Left wing

[Fez of Mahrez]

I'm interested to see who's going to line up on the left wing next season. We have three wingers now who can all play there and people on here have been saying Knocky, Mahrez, Albrighton can be the three in a 4-2-3-1, but surely all three are far better suited to the right side?

Mahrez first up as he has played on both wings for us, although primarily on the right.

I noticed he played on both wings for Algeria in their recent friendly and looked decent on the left, but so many of his decisive moments for us have been on or from the right side:

Goal against Blackpool

Goal against Sheffield Wednesday

Assist for Vardy's second at Barnsley

Assist for Vardy at Birmingham

Winning the penalty against Doncaster

Through ball for Vardy against Blackpool (not an assist but should have been and was arguably pass of the season)

Can only think of his assist for Morgan's goal against Blackpool from the left

Although he's quicker than I first thought, he still looks far more dangerous drifting in from the right and shooting, exchanging passes in the centre or playing a through ball than he does playing on the left.

Knocky - roughly the same, not quick enough to beat a man on the outside too often so you want him to drift inside from the right onto his left foot.

Albrighton - assuming we will want to play him mainly on the right and get crosses whipped in. Not the replacement for Dyer positionally that some have said he is, in my opinion.

Also think we may see Drinkwater on the right occasionally depending on further signings in central midfield. If we sign someone to play Hammond's role from the start in the tougher games, perhaps.

Any thoughts? Can any of these be as effective on the left? Do we need a direct replacement for Dyer? Will Schlupp be used there at all?

[ScouseFox]

mahrez for me. knocky/albrighton on the right, need to see how good albrighton is before deciding. 

 

another thing about albrighton on the right is that he won't cut in (as much) which may well ruin a lot of de laet's offensive work which is often on the overlap after knockaert/mahrez have drifted in. knockaert & rdl compliment each other perfectly in both defending and attacking down that wing imo. rdl has the pace knocky doesn't when going forward and knockaert always tracks his man back to help out when rdl can (arguably) be culpable defensively. 

[Jace]

Albrighton for me, Mahrez on the right with Knocky playing behind Frazier Campbell

[LCFC31]

Albrighton on the left would be a waste as his strongest attribute is his crossing. Mahrez on the left for me. He tore Armenia apart from that wing the other day!

[purpleronnie]

Not many on here know anything about the left wing.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Not many on here know anything about the left wing.

I was waiting for that kind of reference...

Almost called the thread "Too many right wingers"!

[MPH]

I was waiting for that kind of reference...

Almost called the thread "Too many right wingers"!

But you can never have too many right Wingers...

[kingfox]

Albrighton on the right, Mahrez on the left, with a new signing playing behind the striker.

 

When going more defensively, three central midfielders, with Mahrez & Knockaert/New Signing playing behind the striker, 4-3-2-1. 

[Guest Sharpe's Fox]

Lloyd.

[1972 Fox]

Albrighton for me, Mahrez on the right with Knocky playing behind Frazier Campbell

I don't see us starting the first game without Vardy up front.

[Bryn]

I think Knocky might see a fair bit of the bench. Albrighton right, Mahrez left.

[Jace]

I don't see us starting the first game without Vardy up front.

 

It does make me wonder how much do we really need to strengthen we have so many players who deserve to start 

[Langley]

Bloody communists everywhere.

[Weller in Tights]

But you can never have too many right Wingers...

You can definitely have too many right wingers. Ask the veterans of D Day who had to fight the right wing Nazis.

[GorlestonFox]

Dyer hasn't left yet.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

If Albrighton's right peg is as good as it's been talked up to be surely he'd not have too much difficulty cutting in from the left and causing some damage, as it stands I'd have him and Riyad interchanging, I'd quite like to see Knocky "in the hole" as it were. I also think this is where Andy King could come up trumps for us, last few games of the season it was clear Nige was experimenting with using him a little further up the field (almost as an atypical number 10) and I honestly believe he'd be a useful option for us in the top flight in a similar role. He's certainly got the brain for it, some of his glides into the oppositions box are fantastic.

[MPH]

You can definitely have too many right wingers. Ask the veterans of D Day who had to fight the right wing Nazis.

I would say that wasn't a problem of the amount of right wing political views held but the EXTREME right wing views of the Nazis themselves they didn't of course start believing what they did because lots of people became ' right wing' in their views... we could then say Stalin was how he was because there were too many people who were left wing..

[sphericalfox]

If Albrighton's right peg is as good as it's been talked up to be surely he'd not have too much difficulty cutting in from the left and causing some damage, as it stands I'd have him and Riyad interchanging, I'd quite like to see Knocky "in the hole" as it were. I also think this is where Andy King could come up trumps for us, last few games of the season it was clear Nige was experimenting with using him a little further up the field (almost as an atypical number 10) and I honestly believe he'd be a useful option for us in the top flight in a similar role. He's certainly got the brain for it, some of his glides into the oppositions box are fantastic.

Fairly certain Albrighton, when he was on form played left wing as well as right. Ok we don't have a natural left winger, but either Mahrez or Albrighton can adequately play that role, and if we are playing an attacking formation, as you've said, with Knocky behind the striker I think we have a side to make the opposition a little worried.

[Fox92]

Wingers on the other side has become more common over the past few years, and I think our three are indeed interchangeable. Mahrez on the right, Albrighton on the left and Knockaert behind the striker is what I'd go for but you don't want to stick with this because it becomes known. We'll be playing against better defenders, International defenders, so if our two wingers are coming inside everytime they get the ball then the opposition are just going to prevent it from happening. If you get me. Swapping throughout a game is the best option for me regardless of what position they start.

 

Also, if the one striker up front is Vardy or Nugent (or even a new signing who is the same player), then we'll be wasting crosses. For example, we all know how good of a right foot Albrighton has, and has good of a left foot Mahrez has, and if they're just getting to the byline and crossing we arn't going to win anything - we haven't exactly got a big target man like striker - so at the minute cutting inside for me is probably the best option with Mahrez on the right and Albrighton on the left.

[Stadt]

I think we'll be playing much narrower next season so they'll all be interchanging anyway.

[Captain...]

Didn't vardy play on the left of a front three at Fleetwood? Could be another option.

If we do sign Campbell it could be him leading the line Vardy left, Mahrez right, Knocky in the hole would have some serious pace up top and if we sign Campbell and he becomes the finisher we will need then we would hopefully get the goals.

Very interesting point about playing traditional wingers whipping in the ball, largely pointless with our current striking options, unless we can convert Wood into the mobile target man we all hoped he would be.

[Ric Flair]

Assuming we don't sign a replacement for Lloyd if he goes then of the 3 mentioned, i'd like to see Mahrez there initially and what impact he makes. If he's not as influential as he is on the right then he must be put back there as he's going to be one, if not the most important player for us in the PL.

 

If we are going to play two wingers that are always cutting inside, then it's imperitive we have good attacking full backs to overlap. I have my doubts that Konchesky will be able to cut it in the PL week in, week out and who knows about Jeff, but he does have the attributes required. Therefore, if we don't have an out and out left winger there then we must get a quality left back in whose able to provide us the width. Cresswell would be superb for that.

[WhispyWizard]

I don't think its the wings that are the weakest in midfield, still need that solid central player over all else.