This from a ******** who has a Barcelona logo mixed with the word "Watford" on it? If you knew anything about Leicester fans, you'd know that we are the most ridiculously pessimistic bunch there is. That's why beating a truly arrogant set of ****s like the "Golden Boys" is so sweet. Enjoy Wembley much? Oh, actually, judging by what you have posted so far, I'm sure you watched it on the TV...
Love the idea that Leicester fans would have celebrated with dignity had the penalty for a blatant dive been converted successfully. Yeah, they'd have politely clapped the goal and headed quietly back to Leicester. Still, we must be doing something right if the likes of Leicester can hold such a grudge against us. I look forward to playing them at The Vic next season and the continuing development of this faux-rivalry.
Why is it the worst post you have seen? the man talks a lot of sense and I agree with most of what he is saying, we have to many fancy Dan players in the team there is more to playing than being good on the ball, in a game you will only have the ball at your feet a max of 3 minutes, its what you are doing for the remaining 87 that is the most important apart from Cassetti whos problem is age rather than anything else the other players give you nothing in a defensive role and I would include McEachran in that as well
What would Leicester fans have done had the play off game finished exactly the same but in there favour. Without question they would have been on the pitch. It's a natural reaction to a finish like that. They also would have come on the forum gloating. However had all that happened and then we had gone to Leicester and won 3-0, no doubt some Watford fans would have posted on their forum. Pathetic really. At least Filbert has reacted like I thought he would. On to the game. Second half we actually played ok and certainly should have scored at least once but we were very Much second best for large parts of the game. We don't have the players for 3-5-2 and think we need to go 4-3-3 even just to keep Fabbrini involved. I do wonder what Battochio thinks having not been involved again despite our midfield being terrible and not for the first team. Last season Zola had an experienced assistant but he left was replaced by somebody with very little experience. Has this had an effect much like Boothroyd and Burkinshaw. Big week for us before Boro away. Need to do something different. The players (short version as could go on all day) Almunia. Error for the goal but fairly unlucky in the same breath. Doyley. Poor Angella. Ok Ekstrand. Poor Anya. Poor Pudil. Ok Mcceachran. Ok Mcgugan. Poor Murray. Poor Deeney. Poor FF good Fabbrini ok Way to many not anywhere near good enough. Our midfield 3 don't play as a unit and seem to drift wide too much plus at one point Pudil went forward so Murray went to left back to cover! I thought he was supposed to support the front players. A few years ago we lost against Palace at home and were atrocious but it was the low point that made McKay think about was going on and he changed a few things and after that it vastly improved. We haven't been great this year but have scraped a few wins so it looked ok. Maybe getting stuffed like that is the wake up call we need that some of these under performers who seem guaranteed to start can be and should be dropped. Finally whoever made the decision to play that goal before the game is a prat
We've gone from last seasons super quick counter attacking team to worlds slowest tippy tappy crab passers Only showed any urgency when two down and it was too late
Because it's drivel. Casetti was better when came on than Anya. Fabbrini has looked far better than Deeney even in very short appearances. Everybody has a right to an opinion but this looked like a post of somebody that hasn't seen much of us this year
Whether we go up this year, next year, or if ever remains to be seen, we're pretty calm about it when the dust settles. For a victory against Watford to mean so much to a Leicester fan says more about your own feelings of inadequacies than anything else. Get some help in building self confidence mate, that's my advice.
Clearly beating Watford means so much to Leicester, as the subsequent postings from their ever so pessimistic fans indicates. We took 6 points off them last season and didn't bat an eyelid. They win this one and cannot stop gloating. It's good to know we've got under the skin of clubs like Leicester and that they consider beating a club like Watford as a major scalp. It was their cup final yesterday so we've got to let them have their moment.
The thick dic khead Haha doesn't even realize you live in Barcelona part of the year and as such are a regular visitor to the Nou Camp. There are plenty of these one brain celled morons on their sorry excuse of a forum thinking we compare ourselves to Barcelona or are assuming this sort of title. They truly are deluded idiots.
Totally agree. Unfortunately it's the nature of the lowest common denominator in all clubs to gloat or hurl abuse whether their team wins, loses or draws. It is intensified when there's a little bit of history, like there was yesterday because of the playoff semi. The **** who made the decision to show the incident on the big screen, twice, clearly comes from that same mentality. Pride comes before a fall. We didn't deserve to win, we played poorly but could have got something out of it had our finishing been better. No reason for our fickle fans to scream abuse at players, Zola or boo our team. No reason for them to begrudge Leicester their victory more than any other team. Huge sour grapes because after abusing Knockaert, he scores. Well, what a surprize! I think if I was him I'd have run to the Rookery after scoring - it would have been worth a sending off! You hope that fans (of all clubs) would learn to be gracious in defeat. You can still be passionate without coming across as an arrogant moron. Every now & then, like some of our fans on this board today & yesterday, look like spoilt brats. It's sad, but that's football today.
Hmmm. Where to start... Almunia I really feel that his decision making is terrible when it comes to distribution. It was by no means the worst (except for the clearance into Wood's face) this season but let's face it, all too often from a dead ball situation he will either pass it to someone that isn't looking, is running away, has an attacker on him, whatever. Our captain and most experienced player who can see the entire field and has longer to think about things than most should not be the one getting us into unnecessary trouble. I wasn't aware that he was left footed, so why he didn't just use his right to get rid of the ball, I don't know. Ekstrand He had a shaky start this year, IIRC he did spend a lot of preseason injured and he's coming on quickly to the defender we all loved last year. Today was a bit of a nothing game from him, the left hand side isn't perfect for him but I don't think he was helped much by Anya or McEachran being superbly static. JME especially dropped far too deep that he was about 4 yards away, which took away an option to pass. I'm going to watch the game again today but I can't really remember too many significant mistakes from him. Angella Well, the Bournemouth game made us all think, "wow, we're so lucky to have this guy" but in all honesty he's an average defender. I don't want him dropped and I think that if we're having three at the back then he is a shoe-in especially until Nosworthy or Hoban get back to full match fitness. Doyley Mare today, absolutely dreadful. Slow to distribute the ball although it was enjoyable watching him get to the byline that one time. Felt McGugan kept running towards him rather than giving a real option as I described for Ekstrand/McEachran. What he needed was someone to make space and give him somewhere to pass to. Anya OK so he wasn't fit. Faraoni has impressed me every time I've seen him this year and can't understand why you wouldn't play him instead. Sure the pace would have been nice against Schlupp but there wasn't any! Again, static and I can't wait to see the Anya of old that flew down the wings. Too much dawdling. Pudil Player of the season so far for me, wasn't his best game today but didn't deserve to go off. Made forward runs but got some terribly overhit passes into space, erm, I mean Leicester feet. McEachran/McGugan I'm going to pair these two up because they did the exact same thing: dropped too deep so that we only had 3 forward minded players, pulled out of challenges, gave the ball away, passed backwards and sideways, slowed everything down and generally played ****. Look, it's good that they want the ball and are willing to come deep to get it and to take it off the defenders, I genuinely believe it's a good thing. But not all the time! Sometimes you need to take a risk, especially when you're losing, those two are so predictable. Murray I don't really have much to say because I can't remember anything good nor bad, that's not a slight against him it's just my dodgy memory. Might have something to say once I watch the game back. Forestieri Ran his socks off, loves the team and we love him. Not a finisher and I think it's unfair of us to expect him to be that. The only player IMO that actually put the effort in, although him and Deeney are just not on the same wavelength. He needs someone similar like Fabbrini that can read his stupidly quick feet and eccentric play. Deeney I know he's come under a lot of flak recently and I think deservedly so. He's a shadow of the player we saw over the last two years. Whether that's because he misses a Vydra or Sordell type or whether he let the hype go to his head I don't know. But today he looked different (and apologies Troy if I have missed this in previous games this year). I don't know how it's going to look on the telly but I was watching a lot of Troy today and he kept wanting to make that forward run past Morgan. But he kept having to stop and check back because instead of a ball through or over it went back to Angella, then back to Doyley, he'd make the run and it'd go to a double marked Anya, back to Doyley... I can go on. So although he looked poor, he was trying to make those runs but had to check back because 9 of the team were scared to pass the thing forward. Subs Meh. Fabbrini needs to learn to pass. Battochio must be fuming. Scores the winner against Wigan and dropped for three games in which we are terrible. Faraoni pretty anonymous but you can't get on a sub's back for not changing an already lost game. Zola Nice guy but come on. Needs to stop believing that we still play fancy football, and needs to stop believing that the fancy football actually works more than a few times. The games we dominated last year were based on pace, not just of the players but of the ball. Yes, we got 2nd last year, yes we got to Wembley, but we saw how much the lack of Championship experience hurt us last year and I know Hogg/Chalobah were out of his control and to an extent Eustace, but we just seem so shellshocked by every Championship team. I'm not saying let's go back to the days of Dyche where it's all graft but at least get in people that know the league even if it's just to prepare the new guys. Overall we were crying out for, dare I say it, a long ball over the top. Leicester knew they could press us high up the pitch because we were so determined to play it into McG/McE's feet and play slow. We looked best when we had our front three and Anya making those runs into the channels and getting into the space. I'm not advocating doing it all game, but at least a couple of times just to say to the opposition, "we will hit you here if you press us there".
Leicester deserved their win, no question - they could and probably should have been three or four goals to the good come half time. We played reasonably for ten to fifteen minutes in the second half - other than that, it was more than a poor day at the office! We are losing games in the midfield area, yesterday was crying out for Iriney to get in amongst them, we were far too soft and lost the ball far too often in the middle of the pitch. This put pressure on our defence, and allowed them to flood forward. McGugan pulled out of at least one 50/50 in the second half that was embarrassing for a professional footballer. McEachran did relatively well first half but slowed things down far too much in the second half and his passing wasn't up to standard, but he's young and learning the game - I am sure he'll be decent. Forestieri gives it his everything, which can only be applauded and Fabrinni showed glimpses of what he can do, other than that not the most enjoyable day at the Vic. I like Nigel Pearson and I thought he got it so tactically correct, he deserves praise. Leicester were the best team I've seen this season. Well done to them. We need a positive reaction now, let's see what we get up at boro'.
I've just seen Knockeart's goal again. There was absolutely no-one marking him. The basics of defending, completely gone to bits. Angella and Ekstrand were both ball-watching and when Angella had to get dragged to Schlupp and the ball because Doyley made a right hash of stopping him, Knockeart was in acres of space to score. Where was Ekstrand? Also in acres of space to do an effing swan dive to try and block the ball going in (I think he was also in Almunia's way which prevented him from having a decent chance at saving it). I know it's harsh to pick up on one goal, especially one scored by a guy who most definitely was pumped for this match and everything was gonna go his way, but the stuff I have picked up on are the stuff we learn from a very very young age and was completely lost on our defenders today. I hope for our sakes that the coaches and assistant coaches ****ing scold each and every single player that played yesterday, because that performance with those missing basics was ****.
Just watched that first goal, I admit I laughed out loud ...how can we be so utterly utterly ****e!? I'm glad I only follow at a distance now.
It's now become clear that Zola has made an error injudgement in sticking with 3-5-2. I'm now finding games painful to watch knowing that there's so much potential going unfulfilled. The problems are glaringly obvious now. Zola obviously felt we could advance with the 3-5-2 and adapt and progress, and that is fair enough. But we haven't. At all. It says it all that Filbert has come on and hit the nail on the head. When we're on the front foot and set out to be proactive rather that reactive, we are irresistible. When we're on the front foot with Fabbrini and FF, we look absolutely sublime. The 3-5-2 completely negates these two options, which are now our biggest strength, an enormous attacking strength that no other side in the division can match. Ffs, even a lot of Premier League sides can't match us for No10s and players who can hurt you in between the lines. We should be adopting a system that allows comfortable possession and to showcase our attacking inventiveness and unmatched technical quality, that allows us to pin teams back, & if we do that I am hugely confident that it would take a herculian effort for ANY side in the division to come and defend resolutely for 90 minutes v Fabbrini and FF dancing around in the final third, with Abdi/ McEachran/ Murray/ Battocchio/ McGugan/ Iriney - who could actually then play his natural game without it hampering our attacking play significantly, through no fault of his own - in support. We saw a refreshing glimpse of how things could be in the last 15 v Brighton, where they were scared stiff by Fabbrini and FF twisting and turning and flip-flapping into the box, it was mouthwatering, tantalising attacking play where you felt a goal was on its way. That, after we needlessly handed them a way back into the match by deciding to retreat far too much, & far too quickly, relieving them of facing our fantastic attacking prowess. Yes I understand that teams could counter us, and yes I understand Zola's thinking behind sitting back: they lack technique and the creativity to break us down if we stay compact, and then we'll pick them off on the counter. However, 1) It allows them to pass it out way, way too easily, which leaves each opposing full-back wide open 2) We're poor at defending crosses, the primary thing we'll face when sitting back, especially in this formation, and the threat teams would offer on the counter against us would be far less imo. If it were to turn into us being ultra-attacking and pouring forward whilst they counter, I'd back us to score more. Most teams offer little on the counter to worry about anyway. Like I say, it'd take a hercuian effort for the vast majority of teams in this division to come and pull it off 3) IT STOPS US PRESSING. IT STOPS US ****ING PRESSING! Imagine a cumbersome centre-back being hounded by Forestieri, with no out ball, forced to slice it horribly into row Z, before stumbling over his own feet, the crowd picks up, Forestieri goes over to take a quick throw, we win a corner. They're under the cosh, we're on the front foot, and you know, with the talent we have, a goal is coming, and if not, it'll be ****ing fun to watch anyway. *We let teams off*, inexplicably. We have a plethora of talent. Yes, some players are under-performing, but, imo, the biggest problem, by a long, long way, is that our current system is no longer our best option, by a long, long way. We don't have the defence for it, the pace for it, the midfield for it nor the type of forward line you need for it. I haven't even listed other issues I have with it because they involve just individuals, e.g. Ekstrand looking so much more comfortable as a 'centre centre-back'. I'm not saying Zola should go, not at all, but he needs to recognise the issues that have become more and more clear over the past months, stretching back to when I first felt that 3-5-2 needed, at the very least, updating and altering - if we weren't going to go to 4 at the back and 5 in midfield - v Sheffield Wednesday at home in February. He has indicated that we need to play on the front foot, but that hasn't translated onto the pitch. Arakel is absolutely right when he says we've been winning games mostly through our individual and collective quality, rather than our system and tactics.
I was impressed with Leicester. Both of us suffered play off heartbreak last season. They've quietly gone about their business ever since and have won 14 times in 19 matches. They look a better side than the one we met 4 times we last season, and beat on 3 occasions. Do we? In fact, so far they look the only one of the 4 play off teams of last season who've kicked on. But we still have time to put things right and any gloating from any set of fans should surely be reserved until May.
Once again we're trying to force a goal by dribbling/bulldozing through the middle of the oppos back 4 ... it isn't going to work. We play our best offensive football when we spread the play wide and stretch teams. Playing 3 at the back always means we risk being outnumbered as the oppo midfield push forward and with some better teams we need to allow for that with either 4 at the back or with better midfield cover. Yesterday's game had the worst of both, esp in the first half, with no width and Leicester outnumbering us on the break. We've got the players to make it work, it's up to Zola to use a bit more nous in his formation and team selection. IMO we need to rebuild belief and that starts with not conceding. We need to start with a more defensive set-up and change to a more offensive formation if the game dictates. For example, Doyley, Beckam, Angella and Ekstrand at the back, Anya, Iriney, McGugan, McCreakie and Faroani in midfield and Deeney up front. If it means we only score on the break then so be it ... it worked well for us last year ... but we must stop shipping goals. We need to get back to basics.
That is the best summing up I've seen. Well said sir. I said in my post I didn't think we had the players for 3-5-2 and clearly somebody agrees.
I'd agree with the comments about Deeney if he hadn't missed an open goal or dribbled a shot at goal. Quite frankly, this 'service' argument is rubbish. He has had chances in our last few games and has missed them. If he plays for 90 minutes and touches the ball three times, I expect three good touches. If his head 'goes down' because he doesn't get a lot of the ball, then sorry pal, you are just another Joe Garner who happened to have a good season last year.
Bad weekend for the Pozzo's so far. Udinese have also lost 0-3 at home today!! Luckily Granada are playing AWAY later this evening.
Looks like some fans here cant handle some discussions how the game cud be better. Maybe cause of the issues sincerely are negative and quit harsh and individual criticism versus a player or manager. If you only want to discuss positive things its ok for me - but team can only develop if Zola analyses the game and get those weak spots more qualitative. For fans in a forum its oc a big issue to discuss - how can we become better. This discussion has nothing to do with fans involvment of love and passion. If you cant stand the heat - get out of the kitchen is a well known saying suitable for professional level of sports. This meeting shud take place. At the moment it looks like GFZ dont have the teams mental level or the tactical items in order. The mental things he most certainly will solve but i am not certain he will get his tactical level up. On this matter i think he shud get some assistance...Graham Taylor ? Opponents shud in my opinion be videoalanyzed and spot those weak links. It cant be just a discussion about formations...sometimes we shud change pressure inside the game, change formations in the run (for ex forwards and defenders change place within a 45 second visit on ice in a faceoff in ishockey several times). Other example...at Wembley when we where down 0-1 and had that last 15 min to get level. What did the manager...we didnt throw up any players, didnt try to get some pressure, pressure...throw long balls, get corner etc. Manager shud be able to react, players aswell...feel those momentums inside the game! We have to have some players running at 100 % pace , try to get behind their backline. Players are too static to their place on field - places can and shud be changed according to passing and play. Someone told that i havent seen any games...i watch every game thats on SKY and streamed around the globe. 3 games so far. Enough to understand and comp those who are worried about our game. I critized McGugan at early stage. Ok on a dead ball! But but...looks like a big and strong player but loose on 50/50 battle. Sloppy passing aswell. Iriney dont give any energy for us when space for a GO forward. Murray much better. Therefore it was strange to take off Murray last game! In these games i have seen we look like a team that opponent cud score against every time they attack! We must go back to basics and shut down the defence with 4 at backline. Doyley,Ekstrand, Angella and Nosworthy as soon as possible. Play Murray in every game! McGugan and Iriney cud be a let go IF we cud find replacements. The world is big. Send out some scouts to the streets of Brazil or buy Alexei Eremenko! The triangel up front shud be Deeney - XXXXXX and FF. Deeeny need a player that make some space for him. Vydra did that. We have two players that have the same problem. They are qiut fun to watch and can do 1-2 nice movements and fints...good players but inside the box loose their presence...and lack of selfconfidens. Fabbrini and Forrestieri. Fabbrinis pace was nice last game, did almost come alone with goalie but falls down buy his own like that...FF need some str8 forward going. Someone wrote here that he stops up the game when we have the moment to push hard and str8 versus opponents goal. I agree fully with that. Do we have too many italian players in our team? Mix wrong? I personally hope GFZ is our manager for a long time. He oc affects players willingness to come to our great club! He just need some discussion partner with the tactis. I have said it before...i still think he shud sit high up in the stands to see the game. Radio or GSM with the player exchanges. He will see game better from higher stands! Didnt GT do that aswell ? Sorry if i offended someone yesterday cause my frustration :/ Weak point that shud be solved IMO: middfield Weak players Iriney and McGugan.
For me Deeney needs to up his work rate and improve his movement off the ball... he is too static and waiting for things to happen As for the rest of the team they need to get back to basics and first win the right to play. Disappointing run but could have easily beaten Derby, the no goal at Brighton probably deprived us of a win there and leicester are on a great run and we could have lost to them even if we were in better form ourselves. Angella was right in saying we are playing as a bunch of individuals..... surprising we didn't do this more last season. If the heavy defeat gives all a kick up the backside perhaps yesterdays defeat may not have been all bad. A smaller defeat or a sneaky draw may have papered over the cracks. Just a shame we haven't got a midweek game to get this loss out of the system.
It seems to me we have looked much more dangerous in a 3-4-3 formation, so we should give that a go, with Iriney(McE) in front of the back 3, Anya & Faraoni wide, McGugan or Murray at the point of the triangle, with F, F & Deeney up front, but with either of the 2 F's being able to interchange with each other or the most attacking midfielder. And we also need to start all future games at a proper tempo, or no formation will be any good.
The differences are clear to see: The central midfield three are 1/3 what we had last term - no Abdi and no Chalobah leave big gaps to fill, we haven't sorted that just yet, Vydra is a big loss, he took so much attention away from Deeney, which enabled him to thrive as well. It's not over yet by a long chalk but we need to plug the gaps for sure. 3,4,3 or 4,3,3 may be the answer but whatever it is, it needs to be found soon! Hopefully the trip up to 'boro will be worthwhile, don't give up on the team just yet - when they are in full flight they are a thing of beauty....
Theres lots of very wise and some not so posts on here, but I haven't seen anyone criticise fessi for his stupid challenge. Shirt pulling right in front of the ref in a dangerous area. And now 2 stupid unnecesary yellows in consecutive games will mean he is banned for a game.
Its a bit like an Italian sports car this team. When it goes it's a thing of beauty. But it's currently in the garage and the mechanic is rubbing his hands in glee while he thinks of the bill
