Barnes finishing is improving?!!

Unleash hell against Wolves?? Traore against Chilwell?!!!

We are average without N’didi and have failed to strengthen in an important window. We have a horrible couple of games to play

Yes, and there’s definitely further improvement that will happen;
You can still raise your levels for a match;
He’s come on very well but he’s no deity;
We do indeed struggle without Ndidi but he should be back for the next one.

His general play has improved massively - his finishing is absolutely atrocious and hasn’t improved one bit. Pretty much every time he scores it’s a deflection or hits the keeper on the way in. That miss was absolutely shameful

Good assessment Dunge, one of those games where there’s mixed emotions, a head won point That could/should have been 3 but do easily could have been a disappointing loss.

Not sure how Evans missed that header?

Barnes finishing not improving,he has got better as a player,but just does not strike ball well.
Our strikers just not doing it,and think it is time to drop Schmeichel.

Fair ratings. I
Couple of weeks to hopefully get Ndidi and Vardy fit.
Sadly, I agree that Kasper now is getting to the point where arguments to rest him are becoming more persuasive. For me though, we probably want to keep him,Evans and Vardy as a core at the moment because I think it will be their experience that helps to drag us through towards the latter parts of the season (and Ndidi for how integral he is). I think there are several young players that are feeling the pressure now, with some experiencing fatigue that may be at a level of a managing until summer rather than resolving.

‘Steady as she goes’ - is probably what we want as we steer through choppy waters towards CL qualification.

Is age finally catching up with Vardy do we think? He just isn’t looking the same player

Casper made a great save... When did her last make one?

I think Vardy’s been a bit streaky for years and currently he’s off and not entirely fit. He’s not looking slow to me.

Thorney - I wouldn’t drop him (Nev would) but he looks like he needs a firecracker lighting under his jacksie.

Dung,his kicking is poor and his positioning is becoming questionable,and flaps on crosses,really think Ward deserves chance.

After stating I was worried we’d lose the midfield in the match thread, before the game started, I actually thought we did ok in that area. Hamza was much improved and probably deserving of more than a six. Yes he kept it simple, but was available when others weren’t and held his position better than in recent games. Also Tielemans showed the team how to play passes into space for players to run on to rather than ones straight at a player that just allow the opposition to regroup. The worst of the three today was Maddison. I’m not sure whether he was told to play so deep, but he didn’t influence the game enough - although it did have the effect of releasing Tielemans a little. I think Maddison’s drop in form, along with Vardy’s, is another factor in our recent decline.

Evans is a fair enough choice for MoTM. We didn’t wake up for the first 25 minutes and Evans was the man most responsible for ensuring we didn’t regret it. Chilwell was also much better today, although played within his limitations. Soyuncu and Ricardo average by their own standards.

Up front I actually thought Vardy did well and was the only threat for a good while. The only chances were coming from him charging things down during our slow start. I agree with Dunge - he is streaky. He’ll go on a big scoring run and then look like he couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo. He’s an instinctive finisher: when he’s on it he can look world class; when he’s not - distinctly average. His percentage conversion rate, earlier in the season, was one of the main reasons for our good run. He needs to start another spurt (soon please).

Perez and Barnes - incredibly frustrating. The former just doesn’t affect the final 3rd enough as stated above. The latter does, sometimes, but it’s inconsistent and unpredictable. The problem is their replacements are no better and, arguably, worse. A 2016 vintage Albrighton would probably affect the game more, but if Gray is the answer to anything - then I don’t know what the question is. I don’t know whether we looked for alternatives in the recent window - and failed - or just didn’t try. I only heard talk about a CB. If we do hold on to a CL spot in May then surely this is an area of the team that will need major reinforcement. Barnes should be nurtured slowly, Perez doesn’t look quite good enough to be a first choice.

Agree again with most of those scores Dunge. Thought Hamza was better than a 6 and did well being drafted in at the last minute.

Overall, a really good game between 2 well balanced teams. We had the chances to win it in the second half which is frustrating but on the other hand they could and probably should have been out os sight after the first 20 minutes.

Generally agree Dunge, but I'm not giving Chillers a bonus point when he's failed miserably to challenge Rudiger twice at the back post for their goals, really poor.

I might also give Hamza a bit more, he was considerably improved from the last outing and he wouldn't have been expecting to start being a late change. So 6.5 for Choudhury.

Not sure how much worse Kasper has to play for Ward to get a chance? Appears to be hanging on more for his 'leadership' qualities rather than outstanding goalkeeping at present.

I don’t think dropping goalkeepers works well in the long run. Palace regularly swap around their keepers to no great end, Chelsea did it yesterday and Caballero committed a howler.

I like to build defences on consistency, and that means a goalkeeper and centre back pairing who play together regularly and know what the others are going to do.

I didn’t see the game yesterday so I’m good to agree entirely with Dunge and Joby’s post.

Happy with a point, but we need to follow it up with a win in the next two games and that will be very difficult. Out form needs to improve and fast.

I would say based on what I’ve seen from Leicester recently and with Spurs now 12 points behind us, we will be out of the top 4 by the beginning of March.

Can’t see any points from the next 2 games and then it’s Villa (who have our number), Watford away coming up (different proposition now) - all games I expect us to struggle in

I think your expectation of Chelsea and Spurs may be too high.

For us to be outside the top 4 come the end of the first week in March, Spurs would need to P4W4 (with a 20 GD swing around on us), Chelsea would need to lose their game to Spurs but win the other three and we would need to lose, probably by several goals each time, 4 in a row (including games against Norwich and Villa).

...think Wolves have only won 1 league since the 27th December as well.

I would imagine, because of everyone picking up points against each other, all of the other clubs around us will probably have the same feeling and slight pessimism.

Think it’s only 2 wins for Spurs since Boxing Day as well.

Bet Liverpool can’t believe their luck this season!

comment by Keep_the_faith1 (U8129)
posted 5 hours, 49 minutes ago
I think your expectation of Chelsea and Spurs may be too high.

For us to be outside the top 4 come the end of the first week in March, Spurs would need to P4W4 (with a 20 GD swing around on us), Chelsea would need to lose their game to Spurs but win the other three and we would need to lose, probably by several goals each time, 4 in a row (including games against Norwich and Villa).
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Yep the teams outside of the top 4 are quickly running out of games. they need to make a move soon and win numerous games on the bounce. none of them look up to that at present showing as little consistency as we are

I’m more worried about our form which has been poor for weeks now. Maybe early March is a little early, but lose to Man City and Wolves and the gap narrows - players get nervous and suddenly the whole atmosphere changes

We need to really improve

I think we definitely need to worry about our form for our own morale, progression and momentum going into the summer but comparatively, no one else is pulling up any trees. Man City have won 4 since Boxing Day, Leicester and one or two others - 3, and then it’s 1 or 2 wins in that time for any other teams who could plausibly catch us. None of those teams are playing particularly well either.

At this stage of the season, we have got to be clinical in matches and start showing our mettle when we are winning games. Ndidi coming back will help with this and a two week reset has come at the right time.