When asked in his press conference yesterday, Ranieri replied that perhaps he had been too lenient on his title winning side, giving them too many opportunities. As such, he hinted at changes.
This is inevitably somewhat hypothetical because of the wait until the next Premier League match - Millwall and Sevilla before our next in the Prem. But the question is: Who needs a long rest? There are a few players and positions concerning me more than others...
Goalkeeper:
Sorry Nev, but I cant agree about Zieler coming in. Despite a poor performance at the weekend, I don't see why Zieler would be able to inspire any more confidence than Schmeichel given his previous outings this season. As for the reserves (Hamer and Iversen), forget it.
Centre Back:
There's an argument for both Huth and Morgan to go, although I'm not sure about removing both of them. Perhaps it would be best to try a new partnership instead - one of Huth and Morgan with one of Amartey and Benalouane. My temptation here is that Huth is the one to go as the others look more comfortable on the ball. It's a shame we haven't seen Amartey at centre back but Benalouane put in a decent showing the other day - aside from the offside line issues - and may be ready to get a go.
Full Back:
On the left it's only fair that Chilwell gets a run in the team. He's hardly been perfect but he's putting energy and fight into his performances while Fuchs' head seems to have dropped. On the right it's more difficult; Simpson has been woeful on the ball but Amartey doesn't look comfortable as a right back to me. I'd perhaps keep Simpson in there, but that's partly through lack of alternative.
Centre Midfield:
There's something I've only just really twigged here: When the going gets tough, Drinkwater gets carried. When we had our bad run in the Championship, Drinkwater got worse and worse until he had to be dropped. Similarly during our Great Escape season in the Prem - it was Cambiasso paired with James and King that kept us up. I suspect Drinkwater's goose may well be cooked for the rest of this season so I think he may need to drop into the background; Mendy hasn't shown nearly enough for me, so that leaves me with King to partner Ndidi.
Wide Midfield:
Given Musa's ineptitude there, we find ourselves with limited options. Albrighton varies between good games and awful games and Mahrez is subdued but still has the ability to pick a pass. Meanwhile Gray has to start right now as he's the only one that's providing any spark up front, but his defending is diabolical. I wouldn't be looking to drop any of the three.
Centre Forward:
While Okazaki has failed to set the world alight for some time, Vardy surely needs dropping - maybe out of the squad entirely. He lacks so much compared to last season; there's no intensity, no hassling of defenders, no nothing any more. Leicester fans always knew at heart that he was a wazzock but at least he was our wazzock. Now he's not even that any more. Despite reservations, Slimani surely has to start with people who can create chances for him. Yes, he looks like an arrogant and selfish so-and-so but he is threatening. The option of having Musa next to him in a front 2 as a recessive partner might be worth seeing as well.
In summary, if Ranieri is serious about changing things around and dropping his title-winning players, I hope he starts with Huth, Fuchs, Drinkwater and Vardy.
Big names to be dropped?
posted on 13/2/17
Mersey - I'd give one of them a go. Not a complete overhaul at Centre Back but a new partnership, with a player more confident and capable in possession.
posted on 13/2/17
Dungeon, agree Benalouane with Morgan would freshen up. Huth is making at least one or two major errors at the moment and I've seen a glacier form quicker than he can pass it across the back. I remember seeing Drinkwater getting irate with Huth a few times this season with regards his positioning. You're not going to push forward with confidence if you don't think your centre back is going to cover in behind you.
posted on 13/2/17
Just watching a very interesting analysis on our players, their positioning, their decision making, the back 4 not being where a back 4 should be etc.
Highlights that the players are just not doing the basics on the pitch......
As well as CR and those off it failing the players are not doing the basics!
UTF
posted on 13/2/17
No doubt Benny has waited long enough for a run in the team, I'd also drop Huth and partner him with Wes. Can't be much worse.
posted on 13/2/17
Drop Huth or drop Morgan? Many on here saying Huth. Fair enough. But when Morgan loses Huth as a partner he tends to be all over the place. One of Huth or Morgan must stay in the team i think? Which one though?
Chilwell in for Fuchs at the minute. We may need his energy from now. It's his inexperience which may be a concern...........but you have to learn from your mistakes and your game-time.
Simpson at right-back. He's probably the luckiest of the regulars regarding alternatives to his position. Needs to get more tackles in instead of shielding. Compete.
Ndidi for sure. And i'm going for Drinkwater to partner...........sorry. Andy King hasn't the fight for the big games, he's not exactly a leader when tenacity is needed.
Mahrez and Albrighton for the wide men. Harsh on Demarai Gray i know, but Albrighton puts in more commitment even though he hasn't the skill of the other 2.
Controversial, but it has to be Vardy, definately! Message for Jamie...............get tucked up in that spare room for a couple of nights and get some shut-eye. I'm sure your missus will tend lovingly your new-born at this crucial stage for a while? Get some rest! Come back all guns blazing! Where's the after-burners gone mate?
Vardy's partner up top? Could do no worse than sticking Vichai up there with him at the minute!
Joking aside, try Demarai Gray just behind Vardy. Just try it.
LEICESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB............come on!!
posted on 13/2/17
I remember Benalouane was poor, and didn't exactly inspire against Derby. I fully agree we need to freshen up, just not in the position we're likely to significantly weaken the team.
If anything, I'd give Amartey a try next to Huth or Morgan.
posted on 13/2/17
Watching Amartey against Derby I don't rate him as a right back at all, Anya ripped him a new one. Simpson is far better and I think he's been out best defender by some distance this season.
Nobody has seen Amartey in the middle but we're going off reports of his preformances in the AFCON. Benny has always looked decent to me and he can pass the ball, I definitely see potential there. We don't know what Wague is like either but he did well at the AFCON too and is a no nonsense brute of a centre half so it is possible that a Benny/Wague partnership could thrive. We can't write it off until we know but really we should find out against Millwall.
Mendy had a pass completion of 92% last season and was the second highest passer in Europe so he can obviously pass a ball, we just haven't seen it yet but that could be down to the fact he's been asked to try to play Kante's role but we all know he's a replacement for Drinky so next to Ndidi in his preferred role we might see what he can really do.
posted on 14/2/17
You say Anya ripped him a new one but that's not how I remember it. I remember Anya running at him repeatedly and every time having no joy against him.
The bigger reason I'm not keen on Amartey as a full back is that he doesn't look comfortable on the ball there. I'd like to see him get a go at centre back because I fear Benalouane, despite looking the part, would make some cardinal mistakes.
Playthepitch - I think that's a misnomer about King. When the chips are down at the business end of the season, King comes out fighting for this club.
posted on 14/2/17
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 minute ago
You say Anya ripped him a new one but that's not how I remember it. I remember Anya running at him repeatedly and every time having no joy against him.
The bigger reason I'm not keen on Amartey as a full back is that he doesn't look comfortable on the ball there. I'd like to see him get a go at centre back because I fear Benalouane, despite looking the part, would make some cardinal mistakes.
Playthepitch - I think that's a misnomer about King. When the chips are down at the business end of the season, King comes out fighting for this club.
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Yes you are right, when he was at close quarters Anya didn't get by him but he was too often too far away. I meant more in terms of his positioning and the number of crosses delivered from that side. Anya put in a good half a dozen really decent looking balls but luckily they had nobody to get on the end of them, much like us without Slimani.
posted on 18/2/17
Sorry Dunge, but King is a half-decent squad player in the Prem................no more, no less.