Andy King

[gerrytaggart]

Has anyone considered the fact that Liverpool were better?

Liverpool were the better side yesterday.

I can see them comfortably finishing top half.

[Charl91]

Has anyone considered the fact that Liverpool were better?

 

 

Well yes, of course they were better, that's pretty much a given.

 

But the question is, why were they so much better?

[MooseBreath]

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

After talking up King as the next Zinedine Zidane all week I'm not surprised Thracian has avoided assessing his performance and shifted the blame onto Okazaki and others, he even managed to blame the absence of Jeff Schlupp

[fleckneymike]

Well yes, of course they were better, that's pretty much a given.

 

But the question is, why were they so much better?

 

Because they have better players?

Because they played 442 against us?

Because they know our counter attacks start with Kante?

[Charl91]

Because they have better players?

Because they played 442 against us?

Because they know our counter attacks start with Kante?

 

 

1) Yes, but so have a lot of other teams that we've played (Tottenham, United, Everton). That was our worst performance by a long margin this season - even worse than Arsenal, imo, who have much better players.

 

2) Possibly, but I hope not; if all it takes to completely nullify us is to play 4-4-2, then we're in for a terrible second half to the season.

 

3) Which leads us back to the point of this thread, that if we had a second decent midfielder who would pass forwards, our counter attack wouldn't have to rely solely on Kante to get it started. He was doing the job of 2 people. 

[fleckneymike]

1) Yes, but so have a lot of other teams that we've played (Tottenham, United, Everton). That was our worst performance by a long margin this season - even worse than Arsenal, imo, who have much better players.

 

2) Possibly, but I hope not; if all it takes to completely nullify us is to play 4-4-2, then we're in for a terrible second half to the season.

 

3) Which leads us back to the point of this thread, that if we had a second decent midfielder who would pass forwards, our counter attack wouldn't have to rely solely on Kante to get it started. He was doing the job of 2 people. 

 

Just to worry you, the correct answer is number 2.

[desertfox2]

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

I don't think they did though. Liverpool did very little they just a little less s##t than we were and were better than us in the middle despite us having Kante which shows how poor King was. Everyone apart from Everton struggled away from home though so losing by a goal at Anfield is not disastrous relatively

[DJ Barry Hammond]

can't imagine Kante can be the easiest midfielder to play with at times, especially as a two given he goes everywhere.

That essentially means if Kante is challenging for the ball, the other midfielder needs to sit into shape, if Kante drives forward with the ball, the other midfielder needs to sit into shape, making your game a much more passive one.

When King released himself a little in the dying minutes as we searched for an equaliser, he got himself two opportunities - and was really unlucky with the blocked one, so to call him a 'passenger' is an easy criticism, but without that kind of play, Kante becomes ineffective as well because his licence goes.

[TheMightySystem]

The main difference was they had 3 midfielders closing our players down we had one. As much as I respect King he needs to put himself about more in games. Drinkwater is so key not because he can ping a ball across the pitch successfully but he also takes tackles for the team stoping attacks before they can become dangerous. Yesterday Liverpool where not afraid to throw their weight around, picking up yellow cards and being stronger then our players to win the ball back. King (most noticeably but alot of other players too) seemed scared to put there foot in, if not to win the ball then to stop an attack which is why there was constant pressure on our defence.

[themightyfin]

Personally I don't think King was any better or worse than most of the team yesterday.

Going to Liverpool is a hard game for any side and quite simply we lost to a better team.

Looking for a scapegoat is the norm here on Foxes talk and it does not suprize me to see this thread one bit.

We are what we are and we have the players we have a what makes up out 25 man squad.

We win and loose as a team so to single one man out yesterday is just wrong.

We ate fans of the club and should be getting behind the players if they have a good game or not. Everyone can not be outstanding every game.

The real test for us this season comes if snd when we loose a few on the spin. That's when you will see how good we are as the players and fans must stick together. Reading this thread it does not look like a great start from us fans.

The last 12 months have been the best I remember in my 30 years of supporting the club and I for one will be proud of what we have achieved wherever we finish this season. Every player in the squad has played his part of this special ride they have given us even if they have hardly played. I won't be looking to single anyone out good ot bad. I love this team and always will each and everyone of the squad.be proud of your team and support them.

[C-man]

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

I find myself defending King a lot on here but the majority of the time it's arguing that people are so fvcking fickle that they are willing to forget that last week he was arguably one of our best players on the pitch and this week he's suddenly not good enough.

People on here have so little perspective or faith it's laughable.

[Guest Col city fan]

I find myself defending King a lot on here but the majority of the time it's arguing that people are so fvcking fickle that they are willing to forget that last week he was arguably one of our best players on the pitch and this week he's suddenly not good enough.

People on here have so little perspective or faith it's laughable.

[Medwayfox]

King is nothing more than human polyfilla - an acceptable temporary fix for midfield gaps due to injury; but nothing more.

[Viva]

I find myself defending King a lot on here but the majority of the time it's arguing that people are so fvcking fickle that they are willing to forget that last week he was arguably one of our best players on the pitch and this week he's suddenly not good enough.

People on here have so little perspective or faith it's laughable.

I don't think many people thought that looking at the match ratings for Everton.

[Bamba's Babes]

Wasn't very good vs. Liverpool.

[Thracian]

After talking up King as the next Zinedine Zidane all week I'm not surprised Thracian has avoided assessing his performance and shifted the blame onto Okazaki and others, he even managed to blame the absence of Jeff Schlupp

 

 

Having watched a streaming of the entire game I didn't see much point in assessing anyone. Nor have I suggested anywhere that King had a good game - just that he was there in the last few minutes trying to snatch a goal that would have given us a point...and wasn't hiding at all.

 

Yesterday's performance was exactly what I expected for a tired team against hyped up opposition on their own ground a day after Christmas and when Arsenal lost 4-0 on their travels. We were second best in most places. That includes King but it doesn't exclude: Vardy, Mahrez, Albrighton, Shinji and even Fuchs and Huth to some extent plus the substitutes who also made minimal impression.

 

I've not checked the stats cos I can't be bothered but I'd say King's compared as well as anyone else including his two shots of which one seemed to be going in if it hadn't been blocked almost at source.

 

We were pressured and outfought everywhere by a team that has actually underperformed many more times than we have this season and no, I don't think Drinkwater would have been our great saviour if he'd been out there any more than Inler.

 

Kante was one of our few bright lights - he and perhaps Morgan. Otherwise the only compensation on the day was Southampton winning so emphatically.

 

But our off day - wasn't down to King any more than anyone else. King actually has an excellent performance record with us in three divisions including the Premiership and actually provided as much threat as anyone - unlikie either Shinji or Kramaric whose ineptitutde was conveniently overlooked. 

 

I've long realised that King's not best regarded here by a certain few who wouldn't give him credit even for a good game.

But nothing I've seen suggests either Shinji, Inler or Kramaric will add to what he's contributed to our cause both as a Premiership player and the last 12 months and for years before that.

 

The truth is that usually Kante and Drinkwater have help in abundance from Shinji (withdrawn into midfield), Vardy (taking the attention of two defenders much of the time) and from Mahrez (doing the same).

 

Saturday Liverpool had four tightly arranged into midfield yet Kante and King were denied all the help they were always going to need and that Kante/Drinkwater would have needed just the same.      

[Sol thewall Bamba]

King is nothing more than human polyfilla - an acceptable temporary fix for midfield gaps due to injury; but nothing more.

Pollyfilla never lasts 8 years or over 300 uses though does it.

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

To be fair Andy King is here to be a part of this team, and he did that against Liverpool. Obviously people look at King favorably and so they should, he's already a Leicester City hero to me, been here for all the dire crap and does perform at this level when given the chance, only problem is Danny Drinkwater is who he is replacing and he's been one of the best central midfielders in the league, consistently, this season, all us Leicester fans know it, Kante gets all the attention but Danny has been absolutely outstanding. To expect King to come in and partner Kante in the same way is an unrealistic ask. Kante and Drinky have built up a connection in the middle, they just compliment each other so well and are full of confidence by being an integral part of the reason the team in performing so well. Liverpool played very well on Saturday, we were under constant pressure and that wasn't Andy Kings fault, the fact he didn't do as well as you'd expect Drinkwater to do is just how it is currently, Danny is part of a partnership and riding high on that. Main point being not many teams will put the amount of pressure on us or be as hungry and comfortable on the ball as Liverpool were in most games we play, and he still very nearly nicked a goal for us, defender blocked it knowing nothing about it, if that goes in we're all singing his praises and banging on about what a Leicester legend he is. He always puts in a shift.

[The Doctor]

He's a good player but we've always known he can't play in a two - even in the championship we had Oakley as a narrow winger to add a third cm, with his best performances with wellens and abe behind him. Certainly he can't really do either of the midfield roles in this system. Would be worth a go at support striker given his positional awareness but as a cm in a 4-4-2, not unless you sacrifice one of Albrighton or mahrez

[Dickov22]

He's a good player but we've always known he can't play in a two - even in the championship we had Oakley as a narrow winger to add a third cm, with his best performances with wellens and abe behind him. Certainly he can't really do either of the midfield roles in this system. Would be worth a go at support striker given his positional awareness but as a cm in a 4-4-2, not unless you sacrifice one of Albrighton or mahrez

King as a support striker

[Soar Fox]

King as a support striker

Tbf King's best season goal scoring wise was the 2010/11 when Sven played him further forward.

The timings of his runs into the box are very good and he's a one of the best finishers we've got.

[Thracian]

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. 

 

 

Of course our system should have been modified. It was clear we were being outnumbered from the start so why let it continue?.

Normally when Kante/Drinkwater play, Shinji's a permanent central midfield assistant.

Not this time. Shinji attempted just 14 passes against Liverpool - less than half the number attempted by King - and even had fewer strikes on goal so he was hardly a goal threat!

All that said, Kante was in a class of his own for Leicester, who had some serious problems exposed, with Liverpool demonstrating the sort of standard we'll need to attain to have any chance of maintaining our challenge.

In case anyone might be in any doubt I'd have only given King 5/10 for his performance on Saturday compared with Kante's 7.5 which made him close to heroic in the circumstances.

Shinji would have got 4, Albrighton 4.5, Vardy 3 and Mahrez 5.

Further back I rated Kasper 6, Simpson 6.5, Morgan 7, Huth 6 and Fuchs 6.5.  

[Bayfox]

Tbf King's best season goal scoring wise was the 2010/11 when Sven played him further forward.

The timings of his runs into the box are very good and he's a one of the best finishers we've got.

King was also pretty much the only player that got anything out of sousas system as he was played in that role. I really can't see him doing much worse than Okazaki

[The Doctor]

King as a support striker

As Steve Walsh has said, he's one of the best finishers we've got, and his timing of runs is one of the best we've seen in a decade or so. You don't want to play him too far forward otherwise you lose those runs, but he's got all the attributes to play as a withdrawn forward, while lacking either the incisive final ball or all action dynamo abilities we ask of our midfield at present.

[Thracian]

King's problem is the system Ranieri plays compared with the one Pearson finished with and which played to his strengths. 

 

King is a short, fast passer who generally and relies on players moving off and around him. Drinkwater naturally looks longer. 

 

King is a greater threat than Drinkwater as an attacker and far more useful aerially in defence or attack but Drinkwater gets his head up more and sees the pictures more widely.

 

Playing three at the back King could use his strengths quite naturally but he doesn't cope well in a two-man central midfield and never really has because he's too one-paced and that pace isn't fast at the best of times.

 

His dilemma is that Ranieri will never forsake four at the back so his chances of starting will be limited. Perhaps time for a move come the end of the season.