Evening All
Just been watching the highlights of Saturday's 6-0 win over Ipswich (again!) - basking in the glory of a cracking result and performance! Whilst doing so, I could not fail to notice the fact that Marshall did not celebrate with Knockaert when he scored the fourth goal!
If you watch it on Foxes Player and see when Anthony slides towards the touchline as he does (with Marshall right there!), Marshall just ignores him and strolls over to congratulate a teammate instead! Surely this is not good team spirit between these two and one might draw the conclusion that they don't get on... (Perhaps and not unreasonably because Anthony has come along and "knocked" Ben off his perch?...)
I wonder if anyone else has seen it or what you might think about the situation? Certainly Marshall has been disappointing this season - in the shadow of Knockaert's better performances. Not all smiles and good team spirit in the camp after all?...
Thoughts?
Knockaert v Marshall
posted on 20/11/12
It's possible but there's no need to try and find a negative after a result like that.
Fans do like to read into things like that, I'm the same, for example I always wondered if Claridge and Robins didn't get on because of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpAcFXtbwPs
But it never really mattered in the long run. People aren't always going to get on in a squad, even one that's mainly harmonious. We don't really know anything but if there is a problem like that I trust Nigel to sort it out.
Marshall started the season on fire but he's not been himself since that Blackpool game when he ran the show. Perhaps his ego has taken a knock, maybe that was necessary for him to improve himself, which I hope he'll do.
I'm confident he'll get his act together in time, he's not the only one to go through a bad patch this season, the difference is he's paid for it as Knockaert hit the ground running, and all of a sudden Dyer (who was more fortunate when he was having a nightmare earlier on) is playing better than ever.
posted on 20/11/12
I don't think Marshall has an issue with Knockaert per se.
I understand he had some personal problems earlier in the season and his form seemed to suffer then. He's not really had a run in the side since to prove whether he's past that or not but his body language does seem a bit flat.
I do think he is a long term replacement for Dyer who, whilst in the form of his life, I think we'd all agree isn't the most technically gifted players. But whilst he's playing so well, you can't drop him. Knocky may get rested soon as, despite his talent, he's having less influence on games also.
The fact that Pearson is getting Marshall on the pitch in most games suggests to me that he's showing him he's valued and just needs to wait for his time.
Hopefully Marshall is happy with that and willing to wait for his opportunity.
Knocky looks a "character" and I think it's fine that not everyone will take to that. As long as it's nothing mire then all will be fine...
posted on 20/11/12
I love how Knockaert put on twitter "I'm going to score a goal today" before the game. Derren Brown would be proud.
posted on 20/11/12
Well I like Anthony Knockaert and I like Ben Marshall, but which one is better ................
posted on 21/11/12
Both players are so good that its hard to have to leave one out every game. The only possible way of including Dyer, Marshall and Knocky is to have knocky playing an attacking midfield / free role position behind the strikers - which I'm sure he could do very nicely, but then who do you sacrifice?
King and DD have a solid and stable partnership, which I definitely wouldnt want to 'tinker' with, and with Waghorn and Nugent both in really promising form and Vardy coming back from injury, taking a striker away isn't really an option.
A nightmare, but a good nightmare. I think the only solution for Marshall is to wait until someone in the team loses form.
posted on 21/11/12
Interesting comments, but I just wonder Blackpool about the recent form of DD, who seems to give the ball away an awful lot in crucial positions; perhaps Richie Wellens might be due for a recall, if only to keep him on his toes!
posted on 21/11/12
I'm not as worried as you are about Drinkwater, old Warwick. Drinkwater's role in the team has been to control the pace of the game and I'm sure that him being in form has been a massive help in us dominating teams. He does have a habit of giving the ball away with loose (let's say Bambaesque) passes at times, but he brings us dynamism, good reading of the game and, together with King, a fine midfield engine from defence to attack.
I think he's similar to Wellens in the way that both are midfield generals who want to get their foot on the ball and control the game. DD can cover a lot more ground than Wellens can these days and is able to move the ball a lot faster when appropriate. While Wellens would probably provide a harder edge, if we control games like we have been doing that isn't necessarily needed. (Although I believe he remains a decent bench option for that reason.)
I should also add that I think Matty James is still well ahead of Wellens for a starting spot.