Leicester City 2015 - 2016 vs Leicester City 2016 - 2017.
So, how do we explain the inexplicable? How come we won the league last year and look like relegation candidates this year (because make no mistake that's how we're playing)?
Possible reasons?
1. Missing Kante
2. Players have been complacent and believe all the hype about themselves
3. Struggling with Champions League and Premier League fixture schedule.
4. Players wildly over-performed last season (I know, I know for 38 games so can't be classed as a fluke)
5. Players reverting to true form and ability this season
6. New signings upsetting the balance and rhythm of the team and formation.
7. Ranieri struggling to find the right tactics - especially a Plan B to the counter-attack.
8. Ranieri directing a more long-ball approach and restricting play through the middle.
9. More injuries.
10. The majority of players hitting poor form all at the same time. This is actually a fact, but what is the reason behind it.
For me, the only players who have consistently played as well as last season are Simpson, Fuchs and Schmeichel. Drinky has been nearly as good - at least until Sunday.
So which of the above reasons are behind the horror show that it is this season's Premier League campaign or are there others?
A Tale of Two Cities...
posted on 8/11/16
It was clear in the Copenhagen game that Schlupp and Musa were clueless about what to do and were fearful of crossing the halfway line.
As a serious response to Mersey, it helps to understand Schlupp at least first half that he was essentially playing wing back and probably to instructions.
He did look stronger second half when given a bit of freedom.
posted on 8/11/16
I know TB - but wing backs are allowed to cross the halfway line no?
Schlupp seemed to get in the opposition half. Take one look at the full back, check back and play a sideways pass. Very odd and looked instructed.
Agree he was average in the second half as opposed to poor.
posted on 8/11/16
I seem to remember back in MONs days, he did exactly the same with Jamie Laurence, it was so frustrating but you can't blame the player if it's instructed?
posted on 8/11/16
While I completely agree that the tactics in the last 2 games have been wide of the mark to say the least, it cant be used as an excuse for poor player performances.
I am not picking on Schlupp but if we all look at his last few appearances they have all left a lot to be desired. Now while I agree that he did start out at Wing Back against Copenhagen he didn't look comfortable, tactical awareness was poor etc but he has played in that role before so should have been a tad better on the pitch than what we saw.
At the end of the day we need to go back to basics as I have said before, get the spine of the team sorted and lets start the season now.
posted on 8/11/16
comment by HuthTheGreatest (U21175)
posted 11 hours, 4 minutes ago
Four things that leap out to me:
1. Refereeing. The new refereeing tactics have ruined Morgan and Huth's game, and adversely affected our ability to defend properly.
2. Danny Simpson. We've still got him and we needed a better RB.
3. Not trusting enough in Claudio. Look at what he has done, a winner at every level of the game, everywhere he's been. I believe in him and I hope most other fans still do.
4. Media snarking. The pundits, big teams, TV operators etc like Leicester doing well as a one off novelty, they don't want it to happen again due to the money the "big" teams generate from abroad. So they magnify any issues with our club.
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Huth
1) A quality defender is able to defend without using his arms etc. Its the same for all defenders in the PL and to be honest our defence have been the better performing part of the team all season so blaming the refereeing is rubbish.
2) Danny Simpson - Get over it. Simpson is better than Hernandez and is the best RB we have had at the club in many a year. He has been consistent this season and for me would be one of the first names on the team sheet.
3) I believe that all the fans DO believe in Claudio.
4) Media Snarking - really? The media will report any story with their own spin on it, last season it was Chelsea dismal showing and our amazing season and now this season its how close the chase for the PL title will be this season AND our PL performances compared to our CL performances.
As for the money the big teams bring in from abroad, I think you will find that the viewing figures and newspaper sales were higher last season due to the interest generated by our title run in so if money talks ( as you imply) then surely its in their interest for it to happen again.
Apart from that I agree with your points.
posted on 8/11/16
It was a poor performance, it's disappointing but it happens.
The players aren't robots and we can't expect the same level of performance as last season so let's not over react here.
posted on 8/11/16
CofE
I dont think any of us are expecting the same level of performance as last season apart from Huth and Silent Arro, who will both think we are going to make the Top 4.
What we can expect is our team to play to its strengths and for all of the players to look like they are putting in 100% on the pitch for our club.
At the start of the season their was a distinct lack of effort from the players, hangover from winning the league ? I dont know....
But this was addressed and we started to look like the LCFC of old and thats all we as supporters want to see, players sweating and putting their bodies on the line for our club.
But we have under performed more often than not this season, and going into the International Break its the ideal time too assess where we are at as a team and how we move forward.
As for over reacting, I would say if people were calling for CR to go, there were boo's or protests after games etc then that would be over reacting. But on here we are just voicing frustration that we have players that can perform a lot better, but due to rotation, CL diversion etc we havent got a steady run of results or a settled team.
And my opinion was and still is that if we resort to what we know worked and give it a crack then we might be better off, we arent going to be any worse off than Sunday lets be fair.....
posted on 8/11/16
I agree that we need to revert back to last season's team but a few below par performances are par for the course, it's going to happen.
We were spoilt by a level of consistency that isn't sustainable and now our performances are going to be a bit mixed, the same as every other team. We've been poor and brilliant this season not all poor.
If we continue to play like that then I'll really start to worry.
posted on 11/11/16
comment by HuthTheGreatest (U21175)
posted 11 hours, 4 minutes ago
Four things that leap out to me:
1. Refereeing. The new refereeing tactics
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What a load of crap. You mean penalising fouls, doing their job?
posted on 11/11/16
comment by aries22 (U1203)
posted 4 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by HuthTheGreatest (U21175)
posted 11 hours, 4 minutes ago
Four things that leap out to me:
1. Refereeing. The new refereeing tactics
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What a load of crap. You mean penalising fouls, doing their job?
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Haha, you fell for it again!!!