Vardy?

[Happy Fox]

Well, criticisms of United are definitely fair. And our away form definitely has room to improve. But it isn't a crisis.

What's mildly annoying (that's not quite right, but can't think of the phrase) is that you assume our home form will drop, without assuming that we'll start getting better results away. As has been said, our away performances have been poor on only two occasions, so there's every chance we'll get a bit more in future.

We create lots of chances, are scoring pretty freely, and are tight at the back. My 'United's defence' concern is that several times recently our midfield just switches off, for long periods in the middle of games, which means our grip slips on games we're dominating. For that, we need a Lennon character who will drag everyone back up to standard-it's the one area I'd like to see more of from DD (albeit he's been one of our top players this season).

There you go-criticism! But within the boundaries of 'I think we'll get there, in NP we trust...'

Matty James perhaps? could do that when he has come albeit for short periods of time seems to have broke up the opposition attack and play nice balls to team mates.

[Captain...]

Matty James perhaps? could do that when he has come albeit for short periods of time seems to have broke up the opposition attack and play nice balls to team mates.

He's not in the same class as Lennon but I understand where you are coming from. Quite a few people bring up that we need a Lennon, but they forget we played with a 3 man midfield, I don't know if Lennon would have been anything like as effective as part of a midfield 2, but, as we did on Saturday, bringing James on to play in the middle support drinkwater and King could be our plan b to close out games, especially away from home.

[Guest Col city fan]

He's not in the same class as Lennon but I understand where you are coming from. Quite a few people bring up that we need a Lennon, but they forget we played with a 3 man midfield, I don't know if Lennon would have been anything like as effective as part of a midfield 2, but, as we did on Saturday, bringing James on to play in the middle support drinkwater and King could be our plan b to close out games, especially away from home.

Based upon how we seem to start away from home, how about making it Plan A?

[Manwell Pablo]

Well, criticisms of United are definitely fair. And our away form definitely has room to improve. But it isn't a crisis.

What's mildly annoying (that's not quite right, but can't think of the phrase) is that you assume our home form will drop, without assuming that we'll start getting better results away. As has been said, our away performances have been poor on only two occasions, so there's every chance we'll get a bit more in future.

We create lots of chances, are scoring pretty freely, and are tight at the back. My 'United's defence' concern is that several times recently our midfield just switches off, for long periods in the middle of games, which means our grip slips on games we're dominating. For that, we need a Lennon character who will drag everyone back up to standard-it's the one area I'd like to see more of from DD (albeit he's been one of our top players this season).

There you go-criticism! But within the boundaries of 'I think we'll get there, in NP we trust...'

It's basic football averages that's all. we play in one of the most unpredictable leagues to maintain a 2.5 point per game at home is huge ask, it would realstically mean only dropping points 3 times between now and May.

I've not said we are Poor away, I've said we struggle to score away, we do not "score freely" away, at all, the amount of goals we've scored away is piss poor really for a team competing for promotion, I am well aware we are the better team in most games. This is why I say we could do with a strker in January. In regards to only being poor away twice, first 25 minutes against Wolves we were shocking and we were 2-0 before we knew it, much as we improved after that it doesn't really matter if you leave yourself two down away from after 30 more often than not you'll get beat.

Decent point about DD but I think the more he plays the more he will be able to mature and his ability to lift the team will grow.

[Corky]

Based upon how we seem to start away from home, how about making it Plan A?

We tried it at Watford.

It didn't work.

[coolhandfox]

Since the Wolves game we have turn our away form around nicely and have averaged 1.5pts a game for the last 7.

I can see that continuing for the rest of the season, I think the first 3 games were a blip and a result of new players bedding in etc.

Back to Vardy he's done ok, works hard and 3 goals and 3 assist, not ground breaking!

[ADK]

Seems Vardy is lacking a little something at the moment but i think he will come good like Waghorn has done.

[UpTheLeagueFox]

Vardy's still adjusting from non-league. His energy is selfless and he creates problems for the opposition, often putting them under pressure. Sadly, in front of goal he's not been as sharp as we'd like but I think he's a good team player, good to have around the squad and IMHO well worth persisting with.

[Thracian]

It's basic football averages that's all. we play in one of the most unpredictable leagues to maintain a 2.5 point per game at home is huge ask, it would realstically mean only dropping points 3 times between now and May.

I've not said we are Poor away, I've said we struggle to score away, we do not "score freely" away, at all, the amount of goals we've scored away is piss poor really for a team competing for promotion, I am well aware we are the better team in most games. This is why I say we could do with a strker in January. In regards to only being poor away twice, first 25 minutes against Wolves we were shocking and we were 2-0 before we knew it, much as we improved after that it doesn't really matter if you leave yourself two down away from after 30 more often than not you'll get beat.

Decent point about DD but I think the more he plays the more he will be able to mature and his ability to lift the team will grow.

You've touched on the key to it - Pearson has a different philosophy away from home and I can't understand the reason for it. Even before the leeds game started Pearson sounded as if he first wanted to contain the game and then to impose our own game. Trouble is the plan backfired within two minutes just as it's ineevitably going to do from time to time.

Wolves sounded like another example and it was certainly the case at Watford.

Our strength is our ability to press people and to attack in different ways with many different people and at pace if necessary. The minute we sit back and let the opposition come onto us we look vulnerable - despite our ability to counter quickly through Dyer and Knockaert and others.

Even in the win against Derby we went 2-0 up and then slipped into caution-mode with the result that the no-longer pressured Derby players had time to play their football, to halve the deficit and very nearly fashion an equaliser on three or four occasions before we finally made changes and regained the initiative.

Yes, it's perhaps more difficult to win crucial refereeing decisions in away games - although we've had plenty of that sort of shit at home too - but crowd-wise, it must be hard even for City players to know they're playing away with the vocal following we send out on our travels and the lack of numbers and of passion among the opposition fans, although there are exceptions.

Consequently I see no reason at all for a more cautious awayday approach. Pressing the opposition and fast-passing the ball is potentially effective wherever its played.

Seems to me that most of the time when we've lost points its been because our passing and control has been poor, sometimes because we've allowed the opposition to compromise our approach, but not always.

There's no doubt we should have had more points this season - if only because of some blatantly woeful refereeing decisions when opposition defenders have pushed the ball around a post etc. - and those points would have pushed us into or closer to the top two places.

But we've also frequently failed to use the potential advantage of countless corners and free-kicks. For once we scored from a free-kick Saturday and it was all down to movement and delivery.

Waghorn might not be the greatest natural striker but he does deliver corners and free-kicks with more venom than anyone else, dramatically increasing our chances of scoring provided we get people moving with purpose and determination into areas where they can get in front of opponents and where a touch will create havoc.

Combine the points - pressurised attacking, fast, accurate passing plus practised dead ball kicks - and there's no reason we shouldn't score more and no reason we shouldn't challenge for automatic promotion.

Another big plus would be for Knockaert to pass the ball and limit his dribbling to the final quarter of the field where it might cause damage and where losing possession won't leave several players out of position with depressing regularity.

[Thracian]

Vardy's still adjusting from non-league. His energy is selfless and he creates problems for the opposition, often putting them under pressure. Sadly, in front of goal he's not been as sharp as we'd like but I think he's a good team player, good to have around the squad and IMHO well worth persisting with.

Vardy made a goal on Saturday but I just don't see who he can expect the ball from with any certainty even when he does make runs off defender's shoulders.

The way we play when we don't have the ball is to tighten the space by having Dyer drop back into a deep inside-left position. And, if it's not him it's Knockaert/Marshall supplementing central midfield...altogether an aspect that has probably helped keep our "goals against" down.

However, it also means that, at the moment of regaining possession, we're not naturally stretching defences and providing the space for Vardy to run off the shoulder of people to win a valuable yard or two. And when it has happened he's sometimes been either too slow or too selfless to shoot - something he needs to put right.

Even when Nugent came on against Derby I only rarely remember us passing the ball behind defenders for someone to run onto. It's just not our way except occasionally.

Vardy is still adapting to that - and to not being generally required to attack from wide positions as I gather was often the case at Fleetwood.

For all that though, our goals total and position in the table pay testimony to the fact that Vardy is more than making a contribution in other ways and - through his known potential alone - taking enough attention and helping to create the room for others to score.

Only once this season have we failed to score and our goals difference is the envy of most, I'm sure.

As Manwell says though, there is always room for improvement - from Vardy no less than everyone else.

[UpTheLeagueFox]

Only once this season have we failed to score

Twice I think - Bolton and Leeds. And you make some very good points, by the way.

[It's A Knockeart!]

The Leeds game would have been very different if we hadn't conceded in the first minute; their team is hardworking and well-organised, but clearly geared to holding leads rather than extending them. However, it was a poor game all round and we really didn't turn up. As for Vardy, he looked off the pace at Wednesday and Leeds, but was better on saturday.

One thing I would be concerned with him is his snatching at chances and lack of composure; he picks at volleys and opportunities, the type of attempt you get five or six at in a conference game but two or most in the Championship. Still, that's something that comes with experience, something he doesn't have at this level yet.

[Guest Col city fan]

You've touched on the key to it - Pearson has a different philosophy away from home and I can't understand the reason for it. Even before the leeds game started Pearson sounded as if he first wanted to contain the game and then to impose our own game. Trouble is the plan backfired within two minutes just as it's ineevitably going to do from time to time.

Wolves sounded like another example and it was certainly the case at Watford.

Our strength is our ability to press people and to attack in different ways with many different people and at pace if necessary. The minute we sit back and let the opposition come onto us we look vulnerable - despite our ability to counter quickly through Dyer and Knockaert and others.

Even in the win against Derby we went 2-0 up and then slipped into caution-mode with the result that the no-longer pressured Derby players had time to play their football, to halve the deficit and very nearly fashion an equaliser on three or four occasions before we finally made changes and regained the initiative.

Yes, it's perhaps more difficult to win crucial refereeing decisions in away games - although we've had plenty of that sort of shit at home too - but crowd-wise, it must be hard even for City players to know they're playing away with the vocal following we send out on our travels and the lack of numbers and of passion among the opposition fans, although there are exceptions.

Consequently I see no reason at all for a more cautious awayday approach. Pressing the opposition and fast-passing the ball is potentially effective wherever its played.

Seems to me that most of the time when we've lost points its been because our passing and control has been poor, sometimes because we've allowed the opposition to compromise our approach, but not always.

There's no doubt we should have had more points this season - if only because of some blatantly woeful refereeing decisions when opposition defenders have pushed the ball around a post etc. - and those points would have pushed us into or closer to the top two places.

But we've also frequently failed to use the potential advantage of countless corners and free-kicks. For once we scored from a free-kick Saturday and it was all down to movement and delivery.

Waghorn might not be the greatest natural striker but he does deliver corners and free-kicks with more venom than anyone else, dramatically increasing our chances of scoring provided we get people moving with purpose and determination into areas where they can get in front of opponents and where a touch will create havoc.

Combine the points - pressurised attacking, fast, accurate passing plus practised dead ball kicks - and there's no reason we shouldn't score more and no reason we shouldn't challenge for automatic promotion.

Another big plus would be for Knockaert to pass the ball and limit his dribbling to the final quarter of the field where it might cause damage and where losing possession won't leave several players out of position with depressing regularity.

I think it's fairly simple. I don't think we always have the players to 'adopt a different philosophy away from home'... Not for some games anyway.

[RowZ]

Hi all, Im a big city fan now living in italy. Get to see the odd game out here and when I go back but other than that I'm restricted to Ian Stringer's woeful commentary. Just wondered wat the general perspective on Vardy's overall performance has been so far this season? seems to be generating a bit of chat on the net.

What's so wrong with Strings' commentary? He's been a breath of fresh air since he arrived and I for one enjoy listening to his obvious footballing passion and in-depth knowledge of his beloved LCFC.

It's like tuning into a fan standing in the kop, not some stuffy BBC broadcaster trying to land a sports job on 5 live.

Well done Ian Stringer - keep up the good work.

[deep blue]

What's so wrong with Strings' commentary? He's been a breath of fresh air since he arrived and I for one enjoy listening to his obvious footballing passion and in-depth knowledge of his beloved LCFC.

It's like tuning into a fan standing in the kop, not some stuffy BBC broadcaster trying to land a sports job on 5 live.

Well done Ian Stringer - keep up the good work.

Stringer virtually missed 2 of our goals on Saturday as he was too busy having a lenghty (and meaningless) discussion with the co-commentator rather than concentrating on, and describing, what was happening on the pitch. It was laughable, certainly not professional. He could both show passion for the club and commentate properly, the two aren't mutually exclusive, but he is too self-indulgent to consider the fans who are tuned in.

[UpTheLeagueFox]

I was chatting with Jason Bourne before he did his first major commentary and, having some experience of the job, I said: "Just tell people which way the teams are attacking and describe where the ball is and what you see on the pitch. Simple as that. Save the other flim-flam for when nothing is happening / ball is out of play etc."

Thread seems to have veered off topic and apologies for adding to that.

[5waller5]

Stringer virtually missed 2 of our goals on Saturday as he was too busy having a lenghty (and meaningless) discussion with the co-commentator rather than concentrating on, and describing, what was happening on the pitch. It was laughable, certainly not professional. He could both show passion for the club and commentate properly, the two aren't mutually exclusive, but he is too self-indulgent to consider the fans who are tuned in.

I was chatting with Jason Bourne before he did his first major commentary and, having some experience of the job, I said: "Just tell people which way the teams are attacking and describe where the ball is and what you see on the pitch. Simple as that. Save the other flim-flam for when nothing is happening / ball is out of play etc."

Thread seems to have veered off topic and apologies for adding to that.

Couldn't agree more - Stringer's too busy being sycophantic and chatting away with his buddy that he forgets that there's a game of football he's paid to describe.

Your advice paid dividends as I thought Jason Bourne was excellent .... it was lovely to be able to listen to a commentary and actually be able to visualise what is going on on the pitch.

Apparently in the old days of radio commentary the pitch was divided into a grid system of letters and numbers and the commentator would describe where the ball was using the grid - an excellent idea that seems a shame that it died out.

[UpTheLeagueFox]

Apparently in the old days of radio commentary the pitch was divided into a grid system of letters and numbers and the commentator would describe where the ball was using the grid - an excellent idea that seems a shame that it died out.

That's where the phrase "back to square one" came from.

[5waller5]

That's where the phrase "back to square one" came from.

Ha!!! I didn't realise that!!! That's brilliant!!

Why on earth did it stop being used .... it makes such alot of sense .... what you want from a radio commentary is to be able to close your eyes and imagine the game, this seems like a great way to help locate the ball.

[5waller5]

That's where the phrase "back to square one" came from.

That was weird you changed your username between posts!!!! I couldn't work that out!!

[fleckneymike]

That was weird you changed your username between posts!!!! I couldn't work that out!!

Urban myth that (square one not the name change).

[UpTheLeagueFox]

That was weird you changed your username between posts!!!! I couldn't work that out!!

I felt a name change was in order and was kindly granted permission to do so.

Urban myth that (square one...)

Not an urban myth Mike, it's a possible answer. I don't think anyone definitively knows the exact origin.

[ealingfox]

What's so wrong with Strings' commentary? He's been a breath of fresh air since he arrived and I for one enjoy listening to his obvious footballing passion and in-depth knowledge of his beloved LCFC.

It's like tuning into a fan standing in the kop, not some stuffy BBC broadcaster trying to land a sports job on 5 live.

Well done Ian Stringer - keep up the good work.

Nice try Ian.

[Manwell Pablo]

Nice try Ian.

Stringer goes off on tagents but he is a different league to some local commentators, at least he has an idea about football, unlike some, i.e John Barber, who actually had no football knowledge to speak of, at all.

[Simo86]

Stringer goes off on tagents but he is a different league to some local commentators, at least he has an idea about football, unlike some, i.e John Barber, who actually had no football knowledge to speak of, at all.

John Barber, I'd erased that prick from my memory. Cheers Manny!