Knockaert as a Centre Mid?

[Mack]

Have you not seen his workrate in previous games? He's worked back in every game to try and retrieve the ball.

We actually looked a threat with him and De Laet down the right hand side

I've seen him at all the home games including Sunderland and Burton, and a couple of away, and I've seen enough to know he is selective in his defensive work and does not play to the whistle at times, choosing to sulk after things go wrong for a few precious seconds.

Like I said before he has ability, but for me at the moment he is not always using it in the right way.

He doesn't need to try and beat 5 men and slot the ball in the top corner every time he comes forward. In time I'm sure he will learn to mix up his play with passing and lay offs mixed in with taking on the opponents entire defence!

Right now for me he is perfect as a man to come on for the last 30.

The only game he started so far was the Burton game, but he seems to have escaped the criticism from that match scot free, although granted he did not have the mare some others did. However he did fade after the hour and that would be a concern for me also.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Kasper

De Laet-Morgan-Whitbread/St Ledger-Konch

Marshall-King-Drinky-Dyer

Knocky

Beckford/Nugent

Would have Knokaert as the support striker, and one of the CMs (probably King) to run onto his passes and CFs layoffs.Makes it a box-to-box role, Danns could do this too. Drinky to orchestrate play from a more defensive role or James offers a more defensive option. Plan B to whack on Futacs/Vardy for Dyer and plut AK as the left mid.

[foxfanazer]

Might be worth a try but I thought he looked a bit lost when he drifted inside and made a couple of poor decisions when in that position. I agree that he changed the game though and I'd love to see him start in Wednesday night

[Guest ttfn]

FALSE 9.

(Insert joke about Beckford/Nugent/Vardy here).

[marty78]

He ran into trouble a few times trying to over play in central areas and they nearly hit us on the break as a result but I thought he tried too hard to make something happen instead of making a simple pass and then looking for it again. That's not really a criticism because it is not surprising to see young players make those sort of errors and he will learn to make better decisions with experience. His general performance was lively though and he shows signs of real ability and with some match time and coaching I am sure he can be a success.

The movement off the ball from a lone striker and an attacking midfielder behind him must be much better than anything we have seen from any of our forward players in recent matches to make it a more potent attacking threat than we currently carry and it is unlikely to be something that just clicks. Another problem for me is the number of strikers we carry in our squad and I don't want to see Waghorn or Nugent shifted into wide roles regardless of their scoring records. Vardy has some experience out there I believe so would perhaps be okay but Futacs and Beckford would be definite no's for a wide role. We have too many strikers to consistently play a five man midfield with a lone striker IMO and we'll end up with some (even more) unhappy strikers.

There are others ways to play which allow for that central attacking midfielder which allows us to also play with two front men though, such as:

Scmeichel

St Ledger Morgan Moore

De Laet . Konchesky

Drinwater . King

Knockaert

Nugent Vardy

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

Quality player. The only one we have plus Marshall, who played horribly on Sunday.

After 52 years of support, we are one of the worst sides in my living memory.

[foxfanazer]

Quality player. The only one we have plus Marshall, who played horribly on Sunday.

After 52 years of support, we are one of the worst sides in my living memory.

Hahahaha

[Dr The Singh]

Quality player. The only one we have plus Marshall, who played horribly on Sunday.

After 52 years of support, we are one of the worst sides in my living memory.

Really worse then the Peter Taylor side that went down??

[AyewJoking]

Quality player. The only one we have plus Marshall, who played horribly on Sunday.

After 52 years of support, we are one of the worst sides in my living memory.

Dementia is a terrible thing.

[Thracian]

No thanks - the lad would be a disaster waiting to happen. A miniature Bamba with emphasis. When Bamba went walkabout and lost possession he had the pace and strength to make the most remarkable recovery tackles at times. You don't get that with Knockaert.

He reminded me of a fairground dodgem at times yesterday - the moment he saw "incoming" he too often tried to drive straight through them and, when he did, he quickly shuddered to a swift halt.

As an attacker you can expect someone to pick up the pieces but in central midfield being muscled off the road can result in carnage defensively and you can bet that Knockaert would be targetted for some double-quick closing down in no time.

Knockaert needs time yet to fully adjust to the style and demands of the Championship and the last thing he needs is to have his confidence ripped to shreds in midfield. Why are we always so eager to rush things?

King's loss was a blow but we played well enough second half without him, except that we lacked sufficient threat. I'd put Schlupp ahead of Knockaert for a midfield place...in fact he's looked quite good in that role when I've watched him.

Schlupp is quick, strong and a good tackler. He can pass the ball quickly and simply, deliver a more searching pass if it's on or nip in for a strike on goal. That's a lot of attributes and way ahead of what Knockaert could muster from first impressions.

[davieG]

Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare has tipped Anthony Knockaert for a big future with the Foxes, after his impressive performance in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Burnley.

The France Under-21 international, a summer signing from Guingamp, was outstanding on his first start for City, thrilling supporters and tormenting defenders both out wide and in central areas.

And having played a pivotal role in City’s comeback against the Clarets, Shakespeare says Knockaert, 20, will have a few more tricks up his sleeve to keep the Blue Army on the edge of their seats.

“When you think of a boy of that age coming across to this country and having to settle into the demands of Championship football – I think we’ve got a real talent there, a real find for this Football Club and an asset for the future,” Shakey said.

“He’s got strength of character and he’s very bubbly in the dressing room. It’s a good signing for us and the boy can play, there’s no doubt about that.”

A conjuring, imaginative player with the ball at his feet that loves to run at defenders, Knockaert also showed versatility on Wednesday night, having operated both out wide a 4-4-2 formation and more centrally in a 4-3-3.

And Shakey says he can see a role for the young Frenchman in several areas of the pitch.

“We scouted and recruited him having seen him play in various positions,” Shakey said.

“I think he can have an influence wherever he plays, but coming into those central areas and making things tick made him the catalyst for our second-half performance on Wednesday.”

[Burmesefox]

I thought he was a breath of fresh air. Yes we saw wreckless tackles, yes we saw him lose possession, yes we saw him over run the ball, yes we saw him try and take on too many players but what we all saw was the potential for a little diamond that comes along in football ever now and again. I am not saying he is superb or world class but he looks like he may have the potential to be another star. I remember when Joe Cole for West Ham ripped us a new one at Filbert Street - I was mesmersied by his display. Hopefully AK can do that this season for us but the road is long.....

[marbelladave]

So Knockeart is a flexible and creative player who can play in several positions, not just in a 4-4-2, right.......

Don't tell us Shakey, tell the bloody boss.......

[brockmyster]

Hes not a centre mid, but playing just behind the striker suits him

[Lcfc10]

let knockaert have a free role in an attacking midfield position, therefore he is a threat going forward with the ball and it would mean its not his primary responsibility to be positioned defensively. he looked like the most threatening player on the pitch with the ball at his feet vs barnsley. yes he may loose it once or twice but i dont mind that if he's having a go going forward rather than going side to side endlessly like Nige seems to enjoy.

[Guest NGoloMode]

Moore - Morgan - SSL - Schlupp

James - Drinky

Marshall - Knockaert - Dyer

Forward

Don't know a single manager who'd play that in the Championship, but I would. Obviously I'd have King in there instead of either James or Drinky but I'd play like that... Yes and I have neatly sidestepped picking a forward.

Didn't QPR win the league playing that with Taraabt in the hole? I like the look of it.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Too lightweight for me. Could you imagine him going up against Moussi from Forest?!

[marbelladave]

Too lightweight for me. Could you imagine him going up against Moussi from Forest?!

So don't put him up against Moussi or anyone like him.....

While we are at it, stop throwing in crosses for our quick, nimble strikers who then have to challenge 6 ft 4 in central defenders, or asking our central midfielders who can't finish to run 60 yards to support strikers who can't win the ball......

Get our best players in their best positions playing the sort of football that suits them, then we might actually get to see if they can play.......

[theessexfox]

Think that Knockaert as CM could be considered a 'luxury', much like Gallagher.

[Charl91]

Think that Knockaert as CM could be considered a 'luxury', much like Gallagher.

Depends how consistent he is. Gallagher was only a 'luxury' because he performed amazingly every 4/5 games, and then was pretty anonymous for the rest.

[LCFC_FAN_1995]

Hes not a centre mid, but playing just behind the striker suits him

He's a CF on Fifa