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Very Pleased, But We've Been Here Before — Notes for Leicester
Friday, 22nd Nov 2013 11:30 by HarryFromBath

HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forums.

"I'm pleasantly surprised with how the season is going. I don't want to predict where we will finish in May, but expectations are justifiably higher than they were at the beginning of August."

Foxes are refusing to get carried away with their strong start to the season. Their frame of mind has largely been coloured by last year's campaign, when they flew out of the blocks only to fall short in the play-offs.

"Last season was a Jekyll and Hyde season, some of it playing lovely football, some of it embarrassingly bad. Let's hope we don't stutter again this season and actually get out of this division. Ten years is long enough."

History Repeating Itself

"I bet there's not one Leicester fan who doesn't fear that history will repeat itself", "I'm taking everything with a pinch of salt after last season's heartache", "This time last year, I was already thinking about the Premier League. We had gone top and we were beating teams by goals."

"We choked badly last season. I'm not falling for that one again. I will take it a game at a time while thoroughly enjoying our current position", "We have some difficult game coming up. I'm not going to get too excited about it this early in the season".

"We should have gone up last year. Seeing utter rubbish like Palace in the Premier League is astonishing really. It was a great chance", "We should all hope that we don't f*** it up again. We should draw a line in the sand and leave last season in the past".

Nigel Pearson

"Pearson has been an extremely positive influence on the club and is clearly the only man for the job right now. All said it's going very well." Supporters are happy with their manager, but one senses that the mood could quickly change if last year's dip in form is repeated.

"The bloke seems more in touch with the fans. He initially came over as stand-offish and arrogant on his return, but I like this new approach", "It remains to be seen whether the Pearson of old will suddenly reappear after a bad run".

"I am not an advocate of sacking managers, but I thought Pearson was at a loss to change the course of our demise last season. We are now playing some of the most exciting football we have played for a long while, without reverting to the Keegan kamikaze school of football."

Leicester have been mostly playing with a well-balanced 4-4-2 system, combining a high work rate with effective partnerships across the pitch.

"Pearson has been spot on with his tactics this season. He has changed the set up and approach in the middle of games on some occasions, and we have ended up either winning or holding out for a draw."

Spoiling Tactics

"We need to find a solution for when teams stop trying to play us and start just trying to stop us. This is what happened to us last year", "We are not a physical team. When we get bullied, we can be clueless as to how to change to suit the situation".

The Foxes came unstuck in their last game, a 2-0 home defeat to local rivals Nottingham Forest. "The change came after Billy Davies changed his formation to nullify our strengths. It worked like a charm and we did nothing or created very little after that."

Defence

Kasper Schmeichel "is a great shot stopper, but his decision-making needs to improve. He is still the best goalie we have had in a number of years", "I forget about Kasper's rushes of blood", "Christ, he scares me running out of the box".

Kasper Schmeichel

The 27-year-old Danish international's kicking has also been criticised. However, in their recent 3-0 win at Watford "he switched his kick to the opposite side of the pitch where nobody was expecting it and this led to our second goal".

Twenty-year-old youth product Liam Moore has been playing at right-back in recent games: "His progress in such a short time has been phenomenal", "I cannot remember Watford or Forest having a dangerous attack down that side".

"Moore does his best, but doesn't really know what to do in the final third. He usually puts in hopeful crosses from deep." The newly capped England under-21 international "is an okay right-back but not a natural. He's a better centre-back."

"Paul Konchesky still hasn't convinced me to this day. Jamie Mackie gave him a bit of a hard time (against Forest)." The 32-year-old ex-Liverpool and Fulham left-back "doesn't do enough going forward". Many Foxes would like to see him make more of a positive impact in games.

"Wes Morgan defends for his life, and not much gets by him", "He is at his best this season. He just knows where to be and wins everything."


The former Forest player and Jamaican international is "ice cool. His positioning and heading are great, and his touch and passing have improved".

However, against Forest, the 29-year-old had "a terrible performance, which is very rare. Morgan was at fault for both goals. He had a shocker", "It was not the normal Wes we know and love today", "The defence wasn't tested, but Wes should have done better on both goals".

Morgan's central partner, Marcin Wasilewski "will become a fans favourite here. Yes, he's slow, but he doesn't half go in for a tackle. What you see is what you get with ‘Was' — 100% effort and no messing". The 33-year-old Polish International signed from Anderlecht this summer.

"He is an absolute tank", "an absolute brick wall, winning every header and making every tackle", "'Was' does get caught out by the pace and power of the Championship", "'Was' can get out of position, hoofing the ball to nobody when put under pressure".

Central Midfield

"Andy King is a classy midfielder who never lets us down, loves the club and never complains. He is exactly the sort of player you want in your squad", "His hassling of opponents and link-up play is fantastic." He has been more defensively biased this season. "King is the perfect foil for Drinkwater".

The Wales international "can be far too negative in his mentality these days. He's a far cry from the man who was formerly called the ‘Lampard of the Championship'", "King seems to get lost in the physical midfield battles", "It's a cliché, but he can go missing".

Former Colchester and Southampton holding midfielder Dean Hammond has been a regular substitute. "He is quietly effective, settling everyone down and organising things." The 30-year-old is "a calm experienced head not afraid to get stuck in".

Defensive midfielder Matty James has been a fringe player this season, unable to get back into the side after picking up a red card against Charlton earlier in the season. "I feel sorry for him. He'd get into most teams, but Drinkwater and King's understanding is irresistible."

Danny Drinkwater

"I cannot believe the turnaround with Danny Drinkwater this season. He looks a different player. I think he is stronger, and it looks as if he has been on the weights in pre-season." The 23-year-old former Manchester United youth player is many Foxes' player of the season thus far.

Danny Drinkwater

"You can tell he has worked with Paul Scholes. His passing range is fantastic", "He has the ability to dominate games. He is everywhere, reading the play and sticking his foot in to get the ball out", "His spatial awareness and passing are a class apart at the moment".

"Drinkwater is playing with confidence and passing forwards. When he is inconsistent, he slows it down and tends to pass sideways", "He is making far fewer of those momentum sapping backwards or sideways passes than he did last season. He really has us playing on the front foot".

"Null Danny's threat and we struggle, which we did against Forest", "It is no coincidence that when we play well, he is the man that makes things tick. He looks a star at the moment", "Watching him reminds me of how Scholes bossed the midfield for United, albeit not on such a high level".

Wide Midfield

"Our wide players struggle when our opponents put nine men behind the ball", "Our lack of width against Forest was frightening in the second half. Much as I like Knockaert and Dyer, we need options if they are having an off day".

Anthony Knockaert

"Anthony Knockaert is a changed player. He is threatening on the ball, with the occasional glimmer of brilliance." Foxes have been full of praise for the Frenchman, who has been operating with tremendous success on their right flank.

However, his suspension for picking up a fifth yellow card against Forest has left Leicester with a problem as they are short of players who can operate effectively on their right flank. The most common solution is a change of formation or swapping over Lloyd Dyer from his normal left flank.

Jeff Schlupp, the 20-year-old youth product and Ghana international, has been a utility player in recent games, playing at left-back against Watford and alongside David Nugent in a makeshift attack against Forest. He may feature on the left flank on Saturday.

"Schlupp will carve out a decent career as a left-winger or full-back, but his instinct and judgement in front of goal are terrible." Against Watford, "he got forward a lot, but defensively was all over the shop".

Lloyd Dyer

"Oh Lloyd! It had all been going so well." The 31-year-old came unstuck against Forest after a blistering run of form in recent games. "He was suffocated out of the game. Forest did their research on him", "Forest doubled up on him a lot. He hardly got into the game. It was frustrating".

The former MK Dons man "has been in the best form of his life", "He has been going through a right purple patch. His pace on the left has been frightening. He makes lots of positive runs and really attacks defenders."

"Konchesky got little help from Dyer against Forest, and he was often left two versus one against Forest." He has been regularly criticised for not supporting his full-back. "Watford clearly targeted Schlupp, and Lloyd Dyer should have been helping him more."

There were some other observations worth noting. "When it turns cold, Dyer turns cold", "He struggles on the heavier pitches in winter. This did not help us with last year's mid-season dip", "Dyer goes on to his favoured left foot 95% of the time. He is way too predictable".

Strikers

"Our three first-choice strikers have scored just seven goals from open play in 15 games this season. Anyone with the slightest semblance of forward thinking would identify this as a potential problem", "It is glaringly obvious that we need another striker".

"The Forest game was one of those days, and if we had played until the following Saturday we might not have scored. We played some decent football at times, but just didn't have the end product."

The strike force is the greatest source of concern for Leicester supporters. "We really do lack strength in depth with our strikers. To bring on Gary Taylor-Fletcher (GTF) when we are chasing a game is not sufficient."

The 33-year-old front man joined from Blackpool this summer, but has been dismissed as a right wing option by many supporters due to his lack of pace and fitness. "GTF might have the best first touch at the club, but he is embarrassingly overweight and needs to sort this out."

"Chris Wood shows a lot of fight and puts the effort in", "He wins lots of headers and links up play so well", "He is a selfless striker, putting himself about and creating space for others", "Wood is great a making a complete nuisance of himself".

The New Zealand international and former West Brom striker missed the Forest game, having being called up for World Cup play-off duty. However, he picked up a yellow card in the first leg last Friday and was able to make an early return to his club.

"We should play Vardy and Wood up front from the start against Ipswich on Saturday", "Jamie Vardy's has been a real difference this season with his closing down up top and lightning pace that really worries defenders". The former Fleetwood striker has been a substitute in recent games.

"This season, Vardy has done all the hard work with Nugent nowhere to be seen, usually holding back in midfield. Any half-decent striker would have had a feast of goals with the chances Vardy and others have slid across an empty penalty box."

David Nugent

"I think there's a conversation to be had about Nugent now. He has not played well for a long time. Today (against Forest) his all round play was mediocre and his finishing was embarrassing. It just seems like he's an automatic pick", "He's been off the boil since January".

David Nugent

"I like the lad and have defended him, but it is harder and harder to do this. The lad has quality, but things just don't seem right with him this season", "Apart from his woeful finishing, there has been a lack of effort in the air, delayed reactions and poor form since the turn of the year".

The former Portsmouth and Preston striker missed a hatful of chances against Forest. "Nugent was a f****** disgrace today. His dreadful finishing was coupled with poor hold up play and questionable effort", "He's not a scapegoat — he's just s***. There's a difference".

"We are in the top two despite Nugent, not because of him. I'd drop him now. He needs a kick up the arse", "Nugent was Sunday league s**** against Forest, and that is being unkind to you Sunday league players".

Foxes' Views on ITFC and the Game

"I have the feeling it'll be a 1-1 draw going in to the final few minutes and then a late, late winner for one of the sides." Most Foxes expect a hard fought game with little to choose between the sides: "Tough match this one, could go either way."

"Without Knockeart I think we will struggle to create enough against a Mick McCarthy side that will be solid defensively at home. I just hope the strikers take the limited chances I think they will get."

"It's Ipswich next, and we all know what Dave loves to do", "I know Nugent loves scoring against these, but something telling me we don't have that great a history there (with that snow match being the biggest farce!)".

"The more days that go by without it snowing, the more I think we're going to have a repeat of the infamous game."

Many Foxes remember our unlikely 3-0 win in December 2010: "It was a strangely memorable atmosphere for the 500-odd who made it that night with some one-off chants that improved the mood."

I will update the forum on Saturday morning with any additional thoughts and comments from their message boards if there is sufficient material.

Websites

The best Leicester forum is Foxes Talk.


Photo: Action Images



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theblueginger added 11:38 - Nov 22
Was just wondering where this week's notes were! Exceptional as always!
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hoppy added 11:51 - Nov 22
What was this one on about? '"Last season was a Jekyll and Hyde season, some of it playing lovely football, some of it embarrassingly bad. Let's hope we don't stutter again this season and actually get out of this division. Ten years is long enough."

Have they got short memories... they WERE out of this division for the 2008/2009 season... in League One, so what is this 'Ten years is long enough' business?
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DanLyles added 12:21 - Nov 22
As much as I hope MM starts with the 4-3-3 from the second half at Blackpool (with Hunt on the left instead of Nouble though), I've got the feeling he may start with the defensive 4-4-2 to nullify Leicester and especially Drinkwater, with Hyam snapping at him and stopping him from getting their passing game going.
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DanLyles added 12:28 - Nov 22
Then switch to 4-3-3 in the second half at some point. Hope we take the initiative though and start with the attacking option though...
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JCBLUE added 21:15 - Nov 22
Let's hope Nugents poor recent form is continued tomorrow!!
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ArnieM added 22:20 - Nov 22
Id be happy to start aith 4-4-2 keep it tight for an hour then go for it with the subs MM pulled at Blackpool. Its not easy for opponents to counter sweeping changes 3/4 of the way through the game when players are getting tired. Taylor and Nouble running at yiu in the last 30mins must be pretty intimidating.


COYB'S
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