Matty James is the only player missing after Nathan Dyer recovered from a knee injury. So here is what I would go with Schmeichel Simpson Morgan Huth Fuchs Albrighton Kante Drinkwater Schlupp Mahrez Vardy Subs- Schwarzer, Benalouane, King, Inler, Dyer, Okazaki, Ulloa
I like that team but seems a bit harsh to drop Okazaki. He played well against Norwich and the team won, yet I can't see Ranieri leaving Mahrez out (he scored twice last time we played Southampton) so can see that Okazaki may be the one to sacrifice. That said, the international break may play a part, bearing in mind that those two, Okazaki especially, travelled a lot to play for their respective teams. Personally, I'd consider dropping an extra man into midfield, possibly Inler, but that would probably sacrifice that great attacking edge we have!
Schlupp, Mahrez and Okazaki will always travel abit during international breaks I wouldnt be surprised if an international side picks Kante up soon as im guessing he will be eligible for at least one other side then France
Kante is of Malian heritage so would be eligible for them - he was born in France but never was capped at any level so can see him switching allegiances if they ask.
I would like to see Benalouane be given a go - apparently Morgan might has a knock which is why he wasn't picked for the Jamaica squad.
There's nothing wrong with putting an extra midfielder in for at least the first half to keep things tight against a dangerous (and, dare I say it, better) side, and just see how things pan out. With the speed of Schlupp and Albrighton on either flank we can still keep our counter attacking options open. With 20 or 30 minutes left the manager can make a call either way, to leave as is or put on another attacker. A point won at Southampton, however gained, will be a good point.
Looks good & what looks even better (if you catch my drift) is the bench. We can not only pick a strong XI we have a good back up too. I´d definitely keep Fuchs in, he needs a good run in the team & a real chance to prove himself. Yes I´d be happy with that.
Some good points made all round - the BBC write up of the Norwich game more or less made Okazaki man-of-the-match .. he certainly enables Vardy to be more selective with his bursts of pace / toming of runs etc ... The only one who wasn't that good against Norwich was Albrighton ... against Arsenal it was Mahrez and Claudio then benched him ... but Mahrez destroyed Southampton last time we played them ... my head is beginning to throb .. Still not convinced about Simpson and wonder whether de Laet's pace might get him the nod against Southampton and Mane etc ... The brilliant thing is that we now have so many options ... gonna be a real test this one .... BRING IT ON!!!!
Looking forward to the game this weekend lads, you lot have had a great start and although we started slowly, think we're finally getting closer to the level we were at last season. I see a lot of goals in this and really don't know what way it's gonna go... So hard to call.
I don't see us winning this one, would be happy with a draw, a score draw obviously, we don't do 0-0's
De Laet is not a right back - is great attacking but is poor defensively and leaves us in the lurch far too often. We were a lot more solid with Simpson at the back rather then De Laet - is notable that Norwich only really came into the game when he got injured. He is not good enough to last the entire season but should be until Jan when we can hopefully get someone better in.
Where is the transfers thread gone - I remember us being linked with a French right back who said he was interested in joining us because he played for CR before. Can't remember for the life of me what his name was - given our history of pursuing players we identified before, we probably will try to sign him again if he hasn't already moved.
Shinji Okazaki cannot be underestimated as a support striker for Vardy. He's actually played a lot of football in midfield, but because he bangs the goals in for Japan we expect him to be scoring here, yet he plays in a different system. I don't think Vardy would have half the number of goals this season (would still be a decent return) if Okazaki wasn't playing. Watching him at Norwich, his movement is incredible, and he does a lot of work dropping back to defend (see him winning the ballf or the counter leading to Schlupp's goal).
Spot on FMF ... This is what the BEEB match report on Norwich game had to say: "Claudio Ranieri bold decision to leave out Riyad Mahrez, one of Leicester's most influential players this term, met with murmurs of discontent before the game, but the Italian was rewarded for his bold move. The Algerian playmaker's mantle was assumed by Shinji Okazaki, who was a pest to the Norwich defence in tandem with Jamie Vardy. The Japanese forward - signed from German Bundesliga club Mainz in the summer - could not polish his fine performance with a goal, heading over a cross inside the opening seven minutes and skidding a low shot narrowly wide. But he was integral to a wonderful counter-attacking display from Leicester, who created a flurry of chances on the break. Vardy, Danny Drinkwater and Jeffrey Schlupp (twice) all spurned opportunities. " They gave Vards the MOM award mind
Firstly, that was at your place and secondly we had run out of steam by then. We are starting to get on a role and Mane and Pelle have been unplayable in the last 2 games. Mane is class, you give him space you're ****ed. Same with Mahrez, we need to keep him out of the game. But I do think we are going to score goals, your defence isn't great whereas we have got Bertrand back and Van Dijk has been superb alongside Fonte. I've got a sneaky feeling we're going to come out all guns blazing and win by 3 or 4.
.. only Arsenal have beaten us by 3 over the last two seasons. - so fair play to you if you manage it .. but we are not exactly out of form ourselves I think Mane is terrific but we had his measure the last time we played you and he ended up throwing himself down like a little girl in a pair of new school shoes she didn't want. ... looking forward to it ...
Probably now yeah 11/1 if anyone fancies it.... I certainly don't How do you see the game going? Will Mahrez come back in do you think?
... to tell you the truth I've no bloody idea .. Claudio Ranieri somewhat surprised me (indeed somewhat disappointed me) with his first match team selection against Sunderland ... but he got it spot on ... it was a very brave move on his part to drop Mahrez for the Norwich game ... but again it worked a treat ... I've also been impressed with his substitutions so far, both in terms of timing and personnel ... our only blip is the Arsenal game ... but that was by no way as one sided as the final scoreline suggests, and we could easily have come in 3-1 up at half-time rather than 2-1 down (with a little more luck and a more vigilant ref at we should be able to promise you is an attractive game .. we will attack you with incredible pace (even if it is in a counter attacking style) ... when we beat you last season the MOTD pundits mentioned that you couldn't cope with our pace ... the very next game you drubbed Villa who couldn't cope with YOUR pace ... so expect it fast and furious ... as you will have perhaps noted, we have both scored and conceded in every game we have played - so brace yourself for a 0-0 ... cos that's footie ...
