The Leicester City "spiral" watch!

As to whether AM were comfortable. If one is trying to undermine our achievements, they would say AM were comfortable as they were not within one goal of going out as we still needed two. However, in terms of balance of play, performance etc, they were not at all comfortable, Simeone said as much.
When they claims come from someone who holds so much store by possession and shots on goal and would no doubt be saying we got battered if the match stats were reversed, it is every hypocritical to say the least.
I'll say the same as always, it's about winning the game and possession and shots mean nothing if not scored. I'd sooner have had 10% possession and 3 shots on goal if they'd all been converted.
I do agree with Spurlock above, very difficult team to play and even if we got a second it's as likely they'd have clung on and ground it out as we would have been to get the 3rd.
Disappointed with AM as a footballing side but they are basically Leicester but better. Stronger at the back and more clinical. They are world class in their own way and there's no shame in losing to them giving that it was close in the end and we did dominate in every way but the score. We've still exceeded expectations and flown the flag for Britain. Proud of them

 

No it wasnt comfortable...you made them graft...and due to both the teams sharing a similar footballing principle..it would come down to who has that bit of quality when it counts...or even experience...AM's experience helped them alot. I made a point that if Lesta stepped it up, AM would have also is based on the thinking that they do have the quality to step it up and the experience...Lesta had the scenario, the home ground, the desire.....but AM are seasoned campaigners and not just there to make up numbers...this is their 3rd year in the semi finals.

yeah John boy your team did not let you down

 

Agree entirely. Like I said, same style but more quality and like you say experience. I know you joked back at the start of the thread about intertoto cup but after this campaign as a fan, you think what next. I think we should turn attention to domestic cups and try to get into the Europa League as although many look down on it, after seeing how we have competed in the CL, I think why couldn't we have some good runs in that. That's got to be the next target as I don't want us to just be a stagnant mid table side.
It feels strangely like the end of an era though and it does have a feel of where do we go from here

 

It's what Atlético do. Always defense first.

As Spurlock says, they're seasoned campaigners. Rarely attractive to watch, but always very hard to beat. You did a good job on them, they certainly knew they'd been in a game.

That's a side that's appeared in 2 of the last 3 CL finals, so kudos for giving them a fight.

 

Just about every British club is vulnerable to the biggest clubs in Europe - even Man United, as the Ronaldo transfer showed. All that you can do is continue to build and hope you can keep the squad together for a few seasons.

Yes our better players might be tempted to move on the back of the success acheived at the club - but we are now an attractive proposition for many continental players as our stock has risen considerably on the world stage and, more importantly, we have showed that we are willing to pay 6 figure a week wages. Spurs will face similar challenges - Dele Alli is the crown jewel and I can see him being the subject of interest for clubs who regularly reach the last 8 of the UCL. For us it's Mahrez and Schmeichel for sure. All you can do is get as much money as you can by tying them to good contracts in the first place..

Mind you, I note some twat on here seems to think that Harry Kane could walk straight into the Barca team ... probably hasn't watched them enough to know who their front 3 are tbf

We've had a great adventure - but better than that we have the title in the record books - if we do manage to keep this squad largely together and add some more quality in defence and midfield, then we will be a force in the Prem over the next few years - the owners appear to be commtited to the long term and are not in the habit of selling anyone against the managers wishes (release clauses aside).

Still a great time to be a Leicester City fan. .

 

Exactly, you don't reach the final 2 in 3 years without knowing how to win primarily! On the back on beating Sevilla with their 3 consecutive EL titles as well, we can only be proud

 

Were AM comfortable? Not really, they are too professional for that.

Was the result ever in doubt? Not for one second.

Leicester didn't let anyone down though

 

Diego Simeone praises 'marvellous' Leicester after guiding Atletico to third semi-final in four years
The Spaniards are pursuing their first Champions League title after edging out the Foxes 2-1 on aggregate

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Diego Simeone and Jamie Vardy embrace (Photo: Getty)

Diego Simeone failed to hide his emotion after guiding Atletico Madrid into the semi-finals of the Champions League, yet found time to heap praise on Leicester.
Los Colchoneros struck an early away goal through Saul Niguez to leave the Foxes with too much to do, though Jamie Vardy equalised on the night, with the Spaniards progressing 2-1 on aggregate.

The Argentinian boss was impressed by the King Power Stadium atmosphere and offered special praise for his counterpart Craig Shakespeare.
"I feel emotion, pride and hope after such a tough game against a team which gave us so much pleasure to compete against, a team that did not throw in the towel and kept us at arms' length," Simeone said after the game.

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Diego Simeone shakes hands with Riyad Mahrez after the game (Photo: Getty)

Jamie Vardy hails Leicester's Champions League campaign despite exit to Atletico Madrid in last-eight
"After a game like that it's easy to forget we are in the semi-finals. It was the night of pure football we had envisaged, with a marvellous atmosphere against a team that fought until the end. It was a passionate game with chances for both sides, and these are the games that people love to see."

Simeone has masterminded a remarkable period of success for Atleti and will hope for redemption in Cardiff after heartache in two finals against rivals Real.

"When I came here five years ago my only hope was to make Atletico a competitive team again and bother every team that we faced, and I think we are competing," 'El Cholo' added.

 

Kane would work better at Real Madrid, maybe as a long term Benzema replacement, but certainly wouldn't walk into Barca's first XI above MSN.

Vardy would be a great Griezmann replacement at Athletico seeming they practically play the same style as us.

 

Can't see Vardy being arsed to learn Spanish. And he'd be ****ed if forced to live on a Mediterranean diet (not counting Domino's Pizza).

 

Thanks, Bruv.

And you are spot on with your analysis.

 

To be fair, Archy, others have kept this thread alive. There clearly is some huge fascination for it.

I am confident that you can take any post I have made on this thread, and you will not find anything outlandish or overtly erroneous, other than the fact that Leicester did better in the CL than anyone (not just me) thought they would do.

A forum like this thrives on heated debate, and this thread has been bang on the money for that.

What would you prefer? A forum that's there purely to enable posters to blow rings of smoke up everyone's arses?

 

Mind you, I can see Vardy getting fat on paella, Archy.

 

If Vardy did go to play in Spain I think he would rival Ramos for red cards. There are a lot of wind-up specialists in La Liga and he seems to have a fairly short fuse.

 

Vardy's game is extremely limited, that's his problem. He's similar in that respect to Defoe. One on one with the goalie, and he's going to put the ball away more times than not. The problem for the team is to get him in that position enough times during the match to make it count. Against the better sides, a player like Vardy simply isn't given the space to run on to the ball.

That style suits the Prem - and even more the Championship - because we tend to play end-to-end fast-paced footy.

I don't know enough about the Spanish league to be able to assess whether or not they play that kind of game. If they don't, my feeling is that Vardy's attributes would be nullified and he'd look like a fish out of water.

 

It's a far more tactical game in Spain, that's the main difference.

Whilst it's true that it's played at a slower pace generally, players with Vardy's pace and ability to finish would still cause problems for most sides.

It's true he'd need to keep his temper under control as provocation is all part of the game here. If he can do that, I see no reason why he wouldn't succeed.

 

Can we all stop selling Vardy to La Liga

 

Jamie Vardy having a short fuse or a temper is such a myth. He's very aggressive in his play. Closing down and working hard and what not, but that doesn't mean he's ill disciplined.

But his disciplinary record is very normal. 28 bookings in 186 Leicester games (Every 6.4 games)

To compare;

Diego Costa: 113 Chelsea games - 30 bookings (Every 3.7 games)
Dele Alli: 89 Spurs games - 16 bookings (Every 5.5)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 40 United games - 8 bookings (Every 5 games)

 

He'd be fine on the Costas, and anywhere he can get San Miguel on draught. Put him in Madrid, or any large Spanish city where English is not widely spoken and baked beans are unavailable, and I reckon he'd struggle.

He'd score goals in any league though, imo. Not unlike Fernando Torres in that regard.

 

I think you have had a taste of the big time and that's a bug that sometimes catches you..you should be looking to take the cups seriously...otherwise it kind of kills the hard work done by your club and you need to aspire for top half with an aim to getting into Europe.....everyone knocks the Europa as you say but its european football and it puts your club amongst a certain group of clubs....one that aspires for the next step...the CL.

What your club did last season rarely happens...for those of limited funds...usually the progress has to be structured..mid table regularly vying for Europa and good domestic cup runs with a view to winning one...even the League cup...for me would be the next step.