Pre Match Arsenal vs Leicester City

[FIF]

Over a week before our next game and that's probably a good thing as the players need to get the CL out of their system mentally and come back with the aim of finishing as high as possible in the Prem.

In some ways Arsenal is the perfect match. They are big enough for the players to focus on after the Madrid game and their form is inconsistant meaning there is a chance of a surprise victory or at least a point away from home.

Morgan looked liked he would be out for the rest of the season but maybe this gives Shakey the excuse to tinker with the formation and go for the attacking 3 CB formation that looked so entertaining Yesterday evening in the second half. I'd give simpson a rest too as he hasn't had much recently (though he has been playing very well) and I'd consider dropping (resting) Mahrez and Drinky.

Kasper

Chilwell
Fuchs
Huth
Benny
Albrighton

Amartey
Ndidi

Gray

Vardy
Slimani

chilwell has impressed me everytime he's played and especially as a defender going forward. Fuchs could play as a CB I guess and he is obviously great cover for the Left plus he can pass out from the back. Huth is a man mountain and made to play Central CB. Benny has played RB but he is better at CB so RCB seems to be a possible fit, he can also pass the ball and has some speed to cover. Albrighton has shown that he can play RWB before.

Amartey and Ndidi are both defensively aware midfielders who can get forward and Amartey is quick enough to get back allowing albrighton to push up furth at times with his added cover. Gray could play in the whole behind the attackers and drift and wander with his runs.

Vardy could be the support to Slimani, feeding off his headers going forward and hassling players ala Okazaki in defence leaving Slimani to be the spearhead attacker. Available for the crosses from Albrighton and Chilwell and the long balls from Fuchs, Benny and Kasper.

Let's go back to attacking and attempting 20+ shots a game rather than sitting back and trying a few on the break.

 

[homer]

Vardy could be the support to Slimani, feeding off his headers going forward and hassling players ala Okazaki in defence

Possibly the most insane tactical suggestion I've ever heard, and there's a fair few contenders

 

[City Fan]

Over a week before our next game and that's probably a good thing as the players need to get the CL out of their system mentally and come back with the aim of finishing as high as possible in the Prem.

In some ways Arsenal is the perfect match. They are big enough for the players to focus on after the Madrid game and their form is inconsistant meaning there is a chance of a surprise victory or at least a point away from home.

Morgan looked liked he would be out for the rest of the season but maybe this gives Shakey the excuse to tinker with the formation and go for the attacking 3 CB formation that looked so entertaining Yesterday evening in the second half. I'd give simpson a rest too as he hasn't had much recently (though he has been playing very well) and I'd consider dropping (resting) Mahrez and Drinky.

Kasper

Chilwell
Fuchs
Huth
Benny
Albrighton

Amartey
Ndidi

Gray

Vardy
Slimani

chilwell has impressed me everytime he's played and especially as a defender going forward. Fuchs could play as a CB I guess and he is obviously great cover for the Left plus he can pass out from the back. Huth is a man mountain and made to play Central CB. Benny has played RB but he is better at CB so RCB seems to be a possible fit, he can also pass the ball and has some speed to cover. Albrighton has shown that he can play RWB before.

Amartey and Ndidi are both defensively aware midfielders who can get forward and Amartey is quick enough to get back allowing albrighton to push up furth at times with his added cover. Gray could play in the whole behind the attackers and drift and wander with his runs.

Vardy could be the support to Slimani, feeding off his headers going forward and hassling players ala Okazaki in defence leaving Slimani to be the spearhead attacker. Available for the crosses from Albrighton and Chilwell and the long balls from Fuchs, Benny and Kasper.

Let's go back to attacking and attempting 20+ shots a game rather than sitting back and trying a few on the break.

I'd probably go with that team too.

 

[FIF]

Possibly the most insane tactical suggestion I've ever heard, and there's a fair few contenders

Very constructive. You are one of the most vociferous posters when it comes to insulting the team and being negative but I've rarely seen you give a constructive post offering suggestions to remedy the problems - other than getting rid of them all which you posted many times earlier in the season. Do you have any ideas or do you just react to what others say without a constructive view of yourt own?

 

[big_mac4824]

The Arse are definitely there for the taking they are appalling defensively

 

[Brown Nose]

Why one earth wouldn't we pick our strongest side and go for a win against a fragile opposition?

Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, N'Didi, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy

I think these players would enjoy the opportunity to right one of the few 'wrongs' from last season.

 

[FIF]

Why one earth wouldn't we pick our strongest side and go for a win against a fragile opposition?

Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, N'Didi, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy

I think these players would enjoy the opportunity to right one of the few 'wrongs' from last season.

So you think that's our strongest side. I don't so that's why I wouldn't pick them.

As explained in my post it looked as though Morgan would be out for a while so it would be pretty daft to play him in central defence. Drinkwater looks tired, Mahrez looks under his game and Okazaki hasn't played well in several games having done well when he first came back. That's why I'd replace them. As I stated I also think the new formation is worth another try especially as it worked so well (and did during the great escape) but I'd understand if they didn't and stuck to a flat back 4 and leaving Vardy isolated.

 

[big_mac4824]

So you think that's our strongest side. I don't so that's why I wouldn't pick them.

As explained in my post it looked as though Morgan would be out for a while so it would be pretty daft to play him in central defence. Drinkwater looks tired, Mahrez looks under his game and Okazaki hasn't played well in several games having done well when he first came back. That's why I'd replace them. As I stated I also think the new formation is worth another try especially as it worked so well (and did during the great escape) but I'd understand if they didn't and stuck to a flat back 4 and leaving Vardy isolated.

Morgan aside that is our strongest line up, 3-5-2 worked because Athletico were sitting back and we were going for it, Drinkwater looks like he is playing himself into some form and TBH there isn't a replacement for him, King is not up to it and Amartey is a defender. Okazaki will be the perfect fit against Arsenal and if we play with the right intensity we will blow them away within 30 mins they have a soft underbelly.

 

[Lako42]

I really want to beat these entitled wankers into oblivion.

 

[Rock Fox]

We could do Arsenal this time. It doesn't look as if they can overtake Spurs now - so they've got nothing to play for. The way we played against them last year looked like we had the beating of them, should have beaten them, if it wasn't for Simpson's soft second yellow card and the 'committed' challenge by Big Waz in the 96th minute that led to their free kick. COYB!

 

[dpjfox]

No resting of players needed because they would have had a few days to relax with no game and th get the CL setback out of thier minds A few more points and the flipflops can be worn point here followed by 3 against Watford and i reckon we can breathe easy. The one fringe player i would start is Gray, we need to lift his spirit by giving him pitch time , he looked a bit downhearted last night. Maybe a tweak in formation as could they. Ifancy a 1-1 Vardy

 

[Skitzo]

I'm a bit torn over this as to what I want to see, I really like the 343 system and think we have the players to play it really well but not sure I want to see us go away fron 4411 just yet, but on balance I'd go for 343

Kasper

Simpson Huth Fuchs

Albrighton NDidi Drinkwater Chilwell

Mahrez Vardy Gray​

 

[pork pie fox]

There's no way, unless injuries dictate, that we won't be doing our standard 4-4-2, in this game.

 

[homer]

There's no way, unless injuries dictate, that we won't be doing our standard 4-4-2, in this game.

Yep. The time to tinker is when we have another three points safely in the bag.

Until then, it's business as usual:


Pale Shadow of his Father

Wife Beating Thug
Fat Slobby Carthorse
Static OAP Lump
Shit Clothing Salesman

Half Arsed Show Pony
Pointing Moaning Twat
Poor Man's Kante
Crap Villa Reject

Shite Mr Tumble
Vile Racist Ratboy

Job done

 

[Cambridge_fox]

Yep. The time to tinker is when we have another three points safely in the bag.

Until then, it's business as usual:


Pale Shadow of his Father

Wife Beating Thug
Fat Slobby Carthorse
Static OAP Lump
Shit Clothing Salesman

Half Arsed Show Pony
Pointing Moaning Twat
Poor Man's Kante
Crap Villa Reject

Shite Mr Tumble
Vile Racist Ratboy

Job done

This really is very funny. Well done.

 

[popillius]

I don't understand any deviation from what is very obviously our best starting eleven:

Schmeichel

Simpson
Huth
Morgan
Fuchs

Mahrez
Drinkwater
Ndidi
Albrighton

Okazaki
Vardy

The only contentious selection here would be Drinkwater but as we don't have a single, adequate replacement there's no choice. Shakespeare suggested last night that it was only cramp for Wes so he should be fine. Why on earth would we deviate from this? Arsenal are there for the taking and we will still be stinging a little from that CL result. Go at them. They don't like it up 'em.

 

[City Fan]

The only contentious selection here would be Drinkwater but as we don't have a single, adequate replacement there's no choice.

Bit harsh on Amartey that, seeing as he was one of our best players before he went to the AFCON.

 

[popillius]

Bit harsh on Amartey that, seeing as he was one of our best players before he went to the AFCON.

Hmmm. I'm not sure he was. I think he looked solid enough at times but he never filled me with confidence. I still don't think he is a natural midfielder. He was excellent during the AFCON at centre back, we just seem reluctant to play him there for some reason. Still, maybe I am being a bit unfair on him really as he could do what DD has lately without much trouble.

 

[City Fan]

Hmmm. I'm not sure he was. I think he looked solid enough at times but he never filled me with confidence. I still don't think he is a natural midfielder. He was excellent during the AFCON at centre back, we just seem reluctant to play him there for some reason. Still, maybe I am being a bit unfair on him really as he could do what DD has lately without much trouble.

We were in the middle of a terrible spell just before the AFCON, and although I agree he doesn't seem like a natural midfielder, he was by far our only bright spark in the central midfield as Drinkwater was playing abysmally and Mendy was injured. And Andy King was, well, Andy King.

I've just re-read the AFCON thread and the general consensus (before the topic turned into a Schlupp hate fest) was that Amartey was going to be a bigger miss for us than Slimani or Mahrez.

Maybe he just looked decent because at the time everyone around him was so poor, I don't know. But I'd quite like to see him be given a go again in central midfield in this Shakespeare team.

We don't seem to have figured out his position yet. He does seem to have potential at centre back, but as you say we don't seem to want to play him there - he's our fifth choice centre back at the moment. A right back he definitely isn't.

 

[Miles Away]

I like Mr. Tumble best.