Danny Drinkwater

[funkyrobot]

King has been far better in the PL than Drinky.

You must watch a different King to me.

[ithuriel]

Not every player was going to make the step up, Drinkwater and Vardy I suppose stand out since they did so well in the Championship but at this level they really cant cut it.

[Guest Col city fan]

Really surprised at Drinkwater this season. I thought if anyone would make the step up, it would be him.

That said, I think all the midfielders are, in some part, victims of the 'system' we play.

Even after all this time, being bottom of the league and having been on one of the worst runs in the club's recent history, Nigel is STILL relying on his box to box midfielders in the toughest division in the world.

And, I notice, so are many posters on here in the 'what team/formation for the rest of the season' thread.

The only time we look to have any sort of shape in that central area is when Hammond plays to just sit and mop up. This isn't because Hammond is a great player..he isn't. But he DOES know his role, and sticks to it.

I don't think Kingy or Drinkwater had any chance yesterday. Our set up was pants. But of course, it's easier to slate an individual player than a system of play, or lack of it.

It's been happening on the forum all season..everyone has had their turn at being scapegoated. Nugent, Wes, Schlupp..now Vardy and Drinkwater.

Personally I think the biggest flop this season has been Pearson. He picks the team, he plays them in a formation of his own choosing. And it's failed time over.

If people don't like this, I don't give a flying frig.

I know what I'm watching and what we've needed all season. We still don't have it.

[dave_the_fox]

Possibly our most disappointing player this season.

Have to agree, thought he would be on call for England by the end of the season

[weller54]

Not every player was going to make the step up, Drinkwater and Vardy I suppose stand out since they did so well in the Championship but at this level they really cant cut it.

This.. Just wish Pearson would see it.. It's so painfully obvious!

[ramadaone]

This.. Just wish Pearson would see it.. It's so painfully obvious!

Can't you just fcuk off because your a right boring Knut

[m4DD0gg]

Can't you just fcuk off because your a right boring Knut

 

Whats a Knut?

[shade]

Really surprised at Drinkwater this season. I thought if anyone would make the step up, it would be him.

That said, I think all the midfielders are, in some part, victims of the 'system' we play.

Even after all this time, being bottom of the league and having been on one of the worst runs in the club's recent history, Nigel is STILL relying on his box to box midfielders in the toughest division in the world.

And, I notice, so are many posters on here in the 'what team/formation for the rest of the season' thread.

The only time we look to have any sort of shape in that central area is when Hammond plays to just sit and mop up. This isn't because Hammond is a great player..he isn't. But he DOES know his role, and sticks to it.

I don't think Kingy or Drinkwater had any chance yesterday. Our set up was pants. But of course, it's easier to slate an individual player than a system of play, or lack of it.

It's been happening on the forum all season..everyone has had their turn at being scapegoated. Nugent, Wes, Schlupp..now Vardy and Drinkwater.

Personally I think the biggest flop this season has been Pearson. He picks the team, he plays them in a formation of his own choosing. And it's failed time over.

If people don't like this, I don't give a flying frig.

I know what I'm watching and what we've needed all season. We still don't have it.

disagree, never been a massive fan of blaming managers, the players are the doers ultimately. the formation or system doesn't stop our players being able to pass to a blue shirt, doesn't stop a player looking forward, doesn't stop players closing down and harassing. in fact it doesn't stop a lot of what we're seeing. Nigel's not blame free, but some of the players need to have a look at themselves.

[Fox92]

Same applies to King too. They get overrun in midfield.

[Jmd88]

Drinkwater will never be a good player at this level when playing in a team that's always on the defensive and are battling too stay up. He's a player that will dictate games when the team has all the possession hence why he was so good last season because we were the best team in the league and played very attacking possession football. If any one thought he was going too make the step up and stand out in our team then you are deluded. Matt james I knew would because he battles each Week and his game suits the premier league because we're always on the back foot. Hence why Hammond has looked so good. Defensive players will always look better in a relagation bound team. Some people really don't know alot about football. For me if drinkwater was playing for a premier league team in the top 10 he would stand out and we will eat all our words next season because I think if/when we go down drinky will go and play again in the premier league next season with or with out leicester. Hopefully I'm wrong because if we go down I think we will really need him and James if we are too come straight back up

[fleckneymike]

Every game I'd been hopeful that this would be the one where it just clicked for him, then last week v Spurs he got outmuscled by Eric Lamela and it dawned on me that it never will. Bullied opponents in the Champ, being bullied in the Prem.

[Number 6]

He is a midfield conductor and, when on form, one of our best players. His style means he's trying to control a midfield against (most of the time) better opposition. He's still young and learning though and I absolutely wouldn't write him off yet.

[cjslcfc]

He's not good enough this year simply because we have gone from being the dominant team to the dominated team. When he's always on the ball and we are trying to break a stubborn, packed defence he is good. When we have little possession and need to break quickly, he is far from brilliant. 

 

His passing and decision making have been pretty dreadful for most of the season. He is not that strong defensively (case in point somewhere above where he was almost put on the floor by Lamela) and needs to be on the ball all the time to have an effect. Not the midfielder we need right now. James, Hammond, Cambiasso and King all better options at the moment.

[sdb]

We really, really need an imposing and physically strong CM before the end of tomorrow. Main reason we're likely to go down imo is our lack of such a presence in the side.

[kingfox]

Good to see fans agreeing.

Even when he does get on the ball though, he tends to look backwards or sideways, when he does pass forward he tends to give it away. There's been many times this season including yesterday, where he spends too long on the ball, which then results in him playing it long or getting caught in possession.

With James he looks to drive forward at every given opportunity, when a forward pass or run isn't on then he keeps it simple and looks sideways, Hammond keeps possession better because he keeps it simple and feeds it to other players, so they can push us forward. We haven't seen this from Drinkwater this season.

It does feel good slating him though, not been able to do that for about two years.

[Jmd88]

People always slate him for passing back words or sideways but I don't see the problem in that if it's too keep possession you can't always pass forwards especially if there's only one person up top because they just loose the ball and are on the attack again.

[Sharpe's Fox]

Not going to write him and Jamie off like last season. Didn't you lot want them out of the club in summer 2013? Try and support the players that got us in this position lads or you might all look like idiots (again).

[NewburyFox]

He's a huge confidence player. At the moment he's playing very similarly to how he was in the second half of the 12/13 season, and it's depressing to watch as he's got so much more ability than he's showing. He always loses the ball, he doesn't battle, he's not a physical presence in there (out-muscled by Lamela for Christ sake), and he doesn't contribute going forward. He's started to just lump it long every time he gets the ball rather than even trying to pick a pass. I think one of the main problems is that he likes to run the game, and now he can't because it's a higher level. This has drained him of confidence, and now he plays like the ball is a hot potato.

 

He's still got the potential to be a PL player one day but I think the best thing to do now, like in 12/13, is to take him out of the team. We need players who are up for the battle and I don't think he is.

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

Depressing that he's been so out of sorts this year.

[weller54]

Depressing that he's been so out of sorts this year.

...out of his depth you mean?

[Stuntman_Mike]

You must watch a different King to me.

Whilst King hasn't been spectacular, he hasn't stood out as being as incompetent as Drinkwater. Nowhere near I don't think. Apart from the through ball at Spurs that should have led to a penalty, I can't think of a single thing he's done right these past two games.

[Bert]

How many times have we played Drinky and James together like we did last season when they were so effective? None. That's when we get the best out of Drinky.

[I blame Wellens]

I must be one of the few who thinks he is prem class. Unlike our manager.

[kingfox]

How many times have we played Drinky and James together like we did last season when they were so effective? None. That's when we get the best out of Drinky.

But if we look a better side with Hammond in the team, then we will stick with Hammond regardless of what Drinkwater did last season.

Just because you were good in the Championship, it doesn't mean you will be good in the Premier League. Even if Drinkwater plays with James, it doesn't necessarily mean he will control the midfield, he will still be up against better quality and more physical midfielders, he will still have to get stuck in when the opposition control possession.