A bit later than usual tonight; I've been out panic-buying toilet rolls.
Here are my ratings:
Schmeichel: 6 - Didn't do anything wrong, just didn't have a lot to do.
Ricardo: 8 - Committed display, keen to drive forward and eventually got in the right place to score. Why it took the right back to know that is frankly part of the problem right now. My choice for our MOTM.
Evans: 7 - Snuffed out a lot of danger through out-thinking his opponents.
Soyuncu: 6 - Very lucky to stay on the field. Generally composed and good on the ball but really got away with one.
Chilwell: 7 - Much better than he has been of late, although Birmingham didn't put him under so much pressure as Prem sides do.
Ndidi: 6 - Wasn't quite himself in the tackle and lost out in a few of them. Hopefully the run out has been useful for him in regaining some match fitness.
Albrighton: 6 - Looked really keen to put one over Birmingham and kept trying to get into scoring positions and taking players on, mostly unsuccessfully. But it was a performance that had the old Albrighton determination back and he needs to keep that in training to get more game time.
Praet: 7 - Efficient, and slipped into the holding role nicely when Ndidi was subbed.
Maddison: 5 - I wonder if the increased focus on the defensive side of his game has blunted him a bit. Rarely got the ball in positions where he could really hurt Birmingham, and failed to do so when he got the chance. Hopefully Ndidi's return will help to free him up a bit in upcoming games.
Gray: 4 - One moment early on, there was a long ball over his shoulder that he brought down beautifully. And that was pretty much it. Always looked like he was competing for the same space as Maddison, getting in each other's way, and gave the ball away several times without putting in any kind of tackle to get it back. Really looks like he's run his course now. Time for him to move on.
Iheanacho: 6 - Daft theatrics aside, he was mostly let down by having little to no support. As a result, he was forced to constantly play backwards. Not bad at the hold up play but didn't excite.
Tielemans: 6 - Helped to build attacks without being truly dominant.
Barnes: 7 - Added energy and better reading of the game when Gray departed. Still needs to work on killer instinct in the final third.
Choudhury: 5 - Looked a bit lost and rushed. I might have preferred Praet to stay in the holding role with Choudhury as one of the two in front of him to be more aggressive in challenges. Doesn't look comfortable with the discipline needed to protect the back 4 and really needs to learn it if he's going to have a future at the top level.
The match wasn't one that could be well described as vintage or particularly good. The first half was turgid, the second much better from us although still lacking a real sense of knowing where the goals might come from. There were several matches earlier in the season where Vardy found a way to pull something out of the bag for us at the vital moment and I fear the team looks blunt without that spark, and indeed as he's been off form. Iheanacho's been competitive but he doesn't have that same magic wand.
As for Birmingham - something notable to me was how different Championship football looks from Premier League football. The goal kick chant returned as Lee Camp struck the ball - not for them playing out from the back. Our defenders and Schmeichel were never put under any real pressure on the ball as they passed it around - Birmingham didn't operate anything resembling a high press and we ended up with over 75% possession as a result. Despite the successes of Wolves and Sheffield United, I think the gap between the leagues may have grown wider.
Player ratings vs. Birmingham (FA Cup)
posted on 5/3/20
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 2 minutes ago
A workable vaccine is projected for next summer. The virus is spreading faster than that.
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Summer is also on its way, a very difficult time for cold and flu viruses in general which struggle to gain the same traction over that period. A vaccine meanwhile could be deployed ahead of schedule. In the meantime the whole world has a collective meltdown over a bad cold.
posted on 5/3/20
First: In which case, of course I and others are going to be concerned about something new that could claim ten times as many lives as flu.
Second: There’s a lot still unknown, including whether warmer weather would even help and what kind of lasting effect the virus leaves on the body. If it was known, I believe there would be a lot less fear around.
posted on 5/3/20
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 minute ago
First: In which case, of course I and others are going to be concerned about something new that could claim ten times as many lives as flu.
Second: There’s a lot still unknown, including whether warmer weather would even help and what kind of lasting effect the virus leaves on the body. If it was known, I believe there would be a lot less fear around.
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There’s a lot more known than you suspect. It’s a question of what gets reported. Coronavirus for example doesn’t survive outside the body for as long a period as many other viruses. It has an incredibly low death rate among people under the age of 50 and it comes from the same family as other corona based cold viruses that struggle to spread in warmer weather
Is it a concern? Yes. Does it warrant the absolute meltdown and scaremongering that’s going on right now? Not a chance.
posted on 5/3/20
Well, I’m not suggesting for a moment that the Daily Mail is doing a responsible job on reporting it.
posted on 5/3/20
Well this escalated whilst I enjoyed a game of 5-a-side and took the risk of shaking hands before and after the game.
What’s quite amusing coming in to this late, is that you seem to be debating what causes of death are most worthy of our concern!
Whilst I don’t necessarily agree with the way BS has debated his points, I do agree that there seems a disproportionate amount of hysteria created by the media for what seems a very mild virus......
..... which always makes me worry and think: what are they not telling me?????
Got me thinking though. What if this is a Russian planted virus sent to infect the west (and cleverly disguised by the China outbreak which is conveniently now under control). The virus can be mild and symptomless but cause a loss of mental speed and coordination. The first person they actually infected in order to spread the virus is.... Ben Chilwell.
Explains everything!
posted on 5/3/20
“ Well this escalated whilst I enjoyed a game of 5-a-side and took the risk of shaking hands before and after the game. ”
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UNCLEAN
posted on 5/3/20
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 18 minutes ago
“ Well this escalated whilst I enjoyed a game of 5-a-side and took the risk of shaking hands before and after the game. ”
————————
UNCLEAN
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I just washed my hands only for 17 seconds also. Risky.
I’m all seriousness, let’s not underestimate the impact this virus could have on the likes of our forum family like Dublin. I hope he is taking every precaution possible.
posted on 5/3/20
I’ve been thinking about Dublin too. I hope he stays well.
posted on 6/3/20
posted on 6/3/20
As one who missed being in lockdown with Chris Frome and co by 5 hours i don't know what to say.
Its a new virus we have no antibodies for therefore will effect more people we need to take precautions hand washing to protect our freinds like Dublin.
The longer we can delay it as BS says the warmer weather will kill it off.
As for the Chinese around the world i cannot believe the hatred towards them but really it the regime.
Wow can we get any further off topic i am going to Saudi next week as i am the expendable white man