Cheeky Txiki
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Sums up yesterday
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Leicester City (H) Post Match Thread
- Thread starter MCFC1993
- Start date
Just one Premiership and one European Championship. Yea, Southampton really saw them coming.We let Southampton take the gamble with van Dijk first time around. Liverpool tapped him up but they ended up paying more than he was worth
jayfx
Well-Known Member
More than he was worth? Yes, it was a huge fee for a CB, it was a massive gamble, and looked like Southampton had pulled Liverpool's pants down, at the time, but, with hindsight, he was worth every penny.We let Southampton take the gamble with van Dijk first time around. Liverpool tapped him up but they ended up paying more than he was worth
Liverpool recognised where they needed to strengthen and strengthened!!
They didn't decide that VVD was the right man but then signed their 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice CB because he was cheaper. They didn't try to make do and play Fabinho or a CDM in at CB. They went out and got the right player. How did that work out for them?
I'd love to say VVD was a mistake, a waste of money, etc but if he had cost them a hundred million, I don't think they'd be unhappy, now.
More than he was worth? Yes, it was a huge fee for a CB, it was a massive gamble, and looked like Southampton had pulled Liverpool's pants down, at the time, but, with hindsight, he was worth every penny.
Liverpool recognised where they needed to strengthen and strengthened!!
They didn't decide that VVD was the right man but then signed their 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice CB because he was cheaper. They didn't try to make do and play Fabinho or a CDM in at CB. They went out and got the right player. How did that work out for them?
I'd love to say VVD was a mistake, a waste of money, etc but if he had cost them a hundred million, I don't think they'd be unhappy, now.
£80m? Good but not that good
Just one Premiership and one European Championship. Yea, Southampton really saw them coming.
Liverpool tried to get him on the cheap and got caught
I know every team can have an off day, we all accept that. We had too many last season, and a few posters said we were allowed a dip after the previous 2 seasons brilliant exploits. My fear is Pep has lost his magic here. I am stunned at what I witnessed yesterday.That Norwich game should have been the wake up call for all the management at our club, I think they are still asleep.
would have probably been 8-2 yesterdayStill think it's Gundogans fault for not being fit enough to play
think sane is miles ahead of mahrez thoughSane had bags of talent but not gonna lie and say he was consistent. There were games he was quiet depending on how the ops set up, same as Sterling. Looking at the positives, we've still got a squad bursting with talent. Honestly think if we can get the defence and DM sorted then the rest will take care of itself.
think sane is miles ahead of mahrez though
Pace is the only difference. Sane loses that then he would struggle
Sane is faster, can dribble better, is not a one-trick pony - can go wide or cut inside, he can play wide left, wide right and centre and most importantly is never selfish.Pace is the only difference. Sane loses that then he would struggle
Sane is faster, can dribble better, is not a one-trick pony - can go wide or cut inside, he can play wide left, wide right and centre and most importantly is never selfish.
Mahrez's game is better suited and is technically the better player. Again pace is Sane's only stand out feature
mcfcbill91
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 7 Jan 2015
- Messages
- 116
Yesterday felt like watching a game from last season unfortunately, but with magnified issues.
Personally, there are two key problems at the moment;
1 - A ridiculous injury list that any team would struggle with. Regardless of the scoffing from the 'experts' of Sky etc, having 7 first team players out will have an effect. Yet another back four who had never played together yesterday.
2 - No pre-season. The international break is a massive hindrance, coming two weeks after the CL tournament ended. A vast majority of our early season opponents have had an element of pre-season.
I'm disappointed with how our transfer business has slowed, but I expect we've had difficulty offloading the likes of Otamendi whilst trying to bring in these other new players. Had we got into home grown squad issues etc, then we'll be taking even more of a hit. On top of that, financial planning is probably impossible, especially as it looks like no match day income for the whole season now.
Before criticising Guardiola and the players, I think we need to be aware of just how often we face incredibly defensive set ups that go beyond parking the bus and resemble playground football.
Leicester have only employed that 5-4-1 system twice since the start of last season. Both times it's been against us. I'll be interested to see whether they use it against Liverpool. Or whether a number of the other teams that often adopt a bespoke 5 at the back against City also now use it against Liverpool.
There's an increasing number of teams using a back 5, supported by a flat 4 in front or even a flat 5 at times in front.
This leaves us in a position where we have to play almost perfect football at an incredible pace to break through - it's exhausting. Either that or a moment of individual quality like Mahrez's goal yesterday - which came from a set piece.
If City want to score, we need to be able to commit high numbers forward, this has been the case for a number of years. Teams will either have so many players in defensive positions it's impossible to play through, or when the ball goes out wide, collapse around the ball and try to win it back.
We did start yesterday by trying to switch into Mendy when building on the right, but it didn't yield much.
The other attack we liked is KDB getting into the penalty area and driving a flat cross in. But with a centre back covering the front post and our forwards tightly marked, again you need absolute perfection.
So when we circulate the ball, you're trying to open gaps in a 10 man defensive unit using a maximum of 8 players - Neville began to criticise Leicester ahead of their equaliser as it had become laughable just how deep they were sitting.
Maybe we should just circulate the ball endlessly in front of these teams and see what actually happens.
However, yet again we've missed a key chance (Fernandinho header from incredible KDB cross) and then been punished by errors. Mahrez has the chance to flatten Barnes (twice Leicester just bundled KDB over when we had a counter attack, but remember this is only 'tactical' when City do it). Garcia backs off and then Walker is stupid to touch Vardy. Although it's not a surprise this error happens in the 37th minute - we had begun to tire ahead of HT. Leicester still hadn't created a single open play shot ahead of this.
Second goal is well played, but what the hell are Garcia & Mendy doing? Mendy positioning is awful and as for Garcia, he's caught out and never catches up with Vardy. Had he been switched on ahead of the run, he may get a block or cut the ball out.
Subbing Fernadinho off was a mistake in hindsight, but given the packed penalty area and compressed Leicester lines, getting KDB into a deeper position and Delap offering a constant presence for the central defenders was logical at the time.
Garcia done by Vardy again, who just put himself there and waited.
At 3-1 it's game over and we looked tired. No surprise another stupid error and the usual wonder goal too.
Let's hope the Dias deal is sorted quickly. It's still early enough in the season to sort these problems. We'll be a different team with our top lads back and a consistent back four hopefully.
It would be good to have a back 5 option ourselves, with two strikers hopefully providing enough movement to unsettle these teams and a freer role for KDB. Ake & Dias gives us this option.
Personally, there are two key problems at the moment;
1 - A ridiculous injury list that any team would struggle with. Regardless of the scoffing from the 'experts' of Sky etc, having 7 first team players out will have an effect. Yet another back four who had never played together yesterday.
2 - No pre-season. The international break is a massive hindrance, coming two weeks after the CL tournament ended. A vast majority of our early season opponents have had an element of pre-season.
I'm disappointed with how our transfer business has slowed, but I expect we've had difficulty offloading the likes of Otamendi whilst trying to bring in these other new players. Had we got into home grown squad issues etc, then we'll be taking even more of a hit. On top of that, financial planning is probably impossible, especially as it looks like no match day income for the whole season now.
Before criticising Guardiola and the players, I think we need to be aware of just how often we face incredibly defensive set ups that go beyond parking the bus and resemble playground football.
Leicester have only employed that 5-4-1 system twice since the start of last season. Both times it's been against us. I'll be interested to see whether they use it against Liverpool. Or whether a number of the other teams that often adopt a bespoke 5 at the back against City also now use it against Liverpool.
There's an increasing number of teams using a back 5, supported by a flat 4 in front or even a flat 5 at times in front.
This leaves us in a position where we have to play almost perfect football at an incredible pace to break through - it's exhausting. Either that or a moment of individual quality like Mahrez's goal yesterday - which came from a set piece.
If City want to score, we need to be able to commit high numbers forward, this has been the case for a number of years. Teams will either have so many players in defensive positions it's impossible to play through, or when the ball goes out wide, collapse around the ball and try to win it back.
We did start yesterday by trying to switch into Mendy when building on the right, but it didn't yield much.
The other attack we liked is KDB getting into the penalty area and driving a flat cross in. But with a centre back covering the front post and our forwards tightly marked, again you need absolute perfection.
So when we circulate the ball, you're trying to open gaps in a 10 man defensive unit using a maximum of 8 players - Neville began to criticise Leicester ahead of their equaliser as it had become laughable just how deep they were sitting.
Maybe we should just circulate the ball endlessly in front of these teams and see what actually happens.
However, yet again we've missed a key chance (Fernandinho header from incredible KDB cross) and then been punished by errors. Mahrez has the chance to flatten Barnes (twice Leicester just bundled KDB over when we had a counter attack, but remember this is only 'tactical' when City do it). Garcia backs off and then Walker is stupid to touch Vardy. Although it's not a surprise this error happens in the 37th minute - we had begun to tire ahead of HT. Leicester still hadn't created a single open play shot ahead of this.
Second goal is well played, but what the hell are Garcia & Mendy doing? Mendy positioning is awful and as for Garcia, he's caught out and never catches up with Vardy. Had he been switched on ahead of the run, he may get a block or cut the ball out.
Subbing Fernadinho off was a mistake in hindsight, but given the packed penalty area and compressed Leicester lines, getting KDB into a deeper position and Delap offering a constant presence for the central defenders was logical at the time.
Garcia done by Vardy again, who just put himself there and waited.
At 3-1 it's game over and we looked tired. No surprise another stupid error and the usual wonder goal too.
Let's hope the Dias deal is sorted quickly. It's still early enough in the season to sort these problems. We'll be a different team with our top lads back and a consistent back four hopefully.
It would be good to have a back 5 option ourselves, with two strikers hopefully providing enough movement to unsettle these teams and a freer role for KDB. Ake & Dias gives us this option.
as they say football is a game of opinions, but I'd much rather pay to watch Sane any day than a selfish one-trick pony.Mahrez's game is better suited and is technically the better player. Again pace is Sane's only stand out feature
manimanc
Well-Known Member
One trick pony? Yeah ok.as they say football is a game of opinions, but I'd much rather pay to watch Sane any day than a selfish one-trick pony.
Also by replacing Sane with Mahrez, we now are forced to play Sterling down the left, he's more effective down the right. Also it was terrific to watch Sane and Sterling interchange positions during the course of the game and terrified teams no end. We've lost that now.as they say football is a game of opinions, but I'd much rather pay to watch Sane any day than a selfish one-trick pony.
Gray
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- Joined
- 30 May 2004
- Messages
- 28,754
- Team supported
- ABU & The Bus Wreckers
And if he had played it would still have been his fault.Still think it's Gundogans fault for not being fit enough to play
Nellies left peg
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- Joined
- 3 Dec 2017
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- 10,250
Why? Its totally irrelevant to the shit show we put ion yesterday. Doesn't console me one bit. It's gonna be a season like last one.I feel much better having just seen that Bayern Munich got similarly thumped on Sunday 4-1 at Hoffenheim.
yes all he can do is trap a long ball, cut inside and take a shot. Occasionally, as it did yesterday, it might go in. Doesn't track back, cannot tackle and cannot make an obvious passOne trick pony? Yeah ok.
as they say football is a game of opinions, but I'd much rather pay to watch Sane any day than a selfish one-trick pony.
If Mahrez is a one trick pony what does that make Sane? There had been games where Sane was less effective than Mahrez