Not a bad performance but ultimately nothing to show for it. Home form still has to improve significantly.
Here are my ratings:
Schmeichel: 9 - The odd passing giveaway aside, he made some excellent stops today. The one at the near post from De Bruyne in particular I thought was in. My choice for our MOTM.
Ricardo: 7 - Aggressive and attacking with sublime technique at times, but ultimately couldn't make the opportunities that came to him in the midfield count.
Soyuncu: 7 - Occasionally looks like he's letting his adrenaline get on top of him in matches like this, but didn't look out of place going up against a top team.
Evans: 7 - Calm and collected running things from the centre of a back 3. We may well see more of this formation in the weeks to come.
Fuchs: 8 - Tired as the match went on but was outstanding for me in the first half.
Chilwell: 5 - Stuck to his task and looked generally more confident with Fuchs behind him but still looking very limited and full of errors right now. I think it's time to drop him and give Justin a charge.
Praet: 8 - Played the holding role well, tidy in possession, not flustered and capable on the ball. Still doesn't seem to be able to last an entire match though, which is curious.
Tielemans: 6 - Needs to learn how to affect games like this more. Not bad and contributed to a team effort, but without the space to play he starts to become a bit of a liability at times.
Maddison: 6 - Plenty of effort, but the trade off was that he didn't get on the ball much in attacking areas.
Iheanacho: 6 - I figured the half time substitution was tactical rather than anything specific he was doing wrong, as Barnes might have more luck using his pace to get in behind. Looked keen and did alright.
Vardy: 6 - Out of form and didn't get another chance after hitting the post early. Has his work cut out against a back line with so much pace.
Barnes: 5 - Some tidy work but needs to be more aggressive, authoritative and arrogant in these games, otherwise they swallow you up.
James: 6 - Came on as energy for tired legs and went about his business well enough.
Perez: n/a.
With a run of theoretically easier games coming up, this team has to get back to attacking and creating chances. At the moment it looks like each goal against is a hammer blow, and the players have to get out of the mindset and use it as extra motivation to go attacking and score more goals.
On the plus side, at least tactically we mixed it up a bit better today, attempting to play more on the counter and hitting some long balls into the channels. It perhaps helped that the 3 at the back was a rarity that Man City wouldn't have been set up for (although they likely predicted it as most of the fans did). I wouldn't mind seeing us go 3 at the back for a run of the next few games, given that it's something different and I'm not overly excited about playing our wingers, but as I say, I find myself losing patience with Chilwell now. He's had the chance to play through whatever's troubling him and we're still seeing basic problems on the pitch, making bad decisions and running the ball out of play at least once every game. With Justin waiting in the wings and a back 3 as extra cover behind him, I want to see him on the left in the next match.
Player ratings vs. Man City
posted on 23/2/20
I agree our final ball has been letting us down a lot in our poor run. Even from the likes of Pereira and Maddison. People you think should be capable of the right decision.
Unlike Chilwell who I just assume will make the wrong decision when I’m a good attacking position.
posted on 23/2/20
Sorry Dunge. i just don't get this criticism of Chilwell. Yes, he had a poor run of form a few games ago, but I though he played really well yesterday and is regaining his form. Up against Mahrez and Walker is no easy task that I thought he did well.
No-one desevred less than a 7 / 10 yesterday
posted on 23/2/20
comment by For Fox Sake (U4263)
posted 13 minutes ago
Sorry Dunge. i just don't get this criticism of Chilwell. Yes, he had a poor run of form a few games ago, but I though he played really well yesterday and is regaining his form. Up against Mahrez and Walker is no easy task that I thought he did well.
No-one desevred less than a 7 / 10 yesterday
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Can’t agree FFS. Chilwell was poor again for me. Getting the basics wrong and can’t seem to control a football at the minute. Was totally ineffective when going forward and defensively average but covered by Fuchs.
For me Dunge is spot on.
posted on 23/2/20
Is FFS on drugs?! How on earth could anyone think that Chilwell played really well yesterday?? The guy needs to be dropped and if possible sold in the summer while we can still get decent money for him. He’s absolutely atrocious and has been for about 3 months.
I thought we were very good yesterday considering the opposition and the fact that we didn’t have a single defensive midfielder available. Well done City - play like that going forward and we’ll be ok
posted on 23/2/20
comment by Black Starr (U12353)
posted 3 hours, 26 minutes ago
Is FFS on drugs?! How on earth could anyone think that Chilwell played really well yesterday?? The guy needs to be dropped and if possible sold in the summer while we can still get decent money for him. He’s absolutely atrocious and has been for about 3 months.
I thought we were very good yesterday considering the opposition and the fact that we didn’t have a single defensive midfielder available. Well done City - play like that going forward and we’ll be ok
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I thought Chillers was better yesterday and did reasonably well against Riyad. Still poor going forward admittedly and struggling with ball control at times.
The important thing is this though, Pep said after the match that Leicester have 'incredible full-backs'. Note the plural, so maybe there's still a chance for us to flog him to Man City for stupid money in the summer! 😂
posted on 23/2/20
I thought it was well pointed out on MOTD how Chilwell gave Mahrez way too much room but what we did do fairly well was have Fuchs out there covering as well so when Mahrez walked past Chilwell Fucj s was in his way!
posted on 24/2/20
OK then TB, you're determined to not give any credit to Chillers so I'm going to point the finger at Brendan for having a formation previously that leaves Chillwell - who is clearly poor defensively - too exposed to Mahrez. He obviously learnt from his mistake and gave some better cover for the lad, who, as I've said before, had a better game as a result.
posted on 24/2/20
Did he, or was it the cover that worked?
Most of the time mahrez just walked past Chilwell again, it was the cover that prevented mahrez doing what he wanted and planting one in the top cover, he just had to pass it into another player.
posted on 24/2/20
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 18 hours, 45 minutes ago
I thought it was well pointed out on MOTD how Chilwell gave Mahrez way too much room but what we did do fairly well was have Fuchs out there covering as well so when Mahrez walked past Chilwell Fucj s was in his way!
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They did highlight this and Chilwell was well adrift of Mahrez (presumably, he was set up to mark him or a he not?). I think they showed two instances but as I wasn’t there, any didn’t see the match on TV, surely this wasn’t the case throughout (or was it? 🙄).
posted on 24/2/20
comment by downsouf (U4095)
posted 38 seconds ago
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 18 hours, 45 minutes ago
I thought it was well pointed out on MOTD how Chilwell gave Mahrez way too much room but what we did do fairly well was have Fuchs out there covering as well so when Mahrez walked past Chilwell Fucj s was in his way!
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They did highlight this and Chilwell was well adrift of Mahrez (presumably, he was set up to mark him or a he not?). I think they showed two instances but as I wasn’t there, any didn’t see the match on TV, surely this wasn’t the case throughout (or was it? 🙄).
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Some bad grammar there. I’ll blame it on this blasted device.