I thought we played some absolutely outstanding football tonight, potential goal of the season contenders let down by either a poor finish or final pass, Barnes really should have done much better on several occasions.

Didn't see the replay but apparently Vardy was fouled, another fack up with this clear and obvious nonsense, that rule needs scrapping.

Pretty good assessment Dunge - nothing to argue with there.

It was a dull game no denying. The highlight of the whole match for me was Justin’s cameo which I thought was excellent. He looks a very exciting prospect.

Aside from that, I would say that Perez needed to take his chance early on to open the game up and let us get at Watford, but even after we scored little changed. Did Watford even have a shot?!

Great to get the 3 points, but not a lot else to say. We move on.

Ps. Fuchs isn’t half a classy player until he tires. Shame Rodgers didn’t get him at 23 - he would have been incredible.

What we probably shouldn’t miss from last night was Man Utd’s win over Spurs which is good for me as it keeps them both away from us for a top 4 spot.

Champions league is really on for us now 🤞

Ref rating very poor,history with Vardy,didn't give an obvious pen ,chose to book player instead. Var not overrule as they don't like to overrule their mates.
Then give far less obvious pen as must have seen error at half time.Clearly system not working properly.,refs not using VAR as should be used.
Mike Riley useless and should be sacked.
Two consecutive important wins that disguise two appalling ref displays.,but as usual nothing ever happens.

comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 1 hour, 21 minutes ago
Pretty good assessment Dunge - nothing to argue with there.

It was a dull game no denying. The highlight of the whole match for me was Justin’s cameo which I thought was excellent. He looks a very exciting prospect.

Aside from that, I would say that Perez needed to take his chance early on to open the game up and let us get at Watford, but even after we scored little changed. Did Watford even have a shot?!

Great to get the 3 points, but not a lot else to say. We move on.

Ps. Fuchs isn’t half a classy player until he tires. Shame Rodgers didn’t get him at 23 - he would have been incredible.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Both chances were flagged for offside so even if he had scored neither would have counted.

Weren't you impressed with some of our one touch play? I thought some of our moves were pure class and something that would have looked right at home in the Camp Nou. Sublime football in my opinion.

Pretty fair comments and scores Dunge as usual although maybe a tad generous I reckon.

Not sure if it was tiredness or complacency but was frustrated last night with the lack of energy or urgency. We would only have ourselves to blame if we hadnt won the three points.

Maybe some if the younger players could do with a rest?

I would consider bringing in Praet for Tielemans and Gray for Perez on Sunday against Villa, and maybe Albrighton for Barnes.

Not having a go at any of the three players but just think we need to freshen things up a bit to keep the energy and urgency in the team over the busy Christmas period.

Some of our play was good Arro, but we weren't allowed the space and time until nearer the end against their rigid banks of four. Barnes and Perez very frustrating. Almost like the cold freezes their brains at the final moment...

I was a bit like how Dunge described after the match, probably not disappointed but underwhelmed somewhat. After the match, it was like job done, thats that box ticked

The important issue was we won a game that was very difficult against a strong totally defensive set up, exactly the type of game in past Seasons not only did we not win it but we often lost to knicked goal.

Seems we're no longer happy just winning 7 in a Row.

Not knocking the discussion about players output in the match, some will struggle and I'm down the middle between Arro's Barcelona because there was some very good interplay and the frustration this type of game brings, we won it though!

I'm just happy it's another 3 points towards possible European Football, maybe even CL!!!!

That there should be almost impossible to be thinking about!

comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 15 minutes ago
The important issue was we won a game that was very difficult against a strong totally defensive set up, exactly the type of game in past Seasons not only did we not win it but we often lost to knicked goal.

Seems we're no longer happy just winning 7 in a Row.

Not knocking the discussion about players output in the match, some will struggle and I'm down the middle between Arro's Barcelona because there was some very good interplay and the frustration this type of game brings, we won it though!

I'm just happy it's another 3 points towards possible European Football, maybe even CL!!!!

That there should be almost impossible to be thinking about!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was like Barca build up and Barnsley finishing, very frustrating that some of those moves didn't amount to goals.

Hey Arro - I think the same as I did in the Everton game. There is no point playing lovely one touch passing of the end product means you never look like scoring.

Perez, Barnes and Tielemans need to find a way of linking the play more effectively in the final 3rd against tightly pack defences.

I’m not saying that’s easy and I’m not criticising anyone as such, just saying that really it was a night of midfield against defence, and we didn’t really create many chances.

My view has always been the same. I care not about how we pass the ball around in the first 70-100 yards. It’s the last 20 that count. Goals win games, not passes.

That said, again to point out I’m not criticising. We got the 3 points. I just thought the way in which Watford set up made it a dull game.

Ps Arro. I don’t think Perez’s fluffed volley was flagged off until it went back to Vardy. That would have counted.

Arro - There were some periods of nice passing in the first half and the odd chance created but much of it was safe and lacking penetration. We did what we often seem to do in first halves this season and engage in a kind of shadow boxing, keeping the opponent at arm's length as we try to find an easy hit. Problem is, it can be a bit too passive at times (dare I say... a bit too Puelball) and doesn't force them out of shape.

That's not to say that this doesn't server another purpose; quite often at home we've been able to wear opponents down doing this and capitalise in the second half. It has to go down as a very minor quibble based on how well we're doing, but I can't agree that it can be described as sublime.

comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 47 minutes ago
Hey Arro - I think the same as I did in the Everton game. There is no point playing lovely one touch passing of the end product means you never look like scoring.

Perez, Barnes and Tielemans need to find a way of linking the play more effectively in the final 3rd against tightly pack defences.

I’m not saying that’s easy and I’m not criticising anyone as such, just saying that really it was a night of midfield against defence, and we didn’t really create many chances.

My view has always been the same. I care not about how we pass the ball around in the first 70-100 yards. It’s the last 20 that count. Goals win games, not passes.

That said, again to point out I’m not criticising. We got the 3 points. I just thought the way in which Watford set up made it a dull game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's simply a case of some players having to improve their finishing and final ball, pretty much the only player not guilty of this is Vardy, at least on a regular basis.

I still enjoy watching the little intricate one twos and flicks that get us in behind though and into goal scoring positions, even if we don't score. It's far more entertaining than just lumping the ball into the box. Also if we keep creating these openings we will ultimately score goals, it would be lovely if we finished them off every time but that's not necessarily realistic.

Today's match was the most like a Championship match in style that I've seen us play in a long time. This is mostly down to Watford's style, which was turgid. Long balls, niggling fouls, athleticism and set pieces were the order of the day, and we fell into it somewhat - not helped by one of the worst referees on the circuit. At the end of the season this will be a match long since forgotten, but one where at least the 3 points went up on the board and we moved onward.”
————————

Apart from a subjective half a point here or there I largely agree with DMs ratings. I also had RP as marginally MoTM. Most of all I agree with the final paragraph (above) as it really does sum up the game.

I actually came away thinking that it was the poorest game I’ve seen this season. That’s ones I’ve seen all the way through either live or on telly - so doesn’t include MU or Liverpool away, which are the 2 games we’ve lost. Maybe the Wolves game beats it for lack of creativity rather than lack of quality. I’ve seen many who think it was ok so maybe I’m wrong but, for me, we never got to grips with this game and if we’d conceded a scrappy, or lucky, goal it could have been very tricky.

Watford’s approach was strange. A draw wasn’t really what they needed as they need to start winning games. There entire strategy, however, seemed to be to stop us breaking quickly and trying to make the game as messy as possible. This is where the referee really didn’t help. I was amazed that the first half finished with 2 bookings for Leicester players and zero for Watford players when their approach was so cynical.

For the first time I might be tempted to tinker with the starting eleven if I was BR. I now find myself wanting and hoping that Perez with make a contribution rather than expecting him to. There are also others who may need the opportunity of a short spell in the team. Praet is an obvious option as is Fuchs, but Gray and Iheanacho have now made significant contributions from the bench. Also Choudhury and Justin need to be ready if called upon. My biggest worry here is disrupting the balance of the team and halting the momentum we’ve built along this winning run. I’m glad it’s a quandary for the manager to solve and not me.

Meanwhile it’s another very good and hard earned, 3 points. We move on and I’ve forgotten this game already. I hope the players have.

comment by ArroinLestah (U22188)
posted 2 hours, 21 minutes ago
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 47 minutes ago
Hey Arro - I think the same as I did in the Everton game. There is no point playing lovely one touch passing of the end product means you never look like scoring.

Perez, Barnes and Tielemans need to find a way of linking the play more effectively in the final 3rd against tightly pack defences.

I’m not saying that’s easy and I’m not criticising anyone as such, just saying that really it was a night of midfield against defence, and we didn’t really create many chances.

My view has always been the same. I care not about how we pass the ball around in the first 70-100 yards. It’s the last 20 that count. Goals win games, not passes.

That said, again to point out I’m not criticising. We got the 3 points. I just thought the way in which Watford set up made it a dull game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's simply a case of some players having to improve their finishing and final ball, pretty much the only player not guilty of this is Vardy, at least on a regular basis.

I still enjoy watching the little intricate one twos and flicks that get us in behind though and into goal scoring positions, even if we don't score. It's far more entertaining than just lumping the ball into the box. Also if we keep creating these openings we will ultimately score goals, it would be lovely if we finished them off every time but that's not necessarily realistic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Understand and agree with that Arro 👍

I've noticed that, over the last few matches, our xG has gone up quite significantly. It was pointed out in some quarters a month or so ago that we had highly out-performed it and that we were essentially relying on clinical finishing to get us the points we had - mostly from Vardy. It was often then followed with the statement that this sort of trend doesn't last, that it's unsustainable.

So it's potentially quite positive that the change has been to see a less clinical team that's creating more because this particular stat has looked more balanced over recent matches. i.e. The theory goes that what we've been seeing recently is more sustainable in terms of long term points accumulation.

*albeit all of the above is with the massive caveat that you have any kind of faith in the xG stat.

comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 14 minutes ago
I've noticed that, over the last few matches, our xG has gone up quite significantly. It was pointed out in some quarters a month or so ago that we had highly out-performed it and that we were essentially relying on clinical finishing to get us the points we had - mostly from Vardy. It was often then followed with the statement that this sort of trend doesn't last, that it's unsustainable.

So it's potentially quite positive that the change has been to see a less clinical team that's creating more because this particular stat has looked more balanced over recent matches. i.e. The theory goes that what we've been seeing recently is more sustainable in terms of long term points accumulation.

*albeit all of the above is with the massive caveat that you have any kind of faith in the xG stat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I quite enjoy the XG stat. It’s the one I look for on MoTD as it’s probably more representative than things like possession in terms of who really deserves to win a game. I never really worried about ours as it didn’t reflect the way we were playing now, but more the way we were playing in those first few games. Our points haul was quite good for saying we played Puel-ball up until about game six.

Like all stats, however, you have to take them with a pinch of salt or, at least, with a deeper level of understanding and reasoning. Recognising we have a very clinical striker in Vardy would suggest that we play in a certain way to create chances for him in a certain position. An XG from a threaded through pass might be more effective than an XG from a ball crossed into the box. If Andy Carroll were our main striker that might be the other way around. Similarly it wouldn’t matter how high our XG was if, for example, I was the main striker.

I love how far we’ve come that the biggest thing we can moan about is that the win that cemented our second place in the league was a bit boring.

Arro is right in that there’s never been a better tune to watch leicester for the quality of play.

Scoring a tad harsh on Perez, Tielemans and Barnes in my view, otherwise reasonable assessment.

What a great place to be in, it's early December and we're only 5 points from safety. Is that sufficient to bring back your cautious optimism and balance your dislike of the way we won last night? Also remember that 7th victory equals the top flight run of consecutive wins.

I think it’s dead easy to jump on the bandwagon and call everything rubbish when we’re losing, just as it’s easy to call everything great when we’re winning.

There were many calling Puel out when we were doing well. Ultimately they were proved right as I don’t think he’d ever have got to us to the level we’ve been at this season.

In that context I thought we were pretty poor in this game and never had any control. We allowed Watford to disrupt us and drag us down to their level. The young players will, hopefully, learn to control games like this.

Despite that we restricted Watford to one shot at goal in injury time. We won the game whilst not playing well and are 2nd in the league. There is no feeling of lack of progression like there was under Puel. I can’t think of a single player who’s not improved under BRodgers compared to their level under Puel. Maybe only Ricardo and Evans fall into that category as their level was pretty high already.

But we shouldn’t hide from the fact that the last two games haven’t reached the level we’ve got to in some of the earlier ones. I hope it’s a temporary blip but, if we keep on winning, it doesn’t really matter anyway.

I think people are being a bit harsh on Leicester. Not our best performance, but Watford came with a very organised set up and an awkward game plan. They were very physical, broke up play with niggly fouls and defended in 2 banks of 4 - very hard to break through. It’s a great sign that we are able to beat teams that set up like that, teams that have been such an issue for us in the past.

It wasn’t perfect, but given its 3 days since we last played an equally resilient Everton, it’s not a bad showing

comment by Black Starr (U12353)
posted 46 minutes ago
I think people are being a bit harsh on Leicester. Not our best performance, but Watford came with a very organised set up and an awkward game plan. They were very physical, broke up play with niggly fouls and defended in 2 banks of 4 - very hard to break through. It’s a great sign that we are able to beat teams that set up like that, teams that have been such an issue for us in the past.

It wasn’t perfect, but given its 3 days since we last played an equally resilient Everton, it’s not a bad showing
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not being harsh on us, we've just equalled our best run of games - ever. Given the absolute dross we were playing less than a year ago with virtually the same team the transformation is quite incredible. Still early days though but I'm genuinely enjoying the ride this time - no pressure (not yet anyway)!

Agree on the above btw. We looked a bit tired in parts, maybe giving Praet a start might be a good idea? One bonus is we look like we may have a decent backup at fullback.