It was a strange performance by Everton. Every time they attacked they looked dangerous. If they hadn't got the first goal it would probably have been a very different approach from them, but they were quite effective and happy to defend deep while they were ahead, I don't think Vardy would have had too much joy against their defensive formation. Our attacking efforts probably deserved all 3 points, but we looked very vulnerable against crosses into Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. Too many times there were mismatches in the marking. Mendy was often left marking Keane! Some of that will have been down to Ndidi being off injured, but Mendy is the smallest player in the team. Should Kasper have come for some of them? If the striker gets a free head on a ball 8 yards out, is Kasper really likely to save it? Should he be less of a stay on his line keeper? I think this is a question about his game that was raised a few years ago. There's no news on the club website about Wilf's injury yet. Hopefully it isn't too serious.
Wilf has a "tight" hamstring, so I doubt he will play against Leeds on Sunday. Evans went off with blurred vision in 1 eye, but should be ok.
Awful performance today. It was a performance that was worlds apart from the 2nd half at Everton. We were beaten by the much better side and we only seem to give it a go when we went 2-1 down. Fulham are gonna get it on Wednesday
It was bad. Mendy and Perez are too easily bullied and we were too slow to move the ball against a quick pressing side like Leeds causing us to constantly lose possession. We struggle against physical, set piece sides like Burnley and Everton and pressing sides like Liverpool and Leeds. We must adapt better and get bloody better at set pieces at both ends! Given we are better away, Fulham away should be a good game for us but after how they dominated us at home it is another potential problem game! Wolves away after will be dour as well given that is Wolves MO.
Perez should give his wages back after today's performance, he was bullied every time by their defenders. What does Iheanacho need to do to get a game? Too many bad choices of pass and too many stray passes when under no pressure. At least we get another game quickly to put things right, still handily placed in the league.
Agreed - Perez falls over at the slightest touch and I must admit I fail to see what he truely offers - sometimes links up but mostly not. Today's result will obviously add fuel to the fire of the Vardy and what comes after conundrum.
Awful today, although a couple of chances which didn't bounce our way. Just knew we weren't getting anything from that match. Wednesday is a MUST WIN game. Lockdown is miserable, enduring it and living with a Fulham fan 24/7, when they're in the bottom 3 and they do the double over us just doesn't bear thinking about
It's funny how everyone has criticised Iheanacho all season, then want him to play when Perez doesn't perform. Perez wasn't the only one to under perform yesterday, but it seems no-one else noticed how awful Maddison was (Southgate watching the game) Please take him off dead ball situations. Am I right in saying 2 of their goals came directly from poor deliveries from him deep in the Leeds' half?! Just wondering if Fofana could do a job as the sitting midfielder. Love seeing Barnes run at pace with the ball. Maybe time for Under to get a run in the side. At least he attacks his defender.
Why is the centre of our defence penetrated so easily? Our 'defensive' midfielders are so often out of position - although I can understand why this is the case when we are going forward and then give the ball away. Youri is creative rather than destructive and lacks the kind of explosive pace needed to turn and track a player. Mendy lacks the physical presence and doesn't make up for it with his positional sense - as Kante and Drinkwater did. And while we're having a moan, let's not forget Kasper. He made some good stops yesterday but needs to help his defence out more. The header from the corner for their disallowed goal came from 4 yards out. He's got to come and claim or punch those. There's no way he's going to be able to react quickly enough to stop a header from that distance. Whatever happened to the old goalkeepers' mantra that 'any ball in the 6 yard box is mine'? No wonder we are one of the worst sides at defending set pieces.
I have said this for a very long time. Kasper is one of the best shot stoppers in the game, but absolutely useless when it comes to claiming crosses and corners.
It was a bad day all round. Ihenacho will be pushing for a start and wonder if a bit more physicality of Choudhury would help. That said, yesterday apart Mendy and Perez have looked better than Choudhury and Ihenacho all season
I think Iheanacho is a classic case of his reputation rising the less he plays and the worse Perez performs. He offers nothing in the way of effort, pace or movement. And Choudhury is a step down from Mendy. He has gone backwards over the last 18 months. No clue as to positioning and has lost that bite that he had when he was trying to get into the squad.
Not sure what his (choudhury’s) life is like outside of football but he must live near me and I’ve seen him out a lot but maybe that has an impact. I’m also not for one minute suggesting that he shouldn’t enjoy himself outside of football.
Iheanacho certainly has more of a physical presence than Perez and perhaps that would have been better against that Leeds defence. It was a bad day at the office yesterday ... started well with a lovely worked goal... but a very poor pass by Maddison (aimed for Barnes and with Justin bombing on beyond) left us totally exposed, albeit a fine finish from Dallas ... Maddison got progressively worse, possibly trying too hard to impress Southgate... but they all did tbf ... we were in the ascendancy up to that gift and, I suspect, we might have gone on to win comfortably without it ... a pivotal moment. Pick ourselves up and move on ... Maddison should not take corners for sure ... rarely gets it past the near post defender ...
The other problem with Ihenacho is that for every 7 games of being useless he can then have a random game where he’s almost unstoppable. It’s the hope that kills you.
I think Albrighton has been superb and should start when Vardy is back but he isn’t a direct goal source, more a provider. I wonder if without Vardy and not a prolific scorer in Perez whether we should start Under instead of Perez till Vardys back just to get an additional goal threat in the team.
Exactly. The thing is with Iheanacho is he looks so clumsy when trying to control the ball, but whilst trying to control it will beat 3 defenders and stick it it the back of the net. Nobody knows how he does it.....himself included!
I don't think Choudhury is a step down, he's a totally different player. He is box to box where Mendy gets a nose bleed when he gets over halfway. I will be disappointed if Choudhury does go in the summer as I think he can be really effective if Ndidi is out
