We're only a couple of games into the Brendan Rodgers era at Leicester, so granted there isn't a lot to go on so far. And I'm aware that the match at the weekend was "only" Fulham. (As far as any match is "only" against anyone.) But what we witnessed in that match has left me cautiously optimistic about the future direction of this squad. Some things went right, some things went wrong. But what went wrong was, for me, the right sort of wrong. If that sounds like bunkum and twaddle, let me try to explain.
In some ways there were similarities to the Puelball that we've seen all season. Tielemans aside, the personnel was not that different. The side was generally young. We wanted to retain possession. We were looking to the wings for creativity. And yet in other areas there were significant differences.
For a considerable part of this season, we've seen a side that has looked uncertain of itself. We knew the plan was to introduce younger players and gain higher possession stats, and this to a large extent has been done. Yet we always looked like a team that was lost in the void, soulless. A lot has been said about Puel demanding quality and intensity, both words stressed with a mocking French accent on social media. But the last of those two words has lost all meaning for much of the season because it simply hasn't been present. Ditto any sort of aggression aside from frustration - certainly very little on the front foot. The plan appeared to be to grind our opponents into submission yet without employing any other tactics that might constitute a counterattack style. We looked surprised and nervous when weaker sides took the game to us. Ultimately, the only ones ground into submission were the King Power faithful.
But the Fulham match was a chance for the team to show how that might have changed after a week and a bit of training under Brendan Rodgers and team. I was a little surprised to see some negative feedback on the match in certain circles (not so much on this forum, but elsewhere). The primary complaint was that we struggled after the Fulham goal, which was true. There were complaints that it was a poor performance and that we shouldn't need to keep being bailed out by Vardy.
I would say such criticism is true, yet unjustified.
We did lost control of the match when Fulham equalised. But we were in control of it pretty much entirely up until that point, scored first and created some decent chances, which was a considerable improvement. Fulham's goal was something of a freak caused by a mistake from a young player and a deflection. Fulham's surge after the goal was reflective of the young midfield being disappointed and disheartened to find themselves level again in a match that they had dominated. Young players missing chances over recent weeks is also somewhat to be expected, as young players generally do.
But all of this is part and parcel of having a young team. Younger players will make precisely these kinds of mistakes, and that's fine. Granted it can be argued we have a few too many younger players out there right now, particularly in central midfield, but since we have, these are the situations that they will face and learn from. However, gone was the lack of energy, the lack of aggression, the lack of pressing and creativity - qualities that would normally be associated with younger, enthusiastic players and teams. Yes, there were mistakes, but they were the kind of mistakes that are expected and understood from young players. They actually looked like young players again instead of old players trying to manage a game at a snail's pace because it was all they could do.
As for Vardy bailing us out, that could be leveled at any team whose striker is their best player. I'm just glad that it looks like we'll have a top player in that position for a few years to come who can do just that while the younger players around him learn their craft and improve that most difficult of things - end product.
As with any young team, I would expect ups and downs - especially between now and the end of the season. Next up is Burnley for instance, a generally experienced side hovering above the relegation places and ready to fight for their lives to get a result against us. I can't really see us getting a good result in it, but it will also be a learning experienced for many of these players. But at least if these young players have young player problems, there is a cleaner and brighter path to sorting these out. Against Fulham, for the first time in ages, I witnessed evidence that a path to improvement still exists.
The right sort of wrong
posted on 13/3/19
Great post Dunge. Can’t argue with any of it.
The right kind of right is that Rodgers is promoting a genuine approach to our intensity and a higher press. If Puel has just tried this he honestly could have saved his job. It’s not that different.
I look forward to seeing how it works over the remainder of the season, with little criticism when it doesn’t as we’re nearly safe so points aren’t critical, and will be adapting to a new style.
Next season will be key. A summer of planned transfers and Rodgers’ ideas in place. So far it looks like a step in the right direction. That’s all we can ask right now.
posted on 13/3/19
I was excited to see Maddison come in the Summer, I thought he'd be the perfect player for setting Vardy up so it's Nice to see him getting into that role recently.
He's had a few grumblings about him recently but I saw a stat yesterday he's created 81 chances, the highest in any of the top 5 European Leagues, at last they're chances to the right man.
posted on 13/3/19
This article is right, but wrong.
It says the criticism is unjustified. Yet you offer the same nuanced criticism. Young side, inconsistent, doing the right things etc... that others have expressed.
Vardy bailing us out might be jut the equivalent of Kane, Aguero or Lukaku for other teams - but he still bailed us out. We were in that position because we lost a degree of control in a match we could have put out of site in the first half. We’d struggle without our best player, but so would many other teams. That doesn’t really change the fact.
The Fulham match had a much better feel with a higher press and more intensity. We still look like a young side, a work in progress, who may need some older heads for greater consistency. But the criticism is justified - if, indeed it is criticism - as it is exactly as you’ve stated. We will need a little patience.
So I think you’re wrong, but right.
posted on 13/3/19
Have you just vehemently agreed with Dunge their Joby, whilst pretending you disagree.
Either way, I agree with you both entirely.
posted on 13/3/19
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 2 minutes ago
Have you just vehemently agreed with Dunge their Joby, whilst pretending you disagree.
Either way, I agree with you both entirely.
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Precisely that Mersey. I agree with it all. I just think the article was confused.
The article said that we played well and there were signs of progress - I agree. It then said that the criticism was unjustified - I don’t agree. It then put forward the same, nuanced, criticism that I would have put forward to justify that the criticism was justified.
Er .... yeah ..... ok .... I agree.
posted on 14/3/19
When I talk about justification for criticism, that's with regard to it being fair. A player could play 20 through balls that lead to 19 goals. Is criticism for the 1 that gets cut out justified?
I've seen people complaining in some places about our younger players losing control of the match at the weekend. That is going to happen sometimes with a young team, and those who complained are being unrealistic if they expect more.
posted on 14/3/19
DM,
I guess context is important here: how the criticism was put forward and was there any mitigation?
Personally I do feel our younger players lost control of the game and I do feel that Vardy popped up at just the right time when there was a danger the game was getting away from us. Those are fair observations in my view. The mitigation that you put forward is also fair and, in my view, totally correct.
If there is just moaning and groaning without balance then I agree that it’s harsh, but it doesn’t necessarily make it any less true.
posted on 14/3/19
I guess when I do the player ratings, I generally try to give a view and a rating based on what I've seen that day. (I remember awarding Kante a 4 once. It didn't happen again. ) If I'm giving an overarching opinion of a player - and sometimes I do - then I hope that's clear and in context.
I don't think it's unfair to say that we lost control of the game for 20 minutes odd against Fulham, or that Vardy bailed us out. What irked me more was that some sections of the fan base (not necessarily on this forum) were holding it against them. "Same sh!t, different day" was an attitude I saw among some. It's odd that people couldn't see an improvement, or had somehow in their minds relegated Fulham to the level of Crappington Rovers who we should be just walloping regardless.
It's like seeing a learner driver on the road; they're going to make mistakes. But if they're making the kind of mistakes you'd expect a learner to make anyway then there's far less reason for concern.
posted on 14/3/19
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 hour, 38 minutes ago
I guess when I do the player ratings, I generally try to give a view and a rating based on what I've seen that day. (I remember awarding Kante a 4 once. It didn't happen again.) If I'm giving an overarching opinion of a player - and sometimes I do - then I hope that's clear and in context.
I don't think it's unfair to say that we lost control of the game for 20 minutes odd against Fulham, or that Vardy bailed us out. What irked me more was that some sections of the fan base (not necessarily on this forum) were holding it against them. "Same sh!t, different day" was an attitude I saw among some. It's odd that people couldn't see an improvement, or had somehow in their minds relegated Fulham to the level of Crappington Rovers who we should be just walloping regardless.
It's like seeing a learner driver on the road; they're going to make mistakes. But if they're making the kind of mistakes you'd expect a learner to make anyway then there's far less reason for concern.
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Agree with all of that – and it does indicate the self-entitlement that some have eluded to.
Take the next game against Burnley. There will be some who will expect a win because we are the better side and will be highly critical if we don’t achieve that. I think in the context of the current situation a draw there would be a very good result and any sort of win even better. This is exactly the sort of fixture that will test the mettle of our young team and is the type, not to measure ourselves against now, but how we do in similar fixtures when BR has been here a few months and started to embed his ethos.
posted on 14/3/19
Burnley will be tough. They know by now that Cardiff aren't going away so they need to pick up points, particularly at home against sides not in the top 6. A toughed-out draw at the weekend would be a good result.
P.S. I need to remember the term "Crappington Rovers".