Corners, whether due to a player using his wrong foot, a deflection or a tackle, will happen and we have to be able to deal with them.
True ... but with a bit more brain engagement first we can minimise exposures ... Albrighton scares the **** out of me in and around our box ... penalties against Atletico, Liverpool and Newport over the years were all avoidable but he just doesn't seem to think before acting ...
Yes it was Albrighton, but you could clearly hear Kasper shout "away". Albrighton actually had more time than Kasper gave him credit for!!
... but "away" doesn't necessarily mean "behind" ... which is my point ... surely the team talk before kick off would have included not inviting dead balls into the penalty area, given Sheff United's aerial threat?
Prior to that game,Sheffield United with their 'aerial threat' had produced 4 goals in 10 games, none of which had come from McBurnie. I totally agree that Albrighton shouldn't be playing right back and mistakes need to be avoided, but my point is that our defence just isn't strong and mean enough. We need to have the ability to grind out ugly wins by scoring one and not conceding. Winning is not all about playing wonderful attacking football. Against better opposition it is about giving yourself a chance by shutting up shop and just getting one chance at the other end.
I’d say Fofana ducking out the way and Rodgers not having anyone on the post were both more responsible than Albrighton putting behind for a corner..... and that is from someone in myself who is massively impressed on the whole with Fofana and thinks Albrighton despite being a legend, shouldn’t really be near the team now.
2 of those 4 goals were penalties ... doesn't deflect from their use of 2 old fashioned centre forward types in McBurnie and Billy Sharp ... very similar to how Burnley set up ... you know what's coming ...
Some good news - Amartey is back in training. Hopefully will get back to full fitness before being sent out.
Some great one touch stuff tonight... and some outrageous skill and a cracking finish from Genghis Under
Thought everyone was on top of their game last night. Both wingers took on and beat their defenders, Wilf got another hour, Perez again looked better playing centrally, defence defended and I thought Praet did lots of running off the ball that created space for others. Vardy and Kasper in for Iheancho and Ward and that’s how I would start on Sunday.
Really enjoyed that performance and so much more exciting than some recent league showings. It had the feel about it that we settled for 2 but had we needed more we’d have got more. The link up play between Thomas abs Barnes was great, Chilwell never linked that well with Barnes and I really think Chelsea will realise they didn’t buy our best LB once Thomas settles! What a finish by Under too. For Brighton at home I really hope he goes with that system, 4 at the back with JJ and Thomas and a front 3 of Under Vardy and Barnes.
Get a grip, John! You're living in some kind of fantasy world. Just remember who is really picking the team. Prepare yourself for a back 5 and Mendy and Ndidi in midfield.
Sad thing is you’ll be right. I do think I have been quite negative on here at times but this is why. We may find that 4 at the back means Thomas is more exposed but he needs to learn and at least we might look exciting going forwards not 5 at the back at home to bloody Fulham! If Ndidi is ready to start in the league this might be what converts Rodgers back, I do think it’s the injuries not choice that has made him do it.
I've felt negative we lose because we're poor. I honestly don't mind losing if we play well but the opposition are better. The Arsenal match we lost 5-2 a perfect example. We played very well but they were better and it was a good match, I don't like losing but it's hands up, we played well but lost to a better performing team on the day. What's been frustrating is the Liverpool and Fulham games where we just didn't turn up. If we want Thomas to gain experience in a back 4, a match against someone like Brighton would be better than a tougher game like Spurs. Obviously this is the on paper theory seeing how we managed to make Fulham look like prime Barcelona! Rogers did say that it was the injury situation that had impacted formation in that regard. Hopefully with Wilf returning and Castagne or Soyuncu back we'll revert to the preferred and better formation.
Agree entirely, I think it’s because when we have lose, with this system, we really lose without a fight. As you say, you can lose games like that one you mention or have peppered the goal, come up against a GK having a worldie or hit the woodwork time after time and come away saying ‘how the hell did we lose that, we played really well’. I haven’t had that feeling about our recent losses so hopefully we can revert to the system which allows our attacking players more freedom. Brighton’s biggest threat seems to be the RB Lamptey so that could be tough for Thomas but focus on our game, put Barnes there to pen him back and make them focus on us.
I think when everyone is fit, we will play with 3 centre backs, but more of a 3-5-2 than 5-3-1-1. I'm looking forward to having Ricardo and Castagne as the wing backs.
Could actually see a future back 5 of Pereira and Castagne as wing backs with Justin, Soyuncu and Fofana as the 3 ... if all were fully fit that would be something very special in a couple of years time ...
It can’t be a always back 5, the systems need to be both well versed and used depending on the opposition. Regardless of the personnel, I just don’t think 3 central defenders is necessary at home to teams that will sit in and frustrate us. Away yes and even more so against some of the ‘bigger’ sides but a back 4 of Ricardo, Soyuncu, Fofana and Casagne with Under and Barnes on the wings ahead of them will surely be incredible!
Our biggest priority has to be finding the Vardy successor... Perez has looked quite good being played more centrally and is wasted out wide ... but he is not the long term answer.
Big name I.e Jovic or Milik or someone on the way up the levels domestically banging them in like Toney? Quite like the look of Toney and he’s localish from Northampton. Big shoes to fill though...
