So boringly predictable

Vardy is our best striker and Musa scored two goals last week and without the two big avaliable it was the right call.

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Man City aside, I would question whether Vardy has been our best striker this season. I'd also argue that we lose so much when Okazaki isn't playing that he is, by default, our No.1 striker right now, not least for his work rate and the defensive side he offers the midfield.

For me, if we are playing 2 up front, Okazaki has to play with one of Vardy, Slimani or Musa. If we're playing with one upfront, then that's a different story and would agree with Okazaki being dropped.

If Musa is the guy in form, have the balls to play him upfront with Okazaki and leave Vardy on the bench.

Drinkwater was played on the right side of a 3 man midfield. He couldn't dictate the play like he can in the centre. He looked terrible

I can see that he was trying to be more solid defensively with 3-5-2 but why on earth try radically changing formation with new/different players in the side who are still trying to find their feet, and critically, against the best side in the league. Not smart.

Once the defensive idea had gone out the window in minute 6, why persist with that formation for another 53 minutes?

Weird subs, taking Huth off instead of a LB. Also bringing on a more defensive RB when the game was out of sight.

This isn't a call for Ranieri's head btw.

Not all negative Nev, Mendy did OK as did Ndidi, he looks very promising. Albrighton tried hard as usual. You must have been tearing your hair out at Kasper for the third goal though, what was he doing?

Nun i dare not mention it Mendy covered the most ground of any player of either team.

CR did try to change it to 433 for a couple of minutes and it was mayhem revered back to 352 hence the strange sub's

Last week Mendy was buying DD an extra yard to do his thing this week all he could do is watch the blur of black shirts (Not Mosleys) around him

BS yes you're right and I agree that last season we would have had a go at them. It was a disaster from start to finish but I don't know if I believe Ranieri told the players not to close down? The parts in the game when we did we got on top and put them under pressure but for the most part we just let them play around us and didn't close them down. That was the real problem. Do you think the players were told not to close down or put them under any pressure?

Mersey - sorry I thought from our discussion the other day regarding three at the back that you were implying Ranieri wouldn't ever play three at the back and thus suggesting you were an advocate.

No CoE. I was neither pro nor anti 3-5-2. I thought it could be a good option if we want to get crosses in to Slimani.

But the way we deployed it yesterday was just counter productive. We sat deep and tried to use the pace of Vardy and Musa but it made us defensively fragile and toothless up top. I can see why we pereservered until half time but we should have changed it and didn't.

My comment about Ranieri never playing a back three was based on the fact he's had so many chances to do so and never has. I assumed he would never resort to that.

I was wrong.

Unfortunately, so was Ranieri!!

Hmmm.... the evidence is unequivocal that 3 at the back doesn't work after using it once against currently the best team in the country. 4-3-3 is the way forward because we got 1 cup win with it and a very unconvincing defensive draw against Middlesbrough. 4-4-2 is backing thinking even though we won the title with it last season.

The truth is that we've not really been convincing this season in any formation. We're struggling to get the right balance to our team, which makes the most of our better players.

Up until half time last night Chelsea had 2 shots and 1 on target. Unfortunately this was the goal. We looked ok and the midfield seemed much more competitive. After that when we were forced to attack we lacked movement, ideas and couldn't string a simple pass together.

I think we could make 3 at the back work. I also think we could make 4-3-3 work. Trouble is when we've played either we've lacked attacking threat. But that could be cured with the right balance as I genuinely believe we have the players. We wouldn't have won the League if we didn't.

comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 15 minutes ago
No CoE. I was neither pro nor anti 3-5-2. I thought it could be a good option if we want to get crosses in to Slimani.

But the way we deployed it yesterday was just counter productive. We sat deep and tried to use the pace of Vardy and Musa but it made us defensively fragile and toothless up top. I can see why we pereservered until half time but we should have changed it and didn't.

My comment about Ranieri never playing a back three was based on the fact he's had so many chances to do so and never has. I assumed he would never resort to that.

I was wrong.

Unfortunately, so was Ranieri!!
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Oh ok my mistake then, sorry about that. Fully agree with everything you said.

I can see you being dragged into a relegation battle.

comment by Billy The Yidd (U3924)
posted 4 hours, 3 minutes ago
I can see you being dragged into a relegation battle.
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You hope we do but just like last season we'll disappoint you again.