I think that’s a very fair assessment Joby.

Personally I feel that Tielemans and Maddison are both suffering in our 4-3-3 formation and I’d like to see us switch to 4-1-4-1 with Choudhury holding of Wilf isn’t fit.

However I expect Rodgers to stick with 4-3-3 and if he does we have to see more attacking intent and better link up between the midfield and front 3. Perez has to step up. Tielemans has to influence the game more. Vardy has to be found more often and in more dangerous positions.

If we don’t see any improvement with 4-3-3 the personnel is wrong and we didn’t have the right recruitment policy, or the tactics are wrong.

Personally I feel that playing Maddison and Tielemans our of their best positions whilst not giving Wilf his best role is bad tactics. I guess time will tell.

I agree with much of that.

Schmeichel
Ricardo - Evans - Soyuncu - Chilwell*
Ndidi*
Perez-Tielemans-Maddison-Barnes
Vardy

Ward, Benkovic**, Justin, Choudhury, Praet, Albrighton, Gray/Iheanacho***

*If fit
**Fair assumption that Morgan isn't fit
***/Empty chair

I think the fear at the moment is that a major problem from the Puel era still exists, in that we really struggle to break down a set defence. We seem to be better away from home these days because teams naturally leave spaces for us to exploit, an indication that we sometimes need to worry less about keeping control of the ball and the game and be more direct in our play.

Perez in some ways hasn't surprised me - he's busy and hardworking but isn't producing the same goal/assist stats that he was for Newcastle last season and looks to me like he's lacking confidence around the box. Still, at least someone with that attitude and knack for making tackles and interceptions will always add something to a performance, similar to the way Albrighton does. He needs a goal or an assist to get him going - it may be a confidence issue, together with the weight of a heavy price tag playing on his mind.

The phrase "confidence issue" sounds very familiar. Just hope that Perez is not on the slippery slope that did for Ian, Slim and the others that might challenge Vardy.

Yes I’d probably go for Dunge’s line up, although I’m less fussed on whether Chilwell is in.

Chilwell will offer more athleticism, pace and balance. Fuchs will offer a better final ball and distribution. Both might get caught defensively with Chilwell out of position and Fuchs beaten for pace.

I think the formation and lack of width isn't helping our cause at the moment.

But with the current set up we need Tielemens and Perez to start hitting some sort of form. But it's a good sign, that without these two at their best we're picking up points. So there's definitely more to come, hopefully this weekend

Bowstring - I think there's a difference there, in that Perez will still contribute with his energy and aggression in closing down. Almost like having a defender deliberately high up the pitch. That alone will give him the game time needed to get around any issue like that.

I'm convinced we didn't just buy the guy as an attacker, and he won't have the quality of others. He's been bought to do several jobs, and we've already created attacks that have started with him winning the ball.

The new Shinji, even...?

Dunge. I'd agree with you about Perez.
I'm still optimistic about this season so believe we are picking up points when not playing well and will only improve, rather than the Peter Taylor scenario of wondering how we managed to remain undefeated when playing so badly.

Bowstring,

I hope you washed your mouth out with some industrial strength cleaning fluid after mentioning that name.

(I meant our former manager - not Dunge )

I accept we have not been playing particularly well, but we have drawn against two of the sides that finished above us, beaten a confident newly promoted side in their own back yard, and been successful with a tricky away fixture in the cup.

It's not a bad start, and the feeling I get is that there is more to come rather than we're a poor team riding their luck, so I'm still optimistic at present.

I'm not sure that fiddling around with the formation so early is the answer, we should give the team some time to develop before making too many changes, although I'll certainly go with only having one DM against Bournemouth.

I don’t have as much of an issue with the formation in terms of lack of width. If we didn’t have attacking full backs I’d be far more concerned.

My worry with the formation is the consequence on our creativity centrally, with regard to some of these attacking players not being as wide/wingers.

I think this is the element that still seems similar to the Puel regime. We are suffocating the space centrally for our attacking midfielders to have an impact. Admittedly, Maddison will probably be better with Chilwell on his left side, but there isn’t enough room for Maddison, Perez, Tielemans who will all play or naturally drift centrally.

I know this is against the grain, but I think playing both Ndidi and Chodhury has the pontential to help this dilemma. There is no point playing both of them if we are playing a 4411 or indeed, any formation which involves two wide midfielders IMO.

However, the purpose of having them is for Choudhury to drop and create a 3 in defence when we attack, allowing both Chilwell and Ricardo to push in to winger roles. As an intentional tactic or simple consequence, this means one less attacking central midfielder, and more space to actually be creative with Tielemans playing as CM to look for through balls, Maddison to have space to also be creative further up in a more free role behind Vardy and a Barnes or Albrighton to add someone who can drive forward with the ball and provide another playing in the box or additional wide outlet respectively (dependent upon opponents and their set up/quality of personnel).

I appreciate this means players like Perez are then benched but for me - Perez should be an addition to our squad who fights for a chance to earn a place off someone else rather than a mentality of being ‘someone else to fit as well’.

Sometimes, less is more.

I don’t think we should underestimate our start. 2 top 7 teams, a buzzing newly promoted team and success against a fellow Premier League club in the cup- 3 of which being away and we remain unbeaten.

I think Bournemouth at home is a good chance of getting some more points on the board and personally I would go-

Hamza/Wilf
Perez Maddison Youri Barnes
Vardy

Wouldn’t consider dropping Perez this early and think Barnes deserves a chance. There are plenty of games coming up where we will play both Hamza and Wilf.

I'll go Perez to get his first goal today

Managed to get tickets for today so looking for a good match, don’t really expect Bournemouth to put 11 behind the ball.

comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 34 minutes ago
Managed to get tickets for today so looking for a good match, don’t really expect Bournemouth to put 11 behind the ball.
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You going for a beer before the game?

Excellent analysis KTF1

For me I think Rodgers has gone 4-3-3 to try and shoehorn Maddison, Tielemans and Pérez in the team but it’s not getting the best out of any of them.

One of them had to make way for me. Pérez is the obvious choice in a 4-1-4-1. If we persist with 4-3-3, as incredible as it sounds I think one of Maddison or Tielemans should make way.

That’s my problem at the minute. Too many players playing roles they’re not naturally suited to.

comment by ArroinLestah (U22188)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 34 minutes ago
Managed to get tickets for today so looking for a good match, don’t really expect Bournemouth to put 11 behind the ball.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You going for a beer before the game?
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Welcome back Arro.

We don’t normally, park off Narborough road and walk to the ground.

4-1-4-1

Bring it!