Pearson got it all wrong today...

[Mee]

I didn't think Dyer did anything really, when Dany came of he seemed a little up for it, making a little burst down the right wing, even if it was only for 5 minutes!

Dany to come on earlier on Wednesday if it's his sort of game. I think Dyer had an off day though, we have seen what pace he has over the course of the season so there is no point slating him.

[okie fox]

Disappointed with the system as we were the home team! I thought we played a lot better after Fryatt came on. Waghorn had a poor match and Gallagher didn't do much at all. Wellens stood out, always wanting the ball and trying to unlock their defence. Solano also tried to be creative. King had a quiet game. Dyer had one great cross in the first half. I would have brought N'Guessan on a lot earlier, but Pearson seems reluctant to play him much. Hobbs was outstanding. Spearing worked very hard. Now we have to gamble on Wednesday. I would start Howard and Fryatt up front on Wednesday.

[Rocky Dennis]

Pearson's biggest bollock-drop since taking the job!

I think we needed to win this at least 2-0 to go through (I bet loads of you thought the same?)

I felt sure that we would go 4-4-2 and attack the shit out of them, where was Vaughn? Id heard all week that we had a fully fit squad

Was absolutely stunned when Stringer read out the team sheet, I bet Dave Jones merely printed it out and pinned it to the board - Team Talk = Done.

You can argue all you like about 4-3-3, Dyer should have done this, Gallagher should of done that! Fact is we had a lone striker at home, a massive lift for the opposition demonstrated in their bright start and being the better side IMO.

We should have someone up with Waggy to help release him to hurt them with his pace, it was a crying shame to watch him using up his energy chasing long balls!

Overall I am very happy with the season in general and Pearson as manager, its a shame that he's ballsed it up when we've got this far with a baffling tactical line-up.

I do not beleive we can beat Cardiff at their place hence the need for a 2 goal lead needed today, Im all for 'keeping the faith' etc..... but Cardiff away is, always will be a game we cannot win, no way the master timewasters will let this game slip!

Whatever happens we should hope these shit-heads dont go up, Bothroyd and McPhail are a disgrace, Ive never seen so much falling over from a pair of players, Bothroyd should have been booked about 6 times, it seemed McPhails only role in this game was to try and get players booked - Disgrace

I think weve missed a big chance here!

Hobbs, Waggy and Wellens will be playing Prem football next year whatever the outcome and I fear another rebuild job will be needed!

I think the some or all of the following will happen on Weds:

- Cardiff will score at least one more goal

- Their fans will be extremely loud

- They will waste a shit-load of time

- They will get one of our players sent off

- We will have a penalty appeal turned down

- The Anti-English shit their fans shout will be muted for TV

Im sorry, but Nige def got it wrong today!!

[Collymore]

I thought Cardiff deserved it today. If they play well again on Wednesday then fair play and good luck to them. I'll be relfecting on a brilliant season no matter the result.

[Edmund]

I felt sure that we would go 4-4-2 and attack the shit out of them, where was Vaughn? Id heard all week that we had a fully fit squad

He was injured, it would of been a bit silly releasing tactical information ahead of a game like this. Cardiff did the same, they had a injury or two but it wasn't mentioned until kick off.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

I don't think it was 100% Pearson's fault, we did start with one of our best starting 11, but it was clear after 10 / 15 mins that the long ball tactic wasn't working... so why carry on with it all game?!

For 90% of the game we were playing high / chipped balls unnecessarily, making it a 50/50 ball - can we not just get it on the floor and play pass and move football?

As said a few times already, it was clear to me that we needed someone with a bit of strength and agility on the wing, I would've had Dany N'Guessan on at half time personally...

Just hope we can score a good few away now, but on the positive side - absolutely nothing to lose, all hands on deck!

Sometimes people are blinded by the opposition and what there tactics are and are so quick to blame our own team. On the whole, I thought the team was bright and played a fair amount of the ball on the deck.

Cardiff were intent on keeping a clean sheet, kept a tight and compact shape, and closed down well when in there own half and broke quickly and fed off Boothroyd's airial combativness.

Wellens, King and Spearing worked the ball on the deck within Cardiff's half quite a bit, but with the deep line there was not much chance of putting through a killer ball. Dyer and Gally tried to stech the play offering width in the first half. Where we did play hoof ball was when we'd played across the back, got closed down and quite rightly chanced our arm with a long pass.

Pearson was the first to make a positive move by bringing on Fryatt, changing formation and providing some support for Waggy. Still at 0-0, Pearson acknowledged that we weren't winning enough share of any high ball (a necessary evil) and brought on Kermo - my only critiscism on this would be the timing, when we were defending a corner. The goal didn't come directly from this, but I'm sure it was Kermo who made the ill-advised challenge shortly after and I'm sure he'd point to not being 'acclimatised' to game conditions.

N'Gussien may have been brought on earlier, but Pearson chose to back Dyer for a bit longer - just karting people off willy nilly doesn't breed confidence and is not necessarly great man management.

The disapointment today was that we are still unable to make the Walkers a fortress, that we'd need to do if we went up to survive. Our team needed us at points in the game, but we were found wanting - bet Cardiff show us how its done.

[Guest Mee-9]

It seems like it's just you and me banging that drum.

I'd start him on Wednesday. We need a goal, he's our best striker. He had more chances in 30 mins than Waghorn in 75 (although in fairness for 60 of them MW was up front alone).

I'd play three up front (3 STRIKERS, not 2 and a winger), with Fryatt and Waghorn feeding off Howard's scraps.

Exactly mate, He had made more chances and had his than Waghorn did.

[Rocky Dennis]

He was injured, it would of been a bit silly releasing tactical information ahead of a game like this. Cardiff did the same, they had a injury or two but it wasn't mentioned until kick off.

Announcing a fully fit squad is hardly tactical information is it??

Regardless of Vaughns 'injury' we still should have played 4-4-2, I bet their centre halves couldnt beleive their luck!!

[Edmund]

Announcing a fully fit squad is hardly tactical information is it??

Of course it is, not only may it alter a formation it means different players are playing and each player has different attributes.

For example you'd obviously prepare differently if a 6ft 7 slow target man is playing opposed to a 5ft 5 lightning paced player.

[AndyBrew]

For example you'd obviously prepare differently if a 6ft 7 slow target man is playing opposed to a 5ft 5 lightning paced player.

wish we had either

[Edmund]

wish we had either

dare i say we could've done with Howard and DJ

[Rocky Dennis]

Of course it is, not only may it alter a formation it means different players are playing and each player has different attributes.

For example you'd obviously prepare differently if a 6ft 7 slow target man is playing opposed to a 5ft 5 lightning paced player.

I take your point but we were clearly told we had a fully fit squad, that still not giving the starting 11 away tho!

We still could have started with Kermo + Waggy or Dany + Waggy or Gally (he is a striker after all) + Waggy

Playing a 'lone striker' was a mistake, it did not work and is essentially the reason we lost the game, impetus for Wednesday and almost certainly the tie.

[Jon25747]

I though Fryatt was useless against Middlesborough and he was useless today. How many touches does a 'clinical' striker need when one on one?! I'm usually too scared to bash Fryatt on here but today he drove me mad. I really hope he doesn't feature on wednesday.

[Onions]

Pearson is the reason we are in the play-offs, he is the reason we are in this league. Anyone getting on his back needs to remember two when we went down.

Getting to the play-offs first time around is amazing, we had Morrison/Brown and Vaughan hurt, Howard suspended and Fryatt not fit enough to start. There wasn't much else we could have started with. We were unlucky, Gallagher could have scored, Fryatt should have and King wasn't far off.

Also, anyone slagging Fryatt needs to have a look at themselves, yes he should have scored today, but that isn't a reason to get on his back. We played better when he came on, he is a constant danger, no doubt if he was to score two on Wednesday the people slagging him off would be singing his praises.

We were not good enough, but blaming Pearson and Fryatt is just typical Leicester. Never happy.

KEEP THE FAITH and lets get behind the team in Wales.

[southdevonfox]

I though Fryatt was useless against Middlesborough and he was useless today. How many touches does a 'clinical' striker need when one on one?! I'm usually too scared to bash Fryatt on here but today he drove me mad. I really hope he doesn't feature on wednesday.

very poor performance all round , we never looked like scoring , even when fryatt came on , cardiff are a good side and came with a plan and it worked , now we need a plan to take to cardiff , we can still do this

[Jon25747]

We were not good enough, but blaming Pearson and Fryatt is just typical Leicester. Never happy.

Im an eternal optimist but think Fryatt isnt the striker some people think he is. Any other striker in our first team squad would have finished that today so I think im entitled to be upset at his performance on that effort alone.

[Tommeh]

Pearson lined up the way 95% wanted him to with the 3 (or 1 up top however you like it, but you can't say Dyer and Gallagher wern't advanced so I tend to go with the 3)

The problem for me is those two just didn't get going, there was also a nervousness about the full back's to support and as solid as Solano was, we missed Morrison and Berner was below par.

This system usually allows for the Midfield to control it but Cardiff were happy to knock it long to Bothroyd and to the wings and thats where they threatened.

For me I hold no blame with Pearson bar the games crying for Dany around the hour, and possibly sacrificing a midfielder earlier to accomodate another up top.

The way we played today we'd have won with Howard I feel and if we go the same route on Wednesday he has to start with Waggy and Dany for me and still leaving the 3 of King, spearing and Wellens behind.

[Sods]

The problem that was wrong was today we just couldn't win it in the air, so as Tommeh has stated its important we bring Howard back into the team as well N'guessan or even Yann. That Hudson was class today to be fair.

[Fox You Forest]

The way we played today we'd have won with Howard I feel and if we go the same route on Wednesday he has to start with Waggy and Dany for me and still leaving the 3 of King, spearing and Wellens behind.

Yeah that's the way I'd go, Normally I'd go for Yann over Howard if it was my choice but seeing as he's been suspended for three games he must be chomping at the bit to get in on the action so I'd throw him in.

[Corky]

Yep, Howard to start on Wednesday. He was playing well until his moment of madness vs Watford and despite his critics he holds the ball up and can win the ball in the air.

I'd also start N'Guessan, probably for Dyer as Cardiff had him well shackled.

[STUHILL]

Pearson lined up the way 95% wanted him to with the 3 (or 1 up top however you like it, but you can't say Dyer and Gallagher wern't advanced so I tend to go with the 3)

The problem for me is those two just didn't get going, there was also a nervousness about the full back's to support and as solid as Solano was, we missed Morrison and Berner was below par.

This system usually allows for the Midfield to control it but Cardiff were happy to knock it long to Bothroyd and to the wings and thats where they threatened.

For me I hold no blame with Pearson bar the games crying for Dany around the hour, and possibly sacrificing a midfielder earlier to accomodate another up top.

The way we played today we'd have won with Howard I feel and if we go the same route on Wednesday he has to start with Waggy and Dany for me and still leaving the 3 of King, spearing and Wellens behind.

100% agree

[Ozwin]

It's a time for someone to become a hero. I reckon Howards gonna pull another Leeds out the bag and make everyone associated with Leicester go mental.

[Onions]

Im an eternal optimist but think Fryatt isnt the striker some people think he is. Any other striker in our first team squad would have finished that today so I think im entitled to be upset at his performance on that effort alone.

No doubt he should have scored, but are you really labelling him useless because of that?

For years now Leicester fans (not saying you) have been on the kid back. First game of league one, 2-0 vs MK Don's, Both Fryatt and yet we still had people slagging him off. The guy is clearly a player who needs the help from the crowd, he has come around so much since our last championship season, and yes he should have scored today but all players mess up. Kalou missed from 2 yards out last weekend, Berbatov misses week in week out. You can't base a judgement on a player on just one mistake.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

I though Fryatt was useless against Middlesborough and he was useless today. How many touches does a 'clinical' striker need when one on one?! I'm usually too scared to bash Fryatt on here but today he drove me mad. I really hope he doesn't feature on wednesday.

So a player plays an hour of football since February, before which he'd scored 12 goals, featuring in the scoring charts, after two months without solid food, creates and almost scores our best chance of the game (if the ball had rebounded in a better position, he would have had an open goal) and he's useless and shouldn't be considered for a match where we need goals?

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I watched the game on TV a few points i would like to make.

- Tatics weren't wrong it was just poorly exicuted (you could just tell by how animated Pearson was on the bench i've never seen him as animated in the games i've seen), too many times the full backs pushed up too high and Hobbs and Bruce got stuck with the ball forcing them to put in a long ball.

- The free kick was taken in the exact spot the referee originally put it. The issue was we only had a one man wall assuming a cross was going to be put in.

- Fryatt obviously lacked confidence, let's not forget he hasn't played for months. He created our best chance of the match beating 2 defenders.

- Only one of the handballs probably could of been given but it was still a 50/50.

- Spearing is going to be a very very good footballer, didn't offer much going forward. but defensivly worked his arse off.

Keep the faith everyone we have nothing to lose, no one expects us to go there and get a win, so all the pressure is on Cardiff it only takes a bit of luck and 11 players to really throw everything they have at Cardiff for 90 mins and we may be able to achieve something. Keep the faith carn' city.