Hood to have this back Dunge. Can’t argue too much with what you’ve put. It was a game of 6s really for the whole team bar Lookman and Fofana which you called out.

I share your concern about the second leg but I also feel we have more quality than them if we play it right.

For me the current formation and style isn’t working offensively. We don’t penetrate or get between the lines enough. We’re constantly playing in front of the opposition. I’d be tempted to switch to 4-D-2 in the second leg but I don’t think Rodgers will.

Also, the one area I disagree is Tielemans. I thought he was badly exposed as a defensive midfielder. Yes he was aggressive at times but at others he was out of position or players seemed to run past him. Hes not a defensive mind so I don’t blame him, but how exposed we were in that area concerned me. I thought Tielemans came to life in the last 15 when he pushed further forward. In a diamond KDH could be the pivot, Maddison more central and Tielemans further forward.

Anyway, not a bad result or performance, but not a great one either. It’s in the balance.

* good to have this back!

My main concern for the return tie is that Brendan’s playing style relies on quick, slick passing moves to break through defences. In attacking areas, there’s only Tielemans and maybe Maddison who can do that. Barnes has a good first touch too but he looks troubled to me, like he has external issues. With too many players, the ball just bounces off them a bit and forces them to go backwards, or at least kills a move.

I don’t think formation is the problem so much as style. We need to be prepared to play with less possession, sacrificing control and having fewer attacks in exchange for more space to operate.

Ah well, another game closer to Tielemans big move, was it Luton or Doncaster the useless sod will be off too.

7 for being on the pitch but showed up for how crap
He is last night, on his rs more often than his feet, may as well have just sat down as he let his man stroll through for their goal.

He did make one tackle, luckily it was because their player ran into him and he did make a few passes, once they’d decided on the draw and gave him freedom of the park.

Rodgers ball is so much fun to watch, it’s really progressing well with the four, slow and dull Football we play in the Rodgers way, will he be able to snuff all the excitement out of the Players being he swans off and will it be his best Year in Management before he does?

Ratings and assessments bang on. Completely agree re Albrighton being responsible for their goal; stupidly put himself on the wrong side of the wing back which drew others out of position trying to cover for his gaffe. Haven’t seen the replay so don’t really know whether Schmeichel could have done better.

Generally agree Dunge - near enough anyway. A few points:
Lookman: my MoM, he provided most of our attacking intent for long periods of the match and defended well.
KDH: his worst game for a long time (ever?), looked like he was struggling at this level. 5.
Tilly: agree with your assessment rather than TB's view, he was better today. Still looks ponderous at times though, so how he has it in his mind that a 'top' side is going to come banging at the door to sweep him up I don't know.
Albrighton: the surprising fact that he was generally hopeless last night is in marked contrast to his usual competent performances.
Castagne: according to Brendan he came off because he had a head clash and didn't feel right - so was taken off as a precaution because of his previous bad head injury.

One point I will agree with TB is playing Rodgersball, it is so slow in build up that it gives the opposition plenty of time to get set. Presumably part of the scheme is not to pass the ball unless the chances of it getting to your own player is less that 99% - hence the continual sideways/backwards passing. It makes the stats look good I suppose. There were numerous times last night when we won the ball and had an opportunity to break quickly, this required a chance being taken with a forward pass. If this did not always come off I think the crowd would forgive that if occasionally it resulted in a promising position being generated in front of goal. There also seems to be a reluctance to have a shot at times, almost as if they want to pass the ball into the net.

As to next week, one might imagine that Jose has us exactly where he wants us - 1-0 to Roma anybody? I just wonder though if they really have the quality players, some of their play on the flanks looked poor and they do have a number of Premier League rejects in their side. Maybe I'm clutching at straws here but we'll see next Thursday.

I agree with everybody in that if we’re playing like this we have to do is faster and take more risks.

If we do that, we can’t have Tielemans screening the defence.

Either move KDH back to the base of the diamond or bring in Choudhury or Soumare to do that job. Yes they are flawed but we can’t be more aggressive when if we lose the ball the opposition have a free run at our defence.

We have to play quicker and we have to selection the best 11 players to enable that. Which might not be the best 11 players (if you get what I’m saying).

I'd look to change to a double pivot, pull KDH back a bit so Maddison can properly get in the 10 role and give the team a little more protection for fast breaks. But that's more a slight rejig than an overhaul.

If we wanted to do an overhaul, I'd be looking at the option of a 3-4-1-2 with Maddison again in the 10 role and Iheanacho joining Vardy up front. I could be tempted to play Thomas on the left of that 4 as well to get a genuine left-footer out there.

You want to be careful Dunge. With talk like that you’ll have True Blue lobbying Ms Whelan CEO to get you into Brendan’s job!
😂😂😂

comment by old warwick fox (U11640)
posted 59 minutes ago
You want to be careful Dunge. With talk like that you’ll have True Blue lobbying Ms Whelan CEO to get you into Brendan’s job!
😂😂😂
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I wouldn't shoot Tielemans on sight, so I think that's doubtful.

comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by old warwick fox (U11640)
posted 59 minutes ago
You want to be careful Dunge. With talk like that you’ll have True Blue lobbying Ms Whelan CEO to get you into Brendan’s job!
😂😂😂
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wouldn't shoot Tielemans on sight, so I think that's doubtful.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good point.
😂😂😂

comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 hour, 37 minutes ago
comment by old warwick fox (U11640)
posted 59 minutes ago
You want to be careful Dunge. With talk like that you’ll have True Blue lobbying Ms Whelan CEO to get you into Brendan’s job!
😂😂😂
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wouldn't shoot Tielemans on sight, so I think that's doubtful.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At least you'd have a standing target.

We need Maddison back as a 10 and Tielemans shot like a lame deer. All aligned.

comment by True Blue ( RODGERS OUT ) (U9486)
posted 2 hours, 3 minutes ago
comment by The_Dungeon_Master (U4830)
posted 1 hour, 37 minutes ago
comment by old warwick fox (U11640)
posted 59 minutes ago
You want to be careful Dunge. With talk like that you’ll have True Blue lobbying Ms Whelan CEO to get you into Brendan’s job!
😂😂😂
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wouldn't shoot Tielemans on sight, so I think that's doubtful.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At least you'd have a standing target.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We may not all agree with your opinion of Tielemans True Blue, but there’s no doubting your sense of humour!
😉

Who said I was joking

comment by True Blue ( RODGERS OUT ) (U9486)
posted 1 minute ago
Who said I was joking
----------------------------------------------------------------------
😂😂😂