ChrisWoodIsClass Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 WE ARE LOST WITHOUT HAMMOND! It's proven that we have gained much more points when he's playing compared to when he's not. Look i know he was injured for today and we can't help that but today king and Drinkwater were pathetic, constant hoofball up to 2 strikers who are definately not target men or just passing it back to the defence for them to hoof up. Can't remember 1 time where a decent positive pass was even attempted there was absolutely no creativity from either of them. Must be said I think selecting Vardy and Nugent upfront was a mistake but still, maybe a new centre mid needed? from todays evidence i would say without a doubt. Agree?
cityfanlee23 Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 I think playing a 3 man midfield suits hammond, He mops up EVERYTHING, playing him in a 2 man midfield won't work.
ChrisWoodIsClass Posted 17 January 2015 Author Posted 17 January 2015 I think playing a 3 man midfield suits hammond, He mops up EVERYTHING, playing him in a 2 man midfield won't work. Agree he's best in a 3 man but has worked well in a 2 the last few games in my opinion
foxes_rule1978 Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Drinkwater and king did not work, completely had zero control in midfield...
Monsell1976 Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Said before the game if we have to go out with king and drinkwater, we would be over run and we would get beat.. Both happened, drinkwater is to slow in moving the ball forward and weak, king is weak and offers nothing at this level, it was embarrassing how easily king bounced of their players, and how easy they just walked through our midfield. Both are not first choice, and it's easy to see why, but let's hope the others are back very soon.
Guest Sharpe's Fox Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 King played a few decent balls to be fair to him, but they were outsmarted, outmanoeuvred and outbattled by N'Zonzi and Whelan today.
les-tah Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Hammonds stats are good but he isn't the answer! Yet again we got demolished in possession again! We need someone who oozes creativity and can actually attack from the centre of the park!
ChrisWoodIsClass Posted 17 January 2015 Author Posted 17 January 2015 Just couldn't understand how we created so many opportunities against the likes of Liverpool and villa (yes villa were really bad) but next to none today
BigMicky Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Just couldn't understand how we created so many opportunities against the likes of Liverpool and villa (yes villa were really bad) but next to none today Because Stoke strangled the life out of the game, very compact defensively and very good at retaining possession.
kingfox Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Little harsh because they didn't play too badly first half in my opinion, if there were any stats to show you how many successful passes Drinkwater made first half, I'd say it would be pretty high. Second half though both he & King completely went down hill, lack of aggression, constantly being dominated & overran, while they also struggled to keep hold of the ball. It can't be helped that we have three central midfielders injured, but that's 10 losses we have had without Hammond in the side.
nickelbyfox Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 The midfield was always going to be poor creativity, but this was to be expected given the options available and their form this season. Surely a big man like Ulloa to ping it forward to would have helped but didnt start, or if not full backs overlapping, which didn't happen. This football playing Vardy down the channels looks okay but isn't really effective. Have to say was really disappointed with Pearson tactically today. Having said that tho had Knocky scored his chance first half - who knows.
TOMBlcfc Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Ideally (without injuries) i'd like to start with the partnership of Hammond and Cambiasso, who (correct me if i'm wrong) haven't played togethor in a '442' style formation. Hammond mopping up and doing this thang, giving esteban the freedom to sit in the middle and control the game, hopefully adding creativity to the midfield which both drinky and king never offered today
cityfanlee23 Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 The midfield was always going to be poor creativity, but this was to be expected given the options available and their form this season. Surely a big man like Ulloa to ping it forward to would have helped but didnt start, or if not full backs overlapping, which didn't happen. This football playing Vardy down the channels looks okay but isn't really effective. Have to say was really disappointed with Pearson tactically today. Having said that tho had Knocky scored his chance first half - who knows. It's funny really I seem to remember a stat last year in one of the papers which showed danny drinkwater had made more forward passes in the opposition half than almost every player in the premier league including michael carrick... Now he doesnt want the ball unless he has space at his side or behind him
Monsell1976 Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 It's funny really I seem to remember a stat last year in one of the papers which showed danny drinkwater had made more forward passes in the opposition half than almost every player in the premier league including michael carrick... Now he doesnt want the ball unless he has space at his side or behind him He looked good in the championship, but we are not in the championship, and he cannot find that level or composure on the ball
cityfanlee23 Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 He looked good in the championship, but we are not in the championship, and he cannot find that level or composure on the ball I agree, it's a shame, However I do think that if he can keep plugging away he will get that consistency and experience to really be a key player for us for years to come... when he finally broke back into the first team he was quality, his old self. hope that comes back soon before he loses his chance again!
cityfanlee23 Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 we're poor whoever we play in the middle!!! Disagree, 3 in midfield we looked good vs liverpool
sdb Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Disagree, 3 in midfield we looked good vs liverpool Agreed to an extent - I was mainly talking about whichever personnel we'd choose in a 442. But i'm not saying we're great with a 451 anyway. We look OK with 3 in the middle at times, but now have 4 strikers to accommodate, none of whom can play alone. We need a midfield enforcer, someone who wins tackles, doesn't shirk responsibility or go missing. Someone who picks up the hundreds of loose balls and 50/50's we tend not to at the moment. A CM who scores goals would be cool too. Current lot are lightweight and with no prem experience. People go on about the back 4 and strikers but this is the area we're getting bossed in most.
Captain... Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 We need to change our style of play when we are on the ball, too many players just get their head down and run forwards when we win the ball back looking for a quick break. Especially with Vardy playing. Watching Man City at the KP they were very simple but effective on the ball, build from the back and move forwards as a team. Otherwise we get big gaps appearing and players isolated in possession and having to either lump it forward or play it backwards until it gets to the keeper. Other teams always seem to have more space and time because they don't try and play on the counter every time they have the ball.
foxoffderby Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 We lost the game today because our midfield was woeful.
RowlattsFox Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Danny drinkwater is my biggest disappointment this season, had high hopes for him and like most of this forum thought he would continue to develop. He's gone backwards though, clearly needs to be in a winning team. We have been good enough with the ball in the season, centre mids need to control possession and no one has done that, not even Cambiasso.
Saxondale Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 I think Hammond and James are the optimum combination. I actually think King played some good football today but we needed more influence and inspiration in midfield.
Lionheart Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 The moment we started with Drinkwater and King in centre mid and Nugent and Vardy up front we were f****d.
lee7 Posted 17 January 2015 Posted 17 January 2015 Definitely need more creativity! We can't keep relying on mahrez and cambiasso. Hopefully Pearson will bring one in.
eunmac Posted 18 January 2015 Posted 18 January 2015 Agree. We lack a genuine play-maker in central midfield. A Pirlo type who knows when to feed the wings and when not to, and can actually play a decent long pass not just hoofing it aimlessly or running into dead ends as we were doing way to much again yesterday. LB is also the other big weak area for me but that thread is going off happily elsewhere.
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