Matt said we still played the same formation after putting Albrighton into midfield apparently Puel was getting fed up with Sliva's wayward passing in midfield. Also we only went 442 in the last 15 min's.

Iborra, Silva and even James showed some glimpses initially when brought into the team.

However, they all seem to have faults as well at the moment.

I don’t think any of them are ‘match fit’ perhaps in different ways.

James is carrying too much timber

Silva is sloppy and as mentioned, perhaps playing out of his comfort zone in terms of position if he is used to being more advanced (he looks more impressive when attacking near the box than sitting in midfield)

Iborra for me, isn’t up to speed with the tempo of the game in England. I know on occasions he is purposely slowing the game down but on others I fear he is just a few seconds behind.

I think James is probably looking a bit better in training but I imagine there isn’t much in it.

In a 352, I thought it would have been a perfect opportunity to play Silva in behind if we were only going to play 1 striker. If we had another centre back I think Fuchs would have been playing wing back instead of Chilwell who was just awful.

If we do continue with this shift in formation (with the assumption of Huth coming back soon) i would hope for more of a 3421

——————-—-Schemeichel

————-Dragovic —Maguire — Huth

Albrighton—Ndidi—James/Iborra—Fuchs/Diabaté

—————-Silva/Diabaté ——Okazaki

———————— Vardy

I’m still not sure how I feel about 3 at the back as a main formation over 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 but in the above it offers Silva a more advanced role whilst having the defensive ability of Okazaki in front of the midfield/Silva dropping back to help out when Shinji is more advanced.

Unfortunately it still doesn’t solve the problem that we don’t have a quality central midfield partnership steadying the ship.

I wish we’d kept Drinkwater at the moment

I'd like to see Silva and Okasaki in the same side again. For the short period of time they had in the Fleetwood replay, they looked like they were on the same wavelength and positive link up play going forward.

Not entirely sure how you would set up the rest of the team, but could be an option when resting Vardy. Or like you say, 3 at the back.

As long as we don't see N'Didi and James partnership again for Gods sake....

As KTF says, they all have their faults but personally I’d pick Iborra over James because at least he influences games. I think he’d provide much needed leadership.

James strikes me more and more as just a slightly more skilful Andy King - you genuinely forget he’s on the pitch for large parts of matches.

Agree Silva needs to play further forward, but have to say I’ve liked the look of Iheanacho in that position recently. We’re blessed for 10s, what we need is a midfield enforcer.

So KTF no Mahrez, deliberate or an oversight???

I've been disappointed to see Silva get hauled so often. He looks good to me, energetic and creative, he just needs to iron out mistakes like getting caught the wrong side of opponents. He and Ndidi should make a strong, balanced combination.

James isn't a more skilful Andy asking to me - he's a less skilful but more energetic one, and I'm sure that engine is why Puel is playing him. That way, theoretically, he and Ndidi can compete in midfield and provide a platform for others to play further forward. It's not too bad a tactic in my view, but I just think Silva offers more.

As for Iborra, I think the big problem for him is the lack of engine and that's why he's fallen out of favour. He doesn't look very happy when he comes on as a sub either, like his concentration's lacking a bit.

Overall, I say stick with 4-2-3-1 but get Silva in there properly with Ndidi and help him adjust his game more to the Premier League - I don't think it's too far off. James as a reserve, Iborra not sure at the moment and Albrighton only in genuine emergencies.

And bring back Andy King.

Andy asking? Jeez, even my autocorrect wants him gone.

I think your right about James and his energy, the lack of it from Iborra drags Wilf all over the place. So right now I would play these two although James is not the answer longer term. Never thought I would say this but could do with Drinkwater back to play with Wilf then play Silva advanced of these two.

Can you get 3 of them in though if you play 3 at the back with the wing backs?

3 defined centre halves such as Huth, Maguire and Drag with Fuchs as the left wing back, then Drag can go right back if we changed to a back 4 and you don't have to waste a full back?

With Puel liking the forward foraging full backs this would seem to enable that while keeping a strong back line, might not work against a Team like Man city with their high line pressing and absolute quality doing it but it could against most teams.

Would this allow Ndidi, Silva and Iborra say in the same team?

Oops, should have said ‘Okazaki/Mahrez in my line up

True Blue..........

Fuchs is no wing back. Hasn't got the engine no more.
Not sure whether Simpson and Albrighton can do this role either? Chilwell could once he sorts out his defending and marking.

If any of the above plays wing back next season, coupled with Maguire leaving, Michael Keane arriving, pairing up with Wes, Huth, Drag or Benalouane, it would be absolute chaos on that pitch. We'd get murdered and relegated.

You're probably right if they were expected to do it for 90 minutes every match but it's another option and offers flexibility.

Fuchs has Chilwell to cover if he tires out, Albrighton never stops anyway.

You wouldn't necessarily use it against the top teams though either but for many matches its a good way to take command of the game early on.

Is Maguire suddenly going then or is Keane coming to play alongside him?

I agree with Dunge that I don’t see enough quality competition for places in midfield/attacking to sacrifice a defender for and go for 3 at the back.

Looking forward and to when Mahrez goes, 451 (within whichever sub formation you want to call it) seems the way forward at the moment.

As mentioned, I think we all thought Silva was coming in to challenge for Okazaki’s shirt albeit in a slightly different role but definitely one in front of the midfield.

In this formation as well, we have correct pegs in correct holes and it is a much more easily adaptable formation mid-game.

Personally I think Iborra is our most complete midfielder, albeit I accept his engine and energy could do with a boost.

Silva looks very skilful and Ndidi is just class and has a huge engine.

As a result, I don’t understand why those 3 wouldn’t work in the same midfield.

Certainly in Puel’s formations where we play more narrow. We have a lot of choice, but I think we all agree that whatever the question, James isn’t the answer!!

Why is he playing?!

Ps - I’m hoping that an injury free end to the season and pre-season working on fitness and stamina will help our CM as a collective although it wouldn’t surprise me if we brought in another CM.

Pps - odds on hazard signing in the summer for Leicester have shortened dramatically

comment by Keep_the_faith1 (U8129)
posted 9 hours, 3 minutes ago
Pps - odds on hazard signing in the summer for Leicester have shortened dramatically
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This is Eden Hazard’s brother I believe. Had it been the great Chelsea man himself then that would have been out of this world.