Pre Match Leicester City vs West Ham United. New year's Eve

[Redditch Fox]

Just one thing. We have just one world class player - Mahrez. Everton knew Christmas had come when he was left on the bench.

It's not Ranieri's job to brief the press that he's not performing very well. Everyone knows that. It's Ranieri's job to get him to play. Please Ranieri pick a side that might win not one that tells the opposition that they are in for an easy ride.

 

[homer]

I wouldn't. I would push Simpson up as a wing-back.

As laughably ridiculous an idea as playing Hernandez in midfield. Would never, ever make a wing back

Drop Slimani. Replace with Okazaki

Okazaki played alongside Slimani - he can't replace him

Mendy to the bench.

Mendy was on the bench, and has been there, or in the treatmnt room, all season

Fuchs as left wing back for his long throw.

So we are now playing someone simply because they have a long throw, in favour of the best player on the pitch in the last game

Wibble

 

[FIF]

Just one thing. We have just one world class player - Mahrez. Everton knew Christmas had come when he was left on the bench.

It's not Ranieri's job to brief the press that he's not performing very well. Everyone knows that. It's Ranieri's job to get him to play. Please Ranieri pick a side that might win not one that tells the opposition that they are in for an easy ride.

CR is hung if he does, hung if he doesn't with you lot.

Mahrez has played in plenty of games and we haven't won them so your hypothesis holds little basis. Mahrez is our classiest player but he needs a kick up the ass. Maybe dropping him will do that.

The only player to have won in every Prem game he's played this year is Matty James. Perhaps we should play him.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Possibly the worst attacking right back I have ever seen as a wing back?

How exciting

I thought the idea was to defend from the front? Simpson would provide protection to the back three on the right side, or do you not believe he can tackle either? He has been a consistently good defender this season. From the right side he can then lay the the ball off to Mahrez, Okazaki or whoever, rather than try a 50 yd cross field lob that nobody chases any more.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

"homer, post: 1283308, member: 15"]As laughably ridiculous an idea as playing Hernandez in midfield. Would never, ever make a wing back.
Simpson see post #44 above.

Okazaki played alongside Slimani - he can't replace him.
Yes he can. Slimani to the bench. Impact sub if we have to play catch-up hoof-ball at 80 minutes. He is ****ing useless with his feet anyway. Why cannot Okazaki play alongside Gray?

Mendy was on the bench, and has been there, or in the treatmnt room, all season
And there he should stay, as I have replaced him with Simpson in my starting 11. Again, if fit can come on as impact sub later.

So we are now playing someone simply because they have a long throw, in favour of the best player on the pitch in the last game
No we would be playing Fuchs, an excellent left-sided defender, who is the only player we have, other than Hernandez, whose long throws have produced goals this season. King's I believe was the last one.
In my 11, Fuchs is in front of Chilwell who I thought was the best player on the pitch last time.
Who did you think was the best player last time that I have left out?

Schmeichel
Morgan-Huth-Chilwell
Simpson-Drinkwater-Amartez-Fuchs
Mahrez-Okazaki-Gray

 

[Jeff]

Schmeichel
Morgan-Huth-Chilwell
Simpson-Drinkwater-Amartez
Mahrez-Okazaki-Gray

Only 10 players, and one of those seems to be a Mahrez/Amartey hybrid.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Apologies Amartey has Y not a Z and Fuchs is alongside him. Refresh your page.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

... and my subs would be: Whispering Bob, Big Was, Mendy if Mended, 'On me head only' Slimani, SuperSpeedy Musa, Super Sub Ulloa and 'I have finished my party' Vardy.

 

[Jeff]

I have finished my party' Vardy.

He may have finished his party, but he hasn't finished his suspension.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

Oops! Instead then it had better be the Flying Pole Kapustka, if he hasn't gone Kaput!

... or if that is too many forwards, Long Throw Luis! (King never seems up for a tackle to me, and we need a bit of backbone in the side)

 

[Brown Nose]

I would hope that our team selection would at least take into account the opposition.

The two man threats from West Ham are Payet, who plays on the left, and Carroll - for his general menace.

So why would we ever consider changing our formation and particularly our right back against these threats? It makes no sense whatsoever.

Schmeichel has to play in goal.

Simpson, Morgan and Huth have to be in the defence. There are valid arguments for both Fuchs and Chilwell at left back but I'd go with Chilwell.

I'd try a diamond in midfield against the Hammers. Amartey at the base, with Drinkwater and King either side to support their full backs and the midfield. Then I'd play Okazaki at the top.

Up front I'd go with Mahrez and Slimani. They have a good understanding and they're quality players.

Gray doesn't deserve to be dropped but I'd look to change him and Ulloa for the two forwards after an hour. I'd also tell Mahrez and Slimani that this is the plan pre-match, making it clear that I want a high momentum/full on hour from them both.

The other subs would be Zieler, Hernandez, Fuchs, Mendy and Albrighton.

 

[Redditch Fox]

CR is hung if he does, hung if he doesn't with you lot.

Mahrez has played in plenty of games and we haven't won them so your hypothesis holds little basis. Mahrez is our classiest player but he needs a kick up the ass. Maybe dropping him will do that.

The only player to have won in every Prem game he's played this year is Matty James. Perhaps we should play him.

As I said, its Ranieri's job to get our quality players - obviously Mahrez is top of that bunch - to play.

Put bluntly he's starting to sound like a silly old man. I want him to go back to being a remarkable manager.....if he's still able to.

 

[FIF]

Only 10 players, and one of those seems to be a Mahrez/Amartey hybrid.

I told you.

Where's your sarcastic comment now?

 

[FIF]

As I said, its Ranieri's job to get our quality players - obviously Mahrez is top of that bunch - to play.

Put bluntly he's starting to sound like a silly old man. I want him to go back to being a remarkable manager.....if he's still able to.

He's dropping him to get him to play.

 

[SilverFox]

Easy bit:
Chilwell has to keep his place
Kasper and Simpson are no-brainers
Huth returns next to Morgan
Drinkwater replaces King, alongside Amartey
Mahrez on one side, Gray on the other
Ulloa starts

Tough bit:
Okazaki or Musa

Okazaki.

 

[alex]

Schmeichs..

Simpson....Morgan.....Huth.....Fuchs

Mahrez.....Drinkwater.....Amartey.....Gray

......Slimani......Musa.

 

[londonfox]

Won't happen but I'd go with:

Schmeichel

Simpson Hernandez Huth Chilwell

Amartey Drinkwater Mendy

Gray Ulloa Musa

 

[Redditch Fox]

He's dropping him to get him to play.

He (Ranieri) needs to up his game too in terms of selection/ substitutions.

At home - Mahrez on one flank and Gray on the other. Away from home....not sure, BN no doubt will have a strategy.

 

[Lako42]

As I said, its Ranieri's job to get our quality players - obviously Mahrez is top of that bunch - to play.

Put bluntly he's starting to sound like a silly old man. I want him to go back to being a remarkable manager.....if he's still able to.

Put bluntly, he knows what makes his players tick better than you do.

 

[Redditch Fox]

Put bluntly, he knows what makes his players tick better than you do.

Quite so but I don't manage Leicester City.

I'll leave it at that....