Setting off just after 8:30 this morning I didn't have a great deal of positive expectations for the day. But maybe there truly is hope to be found anywhere.
Anyway 13 successful hours later, here I am back home with some player ratings.
Schmeichel: 7 - Kicking a bit dodgy at times, handling in squally conditions good, command of area and speed off his line excellent.
Simpson: 6 - Fairly anonymous sort of game. Didn't have a great deal of chance to shine but no problems to report.
Morgan: 7 - Calm and solid. Seems to be taking up the role as primary marker of the main opposition threat, and he helped to keep Abraham quiet today.
Maguire: 8 - Commanding performance, correctly treating his defensive duties as priority and attacking secondary. Swept up a few dangerous situations in his own box.
Fuchs: 6 - Got booked early on and so had to be careful from then on, and was given a tough ride as most attacks came down his wing. Better than on Monday though.
Mahrez: 8 - One assist, one kind-of assist, but overall a much less selfish performance of the kind we need to see from him. It's true that Swansea didn't really watch him carefully enough, but his attitude was much improved in this match. Looked to have re-accepted the concept of defending as a team.
Iborra: 8 - The difference in the first half, where he controlled the match and knocked the ball out with ease. Also picked out several good forward passes. Slowly went out of the match in the second half and probably still in need of further fitness, but looked promising today, albeit against a lacklustre Swansea midfield. There are several viable candidates, but he's my choice for out MOTM.
Ndidi: 7 - Grew into the game, looking more confident getting involved and being on the ball. May be influenced by having a general next to him in Iborra, but we'll have to see over the coming games. We must hope this improvement and gain of confidence continues.
Albrighton: 6 - Worked really hard in spite of not quite being on it at times. Showed the kind of plan B game that's needed at times across the team and has been lacking.
Okazaki: 8 - Continues to raise the question of why we don't look any good without him. Linked midfield and attack, harried Swansea's midfield when needed and got in the right position to bag a goal.
Vardy: 7 - Couldn't get the ball out of his feet when given his one great chance in the second half. Menaced Swansea throughout, although it wasn't quite to be his day.
Subs:
King: 6 - Sometimes wasteful in good positions, but was tidy where he needed to be. A decent substitution; came on to do a job and did it.
Gray: 6 - Not really his game or situation to impress.
What we saw today was a combination of two factors: We played pretty well (particularly in the first half when we had a surprising amount of possession and control over the match) and Swansea weren't at the races. Shakespeare must wish he had encountered a few more teams who weren't at the races in his games this season - although to be frank West Brom weren't and we only managed a draw.
On the way home I had the radio on, where first I heard Swansea fans bemoaning their team's performance. Then I heard several Leicester fans embarrassing themselves on the BBC's 606 show by not being able to come up with a reason why Leicester might be a more attractive proposition for Sean Dyche than Burnley. Owned by Robbie Savage. Anyway, despite the road closures and the weather, I liked Swansea and it was a fine trip with great company. We even got to enjoy a smallish "Rudkin Out" protest. Will it have any effect? Probably not. But it'd be interesting to know what the powers-that-be made of it.
One final note: It's always good to see Michael Oliver as ref. If only there were (many) more to feel that way about.
Player ratings vs. Swansea (Away)
posted on 22/10/17
I think the team sheet would have been exactly the same under Shakespeare. He was he one who took us back to that format after Ranieri
I agree that having to rely on the huge impact on Okazaki in our team is a little worrying. I wish we had another defensively able winger to allow for Mahrez to be in behind Vardy because he has always looked so much better when he truly has the flexibility of drifting around (we saw it yesterday albeit, because of Swansea’s lack of attention to him).
If we feel there are games where we need some additional support across the centre of the park but still want to include Mahrez/don’t have Okazaki available or he goes off the boil - I wonder if a plan B could be Chilwell on the wing and Mahrez in behind or 3-5-2 with Mahrez in behind or behind two strikers (as mentioned on another thread, the only problem with this latter option is that we are essentially sacrificing the 3 CM stability).
Ultimately, now Kante is long gone, the issue is when we don’t play Okazaki but play Mahrez in the wing. I don’t see it ever working.
posted on 22/10/17
It's a nice bonus to get your player ratings for an away game Dunge. Keep posting these when you can because it's a really good for those who can't make certain games to get the views of a fellow fan who has watched the players
posted on 22/10/17
I remember reading when we signed Iborra that he'd been playing the Okazaki role behind the main striker last season. I reckon we might see him there if we can ever put a half decent midfield together.
posted on 22/10/17
While I agree with most of the above I was especially pleased with the understanding that Iborra and Ndidi are developing.
They seem to be far more aware of each others game and the one twos played yesterday were a delight to watch.
The referee was one of the best we have had for a long time.
My pet hate however is at one point he only paced out 8 yards instead of 10 for a free kick wall to be positioned. They all do it but WHY???
posted on 22/10/17
comment by nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 3 hours, 59 minutes ago
Interesting to see an assessment for an away performance, you need some more trips Dunge.
I didn't go yesterday so am really puzzled about your goalie comments, have we managed to draw Peter out of retirement?
I'm heartened by the comments on Iborra, I hope it's lack of game time rather than age that's his problem in lasting the match.
Slightly worrying that the answer yet again to our issues seems to be 4-4-1-1 and Shinji. Nothing wrong with that in itself as it seems to work but it means we are a one trick pony relying on the fitness and form of one player essentially. Obviously we need to get results and climb the table, but I would like to see how we're going to develop and move forward.
To fuel Nev was yesterday's team sheet purely down to Appleton or did the players have a hand in it? It may be that the choice was simple in going back to the previously successful format, something the players are very comfortable with?
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Certainly shouldn't be an issue with his age Nuneaton, he's only 29. You can see his game and fitness improving with each game. I think we have a really good player on our hands
posted on 22/10/17
nuneaton/BS - Thanks for the plaudits, but truth be told I don't go to that many away games. Come to think of it, this was the first one since going to Copenhagen last year.
Time I started visiting a few more.
posted on 22/10/17
comment by nuneaton_fox (U7936)
posted 7 hours, 56 minutes ago
Interesting to see an assessment for an away performance, you need some more trips Dunge.
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Seconded
Dunge do I remember wrong or was there a time in the past where you did make most the away games?
posted on 22/10/17
Thorney
Youand memust have the same views on refs. Id also pick Jon Moss the worst closely followed by Pawson and Madley, though to be fair I thought Pawson had one of his better games today Everton v Arsenal.
and listened to yesterdays game on LCFC radio and it sounded like our best performance of the season. Sounded like Iborra had a great game. and loved Gerry, Gerry Gerrys comments.
UTF
posted on 22/10/17
comment by Legless Fox (U21476)
posted 31 minutes ago
Thorney
Youand memust have the same views on refs. Id also pick Jon Moss the worst closely followed by Pawson and Madley, though to be fair I thought Pawson had one of his better games today Everton v Arsenal.
and listened to yesterdays game on LCFC radio and it sounded like our best performance of the season. Sounded like Iborra had a great game. and loved Gerry, Gerry Gerrys comments.
UTF
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Swansea gave us so much room it was unbelievable and apart from Brighton made it the easiest game of the Season, still it was always going to be going on the fixture list.
posted on 22/10/17
Concrete - I think it was the Championship winning season where I was most active in going to games, but I've never been prolific. Perhaps 4 or 5 a season at the very most and usually less.
I do like going to lower league teams away in the cups though.