This has been the second time recently that I've gone to the King Power expecting that this will be the match where the fans turn, and it's also been the second time where circumstances have led to a spirited, determined performance and win. This surely can't happen every time, but for now the ship just about stays afloat.
Here are my ratings.
Schmeichel: 7 - Had a few saves to make, including a wayward cross headed for the top corner and a crazy backpass. Shaky start in possession but improved.
Castagne: 6 - Player of said crazy backpass. I still have no idea what he was doing because it was a wild style of pass even in Schmeichel had been centre goal. Had a reasonable game but no more than that.
Evans: n/a - Twang, and off he went.
Soyuncu: 8 - Looked for the first ten minutes or so that he was going to have a shocker, then something seemed to click and he started dominating everything, particularly in the air. It's like he's coming to realise that he has to lead.
Thomas: 8 - Fought for everything, right from the start. Coming on nicely.
Ndidi: 7 - Drafted into the centre back position early and had a generally good game there. The odd dodgy moment was largely covered by his teammates.
Tielemans: 8 - Quiet and out of the game for large periods as a lot of the play for both teams went down the flanks. But did make his influence count at key moments for his two goals. Emphatic penalty - they don't get saved.
Dewsbury-Hall: 8 - I said a few weeks back that he wasn't up to Premier League level. I might have to rethink that. As with Thomas, he fought for everything and was a real unsung hero today, both in linking up play and often covering for Barnes in defence on the left. Impressive team-centred display.
Maddison: 10 - Those who read this regularly will know that I don't throw 10s around, but with one penalty won, one goal created, one assist and one goal to cap it, it was an exceptional attacking display - one of genuine quality. Brilliant performance and my choice for our MOTM.
Barnes: 7 - Still not fully back up and running, but getting there. Good to see him running at defenders and giving them a proper test. Defending still leaves much to be desired.
Daka: 8 - Continues to look like a young Vardy, just needing more experience. Learning from the master of the role he wants to play.
Soumare: 5 - We were rather lucky in the first half that Newcastle simply didn't want to play in his area. He wasn't targeted and wasn't in the game, which was good because when he was he was still showing significant problems when the ball wasn't on the floor and straight to him. Still, there were positive signs as the match went on and his play started to look more engaged. He started getting in the right position in the box and sprinted after Wilson in a late Newcastle attack. But for now these are small steps and we need to start seeing these things as standard before I can start thinking of higher ratings.
Albrighton: 5 - Quite messy, but nothing bad came of it.
McAteer: n/a - A run out for a young player. Didn't really get to see anything of him.
Ironically, losing Evans seemed to be the spur that the team and the crowd needed - backs to the wall, centre midfielder having to fill in at centre back, loud Geordie crowd; if someone had told me at that point that the match would end 4-0 then I would have been convinced it would have been to Newcastle. Instead, the players rallied, epitomised by the home-grown arguably-fringe players of Thomas and Dewsbury-Hall, and then the Maddison masterclass started. The Newcastle fans never quietened, seemingly still celebrating Mike Ashley not being there rather than anything specific that was happening on the pitch. And Newcastle did keep fighting until the third goal went in. But happily the Leicester players also found something within them to fight as well.
A bit more on Maddison: This to me was a display of quality that has sometimes been missing from his game - he has often had the desire to get on the ball and try to create something, but today he showed a variety of talent and deadly end-product. Newcastle or no, this was the kind of display that will get him back on the England radar.
Player ratings vs. Newcastle
posted on 12/12/21
Completely agree with everything there althought he points a tad harsh on Soumare, apart from letting the ball bounce a couple of times I thought he had a decent game.
If Barnes can just find his form we really do have the chance to 'score more than you' on a more consistant basis.
Not sure if it was just because we were opposite the Newcastle fans but couldn't hear much from our side at all, were we drowned out or just so nervy it was deathly quiet?
11/10 for their fans, what great support they had.
posted on 13/12/21
comment by True Blue (U9486)
posted 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
Completely agree with everything there althought he points a tad harsh on Soumare, apart from letting the ball bounce a couple of times I thought he had a decent game.
If Barnes can just find his form we really do have the chance to 'score more than you' on a more consistant basis.
Not sure if it was just because we were opposite the Newcastle fans but couldn't hear much from our side at all, were we drowned out or just so nervy it was deathly quiet?
11/10 for their fans, what great support they had.
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Agreed. I can only assume our fans were nervous, quiet until the third goal went in and they may be relaxed a little. This wasn't the dominant performance suggested by the scoreline, but highly satisfactory in the end, particularly seeing Madders back at his best and going off late to a fully deserved standing ovation.
posted on 13/12/21
The Castagne back pass. He was about to play it up field to Albrighton who signalled no and pointed to play it back instead. It wasn’t what he was intending.
posted on 13/12/21
“It wasn’t what he was intending.”
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You don’t say ……
posted on 13/12/21
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 39 minutes ago
“It wasn’t what he was intending.”
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You don’t say ……
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Haha 😂 I badly worded that. A Newcastle fan before the match said Joelinton was going to bully us and a city fan replied after that Castagne threatened Kasper more
posted on 13/12/21
comment by Cupcake (formerly Flip78) (U7985)
posted 2 hours, 22 minutes ago
comment by Jobyfox (U4183)
posted 39 minutes ago
“It wasn’t what he was intending.”
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You don’t say ……
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Haha 😂 I badly worded that. A Newcastle fan before the match said Joelinton was going to bully us and a city fan replied after that Castagne threatened Kasper more
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😂😂😂
posted on 13/12/21
Great post as always Dunge. A few points to challenge.
Maddison 10? Come on, no better than a 9.5 but otherwise agree with what you say on him. Just to add that he’s looked the Maddison of old for around 4-5 games now. Whatever changed for him, he needs to keep going.
Soumare 5. Spot on. I’ve just watched MOTD2 to see what their “pundits” made of the game and the first thing I noticed in the highlights was Soumare giving the ball away in a dangerous area and ponderously following said player he’d given it away to before someone bailed him out. Still not up to the pace needed.
Soyuncu. Weird how we’ve always said he needs a leader next to him to be great, but then led. Maybe he can. But great to see it from him.
Tielemans 8. Nah, let’s go 9. His forward play was sublime and set us going for our goals. Tilly to Massey is back!!!
KDH looks like one of those players who will be good in a good team but average in a poor one. He’s neat and tidy and not scared to receive the ball and try to pick a pass. I like him.
Never gonna be anyone but Maddison for MOTM, but for me Tielemans gelled the team together.
Who knows what to expect in the upcoming games… even if they go ahead!
posted on 13/12/21
* Tilly to Maddy
posted on 14/12/21
KDH did all the work to free up Maddison and Tilly, he was excellent, great to see a Leicester player so tenacious in the tackles.
I think after the Napoli game Top threatened the players with Big Sam, the difference in players attitudes to fight for a change was incredible.
Still were in one of those win one, lose one style periods, Thursday will be interesting.
posted on 14/12/21
Has Dunge awarded a "10" before? I'm not sure I remember one.
Personally I feel it's a little bit high. I gave him the square root of 100 myself.