Fulham 1 - 1 Leicester Post Match Thread

[fuchsntf]

2 hours ago, Dames said:

I think the position in the league really skews things. As someone has mentioned outside the top 6 most teams have been inconsistent and there was a big opportunity for us to capitalise on that and build some momentum and put a good run together. My main criticisms are the same as yours, the strange changes from game to game, the lack of quality up front, the fact is every CM we have is a CDM type player, very unbalanced squad that doesn't fit the formation he's trying to play.

 

If there was just a little consistency to his decisions we really could have built some momentum but at the minute the team changes game to game and it shows, we've looked disjointed for many games now. The league position papers over the cracks a little I don't think anybody can come away and say they've really enjoyed the football we've played this season.

 

He's stubborn in the way he has to constantly tinkers with the lineups but not the formation. We don't have the players for this 4-2-3-1 formation at the moment but he's trying to shoehorn everybody in instead of picking a settled team.

Pray tell what players should consistently stick with. That fits into your ideas.

This mixture of this forum shows,no matter who he selects,or the formation he choses,there are so many different variables,so if you aren't

complaining someone else will. We have had from the beginning  of the season,players with injuries,others getting knocks,or out of form.

I for one have said we are lacking quality within any depth we have.We've had from last season new investments that have been mis-hits.

We are having to take on a sort of pik n mix approach from the uneasy selection possibilties. Not more than 3-4,outfield players are showing

any form,that they should be seen as an automatic 1st choice.But the fans should of realised this problem.

Puel or any manager would have a thankless task,this squad isn't as good as some will have us believe....It was always going to be a long haul,

not an immediate or obvious transition...In some positions we just don't have decent quality cover.That can't be put at Puel s feet,no way was he going to be given,or the recruitment team asked to buy in bulk!! 

Over all the years knowledge of reality,where do some posters get the idea,the Summer recruitment would solve all problems,and that all tracked players,are ready n willing to join us!!!!

We already have experienced a poor recruitment drive,that has left the potential-bank empty.

If one of Iborra or Silva had been well above average,our play and style would of been totally different.

If one of the young wannabes strikers,had just been avg,we would have a positive conversion rate,because no matter how poor we suppose to be, we are still creating gilt edge chances...

 

We have seen,under Puel players turn around or up their potential.....Mendy,Amartey Pereira who many at the beginning of the season were trashing.

Surprisingly but positively Morgan has held his own.

Chilwell despite negative posts is paying back the belief and trust,others(like myself) seen in him.

 

3 weeks ago,some posters were wanting to hang Puel,for keeping to Pereira,

now they want to hang him because after a reported knock( no idea) because he wasn't selected for the Fulham game.I

I actually find Puel consistent,with his ideas!!! He's giving all the resources in his grasp,

either because of their youth, or pennies spent,more chances than they would of got in other circumstances....but to be fair he had to give

them,the last and this season.

Many were either just  breaking through showing potential,others had just been brought in,and more was expected from them

.Then there others we haven't been able to move on....

 

I don't believe it's right to heap at Puel s door,the recruitment failings of the club,and what he first had to give a chance to see if they would

realise their potential,because they were simply here when he took over,and after  quite a bit of money had been dished out,to get them into the club..

As it as panned out,Puel or any manager was onto a loser,so many were to be proven blanks!!!

The last summer window,was never going to be his,to make big changes. The owners would have mentioned,we have players,not 2 full seasons experienced,a youth potential slowly growing and showing!!!

Plus 3 big investments in Iborra,Silva and Maguire!!!!  1st get on with it!!! And show we can build and develope 1st from what we have.Then we will invest slowly.

 

It's hard,but it's necessary to rebuild and develope,from what Ranieri,Shakespeare plus the recruitment team wasted.

Pearson developed a great set up over years ,Ranieri wasted it within 9 months!!! Because of Italian machoism,of how he thought

the playing discipline must change,ignoring the season he had just witnessed....

Puel is starting,not from scratch,but from a very instabile squad,and B.Room staff!!! That requires time!!!

Gratefully we aren't doing it from a Championship position. We as a club, have failed to build on our title eupheria. 

Puel has mentioned ,is having to rebuild from,square one!!! Though there is a potential within  he can build on!!

 

 

 

Edited 6 December 2018 by fuchsntf

[l444ry]

The unbeaten run needs to be taken in the context of having played 5 of the teams in the bottom 8. 

[Dames]

1 hour ago, turtmcfly said:

 

I'd be interested to see a list of the 'tinkerings' that have occurred which you know were Puel's choice, as opposed to those with were forced upon him by injuries/suspensions/international duties/aftermath of the helicopter incident.

 

 

 

Last night for example he took out Vardy, Gray and Ricardo. Okay Vardy was injured but the other two weren't? And its not uncommon if trawl back through the starting lineups regularly to see players like Ghezzal and Diabate constantly coming in for one game and then disappearing for a few weeks again - our attack is extremely unsettled and lacking in confidence and the consistent changes are not helping. They are no good for anybody because these players don't know if they are coming or going and it adds unneeded pressure to them to perform and it doesnt give them a chance to build any form because they don't know when they'll be back in the team again.. Another example is one minute Ricardo is a right back the next he's an attacking right winger. How is the team able to build any consistency? You can tell the decisions in the attacking sense are majority Puels choice because the players he's dropped are on the bench and come on and play fine.

 

[Dames]

43 minutes ago, kingfox said:

How is he meant to pick a settled team when we have at least one injury problem every week?

 

Amartey long term injury.

Maguire's been out for a few weeks.

Evans gets a chance, 3 clean sheets in 4 games with him in the side, then gets injured.

Ghezzal out for a few weeks.

Vardy in and out with constant niggling problems.

 

We've also had a few suspensions this season which hasn't helped matters.

 

He has been forced to change things most weeks.

 

On paper our strongest starting 11 is pretty damn good; however he hasn't been able to field our strongest side because every week we seem to come across a new problem, whether it's another injury or a suspension.

 

That's not his fault  

He wasn't forced to take out Gray and Ricardo last night but he did. I've mentioned before but if you look back through his lineups especially in regards to our attack its constantly changing. You see either an out of form Diabate or Ghezzal appearing in one game and not the next and the players that performed well in the previous game are dropped to the bench.

 

One minute Ricardo is a winger and next he's a right back. Another Maddison is central and the next he's on the left. There is no consistency and thats why we are really struggling to score from open play at the minute.

 

Yes there have been injuries but a lot of the changes really are unforced.

[fuchsntf]

5 minutes ago, l444ry said:

The unbeaten run needs to be taken in the context of having played 5 of the teams in the bottom 8. 

Any other season we would of lost....context taken!!

[AlloverthefloorYesNdidi]

Just now, Dames said:

He wasn't forced to take out Gray and Ricardo last night but he did. I've mentioned before but if you look back through his lineups especially in regards to our attack its constantly changing. You see either an out of form Diabate or Ghezzal appearing in one game and not the next and the players that performed well in the previous game are dropped to the bench.

 

One minute Ricardo is a winger and next he's a right back. Another Maddison is central and the next he's on the left. There is no consistency and thats why we are really struggling to score from open play at the minute.

 

Yes there have been injuries but a lot of the changes really are unforced.

There has to be some risk management in these decisions also.

 

What if he plays Ricardo and Gray for 90 minutes in all of these games and one or both of them get injured?

 

We already have a depleted squad and another 1 or 2 injuries would completely f**k us for December

 

 

 

 

[l444ry]

1 minute ago, fuchsntf said:

Any other season we would of lost....context taken!!

Haha. Who knows? But I think facts trump emotional feeling fuchsntf.

[coolhandfox]

9 minutes ago, l444ry said:

The unbeaten run needs to be taken in the context of having played 5 of the teams in the bottom 8. 

If you can keep picking up points and stay unbeaten it doesn't matter who its against.

 

It breeds confidence, we are in improving slowly.

[fuchsntf]

4 minutes ago, l444ry said:

Haha. Who knows? But I think facts trump emotional feeling fuchsntf.

Facts..ffs!!!  it was known over decades,we always struggle against bottom teams,that has nothing to do with emotion!!

[Beechey]

15 minutes ago, AlloverthefloorYesNdidi said:

There has to be some risk management in these decisions also.

 

What if he plays Ricardo and Gray for 90 minutes in all of these games and one or both of them get injured?

 

We already have a depleted squad and another 1 or 2 injuries would completely f**k us for December

 

 

 

 

Well then we'd berate him for being so reckless with our squad and call for him to be sacked.

 

Edited 6 December 2018 by Beechey

[turtmcfly]

24 minutes ago, Dames said:

Last night for example he took out Vardy, Gray and Ricardo. Okay Vardy was injured but the other two weren't? And its not uncommon if trawl back through the starting lineups regularly to see players like Ghezzal and Diabate constantly coming in for one game and then disappearing for a few weeks again - our attack is extremely unsettled and lacking in confidence and the consistent changes are not helping. They are no good for anybody because these players don't know if they are coming or going and it adds unneeded pressure to them to perform and it doesnt give them a chance to build any form because they don't know when they'll be back in the team again.. Another example is one minute Ricardo is a right back the next he's an attacking right winger. How is the team able to build any consistency? You can tell the decisions in the attacking sense are majority Puels choice because the players he's dropped are on the bench and come on and play fine.

 

A fully fit Vardy plays 80mins+ every game.

 

Given he hasn't been properly fit (not to mention his suspension), which of Iheanacho, Gray or Shinji would you have 'settled' on as a replacement?

 

[TJB-fox]

I must admit I am Puel in but, I’m just genuinely interested as to whether fans think a different manager would have us in a better position? I’m taking our unbeaten record with a pinch of salt, partnered with the fact we have been absolutely shocking at times this year including last night BUT in overall context, Leicester City seem to be in a pretty good position right now. There does seem to be a pretty harsh agenda against Puel right now, I’m not sure there would be as much criticism if we had a different manager in that hadn’t initially had as much scrutiny when appointed. I’m sure if we swapped positions with Southampton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace etc we’d all be dying for a manager like Puel and a situation we’re currently in. 

[Ricey]

Such a weird season.

 

We are 1 point off 6th and into the Quarters of the cup and yet as time goes on I am reservations and concerns about Puel are being more and more reaffirmed.

 

I don't think he is getting anywhere near the full potential out of this team and I'm really struggling to convince myself that he ever will.

[Dames]

25 minutes ago, AlloverthefloorYesNdidi said:

There has to be some risk management in these decisions also.

 

What if he plays Ricardo and Gray for 90 minutes in all of these games and one or both of them get injured?

 

We already have a depleted squad and another 1 or 2 injuries would completely f**k us for December

 

 

 

 

So you're saying that we can't play our best players ever because of risk to injury?

 

Besides that their 'replacements' could just as easily get injured and they'd be drafted back in playing and 'at risk'.

[BKLFox]

20 minutes ago, Dames said:

He wasn't forced to take out Gray and Ricardo last night but he did. I've mentioned before but if you look back through his lineups especially in regards to our attack its constantly changing. You see either an out of form Diabate or Ghezzal appearing in one game and not the next and the players that performed well in the previous game are dropped to the bench.

 

One minute Ricardo is a winger and next he's a right back. Another Maddison is central and the next he's on the left. There is no consistency and thats why we are really struggling to score from open play at the minute.

 

Yes there have been injuries but a lot of the changes really are unforced.

9 games in 30 days he is using his squad, he probably looked at the Fulham game as a more winnable game than Spurs & thought i'll put 2 of the fringe players in for this to give them game time for when/if i need them later in the month & rest 2 starters for the Spurs game because thats all he changed, Vardy was forced, some making out 5 or 6 changes were made with comments of why's he putting a cup team out.

[Dames]

3 minutes ago, turtmcfly said:

A fully fit Vardy plays 80mins+ every game.

 

Given he hasn't been properly fit (not to mention his suspension), which of Iheanacho, Gray or Shinji would you have 'settled' on as a replacement?

 

If i'm Puel and sticking stubbornly to 4-2-3-1 i'd stick with Nacho and give him a run of games to build his confidence. But its not just the Striker position thats constantly changing (Even if it is due to injury) the 3 behind are rarely ever the same 2 games in a row wether thats due to injury or not.

 

Personally with Vardy out i'd go 2 up top but thats a whole other debate.

[AlloverthefloorYesNdidi]

1 minute ago, Dames said:

So you're saying that we can't play our best players ever because of risk to injury?

 

Besides that their 'replacements' could just as easily get injured and they'd be drafted back in playing and 'at risk'.

Playing 90 minutes every 3 days has its wear and tear.  If you looked at other teams yesterday they rested their top players aswell and their performances suffered because of it.  Liverpool for example

 

You  think Puel wants to play Danny Simpson at RB?

 

 

[somebum]

24 minutes ago, fuchsntf said:

Facts..ffs!!!  it was known over decades,we always struggle against bottom teams,that has nothing to do with emotion!!

Chat sh!t

 

 

[Dames]

1 minute ago, BKLFox said:

9 games in 30 days he is using his squad, he probably looked at the Fulham game as a more winnable game than Spurs & thought i'll put 2 of the fringe players in for this to give them game time for when/if i need them later in the month & rest 2 starters for the Spurs game because thats all he changed, Vardy was forced, some making out 5 or 6 changes were made with comments of why's he putting a cup team out.

Sorry but common sense dictates that if you have a run of games coming up especially with a few tricky fixtures in there you go full strength for the winnable games and then maybe rest players for the not so winnable ones. Also there is motivation factor as well - the players drafted in last night know they are in purely because its deemed as inferior opposition and probably know they will be out when we play the good team. That doesn't really motivate you does it? Only playing against 'crap' teams. I think the opposite would have had a better effect - play the 'cup squad' against a 'bigger' team and give them a bigger platform to show what they can do.

 

In the end going with a 'weakend' team for a winnable fixture has sort of backfired. A point is better than none but really we should have got all 3.

 

 

[Dames]

2 minutes ago, AlloverthefloorYesNdidi said:

Playing 90 minutes every 3 days has its wear and tear.  If you looked at other teams yesterday they rested their top players aswell and their performances suffered because of it.  Liverpool for example

 

You  think Puel wants to play Danny Simpson at RB?

 

 

Did you forget that we won the league with barely any rotation? The same players busting a gut over 90 minutes week in week out even in busy periods?

 

These are professional atheletes they should be able to perform every 3 days for a short period of time. That arguement is null and void i'm afraid.

[TJB-fox]

1 minute ago, Dames said:

Did you forget that we won the league with barely any rotation? The same players busting a gut over 90 minutes week in week out even in busy periods?

 

These are professional atheletes they should be able to perform every 3 days for a short period of time. That arguement is null and void i'm afraid.

Why does every club in the premier league do it then?

[AlloverthefloorYesNdidi]

Just now, Dames said:

Did you forget that we won the league with barely any rotation? The same players busting a gut over 90 minutes week in week out even in busy periods?

 

These are professional atheletes they should be able to perform every 3 days for a short period of time. That arguement is null and void i'm afraid.

Many have said we were lucky with a lack of injuries that season and we went out of both cups early

 

This season Maguire has been injured, Vardy is struggling with his groin significantly, we've lost Amartey who has been an increasingly important player:   its not null and void

 

 

 

 

[turtmcfly]

4 minutes ago, Dames said:

If i'm Puel and sticking stubbornly to 4-2-3-1 i'd stick with Nacho and give him a run of games to build his confidence. But its not just the Striker position thats constantly changing (Even if it is due to injury) the 3 behind are rarely ever the same 2 games in a row wether thats due to injury or not.

  

Personally with Vardy out i'd go 2 up top but thats a whole other debate.

You can't just say 'even if it is due to injury' then continue to moan about Puel's selections as though it wasn't!

 

Well, you can, but you look like a, you know...

 

 

[Dames]

Just now, TJB-fox said:

Why does every club in the premier league do it then?

The bigger teams have quality players in every position so swapping Bernardo Silva for Mahrez at Man City isn't going to be the same as swapping Maddison for Ghezzal or Gray for Diabate.

 

The smaller teams actually go full strength for teams in and around them and rotate against the bigger teams because they have common sense and are not arrogant. We are not a big enough club to be fielding a weakened side against Fulham its pure arrogance.

[Dames]

Just now, turtmcfly said:

You can't just say 'even if it is due to injury' then continue to moan about Puel's selections as though it wasn't!

 

Well, you can, but you look like a, you know...

 

 

I'm 'moaning' about the fact that its not settled. If there is an injury then leave Vardy out - let him recover and give someone else a chance to come in and get a run of games to build some form. Instead we are pulling in Vardy for a game when he's half fit then having to leave him out. There is no consistency.

 

You're blindly sticking to one point (injuries) and not acknowledging anything else and then inferring name calling. You overlooked the fact I said the 3 behind the striker are not injured but are constantly rotated thats what i'm mostly 'moaning' about.