Squad going to Norway

[Steven]

The OS have the squad going to Norway.

Leicester City will be flying over a 19-man playing squad for their upcoming pre-season friendly clashes in Norway.

Craig Levein's side jet off on Tuesday afternoon ahead of games against Bodo Glimt (Thursday, July 14) and Lillestrom SK (Saturday, July 16).

Both opponents are in the middle of the Norwegian League season and will provide tough tests for the Foxes as they continue to prepare for the 2005-06 Championship season opener against Sheffield United on August 6.

All available first team players have been named in the line up - with youngsters Alan Sheehan, James Wesolowski and Chris O'Grady also added after fine performances in the 3-0 victory over Kettering Town on Sunday.

Leicester City traveling party: Rab Douglas, Alan Maybury, Patrick Kisnorbo, Stephen Hughes, Paddy McCarthy, Gareth Williams, Momo Sylla, David Connolly, Dion Dublin, Mark De Vries, Danny Tiatto, Paul Henderson, Jason Wilcox, Joey Gudjonsson, Richard Stearman, Alan Sheehan, Chris O'Grady, James Wesolowski, Nils-Eric Johansson.

 

[Graz]

Nice to see O'Grady being taken along, and I think Weso was a last minute addition after his performance against Kettering. All the rest have squad numbers, except Weso Hopefully they'll take their chance in the friendly and show that they are capable of being part of the first team this season.

Looks a good squad Let's see if the training pays off!

 

[DesertFox]

All available first team players have been named in the line up

I see that doesn't include Lee Morris. Now, I'm not going to be TOO surprised to find out that he's injured again , but I thought he was actually fit and in training at the moment....

 

[Granite Fox]

Good point DesertFox - I hadn't noticed (I guess I am used to him not being there).

 

[Durham Fox]

Also no Canero - obviously deemed not worthy of the reserves even now

 

[Steven]

Also no Canero - obviously deemed not worthy of the reserves even now

Maybe he and Morris will be sold in the near future.

 

[Graz]

In fairness, it says all available first team players...and Morris and Canero aren't first team players.

Morris isn't injured as far as I have seen reported, but it could be they didn't want to risk him, and just decided to give him a bit more to make sure he's upto full fitness. Real Madrid havn't taken Woodgate on their tour, because even though he is now fully fit, they wanted him to train a bit more before playing to make sure of it. Probably the same thing with Morris.

 

[fcukcov]

hang on..... was that Morris and Woodgate being compared. lets all just take a moment to consider that. actually no dont bother.

I get your point though. but surely if he isnt fully fit by now with all the non ball training he has done, he is never really going to be fit enough to play.

And why not at least take him along for team building etc? to save money on plane tickets? dont think so. IMO he is on his way out.

 

[bocadillo]

Leicester City traveling party: Rab Douglas, Alan Maybury, Patrick Kisnorbo, Stephen Hughes, Paddy McCarthy, Gareth Williams, Momo Sylla, David Connolly, Dion Dublin, Mark De Vries, Danny Tiatto, Paul Henderson, Jason Wilcox, Joey Gudjonsson, Richard Stearman, Alan Sheehan, Chris O'Grady, James Wesolowski, Nils-Eric Johansson

With a goalkeeper being named twelfth in that list of 19 players, I think it's easy to believe that the first 11 players are those whom Levein sees as his 1st XI at the moment.

Would anybody like to speculate about a playing formation for those eleven?

 

[Graz]

With a goalkeeper being named twelfth in that list of 19 players, I think it's easy to believe that the first 11 players are those whom Levein sees as his 1st XI at the moment.

Would anybody like to speculate about a playing formation for those eleven?

Johansson will play I imagine, but going on your theory that that is the first 11, it would be:

Douglas
Maybury, McCarthy, Dublin, Kisnorbo
Sylla, Hughes, Williams, Tiatto
Connolly, De Vries

But I think it will be Nils in for Williams, Kisnorbo going to midfield.

 

[Graz]

hang on..... was that Morris and Woodgate being compared. lets all just take a moment to consider that. actually no dont bother.

I get your point though. but surely if he isnt fully fit by now with all the non ball training he has done, he is never really going to be fit enough to play.

And why not at least take him along for team building etc? to save money on plane tickets? dont think so. IMO he is on his way out.

Yeah, I did hover over the "Submit Reply" button for a moment thinking "Am I really gonna try and compare Lee Morris and Woodgate in public!?".

Hopefully Morris will go...but will anyone actually want him?

 

[DesertFox]

Johansson will play I imagine, but going on your theory that that is the first 11, it would be:

Douglas
Maybury, McCarthy, Dublin, Kisnorbo
Sylla, Hughes, Williams, Tiatto
Connolly, De Vries

But I think it will be Nils in for Williams, Kisnorbo going to midfield.

Considering that the defensive midfield role has been one of our biggest problems for the last couple of years, it's interesting how none of the players mentioned in transfer speculation are defensive midfielders. I think we can assume that CL sees Kisnorbo as the man for that role, with Joey as back up. I'd be amazed if Kisnorbo doesn't start the first game as the holding midfielder - put your house on it!

Also, the idea of having one side of midfield narrow, I suspect that Hughes is going to continue on the left, where he played quite a bit last season, as the narrow winger, thus accommodating Williams in the centre.

So, my guess from that 11:

Douglas
Maybury, McCarthy, Dublin, Tiatto
Sylla, Kisnorbo, Williams, Hughes
Connolly, De Vries

And when the season kicks off....

Douglas
Maybury, McCarthy, Johannson, Gerrbrand
Sylla, Kisnorbo, Williams, Hughes
Connolly, De Vries

Of course it may never happen, but they seem adamant to get Gerrbrand in. He can apparently play in any position along the back line, but CL has said that Nissa has been signed as a CB. If he wants to play Gerrbrand at CB as well, that means dropping Paddy, which seems pointless, and then having someone to fill in at LB (or another signing). If he can play LB, and he's a good, solid defender, then he's the answer to that problem.

And if he wants Tiatto playing (it's likely the captain will be in the first 11 I suppose), then maybe Williams will be dropped (or sold)....

Douglas
Maybury, McCarthy, Johannsen, Gerrbrand
Sylla, Kisnorbo, Hughes, Tiatto
Connolly, De Vries

I like the look of both those teams, but I would be concerned about the lack of crossing ability. And where the goals are coming from

But you start building at the back (so they say), and to me it's looking pretty bloody good for this division. Solid, young, and under contract!

:icon_cool

 

[Graz]

Today's Mercury says that Lee Morris isn't in the squad due to a slight injury! Same with Canero.


Will they EVER be fit?

 

[Durham Fox]

Sounds like a smoke screen to me - obviously dropped in preference of others. Wesolowski looks a good prospect as do Sheehan and O'Grady - happy to see them going instead tbh.

 

[Graz]

Sounds like a smoke screen to me - obviously dropped in preference of others. Wesolowski looks a good prospect as do Sheehan and O'Grady - happy to see them going instead tbh.

Me too. Even if Morris was fit, I'm sure he would be injured within a couple of weeks and miss most of the season again, and it's great to see our youth getting a chance.
Levein has actually spoken about Wesolowski for the first time today, and has said he looks to be a promising player and someone they're keen to develop into a first team player.

Levein talking about the Kettering game

"One or two of the players did well. In particular I thought Stearman, Sheehan and Wesolowski did well.

"Stearman and Sheehan we know about. They were around-about the first team for a lot of last season. They are recognised as being part of the first-team squad.

"Wesolowski also did quite well and I think he is one of those that we will be looking to improve and become part of the first-team squad."

http://www.thebluearmy.co.uk/details.asp?back=true&key=1D29|0|2185366269754|R|536|3564231272005398760531&parentkey=1D29|0|2185366269754|p|536|0

 

[Talking Balls]

With a goalkeeper being named twelfth in that list of 19 players, I think it's easy to believe that the first 11 players are those whom Levein sees as his 1st XI at the moment.

The players are listed in squad number order, so I think the first 11 listed are the players Levein saw as his first 11 when the squad numbers were announced, but that may have changed since the arrival of Johansson, who has now been given the number 15 shirt.