Match Thread Burton Albion vs Leicester (friendly)

[TornadoShaunUK]

Well as much as results don't really matter in preseason I think it does give you an idea of how the season is going to go. Let's hope it really has all been about fitness because there has been feck all to get excited about!

 

[City Fan]

Benalouane is as brain dead as Wasilewski. Get rid.

Gray was brilliant when he came on.

 

[londonfox]

I don't think Slimani belongs on that list at all. He is exactly what we need. Genuinely don't think we could (realistically) get better.

 

[atlantafox]

I am not sure exactly what the pre-season has shown us in terms of who should be playing - but it has certainly shown us who are a long way from being first choice - which was most of the 11 tonight . Assuming Riyadh goes there is a lot of pressure on Gray but he can deliver - he is so confident and will get better and better the more he plays. Here is what I think it should look like - comfortably mid table

Schmeichel
Any 2 from Maguire, Morgan, Huth (Amartey back up) Simpson (Amartey backup) Fuchs or Chilwell
N'Didi and either Drinkwater or Iborre (James and King back up)
Albrighton Gray (Lawrence back up)
Vardy Iheanacho (Shinji, Slimani back up)

Sell Ulloa, Musa, Mendy and Benny (he was a complete embarrassment tonight both the way he played and that shocking tackle) Bring some youngsters in to beef up the squad

 

[Lako42]

I wouldn't sell Musa or Slimani.


Where the **** is Mendy?

 

[Brown Nose]

I wouldn't sell Musa or Slimani.


Where the **** is Mendy?

I've tried giving both Musa and Slimani time to adjust but they're no better this pre-season than they were all last season in terms of all the things they don't do. Apart from one of them running fast and the other being a great header of the ball, what exactly do they offer? They needed to hit the ground running this pre-season looking much better and they've not. I've had it with them. And it's pretty obvious that the rest of the squad feel the same way given their reactions to both players during last season at times.

On Mendy, my take is that he never wanted to come here and has been in France every minute he can since. He's not adjusted, has no interest in adjusting and is just hoping to pocket loads of money for doing feck all and get back home. He's a wrong 'un.

 

[Micky]

I think I'm up to eleven players that I really don't think offer us anywhere near enough any more (if they ever did).

Hamer, Amartey, Benny, James, King, Mendy, Musa, Slimani, Ulloa, Lawrence and (sadly) Okazaki.

Would the side be weakened by any of the above leaving? I don't think so.

In addition to Iheanacho, I still think we need to add another 3-4 major signings and ditch as many of the above as possible.

I see your point but I think that we need to realise that every Premiership squad has a group of players that could be placed in this bracket. We are not going to have a squad of superstars as we wouldn't be able to keep everyone happy. We need players like King and Amartey, players that will sit on the bench for the majority of the season and fill in for the odd suspension or for the last 20 minutes of a game. Also, I still think Slimani and Okazaki will have key roles to play.

 

[Lako42]

I certainly disagree on Slimani.

He was scoring goals regularly when he came in, both with his head and feet.

He barely started after the first part of the season and was still our top scorer well into the season.

 

[FOX Franks]

I certainly disagree on Slimani.

He was scoring goals regularly when he came in, both with his head and feet.

He barely started after the first part of the season and was still our top scorer well into the season.

Agreed, if Slim is going to score goals we have to play him.
I'm fairly sure that Leicester fans would complain if we'd had (say) Dimitar Berbatov. Cracking player but not a desperate run around all the time kind of player.

 

[dpjfox]

were crying out for a left footed central defender and a creative central midfielder. a 3 man central midfield is new to most of our players , we need to establish tthe correct 3 and work on the system , imo Iborra NDidi and a new creative centre mid

 

[Blaarev]

were crying out for a left footed central defender and a creative central midfielder

That's some chant!

 

[Lako42]

Kanye can't keep himself away from us, he was watching the game last night.

 

[Jeff]

Kanye can't keep himself away from us, he was watching the game last night.

Was he in the West stand?

 

[Blaarev]

Kanye can't keep himself away from us, he was watching the game last night.

He wanted to see the Champions. Was just a year to late.

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

I certainly disagree on Slimani.

He was scoring goals regularly when he came in, both with his head and feet.

So just how many goals has he regularly scored with his feet?

 

[Lako42]

So just how many goals has he regularly scored with his feet?

I don't get this bizzare criticism. How many did Brian Deane score with his feet? Even Tim Cahill scored over half of his goals with his head.

I couldn't give a shit if it comes off his dick, play to his strengths and he scores goals.

He did it regularly in Europe at a bigger club than us.

 

[Blaarev]

I couldn't give a shit if it comes off his dick, play to his strengths and he scores goals.

He did it regularly in Europe at a bigger club than us.

I wasn't aware of that particular strenght of his. Interesting.

 

[alex]

Spot on Lako!

 

[Brown Nose]

I don't get this bizzare criticism. How many did Brian Deane score with his feet? Even Tim Cahill scored over half of his goals with his head.

I couldn't give a shit if it comes off his dick, play to his strengths and he scores goals.

He did it regularly in Europe at a bigger club than us.

I don't care about this either. A goal is a goal.

My point about Slimani is that he just doesn't fit into the side. It's obvious that him and Vardy don't get on. They look awkward and disjointed playing together. They've both tried to make it work to some extent (I think Slimani has tried harder than Vardy) but it's just wrong. Both want to be the central striker. Both want totally opposite sorts of service. Whenever they both play together, they are both less effective than if they're up front alone. I also don't think we're good enough to afford to play both.

Slimani's record at Sporting was very similar to here in his first season. It seems like the team adapted to his style eventually and he became a terrific scorer for them. We could do similar here but he'd need to be the main focus of our attacking play. If we lost Vardy, that would make total sense but I don't see any sensible reason to stop shaping our play around Vardy's strengths. He's our main goal threat and it's tried and trusted.

So, if Vardy is our main striker and the two cannot effectively play together, we're talking about Slimani as back up. I don't think that makes sense. We may as well move him on, especially without any European football/approx. 10 fewer matches this season.

For me, we need to replace Okazaki in the team either with a better forward or a 'number 10' type player to play in behind Vardy. Slimani isn't that player. Ulloa isn't that player. Musa isn't that player. Gray isn't that player.

My preference would be the play Mahrez in that role but we never seem to. It gives him better licence and freedom and it enables us to shape our midfield and defensive cover better. However, basing anything around Mahrez at the moment isn't sensible as he's likely to be gone soon.

 

[pork pie fox]

For me, we need to replace Okazaki in the team either with a better forward or a 'number 10' type player to play in behind Vardy. Slimani isn't that player. Ulloa isn't that player. Musa isn't that player. Gray isn't that player.

My preference would be the play Mahrez in that role but we never seem to. It gives him better licence and freedom and it enables us to shape our midfield and defensive cover better. However, basing anything around Mahrez at the moment isn't sensible as he's likely to be gone soon.

Isn't that what we're trying to buy Iheanacho to do?