This game reminded me of how we used to play under Pearson during the great escape - every one good step countered with 2 moments of madness. Least the players and manger seemed to give a ****.
Next 3 games - Liverpool away, Manchester United home and Spurs away Can't see many points from those three fixtures - however my that's Christmas ruined thread shows my expertise at predicting results!
I want more ambition in our play and today we got it. Did Puel make mistakes today yes he did. But they are mistakes I can forgive and will forgive him for. I want to see us show some intent in our play and today we did. Our back 4 was shocking today. Ndidi and Mendy didnt control the game but going forward we was much much better Puel needs to work on what we did today. Not work on more sideways, backwards pack the midfield defensive stuff
Wolves are still one of the better sides. If we play like that at home then we would have beaten Cardiff and Southampton Today was much better in alot of ways. On the ball we need to play like that every week. Off it we was schoolboy stuff
We play better against the top sides, as Grays goal showed today, we still havn't forgotten how to play counter attack. I fully expect us to be over 40 points after the Spurs away game ...
Gray problem is he isnt nowhere near as skillful as he thinks. When he uses his pace he is much better He is more Lloyd Dyer then Riyad Mahrez As soon as he realises that the better he will be. There is a time to use skill and a time just to knock it past someone and run
I'd agree with that, though Dyer would never have put that shot in the corner. He had a better game today, he still lost the ball too often from holding onto it for too long, if he started looking up for options earlier, he'd probably be starting every week. Odd to give Albrighton a new contract and then bench him, maybe he didn't feel like playing 682 wingers today. We came out in the second half and actually did have a run at their defence, which looked much better, if we had taken these sort of steps against Cardiff and Southampton, it would not have looked so 1 dimensional and we may have actually got a result.
Not to base things on one game but Gray, Maddison and Barnes all showed an end product today as well as Vardy. Would be good to see these 3 behind him if we play that system. Ricardo at RB and anyone but Wes and we might see an improvement
Least we know for sure that playing a high line and having Morgan, Evans and Simpson in the back 4 is not a good idea - especially as they have seemed to forgotten their combined 30 odd years of experience and how to use positioning to account for their lack of pace, and how to actually set an offside trap.
I'm surprised we didn't play the 3 defensive midfielders that had served us well in our previous away games. Wolves may not be a top team, but they are a side that carry a threat. Saying that, we were undone by some absolutely moronic defending, and we had plenty of chances in the first half but we just aren't clinical enough when we get to the edge of the opposition penalty area. Why we took the foot off the gas after getting the second goal I'll never know. Wolves were rocking and we should have really upped the tempo, closed them down as soon as they had the ball and forced them into errors, but we backed off as if the job were done. A very frustrating afternoon.
Just got back from the game. Shocking defending for most of it, but thought we attacked well. Gutted not to get anything from the game, but after 12 mins, I did think to myself this could be 5 or 6!! I think the offside rule should change though.........Jota was 10 yards behind our defence and not interested in the ball, but because the ball goes to someone else, he is deemed onside. But the ball is then played to him and Wes is so far behind, he needs binoculars to see him....a massive advantage for the striker.
Morgan’s not awful but we have better. Let’s see some balls and replace him. Assuming Maguire is fit.... Scheichmel Pereira Evans/Soyuncu Maguire Chilwell N’didi Choudhury Gray Maddison Barnes Vardy
Puel's post match interview was the first time I have seen him showing true emotion. He normally is a french version of theresa maybot Proper fed up and frustrated he was and to be fair I don't think we can blame him on this occasion.
Today he was let down by poor defending and mistakes. Going forward thats the best we have played in ages maybe all season. Just defensively Morgan was 5 yards behind Jota for the 3rd and 4th goal. 1st goal Gray gave the ball away and Simpson was sleeping 2nd goal I hate zonal marking. Alarm bells rang a few weeks ago when we had Albrighton marking Bamba Today Puel didnt shackle the team like normal and let them run with the ball and make runs off it. Its was basic stuff that we havent done all season. We miss runners off the ball. Thats why I still believe Andy King can offer us something. His late runs into the box is something none of our players do. Something Maddison needs to learn But today stupid errors and poor judgement from individuals and the team as a whole cost us. It would be hypocritical for me to slate Puel for doing the thing that we have moaned at him for not doing. My concern is next game we will revert back to boring as he will be scared of another defensive **** show
It’s funny, you’ve been quick to not blame Puel for today whereas me who’s defended him, I’m more annoyed than I’ve been for ages! I don’t know why, I guess for the same reason as your last line. I really think we could be on to something if we play the 3 young English lads behind Vardy, Ricardo back at right back and Choudhury for Mendy or Ndidi if it’s a two in the middle. I just know that Puel won’t do it.... he needs to pick a settled team and let them gel but he messes too much. I get altering for individual matches and good managers do that. But it’s too much. We finally saw a good attacking display and the defence disappears!
Now I’ve slept on it and seen the highlights again, got to say I feel a lot more optimistic under Puel. I could see passion and attacking flair. Not sure how much blame he can take for the goals conceded but I really would be tempted to play Soyuncu over Morgan in the next game. Mendy is an odd one. Some brilliant moments and some moments of being an absolute liability. For me we were crying out for Maddison. Can see him coming in for Simpson with Pereira to RB
I cant attack Puel for doing the thing I wanted him to do. Im sick of the boring sideways, slow passing. We are too easy to defend against. Yesterday though some of the link up play was superb. The finishing wasnt there in the first half but 2nd half was As ive said many times I dont have an agenda against Puel. I hate his boring defensive slow football. He showed more passion yesterday then he has since he has been here. Did he make mistakes still? Yes. Mendy shouldnt have played over Choudhury. We badly lack a passer in midfield and have since Drinkwater left. All Jota’s goals came from them playing in between Morgan and Simpson. Morgan was too slow and Simpson half asleep. Normally Simpson is superb at defending the back post but yesterday he got caught out. Defensively Mendy, Ndidi, Simpson, Morgan and Chilwell had shockers. Evans was ok when he came on and Maguire got done for the 2nd goal but that may have been done to his injury One of my big hates of Puel is him repeating the same mistakes every week. Yesterday he didnt make them. We have to build on yesterday not revert back to previous form
Yep, something like Schmeichel Ricardo Soynucu/Evans/Maguire (or get Benk back) Chilwell Ndidi Choudhury Gray Maddison Barnes Vardy Until we can sign reinforcements
Aswell as he has been this season and is a legend and great servant. We cant give Wes Morgan a new deal. Puel talks about evolving then do it. Maguire, Evans, Soyuncu and Benkovic should be our centre halfs next season. Maguire and Evans looked superb at Everton and should be first choice from now on. Soyuncu is understandable inconsistent and Benkovic is getting some great experience at Celtic. I think the time has come to allow Morgan to move on.