No creativity

[MooseBreath]

It's because Pearson believes that we'll get "overran in midfield" if we play 442. I've seen that same argument trotted out on here quite a few times as well, but it's total nonsense.

Both teams have the same number of players, unless you mirror the opposition's formation then there will always be the chance of being overran somewhere on the pitch. What matters more is getting your best players on the pitch playing a formation they're suited to.

QPR just scored twice and drew with Man City playing 442. If that doesn't show you how much of a nonsense the need to have three (or four) CMs on the pitch is then nothing will.

[Fez of Mahrez]

It's because Pearson believes that we'll get "overran in midfield" if we play 442. I've seen that same argument trotted out on here quite a few times as well, but it's total nonsense.

Both teams have the same number of players, unless you mirror the opposition's formation then there will always be the chance of being overran somewhere on the pitch. What matters more is getting your best players on the pitch playing a formation they're suited to.

QPR just scored twice and drew with Man City playing 442. If that doesn't show you how much of a nonsense the need to have three (or four) CMs on the pitch is then nothing will.

QPR isn't a good example to use, looking at their midfield.

[stillwater]

Wish NP would explain why he has started meddling and swapping players every week, the team that beat Man U conceded goals but at least they looked like scoring as well, I was more than happy with the you score three we will score four attitude of the team,than this pile of shit that he is trying to make them play at the moment.

Said at the start of the season that it would be tough and that NP deserved a full season regardless of where we finished, however if we lose to Sunderland and QPR I think it cut be curtains for NP. Or we may go down as the worst team to give the BPL.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Trying not to lose games is all NP can do tactically. We need to try and WIN games by ATTACKING the other side. We are just boring and predictable at the moment. I would rather put up a fight and lose 3-2 each game than lose 2-0 every fookin time we play!!!!

[Dan]

It was a negative teamsheet. We gave them absolutely nothing to worry about. We defended pretty well for a lot of the game but when we're under so much pressure we're always going to buckle eventually.

 

A midfield four of Cambiasso, James, Drinkwater & King is such a drab combination - they're all good footballers but there's absolutely no variation whatsoever. I'd rather have started Powell or Mahrez for one of them.

[Corky]

I know I repeat myself time and time again but I'm starting to sound even more like a broken record, if that's possible.

 

I like Pearson, I really do and i've said even if we get relegated we should keep him unless he does something dramtically stupid.

 

People have mentioned him being stubborn in the past and i've never really agreed with them, but I do now and his stubborness may be his downfall, it may be classed as 'dramatially stupid', he might just be shooting himself in the foot.

 

Can you explain to me this stubborness that is labelled at Pearson? 

 

He doesn't stick with the same formation each game. He changes the personnel regularly. The squad changes on a weekly basis. It's not as though he's selecting the same 11 each week without fail in a rigid set-up.

 

If anything he's more experimental and uncertain than stubborn.

[Larry_LCFC]

I find the loss of our ability to counterattack most worrying. We were electric for the first few games, just look at Vardy against United. Now we just seem to counter to the half way line, stop and wait for their defence to run back and then lose the ball anyway. Happened time after time today. It's madness!

[Matt]

Can you explain to me this stubborness that is labelled at Pearson? 

 

He doesn't stick with the same formation each game. He changes the personnel regularly. The squad changes on a weekly basis. It's not as though he's selecting the same 11 each week without fail in a rigid set-up.

 

If anything he's more experimental and uncertain than stubborn.

 

No Mahrez (For 4 of the last 6 games), No Knockeart, Persistence of the diamond, Keeping underperfoming players in.

 

We need wingers!

[Corky]

No Mahrez (For 4 of the last 6 games), No Knockeart, Persistence of the diamond, Keeping underperfoming players in.

 

We need wingers!

 

He played width against Burnley. He played Mahrez at Swansea. He played wingers at Newcastle. The diamond has been played in two games out of 11. What underperforming players were left in today? Nugent wasn't. Konchesky (though I don't think he's been too bad) wasn't. Kasper maybe, but would you want Adam Smith thrown in? Mahrez was heavily criticised after Palace for his display and was brought in against Burnley.

[Matt]

He played width against Burnley. He played Mahrez at Swansea. He played wingers at Newcastle. The diamond has been played in two games out of 11. What underperforming players were left in today? Nugent wasn't. Konchesky (though I don't think he's been too bad) wasn't. Kasper maybe, but would you want Adam Smith thrown in? Mahrez was heavily criticised after Palace for his display and was brought in against Burnley.

 

De Laet?

 

Drinkwater?

 

James?

 

Cambiasso?

 

Ok you can't get rid of all, we don't have the replacement but certainly 1 or 2.

 

And I agree up until the last game I don't think Konch has been bad at all - Which leads me to a question - He has one bad performance and he's straight out, what about others, why does it take them so long to be dropped?

[smudger63]

Containment football.

 

He thinks it's the way forward.

Is this the opposite of Total Football?

[Dr The Singh]

Can anyone please explain why we aren't playing our most creative players, or at least giving them a run?

I personally don't think Mahrez and Knockaert are particularly fantastic, but at least they can run with the ball and look to create something??

We look like scoring never again.. and I STILL maintain that supply is the issue. It doesn't matter who we play up top, as a team we look like creating zero.

What is Pearson doing?

Let's have some rational explanations or at least some attempt at explaining what is in Pearson's mind..

Speaking to Mrs Col, she says the same thing about you and your bedroom antics

[Buzzell]

We're just not good enough for this level. We need to strengthen the squad in January, no doubt about it. It will be interesting to see, if Pearson looks to strengthen, who he brings in.

[harpendenfox]

To be fair Konch had bombshell moments against Toon, Swansea and Baggies. Deserved to be dropped. But it's mindset and midfield that are the real issues

[harpendenfox]

And whilst I'm not after a change in manager if this bad run carries on for four more games questions will need to be asked

[Dr The Singh]

And whilst I'm not after a change in manager if this bad run carries on for four more games questions will need to be asked

I'm here with Mrs col, tell me and I will ask het

[WardyisPukka]

Sorry but for that 90 mins were woeful in the final third - no proper crosses no through balls! Vardy chasing complete scraps which is a joke at this level! 

 

This diamond formation is a total joke at times - it offers nothing going forward and more importantly no width - drinkwater and james today were tracking back so much they look knackered after 60 minutes! those two are just completely wasted in this formation 

 

The more Nigel pursues this formation the more he looks a total fool! he can say we lack killer instinct/not taking chances etc but in this formation we don't even create clear cut chances ! 

[harpendenfox]

I'm here with Mrs col, tell me and I will ask het

Could we have a roast tomorrow?

[Dr The Singh]

Could we have a roast tomorrow?

She said PM Col. a picture of your meat and she will let you know

[smudger63]

Nobody can explain Pearson's thoughts behind it, only explanation there might be is that Mahrez & Knockaert attitude wise are doing Pearson's head in. 

 

All teams in the Premier League either play with wingers, or play a diamond shape with someone in the "Number 10" role behind the strikers. Right now we are playing neither, King in that role doesn't work.

 

You see teams who we have played recently, last week West Brom had Sessegnon, other week Swansea had Sigurdsson, today Southampton have Tadic & Mane, all creative threats who either play down the middle or out wide.

 

We leave our most creative players either on the bench, or not even in the squad at all, which at this level is utterly bizarre and won't get us anywhere. 

I think the problem he feels he has with them, is that he don`t think they work hard enough tracking back and helping the full backs, especially Mahrez.

Certainly that was the impression i got when i heard Pearson talking about the Swansea game the other week, although to be fair he didn`t mention any names.

It`s certainly true that Mahrez in particular, may well get back at times, but doesn`t really seem too arsed about putting in any wholehearted tackles.

Of course the alternative is we give Simpson a chance at right back, who supposedly at least, is a better defensively then De Laet, and see if he copes any better with out any decent help from Mahrez.

Personally i think we need to get Mahrez back in the team, and also get Drinkwater pulling the strings in the middle of the park again, where he is at his best.

[smudger63]

He played width against Burnley. He played Mahrez at Swansea. He played wingers at Newcastle. The diamond has been played in two games out of 11. What underperforming players were left in today? Nugent wasn't. Konchesky (though I don't think he's been too bad) wasn't. Kasper maybe, but would you want Adam Smith thrown in? Mahrez was heavily criticised after Palace for his display and was brought in against Burnley.

Mahrez played against Burnley and scored, he played at Swansea and was poor, but still looked the most likely of our players to score or create something, despite his rubbish tracking back and tackling.

He played Albrighton and Schlupp out wide at Newcastle, but it seemed they were picked more for their willingness to track back and help the full backs, than for any attacking threat they might carry.

Ironically he took them off just as we were starting to get on top, and put Vardy and Nugent out wide instead!

I want Pearson to be the one that turn things round, but he has certainly been making some bizarre decisions lately.

[MooseBreath]

Can't imagine what Mahrez must be thinking. We haven't scored a single goal in the four games since he last started and now he can't even get on from the bench. Wouldn't be surprised if he hands in a transfer request before January if it carries on for much longer. Without doubt one of the best creative players I've ever seen in a Leicester shirt, and he doesn't play at a time when we can barely even get a shot on target never mind score. It is beyond bizarre, it's totally inexplicable.

Pearson is stubborn because he refuses to admit when his tactics and team selection are wrong. Where we should be going back to systems that we know work (442, 4231 with wingers not out and out strikers playing on the wing), he persists with obviously failing formations because he would seemingly rather continue to fail than admit he's made a mistake.

[Guest ttfn]

Today I guess central midfielders were there to shut out the service through the middle from Schneiderlin/Wanyama through to Pelle. But then it was a very dangerous game to let crosses ping in non-stop from right and left to players like Pelle in the box. Luckily Wes & Was were solid and blocked that threat. 

 

As much as creativity was needed, I think having wingers today would have helped the full-backs for sure. 

 

I'm not sure why NP has picked no wingers now and seems to persist with it. Maybe they aren't doing enough in training or something's gone on behind the scenes (not saying something has, just suggesting). Also  think we're trying to fit our game around Cambiasso and it's displacing Drinkwater and James. 

 

Pearson's rationale these days is play to not get beat, as opposed to play to win. I hate that whenever any manager does it for whatever club. 

The most worrying thing today is that Southampton dominated possession even with us having 4 sodding central midfielders on the pitch.

 

If that isn't telling Pearson that he's completely imbalanced the side then nothing will.

[Guest ttfn]

This is a bit of a myth. We were defensive in those first games too, look at the possession and number of shots. We just had greater energy and more of a threat on the counter.

But crucially we had players on the pitch capable of making and converting opportunities.

 

Against Arsenal Mahrez (from memory) played the whole game and against Man United Nugent, Vardy and Ulloa all played.

[Guest ttfn]

Pearson said at the start of the season that we wouldn't change our style and we would go out to win every game. His comments and selection suggest we went for a 0-0. Why the change Nige?

If we go down, I'd sooner we did it having a go. Just like Wigan used to do. This is dire at the moment. The next game against Sunderland is starting to feel like it will be a chore to go to.

Where did our positivity go? Our desire to get at a team, give it a go and be a joy to watch has evaporated

We've been playing for 0-0s since Newcastle away.

 

I think it's pretty obvious that he lost his nerve at half time against a very weak Burnley side and ever since then we've been playing for 0-0s.