Off Topic The General Chat Thread.

The 'struggle' started before lockdown, so I don't think it has anything to do with the stadium being empty.

Yesterday's tempo was much better and the whole attitude was more positive. We would have had a better idea of how good we could be if Maddison had been fit, and his absence does leave us short of creativity. But if we'd taken our chances we could still have won the match - albeit thanks to Kasper again. Again we still had too many individuals not performing. Tielemans was very poor, and Barnes lacks confidence and composure; he is all potential but doesn't look to have the right mental strength to become a top player. And I'm not convinced about Perez. He had a good partnership with Ricardo but I can't recall a single thing he did yesterday of any quality. Vardy should have been substituted as he received no real service, and his hold-up play was woeful. The one bright spark (apart from the defence and Wilf - as always) was Denis Praet. Thought he was our best attacking player.

We need an almighty response against Everton because at this rate we'll struggle to qualify for the Europa League never mind the Champions League.

 

Agree with this. Tielemans surprised me. It seems if the ball comes to him he can play a pass and do good things with the ball but the minute he has to run with it, he looks massively over weight and slow, Taylor Fletcher mk11!
Best moment was Ndidi casually coming up behind Kante, winning the ball back and Kante looking round wondering what had happened! Apprentice turned master!

 

I'm trying to keep up to date with the prediction league, so keep an eye out for new updates. 2 more weeks have gone on today

 

Ihenacho looked classy too. I think the end formation is the one we need to start with.

 

Thought he looked a bit lucky tbh, especially his goal. His control has been better than Vardys recently but Vardy won't get dropped while he can still win golden boot.

Glad Rogers threw everything at trying to get a goal last night. Much better than the Brighton game tactically.

 

This would be my team versus Palace.

Schmeichel
Evans, Cags, Fuchs
Albrighton, Choudhary, Ndidi, Chilwell
Maddison
Iheanacho, Vardy

 

You should have included Barnes. After all, he should be fresh having not played for the last 3 weeks.

 

It's now got a bit all roll out the cliched soundbites - sticking together, re-group blah blah etc...
6 games left - and all are winnable .... on paper ... but with the fragile mentality at the moment who knows

 

Tbh we are done in the context of this season. Next season is already very predictable, start badly, continuing from this season and especially if we end up in Europa League. Sack Rodgers, new manager bounce to mid table and rinse and repeat. Fed up with it. I actually miss the championship days where we had less talented players who put a shift in and were at least somewhat consistent over a season. This play well for a few games and switch off is not for me.
We were never getting anything from that game last night, they comfortably dealt with everything. We have no imagination and plan. Between new year and now it’s as bad as anything we’ve served up for years

 

Not picking on you specifically JTF but cant believe the negativity on social media. Well actually I can and its all about todays instant gratification society. People need to remember sometimes teams go through bad patches. Not everybody can win every game. Nothing wrong with tactics or effort against Everton but we just didnt get that break or touch of class needed at that level. If not for a dodgy pen call we would be saying, actually we were good and could have won. Roll on Palace.

 

Appreciate what you’re saying and not taken personally
I should stress that the league position is incredible and we’d have been happy with lower pre-season, targeting 6th. If we’d done that by being consistently decent to good then everyone would be delighted but going from incredible for a section of games before Christmas to a side that looks at home with the bottom 5 or so since Christmas is what is unacceptable. The trend in recent years and in football in general is that teams/managers don’t come back from that such is the sport today. We did have a similar situation in the season before promotion under Pearson where we dropped right down, lost to Watford and smashed it the following season. Personally I don’t think Rodgers or this group of players have the mental strength and siege mentality of that group but would love to be wrong. As of now I can only see struggle next season but who knows if we can get that spark back from somewhere.
Re Everton we’ll have to disagree but that’s fine and what a forum is about. I just felt Everton were comfortable and never in danger after they built up their early lead. As for the penalty, it was hand ball and probably a pen. My main issue is how many equally or more obvious ones not given to us (Villa, Chelsea, Man City, Brighton even Coleman in the same game). Consistency is all we want. Again can Rodgers use that injustices as fuel for the fight? Not seeing it yet.
On the same game, that first goal is what we need to get back to, beat the full back, low pull back and bodies in the area to put it away. Simple yet effective.

 

On that last bit, John. We have to be one of the worst teams when it comes to players getting behind the defence to the byeline and either not looking up to find a team mate, or not having someone coming late into the space to have it pulled back to them. Vardy is the worst offender. He just turns and lashes it across the box without looking. i was amazed on Wednesday when he actually turned with the ball and dribbled past a defender. And then he spoiled the moment by doing nothing with it. But these are the positions where we need players with cool heads who don't panic but show that confident composure.

On another note, credit to Ben Chilwell who has been showing a more positive attacking approach of late. Shame he didn't get first to the pull back to Richarlison on Wednesday. The player we are missing is definitely Ricardo. Very big boots to fill. He was a constant threat down that right flank. That attacking option has now gone and we are lacking pace on that side.

 

There have been times where we do it but not for a while. I’m picturing the one away at Palace, Gray assist, Vardy goal and Vardy at home to Arsenal as well. Even goals like Ricardo at home to Spurs and was it home to West Ham not long before the lockdown. Low driven crosses with bodies arriving.
On Chilwell, those are the balls he should be able to play, he has the ability to beat a man and pull it back but too often turns back. That’s the most frustrating thing about him but we should certainly try and keep him around.
I just think it’s ok not to be happy with it. It’s the view that ‘we we’re still 3rd’ is when you wake up and suddenly we’re 4th then 5th and 6th. It’s a massive bottle job and Rodgers is paid massive money to put it right.
We are basically Spurs of the Midlands at the moment and that’s not a tag we want

 

Harvey Barnes has been having a mare and Albrighton has not been much better.

Iheanacho looked a real threat against Everton and has to start for me ... I'd go with him Vardy and Gray as the front 3 but with Gray dropping back to link.

If Maddison is indeed out we will struggle for creativity for sure. I'd be tempted to play Choudhry and Ndidi behind Tielemans and encourage the full backs to get forward and allow Gray to drop back into midfield to collect and link with Tielemans.

First and foremost we need a wholly committed performance from each and every one of them.

 

I'd go with that, Fosse. This is a must win game, or at worst a must not lose. Get at them from the first minute.

 

...... maybe Praet in for Choudhury?

 

... I like Hamza's steel and energy and he rarely gives the ball away ... if we are looking for that initial zip today he will contribute ... I like Praet but I'd probably go for playing him instead of Tielemans rather than with him from the off today ...

 

First point you make is spot on ... Chilwell in particular...

 

Fantastic today. Still look a bit shakey first half, not in terms of defence but attacking confidence but we got the break and never looked back. Vardy was like a different guy once he got the goal and Barnes looked much more composed than he has since coming back. Can’t fault anyone, Albrighton put a shift in, Tielemans composed and lovely cross into the no mans zone and of course Nacho. Subs we effective. Second half was like watching the first half of the season Leicester. Hopefully that’ll give the confidence back to kick on, little room for error now.

 

Hopefully Harvey Barnes will have got his mojo back after a great cameo ... but we really need madders back in the midfield... Fuchs in for Chilwell won't weaken us