De Laet - 4 year deal

[Corky]

Well, it's a thought. I would certainly expect the manager to sort the length of player's contracts out.

 

Having backed Pearson, I just can't see that he has learn't anything constructive since the season began. He appears confused, and unable to determine, such basics as formation, and what players to use. He apparently stated that he put out his "best team", against Southampton.

 

RDL has struggled all season, and will never be a Premiership standard player, only a decent Championship player, and to give him a four year contract, is disturbing. Could it be that Pearson is planning for next season, and playing in the Championship again?

 

Why would Pearson who has progressed so much since he first took over want to take a step back? It would also increase his chances of getting sacked.

[Stadt]

There seems to be a dearth of good fullbacks world wide so we're not going to be able to sign a fantastic rightback but I feel De Laet is quite a limited player, sure he can run quickly and he's even quite good at dribbling but that's about as good as it gets with De Laet, all the other aspects of his game are average or worse.

[PAULCFC]

You have to be an EXCEPTIONALLY good defender to effectively deal with two wingers by yourself, so to discredit him on the fact that he needs help from his teammates is more than a tad unfair. Defending is a team game, which, unfortunately for the laziest of wingers, does also rely on the contributions of the wide midfielder as well. If a full back is left 2v1, then he's got 2 choices:

1. Attempt to make a tackle, which can easily be countered by a quick pass to the other winger, who'll now have a clear run into the space that the full back has just left by stepping up. You better hope he makes that tackle (easier said than done against players with quick feet - see Hazard, Sanchez, Di Maria...) or the midfielder in front of him has provided some cover in behind.

2. Stand off entirely and allow them to pass it between themselves, holding up the play a bit and relying on them making a mistake or one of your team mates to nip in and provide some extra pressure or nicking the ball. This method isn't a fan favourite - often accompanied by cries from the stands of "GET A FOOT IN", but it won't leave you as hopelessly exposed if one of them runs in behind. It does however mean that if they don't make a mistake, or nobody gives you support, then they're likely to carve out a chance.

Such a situation is likely to come about time and time again if De Laet (or Schlupp/Konchesky for that matter) doesn't have that cover in front of him, which obviously is a big problem with the current diamond system. He can't do it all by himself.

As an old LB (Some might say in the changing room) at Sunday league level,this post is spot on.If theres no one to help you out a bit when you've got a winger and two strikers coming towards you at pace then you've got no chance.Which goes back to the formation.

[PAULCFC]

Bizarre as it sounds, I've actually had this thought too. Only tentatively as its so soon into the season.

Would relegation actually be so bad financially? I am assuming we could use the parachute payments to strengthen the squad further to then have a stronger squad to get promotion again?

I don't know, of course..and this could be a bollox theory. And I doubt that the owners would sanction such a 'plan'?

But I am surprised that we've spent bugger all money in the summer to REALLY strengthen our squad. It's almost as though the Thais are being so financially prudent that they wouldn't mind too much if such a scenario developed. And would it be so bad?

Those with better knowledge than I will probably crucify this theory and fair play if they do. But it is a thought that has crossed my mind. Genuinely, we don't look any better per se than we were last season. Dyer has gone, Knockaert (who had an excellent season last term) isn't even featuring and our 'Marquee signing' in Cambiasso, is no improvement on last season's excellent duo of James and Drinkwater, in my opinion.

As I said, this theory might be utter gubbins..but it might hold some water also?

The only reason that the thais bought into the club was advertising their brand.Top might say about being a life long City fan...and that may well be the case,but to be in the premier league and being shown all round asia and the rest of the world gives them a lot more clout than being in probably any other league in the world(including the Championship).I don't think they will let it go lightly.If that means changing personell,then i'm quite sure they will do that to stay where we are.There is a reason why the ground is called the KP and our shirt sponsers are KP.or am getting to cynical in my old age? :)As a side note.Who in Leicester had heard of King Power,before our owners came along......not got a shop in Beaumont Leys.This is global for them.Sorry gone off post with this.

[shen]

Bizarre as it sounds, I've actually had this thought too. Only tentatively as its so soon into the season.

Would relegation actually be so bad financially? I am assuming we could use the parachute payments to strengthen the squad further to then have a stronger squad to get promotion again?

I don't know, of course..and this could be a bollox theory. And I doubt that the owners would sanction such a 'plan'?

But I am surprised that we've spent bugger all money in the summer to REALLY strengthen our squad. It's almost as though the Thais are being so financially prudent that they wouldn't mind too much if such a scenario developed. And would it be so bad?

Those with better knowledge than I will probably crucify this theory and fair play if they do. But it is a thought that has crossed my mind. Genuinely, we don't look any better per se than we were last season. Dyer has gone, Knockaert (who had an excellent season last term) isn't even featuring and our 'Marquee signing' in Cambiasso, is no improvement on last season's excellent duo of James and Drinkwater, in my opinion.

As I said, this theory might be utter gubbins..but it might hold some water also?

 

He's still young, but an experienced attacking right-back with plenty of pace and stamina. Like most attacking fullbacks, he's got flaws defensively and his crosses are a bit hit and miss. I don't see that he's been as terrible as some make out. He'll no doubt improve this season with some formation tweaking.

And comparing us to last season is a bit misleading. The level of opposition has increased very noticeably, which is best demonstrated by DD and James' inability to dominate any midfield, despite having able support from Cambiasso. If you put Cambiasso in the same team in the Championship, his pinging passes would no doubt prove amazing. Knockaert, true. But then again most of us suspected he'd struggle in the Prem given his distinct lack of pace and physique, not to mention selfish and sometimes mardy attitude. There's even less room for that at this level if you do not have exceptional talent....

[iancognito]

It's amazing, the anti-Pearson stuff even filters into threads like this. He doesn't decide the length of the contracts given and rarely has anything to do with the negotiations, it's all done by the likes of Robinson and the directors.

 

On his good days De Laet is a very good RB but he works better in tandem with a wide man and is better attacking than defending anyway. The trouble is the sleepy lapses he had occasionally in the Championship are so much more obvious in the top league. His weaknesses are being horribly exposed because the formation we've adopted offers him no protection at the back and no support going forward.

 

But really, all this negativity because a guy signs a contract?

[Dickov22]

There seems to be a dearth of good fullbacks world wide so we're not going to be able to sign a fantastic rightback but I feel De Laet is quite a limited player, sure he can run quickly and he's even quite good at dribbling but that's about as good as it gets with De Laet, all the other aspects of his game are average or worse.

 

He's really really good in the air for a full back.

[buzzy]

Good News I think!

He our most attacking threat!

but his a defender who cannot defend so what is the point of this

[shen]

but his a defender who cannot defend so what is the point of this

 

The team 'defends' as a whole and 'attacks' as a whole. It's a bit archaeic to think a defender only 'defends'.

[Guest Col city fan]

The team 'defends' as a whole and 'attacks' as a whole. It's a bit archaeic to think a defender only 'defends'.

This...

And this is exactly what the diamond is not achieving

[Dickov22]

More blocks than any other defender in the Premiership....

Of course he can defend. He's just having a shocking time of it, much like the rest of the side at the moment. Think we should give the lad a break. If Pearson thinks he's worthy of a new deal then who are we to judge. He sees him every day.

[marbelladave]

This...

And this is exactly what the diamond is not achieving

 

Of course the diamond could achieve this if only we knew how to play it.

 

The fullbacks must provide the width and De Laet and Schlupp will do that. But they need cover, ideally from the centre backs who need to be mobile enough to get out wide behind the fullback when needed. The defensive midfielder at the base of the diamond drops into the gap in central defence. Not rocket science but way beyond us at the moment.

 

Similarly playing King at the point of the diamond is a waste of time, I think King is a fine player but he is not creative, he doesn't dribble past defenders, drive into the box with the ball or play in our forwards, in short he does none of the things such a player should do.

 

I had expected Cambiaso to perform the defensive role described, use his experience to organise the defence and command the area in front of our centre backs but he hasn't even tried to do that, he is trying to play a more all round game when we have Drinkwater, James and King already doing that, disappointing.

 

Mahrez, Knockaert and Powell are all obvious choices to play at the point of the diamond, but have hardly played anywhere, I assume NFP has good reasons for not doing so but from just watching the games I am buggered if I can see why.

[filbertway]

Of course the diamond could achieve this if only we knew how to play it.

 

The fullbacks must provide the width and De Laet and Schlupp will do that. But they need cover, ideally from the centre backs who need to be mobile enough to get out wide behind the fullback when needed. The defensive midfielder at the base of the diamond drops into the gap in central defence. Not rocket science but way beyond us at the moment.

 

Similarly playing King at the point of the diamond is a waste of time, I think King is a fine player but he is not creative, he doesn't dribble past defenders, drive into the box with the ball or play in our forwards, in short he does none of the things such a player should do.

 

I had expected Cambiaso to perform the defensive role described, use his experience to organise the defence and command the area in front of our centre backs but he hasn't even tried to do that, he is trying to play a more all round game when we have Drinkwater, James and King already doing that, disappointing.

 

Mahrez, Knockaert and Powell are all obvious choices to play at the point of the diamond, but have hardly played anywhere, I assume NFP has good reasons for not doing so but from just watching the games I am buggered if I can see why.

 

Yeah I was thinking the same thing about King earlier. He's much better behind the play drifting into gaps and arriving late into the box. The guy behind the front two needs to be able to receive the ball and have the ability to pick out a pass or drive past defenders. Something that I think would suit any of the 3 players you mentioned.

 

I'm not sure we'll persist with the diamond anyway, I imagine we'll keep tinkering until we find a decent balance. The difference this season is we will not be the best team in many games, so the tactics will vary game to game.

 

Back on topic, I don't see any issue with the De Laet deal, he will have clauses/bonuses in his contract that will reduce or increase his pay based on his and the clubs performances. 

[Stadt]

He's really really good in the air for a full back.

Fair point but he's still a limited player in my opinion, he's not great at defending or attacking.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

Suitable points but again, its 11 games in..... he deserves time to adapt

Exactly how long do you suggest?

[HoustonFox]

 

I had expected Cambiaso to perform the defensive role described, use his experience to organise the defence and command the area in front of our centre backs but he hasn't even tried to do that, he is trying to play a more all round game when we have Drinkwater, James and King already doing that, disappointing.

 

Mahrez, Knockaert and Powell are all obvious choices to play at the point of the diamond, but have hardly played anywhere, I assume NFP has good reasons for not doing so but from just watching the games I am buggered if I can see why.

This. Cambi, DD and James seem to get in each other's way a lot and all want to play the "Pirlo/Xavi" role of keeping things ticking over or hitting the killer pass. Cambiasso and DD at least. Maybe James is more box to box and similar to King. I'd like to see Mahrez at the tip of the diamond if we play that. His passing is underrated, plus he can dribble and shoot.

Back on topic. Surprised at all the RDL hate. Yes he's not been amazing but he hasn't been awful. He clearly has lost any confidence he built last season and is vey lucky to have not had at least two red cards so far this season. Maybe a rest will do him good. Not sure how Simpson has been in the U21s. Maybe give his a run. Maybe give Young Pearson a game*. Hopefully he hasn't been knobbing Nigel's daughter! That would be a bit too Game of Thronesy! Hah.

Also not many were clamoring for a new RB (starting) last or preseason so again, the hate on the contract is surprising. Looking at stats, he's played badly when the team have played badly. Not many complaining after Man U game.

*Just kidding on young Pearson by the way

[Guest]

great (re) signing. No fee. 4 best years of his career ahead.

[Ian S]

Are you serious?

If so maybe ''what a bloody w***** " is accurate,just aimed in the wrong direction.

 

Are you serious?

If so maybe ''what a bloody w***** " is accurate,just aimed in the wrong direction.

No sonny, it was certainly aimed in the right direction, but if it offends you, then tough titties.

 

You've got to get used to hearing it like it is on this site, and if you don't like maybe you should go away. Shit flies in all directions on  "Foxes Talk", so keep your head down.   

Patronising t***. Did not offend me just pointing out as many have before you make some pretty stupid over the top comments.Why should I keep my head down, forums are for sensible debate and opinion although not sure many of your posts qualify.If you are not used to getting pulled up for stupid comments then get used to it, and if you don't like it then tough luck kiddo.