Peterboro Post Match Thread

[TrickyTrev]

Had to work through the first half unfortunately so only managed to catch the second. At first Pearson's changes seemed to have the desired effects when we got the equaliser and such, but it soon became apparent that the lack of width was going to be a major problem.

Oakley, one of our most important players, found himself nowhere for 45 minutes as he struggled to get into the game whatsoever. King was an absolute shambles, awful performance from him. We were struggling to find space, and when we did (i.e. on the right hand side with Neilson), there was no useful pass on offer.

On the positive side, it's another point. I also thought that Tunchev looked back to his best, which is nice to see. From what I saw I'd say Berner was probably our best player second half.

You saw the improved version!

The first half was completely shambolic. The warning signs that Wellens and Oakley are going to get over run this season have been there in the last couple of games and tonight they were badly exposed. Wayne Brown looked like the weak link in a pub side and Steve Howard was so slow he spent the whole half trying to complete his first stride.

The diamond that we changed to in the second half meant that our main attacking threat down the right was Nielson, who can barely kick a ball. We were still missing passes here there and everywhere but at least with King in midfield we had some form of shape and didn't look like conceding a goal every time we lost the ball. Also the Tunch is back, he and Wayne Brown showed tonight why that is very good news.

I don't mean to be too down. We didn't get beat despite having a bad night, which will happen to all teams, and Pearson was brave enough to make the decisions that needed to be made at half time. However, tonight was on the whole extremely poor and has certainly deflated some of my early season optimism.

[Thracian]

If, like Nigel Pearson, I was paid thousands of pounds a week to manage Leicester City I would try to do two things without fail. I would try everything in my power to win the games and I would try to get my players to look like they were enjoying playing the game they supposedly love.

In Pearson's limpid approach tonight neither aspect was apparent.

In fact, bit by bit and Fryatt apart, Pearson seemed to have stripped our team of everyone that might make things happen.

Granted our team is mostly solid, organised and professional but it is fast becoming boring as can be and try as I might I cannot remember their goalkeeper having one serious save to make - and that with us being at home.

In a way I'm even pleased Fryatt misssed his sitter. Why he missed it and how he missed it I've no idea but had we won I'd have had to put up with endless posters declaring a win is a win and defending the manager's choice of team because we got the right result.

And all that would have done was to have created a smokescreen to mask not just our limitations but our total lack of flair and ambition.

We had as much up-and-into-em as a flaccid cock.

To me it seemed that Pearson selected his chosen men whatever affect it had on the side cos what the hell we were doing playing Gallagher halfway wide at times, instead of a proper winger on the left, I don't know.

And even the one specialist winger we used has been right out of form and continued in the same vein.

Gone was all the flair, the imagination and the willingness to try things that was sometimes shown last season. What we had tonight was half a team who just played the averages and never exposed their heads above the parapet to be seen to make mistakes.

Brown gave away a needless penalty for Peterborough's goal and it was only after they'd score that we stirred ourselves to threaten at all.

The centre-back's departure did, though, allow the return of Tunchev calm authority and willingness to pass was a rare light in a dark night football wise.

Kingy was another minor plus. Yes, I know he nearly gave the game away with a careless header near the end (not that any of his colleagues were looking for the ball and he uncharacteristically mistplaced a couple of passes to Neilson. But it was only once he arrived that the team started passing the ball constructively and showing any cohesion.

Unfortunately there was no-one up front with the devil, pace or energy to disturb a packed Peterborough defence.

Gradel, the kid who never stops trying things and would frustrate beyond belief but finally pull off a mastertouch of magic and illuminate the ground with expressions of delight was gone and nowhere to be seen.

Adams, another who was recently showing such positive form and looking like a guaranteed uncomfortable afternoon for any defender, was left on the bench.

DJ with his impishness, his pace and his goals galore almost every time he's played since last Christmas remained in exile for a mach that was crying out for his sort harrassment and elusiveness.

Dyer, source of so many goals and assists last season was not used either and what we were left with was a mismatch of Joe Average players offering the footballing equivalent of cold tea with a slice or two of bread and dripping when we might have expected a feast.

Why? What the hell have they all done wrong? And why have we half-filled our side with such indifferent replacements.

There really was no excuse cos when the highlight of a home game was Fryatt sending a penalty in the opposite corner to the goalkeeper's dive for our equaliser it really is pathetic.

But that, and Wellens brilliant volleyed pass which might have fashioned a goal for a better striker trhan the recipient, really was it cos Fryatt's one-on-one miss being more an incident than a highlight and one that perhaps sums up why so many of us get frustrated with the guy and cannot really decide if he's a good 'un or not.

Positives? I'm struggling. One serious shot for the visiting keeper to save (which I missed), barely a couple of moves you'd call constructive or slick, endless nondescript performances...it was bloody horrible and not something any manager should want to be either responsible for or associated with.

It's not that I cannot stand bad performances or people making mistakes. Any supporter of Leicester has had to get well used to them over recent years. But failing to even rouse ourselves and make any serious effort to put on a show was pathetic. And you won't put on any sort of show if all the flair players are ignored.

Two more points dropped for no reason, making at least five so far. It's almost like self-mutilation and the sooner we realise it will have fatal consequences for our promotion push the better.

[marbelladave]

Just got in, almost too pissed off to post. 100+ mile round trip and we were awful, barely deserved a point!

First half we were complacent and completely ineffective, looked like the players were believing all this, "great start, up for promotion" garbage.

We have played just six games (before tonight), beaten three poor sides (at home), gifted points to Ipswich and Newcastle and seem to think this is a great start to the season!

As for tonight.

First half, as usual we were over run in midfield, our fullbacks could not cope with their wide men and Brown could not cope with their nippy forwards. Weale, Brown and Hobbs played as if they had only met 5 minutes before the game and did not think much of each other! Penalty was a definite foul, but Brown was fouled 5 seconds previously, so....... ! Still posh deserved the lead and it could, should have been at least 2.

Second half Tunch stabilised the back 4 and we were then only troubled when we pressed too far forward looking for the winner. King gave us parity in midfield but looked rusty, playing Gallagher behind Howard and Fryatt made us very narrow, a setup that required our full backs to give us width. Try as they might, that is not really their game and it showed, left us exposed once or twice too!

NP's now customary half time kick up the arse gave us the energy to equalise early, but from then on we were chaotic and never really looked like taking the game. Waghorn's pace looked interesting but had too little time to make a real impact, for Christ's sake give him a start!

NP keeps talking about how good our squad is, may be he should consider using some of it!

[Ozwin]

That first half was one of the worst first halfs we'll see this season. Could have been 3-0 down by half time. Brown had an absolute shocker.

Welcome back Tunchev though, got a great reception when he came on and I loved how after 5 minutes he was bandaged up. Proper defender. Hopefully there for good because Browns been off for a few games now.

[Craig]

I cannot remember their goalkeeper having one serious save to make - and that with us being at home.

[MC Prussian]

1) Pearson didn't have a game plan tonight, and if he really did, it had no positive effect on the game whatsoever; the double substitution at half-time was a much-needed reaction to a very, very poor first half caused by managerial misconception

2) Being without a game plan, our players ran around like headless chicken - for at least 30 minutes and that proved very costly

3) Peterborough is a tiny club somewhere in Cambridgeshire and used to play League One football last season

4) They saw how headless we were and sensed their chances and took it quite well

5) Most of our players had a sub-par performance tonight, a few were even atrocious

[Thracian]

Thracian has been typing for a long long time, I sense another rant coming up.

If you enjoyed what you've presumably just watched then I'm pleased for you. I wouldn't want you to feel like I do.

[AjcW]

We had as much up-and-into-em as a flacid cock.

epic.

I agree with half your post but when you start gassing on about DJ and Gradel... again.... it just gets... well...

[marbelladave]

Just read through the thread.

Some people have suggested that they are actually happy getting a point, specially as we had to fight back from a goal down!

I can not begin to understand where they are coming from.

We have some decent attacking players but they can barely get a game, and when they do they are out of position or given 10 minutes to save the game.

What complete nonsense.

Sod it, I'm going to bed, shit!

[teblin]

If, like Nigel Pearson, I was paid thousands of pounds a week to manage Leicester City I would try to do two things without fail. I would try everything in my power to win the games and I would try to get my players to look like they were enjoying playing the game they supposedly love.

In Pearson's limpid approach tonight neither aspect was apparent.

In fact, bit by bit and Fryatt apart, Pearson seemed to have stripped our team of everyone that might make things happen.

Granted our team is mostly solid, organised and professional but it is fast becoming boring as can be and try as I might I cannot remember their goalkeeper having one serious save to make - and that with us being at home.

In a way I'm even pleased Fryatt misssed his sitter. Why he missed it and how he missed it I've no idea but had we won I'd have had to put up with endless posters declaring a win is a win and defending the manager's choice of team because we got the right result.

And all that would have done was to have created a smokescreen to mask not just our limitations but our total lack of flair and ambition.

We had as much up-and-into-em as a flacid cock.

To me it seemed that Pearson selected his chosen men whatever affect it had on the side cos what the hell we were doing playing Gallagher halfway wide at times, instead of a proper winger on the left, I don't know.

And even the one specialist winger we used has been right out of form and continued in the same vein.

Gone was all the flair, the imagination and the willingness to try things that was sometimes shown last season. What we had tonight was half a team who just played the averages and never exposed their heads above the parapet to be seen to make mistakes.

I suppose you could understand why to some extent. Brown gave away a needless penalty for Peterborough's first goal and at half-time he was gone. Some vote of confidence that although his performance well deserved it and Tunchev's calm authority and willingness to pass was a rare light in a dark night football wise.

Kingy was another. Yes, I know he nearly gave the game away with a careless header near the end (not that any of his colleagues were looking for the ball and he uncharacteristically mistplaced a couple of passes to Neilson. But it was only once he arrived that the team started passing the ball constructively and showing any cohesion.

Unfortunately there was no-one up front with the devil, pace or energy to disturb a packed Peterborough defence.

Gradel, the kid who never stops trying things and would frustrate beyond belief but finally pull off a mastertouch of magic and illuminate the ground with expressions of delight was gone and nowhere to be seen.

Adams, another who was recently showing such positive form and looking like a guaranteed uncomfortable afternoon for any defender, was left on the bench.

DJ with his impishness, his pace and his goals galore almost every time he's played since last Christmas remained in exile for a mach that was crying out for his sort harrassment and elusiveness.

Dyer, source of so many goals and assists last season was not used either and what we were left with was a mismatch of Joe Average players offering the footballing equivalent of cold tea with a slice or two of bread and dripping when we might have expected a feast.

Why? What the hell have they all done wrong? Andwhy have we half-filled our side with such indifferent replacements.

There really was no excuse cos when the highlight of a home game was Fryatt sending a penalty in the opposite corner to the goalkeeper's dive for our equaliser it really is pathetic. But that, and Wellens brilliant volleyed pass which might have fashioned a goal for a better striker trhan the recipient, really was it cos Fryatt's one-on-one miss being more an incident than a highlight and one that perhaps sums up why so many of us get frustrated with the guy and cannot really decide if he's a good 'un or not.

Positives? I'm struggling. No serious shots for the visiting keeper to save, barely a couple of moves you'd call constructive or slick, endless nondescript performances...it was bloody horrible and not something any manager should want to be either responsible for or associated with.

It's not that I cannot stand bad performances or people making mistakes. Any supporter of Leicester has had to get well used to them over recent years. But failing to even rouse ourselves and make any serious effort to put on a show was pathetic. And you won't put on any sort of show if all the flair players are ignored.

Two more points dropped for no reason, making at least five so far. It's almost like self-mutilation and the sooner we realise it will have fatal consequences for our promotion push the better.

Talk about an over reaction. I thought he was god?

[lifted*fox]

You'd think we'd lost the way some of you are harping on.

I had to put up with some whinging **** behind me all game as well.

No, Pearson didn't make the right decisions.

No, it wasn't a pretty game of football.

No, we won't push for the play-offs if we continue to set up & play like that.

But Jesus fooking Christ, it was a DRAW.

Peterborough came to play attacking football & they gave us a run for our money.

Some people have already returned to being far too big-headed & expected us to walk it.

Calm the fook down, & save your complaining for when we lose three games in a row... then you can start crying into your keyboards.

I don't know how some of you wake up in the mornings. Honestly. Bet your toast always lands butter side down & the cat shits in your tea.

[Jimmy]

Brown was replaced because of a shoulder injury, not tactical oh and Thracian did you miss Lewis making that top class save from Gallagher not long before the break from a shot that was destined for the top corner

people saying only Fryatt looks like scoring, well that's probably because he won't pass and the other strikers usually get around 10 mins per app at most.

a little surprised that Adams or Dyer didn't play but understandable given that 1 change was forced, the problem was our entire midfield was poor and devoid of creativity, Oakley seems irreplaceable due to the captains arm band being in his possession, despite him putting in many below par performances and Max Gradel, as inconsistent as he is, is a possible game changer and his constantly being frozen out is surprising given that none of the winger have made that great a start to the season.

People PLEASE stop calling for the little runt that is D. J. Campbell, a player who has publically stated that he wants to be "anywhere" but here, has a bad attitude and has never really impressed in a Leicester shirt, bringing him back without an attitude change and at the very least a private apology for his unprofessional and disrespectful comments could easily disrupt the moral of the squad and set a bad example to others

[Shrenchel]

Flaccid has got 2 Cs in it.

[Darkzzz_]

Joe Lewis had plenty of saves to make from where I was sitting Thrac. He was keeping them in it at one point.

[caz123]

You'd think we'd lost the way some of you are harping on.

I had to put up with some whinging **** behind me all game as well.

No, Pearson didn't make the right decisions.

No, it wasn't a pretty game of football.

No, we won't push for the play-offs if we continue to set up & play like that.

But Jesus fooking Christ, it was a DRAW.

Peterborough came to play attacking football & they gave us a run for our money.

Some people have already returned to being far too big-headed & expected us to walk it.

Calm the fook down, & save your complaining for when we lose three games in a row... then you can start crying into your keyboards.

I don't know how some of you wake up in the mornings. Honestly. Bet your toast always lands butter side down & the cat shits in your tea.

well said daz,never heard so much bloody moaning in all my life,we wont win every game, for gods sake

take a bloody chill pill

[FantasticMrFuchs]

Very very poor.

Once again Fryatt showed how inconsistent he is with his shocking misses.

I'm starting to wish NP never signed Gallagher because he can't play on the wing and just seems to get in the way of top performer Adams and Dyer, the actual wingers.

2 points dropped tonight definitely, Brown was awful but Tunch looked good, Neilson is ok but not great, Berner was class once again, Wellens was off form, King is pointless, N'Guessan i didn't really notice him, Howard won a few headers but missed a load and just seems to encourage long balls.

TBH i thought we deserved to lose today. But home to P'Boro are the games we need to win to have a playoff chance.

Why Dj or Kermo or Adams or Gradel don't get games il never know, they have got to be given a go.

What he said.............

[CKB]

We ain't gonna play well every game, things might not go according to plan, we will get beat, we will play well, NP will get things wrong at times and right at times but Jesus people no need for OTT reactions!

7th place (joint 6th)

Lost 1 game

No reason to get all OTT! if we lose the next 4 games on the trot then lets worry abit? and start the 90 paragraph messages and 90 page threads!

[Shrenchel]

Cornetto your avatar is the one.

[AjcW]

What he said.............

Your display pic is outrageous lol

[Darkzzz_]

You learn to live with it, There are plenty of idiots here and there are even more to be found at the walkers. Try sitting next to the ones I sit near, I don't think that bitch will see the end of the season. Grrrrrrr. Have your opinion, of course, but be realistic too.

[lifted*fox]

Everybody has their opinions, both positive & negative.

But this fooking absolute disabled who sat behind me tonight was next level.

The only positive comment he made ALL night was for a shot from a Peterborough player.

"Oh, that was a great shot, would have been a great goal."

I had to restrict myself from pulling off my shoe & beating him with it.

****.

[CKB]

You learn to live with it, There are plenty of idiots here and there are even more to be found at the walkers. Try sitting next to the ones I sit near, I don't think that bitch will see the end of the season. Grrrrrrr. Have your opinion, of course, but be realistic too.

It's just the same old thing, we have to win every game, have to play like Brazil, have to have a manager that never gets anything wrong and then people are happy.....JUST!

Bloody hell NP was a god when we got promoted back to the CCC and then we win our first game due to some good subs and NP is a still a god, NP doesn't quite get it right tonight and NP sucks!

[TrickyTrev]

I don't think anyone has said Nigel Pearson sucks. I think he has an excellent temperament, a good eye for a player and the sort of personality that instantly commands respect. I just think he got it wrong tonight in a way that was predictable. Are people not allowed to express disappointment about what was an extremely poor performance?

[queensland fox]

kemogant's no good - seen him in friendlies and not impressed - the striker we need and Pearson just wont consider is DJ. Drop Fryatt and give him the kick up the arse he needs, and PLAY DJ - he's on fire for the reserves - his pace is needed at the moment

why not drop howard,

to me fryatt is obviously our main goal scorer,personally dont know how you could drop him

[Thracian]

Flaccid has got 2 Cs in it.

I'll bow to your better knowledge on the subject!