Andy King

[pazzerfox]

Tell you what...Why don't we put this down to a bad day at the office and look forward to the Man City game.  Arsenal lost 4-0 to Southampton by the way.

[Dr The Singh]

He hasn't taken his chance of cementing his position in the team. DD is a level above. I wonder if CR will look to improve

[Guest Col city fan]

We'd be dropping points two with Drinkwater in a midfield two - or anyone else - if we were up against the sort of calculated intensive pressure that was central to the Liverpool tactics. Even worse given there was virtually no help from Mahrez (after his shot) or Vardy (with his fever and probably more).

We tried and tried to play our one-touch football but, all over the field, we simply had no collective availability. Once a first time pass was a yard or two off target it was gobbled up by Liverpool and there was never really time for two and three touches.

As other mentioned Liverpool's system meant we had nothing on for us out wide - neither Mahrez or Albrighton had the pace or space to make any headway and poor Vardy finally found himself so under the weather that he couldn't occupy one defender never mind the two he often takes and therefore, with Shinji neither operating as a striker nor a midfielder, we were well and truly snookered.

More than anything it emphasised how vital it is to work on our set pieces. Once again, although Fuchs' delivery was so promising, they were largely inaccurate and we failed to score the goal that might have stolen a point. We really need to attend to this detail. There will be games like yesterday's and we can't afford not to work on making other goalscoring opportunities other than from open play because we simply don't have the depth of squad to cope with the consistently high demands of the Premiership.

It's not a matter of condemning players either. Our team has performed like heroes since way back last season. There's 13 or 14 players who've made massive individual contributions. But we don't have enough cover, we don't have enough options and we don't have enough people to retain the pace on which our success has been based.

Absolutely spot on.

We can applaud the players and the club and say we are having a miraculous season (which we are) and getting very excited and all that.

But we are SO CLOSE here to doing something even more amazing. We are so close to getting into the Champions League at the end of the season.

But you are right...... Liverpool did their homework, stifled our attacking threat..just nullified us to having very few chances. Personally, I'm surprised other teams haven't done this more...or maybe they've tried and we haven't let them? I'm not sure which.

It's too simple to do the usual rubbish of blaming individual players. Just look at the threads yesterday and you'll see that King is this week's scapegoat. Lose on Tuesday, it'll be someone else.

But football is a TEAM game. Yesterday, we didn't attack well as a team, but we did defend pretty well as a team. We conceded a single goal against a bouyant Liverpool side on the same day, don't forget that Arsenal conceded 4.

I maintain that our lack of strength in depth lies in our strikers. Vardy is our only genuine goal scoring striker. The rest are bang average I'm afraid. Pick Ulloa, Kram and Shinji and you can't get a fag paper between em. Lose Vardy to injury, poor form, or whatever and this team will not score anywhere near as many goals. We'll stop pressing as much and we'll create fewer chances.

This ain't being overly negative. I've said, we are having an amazing season. Better than any of us would have predicted I guess. But if we don't now strengthen in those key areas (for me, another top striker if available and another quality attacking midfielder) we won't be doing ourselves justice I don't think. We are so near to doing the impossible. But if we don't get the players to keep playing how we have been playing, we'll probably let ourselves down at the final knockings.

[Dr The Singh]

Absolutely spot on.

We can applaud the players and the club and say we are having a miraculous season (which we are) and getting very excited and all that.

But we are SO CLOSE here to doing something even more amazing. We are so close to getting into the Champions League at the end of the season.

But you are right...... Liverpool did their homework, stifled our attacking threat..just nullified us to having very few chances. Personally, I'm surprised other teams haven't done this more...or maybe they've tried and we haven't let them? I'm not sure which.

It's too simple to do the usual rubbish of blaming individual players. Just look at the threads yesterday and you'll see that King is this week's scapegoat. Lose on Tuesday, it'll be someone else.

But football is a TEAM game. Yesterday, we didn't attack well as a team, but we did defend pretty well as a team. We conceded a single goal against a bouyant Liverpool side on the same day, don't forget that Arsenal conceded 4.

I maintain that our lack of strength in depth lies in our strikers. Vardy is our only genuine goal scoring striker. The rest are bang average I'm afraid. Pick Ulloa, Kram and Shinji and you can't get a fag paper between em. Lose Vardy to injury, poor form, or whatever and this team will not score anywhere near as many goals. We'll stop pressing as much and we'll create fewer chances.

This ain't being overly negative. I've said, we are having an amazing season. Better than any of us would have predicted I guess. But if we don't now strengthen in those key areas (for me, another top striker if available and another quality attacking midfielder) we won't be doing ourselves justice I don't think. We are so near to doing the impossible. But if we don't get the players to keep playing how we have been playing, we'll probably let ourselves down at the final knockings.

Seriously, Cattermole could do a better job then King

[Charl91]

The reason we were so over-run in midfield was because it was pretty much like playing with one man. While other players were also off their game, it was pretty difficult to do anything with 0 service.

 

There were so many times where King made almost no attempt to get a tackle in or win the ball back, but just floated around. Football is a team game, and you can't afford to have weak links in the team; especially in such a crucial area.

 

As I said, I like King and wouldn't get rid - he can clearly do a job as a sub -, but people who think he's good enough as a starter are just deluding themselves.

[Guest Col city fan]

Seriously, Cattermole could do a better job then King

So what, he ain't our player. King is.

[GingerrrFox]

We'd be dropping points two with Drinkwater in a midfield two - or anyone else - if we were up against the sort of calculated intensive pressure that was central to the Liverpool tactics.

 

We tried and tried to play our one-touch football but, all over the field, we simply had no collective availability. Once a first time pass was a yard or two off target it was gobbled up by Liverpool and there was never really time for two and three touches.          

 

 

All season with Kante and Drinkwater in a midfield 2 we have had the upper hand on the opposition, we have never had the majority of the ball in games yes but those 2 have ensured teams do not boss the midfield, so most have had to resort to passing it around their back 4 which is worthless possession. Yesterday Andy King was ball watching in defence and left gaps in the middle of the pitch, there was space everywhere for Liverpool.

 

When we have had the little share of the ball in previous games we have always used the ball positively and Kante/Drinkwater have looked to push up the field quickly with direct play. Yesterday every time Andy King got the ball he looked to play a useless 5 yard pass back where it came or move the ball sideways, never taking the initiative and grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. One situation that particularly sticks in my mind was Danny Simpson taking the ball from Coutinho, he made a nice pass inside under pressure to King, King had time to turn on the ball and look to drive up the field but instead gave the ball straight back to Simpson without having a look around him, Simpson was instantly under pressure and had to resort to playing the long ball down the channel.

 

Everything Andy King did yesterday was pointless, he shirked 50/50 challenges, he shirked challenging for the ball in the air, if the ball broke up in possession and it was free he didn't bust his arse to get there. When he got the ball he did nothing of worth with it, he's turned into Dean Hammond looking for a 5 yard sideways or backwards pass. He can't run with the ball and attack the opposition which is a quality you need from both central midfielders if you are going to play a 4-4-2. He's genuinely just not good enough for a team that is currently at the top of the league and challenging for Top 4 status.

 

I've seen a few people say "it's not his fault we should have changed the system" sorry not having that! We've played the same system all season with 2 superior players in the midfield and only lost once previously. He's not good enough. If Drinkwater or Matty James were fit and had played yesterday alongside Kante I'm of the belief that the game would have gone differently. He's mediocre at best.

 

Kante attempted to do the job of 2 yesterday because his midfield partner went missing, which isn't something new when it comes to Andy King. 

[Father Ted]

I really felt sorry for Kante yesterday up against 3 central midfielders on his own. Kingy had a stinker.

[The Quick Brown Fox]

As much as I love Kingy I feel we need a stronger back up for Danny and Kante.

I think he is better suited to 3 in the middle but we ain't playing with 3 this season.

[Father Ted]

As much as I love Kingy I feel we need a stronger back up for Danny and Kante.

I think he is better suited to 3 in the middle but we ain't playing with 3 this season.

Hopefully Matty James isn't too far off full fitness.

[NewburyFox]

All season with Kante and Drinkwater in a midfield 2 we have had the upper hand on the opposition, we have never had the majority of the ball in games yes but those 2 have ensured teams do not boss the midfield, so most have had to resort to passing it around their back 4 which is worthless possession. Yesterday Andy King was ball watching in defence and left gaps in the middle of the pitch, there was space everywhere for Liverpool.

When we have had the little share of the ball in previous games we have always used the ball positively and Kante/Drinkwater have looked to push up the field quickly with direct play. Yesterday every time Andy King got the ball he looked to play a useless 5 yard pass back where it came or move the ball sideways, never taking the initiative and grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. One situation that particularly sticks in my mind was Danny Simpson taking the ball from Coutinho, he made a nice pass inside under pressure to King, King had time to turn on the ball and look to drive up the field but instead gave the ball straight back to Simpson without having a look around him, Simpson was instantly under pressure and had to resort to playing the long ball down the channel.

Everything Andy King did yesterday was pointless, he shirked 50/50 challenges, he shirked challenging for the ball in the air, if the ball broke up in possession and it was free he didn't bust his arse to get there. When he got the ball he did nothing of worth with it, he's turned into Dean Hammond looking for a 5 yard sideways or backwards pass. He can't run with the ball and attack the opposition which is a quality you need from both central midfielders if you are going to play a 4-4-2. He's genuinely just not good enough for a team that is currently at the top of the league and challenging for Top 4 status.

I've seen a few people say "it's not his fault we should have changed the system" sorry not having that! We've played the same system all season with 2 superior players in the midfield and only lost once previously. He's not good enough. If Drinkwater or Matty James were fit and had played yesterday alongside Kante I'm of the belief that the game would have gone differently. He's mediocre at best.

Kante attempted to do the job of 2 yesterday because his midfield partner went missing, which isn't something new when it comes to Andy King.

You've saved me from explaining this, so thanks.

The game yesterday was lost in the midfield because they were able to utterly dominate King. It left us so exposed defensively because they beat him in every physical battle and the runners just glided past him, but similarly every time he did manage to get on the ball he just passed it backwards. It meant that the wingers, who we rely on so much creatively, were starved of good service and in turn the strikers received nothing to work with. I felt sorry for Kante as he was doing the job of two in there and doing it superbly, unfortunately it just wasn't enough.

And as Arsenal's bottle job yesterday at Southampton was entirely predictable, so was Thracian's refusal to apportion any blame to King for the team's failings yesterday.

[wolfgang amadeus]

Pass completion is usually the statistic most would cite to measure how much a player gave (or didn't give) the ball away -- or at least, that's what first came to mind in response to your original comment --, so that's why a few (including myself) cited the percentage when you brought up your point.

 

Now given, he didn't complete many dribbles, but that's also not his role. His teammates failed him.

 

WhoScored had him as Leicester's best player today, fwiw: http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959645/Live/England-Premier-League-2015-2016-Liverpool-Leicester

 

Stop being so antagonistic.

 

WhoScored also has King as our 4th best player in that game so we can probably take it with a pinch of salt judging by this thread.

 

Thought King played some clumsy passes in the final third and missed a couple of chances but can't see how people were saying he was hiding, the Liverpool forwards clearly had the better of him though. Don't know what happened today though, we've been beating three in midfield by dropping Vardy/Okazaki onto one of the deeper midfielders when they attack (Can/Henderson) but both of those two had so much time on the ball today and were allowed to carry it right up to King/Kante which I don't think did them any favours.

 

Still love Kingy and think he has a lot to offer the club on/off the pitch.

[Guest Col city fan]

WhoScored also has King as our 4th best player in that game so we can probably take it with a pinch of salt judging by this thread.

Thought King played some clumsy passes in the final third and missed a couple of chances but can't see how people were saying he was hiding, the Liverpool forwards clearly had the better of him though. Don't know what happened today though, we've been beating three in midfield by dropping Vardy/Okazaki onto one of the deeper midfielders when they attack (Can/Henderson) but both of those two had so much time on the ball today and were allowed to carry it right up to King/Kante which I don't think did them any favours.

Still love Kingy and think he has a lot to offer the club on/off the pitch.

King wasn't hiding. Why we lost yesterday (and didn't score for the first time this season) is because Vardy was ill. If he and Mahrez are not on top of their game, and instinctively playing well together, we won't score enough goals.

To keep blindly blaming one player is to miss the obvious. For me, it's obvious. Vardy don't score...we don't win.

[psychonaut]

All season with Kante and Drinkwater in a midfield 2 we have had the upper hand on the opposition, we have never had the majority of the ball in games yes but those 2 have ensured teams do not boss the midfield, so most have had to resort to passing it around their back 4 which is worthless possession. Yesterday Andy King was ball watching in defence and left gaps in the middle of the pitch, there was space everywhere for Liverpool.

When we have had the little share of the ball in previous games we have always used the ball positively and Kante/Drinkwater have looked to push up the field quickly with direct play. Yesterday every time Andy King got the ball he looked to play a useless 5 yard pass back where it came or move the ball sideways, never taking the initiative and grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. One situation that particularly sticks in my mind was Danny Simpson taking the ball from Coutinho, he made a nice pass inside under pressure to King, King had time to turn on the ball and look to drive up the field but instead gave the ball straight back to Simpson without having a look around him, Simpson was instantly under pressure and had to resort to playing the long ball down the channel.

Everything Andy King did yesterday was pointless, he shirked 50/50 challenges, he shirked challenging for the ball in the air, if the ball broke up in possession and it was free he didn't bust his arse to get there. When he got the ball he did nothing of worth with it, he's turned into Dean Hammond looking for a 5 yard sideways or backwards pass. He can't run with the ball and attack the opposition which is a quality you need from both central midfielders if you are going to play a 4-4-2. He's genuinely just not good enough for a team that is currently at the top of the league and challenging for Top 4 status.

I've seen a few people say "it's not his fault we should have changed the system" sorry not having that! We've played the same system all season with 2 superior players in the midfield and only lost once previously. He's not good enough. If Drinkwater or Matty James were fit and had played yesterday alongside Kante I'm of the belief that the game would have gone differently. He's mediocre at best.

Kante attempted to do the job of 2 yesterday because his midfield partner went missing, which isn't something new when it comes to Andy King.

Unfortunately this is spot on. A complete passanger these days.

[Callabinho]

"The King, king, Andy Andy king, he gets the ball and does **** all, Andy Andy king".....sorry.

[TJB-fox]

King wasn't hiding. Why we lost yesterday (and didn't score for the first time this season) is because Vardy was ill. If he and Mahrez are not on top of their game, and instinctively playing well together, we won't score enough goals.

To keep blindly blaming one player is to miss the obvious. For me, it's obvious. Vardy don't score...we don't win.

Bit of an over reaction I think, the main reason we failed to win yesterday because every Liverpool player played at a 7/8/9 whereas our players played at 5/6. One bad game doesn't make a bad team

[Ashley]

Like you'll be able to tell Trac any different. Every post on here from him becomes a Andy King love in. Boring.

[MC Prussian]

King wasn't hiding. Why we lost yesterday (and didn't score for the first time this season) is because Vardy was ill. If he and Mahrez are not on top of their game, and instinctively playing well together, we won't score enough goals.

To keep blindly blaming one player is to miss the obvious. For me, it's obvious. Vardy don't score...we don't win.

 

Comedy gold, Colin.

 

We lost because a large chunk of our squad had a stinker yesterday (King, Fuchs, Albrighton, Mahrez in particular), because Huth and Morgan were not close enough to Benteke the way they should have been and because our pass completion was atrocious.

And we lost because Liverpool were in dire need to make up for their abhorrent performance at Watford.

 

Nothing good could ever come out of that.

[Guest Col city fan]

Comedy gold, Colin.

We lost because a large chunk of our squad had a stinker yesterday (King, Fuchs, Albrighton, Mahrez in particular), because Huth and Morgan were not close enough to Benteke the way they should have been and because our pass completion was atrocious.

And we lost because Liverpool were in dire need to make up for their abhorrent performance at Watford.

Nothing good could ever come out of that.

Not at all. I'm of the opinion that these two effectively makes us tick. If they are off form, ill, injured, or get sold (heaven forbid) this team will look very very different IMO.

Weve got a team full of good players. But by no means world-beaters. Albrighton, King, Big Wes, Huth, etc...all solid professionals but not world-beaters. Vardy and Mahrez (together) have been SO good this season that they have pushed up the average, so to speak. For me, it's of no surprise whatsoever that other players yesterday looked out of sorts. Vardy and Mahrez did.

You think that we'll score anywhere near as many goals if Vardy is out? Or if Mahrez pulls a hamstring or something?

Clearly Ranieri doesn't...hence he played Vardy yesterday when he was ill! He knows his importance to this side.

As for King..you know what you'll get..he's never changed. He'll give his all, he'll appear to be not as influential as he actually is and he'll ALWAYS look better in a team going forward with vigour.

However, I guess you're pleased actually..you'll probably see your beloved Inler in the next game.

[shade]

King wasn't hiding. Why we lost yesterday (and didn't score for the first time this season) is because Vardy was ill. If he and Mahrez are not on top of their game, and instinctively playing well together, we won't score enough goals.

To keep blindly blaming one player is to miss the obvious. For me, it's obvious. Vardy don't score...we don't win.

Everton, Swansea?

[Guest Col city fan]

Everton, Swansea?

Generally....on average...metaphorically...

You get my drift...

[MC Prussian]

Not at all. I'm of the opinion that these two effectively makes us tick. If they are off form, ill, injured, or get sold (heaven forbid) this team will look very very different IMO.

Weve got a team full of good players. But by no means world-beaters. Albrighton, King, Big Wes, Huth, etc...all solid professionals but not world-beaters. Vardy and Mahrez (together) have been SO good this season that they have pushed up the average, so to speak. For me, it's of no surprise whatsoever that other players yesterday looked out of sorts. Vardy and Mahrez did.

You think that we'll score anywhere near as many goals if Vardy is out? Or if Mahrez pulls a hamstring or something?

Clearly Ranieri doesn't...hence he played Vardy yesterday when he was ill! He knows his importance to this side.

As for King..you know what you'll get..he's never changed. He'll give his all, he'll appear to be not as influential as he actually is and he'll ALWAYS look better in a team going forward with vigour.

However, I guess you're pleased actually..you'll probably see your beloved Inler in the next game.

 

In short: We lost yesterday not because of Vardy being ill.

[Guest Col city fan]

In short: We lost yesterday not because of Vardy being ill.

And we didn't lose the game because Andy King 'isn't good enough'

In short.

[MC Prussian]

And we didn't lose the game because Andy King 'isn't good enough'

In short.

 

First of all, that's not what I was saying.

Second of all, that's not what you were saying, neither.

 

Brilliant diversion tactic once more, Colin.

 

We all know King is a good player who has his off moments where he seemingly disappears and adds nothing to the game. Just like yesterday (and he wasn't the only one). He lacked urgency and could neither dictate the game nor break up play. I don't see him as a regular starter.

[fleckneymike]

Has anyone considered the fact that Liverpool were better?