty fryatt and that (so far) 27 out of 65 league goals have come from the best midfield in the league...of which davies was a small part and, yes, he had a great return in that time... but i've no doubt that if he was playing for us still, there is every chance he'd be as complacent as anyone else.

it's that time of the season, the players are probably just in a lull waiting for a final push, much like you'll see teams do in a game...

[BoneDog]

Agreed, Davies is history and I doubt he gonna be wearing a Leicester shirt for a while at the least

[Raj]

Last night was as dispiriting as any witnessed under Levein, Kelly or Holloway.

Come on now Ultra...Thats abit OTT!!!!

GRADEL

For all those asking why Gradel did not start or at least come off the bench.

Gradel has been told "your too good for this league and we are saving you for next season"

This was said by someone in real power.

I kid you not and I find it silly and sad.

Max was only brought on against MK Dons to stop Max moaning about not getting anytime on the pitch. Then Max went and did that!!!

Will he be forced to play Max?

Thats THE most ridiculous thing ive ever heard.

No offence to Knowitall for posting it but whoever said it is a Grade A twat.

A youg lad like Maxi should be prying his trade as often as he can.

IF he is too good for this league they should be building up his confidnece and getting him playing in readiness for the CChip.

A trainee plumber wont get a 6 bed mansion to plumb on his own even if he is a "too good to plumb up a one bed apartment"

Somethng like that anyway!!!

[Zingari]

GRADEL

For all those asking why Gradel did not start or at least come off the bench.

Gradel has been told "your too good for this league and we are saving you for next season"

This was said by someone in real power.

I kid you not and I find it silly and sad.

Max was only brought on against MK Dons to stop Max moaning about not getting anytime on the pitch. Then Max went and did that!!!

Will he be forced to play Max?

can we assume that the rest of the team are not too good ?

[marbelladave]

Knowitall's post on Max makes a wierd kind of sense!

If you are simply playing hoofball up to Howard and bypassing the midfield it probably does not matter whether he plays or not....

Against the Dons we were behind, so he was given the chance to pull us out of the shit, which he did magnificently. Last night we were never behind and NP did not want to risk losing a point by being too attacking.

After all we are top of the league and promotion is within our grasp, why take risks?

[Dr The Singh]

Knowitall's post on Max makes a wierd kind of sense!

If you are simply playing hoofball up to Howard and bypassing the midfield it probably does not matter whether he plays or not....

Against the Dons we were behind, so he was given the chance to pull us out of the shit, which he did magnificently. Last night we were never behind and NP did not want to risk losing a point by being too attacking.

After all we are top of the league and promotion is within our grasp, why take risks?

Have to agree with Dave, we are a tad predictable at the mo, if the hoof ball fails to Howard we bring on big bazza, and if the hoof ball to bazza fails we just get that bit frustrated!!

Sooner we get promoted the better, we have a comfortable points lead but we do need to pick up wins for our home matches atleast!!

[Lillehamring]

Have to agree with Dave, we are a tad predictable at the mo, if the hoof ball fails to Howard we bring on big bazza, and if the hoof ball to bazza fails we just get that bit frustrated!!

Sooner we get promoted the better, we have a comfortable points lead but we do need to pick up wins for our home matches atleast!!

but we don't really need to be anything else.... i'm sure the unbeaten run is a massive thing for the players, and as long as taking 1.33 points a game keeps our noses in front, as marbella dave say, why risk losing that run.

[Katy]

Well that was wank! OK, the playing conditions didn't help but still, Stockport came with a plan and stuck to it and fair play to them I guess. Makes the next few games kind of important I guess, we need a good home win against Cheltenham to chill the home crowd out a bit.

Starting to really hate home games and the wank arsey atmosphere they seem to create.

[marbelladave]

Have to agree with Dave, we are a tad predictable at the mo, if the hoof ball fails to Howard we bring on big bazza, and if the hoof ball to bazza fails we just get that bit frustrated!!

Sooner we get promoted the better, we have a comfortable points lead but we do need to pick up wins for our home matches atleast!!

As stated elsewhere, we need just 2 wins and 6 drawers to get 87 points, a total I can not see being matched by any of the chasing pack.

Given our current form we are more likely to get those wins away, rather than at home where most teams just come to defend!

Tad predictable = understatement of the week!....

[Dr The Singh]

but we don't really need to be anything else.... i'm sure the unbeaten run is a massive thing for the players, and as long as taking 1.33 points a game keeps our noses in front, as marbella dave say, why risk losing that run.

Playing for a draw, or not to lose isn't the wisest of thing's, i'm all for trying to keep the record going but all it takes is a few bad results for us and a few good results for the chasing pack, and then we will be very edgy!!

We really should concentrate on winning our home games, drawing away isn't a problem!! As things stand though, i'm mightily pleased, it's the home run for us and me like many are getting abit jittery!!

[Alf Bentley]

Looking at the positives

A frustrating evening, but I find some of the negativity in the stands and on FT even more frustrating, so here's looking at a few positives:

1) Still well clear, probably needing about a point a game for automatic promotion.

2) Gilbert's best game for ages: still room to improve, but showing his real potential again.

3) Morrison: good and learning all the time, tried to play/bring ball on ground and rescued Hobbs a couple of times. If he keeps improving, as he has in his 1st season in the league, he's a real prospect.

4) Dyer is returning to form (I think!): I know he's been off-form for a couple of months, but he beat defenders inside and outside last night, just missing the final ball (not entirely his fault, due to a lack of options in box). Championship teams will not be so defensive, so his pace can be an asset again.

5) Fryatt worked really hard to create something and almost did several times.

6) New loanee keeper looked sound - important if Martin is still out for a game or two.

7) Stockport sat deeper than any team this season, making it difficult to create chances.

8) First half, we were simply unlucky - created numerous openings, but ball wouldn't fall right.

9) Didn't lose to a sucker punch, which could easily have happened.

10) Next game ought to be a win and 78 points with games left would be a very strong position.

Onwards and upwards, with a lot to look forward to!

[Zingari]

i won a tenner on a scratch card

[Alf Bentley]

Howard was fooking shit today, passing awful, first touch awful, and statue like up front.

Howard remains a total donkey in the home games .

Can't argue about last night - he looked jaded, had a poor game and was rightly subbed. But please take a look at yourself re. your general criticisms of the bloke.

It's quite reasonable to prefer a different style of striker. It's quite reasonable to question whether Howard will be the best option if we get promoted. But to refuse to see what he has offered the team all season (holding ball up, flicking it on, playing people in - teamwork & creativity leading the line) is wilful blindness. To simply slate the bloke as a donkey week in, week out - and have a slogan to that effect (about your team's player!) at the bottom of your messages...please re-examine your soul and your conduct!

There, I tried to be polite so as not to join in bashing an easy target...

[JoeyB]

GRADEL

For all those asking why Gradel did not start or at least come off the bench.

Gradel has been told "your too good for this league and we are saving you for next season"

This was said by someone in real power.

I kid you not and I find it silly and sad.

Max was only brought on against MK Dons to stop Max moaning about not getting anytime on the pitch. Then Max went and did that!!!

Will he be forced to play Max?

By reading the last sentance it seems to me like Big Nige has told him, and in a way i can see where he is coming from, ifMax starts playing and starts playing really well bigger clubs in the championship could come sniffing arounf max wanting to take him on loan and it could all go from their.

As much as i would love to see MAx play this season if it means keeping him aside ready to kill the championship next season (providin we get there) i am happy to see that.

Well that was wank! OK, the playing conditions didn't help but still, Stockport came with a plan and stuck to it and fair play to them I guess. Makes the next few games kind of important I guess, we need a good home win against Cheltenham to chill the home crowd out a bit.

Starting to really hate home games and the wank arsey atmosphere they seem to create.

I agree with what you are saying their.!!

[breadandcheese]

All the talk about us having the best midfield in the league is utter rubbish. Those who went to MK Dons and went to Stockport will see that they weren't up to it. Personally, I thought MK Dons played us off the park.

Last night, Stockport were well drilled and are a quality side at this level. They doubled up on our players when we pushed forward and their passing was neater and better than ours. Their midfield also looked to receive the pass and moved off the ball more to make that pass possible. We struggled to break them down and too many times, our midfield was static particularly when our centre backs had the ball and were looking to pass it to the midfield.

I don't like Oakley and King in the center together as I don't feel their a good fit together. Equally, Berner looks like a full-back in midfield, but at least he provides someone to put a tackle in. Sadly, we don't have many options, but I think at home, when teams are coming to pack out midfield and defence, we should have both Dyer and Gradel on the flanks, stretching them.

[Toby or not Toby]

The nearerst team to us atm is peterborugh and if they win every league game left then they can get a total of 96 points, which means we need 21 points, I very much doubt that they will do that, plus they have to play us. I think we will be fine.

[breadandcheese]

By the way, re: criticism of Howard.

He came off the treatment table to play last night which was why he looked jaded and off the pace. Towards the end of his performance, he was walking rather gingerly, limping slightly. So in all honesty, fair play to the guy for giving his all when not entirely fit. Many other pro's would have cried off injured on a cold wet (understatement) Tuesday night.

[marbelladave]

Can't argue about last night - he looked jaded, had a poor game and was rightly subbed. But please take a look at yourself re. your general criticisms of the bloke.

It's quite reasonable to prefer a different style of striker. It's quite reasonable to question whether Howard will be the best option if we get promoted. But to refuse to see what he has offered the team all season (holding ball up, flicking it on, playing people in - teamwork & creativity leading the line) is wilful blindness. To simply slate the bloke as a donkey week in, week out - and have a slogan to that effect (about your team's player!) at the bottom of your messages...please re-examine your soul and your conduct!

There, I tried to be polite so as not to join in bashing an easy target...

For most of the season we have played the ball up to Howard and gone from there. Naturally this makes Howard the pivotal player and he is always involved, many people see that and take the constant involvement as a sign he is playing well. Others see his continual involvement but criticise his lack of productivity.

Depending on how we are playing I can see both sides.

When we are in control, we play the ball through midfield and hit Howard with short passes, often to feet. Howard is excellent at holding the ball up and knocking it of to our midfield who are now well up in support. Actually quite decent football and pretty effective.

On the other hand when the opposition put us under pressure, we lose that confidence and hit the ball long. Even if Howard is able to win the ball there is little he can do as our midfield are still far too deep to offer real support, so all he can do is to try and find fryatt and hope for the best.

The real problem is not Howard, it is losing composure in defense and resorting to hoofball!