We certainly had a formula that worked last season and we had Kante and Drinkwater who took over his defensive duties. This season may be very different if we can't find an effective replacement for Kante. Ranieri certainly wanted to hit the ground running. That hasn't happened. At times like this we need everyone giving their all and no passengers to make sure we get back on track. Some are saying that Mahrez is in fact giving his all and we shouldn't expect more from him. If that is the case then he's either being played in the wrong position or we are not defending correctly. Our right flank was constantly being cut to ribbons on Saturday. Arsenal looked dangerous every time they attacked down that side and really should have made more of their chances. Teams with a competent central striker almost certainly will. If Mahrez is going to continue to be played in a wide role then the midfield is going to have to push across in order to cover him when he's out of position defensively. This didn't seem to happen on Saturday. Mendy was nowhere to be seen and Simpson was left facing at least two opponents. Whether that was down to poor communication between the players I don't know. The alternative of playing Mahrez more centrally behind a lone striker is an option. We would have to sacrifice Okazaki's work rate because again Mahrez won't be capable of that, but it would provide him with the opportunity of being able to go right or left against central defenders who would be wary of bringing him down, and it would provide him with the opportunity of slipping Vardy or another central striker in. Forgive me for my poor memory, but did we try that role for him last season?
... teams that give their all but have no game changers tend to get relegated ... we lost at Hull who, fair play, did a number on us ... and also got a great result this weekend ... we then took on Arsenal who will always trouble teams offensively but not only did we match them, we created better clear cut goalscoring chances and but for a couple of unexplainable decisions from Clattenberg would have likely won ... we may not have quite hit the ground running but I think we are getting there ... I've never heard anyone moaning about the likes of Messi or Neymar or for that matter David Silva, Eden Hazard or Mesut Ozil not getting back and defending ... you would much rather have such players free ... Personally I would like to see Mahrez given more of a free role in the middle ... worked very well when we di that on Saturday ... but each to his own ... we are no longer 'plucky battlers' we have palyers with real skill and talent and for me that needs to be our focus ... let's get the ball to players who can do the damage ... Vardy is still short of complete match fitness but that will come ... ... also I don't think Andy King is the right partner for Drinkwater and I hope ranieri can strengthen in that department ...
I'd like to see us go for Schneiderlin of United. Might be deemed surplus to requirements since the signing of Pogba. They might see it as an opportunity to get some money back into the kitty.
Mouriniho already said he wants to keep him. We are being linked with DMs though - Mario Lemina and Leandro Paredes were the last ones although those have cooled down.
Absolutely agree.... There's no way you can compare the two, the game has changed so much ! For example , if Walshy, Matty and Taggs were playing their style today they'd be sent off most weeks IMO ?
At the start of his career Walshy was His elbow on Geddis while they were walking back to the half way line was GBH!
