That went well!! Fair play to Leicester, better than us. Zola's got some thinking to do now because several performances not up to scratch and agree with Frenchie, we don't know what to do against a pressing team. Better from Deeney, but bet he still gets slaughtered.
You're not wrong there - but it goes deeper than that. Deeney is in a form slump of Vydra-esque proportions, the defence is leaking goals too easily and our passing game has almost totally disappeared. GFZ has a job on hands to turn this around.
I thought you guys played very well, still have great passes up front to create chances, when you start slotting them away, you'll be the team to beat. It was a pen, but the ref couldn't see it, and it was prob too far away from the linesman on the other side of the pitch. On a different day that could have easily been a draw. Felt Anya was a bit exposed at the back by the pace of Dyer and Schlupp, doesn't seem too defensive minded for a wing back, don't know if others see it that way. Good luck for the rest of the season, except on the return leg, no doubt you'll be the team in form when you come to the King Power.
Cheers Leicester Wizard. Some really fair comments. You guys deserved it overall today. We need Abdi!
Well this is generous in the extreme. We were awful. Can't string any passes together, going backwards when we should be going forwards, still some very poor defending. I won't be disappointed if Mceachran doesn't play for us again, he was hopeless, and the rest of the midfield just disappeared. Leicester had plenty of room when they came forward and we had none as their midfield closed us down very well and we couldn't figure out how to stop it. I can't pick anybody out who played well maybe Fabbrini when he came on but otherwise pretty pathetic.
Just a quick....... I don't think Murray and McEachran should play together, they are both young lads and their joint inexperience is proving easy for opposition players
We slumped last season and this season that along with how we lost to you made us a lot stronger mentally Our players want it more this time and mentally are better for it. We know how to close out matches and win tight games. A few experienced additions like Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Marcin Wasilewski and Dean Hammond have been invaluable. Plus Jamie Vardy has been superb this season Last season you took a few months before you actually looked like a promotion side and it might be the same again this season.
The big difference to last season is that our counter-attacking game has become too slow. Now when we break, the forward player slows down in the last third and waits for others to join in, ending up with a sideways or backwards pass. Last year we would have played the ball forward through their back line for Vydra to run on to. We have come to rely on goals from long-range shots (Massey, McGuigan) or from a bit of Forestieri trickery. Good, but only half the story--we need those counterattack goals, and something more from Deeney. No point in saying "we are among the top scorers in the division" since nearly half our goals have come from two matches. The team is competitive in this division --in fact the squad could provide two decent Championship sides-- but we lack the couple of special players that are crucial to a top two finish . Even a top 6 finish will be hard work.
Clueless. Poor and shabby. Passing was poor and we gave the ball away too much. On the way home we tried to get a MOM and had to settle on Angella as he didnt seem to screw up. Almunia was good and Pudil played well. Doyley was shocking as was McEachran. Murray was just AWOL and Anya not at the races. Subs did not really make a difference, not sure Zola knows what to do when we play like that.
Well just got back home and am very disappointed - not because Leicester won because they deserved to - but because we were simply second best throughout the game. I'm not sure how long we can keep playing Deeney because he's just not up to it at the moment - he can't get the ball half the time and when he does he doesn't know what to do with it. McEachran won't play for Chelsea cos he can't even match the championship, our defence is often clueless and makes stupid mistakes and the mid field just ain't there half the time. Thank God for Forestieri at least he can be bothered. I'm beginning to wonder if Zola actually has it in him because on this display there was one team who looked like they were title contenders and one team who will be lucky to finish mid table. What a pity Sean DYche isn't managing this squad I'm sure we would see more fire and determination then.
Today we were outplayed by a good side. The dissapointing thing is that we didn't seem up for it today from the start, which is not something I ever ever want to see. With a bit more luck, the pen not given, and better finishing, we could have come out with an underserved draw. It was 0-1 at half time and their first goal was a freak one at best. Unfortunately, I have only seen the last two games, however, Murray and McEachran in the middle isn't working. So many sideway, backward and misplaced passes it almost reminded me of bad times under Rodgers. The stats were ok for us today, more possession and shots on target, but as those who saw the game realise, it doesn't tell the whole story. Deeney has just come back from injury and looked better than against Brighton so people should lay off him. He shoulders a lot of responsibility and despite FFs workrate, which is incredible, he needs to find the net more. Yeah, yeah, yeah no Chabolah and Vydra, well it shows but we have enough talent in the squad to make up for it, surely. Finally, I don't think 3-5-2 works for us at the moment. We are leaking goals for fun and need to tighten up quickly. With Angella at the back, well it must be those around him as he is immense at the moment, he must be frustrated. Also, with Anya so attacking we were caught out a lot on that wing and maybe a 4-3-2-1 would work better, with the two behind Deeney given more freedom to roam. Some teams have sussed us out now, after we sprang some surprises last season. Leicester were well-organised today and we couldn't break them down until Zola made the changes. We have a great squad but are in a bit of a slump at the moment, there is time to get back to form and we are not in a bad position. Zola has some serious thinking to do now, esspecially as the hectic Christmas period is fast approaching! What do you think he can do to get us back to playing well?
Thanks for the generous comments Hornets - personally I thought you were a little unlucky - on another day you'd have converted some of those chances - but we've grown a lot from last season, some steel added (Wasilewski especially and Hammond and GTF looking bargains) and our young full-backs, Moore and Schlupp growing in stature ... good luck for the rest of the season ...
I don't see what McEachran has brought to the party. At the moment I'd put Iriney, and even more so, Battocchio in front of McEarchran. Agree re. Deeney. There is virtually no service and he is feeding off scraps. More controversially I'm not sure we do have a 'great' squad. I've been hearing it all season but I'm just not sure it's correct. At half time I was not convinced that anyone on the bench would make a difference, although credit to Zola for trying something different. I seem to be one of the few on here that doesn't get Fabrinni? Great skill, but too lightweight, doesn't look up often enough and loses the ball far too easily. And Acuna, whilst a trier, seems to be lacking also. Zola has some serious work to do.
IMHO, Angella, Pudil, McGugan and Deeney had good games today, given that the others were below-par. Leicester really started well and looked promotion contenders today. We didn't, that's for sure. When we got McEachran on loan do you think there is an agreement where he has to play??? That's te only way I can explain it. He made Murray look good and to be fair their midfield schooled them two today. Iriney or Battocchio have to start infront of him next game. The latter must wonder what he has to do to get a game. As for the squad, well we have a lot of lightweight, speedy, skillful players. It will work well on its day, with a slick passing game carving out chances. Now we are seeing that it might not be enough to dig them out of a rut, more desire and grit is required ASAfP. Meh, at least we are not owned by baz anymore. Keep the faith, next few games are crucial, for a change...
And finally, Deeney was up against a giant Polish International defender today, who made him look like a midget. I think he was well-marked today too, that is for sure. This is how I'd like to see us line up, 4/3/2/1. Almunia Doyley Eks/Nos Angella Pudil Anya Iriney/Abdi Batt/Murray McG FF Deeney Would be how I'd go for things injury depending, at least to shake it up a bit and see if that works. But what do I know............................
I'm sorry but from what I saw today Deeney was poor - very poor - he hasn't got the zip he has had before, he doesn't have the strength in the box and was easily muscled out of the game. I know he's been injured but he just doesn't have it at the moment. The sad thing is we don't have anyone to take his place either - there is no-one in our squad who can lead the line and we need to find someone urgently.
