I don't think it's about sussing Vardy. He's clearly not fit. He could have had a hat trick yesterday if he was on form and we would be talking about a very different result.

You can't start the season at 70% fitness as Ranieri alluded to. You also can't partner two defenders together who barely know each other for the first match of the season. Hernandez is a quality addition, but it was unfair to throw him straight in like that. He needs time and gradual introduction.

And of course, you need someone in midfield who is going to take control of it. We had no one

Interesting points, Blackstarr. So why is Vardy not fit? He went to the Euros. Too much football? His operation? I doubt that. If you are right it might be worth giving him a week off to recover. Still would rather have started with Ogazaki. As for Schlupp, is he chasing regular first team football? Good player. United nearly nicked him when we were in the Championship. Shall be sorry to see him move on.

Longtime - lack of game time for Vardy. Because of his operation he didn't have a pre-season really. He's played one game against Man U where he was gifted a goal which he took well

Kane also looked well off the pace yesterday and one who have been to the euros have played less pre season games so I think they are more likely to be rusty

Arsenal............no problem .

I agree. A fully match fit Vardy would have buried those two chances yesterday. The main thing that cost us yesterday was the lack of match fitness and sharpness as a whole. I think this was the reason that Simpson and Fuchs got booked early on for being a yard off the pace. I agree that it was too soon to play Hernandez. Big Wasl should have started alongside Wes. Hernandez needs to be introduced slowly otherwise his confidence will get shot to pieces. Good prospect with a great long throw but not quite ready yet.
Watching MoD last night, we did still create some good chances. Vardy's two, Fuch's chance, Mahrez's shot and Drinkwaters efforts being some. I think we'll be ok as soon as we get up to speed fitness wise. It's just how quickly this can happen.
I guess we're all going to take some ribbing after yesterday, but I'm sure that we'll have the last laugh once we get going.

Yesterday was the first time I've seen Hernandez play.

OK, you've pretty well provided a reason why he didn't have a great game i.e. his position, a stranger playing alongside him, but what I did notice about him was the shirt & body tugging of his namesake in the Hull side. He got away with it on more than one occasion and in one instance he pursued his man across and just ahead of the 18-yard box. That's dangerous, pulling at him in that area.

I'll give him the benefit on this occasion but if he carries on like this he'll get found out and cost us dearly. I know others do it at other clubs up and down the country but I'm not concerned with them.

He's got a steep learning curve Downsouf. He just looked like a rabbit in the headlights yesterday and understandably so. La Liga must be a totally different experience

He will be invaluable in the CL as a good ball playing defender with positional awareness but needs time to adapt

So , a question , Lineker or Vardy ?

I think that's the second time I've said "can't carry on like this today".

No we bloody well can't.

Hernandez looks very good on the ball - could he fill the defensive mid role?

Just a thought.

Interesting idea, Mersey. What has troubled me the most about Hernandez so far is that he has seemed reluctant to put his body on the line, almost trying to get out of the way of shots rather than throwing himself in front of them as we are used to seeing from our defenders. Hopefully that will change - his throw-in will get us a few extra goals but it is all for nothing if we ship more at the other end. UTF

comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
Hernandez looks very good on the ball - could he fill the defensive mid role?

Just a thought.
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Or he could be the third in a back 3?

comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 35 minutes ago
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
Hernandez looks very good on the ball - could he fill the defensive mid role?

Just a thought.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or he could be the third in a back 3?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're not gonna give that one up are you!?

Even after winning the title with a back 4!

To be fair it could work....

comment by Blackstarr (U12353)
posted 31 seconds ago
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 35 minutes ago
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
Hernandez looks very good on the ball - could he fill the defensive mid role?

Just a thought.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Or he could be the third in a back 3?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're not gonna give that one up are you!?

Even after winning the title with a back 4!

To be fair it could work....
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We do need to adapt in some way and that maybe the best option

Yeah good point Schlupp. It could be used as one of two tactics

Ranieri said he has a surprise plan b up his sleeve. If that was it yesterday I'm not amused!!

comment by Blackstarr (U12353)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
Yeah good point Schlupp. It could be used as one of two tactics

Ranieri said he has a surprise plan b up his sleeve. If that was it yesterday I'm not amused!!
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If you look back to the beginning of last season it wasnt until we got tonked by Arsenal that we finally settled. Ranieri's no fool. He'll see what needs to be done.

I fear a backlash from Arsenal next week!!!!

Hopefully they'll collapse BS - lots of pressure on them this season after limited transfer action.

Will be a very tough game though and it won't be pretty if we're sat on 0 points after 2 games!

I'm actually glad Arsenal got beat today. They have got to expect a backlash from us also.
Defending Champions, playing at home, 1st game defeat to the expected difficult season for Hull City, Robert Huth back, Okazaki & Albrighton restored to the starting 11 and one of Mendy or Amartey in for Andy King, a full house of 32,000 roaring the roof off................what's not to be positive about!!??

Stick with 4-4-2, as a new system against a team like Arsenal, we may get thumped. So, it would be only 1 player coming in to partner the regular 11 from most of last season. Playing a new formation with 2 or 3 new players, against the Gunners may be a step too far, too soon?
I do believe we can win this match or at least take a point.
We owe them one for the double they did on us last season. The lads know they can compete with Arsenal. It showed at the Emirates last time out, albeit in defeat....cruelly.

As for Andy King........a good, honest pro, top bloke off the pitch, honest & likeable. Like i've said in a previous post that i just wish he would excell in games instead of being steady, 6-7 out of ten every game. He needs more dynamism, more often, to get the odd 8 or 9.
Good for seeing a game out if we are 1 or 2 up with little threat in our goalmouth. Needs more aggression for a starting spot, more conviction. Come on Kingy, you can do this?

Want Schmeichel to stay calmer also as he's very, very passionate about defending as a team. He did give Demarai Gray a dodgy ball out which led to Hull scoring the 2nd. Kaspers error that one really. Gray had 2 or 3 players too close to him when it got near him.

As much as Musa is doing fairly well in the side, i think bringing him on may benefit us short term. I did opt for a Vardy/ Musa partnership against Hull as my preference but it didn't click smoothly. Get Okazaki back in with Vardy to defend from the front, wear down the opposition defence, then bring on Musa to do the damage. Integrate thereafter if he impresses.

My team to face Arsenal .....

Schmeichel

Simpson Morgan Huth Fuchs

Mahrez Drinkwater Amartey/Mendy Albrighton

Vardy Okazaki

Stick to tried & trusted, familiarity, because it works.

If we win this one, EVERYONE will sit up, think twice and wonder again.

COME ON LEICESTER CITY............COME ON CLAUDIO...............get 'em going!

UTF.

Nice one play the pitch. I actually feel much better!

No probs Blackstarr. We've gotta be positive, regardless.
Otherwise it filters through to the players.
But if we are labouring game in and game out, then , yeah, i will be one of the first to blow a fuse.

We can beat Arsenal.

I think the hole left by Kante left the CB's exposed a little (we did miss Huth too). In my humble opinion, we should go 4-1-4-1,

Schmeichel
Simpson Huth Morgan Fuchs
Amartey
Mahrez Mendy Drinkwater musa
Vardy

I'd revert to as close to last season's successful lineup as practicable:

Schmeichel
Simpson Huth Morgan Fuchs
Mahrez Drink water Mendy

Mahrez Drinky Mendy (if fit, otherwise King) Albrighton
Okazaki
Vardy

(split message because I pressed wrong button)