not much to argue with… thought kamara was great for 70 minutes then his legs went and was off the pace for the last 20… coinciding with us losing control. Thought he should have been pulled. Tbh. Both centre backs great today
Great win and an excellent performance from all the players, especially those that were under the most pressure in the first half like Byram and Gray. Both stuck to their tasks and along with some excellent support from Summerville & Dan James they were able to keep a lid on Leicester's most dangerous players. However if we'd conceded a late equaliser there couldn't really have been too many complaints as we definitely dropped off and invited all that end of game pressure. Player ratings; Meslier 9/10...Top save at the end. Gray 7/10 Rodon 8/10 Struijk 8/10 Byram 7/10 Ampedeu 8/10 Kamara 9/10...looking better every game he plays. Piroe 7/10 Dan James 8/10 Summerville 8/10 Rutter 8/10...not his best game but got the all important winner. Subs; Ayling 5/10 Gnonto 6/10 Anthony 6/10 Bamford 6/10 Gruev 6/10
Everyone knows I'm not a Struijk fan. I think his mind wanders and he loses confidence too quickly. However, he and Rodon compliment each other really well. Struijk was his usual shaky self until the Hull game where he decided to use his aggression and size. After that he has performed really well. I think Rodon helps him immensely. The odd time he has played with Cooper it hasn't looked anywhere near as good and Struijk reverts back to the Struijk of the last couple of years. Thoughts?
Struijk gets moved to the rcb position when he partners Cooper, he looks awkward there, as he did against Huddersfield, weakens 2 positions when that happens, that's why imo, Cresswell needs to be on the bench, aswell as Cooper. Other than that, we move Ampadu back and have Gray and Kamara as the CM pair.
He started well, he lost his way after the incident with the red card against Liverpool and the player that got injured. He was played at LB and between Bielsa at the end and then Jesse the team was just leaking goals and he was an easy target. I think Farke has been able to bring the best out of him, at 24 he’s gained valuable experience and naturally improving his game. Maybe he’s a player who excels at Farkes style and expectations.
personally think he’s always had the attributes to be a good player… other than the turning circle of a supertanker. His problems have mainly been between the ears… positioning, decision making, panicking. He’s actually doing not much differently in my view than was asked under Bielsa and Marsch… pressing and winning the ball high. Difference is he’s doing it in a side that all round has better players than the opposition, has a lot of possession… and playing against sides who have poorer movement and less skill and pace to expose him. So he has more time, the team is doing better, he gets more confidence, he plays better. Stick him back in the prem in a bottom half side and would he revert? Who knows. Guess it doesn’t matter at the moment. The lads doing well… thought he was excellent yesterday - long May it continue.
I agree, he might never be good enough for the PL, but then none of the team we started the season with would have been, not for a team outside the bottom six at least. My hope was always for a big reset this season, let the younger players develop, a complete season in the Championship and hopefully promotion. Hold the core together next season and learn from previous ones and spend the money a little more wisely.
All spot on but sadly holding the core together may not be enough even spending wisely might be near enough. Not one of our current team might be good enough for pl same as last seasons promoted three. But who cares at present, this is most enjoyable footballs been since promotion
That's very decent of you Fosse but we would have had little complaint if you'd equalised late on. Good game and think you'll definitely finish Top 2.
Rodon's a good player and at this level he's excellent but that doesn't take anything away from Struijk's performances this season. However switch Struijk to the right and he's not the same player and I suspect Rodon would be the same if we played him on the left. Cooper is the issue really and he should only come back in when Struijk is unavailable but Farke sees him as the next in line at centre back and that will cause us problems. Bottom line is if Cresswell isn't good enough as cover for Rodon then we need a better option.
