Deja vu to talk about another poor home performance. Something has to be done about the home form; we haven't played well at the King Power since October now and the anger and determination hat should come with defending a fortress is just missing.
Here are my ratings:
Schmeichel: 8 - Despite some mistakes, he also made some excellent saves and was called upon far more than he should have been. My choice for our MOTM. This is not a good thing.
Ricardo: 5 - Couldn't get into the game in an attacking sense and had a hard time dealing with Redmond.
Soyuncu: 7 - Did well to deal with the marauding attacking to which he was constantly exposed.
Evans: 7 - As with Soyuncu, held up well in the middle as people failed around them.
Chilwell: 3 - There sometimes comes a point when you need to recognise that you're having a bad time and concentrate on doing the basics right, particularly in your own half. Constantly gave the ball away, particularly in the first half, then in the second half managed to take out his own goalkeeper at a corner.
Choudhury: 4 - If this was his audition to play Wilfred Ndidi for the next few matches, it was not a success. Didn't get involved in the build-up play and never looked like he knew what he should be doing defensively. The game went on around him. Gave the ball away a couple of times in dangerous positions when he tried to play and managed to wipe out Jonny Evans late on with a wild challenge which should have led to a Southampton third. If he is to be a lone defensive midfielder in the next few games, he has to do a lot better than that.
Perez: 4 - Back to being lightweight and ineffectual. Got the ball taken off him a lot. His answer to this was mainly to fall over and wave at the officials.
Praet: 7 - Made the ground to score, for which he gets a bonus point. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible, but this was another game that he didn't stamp any authority on.
Maddison: 6 - The mess generally happened around him rather than because of him. Some well-delivered set pieces were the highlight of his game.
Barnes: 4 - Didn't see much of him throughout. Never looked likely to influence the game.
Vardy: 7 - Looked a threat when he got released, which was inexcusably rare. Great assist for the goal.
Gray: 6 - At least was able to pick up the ball in some threatening positions ask the Southampton defence some questions.
Iheanacho: 6 - Like Gray, provided something of a threat but not able to repeat any heroics today.
Tielemans: 6 - Looked relatively fresh when he came on, likely the effect of playing from minute 76 as compared to minute 1. The team missed the control he can bring to midfield.
Obviously no complaints about the result, but most disappointing to be beaten at home by a team that looked sharper and wanted it more. A lot of players look like they need a rest, mentally as much as physically. Some time on the training pitch may help this week, but as I mentioned at the outset, a more determined mentality to defend your own home is also required.
Player ratings vs. Southampton
posted on 12/1/20
Oh and by the way Luke Shaw is on £120k a week!
posted on 12/1/20
I think the 4231 puts more emphasis on the 3 behind Vardy to provide creativity and support in the area and that is where the problem lies for me. We don’t really have one of the creative players in form at the moment.
The pro would be that if the full backs are effective and the defensive two can manage the midfield, those 3 can be completely interchangeable and roam which is difficult to mark and creates space for Vardy.
I think it’s very difficult to asses at the moment because our issues are more down to form and fatigue than ‘being found out’ or formations not working.
Hopefully, a week of rest and morale boasting from Rodgers will help. As mentioned though, Southampton were very good 👏
posted on 12/1/20
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 47 minutes ago
I think it depends whether Rodgers thinks he can get more out of Choudhury than he got yesterday. If he does then sticking with 4-1-4-1 is best. If not, 4-2-3-1 with some sort of personnel.
Alternatively he may elect to give Choudhury another chance in that 3-man midfield setup but with three centre backs behind him, a sort of 3-5-2. And yes, we’d likely see Fuchs filling in again in that scenario.
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It may be worth giving Hamza another go at 4-1-4-1.
As much as I like 3 at the back, absolutely not with the 3 CBs we have available ie playing Fuchs out of position. He is a superb (albeit ageing) LB, dodgy at CB.
Here's another thought, playing Praet instead of Tielemans may well make it more difficult for Madders, the opposition knowing that Tielemans is always looking to hurt them with forward balls and defending accordingly may give Madders more freedom. It will be interesting to see who Brendan starts at Burnley.
posted on 12/1/20
The problem with 3 or 5 at the back is that you then have to rely on your full backs to create the width you need in attack. In other words you accept that you won’t get any decent service from the left as Chilwell is playing there.
I’d almost rather gamble by playing Albrighton or Gray at wing back. They can’t defend, but then neither can Chilwell, but at least you might occasionally get some service from the left.
posted on 12/1/20
It says something when you’d rather play a right winger at left back rather than your first choice left back.
What about Justin? He seems to have decent end product?
posted on 12/1/20
comment by Merseysidefox (U4842)
posted 24 minutes ago
It says something when you’d rather play a right winger at left back rather than your first choice left back.
What about Justin? He seems to have decent end product?
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Yes, Justin is worth a shout.
posted on 12/1/20
Anyone but Chilwell 50-60 mil to Man U and we will even pay you more than that to take him!
posted on 12/1/20
Ktf1 - I think the main problem with 4-2-3-1 last season was getting the ball to the 3. If we were to play that now, whoever played as part of the 2 would have to be able to both hold position and play good forward passes. My temptation in that situation would be to play Choudhury and Tielemans, accepting that Tielemans would play some misplaced passes to the likes of Maddison and Gray in a fluidish 3.
posted on 12/1/20
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 27 minutes ago
Ktf1 - I think the main problem with 4-2-3-1 last season was getting the ball to the 3. If we were to play that now, whoever played as part of the 2 would have to be able to both hold position and play good forward passes. My temptation in that situation would be to play Choudhury and Tielemans, accepting that Tielemans would play some misplaced passes to the likes of Maddison and Gray in a fluidish 3.
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We need to work harder off the ball, those 3 would need to be looking far harder for space than we have previously otherwise it's just Puel ball with possession going sideways and backwards.
posted on 12/1/20
Surely Praet and Choudhury would be the 2?
Tielemans and Maddison would have to be dropped or played out of position though. And we’ve all seen just how successful Maddison playing wide has been.
Just can’t see 4-2-3-1 working. Nullifies all our best players.