Interesting that most of us here think RDL is a weak link yet he makes RB of the week and is 3rd when it comes to winning duels: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34249318
I remember him saying a week or so ago that because of our high tempo attacking / counter attacking game that this is sometimes the cost of playing a high pressing game and to be fair Jeff Schlupp was caught out the same way yesterday.
Depends whether you're referring to De Laet as an attacking option, because that's who the CB would replace. Basically, you play the same formation than finished last season with Kante and Drinkwater in for Cambiasso and James. Simple. No need to change something that worked just to make your mark, Claudio.
You're watching a different player to me then. De Laet is weak defensively; always has been at this level. His saving grace is that he can be useful in attacks.
Huth and Was were stronger together, with Morgan working as a sort of sweeper in front of them - almost like a defensive midfielder.
I like De Laet as a player and I think he is more then worth his place in the squad. But I don't think he is good enough the be first choice in the Premier League. He lacks the concentration and gets beaten too easily. Yes he doesn't get much support from Mahrez but he is the one opposition managers target over Jeff Schlupp who started his career as a striker
Kill me if you dare, but RDL isn`t a prem player & WM is knocking on & will start to be abit of a liability. Both will do a top job in the championship but we need to replace them with prem players & one or two other DEF´s who ain´t getting in the team or on the bench. Hard to get quality players to sit on the bench I know but we are weak if our regular DEF as it stands start to get injured & have longish lay offs. I hope CR is looking at this problem & will be addressing it in the winter transfer window. We looked better when Inler went off yesterday too.
De Laet is worth his place in the squad especially with his versatility making him an asset to have on the bench. As for Wes he made a mistake yesterday granted but I think he has started the season quite well. Morgan and Huth are yet to build a partnership as a 2 and thats something that is and will improve Wes is still worth his place but as for next season then its time for him to even become cover here or if he wants first team football every week then move on
Yesterday's clanger aside, I think Morgan has been stronger than Huth so far this season. Huth has been stitched up a few times and also seems prone to a nasty tackle or two. As Proud says, they aren't yet syncing as a two, and I think working with Wasa last season covered a multitude of deficiencies. It's a dilemma for Ranieri - he can either stick with it to see how they go, or go back to a three. Bearing in mind De Laet's and even Schlupp's defensive frailties though, I think the answer is clear.
As we are unbeaten and getting the best out of the likes of Mahrez, Drinkwater and Vardy, I'd say stick with the current formation. We should try Benalouane though - might pair up well with Morgan and is much faster then Huth so could potentially cover better for RDL when he attacks.
Not been impressed with the little we seen of Benalouane so far, but, like all the newcomers (particularly Inler), it will take time for him to bed in and adjust to the Premier League. I don't think changing the formation will affect the trio you mentioned. Mahrez actually looks stronger in the middle anyway as we saw against Villa. Vardy and Drinwater would stay in the same positions in a 3-5-2.
I concur with Gangsta, in that up until Morgan's howler on Saturday, he has, to be fair, been pretty solid so far this season, more so than Huth I would say. That said, I just get the feeling that our whole back line are a short term arrangement unless we want to progress and develop into a top half team next season (I know we have to stay up this season first!!) I would like to see Fuchs given an opportunity sooner than later.
I agree with this, Miami Longer-term, if we want to establish ourselves as a Premier League club, we need better players than RDL, Morgan, and Huth... That's 3 of our back 4!
This is my whole point. I´m thinking, starting Jan, build the DEF bit by bit. Easy said I know, but if we had the 3, mentioned above, on the bench (for say the next 2 seasons for arguments sake) & better on the field in their place then.... **** me. I know I go on about it (our DEF) but I just think you really need to sort the back out no matter what team or lge you´re in. I´ll tell ya if we do then we could easily be a top 8 team & really push for a place in europe, which is Tops goal I´m sure once we are an established prem team. I guess it all takes time. As long as we stay up (without a relegation battle)
Morgan's second half performance against Villa was amazing, I don't think I saw him miss a tackle or misplace a pass. I hope the error he made against Stoke doesn't get in his head as around this time last year he seemed to be making similar errors every other week and I think it really affected his confidence. I don't think he's had enough credit for how much he's improved in the last year, especially if you take into account his performances at international level over the summer. Mahrez's improvement in that time is somewhat overshadowing his!
Ranieri has said he prefers Mahrez playing out wide because it allows him to get in more 1 V 1's with the defenders
I don't think we need to be looking to replace Huth, hes coming off a season where his addition changed the formation and ergo our form, can't really want him replaced yet, just think the players need to adjust back to a back 4. As a back 3, there was always more width to cover if a WB was caught too far up field, we are free scoring at the moment, and the worry is if we went back to 3 CB's and we stop scoring, CR will probably take more scrutiny. until we start losing i can't see him tinkering too much.
