Leicester 1 - 3 Man City Post Match Thread.

[Chairman of the Bored]

At least the glory hunters didn't go home happy. Be back on Boxing Day chaps? I think not. Lloyd superb, love him to bits. Win, lose of draw, I love my football club. 

[suffolk fox]

They were quality and we deserved to lose. The technique and being able to pick a pass from most of their team was outstanding. Didn't think we played very well at all. Again Drinkwater being shown up for what he is a poor midfielder got caught out for their third goal too. Still they will be there or there abouts in the premier league title race this season. As for us we have to move on the next six games for us will define our season. We play most of the top six in our league.

[Dan]

Knocky should not be played in a position where he has any sort of defensive responsibility, like Gallagher, don't put him in a position where he can cost us goals. A right side of Was and Knocky is going to leave us very exposed on that side. No pace and no cover. The question really is do you build a team around Knocky or play it safe? For this season I would set up to get the best out of our most talented player, but can we afford to play like that in the prem? 

 

If it's our best way of playing in the Championship then I'd bet it's our best way of playing in the Premier League (should we get there).

 

Knockaert does need to calm down and use his brain when he's off the ball, but when he's on it he's a class above and in my opinion he's often let down by a lack of movement from others. Quality player with the ball at his feet.

[MrSpaM]

Can't say I was expecting any sort of result from last nights match, but the performance could have been A LOT better. Knockaert and GTF were rightly subbed at half time, and I'm not sure how Drinkwater managed to stay on the pitch either, dyer was completely ineffective for the first 75 minutes, Nugent looked out of his depth, and our defense was a complete shambles, even if we were playing one of the best teams in the country.

 

I can let them off due to the quality of the opposition last night, but if we play like that against QPR we are going to lose.

 

Man City fans were a credit to their club, amazing support from them

[Haydos]

If it's our best way of playing in the Championship then I'd bet it's our best way of playing in the Premier League (should we get there).

 

Knockaert does need to calm down and use his brain when he's off the ball, but when he's on it he's a class above and in my opinion he's often let down by a lack of movement from others. Quality player with the ball at his feet.

 

It's no though, you get punished for mistakes/giving the ball away/being out of postition way more often in the Prem than you would in the Champ. We saw that last night with the 1st and 2nd goals.

 

You could see when we were more patient and held our positions last night we kept the ball much better and weren't caught on the counter as much. I really think there's a lot to take out of that if Pearson analyses it properly with the lads. I thought the difference in our play at times was very contrasting so you can see what does and doesn't work.

[Callabinho]

Knocky should play the Silva role! He would be a devil in that position!

[danlcfc4ever]

Schlupp and Vardy NEED to be our strikers on Saturday.

 

 

Nugent didn't look interested, yet again.

 

What? Nuge put a shift in... he was left with double the running to do being as GTF was lounging about somewhere between midfield and attack eating pies and planning how many pints to sink after the game.

[Bluetintedspecs]

Tactically we were all wrong and were wide open. They stopped at 3, make no mistake about that.

I came away feeling flat. Ive seen so many league cup nights at Filbert St, the ground rocking and us having half a chance of winning. Tonight's game was nothing by comparison.

It was men against boys really.

And to play GTF in front of Schlupp tonight made no sense to me.

We were never gonna win tonight but we could at least have made a game of it.

At risk of pissing off the pro Pearson brigade again, frankly Man City were very good and we were garbage.

A total anti-climax IMO.

On a plus point, at least we made some money out of it..

Morning Col, I agree with the sentiment of your post mate, however I feel you are being harsh.I know we have a joke about my positivity and "happy clapping" persona but for this critique I will give you an honest assessment of how I saw last night.

The gulf in class was only to be expected, just look at the value, cost and quality of their squad and it should be no surprise really.

kasper made some cracking saves, Wasilewski is no right back, Wes was indifferent (exposed) Miquel IMO the best of our poor defence, Konch answered the question about contract offer for me. The midfield, particularly James when he came on were the shining beacon along with Lloydy and Vards when he came on. Knocky looked like a kid in the playground and Nuge & GTF were like a fish out of water. Thought Jeff looked sharp when he came on and would like to see the combined pace of him and Vards given a go. Now I am not slating our team and I will always support whoever pulls on our blue shirts and let's face it QPR are no Man City. Pretty sure NP was given a few answers re players and contracts last night too despite the gulf in class.

[Dan]

It's no though, you get punished for mistakes/giving the ball away/being out of postition way more often in the Prem than you would in the Champ. We saw that last night with the 1st and 2nd goals.

 

You could see when we were more patient and held our positions last night we kept the ball much better and weren't caught on the counter as much. I really think there's a lot to take out of that if Pearson analyses it properly with the lads. I thought the difference in our play at times was very contrasting so you can see what does and doesn't work.

 

True I suppose.

 

The game was lost before we kicked off for me. Very poor team selection that would lose at QPR this weekend in my opinion. No logic to most of it.

[Manwell Pablo]

What? Nuge put a shift in... he was left with double the running to do being as GTF was lounging about somewhere between midfield and attack eating pies and planning how many pints to sink after the game.

 

Yes but his new position of club scapegoat means the defeat was all his fault, and I have to say in all seriousness while he put a shift in it was quite obvious to see why he's never made a big impact on the Premier League, technically not good enough and not clever enough to get the better of Kompany and Lescott last night. 

 

I thought we played alright, we were never going to look particularly amazing against Manchester City were we they've just thrashed Arsenal and beat the European Champions on their own patch and they played for more regular first team players than I expected them to. Fair play to us we looked dangerous at times got on the score sheet and competed with them for the whole game and fair play Jeff Schlupp, actually looked dangerous when he came on, we looked like we could of nicked a second all though there was an air of complacency around the City team after Djecko got the third. 

 

EDIT: And yes GTF inclusion baffles me, in fact I still don't know why we signed him. 

[goose2010]

nothing to do with the match really but where did the pitch invader come from? very strange if your going to invade the pitch at least give the stewards the run around.

[Guest Col city fan]

Morning Col, I agree with the sentiment of your post mate, however I feel you are being harsh.I know we have a joke about my positivity and "happy clapping" persona but for this critique I will give you an honest assessment of how I saw last night.

The gulf in class was only to be expected, just look at the value, cost and quality of their squad and it should be no surprise really.

kasper made some cracking saves, Wasilewski is no right back, Wes was indifferent (exposed) Miquel IMO the best of our poor defence, Konch answered the question about contract offer for me. The midfield, particularly James when he came on were the shining beacon along with Lloydy and Vards when he came on. Knocky looked like a kid in the playground and Nuge & GTF were like a fish out of water. Thought Jeff looked sharp when he came on and would like to see the combined pace of him and Vards given a go. Now I am not slating our team and I will always support whoever pulls on our blue shirts and let's face it QPR are no Man City. Pretty sure NP was given a few answers re players and contracts last night too despite the gulf in class.

Spot on analysis buddy and I completely agree.

[jon1bc]

Knocky is the only player in the team who has the ability to run with the ball and get around players without being predictive and looking amateur.  I don't see anyone else in the team who can actually run at the opposition and look dangerous. No question about knockys place in the team imo. Who on earth have we got with the quality to replace him? 

[inckley fox]

I dont understand peoples logic behind attacking knocky, he was the only player in the first half who looked to try and do something, roaming around the pitch and trying to make something happen. The rest looked completely out of there depth apart from kingy,

 

I suspect it has something to do with the two goals he helped surrender to the opposition. As for King, he retained possession better than the rest and yet, from a physical viewpoint, he was shamed by the willingness of Man City players to commit themselves to 50-50s. He might look decent enough on the ball, but a reluctance to take part in the uglier side of the game is always going to be a huge problem for a defensive midfielder.

[GingerrrFox]

One thing last night proved is that Anthony Knockaert is by far and away our best player in an attacking sense on the ball. In the first half he was the only player who looked capable of causing Manchester City problems. However what is also showed us is that he is an absolute liability playing on the wing in a 4-4-2. He's never been a winger and never will be a winger. 

 

Nigel needs to realise that playing a 4-4-2 with Knockaert on the right will always leave us exposed and that is how Man City exploited us for their 2nd goal. We need to move away from the 4-4-2 and get Knockaert in a position centrally where he has less defensive responsibilities and gets on the ball more. 

 

This needs to happen and sharpish.

 

[MalarkyR]

I'd swap Was out for Moore - his lack of pace really showed last night - but other than that completely agree.

[little Brian]

I thought King & Nugent looked like non league players , .............

 

Knockaert looked like he could have played for Man City ....................

...

Why did we persist in playing high balls against Kompany & Lescott , ?

 

When we played the ball on the ground in the last third , Dyer scored.........

 

We mustnt hand out any more extragant contracts to this team , Knocky &  Wes aside

[ealingfox]

People laugh about Lloyd Dyer's perceived lack of technical ability, but it's pretty difficult to ignore the frequency with which he scores against the bigger sides. He'd make a decent fist of it in the PL I'm sure, certainly justifies a spot on the bench or in a rotating squad. He's got work rate, pace and good positioning, and that will make you popular and bring you chances at any level of the game.

[Kitchandro]

Are people serious about Schlupp starting? On what basis?

 

I've been critical of Nugent but last night there was bugger all he could do. GTF gave him no support whatsoever.

[blue army 1988]

Are people serious about Schlupp starting? On what basis?

I've been critical of Nugent but last night there was bugger all he could do. GTF gave him no support whatsoever.

Schlupp did more in the 10 mins he came on that nugent did all game. And schlupp was getting balls from deep and running into the box. (Before people say that he was helped with a 442 formation)

[Kitchandro]

Schlupp did more in the 10 mins he came on that nugent did all game. And schlupp was getting balls from deep and running into the box. (Before people say that he was helped with a 442 formation)

 

I remember him once trying to run at them and getting tackled.

 

Add to that he can't hit a barn door.

[Bluetintedspecs]

One thing last night proved is that Anthony Knockaert is by far and away our best player in an attacking sense on the ball. In the first half he was the only player who looked capable of causing Manchester City problems. However what is also showed us is that he is an absolute liability playing on the wing in a 4-4-2. He's never been a winger and never will be a winger. 

 

Nigel needs to realise that playing a 4-4-2 with Knockaert on the right will always leave us exposed and that is how Man City exploited us for their 2nd goal. We need to move away from the 4-4-2 and get Knockaert in a position centrally where he has less defensive responsibilities and gets on the ball more. 

 

This needs to happen and sharpish.

 

Shows how different people see the game Ginge, I love Knocky but I thought he was pretty ineffectual last night and was not surprised to see him subbed.

[Haydos]

I thought King & Nugent looked like non league players , .............

 

Knockaert looked like he could have played for Man City ....................

...

Why did we persist in playing high balls against Kompany & Lescott , ?

 

When we played the ball on the ground in the last third , Dyer scored.........

 

We mustnt hand out any more extragant contracts to this team , Knocky &  Wes aside

 

Seriously? I thought on the whole, King looked pretty good last night. Was disappointed with the communication and the organisation (that's a group effort) but apart from Was and Nugent I didn't think anybody was personally poor.

[Corky]

Sadly, it was never a contest. They were too effective and classy for us. No shame in that, but we didn't keep the ball well enough in the first half and they punished us. Second was better but they eased up.

 

If Vardy had been fully fit he would've started for me, because his style of harrying and closing down was what we needed. Taylor-Fletcher was totally ineffective. Similarly, James's style added a bit for us with his direct running, King and Drinkwater didn't really get any sort of foothold and opportunity to drive forward.

 

Dyer scored which was good, Schmeichel had a positive game, but we were outplayed. Huge game on Saturday.

[Dickov22]

Are people serious about Schlupp starting? On what basis?

I've been critical of Nugent but last night there was bugger all he could do. GTF gave him no support whatsoever.

I've backed Nuge all the way this season when there's been some very unjustified criticism of him amongst Leicester fans. I'm also not sure on Schlupp, I think he's got something, but I don't know if he can consistently do it. If he's good enough, why hasn't he had a decent run in the side? However...

Nugent was hopeless last night. Really poor. His control, his passing, his strength and worst of all, his body language. I kept looking at him strolling around, head down, almost sluggish. I don't know what's up with him but he needs a break. If Wood were fit he'd surely replace Nuge in the starting 11. Maybe we can't do any worse than giving Schlupp a go?