Official Leicester City FC Thread

[HIF]

So Slabhead has gone.

He's done well for himself. The best player in a relegated Hull City side, a great first year at Leicester, then an England call up and starring run to a world cup semi-final before a quieter second season at Leicester - probably due to having no break over the summer and playing so much football.

I still don't know if it was for £80m, £85m or £90m and whether there are add ons or not. It doesn't really matter at that's a reasonable fee for Leicester to get even though they'll have to pay Hull about another £10m on top of the £17m they originally paid for him.

Is he a world class player? Only time will tell but he's certainly a good young player without the "pogba/Lingard-like" ego afflictions and he's a good get for a Manure team who are in somewhat of a disarray and not the premier world target location that they have been for decades. Maguire is a good defender without being great. He is very good in the air but lacks a bit of pace and positioning skills, where he excels is on the ball and bringing the ball up as well as dominating in the opponents box on set pieces. I think he'll be fine at United but he would have been so much better at Manchester City. I think he'll mature into a good captain but at the moment he'll benefit from playing next to a senior player in defence as he has at Leicester with Morgan and Evans.

Does this mean that Leicester are weaker and still a selling club? Surely when your team loses a starting CB, especially one rated as worth £80m+ it will make your team weaker but I'm not convinced that we will be significantly weaker. Even without a CB purchase I think Soyuncu steps into the breach and the difference is negligible (when you figure in the £80m). Soyuncu can also bring the ball up and pass well, he is a little shorter and time will tell whether our "smaller" team is a problem. However the club bought both Soyuncu and Benkovic last summer anticipating Maguire going to Manure last season and now Soyuncu has had a year to get used to England and Benkovich has had a loan spell at Celtic where he impressed before getting injured. Benkovic at 6'4" may well be the longer term replacement or there to replce Jonny next season.

I would personally have loved us to buy Nathan Ake from Bournemouth whom I think is better than Maguire but the quoted fee of £75m is too much, so I'd pass on him this season, unless Bournemouth are still interested in Demarai Gray and then I'd happily give them £50m and Gray. Other mentioned purchases such as Dunk I'd pass on. He's a solid defensive player but certainly not in the £50m+ range quoted and probably not an upgrade on what we have. Tarkowski, whilst a little better is again overpriced and unlike Manure we don't need to prove ourselves by paying that sort of money and as for Cahill - you must be joking. There could be value in Europe or on the loan market but with 3 days left to go let's wait and see if LCFC have prepared well and what they think of the players they already have.

Where I can see the money going is on an attacking mid/winger and I wouldn't be surprised to see Praet purchased on deadline day for around £30m.

So thanks Harry, all the best for the future with the club you "wanted" to play for. I should think that steptoe Vardy will be looking forward to playing against you very soon.

[HIF]

Not a bad summer transfer session.

Lost Maguire for a lot of money.

Got Tielemans, Perez and Praet for not too much.

got Justin james and a couple of dev squad members too.

I can see us challenging for a Europa league spot and making the QFs in both cups.

I hope to see a few players sold abroad in the next week or so:

Silva, Slimani, Ghezzal, jakupovic

loans/sale for Mendy, James, Diabaté, Thomas, Johnson, other u23s

I think we are going to be a good team to watch for the neutral. Scoring every week and conceding most weeks.

[HIF]

What did I say?

Scoring every week and conceding most weeks!!!!!

Leicester 0 Wolves 0

It was an enjoyable watch Wolves played a great defensive game and we failed to find our shooting boots. I think we only had 1 on target with about 12 shots.

Good points:
We had 70% possession
We dominated midfield and shut down a potent Wolves midfield with ease
Soyuncu replaced Maguire and almost had a motm (for us) performance
Soyuncu and Evans worked well as a central partnership
Ndidi was very good as CDM
Choudhury was excellent everywhere
Barnes looked good after coming on as sub

Not so good points:
Chilwell had an off day
Tielemans was quiet
Boly (Wolves) had an awesome match and shut down Perez and Ayoze
Vardy had little service with Tielemans through balls not there today and missed a relative sitter.
Our shooting was wayward

[HIF]

Chelsea 1 Leicester 1

A terrible opening 15 minutes where Chelsea outplayed us as though we were children resulted in only 1 goal conceeded - and that due to poor control and dithering by N'didi. The following 30 minutes were balanced with Leicester the better build up without worrying the Chelsea goalkeeper at all. the second half Leicester were easily on top. N'didi got the equaliser and Maddison should have got the winner. A draw away to Chelsea is a good result but Leicester could have had all 3 points and maybe at the end of the season this will be seen as another 2 points lost.

Another enjoyable game to watch. chelsea should be so much better than they are and on these first two performances I can't see them making European football next season - but then again this is Chelsea and it's only 2 matches. Can I see us making the European places? It's possible, we have the talent but we need to start converting chances quickly. European football can be lost in the first 2 months even if it can't be won in them.

Kasper - had a very good defensive game and his distribution to the right was great, his distribution to the left was not so good. Overall a good display 7

Fuchs - In for the injured Chilwell, looked his age and doesn't have the legs anymore but his experience and intelligence pulled him through. 5.5

Soyuncu - another masterly display and I liked to see him shouting at others to get their acts sorted. 8 motm

Evans - calm and assured performance. 7

Ricardo - back to his expected standard 6.5

N'Didi - poor first half, absent and gave the goal away, great second half, powerful in charge and scored the equalizer. 6

Choudhury - covered LB for Fuchs, covered CDM for Wilf, pressed up front, made interceptions, made passes. 7

Tielemans - non-existent till the last 10 minutes. Was the difference between a draw and a win. BR's biggest conundrum. 3

Maddison - a first half misfiring, a second half pulling the strings, glaring miss but such potential. 6.5

Perez - worked hard, without service or fortune. 6.5

Vardy worked hard without service but needs to do more in these situations. 5

Subs:

Praet: debut, quiet. 5.5

Albrighton: quiet 5.5

BR: strange subs. Good half time team talk. Should have introduced Barnes as first sub. 6

[HIF]

Sheffield Utd 1 Leicester 2

And up the football league we go.

It was another good game to watch, especially the second half when Sheffield increased an already fast tempo and pressured Leicester high up the pitch.

Ben Chilwell was still out injured and Wilf N'didi had to pull out of the team injured too. Fuchs continued to replace Ben and Praet came in for his full debut to replace Wilf. Leicester fans were worrying about Hamza having to do the Wilf role but have I not said many times that Hamza is a future England captain and he has many strings to his bow?

Hamza had an awesome game and was clearly the motm. Leicester deserved the win but it wasn't as easy as I'd thought it would be. Sheffield are a decent organized team and may yet fight for survival in the prem.

Vardy opened his account with a nicely taken goal and Harvey Barnes (who surely must start the next game) scored a blinder of a half volley which you need to see if you haven't already.

Kasper - 8 - Made a couple of wonderful saves and didn't make any errors with his distribution
Ricardo - 7 - A very good game both on attack and defence. he really was a wonderful purchase last season
Evans - 7 - his assured self
Soyuncu - 7.5 - another great performance (on a day that Maguire wasn't so good for Manure)
Fuchs - 6 - a reasonable replacement's preformance. If only his legs were 6 years younger.
Choudhury - 9.5 - he was everywhere, covering every defensive position, receiving the ball and playing passes, pressurising defenders and making tackles and interceptions everywhere. If only he was taller for headers he'd be the world's best
Praet - 6 - an okay full debut. when Sheffield pressured and pushed in the second half he wasn't ready for it - English football takes time to acclimatise to.
Tielemans - 4 - made a couple of good forward passes but I'm not sure who we've purchased. Is it the monaco Tielemans or the Leicester Tielemans.
Maddison - 8 - lokking better and better, pulling strings, confusing the opposition. Will surely make the England team and squad this time round.
Perez - 5.5 - not sure if it's the formation but he's not the player we saw in pre-season. Still he's trying hard and hopefully he'll find his place soon.
Vardy - 7 - a wonderfully taken goal but still not on the same wavelength as the midfield so far this season.

Barnes - 8 - just what we need in our starting lineup. Someone who can dribble and take players on - especially when they're parking the bus. What a goal! hope he replaces Perez for the next game.
Morgan - 7 - Came in and stamped his authority on the Sheffield attack.
Mendy - 6.5 - made sure we saw out the win.

I hope that Brendan can work Tielemans and perez into the team but I think he needs to start Barnes as we are missing a dribbler without him or Gray in the lineup.

3rd in the league at the moment with the liklihood of finishing the week in the top 6 above Maguire's Manure.

[HIF]

Leicester 3 Bournemouth 1

A relatively easy victory although Bournemouth showed some nice attack in the first half. It was a fast, lively match with a lot of good attacking play.

Rodgers made changes, Chilwell resumed his place at the expense of Fuchs, N'didi came back in for Hamza, Perez and Praet were dropped for Barnes and Albrighton giving us more width and aggression.

Kasper - had little to do and did nothing wrong - 7
Chilwell - did nothing wrong - 6.5
Soyuncu - again played well - 7.5
Evans - steady as ever - 7.5
Ricardo - wonderful game - 8
N'Didi - a little lost but still significant - 6
Tielemans - scored, assisted, but didn't play up to his standard of last year - 6
Maddison - looked good - 7.5
Barnes - not a good game for him today - 5
Albrighton - did what he does - 7
Vardy - amazing today - 10

Gray - best performance for some time - 7
Hamza - should have started - 7
Fuchs - 6

Vardy was simply world class today, chased balls down, pressured, scored 2, the first a worldie and assisted the other. It was a good team performance against a team that'll finish mid to lower mid prem but we've still not got into third gear. Tielemans is the real big question at the moment for me and maddison needs to transform the genius into the right decision in the final third.

[coldfish]

Would be awesome to see LC pick up a champion's league spot. Would put several big six teams under a lot of pressure.

[Young Stapler]

I'm definitely buying a pink Leicester shirt!

[HIF]

I just bought the grey - Hamza Choudhury - shirt

[HIF]

Manure 1 Leicester 0

Poor game by both teams. Leicester were so lethargic. Slow of foot and slow of mind.

Kasper - 6 - had absolutely nothing to do.
Ricardo - 5 - his worst game since arriving
Evans - 7 - was in control and calm throughout.
Soyuncu - 5.5 - had a decent game but gave the penalty away. Not much of a penalty but whatever.
Chilwell - 5 - did nothing
N'didi - 5.5 - as a defender he was okay but every time he's passed the ball I cringe.
Tielemans - 4.5 - he is a ghost, a slow ghost at that.
Choudhury - 5.5 - didn't need to play alongside N'Didi as Manchester were no threat.
Maddison - 7.5 - looked great on the ball, hacked to death by McTominay.
Gray - 5.5 - slow of mind
Vardy - 5.5 - not in the game

Subs

perez -6 - made an effort
Barnes - 5.5 - didn't go forward with the ball enough.

Rodgers - 5 - didn't get his team up for this, wrong tactics, far too passive.

Disappointing. Manchester are poor and were there for tha taking - AND WE LOST!

[HIF]

Leicester 2 Tottenham 1

Now this was a fun game of football. Rodgers changed our setup to something that was going to be far more entertaining and it was. Lots of chances at both ends in a match that was played at a great speed. Baphomet may not agree but I think we were well worth the three points but Spurs played their part in a good game for fans to watch.

Kasper 6.5 he didn't have too much to do but what he had to do he did pretty well. The goal by Kane was a true striker's goal and I'll not fault Kasper for that.
Ricardo 8.5 back to his best after that poor game against Manure. Was solid at the back but going forward he was a sleak and stylish machine. Scored a good goal which he is capable of doing a lot more often. He is one of our best shooters.
Evans 8.5 What a buy this guy is. Truly calm and intelligent. and that tackle on Kane was worth the entrance price alone.
Soyuncu 8 Harry who? Another very good performance and that waltz up the pitch late on was pure Caglar. and when he put the Spurs player on his butt, that was Chris Paul ankle breaking.
Chilwell 5.5 His best game for a while but still below the level expected.
N'Didi 6.5 Only 1 CDM but he played well and even passed quicker than usual
Tielemans 7 the changed formation helped him a lot. A decent game whilst still below last year's standard.
Maddison 9 a great game and this time he found the net - the part of his game that's been missing - some of his moves are just Man City level. Worrying injury at the end but I think/hope it's not too bad.
Perez 6.5 His best PL game for us so far. Needs a goal to kick onto his pre-season play.
Barnes 6.5 Looked great at the start, disappeared then had a few nice plays in the second half. Another who needs a goal to boost his confidence and arrogance.
Vardy 7 Was a nuisance and a little unlucky not to score. Not his best game but good enough.

Subs
Praet 6 ok
Choudhury 7.5, game on when we were wobbling. steadied the ship and then the assist for the winner FUTURE ENGLAND CAPTAIN.
Gray 7 did more in his few minutes today that all game against Manure.

Has Rodgers realised that we need to be at the opposition and playing attacking football to do our best. Time will tell.

Briefly in 2nd.

[coldfish]

LC is going to be in the running for a CL spot all season long. Would be great if 3 of the big 6 miss out on CL.

[HIF]

[HIF]

Luton 0 Leicester 4 - easy win for second team
Leicester 5 Newcastle 0 - total domination
Liverpool 2 Leicester 1 unlucky loss
Leicester 2 Burnley 1 no so easy, good second half performance.

[HIF]

I suppose I should make an effort to post about such an historic game!

Southampton 0 Leicester 9 (yes that's NINE)

It was teeming it down with rain in Southampton and my first thought was, let's see who enjoys playing football and who just likes taking home the salary.

I was amazed from the kickoff as Leicester came out of the blocks at a Usain Bolt sprint. it was great to see. we were closing people down immediately EVERYWHERE and we were playing slick 1 touch football passing forwards at every opportunity and then the goals started. I'm sure you'll all see the goals, such a fantastic win, even by a little team, has to get exposure, so I'll not bore you with the details. We were already one up before Bertrand was sent off for a dangerous tackle. I'd like to think it was because of the wet pitch but the foot was high and badly angled, but thankfully Perez just got up and got on with the match.

Perez scored his first goal for the club, it was overdue and it was clearly giving him some anxiety. it was a nice goal but not as good as his second or as cool as his third. hopefully now the monkey is off his back he'll kick on. Ben Chilwell scored the first, which is surprising, but what was better was the attacking intent he showed throughout the match and the fact that his crosses were not good but very good. He worked so well with Barnes down the left. amazing considering how they seemed to be so discombobulated in earlier matches. Easily Ben's best game for over a year.

Tielemans scored another goal, he is just so composed when he goes to shoot that it isn't a surprise when it goes in. Maddison scored a beauty of a free kick on a night when he may have been the worst Leicester player on the pitch (as opposed to nearly always being the best). And of course Vardy scored, and scored again, and scored the record breaking goal from the spot after earning the penalty for it. He may be 33 but he's playing like he's 23.

This week Rodgers had been talking about his problem at wing where he has 4 players who are great off the bench but not doing well enough starting. Barnes, Perez, Albrighton and Gray were giving the warning that they needed to step up or a new player would be brought in January. Barnes and Perez not only stepped up but shone. Barnes was outstanding and reminded me why I had such great hopes for his future before the season.

Defensively we kept a clean sheet.

Kasper 8 - did what he needed to do
Chilwell 9.5 - scored and delivered great balls all night.
Soyuncu 8.5 - Harry who?
Evans 8 - solid as always.
Ricardo 9.5 - he must be the best RWB in the world at the moment.
N'Didi 8.5 -
Tielemans - 9 - best game this season so far.
Maddison - 7.5 - beautiful goal
Barnes - 9.5 - great game, tormented the defence and unlucky not to score
Perez - 9.5 - he got his goal (and 2 more)
Vardy - 9.5 - he's havin a party.

Rodgers - 10 - perfect

And the records:

recorded the biggest ever victory by an away side in an English top-flight league match in the 131-year history of the Football League

inflicted Southampton's biggest ever defeat as an English league side in all competitions in their history

also

became only the second team in Premier League history to establish a five-goal lead in the first half of an away game in the competition, after Manchester City against Burnley in April 2010 (also 5-0)

became only the second side in Premier League history to have two players score a hat-trick in the same game (Perez and Vardy), after Arsenal in May 2003 - also against Southampton (Pennant and Pires)

[HIF]

I know this is a football thread but the England team just magnificently dominated the All blacks in the Semi final of the World Cup and guess what? Leicester players scored all the England points.

[HIF]

Palace 0 Leicester 2

This is the type of game that we are unable to win. away in London to a well managed and organized team. In fact the score over recent matches is Palace 13 Leicester 1, yet yesterday we looked good. It took us a while to break Palace down and that is a characteristic of play that now we wear teams down and look at our best in the final quarter of the game. Since our title win we've been unable to break teams down and this is typically a match we would have lost, this has changed.

The team spirit is also looking great and the players are happy to play for each other. Our defence, Soyuncu, Evans, Kasper and Ndidi are solid. Our midfield is creating chances and our attackers, well Verdy at least, are taking those chances. Yes we still need more end product in terms of goals from Barnes and Perez (or wheover play the other forward positions) but we are looking a skillful threat in every game now. Being a pleausre to watch and winning is a very nice feeling.

Next up is another test for us - Arsenal - we need to put them to the sword to really confirm our status as top 4 candidates - a win would put us 9 points ahead of Arsenal and at least 7 (possibly 9) ahead of 5th place. A win could also spell the end of Emery Unai, something we did a few times during our title winning season. Buckle up, the boys are coming together.

[HIF]

Leicester 2 Arsenal 0

A season defining win ....maybe.

People are attacking Emery and Arsenal but tbh I thought they played pretty well, it's just that Leicester have become a quality side before our eyes over the last few months. Leicester deserve to be in the top 4 but on what I've seen of Arsenal they should finish in a Europa league spot, possibly 5th in the league.

Emery changed things at the back and went with a back 3/5, this looked good for them and I think it'll turn their season around. Yes they were cut open a few times but the Leicester attack was skillful and clinical (they were Man city like) Arsenal will not face teams like Leicester very often this season and with the 2 great attackers that they have Arsenal will nearly always score goals. I realise that they didn't yesterday but they went close and should have got at least 1 and again they were against the meanest defence in the prem so far this year. What Emery now needs to do is sort out his midfield. Xhaka is rubbish and it's fortunate to Arsenal fans that he's mentally unfit to continue playing football, whether Ozil is the answer is not clear. Personally I don't think so, he's a very skillful player but he isn't skillful enough against quality opposition (though good enough against 60 - 70% of the prem) and defensively he's a liability - therefore a luxury player similar to Mahrez. Guendouzi is the type of player that could fit in perfectly at many prem clubs, the hard working, pressing midfielder that is important in today's football but again I'm not sure he's quite European elite club material. Having watched Kouyaté again in the earlier match I know that I'd take Kouyaté 100 times out of 100 over Guendozi and that's without looking at the level of player like Kanté or N'Didi or Choudhury. What's happened to Mkhitaryan? I'd probably play him with Pepe and Ceballos though I'm sure Arsenal probably have a youth player who deserves a run out too. Anyway after emery sorts out his midfield I think Arsenal are nailed on for 5th or at the worst 6th. whether that is good enough for emery to keep his job is doubtful but maybe Arsenal need to live in the real world alongside Manure.

As to the match. What is the point of VAR? Clear penalty for the foul by Guendouzi on Soyuncu, not given!! yet we can wait over 3 minutes trying to work out if a player's toe is 1mm offside compared to the defenders knee (or is it his shoulder) when a beuatiful goal is scored? In the first half the game was pretty well balanced. Arsenal allowed Leicester's CBs the ball and parked the bus in front of them, Leicester pressed from the front and frequently turned the ball over without making great use of it. Perez missed a sitter as did Lacazette. Soyuncu succesfully kept Aubameyang quiet. callum Chambers repeatedly saved an Arsenal defence learning it's new roles.

Second half was electric from Leicester. This year they've learnt how to wear teams down and always look a dominat force during the final quarter of a match. It was the same yesterday. Leicester starting to slice and dice with some great movement, wonderful passes and unselfish passing. who else but the man who said "No" to Arsenal would come up with the first goal on an incredibly beautiful move and shortly later he set up Maddison to put the game away safely. N'didi should have opened the scoring for Leicester but blazed a shot against the crossbar. tielemans could have had his name on the scoresheet and Maddison nearly scored with a beautiful free kick and put in some great corners.

Leicester move into second once again and wonder whether it would be better for Pool and Mancs to draw or whether one or the other winning is the better result for us. More importantly the top 4 have moved 9 points (okay 8 before Mancs game today) ahead of 5th and the quality on show from these four teams makes it look like we may have a mini league forming that contains next season's CL teams. I hope so anyway.

Wonderful game and a wonderful time to be a Leicester City supporter.

[HIF]

oh forgot my ratings

Kasper 7.5
Chilwell 8
Soyuncu 8.5
Evans 7.5
Ricardo 8.5
N'Didi 8
Tielemans 9
Maddison 9
Perez 7
Barnes 7.5
Vardy 9

Gray 7.5
Praet 7.5

[Young Stapler]

Exciting finish against Everton