Chilwell out with injury
Oki back in
Subs spread through the team positions.
Leicester
1Schmeichel
2Simpson
5Morgan
15Maguire
28Fuchs
26Mahrez
25Ndidi
21Iborra
7Gray
20Okazaki
9Vardy
Substitutes
8Iheanacho
10King
11Albrighton
12Hamer
16Dragovic
18Amartey
19Slimani
Stoke as they were last week
Stoke
1Butland
6Zouma
17Shawcross
5Wimmer
18Diouf
24Fletcher
4Allen
3Pieters
22Shaqiri
32Sobhi
10Choupo-Moting
Substitutes
9Berahino
11Jesé
14Afellay
15Martins Indi
16Adam
25Crouch
33Grant
Leicester v stoke
posted on 6/11/17
"As far as the Gray argument goes Im in BS camp. Give him a chance and Im sure Gray will continue to be a massive asset to the team. Monsiur Puel obviosly rates him higher than Mersey does. No doubt if he doesnt rip Man City apart, Mersey will be the first to slag him off again. "
Don't think this is fair really, Mersey is saying the same as a lot of people about Gray, a massive potential but not fully shown it yet, nothing too controversial about that.
To be fair to Gray though, he made two excellent crosses yesterday that should have resulted in goals and would have made him instrumental to us winning.
The cross to Oki where the keeper made a brilliant reaction save and the one where Iborra inexplicably put his free header over the bar.
If either of those had gone in this tangent of conversation would be totally different.
posted on 6/11/17
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted about 3 hours ago
"As far as the Gray argument goes Im in BS camp. Give him a chance and Im sure Gray will continue to be a massive asset to the team. Monsiur Puel obviosly rates him higher than Mersey does. No doubt if he doesnt rip Man City apart, Mersey will be the first to slag him off again. "
Don't think this is fair really, Mersey is saying the same as a lot of people about Gray, a massive potential but not fully shown it yet, nothing too controversial about that.
To be fair to Gray though, he made two excellent crosses yesterday that should have resulted in goals and would have made him instrumental to us winning.
The cross to Oki where the keeper made a brilliant reaction save and the one where Iborra inexplicably put his free header over the bar.
If either of those had gone in this tangent of conversation would be totally different.
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You're right TB. I think fundamentally there is almost complete consensus on Gray.
The differences of opinion are all about how quickly he should be phased into the team and how tolerant/patient we should be with him in the process. His big opportunity to close the debate once and for all is happening right now.
posted on 6/11/17
You are right there Joby.
Gray now has a manager that wants to promote youth, is a clear believer in his abilities, and is shaping the team around our front 4 of which he is clearly a pivotal part.
This is his chance to show everyone that his raw talent can become a real asset. I look forward to seeing how it develops.
I’m not naive enough to think it won’t happen for him. The likes of Vardy, Drinkwater and Mahrez developed over 2-3 seasons in to the players they are today. Gray needs to look at those players, along with the instant impact the likes of Ndidi have made and try to replicate it.
I hope he does. Although reading some reactions on here, I think people beleive I have a voodoo doll of him at home and hope he fails spectacularly only to see out his career in the Mexican leagues with Ravel Morrison 😂
posted on 6/11/17
I'm cautiously optimistic about Gray, he's showing encouraging signs in recent matches. Long way to go defensively though.
I don't think it's unreasonable to talk about his football brain, that's been his problem, not realising he is part of a team and can have a much greater impact by passing to someone else in a better position once he's made the break originally. Also needs to understand that he has an important defensive role too.
posted on 6/11/17
So after all the sniping posts and the arguments
It would appear we are all in agreement about gray,
Huge potential
Needs to get his head up and develope his
Player awareness once on the ball and
Where his team mates are going to be,
Similarly so do his team mates
Over the last two games he's put in crosses that no one
Excepted
The argument is how long do you give him
I also think its important for the manager
To say ill give you the 1st half and 15 minutes of the 2nd
Like oki
You'll be substituted for
Being knackered
Tactical change like oki
Go build your future
posted on 6/11/17
It's not unreasonable to talk about his football brain, it is however pure drivel to suggest that 'neither Gray or Schlupp have any semblance of a footballing brain between them'
If this is honestly your view - if you are that harsh about one of our brightest prospects then I sincerely hope that when you do go to matches you don't sit within earshot of the players. He needs encouragement from the fans who have a part to play in his development, he doesn't need to be insulted in the way he has been on here.
He has a footballing brain or else he wouldn't be one of the coutrys brightest talents. He has done enough right to get that far. What young players lack is the experience to make the right decisions on the pitch. With encouragement and support he'll get there - but perhaps for his sake that shouldn't be at this club
posted on 6/11/17
BS - you do know what I mean when I talk about a footballing brain? This article/ramble is a good exploration of it....
https://www.westhamtillidie.com/uploads/image/file/1579/medium_Bobby-Moore-west-ham-006.jpg
posted on 6/11/17
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted about 3 hours ago
BS - you do know what I mean when I talk about a footballing brain? This article/ramble is a good exploration of it....
https://www.westhamtillidie.com/uploads/image/file/1579/medium_Bobby-Moore-west-ham-006.jpg
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Indeed. For an example as a forward player I was thinking Teddy Sheringham.
To be honest I believe what you're talking about Mersey is probably the biggest differentiator between the handful of talented youngsters that make it against the 100s that don't. Or, at least, the difference between an athletic, pacy and talented winger becoming a good player or a great one.
posted on 7/11/17
But to say gray and Schlupp haven't got a semblance of a footballing brain between them is just ridiculous.
His footballing brain is still developing but the above comment is just disrespectful to the guy and plain wrong
Let's see him develop his talents at a club where the fans will get behind him. Like Bournemouth
posted on 7/11/17
It’s actually a very interesting debate Joby/BS and one where I think experts opinions differ.
In my view, you either have, or don’t have a football brain. It can’t be taught. People like Sherringham, and Cambiasso who just see the game happening before it does, and know exactly what to do.
The Walcott debate is interesting. Again for me, like a sterling, he doesn’t have a football brain. Doesn’t make him talentless, just that he won’t realise the potential of his abilities like say Messi would.
I play with players of very different abilities these days. And I always say, I’d rather play with an average player who can read the game, than a skilful player that just doesn’t seem to be able to stop himself letting his man waltz straight past him and at the defence (me!).
In my view, Gray has shown lots of signs that his decision making is lacking. I would say that based on the evidence today, he doesn’t have a football brain. Doesn’t make him a bad footballer. It just means he needs to work harder to understand his role on the pitch and influence the game.
Sterling is a good example. We saw the best of him at Liverpool when Sturridge and Suarez were pulling defences apart so he’d have space to run at them. The same is now happening at City. But would I have Sterling over Aguero or Silva (who has one of the greatest footballing brains in the prem) absolutely not.
That’s my view anyway. Hopefully that makes more sense in respect to Gray.