I was close to writing of Ahmed Musa in the first half at the weekend. "I'd haul him at half time" I said to anyone who'd listen after around 40 minutes, after which point he suddenly gained some confidence from somewhere, went past a couple of men and then scored.

In terms of players where I fear for their future, I'd say as follows:

Hamer - Apparently still here but shouldn't be. Needs to play, and that should probably be in League 1 given the lack of interest.
Wasilewski - I guess this is a player that I have written off. He looked completely out of his depth against Chelsea in the League Cup and picked up a rare red card after losing his discipline.
Benalouane - Just doesn't seem to be on the radar so I see no point in him staying around.
James - I love his attitude and his energetic style, but I'm really worried for him about his injury record. I can't see how he'll ever be fit for any reasonable length of time at this level.
Schlupp - More to do with questions over his mindset than his ability. If he can't handle having to work hard against tough competition for a position then I can very easily see him moving on in January.
Ulloa - Another that I like and he's scored many important goals for us over two seasons, but it's hard to see him getting any more than bit parts and I would imagine that he'd want one final shot in a starting berth somewhere before he's too old. Trying to persuade him to stay in January as cover for Slimani during the ACON could be interesting.

Everyone else in the main squad I'd actively want to keep.

James is heartbreaking if he breaks down again that's it i am afraid. King has surpised me again after looking lightweight but like a lot of players they need game time to get match fit.

To me, King looked badly out of form earlier in the season rather than surprisingly in form now.

But then I guess I would say that.

I only saw the highlights but my mate kasper had a good came but despite the delection i am sure he thinks he could of done better. As for bentekthingme's Header i dont think i have seen anyone jump higher and what a header.
Altough Kante's goal something else against the Manc's,if he can score goals like that hes going to be worth £60m and i loved his muted celebration the guy seems very shy.

Well, as much as I think that goal owed much to some atrocious defending, Kante's goal at the weekend was definitely better than the one he scored for us.

Kasper had a good game; he wasn't really that busy until we went 2-0 up, then we eased off too much and let Palace in several times. I was delighted we got the third, because even that didn't kill Palace off and they could scent blood even if some of our lot couldn't. Gray and Amartey really didn't help matters, one not tracking and requiring a rollicking for not helping the defence and the other panicking in possession. Essentially, Kasper did well but he shouldn't have had to.

But lets not forget kings poor pass which lead to Bentistandnochanceofspellinghisnamerightsheader. But they did not show the rest but i feel we are a work in progress. But i feel a bit keeganesk about Spurs i really want to beat them

Benteke.

And yes, King made the mistake twice of trying to play football with the centre halves and we conceded possession each time.

As for Spurs next weekend, we need to keep things tight until half time; if we can go in at the break level then we have a chance of getting something from the match. I can't see it happening though. I expect another write-off.

I always give all players a chance. De Laet had more than enough time to convince me he was hoop!

So, I'm writing no players off but my opinions below...

Amartey - looks like the De Laet of the midfield except he may come good. He looks like he has bags of talent but spends most of the game wondering what he's having for his tea rather than where the man is he's supposed to be marking. Current verdict - great squad player that won't quite develop in to the full midfielder but will do a job as a utility man. Could succeed in a midfield 5.

Schlupp. See above but without the talent. Now his attitude seems to have gone, he could also be gone. Good squad player but wouldn't cry if he left in Jan (and I think he will).

All the players mentioned by Dunge are squad players that I think are good to have around but won't make great shakes on the first team.

No one from me.

True does make a good point. Even the peripheral players Dunge mentions can still add some value to the squad.

However, I want him to have a scapegoat. Pick one True. I won't accept it if you don't.

comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 13 minutes ago
True does make a good point. Even the peripheral players Dunge mentions can still add some value to the squad.

However, I want him to have a scapegoat. Pick one True. I won't accept it if you don't.
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Slimani, although more ruthless for himself to score goals, I don't think he adds much more than Ulloa, in fact I'd rather have Ulloa to defend corners and free kicks.

Good man True.

I think the biggest problem for Slimani currently is that he's not being as effective as Vardy when playing the Vardy role, nor as effective as Okazaki in that role.

However, he's a top striker so I just think we need to find ways of playing to his strengths.

But right now, I wouldn't be upset if he was rested.

What gets me is, he wins a header aimed at his head to score a goal, but I don't think I've seen him win a single one when the balls punted up to him and the ball comes straight back at us when we are under pressure.

Still, I only named him because I had to obey you.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Like Mersey I usually give players some time before I write them off, but ....

..... the one that worries me at the moment is Musa. I'm not sure that I've seen enough from him yet that convinces me he's going to be great as either a striker or a winger. The jury is in recess.

Of the others mentioned. I thought initially that Simpson was worse than RDL (yes I know), but he must be one of the most improved players of all time. We definitely need back up, but he doesn't worry me. If we played a style where the full backs needed to be more progressive then we'd perhaps need better.

Schlupp never was good enough as a striker, is inconsistent as a winger and not good enough defensively as a defender. I actually think he's all right as a wing back in a back 5, but a luxury to keep just for that eventuality.

Amartey is a head scratcher. He looks great for one game and then poor the next. But he's only 21. He has time.

I've gone from thinking that Okazaki isn't good enough to thinking he's a must in our current system. Heart of hearts I'm still not entirely sure he's really good enough, but you have to love his desire.

Shame about Matty James, but I think injuries have finished him.

...... and finally Andy King. I've written him off more times than I care to remember. As I call him "the Ghost" I wasn't sure than I would see him on Saturday even if he started the game, but there he was ...... competing, running, passing ..... giving our midfield a much needed fluency that's been missing of late.

I actually love it when I write a player off and they then prove me wrong.

I'm pretty sure I've never called a player wrong in the whole time of supporting Leicester.

Max Gradel potentially the closest to that, but I still think we were better for him going.

I should be our chief scout. In fact, why am I not???

I remember the days where JG used to rate Beckdord over Pearson 😂😂😂

Regarding Musa Joby - I agree there are worrying signs that he's just an athlete and all he has in imhis locker is running.

Lloyd Dyer springs to mind (got to love him).

However, he's exactly the sort of player we should give time and we need to find a way of playing to his strengths. He reminds me a lot of Vardy when he was out of form - great running and working for the team, but no end product and trying too hard.

If we can find a way of getting him more space, he could develop. But right now Albrighton and Vardy should start ahead of him every day of the week.

I would also question Kaputska - it's almost like I've not seen him!

The one I got the most wrong was Vardy. I wrote him off twice incorrectly.

As for Musa, I saw nothing of him before he was wearing a Leicester shirt, but there surely must a reason more than blind pace why we signed him. Hopefully his form so far has been to do with having to adapt to getting less space in this league and developing his game to work out what to do about it. Ultimately he should be able to come on and provide some threat if he works hard enough because the core athleticism is there.

To be fair I don't really want to "write off" any member of our squad. I certainly don't think that any of them should be cast out and never see the light of day in a blue shirt again.

There will always be those that are bought in and take time to adapt to the PL, playing and living here etc. We saw with Inler last season that he was a player with great pedigree but when he was given a chance to stake a claim he didn't take it.
With the new players this season ( Slimani, Musa, Kaputska ) already mentioned as not performing as expected YET. I think we just need to let them bed in and I see all 3 of them being integral members of the squad as the season goes on.

Like most I can remember the times we all stood at the Walkers / KP and saw Lloyd Dyer run down the wing at lightening speed only to forget the ball, lose it in a tackle with the touchline or cross it towards Filbert Street, but even then when he did one of his mazy runs and scored or provided an assist we all forgot the carp that has gone before.

So all in all I am not writing any of the squad off yet Nev, and that maybe the first time I have said that since I first went to a game.

Happy times.

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