Official Leicester City FC Thread

[HIF]

So the EFL cup match against Chelsea

We played an incredible first half until injury time. We only went behind when we were down to 10 men.

Maybe we shouldn't have played Drinky or Morgan and I wouldn't have brought Vardy on.

It was a game/competition for our back-up players and theirs to win or lose.

I also think Wasyl played well other than the two yellows. Morgan was at fault for the goal and he is not the same player without Huth


Zieler - let in 4 goals but had a great game - 8
Chilwell played well but made a few mistakes through inexperience - 6
Wasyl - had a good game but his style is not accepted in football these days - 6
Morgan - needs Huth - 7
Simpson - forgets he's a RB too often - 7
Gray - looked majestic - 8
Drinky - battled hard but deserved a rest - 7
King - looked better second half than first - 6
Schluup - worst game for a while - 5
Musa - looked a bit lost - 6.5
Okazaki - 2 goals in typical okazaki fashion - 8

Ulloa - not a good game for him - 5
Vardy - shouldn't have been used - 7
Amartey - was in a difficult position - 6

Ranieri - should have changed them all and rested Drinks, Morgan and vardy - 6

I know that Chelsea will probably think it a great victory and they rested a lot of players too but really they were taken apart in the first half by our reserves and only took the lead after we went down to 10 men. After that they could have scored 20 goals I reckon.

Not too disappointed. sorry for the likes of Chilwell and Gray who won't get so many games to play now but happy that CR isn't going to overplay people like Wes, Drinks and Vardy. They should never have been playing at all.

On to the CL now then. we'll leave Chelsea to fight out the EFL.

[HIF]

Terrible defence for the last 25 mins of the first half. Think minds are on the CL.

Manchester deserve the victory but they certainly didn't outclass us like Liverpool did in our last 4-1 defeat.

Zieler 5 - maybe not at fault for some of the goals but 4 again.

Simpson 5 - at fault for some of the goals and can't handle pace
Morgan 5.5 - needs to marshall that defence better
Huth 5.5 - think he was knocked over for the first goal but 4 goals!
Fuchs 5 - nothing like as good as the last game at both ends

Albrighton 4.5 - had a poor game today, he has to cross the ball better
Amartey 5 - better in the second half but unsure of position in the first.
Drinky 8 - was possibly the best player on the pitch (both sides) given the situations
Mahrez 5.5 - never got into it.

Vardy 5 - never got into it.
Slimani 5.5 - poor first half but better in the second

King 5.5 - should have scored 4-2 would have made it interesting, mr anonymous
Gray 8 - beautiful goal, could outshine Mahrez one day.
Schluup 2 - really disappointing - I've championed him but he made no effort today. Can we still have £9m from WBA?

[Kyle_Connor]

Well yeah, it seems like Leicester are focussing more on UCL. I mean, this could be the last time they make it to the competition (Like Apoel in 2012) They would at least be eyeing a QF spot.
I'm sure Mahrez and Vardy are leaving in the summer.

[HIF]

Well yeah, it seems like Leicester are focussing more on UCL. I mean, this could be the last time they make it to the competition (Like Apoel in 2012) They would at least be eyeing a QF spot.
I'm sure Mahrez and Vardy are leaving in the summer.

I bet you were sure they'd leave last summer.

[Baphomet]

I don't see Vardy going anywhere. He had his chance to leave and he didn't take it.

[HIF]

He would need another 20ish goal season for people to be willing to take him on at his age, but who am I to disagree with Kyle?

[HIF]

Great night.

Great Game

Last 20 minutes were backs to the wall.

Kasper 7.5 - made some important stops, looked confident, flapped at 2

Hernandez 7 - worries me with fouls but could now replace Simpson.
Morgan 6.5 - made mistakes in the first half but looked better in the 2nd when we needed him to.
Huth 7 - he's Huth
Fuchs 6 - looked tired with 20 to go but did enough.

Mahrez 7 - some lovely touches but couldn't find his man in the last 20.
Amartey 8.5 - incredible, never stopped, crucial today
Drinkwater 7.5 - defensively great, not top offensively today
Albrighton 6.5 - as a defender and hassler fantastic, going forward his passes were relatively poor - except 1.

Vardy 6 - he's not our top attacker at the moment.
Slimani - 7.5 - the man can head a ball, needs it more often in his vicinity.

King 6

They've won Europe twice and they're 5 points behind us.

6 from 6

I've got to sleep, very ealry start tomorrow.

C'mon you foxes!!!!

[HIF]

A lack of quality today against Southampton.

Kasper 7 - our best player on the pitch today
Fuchs 6 - He has his cool movements but he tires before the 90
Morgan 7 - did well in the middle of the defence
Huth 6 - solid
Simpson 5.5 - I think Hernandez deserves a run
Albrighton 5 - never question his effort but his crosses were poor
Drinkwater 6 - some poor passes but some good defence
Amartey 6 - some good defence and a couple of howling errors
Mahrez 5.5 - lacking quality but put in a shift
Vardy 3 - waste of space, not closing down, some poor passes and that goal chance - yikes needs to be benched
Slimani 6 - Would benefit from playing alongside Okazaki to start the game.

Okazaki 6 - did more in first 30 seconds than Vards
Gray 6 - a threat with the ball
ulloa 5 - had too little time to show anything, didn't

time for Vardy to be dropped for Musa or Okazaki. Albrighton may be dropped for Gray

[Baphomet]

What's going on with Vardy, HIF? Do you think he's distracted or is it simply a matter of being out of form?

[HIF]

What's going on with Vardy, HIF? Do you think he's distracted or is it simply a matter of being out of form?

I think he's playing the image and not the reality.

The newspapers are playing up what a wild anti-hero he is and he's too happily reading about himself. the power drinks, the training techniques - he isn't intelligent enough to realise that they are just taking the piss out of him.

He got to where he is because he worked damn hard. He needs to get back to that and cut out the "anti-hero" stuff.

I hope the thinkerman becomes the tinkerman again and I hope that he drops Vardy until he re-finds the work ethic that makes him good. He isn't going to get there on talent alone.

Secretly Leicester fans always knew this and would have been happy to hand him on to Arsenal for £25m but for the fact that would probably mean others (like Mahrez) going.

Pretty sure that Nobody will be offering £25m in January for him (nor £11m for Jeff).

If he gets back to solid ground he'll be fine for us again, if not then Musa will have the chance to step in.

Right now I'd play Slimani with Okazaki playing off him (or Musa if not).

[Matty]

Don't get why Musa doesn't play more often. Every time he's on the pitch he looks like a threat.

[HIF]

Don't get why Musa doesn't play more often. Every time he's on the pitch he looks like a threat.

He has speed but I'm not sure he has accuracy. I also think his best position is CF which is a problem and he hasn't yet acclimatised to the EPL.

It's really early days and I think he'll come good but not even making the bench means that CR hasn't been impressed enough so far.

Also Forward is now our strongest position by depth by far.

[HIF]

Disgusting first half. Heads not in the game (CL). Poor lineup and CR refusing to change the formation and staying with 2 in the middle.

Kasper - 6 - made a couple of good saves, had no chance with the goals. Would have been a lot worse if he played like some of them.

Hernandez - 4.5 - best of the defenders
Morgan - 3.5 - his terrible mistake in the first 10 mins put us out of the match.
Huth - 4 - stupid yellow
Fuchs - 4 - he'd be better for us in midfield at the moment

Albrighton - 6.5 - probably our motm worked hard and his crosses were okay just no-one with a head for them
Drinkwater - 5.5 - battled hard, looked good at times but made some poor passes in desperation too
Amartey - 5.5 - he worked hard and intercepted well
Schlupp - 5 - not as bad as some people make out, should have had a peno.

Musa - 4 - looked like he hadn't played with the first team yet, kept running hard throughout.
Vardy - 1.5 - and maybe I'm too generous, one trick pony who has forgotten his trick.

Slimani - 4.5 - at least he gave us an aerial threat
Mahrez - 4 - could have gotten injured
King - 4.5.

The CL is a very different kettle of fish but I hope the spurs away match before the next CL game gives players with no hope of playing CL (the league cup guys) a full game. Slimani and Okazaki should be our strike pair for the next few games and Gray should replace Mahrez more often. At the back we need new players in January.

[HIF]

Difficult to evaluate the performance from last night as the game was so different in the first half compared to the second but overall a win and no goals allowed means I'm feeling fairly generous. City 1 Copenhagen 0

Kasper - 8 - Can't remember that he did anything wrong. Was called upon to do too much but did make that important and tremendous save.

Simpson - 7 - was pulled out of position a little too much and was not defensively well positioned on occasion but his best game for a while
Morgan - 7 - looked in trouble with the early challenge but it seemed to focus his mind. good game
Huth - 7 - solid as always, yeah he's always a whisper away from a yellow but you know if he thinks it's required he'll do it.
Fuchs - 6.5 - seemed a little lost positionally at times in the first half but part of a clean sheet.

Albrighton - 7.5 - Worked like a hero. Never gave up on his defensive task helping both FBs out on many occasions and still made the effort to press on their defenders
Drinkwater - 8 - He is a top class player. Always available to help out his teammates and made some crucial interceptions. His decision making is getting better and better. CAPTAIN MATERIAL.
King - 7.5 - His best game for longer than I can remember. Looked good helping out the defence and he got up in attack - maybe not used enough there.
Mahrez - 7 - The game bypassed him until the 40th minute but he put the ball away well and then started to get touches in the second. The tactical plan worked against him in the first.

Slimani - 7 - Worked hard but didn't quite seem to be on his game - I'm surprised that his teammates haven't worked out how best to use him - seems obvious to me. I always think he'll score with his head from a FK or cross, he anticipates so much better than the defenders, should have had his goal allowed. Died in the last few minutes and should have been off 5 or 10 mins earlier

Vardy - 6 - His best effort for a long time. Was charging down defenders and keeper instead of waving his arms in the air has he has recently. Good workrate but his first touch has completely deserted him. I'd guarantee him scoring in an empty net at the moment let alone in a 1 on 1 or 1 on 2.

Okazaki, Ulloa, Amartey, all came on and husteled out the win but not on long enough to mark.

CR - 5.5 - not his best outing tactically. The surprising inclusion of King over Amartey was a winner but the first half tactics were terrible. Changed things in the second and we looked good. Seems to not want to tinker when he should (hello Vardy). Surprised that Gray wasn't even on the bench.

[HIF]

We weathered an average first 20 mins and then started to play our 1 touch and move football. We dominated most of the match from then on until the last few minutes.

Kasper 8 - he's in a rich vein of form and making crucial saves - if only he knew how to come for crosses

Simpson 6.5 - quiet game - which is good for Simpson, still stays up front too long
Morgan 6 - Benteke gave him nightmares but he held out somehow
Huth 6 - Happy not to have Benteke most of the match
Fuchs 5.5 - great goal but he was skinned by Zaha a number of times

Mahrez 7 - looked great on the ball but didn't have his shooting boots on
Drinkwater 8 - Fantastic through to the last 5 mins, he is the team's fulcrum on both attack and defence
King 7.5 - another very strong game for King, he's won back his position
Musa 6.5 - seemed lost and didn't know how to tackle at first but he kept plugging away, Shinji like work for his goal which was very well taken. Big confidence boost.

Shinji - 8 - great hustle as always and helps the team tremendously, missed an easy one but put away a beauty that won us the game
Slimani 6.5 - wasn't on top form but his non-stop hustle is so valuable, he got us the first goal through sheer determination. Has a dangerous head which didn't quite work today. So glad CR listened to my suggestion to start him and Oka together.

Vardy - 6.5 looks good as a sub - could become a supersub
Gray & Amartey didn't have enough time to get into the game and the frenetic pace caught them on the hop a little.

[HIF]

0-0 at Copenhagen

Let them run themselevs out in the first half and then played safely in the second.

Kasper 7.5 not much to do but did it well

Hernandez 7 solid
Morgan 6.5 a little shaky
Huth 8 led the back line
Fuchs 7.5 didn't make any defensive bloopers and looked good going forward

Mahrez 4 not on his game at the moment
Drinky 6.5 poor first half, nice second
Amartey 6 King will be back in next game
Schluup 6.5 ran and shot without much awareness

Musa 6 ran around
Vardy 5.5 better than his has been but lacking confidence to shoot

[HIF]

Forgot to put up the 1-1 Spurs ratings

Never was a peno though

Kasper 7.5 - other than the poor kick did nothing wrong. None of the saves were difficult but he made them.

Simpson 7.5 - Solid performance from Simmo and he didn't push himself too far up the pitch - probably because Rose was having a free run at him
Morgan 6.5 - his play deserves a 7 but for some reason the Ref kept giving free kicks against him
Huth 6.5 - covered for Morgan when he needed to - showed a turn of foot today and whatever homer says that wasn't a penalty.
Fuchs 7.5 - looked great going forward and didn't make any dangerous mistakes covering

Mahrez 3.5 - He was covered by 2 players going forward but he was a train wreck trying to cover Rose going backwards
Drinkwater 8.5 - the guy was a marvel. Breaking the game up everywhere and snapping at ankles throughout and then had the energy to get forward when needed.
King 7.5 - back to back very good games from Andy - time for a CL goal.
Musa 6.5 - putting the effort in without looking great, but it was that effort that got the goal. 2 in 2 - he's going to do a Vardy 8 in 8 without having much more than speed and determination.

Okazaki - 7.5 another great performance - if only he could finish them as well.
Vardy 5 - poor first half but made a couple of runs in the second both of which could have resulted in goals.

Schluup, Albrighton, Ulloa - Schluup didn't make the most of his opportunities, albrighton put himself about, Ulloa makes me feel safer defending corners.

[HIF]

Leicester 1 WBA 2

WTF are we doing? Should've been 3 easy points and 8th place going into the break.

We didn't play at all when we were level and despite looking better each time we went behind our attackers are looking a shade of their former selves.

Lazy and got what we deserved.

Zieler 5 - Kasper would have saved the second in the form he's in but that wasn't Zieler's fault.

Simpson 5.5 - not too bad but WBA knew to attack down the flanks
Morgan 5 - Up against bigger and faster players and didn't totally emabarrass himself
Huth 5.5 - played pretty well. needs to remind attackers where to put the ball when he's in the box.
Fuchs 4.5 - poor first half. defensively we need an upgrade but he still plays well on attack when we bother.

Mahrez 5.5 - poor first half where he was repeatedly beaten by their FB, much better second half but nowhere near golden ball form
Drinky 5 - would have been our best player if not for the assist, owned it and continued working hard but his teammates are letting him down
King 5 - was alright - worked hard.
Musa 6 - needs to be greedier when in the box. Terrifying their defence when taken off - bad move by CR.

Okazaki 5 - wasn't his day today but still better than his replacement.
Slimani 5.5 - Is a threat but players don't seemed to have learned how to play with him yet - amazing if true.

Vardy 3 - He got himself into good positions and ran hard but doesn't look like he can score in a month of sundays. 2 or 3 relatively easy chances that he'd have put away last year didn't even hit the target.
Gray 4.5 - has amazing feet but can't beat 3 people every time.
Ulloa NA

CR - 3.5 - one of his worst games. poor strategy and poor substitutions

[HIF]

By now I'm probably the only one reading this drivel but anyway:

Watford 2 Leicester 1

Two very average teams played an even and very scrappy encounter which wasn't much fun for Leicester supporters. Again it's a game before a CL match and the players minds were not quite here even if there was a little more effort than in previous games. Drinkwater our best player this season looked tired and we're confronted with the news that Papy Mendy needs another ankle operation following on from the recent one caused by the injury against Arsenal, and that meant the midfield was inefficient. Lots of long balls up front but with no Slimani (groin injury) there was no-one to head the ball. Vardy doesn't know how and Okazaki is small (and also back from his million mile round trip playing for Japan). The long balls this season are not into the channels enough and hardly ever to feet. We are made to be a passing team as last season but we seem to not understand that. We're also passing backwards and expecting Huth and Morgan to play the way Liverpool/Man city play. Our Centre Backs are not ball players let's not try to make them so.

In the end we probably merited a draw but 0 points from WBA and Watford when 6 were expected puts us down with 12 points from 12 games instead of up in the top 8. I still haven't seen 7 better teams though so as a blue Mongie I'll still believe that we're going to finish top 8.

Zieler 4.5 surprisingly not much to do after picking the ball out of the net twice in the first 12 minutes.

Simpson 4.5 was beaten several times but recovered most of the time
Morgan 4 forgotten how to head a ball
Huth 5 Best of the back 4
Fuchs 2.5 had a very poor defensive outing, would do better in midfield.

Mahrez 6.5 looked good in the first half and put in a few good crosses
Drinkwater 5 looked tired but made a few good passes for Vardy
Amartey 4.5 not his best performance - King will be back.
Albrighton 6 Great first half and never stopped working hard in the second.

Okazaki 4 not his day
Vardy 4 lackin confidence and skill

Schlupp 7 best player in his short cameo
Musa 2 terrible cameo

[HIF]

Brugge up this week in the CL.

A win and we qualify for the next round.

We're low on confidence, skill and midfield players but we're good enough for a win here.

Expect to see Hernandez, King and Slimani back in the side replacing Simpson, Amartey and Okazaki but I'd like this team instead:

Zieler

Hernandez
Morgan
Huth
Schluup

Mahrez
Drinkwater
King
Albrighton

Gray
Slimani

Leicester win 3-0