Fez of Mahrez Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 I think Knocky deserves a few words of praise. He's been vastly improved this season in his reliability and consistency. We haven't seen quite the level of individual brilliance in terms of goals like the three or four belters he scored against Huddersfield last season, but those flashes of genius only contribute three or four points a year in the grand scheme of things. Just a bit of a shame his spectacular long-range efforts at Barnsley and Burnley recently both hit the bar. What is far more important is to be a reliable player and to offer an all-round game. It's fantastic being able to field Knocky on one side and Mahrez on the other at the moment, especially away from home at other teams towards the top of the league or "difficult places to go" where teams are supposedly "scrapping for points". Last season, Knocky was perhaps a luxury player at times. This season, we've been able to draft in Mahrez in a 4-4-2 despite him being a bit on the lightweight, flair side. A lot of that has been down to Knocky's increasing reliability and workrate. The way he hares across to close down the opposing full-back in the 90th minute is even better than Vardy doing it because that's the kind of work you rarely get from flair players. Look at the way Knocky won the ball for Vardy's run on goal in the first half yesterday and in the buildup to Wood's goal as well, reminded me of Millwall away and his role in the first and third goals there - one of those "difficult places to go" in horrible conditions. Obviously a lot of focus in the media has gone on the end of last season and there will be even more of that when we achieve what we will shortly. They will say Watford drove Knocky on and made him take more responsibility. They'd say that anyway because it fits the narrative, but you could see from the Yeovil game, to give one example, that it's true. He sees himself as a senior player in the side, I think, even at just 22 and with only one full season of English football behind him, because of what happened last season and his determination to help set the team's high standards this season. If I had to name a Player of the Season, Knocky wouldn't even get in the top two (Drinkwater, Vardy without question), but he does often look like the most Premier League type player in the side in the way he stands out from almost every other player in this division. And he danced around wearing a horse's head after the final whistle yesterday. What more could you ask for?
Stuliasz Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Spot on Fez. I've been making this exact point to a few people I know this week who have been saying the Knockaert needs to 'up his game'. To have a player of such quality with a fantastic team ethic embedded into him, you know you can rely on him and from time to time he'll still show those moments of magic.
Stadt Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Good post, he still gives the ball away needlessly though because he's still quite selfish - that's probably just down to his age though. He has matured a lot but I think he'll have to stop shooting whenever he wants especially when there's better options available, Nuge had a go at him yesterday for it and next season it could prove to be costly.
OriginalRobboFOX Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Completely agree. He tracks back now, works hard, and rarely gives the ball away. I think NP feels the same way as he has been subbed way less than he was last year.
ScouseFox Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 his work of late made me really upset his volley came back off the bar. he deserves a belter soon because he has put so much into this season and especially this unbeaten run but hasn't quite got the headlines he possibly deserves. he won a number of headers and tackles yesterday that you wouldn't expect many midfielders to win let alone 4ft nothing skilful foreign wingers.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 30 March 2014 Author Posted 30 March 2014 his work of late made me really upset his volley came back off the bar. he deserves a belter soon because he has put so much into this season and especially this unbeaten run but hasn't quite got the headlines he possibly deserves. he won a number of headers and tackles yesterday that you wouldn't expect many midfielders to win let alone 4ft nothing skilful foreign wingers. Love it when flair players unexpectedly win a header. Some bloke in front of me yesterday was slagging Mahrez for not closing down. Two seconds later Mahrez towered above one of their players to win a header, didn't look like he would be capable of it.
foxes1988 Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Gotta agree with the op regards knocky. Yes he can be frustrating and give the ball away at times but that is more a reflection on the kind of player he is. Confident ball carrier who can beat his man and creat goal scoring opportunities. I for one don't want him to change the way he plays even if he does sometimes give the ball away and open us up defensively. Especially if he is then tracking back. It's more annoying when a player gives the ball away and then gives up
The Year Of The Fox Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Outstanding yesterday in terms of tackling back and ball retention
foxes1988 Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Love it when flair players unexpectedly win a header. Some bloke in front of me yesterday was slagging Mahrez for not closing down. Two seconds later Mahrez towered above one of their players to win a header, didn't look like he would be capable of it. I actually thought Mahrez did a good job defensively yesterday too. I'm sure there were a number of occasions where he won the ball back in our half or on the half way line and then we suddenly snapped into attack. Very impressive and even more so when you consider they had 5 in midfield for 80 minutes and they never really seemed to command the middle of the park so the two wide men must have contributed to that.
Fez of Mahrez Posted 30 March 2014 Author Posted 30 March 2014 I actually thought Mahrez did a good job defensively yesterday too. I'm sure there were a number of occasions where he won the ball back in our half or on the half way line and then we suddenly snapped into attack. Very impressive and even more so when you consider they had 5 in midfield for 80 minutes and they never really seemed to command the middle of the park so the two wide men must have contributed to that. Agreed. He did overplay in the wrong part of the pitch a couple of times and lose it but that's the small price you pay for having a player like that. Generally he was excellent. I think some fans are just waiting to slag both of them when they look like they're going to lose the ball in our half. I do it too, it's frustrating. Just a heat of the moment reaction though. Love watching them both. After the wingers we had under Levein, Kelly, Holloway etc, it's a bloody privilege.
foxfanazer Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Waa impressed with both him and Mahrez yesterday. They both lost the ball a few times but tracked back and won the ball back. Great work rate
Guest Sharpe's Fox Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Definitely less than a flair player, and more of an all round performer who will work for the side and has good consistency. Less Taarabt more Lallana you could say.
ScouseFox Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Love it when flair players unexpectedly win a header. Some bloke in front of me yesterday was slagging Mahrez for not closing down. Two seconds later Mahrez towered above one of their players to win a header, didn't look like he would be capable of it. yeah mahrez is still a bit skinny and what you'd expect from a new to english football, young winger but he still goes up for his share of headers and puts a foot in more often than not. and when he wins the ball back in our defensive areas his default mode just seems to be run forwards as fast as i can, which turns defence into attack very nicely.
cc_star Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Yes he does. However, yesterday he had a nightmare petulant 15mins after his rasper of a shot hit the woodwork. He was all over the pitch (not in a good way), lost his shape & discipline and was shooting on sight no matter how better placed others were, cost us possession time & time again. If everyone else wasn't so on form it could have cost us. Up to that point he was great as he has generally been this season. But wild 15mins like that in the Prem will see us punished... And hard Aside from that spell, he's a much improved player mainly through upping his workrate
Banks Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Brilliant player, I'd love him to be with us for the rest of his career, cult hero and potential club legend
John Munday Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Got to say "Le God" is my favourite player from the current team. I was talking to a Burnley fan at work last night who was impressed with both him and Mahrez. They are both major assets in my book
John Munday Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Brilliant player, I'd love him to be with us for the rest of his career, cult hero and potential club legend
Milton Keynes Fox Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Still get quite worried when he gives the ball away or gets tackled, sometimes he runs back and puts in some dodgy aggressive tackles to get the ball back (which shows passion at least) Agree he has been more consistent this season though, last year he would go missing and then turn up again.
themotivator Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 Totally agree. Nearly started a topic on this myself. Think his workrate and tracking back is so important. He wins so many tackles. Granted a lot of the time he's just lost the ball himself by trying attempting a maradona, but I think we can all let him off for that.Absolutely love Tony and think its safe to say he has a soft spot for us. Those two goals v huddersfield.
MattyFromLE Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 I think that side of his game has improved ten fold. Almost the same progression as Vardy I feel. Knocky was awesome yesterday, as were the other 10 on the pitch.
Kitchandro Posted 30 March 2014 Posted 30 March 2014 I disagree that he was a luxury last season. When he was on form he was our playmaker, that is not a luxury, he was just inconsistent. As for him taking more responsibility, I'd say the Watford incident was proof he was willing to take responsibility even then. What I do think people should remember is that he's clearly playing out of position, as he is not really quick enough to be an out and out winger, but has still performed admirably. It's obvious that he likes drifting inside when he feels he wants to contribute and get on the ball more, and that's where he's most dangerous. He's unfortunate that Drinky and James have been so impressive this season. He's still a bit naive but that comes with youth, hopefully he will continue to mature because he's one of the most popular players in the squad and I'm sure everyone wants him to succeed with us. I'm looking forward to seeing how this entire midfield perform in the Premier league, they've certainly got the potential to excite.
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