Important return to winning ways today, together with an interesting change of formation.
Here are my ratings:
Schmeichel: 6 - Had little to do in general; couldn't do anything about the goal and no opportunity to do anything exceptional. Spent more time arguing with the ref than anything else.
Amartey: 7 - Defensively strong and difficult to pass. Still looks upon the ball as a hot potato however.
Evans: 7 - The odd dodgy pass in the first half; solid with no fuss aside from that. Should keep his place.
Maguire: 7 - Showed calmness to draw fouls at times and made some dynamic tackles. Doesn't look truly at his best however, as evidenced with some sloppy possession at times.
Chilwell: 8 - Showing a lot of maturity this season, in his reading of the game and his decision making. Growing in confidence and looks one of the most secure in his position.
Ghezzal: 6 - Showed some creativity and an eye for forward passes, but doesn't seem to be able to take on his man, which indicates that he could end up marked out of games once opposition managers have some videos.
Mendy: 7 - A display of his strengths and weaknesses. His positional sense continues to shine, he's an effective tackler and his passing is solid if not spectacular. However, he can be bullied out of challenges for strength and his low top speed means that he struggled in to impact the game when it quickens up. My problem is that I see Ndidi as the better rounded defensive midfielder, but he could do with a more dominant force in possession next to him, so I don't really believe in this partnership as yet.
Ndidi: 6 - Demonstrated how possession isn't his strength with some loose passes and slow speed of thought around the opposition box. Also demonstrated strong defensive skills, but is a worry when on a yellow card.
Maddison: 8 - In many ways still settling into the league, particularly with wanting too many touches. Looking a threat from set pieces however. Played as a winger but got something of a free role like Mahrez used to.
Iheanacho: 8 - A rollercoaster of sublime and terrible play. You never quite know what you're going to get with him, and today that was the case from minute to minute. Exchanging goals and assists with Vardy was a good sign though, and he proved his manager correct in his formation choice.
Vardy: 8 - Led from the front and provided leadership for the team. Perhaps the fact he has so many youngsters around him is giving him that attitude. Great finish and mature assist. My choice for our MOTM.
Gray: 7 - Played as part of a side that exerted more dominance in the second half, but I'd still like to see more from him by way of actual chances created.
Albrighton: 6 - Solid cameo as the game settled into a closing rhythm.
Okazaki: 6 - As above.
Some will say that Huddersfield are one of the weakest in the league and a team we should be beating at home - that is correct, but it still needs to be done. Does it convince any doubter that Puel is the right man for the job? Probably not. But it certainly doesn't hurt, and scoring three goals at home will hopefully bring some confidence, particularly when those goals are scored by our biggest attacking threats.
It sounds easy to say, but I thought at the start of the season that Huddersfield and Cardiff were likely the two stand-out weak teams in the league this season. I've seen nothing today to make me change that view. They competed, but they didn't have the quality that we usually face and they didn't have the hunger that defined them last season. It's a shame as a I like Huddersfield as a club, but I can't see anything other than relegation awaiting them.
Player ratings vs. Huddersfield
posted on 23/9/18
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 3 hours, 13 minutes ago
Is Perriera injured?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
posted on 23/9/18
Love that that’s 4 different people with 3 different views on the formation 😂
I think I’m in KTF’s rambling camp. I’m not sure it was 4-4-2 (or 1-1) as Maddison seemed more free behind the front 1 and Nacho wasn’t up alongside Vardy.
I guess I’m no clearer!
posted on 23/9/18
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 3 hours, 13 minutes ago
Is Perriera injured?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, he’s just carp.
posted on 23/9/18
I think the encouraging thing is - player selection here show a specific/concrete formation is less important.
Move forward with:
A) The formation from yesterday
B) Maddison behind Vardy and Iheanacho rested and wide players (ideally Gray inverting next to Chilwell and Albrighton playing traditionally in front of a RIGHT BACK)
C) Or, there is perhaps an argument for 352/343 to be trialled at some point if needed.
Now that Puel has shown willingness and the ability to reflect and make tactical changes/or by happenstance he has seen what can work (dependent upon how optimistic/pessimistic you want to be about Puel) - what surely NONE of us want to see is a reversion to Ricardo bombing so far forward (particularly without Albrighton) and 3 players all standing on each other’s toes right up and behind Vardy suffocating the space (as we had a prime example of what Vardy can do with space today)
posted on 23/9/18
What was pleasing to see was the mix of quick breaks and counter attacking football alongside the possession based slower build up.
More of this please.
posted on 23/9/18
I think we have found a front 3 that works as shown on MOTD. But as Jenas said, puel tinkers too much so we may not see it again
posted on 23/9/18
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 3 hours, 13 minutes ago
Is Perriera injured?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, he’s just carp.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He was on the bench.
Incidentally I think it was intended to be the usual formation: Ian was playing the Maddison role behind Vardy and Maddison starting out wide.
However, Maddison played a free role (either by instruction or choice) and wandered all over. That’s why it was difficult to pick.
posted on 23/9/18
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 21 minutes ago
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 3 hours, 13 minutes ago
Is Perriera injured?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, he’s just carp.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol not sure if you’re serious but surprised - I was quite jealous when I saw you’d signed him
posted on 23/9/18
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 3 hours, 13 minutes ago
Is Perriera injured?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No, he’s just carp.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He was on the bench.
Incidentally I think it was intended to be the usual formation: Ian was playing the Maddison role behind Vardy and Maddison starting out wide.
However, Maddison played a free role (either by instruction or choice) and wandered all over. That’s why it was difficult to pick.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd agree with this. I think 4-2-3-1 with a lopsided 3 is the best description. My concern is that if we try this against any reasonably competent side it potentially leaves acres of space to be exploited down one of our flanks.
I'm going to give Claude the benefit and say it looked deliberate, there was much covering when needed by others, including notably as Dunge pointed out Vardy; however I reckon that most opposition managers will be delighted to see tactics involving Vards being on the wing near half way rather than anywhere near the box!
KK - Pereira is brilliant going forward, leaves something to be desired defensively. Looks as if he would be a superb wingback but we don't utilise a formation to make best use of that.
posted on 23/9/18
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 4 hours, 47 minutes ago
What was pleasing to see was the mix of quick breaks and counter attacking football alongside the possession based slower build up.
More of this please.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think that's what we all hope for.
Is it's Puel's end game though, if it's not, what is?