post match indifference

[Anish]

a) Still vague with the number of games watched. But while you curtly dismiss most of our leading players of last season and neglect to mention the many additions who are still finding their way into the team it is not just about our team, it is about the opposition and I've yet to see anything in this "tough" league to greatly concern me, or our team.

b) Not even the manager thinks we are "doing well". He, like a great many others, thinks we have underperformed in terms of points accumulated when set alongside the performances and he seems absolutely right to me. You might have taken 10th place, but then you seem to mirror the level of ambition this club has shown for far too long.

c) We've got stability now. It's improvement we want. I wouldn't question our consistency at all. Seems to me we've completed a shift in all our games. But I don't think Pearson has once gone for the throat in games. We've always played cagily.

We've never attacked in sufficient numbers even though we have the personnel to do so. Had we done so and failed I could have understood it but not ever trying (apart from very briefly at Covventry) baffles me, especially as the Coventry attacking saved the game. Today we could have shown the same ambition but didn't yet you complain about me being critical.

We were the home team today and didn't force their goalkeeper to make one serious save.

You can excuse it all you like but I think it was appalling because our players are far better than that. And if that's the case then something is causing us to underperform so badly and our goals record these last 12 games shows that the failing has been apparent for far longer than any manager should put up with.

So now it's a competition eh? I can only express my views if I've been to a certain number of games? I don't recall you ever abiding by such a rule when you categorically slated Nigel Worthington as being the wrong man for the job after his first game in charge - a game which you didn't even attend. Non-attendance has never stopped you from rambling about matches so I don't think you've got much argument by undermining my slant on our players (I've not even made specific reference to today's performance in my posts).

Good bits of play for 30 minute periods has been the norm for us this season - that doesn't make us a good team. We haven't dominated games this season and the only consistency that we've had is to play well for small periods at a time during matches. That won't get us in the top 6 in my book.

[Thracian]

Inaccuracies = opinions that differ to yours I assume?

Inaccuracies are not the same as opinions.

An example of an inaccuracy is this:-

"So it's not tough being an adult and having cancer, or a soldier with just one limb missing...?" when I didn't say or suggest anything of the sort.

Or this:-

"We've stuck with largely the same squad as last season but now you're expecting them to steamroll teams in the Championship...." when the reality is that we've added eight players to our regular 16-man squad as well as re-introducing DJ, Adams and, shortly, Clemence to the mix. And I've never "expected" us to steamroller anyone. Just, perhaps, to try.

Or this:-

"Give Nigel a break - he's doing a better job than most people would've thought."

I can't think of a single person, myself included, who didn't think Pearson would do a good job this season. Whether it's turned out that way is a matter of opinion.

PS:

As for the Swan Lestas, don't worry. So long as you disagree with me you'll qualify for membership and fit in fine.

[Flynny]

As I saw it, having read little of this thread:

Our back 4 and middle two played absolutely fantastically, especially first half. Wellens and especially King were as creative a central two as I've seen for Leicester in years and years - but crucially, Derby were refusing to close down these 6 players, and the 4 in front were the wrong men for the job.

Oakley and Dyer were drifting in far too much. Dyer redeemed himself with some good runs down the left and by occasionally hitting the right spot in the centre, but Oakley lost the ball at least 7 times by my counting, and that started just before the end of the second half. Howard also tended to drift deep, meaning that the space our defence and midfield were creating was unable to be used - with Howard drifting deep looking for the long ball to flick on and Oakley and Dyer coming inside, only Fryatt was leading the line and available for the killer pass - but was being marked by the entire back 4 due to the positioning of the other players.

I want to commend Pearson for how good our passing game was at times, but am not happy at his inability to sub off players such as Oakley, who was massively under-performing despite some driving runs, and Howard, whose game was not suited to the first 60-70 minutes of the match, although he kept up his high work-rate. What we needed was players to push their defensive line, to look for gaps and to be available for the central midfielders to exploit the space they were making and try to produce a killer pass. Whilst Fryatt hustled and bustled, no-one else was there to pass to in important spaces. This meant the endeavour and position passing of our defence and central midfield was entirely wasted, and killed off further by inastute substitutions.

[Thracian]

So now it's a competition eh? I can only express my views if I've been to a certain number of games? I don't recall you ever abiding by such a rule when you categorically slated Nigel Worthington as being the wrong man for the job after his first game in charge - a game which you didn't even attend.

Not at all. It's just that you give the impression of having watched the matches when I suspect you haven't watched many and the issue could easily be cleared up by a straight answer.

I, on the other hand, was perfectly open about not having watched Worthington on the occasion you refer too.

[Thracian]

As I saw it, having read little of this thread:

Our back 4 and middle two played absolutely fantastically, especially first half. Wellens and especially King were as creative a central two as I've seen for Leicester in years and years - but crucially, Derby were refusing to close down these 6 players, and the 4 in front were the wrong men for the job.

Oakley and Dyer were drifting in far too much. Dyer redeemed himself with some good runs down the left and by occasionally hitting the right spot in the centre, but Oakley lost the ball at least 7 times by my counting, and that started just before the end of the second half. Howard also tended to drift deep, meaning that the space our defence and midfield were creating was unable to be used - with Howard drifting deep looking for the long ball to flick on and Oakley and Dyer coming inside, only Fryatt was leading the line and available for the killer pass - but was being marked by the entire back 4 due to the positioning of the other players.

I want to commend Pearson for how good our passing game was at times, but am not happy at his inability to sub off players such as Oakley, who was massively under-performing despite some driving runs, and Howard, whose game was not suited to the first 60-70 minutes of the match, although he kept up his high work-rate. What we needed was players to push their defensive line, to look for gaps and to be available for the central midfielders to exploit the space they were making and try to produce a killer pass. Whilst Fryatt hustled and bustled, no-one else was there to pass to in important spaces. This meant the endeavour and position passing of our defence and central midfield was entirely wasted, and killed off further by inastute substitutions.

You don't need to read anything. You seem to have got the picture clearly enough for yourself!

[Anish]

Not at all. It's just that you give the impression of having watched the matches when I suspect you haven't watched many and the issue could easily be cleared up by a straight answer.

I, on the other hand, was perfectly open about not having watched Worthington on the occasion you refer too.

I don't give the impression of having been to today's game at all - show me something specific about today's game that I have said or any of the performances of any players - I've mentioned nothing about that. Yet again you read whatever you want to read into, twisting and spinning people's views.

I don't need to answer to you - it's none of your concern. I can form a perfectly valid opinion of the season so far and the manager without having been to every game.

[Flynny]

You don't need to read anything. You seem to have got the picture clearly enough for yourself!

I genuinely thought you'd find some small comfort in the best passing and movement I've seen from a Leicester side in years, though, especially with King at the heart of it. Him and Wellens compliment each other perfectly. We had 2 or 3 players on the field who should have been subbed or not started, but every manager makes some selection mistakes - not every manager manages to make players genuinely improve by quite vast amounts - did you see Wayne Brown's passing today!? I would have sworn they'd just shaved Tunchev.

Just because we're not there yet doesn't mean we won't get there. We were frustrating today but I'm still hopeful - how often could we say that two seasons ago?

[Thracian]

I don't need to answer to you - it's none of your concern. I can form a perfectly valid opinion of the season so far and the manager without having been to every game.

Says it all really. Sorry I got the impression you were talking with some authority about our performances so far.

[Koke]

Totally

Almost all non Prem defenders concede the foul and a red card there

Brilliant recovery

That was fucking superb. Even many Premiership defenders would have received an instant red card there, but Hobbs timed his tackle to perfection. Stunning recovery to make up for his initial mistake.

[Koke]

And Derby were shit. They parked their team coach + their 17 supporters coaches + their 9 minibuses in front of goal in the first half. They couldn't find another Derby shirt if their lives depended on it. Improved slightly in the 2nd half, but they should be happy with a point.

Shit team, shit fans.

[Thracian]

I genuinely thought you'd find some small comfort in the best passing and movement I've seen from a Leicester side in years, though, especially with King at the heart of it. Him and Wellens compliment each other perfectly. We had 2 or 3 players on the field who should have been subbed or not started, but every manager makes some selection mistakes - not every manager manages to make players genuinely improve by quite vast amounts - did you see Wayne Brown's passing today!? I would have sworn they'd just shaved Tunchev.

Just because we're not there yet doesn't mean we won't get there. We were frustrating today but I'm still hopeful - how often could we say that two seasons ago?

Indeed first half I thought we passed the ball so well as to be almost totally dominant without ever having the speed, brain or numbers up front to stretch their defence and prise them apart.

For some reason, second half, we simply didn't press to the same extent and thus Derby were able to assert some pressure of their own.

[Babylon]

Well that was one of the most boring games I've ever seen.

[teblin]

Indeed first half I thought we passed the ball so well as to be almost totally dominant without ever having the speed, brain or numbers up front to stretch their defence and prise them apart.

For some reason, second half, we simply didn't press to the same extent and thus Derby were able to assert some pressure of their own.

Think a lot of this was due to Oakley drifting inside and the only outlet being morrison on the right. As well as morrison defends he hust not a full back going forward.

I agree with the pace issue up top, teams can play a fairly high line and not worry too much about balls over the top. I guess DJ is the only striker we have that i would call fast, maybe he will get a look in soon but i'd guess Waghorn is in front of him in the pecking order.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

Said it before, and will say it again. N.P. brought no quality strikers to the club prior to the new season. No strikers, no goals! No goals, no success!

Our poor level of quality is becoming more and more obvious.

[joely22]

And Derby were shit. They parked their team coach + their 17 supporters coaches + their 9 minibuses in front of goal in the first half. They couldn't find another Derby shirt if their lives depended on it. Improved slightly in the 2nd half, but they should be happy with a point.

Shit team, shit fans.

To be honest, sounds as if we came for the point and got the point.

Yeah we're pretty shit but not so sure about the fans

[Mack]

That was the worst Derby atmosphere I have ever experienced. That's Derby game rather than game against Derby.

Flat crowd, flat teams.... very very disappointing.

Can anyone also explain to me why Pearson keeps encouraging Dyer to go inside when the team have been crying out for some genuine width every time I have seen them this season. He also needs to play a genuine wide man the other side.... if you are going to play 4-4-2 you must have genuine wide players or it's a waste of time.

On a plus note Ritchie Wellens is a class act, really enjoyed watching him today.

[Bluefoxtim]

"We've stuck with largely the same squad as last season but now you're expecting them to steamroll teams in the Championship...." when the reality is that we've added eight players to our regular 16-man squad as well as re-introducing DJ, Adams and, shortly, Clemence to the mix. And I've never "expected" us to steamroller anyone. Just, perhaps, to try.

3 strikers on against Coventry.

Thracian, 3 strikers on against Coventry.

There hasn't been one game this season where we have just gone out looking for a point. We've always set up to push forward, but a lot of the time it just didn't work out, like yesterday.

We had a so much of the ball on the half way line but without wingers and players having an actual position (Oakley, Wellens, King seemed to be drifting, leaving big holes where we should have had someone to receive the ball) it was always going to be difficult to find that killer pass, especially with Derby getting numbers back and only ever looking the least bit threatening on the odd counter-attack.

[Bluefoxtim]

Said it before, and will say it again. N.P. brought no quality strikers to the club prior to the new season. No strikers, no goals! No goals, no success!

Our poor level of quality is becoming more and more obvious.

Bring back Big BAZZA!

[Anish]

Says it all really. Sorry I got the impression you were talking with some authority about our performances so far.

I'll remind you of this the next time you post within one day of not having been to a game. One rule for you and another for everyone else. You'll be the first to ramble and moan when we don't win and you've not been to the game - hell, you've even submitted player ratings based on what you've heard on the radio commentary. Now how the f ck do you think you have any authority to do that?

As I even pointed out a number of times already (which you have obviously chosen to ignore), I have not commented on yesterday's match or any of the individual performances. And just to shut you up, I've seen 4 of our 12 league games so far - a third. I think that more that gives me authority to comment on our season's progress. Over the course of the season I'll get to around 15 games - obviously that still won't be enough to enable me to comment in your blinkered view

[Lillehamring]

a) Still vague with the number of games watched. But while you curtly dismiss most of our leading players of last season and neglect to mention the many additions who are still finding their way into the team it is not just about our team, it is about the opposition and I've yet to see anything in this "tough" league to greatly concern me, or our team.

b) Not even the manager thinks we are "doing well". He, like a great many others, thinks we have underperformed in terms of points accumulated when set alongside the performances and he seems absolutely right to me. You might have taken 10th place, but then you seem to mirror the level of ambition this club has shown for far too long.

c) We've got stability now. It's improvement we want. I wouldn't question our consistency at all. Seems to me we've completed a shift in all our games. But I don't think Pearson has once gone for the throat in games. We've always played cagily.

We've never attacked in sufficient numbers even though we have the personnel to do so. Had we done so and failed I could have understood it but not ever trying (apart from very briefly at Covventry) baffles me, especially as the Coventry attacking saved the game. Today we could have shown the same ambition but didn't yet you complain about me being critical.

We were the home team today and didn't force their goalkeeper to make one serious save.

You can excuse it all you like but I think it was appalling because our players are far better than that. And if that's the case then something is causing us to underperform so badly and our goals record these last 12 games shows that the failing has been apparent for far longer than any manager should put up with.

sounds about right to me....

[Anish]

sounds about right to me....

I don't think you are qualified to form an opinion though Valarenga if you weren't at the game...(not my view but Thracian's)

[marbelladave]

Think a lot of this was due to Oakley drifting inside and the only outlet being morrison on the right. As well as morrison defends he hust not a full back going forward.

I agree with the pace issue up top, teams can play a fairly high line and not worry too much about balls over the top. I guess DJ is the only striker we have that i would call fast, maybe he will get a look in soon but i'd guess Waghorn is in front of him in the pecking order.

Not quite!

This is the same problem that we have had all season. We dominate for spells with our passing game but have no cutting edge for the simple reason that we play the wrong forwards!

Whatever the merits of Howard and Fryatt, they are not the kind of players who 'show' for balls passed into feet around the box, they do not 'run the channels' nor are they a threat with balls played over the top. It is not their game!

Yesterday our most effective attacker was Dyer (again), the only player with any pace in the side. However his contribution was somewhat hit and miss due to his deployment as a wide midfield player rather than an out and out attacker so much of the time he received the ball too deep to really trouble the defense.

If we are going to play any sort of a passing game then we need forwards who can do the things that Howard and Fryatt can not, Dyer, Waghorn, N'Guessan and perhaps even Gradel are quick enough and tricky enough to make things happen in the box and the sooner they are given their head the better.

If the attack needs a focus, 'someone to lead the line', then Gallagher or Yanni could provide that option as they are both good at linking things up and bringing others into the play.

[marbelladave]

A word about our wingers.

Sorry chaps, but if you are talking about proper wingers, who take on the fullbacks on the outside, get to the byline then hit crosses into the box then you are living in the past! Such players barely exist anymore, and those that do are rarely effective. (see Downing S. )

These days 'wide men' fall into two broad categories;

Firstly we have the wide midfield player who chase up and down their flank, covering box to box and 'doing a job' for their side, ie proper midfield players who are comfortable in wide positions. They may not be particularly attacking but they have the virtue of maintaining a very solid shape for the side.

Secondly we have attacking players who deploy in wide positions but primarily cut inside to attack the box. They are often deployed on the 'wrong' flank, ie right footed players playing on the left who cut inside onto their stronger foot to threaten the box. This was how Gradel was deployed at Bournemouth and to a degree this is how Dyer plays now.

Our options firmly fall into the second category which means that for them to be effective we need to play 4-3-3. Deployed forward in wide positions, Dyer, N'guessan, Gradel and to a degree even Waghorn can threaten to go wide or cut inside, and do it with pace. With a mobile frontman leading the line, this setup gives our midfield options to play in our forwards around the box so we can attack with pace and numbers.

[SMX11]

I throughly agree with the lack of width. Lloyd Dyer was one of the best players on the pitch yesterday but there was nobody on the right. Michael Morrison was excellent defensively but at the end of the day he is a centre half playing at right back, he's not gonna beat his man going forward and I have never been a fan of Oakley on the right, he just drifts back centerally. tbh I would rather have N'Guessan/ Adams/ Gradel being given an extended run in the team preferably Adams. Howard is only good enough for the bench, Kermo needs to be playing. Rant over

[Legend_in_blue]

I throughly agree with the lack of width. Lloyd Dyer was one of the best players on the pitch yesterday but there was nobody on the right. Michael Morrison was excellent defensively but at the end of the day he is a centre half playing at right back, he's not gonna beat his man going forward and I have never been a fan of Oakley on the right, he just drifts back centerally. tbh I would rather have N'Guessan/ Adams/ Gradel being given an extended run in the team preferably Adams. Howard is only good enough for the bench, Kermo needs to be playing. Rant over

So would I, but I don't think any of them are good enough at this level. But at least it would address the balance issue until January. We need a quality right sided player.