Any supporter is going to be happy with a win and on the whole I'm satisfied by today's game. I think the fact that not only was a victory recorded today but that it was by a 2 goal margin is significant. If this season is to come to anything then not only do LCFC have to beat the likes of Tranmere, but they have to do it by a decent margin if only to show there's goals in the team for a long campaign - and for when the going gets tougher. Leicester today had the 'grinding out results' feel to them that they had under Brian Little in my opinion. Leicester only perhaps had 2 or 3 purple patches when they did really well and played exciting football, but they kept the game steady at other times and rarely allowed Tranmere to get on top.
My own view of the players is as follows.
Martin - I liked the look of him. He flapped once as noted by several, but I generally saw encouraging signs. There was one point blank save I seem to remember he made.
Gilbert - up until about the 62nd minute I thought it was a competentish display with a couple of poor passes thrown in to spoil it a little, but not too bad overall. And then... he suddenly morphed into a totally different player who turned in a geat performance for the last part of the match. Suddenly his every pass seemed to find his man - and he made a lot more tackles. Finally, he went on one blinding forward surge that was very impressive.
Dyer - there seem mixed views on how he did so far on here. I'm with those who think he did very well. I don't agree that he looked like a makeshift or out of place at all. A very good piece of judgement to play him left back by NP when the more obvious option was to play Porter there. There was one electrifying run forward from him that was good to watch. If Dyer adds being prepared to shoot to his game then he will be very dangerous - he seems reluctant to do so at present and yet, as on one occasion today, his pace is going to get him to positions with a good chance of shooting and scoring - provided he finds the nerve and the confidence to give it a go.
Hobbs - very impressed. Strong, read the game well, and as noted by more than one person, very good distribution. I think If Tunchev is recalled then Hobbs in my book just gets the edge above Morrison, but this is no denigration of the latter who was good today as well.
Morrison - impressive as noted above. I think he has probably had to step up further than Hobbs and his development at this level after just a couple of games is very encouraging. I think I noticed a slight fitness issue with him. I saw him puffing hard and holding his ribs at one point well before the final whistle - and it wasn't at the end of a run or a chase with another player either. Someone somewhere went to sleep for their goal - it may well have been him though he may be no less to 'blame' than Hobbs to be fair. Good game without a doubt though.
Gradel - some very good input. Not as scinctillating as some might have been hoping today, but flashes of being special. Big hand in either the opening or 2nd goal. Injury meant early withdrawl from match.
Oakley - I thought he had a classy, composed game. And that is the level the team are going to need from him because I doubt any of the other midfielders are up to that standard (King or Weso). For me, he was still short of quite reaching the standard of 'midfield general', which I think the team needs for a promotion campaign but this early in the season perhaps we are seeing signs that he may be capable of this role. It seems clear he is being told to get forward and his partner (currently King) has been told to hold back and cover. Had a shot cleared off the line I recall.
King - a big disappointment, well below expectations. I had thought at the start of the season that the boy was good enough to grab his chance in midfield immediately but his games have been distinctly damp squib affairs so far. Perhaps NP's orders to keep an eye on the defensive midfield role and watch for how far advanced Oakley gets before he ventures forward is inhibiting him. But on the evidence today, I'd say his place is under threat from Kish and Weso.
Howard - a good game. If he maintains this scoring rate you can't complain about the fact that he occasionally looks a bit sluggish. Those moments are often offset by a good knock down or some other useful contribution as evidenced today. I'd certainly give his performance a thumbs up today.
Fryatt - well some have said, c*ap performance but 2 well taken goals. I think Fryatt deserves a better ranking than that (and I'm no easy praiser of Fryatt). I thought he was very involved in the game and put himself about a lot. He still infuriatingly doesn't think quickly enough about which option to go for when in a dangerous position... and he still gets caught off side too much. But plenty of effort and involvement. 2 goals also says he has more than done his job today. Also, I thought he'd earned a stonewall penalty.
Porter - I thought there was plenty of industry and involvement from Porter. Criticised by one or two here but I thought he did ok. True, he never really made things happen but I never felt that he was incapable of doing so - I'd be in favour of giving him another chance.
Subs
Adams - looked pretty good, he got involved in fairly limited time, and there was one tremendous goalbound shot I think that was blocked.
Dickov - played out of position and with limited time and not enough match practice yet it's probably unfair to pass any comment
. Bank holiday weekend possibly? or is this to be the norm this season ?
