Holmes_and_Watson

RM snippets... For a long time in the game, I thought we were really good. Broke through their press a lot. Pressed well. Stole the ball off them. Comes to nothing if we're 4 v 4 around their box, and we're not ruthless and they are. Conceding the second goal is difficult, but it can't descend into what it descended into after that. It's madness. So in the game at 1-0 (did think it was both offside and a foul, but not blaming the 5-0 on it). Started the second half really well. Our moments don't come to enough and we defend pathetically after we go 2 goals down. First half was high level, very tactical. I thought both teams pressed well. Both teams struggled to get a real flow with the ball. 2 aggressive teams without the ball. .2nd half, it was a lovely energy we started with causing them some real problems. 2nd goal takes the sting out of it. Need to regroup but didn't. After that we go into self preservation mode, individually. It's the worst thing you can do in football, to try and protect yourself. To feel as though you're just doing enough in your bit, rather than help your team mate. And I don't like that trait in my team one bit today. And that really hurts. In rectifying it, Martin said they'd approach it like they always do, win, lose or draw. We'll show them the brilliant build up play they did. But it's pointless if you don't make the most of it. We broke their press so many times. Che came and took the ball which was fantastic. The players who want to fight, care the most, and who want to run the most will play.

Oh that's easy. The players RM watches on videos of Barcelona and Manchester City. The ones just like them, brought in on SR's policy of them being under 10, wanting a tiny wage and giving up any natural talent to retain possession, before being sold on for a profit. Those players.

Don't worry. It won't be for long. 🙂

That was a lesson in just how far we've come under Martin. Outclassed by a much better organised, capable side. Absolute insistence in playing a system, where we don't have players capable of being effective in it. Leicester looked expansive, strong and capable. They were happy to use their possession effectively. We tried and failed to do what we always do, and had no answers. We have games with effective spells, only to fail to manage them and drop points. Then there are games like this where the system fails, and we don't have anything else. Two of our three starting midfielders out, and the one who can actually pass a ball, in Smallbone dropped so that we can play someone out of position there. You can see, even after this time, players unable to play a natural game, but also unable to do anything within the instructions they are given. The players who are there, haven't been coached to bring the best out of them, in the tactic. Even to perform a set role in it, would be an improvement. RM doesn't help himself even more, by switching fullbacks. Or in playing Rothwell and Brooks from the start. Both of whom have already been shown to weaken his own system. Add that to McCarthy who isn't as good at distributing the ball and it had disaster written all over it.

A nothing run from Edozie.

Stephens with a lame chip. Oddly, right in the only position Rothwell has done well in. He'd would have scored.

Edozie fails to get it across. They are on a counter, because our system over commits. Although tonight, with no midfield, it's even easier for them.

Vardy has been taking up excellent positions all night. They pass right through us and he, unlike anyone we have, is clinical.

Well, if you're going to allow them to walk the ball into shooting positions...

Possibly our best chance, but Edozie offside again. No telling final ball from him.

Leicester centre half, played by Boris Karloff, finally gets a booking. For mouthing, rather than for all the nasty tackles.

Manning a mile off his man. Although we gave it away in our own half, and gave lots of space for the ball to come in

Manning on. Bree not terrible. Just that RM played the fullbacks on the wrong sides. Edozie on for Brooks, allowing another switch to correct sides for AA. Not that it matters as the second goes in

Sadly RM's possession stat is largely due to Leicester stepping off, once they went one up. But RM sticks to plan A. Not only in all the games we concede a lead. But also in games where we clearly don't play the personnel who can implement it. Charles, who looked very unlikely to control and drive the game; Aribo who very unlikely to pass forward or control a game and Rothwell who looks to have never played in midfield, and very out of place. So, disjointed across the team. McCarthy not as good as Baz's distribution, and with no midfield to pass to. Che comes deep as part of the tactic, but he was doing Charles' job on occasion. Urgency and bravery isn't going to happen if you're so poorly set up. Second half hopefully with more than 0.08 xG

Russ, The modern Samson. 🙂 I saw that one coming. I originally put fluent, then realised I'd get "shame it's not in football."

Terrible offside call there.

Smallbone on for 2 seconds, and we already look much more fluid.

That the end of the game for Rothwell. Sadly before he started it. Not a fit for whatever RM is asking of him.

Brooks and Rothwell link up...throw in to Leicester And off they go on another attack right through us. Elsewhere, KWP is very aware of us having to go direct. Sadly, no one, especially Aribo, bothers to pick him out.

Baz would have saved that! 🙂

Well, that was coming from the first minute.

9 shots for them after 20 mins. Grim.

Well done Bedders, who looks back up the pitch, knowing it's going to be a long evening, if things don't change.

Leicester are putting in some harsh challenges. Dewsbury Hall rolling around after a tackle from us. Diving so much a part of his game.

Physicists will be investigating that sudden gravity well that caused Rothwell to collapse, at half time.