Back from Leicester

[perseus]

Barnes against Liverpool, a peterborough a middlesborough or any other slick passing teams...... Option: Barnes on the bench and striker with presence against a Leicester, West Ham or any other bigger more physical team with muscular giants in defence??

The easiest option is to play 4-4-2 and only bring one of our three left wingers on when we a chasing the game. Barnes is the best we have got (I have not see Hoskins yet!). He will have to learn how to keep possession of the ball a little bit better, like a proper target man.

If we do persist in playing 4-3-3 we really ought to have a box-to-box central midfielder. Who best could fit that role? Stamina is important for this role. Two players missing in the important positions. Glenn Murray might have filled one, but Elliott Bennett would not have the strength for a box-to-box midfielder.

I wonder if El-Abd or Buckley could play the central midfielder role? (This is the role Virgo played at times and I did not understand why he left?) (Henri Lansbury plays it as well.)

Top Team @ Home:

Ankergren
Calderon El-Abd Greer Painter
Bridcutt Navarro
? (missing)
Mackail-Smith Barnes (?) Noone (or Lua lua)

Away: Midfielder for left winger.

 

[Billy the Fish]

I don't agree we played poorly, we just weren't allowed to play our natural game and were given more problems than we posed.

Totally agree. Leicester have premier league players and if Sven can't get this side promoted he is a total numpty.

I cant believe we are debating CMS when Barnes was utter horse shit. Hoskins cant get fit quick enough for me.

Again, totally agree. Barnes was off the pace by a long way, both mentally and physically. Offered no support to CMS and didn't anticipate when CMS was supporting him, a couple of times I saw CMS make runs off the ball that helped Barnes but he didn't exploit it.


The fact that we could've nicked a draw with some better finishing shows how well the back 4 did when they had their backs ot the wall for alot of the game. It wasn't all bad though, we did have a couple of good spells and on another day could've got something.

If I was a Leicester fan I'd think something was wrong if they weren't dominating home games having spent £16 million. Beckford and Vassell looked a different class up front.

As for comments about Harley, I think people are mistaking his style for not being interested. From what I've seen he's not a box to box player, he sits in an advanced midfield position and picks the ball up and distributes. People shouldn't criticise him for not being something that he isn't, and never was.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I wonder if El-Abd or Buckley could play the central midfielder role? (This is the role Virgo played at times and I did not understand why he left?)

What. The. f***

 

[Vegas Seagull]

Leicester had conceeded 2 in each of their last 3 home games against 'average' sides...

 

[Turkey]

People need to remember the quality of the opposition before over reacting to one game. The only way Hoskins will get in ahead of Barnes is if he proves to Gus he can do the defensive side of the role as well as Barnes does. Barnes has consistantly proven he is very good at that since he came here. It's really no suprise when we play away to a top side, Barnes is spending more time working for the team, rather than supporting CMS.

Agree with Billy on Harley, he's a specific kind of player, maybe to much of a luxury in a game like yesterday, maybe Sparrow should have been in instead. A bit to early to start making judgements.

 

[Basil Fawlty]

I honestly don't think CMS has fully recovered over his back problem. We were always going to lose sometime, and hopefully now we'll get it out of our system for a big week a head of us with Liverpool, Leeds and Scum coming up. So let's not get downbeat about it, yes it does hurt but look on the positive side. We're third in the league with 16 points, I would of taken that at the start of the season going into the end of September.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I have Granny. CMS and Barnes had bad games and all of a sudden they're shit are they!?

Of course not, however its a bit like any other forums across the Internet.. You ignore the hopelessly enthusiastic Rose tinted spectacle brigade and the everything and everyone is shit brigade and take the views of those in the middle.

Simples

 

[Questions]

Of course not, however its a bit like any other forums across the Internet.. You ignore the hopelessly enthusiastic Rose tinted spectacle brigade and the everything and everyone is shit brigade and take the views of those in the middle.

Simples

I think both CMS and Barnes have missed too many easy chances of late but I don`t think either are shit.

 

[SICKASAGULL]

I considered at the start of the season that we should have signed at least two players with Premiership experience,Leicesters squad confirms my opinion.

 

[smudge]

The easiest option is to play 4-4-2 and only bring one of our three left wingers on when we a chasing the game. Barnes is the best we have got (I have not see Hoskins yet!). He will have to learn how to keep possession of the ball a little bit better, like a proper target man.

If we do persist in playing 4-3-3 we really ought to have a box-to-box central midfielder. Who best could fit that role? Stamina is important for this role. Two players missing in the important positions. Glenn Murray might have filled one, but Elliott Bennett would not have the strength for a box-to-box midfielder.

I wonder if El-Abd or Buckley could play the central midfielder role? (This is the role Virgo played at times and I did not understand why he left?) (Henri Lansbury plays it as well.)

Top Team @ Home:

Ankergren
Calderon El-Abd Greer Painter
Bridcutt Navarro
? (missing)
Mackail-Smith Barnes (?) Noone (or Lua lua)

Away: Midfielder for left winger.

Ok mate, I'm honestly not having a pop, but all these posts you are making about tacticts are doing my nut in. Everyone is entitled to their opinion & all that, but the bit about Virg's & El Abd......wind up, surely?

 

[Marshy]

You watch CMS smash the back of that net regular when Hoskins is fit..... they as a front 2 are made for each other

 

[stss30]

Hilarious when people start moaning about us losing for the first time this season against one of the pre season favorites away from home. We also had a man sent off, were playing nowhere near our best and could have easily nicked a point near the end. Bit of perspective please, although I appreciate most on this thread have been reasonable... Be interesting to see if we can bounce back esp if we lose midweek (which I suspect we will)

 

[Shooting Star]

Just got round to getting to a computer after this busy weekend. We were poor yesterday, like many have said, and Leicester fully deserved the three points. I have to admit, I was one of those who really couldn't see us getting beaten after having gone to all but one (Posh) of our home games this season, or at least not in that fashion, but now I see how simple it can happen.
After skimming through these four pages I'm surprised people haven't really picked up on how we played the game today: the way I saw it, we played our game for 10 minutes, struggled to keep Leicester out for the next 35 but attempted to play our football, then the moment they scored in the second half, Ankergren resorted to lumping it up field til about the 75th minute or so. The result was that we had no height or strength to win headers against players like Bamba and Konchesky and thus Leicester would just regain possession of the ball and thus we lost at least 20 minutes or so trying to play Plan B, when we really needed to pass out from the back and regain a bit of control. From what I can remember, the moment players at the back made themselves available to Ankergren to pass to, we started showing little glimmers until Painter got sent off. I really thought at half-time the game was going to go like the Sunderland one; great first 10 minutes or so, then we resorted to lumping it up field and thus Sunderland took control of the game, went in at half time and came out passing it again like we usually do and thus regain the initiative. From what I've seen of this season, Ankergren kicking the ball never ends up well for us as we're not set up to play that way.

Though I wholeheartedly believe we didn't deserve anything from the game, would like to see the LuaLua penalty shout at the end again. Also, was too low down to see the 'slapper at the back' - any pics? Fantastic away support and atmosphere took the edge off of the result. Was about 3 seats in on the stairway so whilst that group of Leicester fans sounded noisy, they were twattish adolescents trying to start something with anyone who looked at them and sang shit and unoriginial gay chants, and that drum did my head in all game.

Roll on Wednesday!

 

[stss30]

Just got round to getting to a computer after this busy weekend. We were poor yesterday, like many have said, and Leicester fully deserved the three points. I have to admit, I was one of those who really couldn't see us getting beaten after having gone to all but one (Posh) of our home games this season, or at least not in that fashion, but now I see how simple it can happen.
After skimming through these four pages I'm surprised people haven't really picked up on how we played the game today: the way I saw it, we played our game for 10 minutes, struggled to keep Leicester out for the next 35 but attempted to play our football, then the moment they scored in the second half, Ankergren resorted to lumping it up field til about the 75th minute or so. The result was that we had no height or strength to win headers against players like Bamba and Konchesky and thus Leicester would just regain possession of the ball and thus we lost at least 20 minutes or so trying to play Plan B, when we really needed to pass out from the back and regain a bit of control. From what I can remember, the moment players at the back made themselves available to Ankergren to pass to, we started showing little glimmers until Painter got sent off. I really thought at half-time the game was going to go like the Sunderland one; great first 10 minutes or so, then we resorted to lumping it up field and thus Sunderland took control of the game, went in at half time and came out passing it again like we usually do and thus regain the initiative. From what I've seen of this season, Ankergren kicking the ball never ends up well for us as we're not set up to play that way.

Though I wholeheartedly believe we didn't deserve anything from the game, would like to see the LuaLua penalty shout at the end again. Also, was too low down to see the 'slapper at the back' - any pics? Fantastic away support and atmosphere took the edge off of the result. Was about 3 seats in on the stairway so whilst that group of Leicester fans sounded noisy, they were twattish adolescents trying to start something with anyone who looked at them and sang shit and unoriginial gay chants, and that drum did my head in all game.

Roll on Wednesday!

Good summary. I would say that the kicking tactic still used to work when we couldn't/ didn't play 'passing it out from the back' football last season when we had to play on poor pitches but in the championship you will get very little joy especially with the size of our players. I also thought Leicesters defence was pretty immense and Bamba had CMS in his pocket for nearly the whole game

 

[Shooting Star]

Good summary. I would say that the kicking tactic still used to work when we couldn't/ didn't play 'passing it out from the back' football last season when we had to play on poor pitches but in the championship you will get very little joy especially with the size of our players. I also thought Leicesters defence was pretty immense and Bamba had CMS in his pocket for nearly the whole game

Definitely, and though I hate to say it, it only worked when we had Murray (and Wood). He fades into every comparison with CMS apart from his ability to hold the ball up from a long ball. Without those two we aren't equipped to hitting the ball deep from goal kicks.

 

[Notters]

I wonder if El-Abd or Buckley could play the central midfielder role? (This is the role Virgo played at times and I did not understand why he left?)

Let's return to Withdean and get Micky Adams back while we're at it.

 

[Bozza]

We're definitely missing a target man. It became very apparent against Donny Rovers but Buckley's wonder strike and subsequent winner helped everyone forget the first 25 minutes or so of the second half where it became clear our A game wasn't working too well, the crowd went flat and more than one or two people were thinking "Oh for Glenn Murray now".

That said, I'm not sure a target man would have made much difference on Saturday, but I think we do need to have the option of mixing up our approach against some teams.

Saturday's result was probably fair, but we were close to coming home with a point. I think as football supporters we are very good at saying our team didn't perform, and not so good at saying the opposition didn't let us perform. I don't know which it was on Saturday, but it wasn't a vintage Albion performance.

 

[simmo]

I went to the game and Jeez reading some of the comments here you would have thought we were nailed on certainties for relegation and that Gus needs to ditch half the side. However, as it is on Wednesday because of the number of games coming up in a short period Gus will have to make changes and we will see others getting a run out which may lead to long term changes.

Also,

1) Leicester with all the money they have spent, are going to be very very close to the top of the table, they had to click at some time and to be quite honest they did against us and fully deserved there win
2) Saying that though we did make and create some good chances to score which is obviously the signs you are looking for.
3) CMS will be fine. One miss does not make you a bad player.
4) Greer and Dunk were bl00dy awesome.

 

[Bozza]

Highlight of the game, for me, was Greer sliding through the ball and straight through Vassell in a fair(ish) but very hard challenge.

Vassell was left in a crumpled heap and sat shaking his head for some time before struggling to his feet and limping away.

 

[Josimojo]

4) Greer and Dunk were bl00dy awesome.

I was sat with the home fans (Uni student in Leicester, dirt cheap student season tickets etc etc) and they were certainly praising Dunk, "can't believe he's only 19" and so on, as we know, his performances aren't going unnoticed by other clubs. Unfortunately I seem to be sat infront of some completely clueless idiots, when Ankergren was holding up the ball with his feet in open play, they were shouting from the ref to book him! Oh dear...