Pre Match Leicester vs Everton - Boxing day

[FIF]

This could be the most important game of the season for us. We've taken 4 points from the last 3 games, we've re-found our spirit and we've got a home game to end the year going in the right direction.

Lots of questions to be answered : who replaces Fuchs? Who replaces Huth? Who replaces Vardy? Is Drinky back? Will we attack from the first second? Will we play as a team? Will we win?

My lineup:

Kasper

Simpson
Morgan
Amartey
Chilwell

Mahrez
Drinky
Mendy
Albrighton

Okazaki
Slimani

Gray to definitely come on whatever the score for at least 20 mins.

 

[yackandandah]

I think we'll see Hernandez, or even Wasilewski, at centre back. I think Amartey will start in midfield for the sake of continuity.

 

[Micky]

Amartey has looked good in central midfield so why put him at centre back?

Schmeichel

Schlupp (who else)
Hernandez
Morgan
Simpson

Albrighton
Amartey
Drinkwater (though I don't think he'll be fit)
Gray

Ulloa
Slimani

 

[Feriol]

Chilwell, Hernandez and Okazaki to replace the suspensions.

King and Amartey to stay in midfield, I think dropping one of them after the last performance would send the wrong message.

I'd be tempted to start Grey instead of Albrighton.

 

[big_mac4824]

Chilwell, Hernandez and Okazaki to replace the suspensions.

King and Amartey to stay in midfield, I think dropping one of them after the last performance would send the wrong message.

I'd be tempted to start Grey instead of Albrighton.

Albrighton was immense yesterday I would stick with him he is playing consistently Gray did a great cameo role I still have doubts he can dominate a game

 

[Miles Away]

Gray and Ulloa deserve a start.

Would be really interested to see Ulloa and Slimani on the same pitch but seems very unlikely.

Shinji, Chilwell, Hernandez.

 

[glyn]

Huge game for Chilwell if selected. Would expect Shinji and Slim up front.

 

[Brown Nose]

A great opportunity to try 4-3-3:

Schmeichel
Simpson Hernandez Morgan Chilwell
King Amartey Drinkwater/Mendy
Gray Slimani Mahrez

 

[Volpone]

A great opportunity to try 4-3-3:

Schmeichel
Simpson Hernandez Morgan Chilwell
King Amartey Drinkwater/Mendy
Gray Slimani Mahrez

There is no way he will drop Albrighton after his performances against Man City and Stoke. He was absolutely fantastic.

People are clamouring for Gray to start but he doesn't do the amount of work that Mark gets through defensively.

If Chilwell plays left back there is no way that Gray will start and I don't think Ranieri will drop Mahrez for him.

Someone said on here that Mahrez was disinterested yesterday. I watched the whole game on Sky and he was very committed and passionate. The commentators agreed he worked his socks off.

 

[Blaarev]

3-1 Leicester. Bright (2), Smith.

 

[Skitzo]

I'd like to see

Schmeichel

Simpson Morgan Hernandez Chilwell

Amartey Mendy King

Musa Slimani Gray
​

what I think we'll see

Schmeichel

Simpson Morgan Hernandez Chilwell

Mahrez King Amartey Albrighton

Slimani Okazaki​

 

[Brown Nose]

There is no way he will drop Albrighton after his performances against Man City and Stoke. He was absolutely fantastic.

People are clamouring for Gray to start but he doesn't do the amount of work that Mark gets through defensively.

If Chilwell plays left back there is no way that Gray will start and I don't think Ranieri will drop Mahrez for him.

Someone said on here that Mahrez was disinterested yesterday. I watched the whole game on Sky and he was very committed and passionate. The commentators agreed he worked his socks off.

Granted, Albrighton puts in the work. He just has no end product any more. First half of last season, he combined the hard work with assists and excellent crosses. Since then, it's just been the hard work and piss poor crosses and that isn't enough for me.

In the Premier League this season, Gray has more goals, shots and assists than Albrighton despite having less than a quarter of the time on the pitch. Gray deserves a go at his expense now, especially in home games.

Albrighton also uses up a substitution as, invariably, he has to go off after 60-65 mins because he's knackered. With him in the team, it's like playing with an extra full back in midfield. I'd advocate him converting to full back by the way.

 

[Volpone]

Granted, Albrighton puts in the work. He just has no end product any more. First half of last season, he combined the hard work with assists and excellent crosses. Since then, it's just been the hard work and piss poor crosses and that isn't enough for me.

In the Premier League this season, Gray has more goals, shots and assists than Albrighton despite having less than a quarter of the time on the pitch. Gray deserves a go at his expense now, especially in home games.

Albrighton also uses up a substitution as, invariably, he has to go off after 60-65 mins because he's knackered. With him in the team, it's like playing with an extra full back in midfield. I'd advocate him converting to full back by the way.

After the players' efforts yesterday, I think we can safely put to bed the theory that they aren't fit.

That performance required a fantastic amount of stamina. Amartey looked like he could have carried on for another 90 minutes. Maybe in previous games it has just been a mental thing?

 

[Robin127]

...Maybe in previous games it has just been a mental thing?

That's what I think and said in another thread.

 

[FIF]

Amartey has looked good in central midfield so why put him at centre back?

Schmeichel

Schlupp (who else)
Hernandez
Morgan
Simpson

Albrighton
Amartey
Drinkwater (though I don't think he'll be fit)
Gray

Ulloa
Slimani

amartey looked good in midfield but he filled in at CB a lot during the game. It's his natural position

Chilwell, Hernandez and Okazaki to replace the suspensions.

King and Amartey to stay in midfield, I think dropping one of them after the last performance would send the wrong message.

I'd be tempted to start Grey instead of Albrighton.

You wouldn't drop King or Amartey because of the message it'd send yet you'd drop Albrighton who has been our second best player this season. Drinky has been the best - he IS back in.

I'd drop King in a second for King but I'd like Drinky and Mendy so would like Amartey playing in his CB role.

A great opportunity to try 4-3-3:

Schmeichel
Simpson Hernandez Morgan Chilwell
King Amartey Drinkwater/Mendy
Gray Slimani Mahrez

Again Dropping albrighton is madness. fuchs is weakened without him covering. chilwell definitely needs the cover.

Gray will replace Mahrez when he goes to AFCON and prove his worth, until then he gets the last 20 minutes.

 

[yackandandah]

I've seen Albrighton doing the defensive hard work, winning the ball back... only to then make a clearance to the opposition's midfield!

 

[FIF]

I've seen Albrighton doing the defensive hard work, winning the ball back... only to then lump a clearance to the opposition's midfield!

Then surely you've seen EVERY Leicester player give the ball to the opposition and many of them without putting in the effort.

simpson has done well this season but nearly every clearance he makes goes to the opposition midfield.

 

[yackandandah]

Hey, I didn't say Albrighton was alone in doing it!

He works hard, and is perhaps our most effective defensive winger but it does make me laugh when he chases back, combines well with Fuchs to win back possession... then goes and pings it back to one of them!

 

[pork pie fox]

I'd drop King in a second for King.

Controversial.

 

[Ike O'Noclassed]

Controversial.

The infinite monkey cage isn't what it was.