Well, that was a spectacle. The kind of match where I think to myself: "I bet Black Starr is reaching King Kong levels of going ape on JA606."
The match was a tale of two halves. Both were awful, but in different ways. The first half was all too familiar: Slow-paced, sideways passing, and seeing the opposition showing so much more desire and believing in themselves more and more by the minute. The second half, although more entertaining, concerned me considerably. Here's why:
I am reminded of the game away at Norwich just before Paulo Sousa was sacked. I was unfortunate enough to be in the crowd for that and what I witnessed was something quite remarkable: The players had given up on anything the manager had told them and decided they were better off making things up as they went along. That was what the second half was like today. At the core of this was Harry Maguire, stepping up into midfield and forcing young sub Hamza Choudhury to cover him as a centre half while he roamed all over the pitch. I could understand his frustration given the dirge of the first half and indeed recent performances, but this looked to me like a player who - like half the rest of the team - had given up on what the manager was telling them. Much more of what I saw today and I don't see how Puel's position can remain tenable for much longer, regardless of our safe position in the table.
Anyway, on with the ratings. Lovers of high numbers should look away now.
Schmeichel: 5 - Made a really good save at the beginning of the match, but in the second half his distribution faltered again and I've no idea what he was doing for the Newcastle second. He was never going to challenge for the ball so why stand in no-man's land?
Simpson: 5 - Doesn't look comfortable with this style of play and was caught out of position too often. Looking more and more like a right back is not just desired but needed.
Morgan: 6 - Got a lot of clearances in and his defensive positioning and tackling was strong in general. But he was out of position for the first goal and takes his share of the blame for the communication screwup with Maguire for the second.
Maguire: 5 - Very, very lucky not to get sent off in the first half as the first signs of his frustration showed. Then went wandering for much of the second half, abandoning his post for Choudhury to cover. I can understand that frustration but his actions do not help.
Chilwell: 6 - Had a relatively decent game at left back although he was left with no forward passes to make much of the time due to the absence of movement in front of him. Not to blame.
Mahrez: 5 - Subdued. Well marshalled by Newcastle but neither did he make a lot happen today.
Iborra: 5 - Struggled against Newcastle's physicality before going off injured.
Silva: 7 - It was good to see him complete 90 minutes and he made a fair few tackles and interceptions. Was a bit more careful in possession than he has been before, perhaps the influence of training. My choice for our MOTM, although the options overall for this honour were weak.
Albrighton: 6 - Plenty of effort, although his corners were hitting the first man again. Not a bad performance, but didn't offer any penetration today.
Diabate: 5 - Some delightful touches and turns when on the ball, but he didn't get on the ball and influence the game enough or make the right runs much of the time. Looked undercooked in the number 10 position.
Vardy: 6 - Has been turned into a goal poacher rather than an all-rounder by Puel, which is fine as long as he gets service. Most of the time he didn't, and when he did get the ball in wide positions he didn't get any support. At least he's finding the net though.
Choudhury: 6 - Keen as mustard in defence but didn't demonstrate the authority to step forward and dictate the play as a midfielder; ended up spending much of his time covering instead.
Okazaki: 6 - Found any number of ways to fall over but at least showed more dynamism in the number 10 role than Diabate did.
Gray: 7 - Very good cross for Okazaki in the lead up to the goal. Otherwise brought on too late to influence the game enough.
As for Newcastle, it looks like the fans have their team back. Throwing themselves into challenges and generally showing commitment to everything they did, as well as being determined to come for more than just a point. Scoring the goal early meant that they stepped onto the back foot for much of the match, but they can't be blamed that tactic, particularly given how it was working. Land a decent owner and a bit of cash, keep Benitez, and they'll be a top half team.
Player ratings vs. Newcastle
posted on 8/4/18
Generally agree Dunge but:
Maguire/Choudhry - I reckon that was by design, to allow Maguire to go forward and try and create something; he's comfortable on the ball and has played in midfield. It also gave Choudhry a less taxing game to play.
Kasper - why are you surprised? Shot stopping excellent, up there with the best, distribution variable, positional play dreadful - this is a normal description for a typical Kasper performance.
Maguire - lucky lad to still be on the pitch, by the letter of the law it was a red.
Morgan 5. At fault for the first goal, mostly to blame for the second (share that with Kasper not Maguire).
Diabate - looked a bit lightweight for a no 10 role.
Silva - a shining light amongst the dross. Great through ball to Riyad for our non-penalty.
Missed Ndidi badly, if he had been on the pitch they would probably not have scored the first goal.
posted on 8/4/18
Ibbora was the main man at fault for the first goal and Silva was in the other half.
<devil.
posted on 8/4/18
Can't blame Kasper for the first. I expected Shelvey to score from that situation regardless of the keeper. For the second there were three men at fault and he was one of them. Morgan wanted (expected) Maguire to run around the back and clear it as he had a better view. But he just watched instead.
Regarding Maguire moving into midfield by design, I considered that at the time but disregarded it. If that was the plan then you bring on a centre half and let him move up. He just did what he wanted in the second half because he had no faith that anyone else would create anything. Bringing the ball out is one thing but he practically stationed himself there. It was like watching a kid's match where the best player has been put at centre back and can't take it any more.
There's no doubt that Ndidi would have helped the situation, and Maguire would not have pulled rank on him like he did on Choudhury. But Ndidi wouldn't have added any creativity in the first half.
Nev - I hate having managers hired and fired all the time but if he's lost the dressing room then there's little choice. Next match is a big one all around.
posted on 8/4/18
Watch the second goal again on MOTD, no blame at all on Kasper.
posted on 8/4/18
Iborra looks like he’s out got the rest of the season according to Puel, looks like Choudhury gets a decent run.
Just drop Mahrez now and give Diabate a good run as well.
Play for the future.
posted on 8/4/18
Poor management
We won the last 2 games. I accept Wilf was
suspebded, so bring in Silva, but why drop Shinji
and replace him with Diabete who was non existent
A competant ref might have helped. A cert penon Mahrez but we get Winifred Attwell. Mind you a competent ref would have sent Mcguire off.
People keep saying we need to evolve into a possession based style. Ebolve into what !
Slow boring possession football with no end producr
only to leave one of the best strikers in the league
isolated. Play boring tappy tappy football and any
decent opposition (Newcastle, Bornemouth, Stoke,Swansea) just set up with 2 banks of 4 and
we havent a clue how to break them down.
Things must be bad If Im writing this
UTF
posted on 8/4/18
TB - The essential error is miscommunication between Morgan and Maguire. But Schmeichel should not have been standing there.
posted on 8/4/18
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 6 minutes ago
TB - The essential error is miscommunication between Morgan and Maguire. But Schmeichel should not have been standing there.
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I don't agree, it's normal for the keepers to come out like that, simple pass back or nod back and he clears it away, stays on his line and gets chastised if their player breaks through.
posted on 8/4/18
comment by Legless Fox (U21476)
posted 8 minutes ago
Poor management
We won the last 2 games. I accept Wilf was
suspebded, so bring in Silva, but why drop Shinji
and replace him with Diabete who was non existent
A competant ref might have helped. A cert penon Mahrez but we get Winifred Attwell. Mind you a competent ref would have sent Mcguire off.
People keep saying we need to evolve into a possession based style. Ebolve into what !
Slow boring possession football with no end producr
only to leave one of the best strikers in the league
isolated. Play boring tappy tappy football and any
decent opposition (Newcastle, Bornemouth, Stoke,Swansea) just set up with 2 banks of 4 and
we havent a clue how to break them down.
Things must be bad If Im writing this
UTF
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Funny you say that about the ticky tacky football, I said this back in October about Shakey.
If we want to radically change the way we play overnight while being safe in the Premier League while doing so he’s probably not the man but then who is for a Club like Leicester, in our position of not even being able to get a simple transfer right and also having the monkey on our back of fans wanting instant success from a Club that recently won the League against impossible odds.
At this point I point you to Crystal Palace and their ‘experiment’ with a Manager changing the way they play overnight.
If we want to play boring sh!t possession football and Ricky tacky round and round the midfield then no he’s probably not the man for LCFC.
If we want to consolidate ourselves as a regular Premier League team playing fast attacking and exciting football while at the same time slowly changing personnel and tactics then I 100% believe he’s the right man and will continue to do so until I see something, anything that proves he isn’t.
posted on 8/4/18
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 5 hours, 9 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 6 minutes ago
TB - The essential error is miscommunication between Morgan and Maguire. But Schmeichel should not have been standing there.
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I don't agree, it's normal for the keepers to come out like that, simple pass back or nod back and he clears it away, stays on his line and gets chastised if their player breaks through.
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I'm going to agree with Dunge about Kasper but still exonerate Maguire, that was Wes's ball to deal with.