Pre Match Leicester vs Liverpool

[FIF]

This could be a very big game for us. It may be on the back of 700 consecutive defeats but there must be a sense of optimism and hope in the team after fighting back to our best loss of the year.

That shouldn't paper over the major problems we have though and changes must be made.

Fuchs must be out.

Morgan or Huth must be out - I'd go with Morgan - did you see the look on his face once we went behind. He's supposed to be the captain and he was defeated. He led nothing.

Amartey must come into midfield - he's the only one who closes down players immediately and we've got to do that. from Central defence or RB this skill of his is wasted.

Gray must start - if that means dropping albrighton so be it - the alternative is Mahrez - I'm not against that either but he does at least attract defenders when he can be bothered to run after the ball.

Vardy scored so I'd keep him up front but partner him with Slimani if fit.

Kasper probably deserves to be captain but I don't think a GK makes a good onfield captain I much prefer CM or CB. If Drinky maintains his place - I'm not sure that he should - the captaincy may be the spark he needs. If not it has to go to a senior player so Vardy or Huth though not sure either are a great choice.

my line-up:

Kasper

Simpson
Benny
Huth
Chilwell

Mahrez
Amartey
Ndidi
Gray

Slimani
Vardy

If Slimani isn't fit I'd prefer we went to 4-5-1 which we've really needed all year long with Drinkwater or Mendy playing alongside Amartey and Ndidi.

Benny will give us speed and passing in the back 4. chilwell will give us a 2 way player at LB. Amartey is a difference maker in midfield. Gray has looked the best player we have a lot of the time this season.

 

[City Fan]

I'd go with the same team as you FIF, however I'd be tempted to put in Kapustka ahead of the lazy Mahrez.

However I'm convinced he'll play the old guard again, with the assumption that Vardy's goal last night will bring them all to life.

 

[fitz]

Can't see our form lasting beyond the 20 minutes we saw last night. Back to reality with sulking and half arsed efforts.

 

[FIF]

I'd go with the same team as you FIF, however I'd be tempted to put in Kapustka ahead of the lazy Mahrez.

However I'm convinced he'll play the old guard again, with the assumption that Vardy's goal last night will bring them all to life.

I keep forgetting Kapustka. I'd be happy with him starting in place of Mahrez, he certainly put an effort in when he played recently.

Surely CR can see that Morgan needs a break - both good for him and the team - that Fuchs is fuched, that Amartey is movement and pressing and that our attack is anaemic. He'll make the changes. I'm happy for him to drop Vardy but maybe the goal will be the psychological kick that makes Vardy more positive again.

 

[FIF]

Can't see our form lasting beyond the 20 minutes we saw last night. Back to reality with sulking and half arsed efforts.

You're probably right but I prefer the optimistic route until all light is extinguished.

 

[Miles Away]

Can't see our form lasting beyond the 20 minutes we saw last night. Back to reality with sulking and half arsed efforts.

Yup

 

[Graz]

I'd drop Huth instead of Morgan. Think Huth has been worse, and making Morgan look worse because he leaves him under more pressure (not that it's an excuse for Morgan's lunge in the box last night).

Schmeichel

Simpson
Morgan
Benny
Chilwell

Mahrez
Ndidi
Amartey
Gray

Slimani
Vardy

If Slimani isn't fit, play Albrighton instead and let Mahrez and Gray swap around.

 

[Micky]

We really need Drinkwater to rediscover his form. When he is on it he is a superb midfielder and he showed in the build up to last nights goal that he can still perform. I think we need to stick with him. Ndidi and Drinkwater for me with the option of adding Amartey if we need a third central player.

 

[FIF]

We really need Drinkwater to rediscover his form. When he is on it he is a superb midfielder and he showed in the build up to last nights goal that he can still perform. I think we need to stick with him. Ndidi and Drinkwater for me with the option of adding Amartey if we need a third central player.

I'm a big drinkwater fan but he has been dire since his injury lay off. He has become so negative, always playing the ball backwards and not always realising the pressure he's putting on others (like Huth). What was refreshing in the last 20 minutes was how he got back to hounding opponents and then passing forward and without the ball he got up that pitch. Made me think we need him, Ndidi and Amartey in midfield rather than either 2 wings or 2 up front.

 

[yackandandah]

I put this in another thread but it's more relevant here...

Amarty at CB with Huth (or maybe Benny), Ndidi and Drinkwater at CM would be my call - but I could be persuaded by a 5 man midfield; Mahrez and Grey wide with one up front, probably Slimani. Drinkwater, Ndidi and Amartey in the middle though, not sure they wouldn't lead to confusion...

I can only assume that the lack of another RB forces us to play Amartey there. It doesn't make sense to me otherwise.

 

[Skitzo]

Kasper

Simpson Amartey Benalouane Fuchs

Mendy Drinkwater NDidi

Mahrez Vardy Gray​

 

[SJN-Fox]

Except that CR has said it's 442 from here on in.

 

[dpjfox]

Kasper stays in as does Gray id also find a place for Benny Armartey and Slimani (if fit), hopefully the best formation has now been realised by CR. Hoping for a good performance and a return to goalscoring form by Vardy. The second half display last night should be the platform to rebuild on, im going for a 2-1 win Vardy Slimani

 

[Skitzo]

Except that CR has said it's 442 from here on in.

it wasn't 442 last night or at Swansea, 442 will see us relegated.

He also said he's been too loyal to last season's team yet played them all last night

 

[Mike - True Blue Tinter]

The 'too much loyalty' quote was in relation to the League, hence sending out the Class of 2016 to the Sevilla game.

Schmeichel and less than half the rest will probably start against Liverpool.

 

[FIF]

The 'too much loyalty' quote was in relation to the League, hence sending out the Class of 2016 to the Sevilla game.

Schmeichel and less than half the rest will probably start against Liverpool.

So you think 5 or less players from last night start. My lineup has 6.

 

[Skitzo]

The 'too much loyalty' quote was in relation to the League, hence sending out the Class of 2016 to the Sevilla game.

Schmeichel and less than half the rest will probably start against Liverpool.

not a hope in hell he'll make more than 3 changes to that team, and to be fair he only needs to make 4 both CBs, Albrighton and Musa out, Amartey, Benny Mendy and Gray in

 

[FIF]

not a hope in hell he'll make more than 3 changes to that team, and to be fair he only needs to make 4 both CBs, Albrighton and Musa out, Amartey, Benny Mendy and Gray in

If fuchs stays in then we're in the shit again.

 

[Skitzo]

If fuchs stays in then we're in the shit again.

I'm willing to give him another chance with some competent CBs inside him

 

[FIF]

I'm willing to give him another chance with some competent CBs inside him

Problem is he's normally out of position, half way up the field, so the CBs are not inside him, they're being pulled out of position trying to cover for him.