Vardy

With Riccardo, Evans, Soyuncu, and Armartey all crocked, we have no choice but to play:
Justin; Fofana; Morgan; Castagne

In addition, Ndidi, Praet & Maddison are out of contention (or at least in Maddison's case semi-ambulant therefore presumably will not play more than 45mins at the most) it is not likely therefore that LCFC have the resources to completely nullify the counter-attacking threat of Grealish, Watkins & Barkley (which looms large, whether you care to admit it or not) so the target must be to mitigate it. So how to do?

Mendy has to play, but with the 3 Villa players mentioned above he's not noted for his strength, so isn't going to stop them on a charge. Him being alone they will run him ragged, piss through him, and when they do they will be a set of dangerous fuckers with 3 on 2 and the keeper. We cannot afford to allow that. No-one can offer aid. Tielemans will be the only help available in that m/f area and they will glide past him like there's no-one there (McGinn may even falsely engage Youri to permit smoother passage, that would be my tactic). We will find it difficult to operate with tight defensive lines - we haven't the personnel to set up that way. Unless we shore up the holes, the only answer is ostensibly a negative one - Choudhury, but needs must. Thus we have a m/f three of Choudhury, Mendy & Tielemans.

The final selection is Brendan's most telling. This will determine whether he is man or mouse. Vardy should not start according to injury reports and knowing Vardy as we do. If he can manage a 20 mins cameo at the back end, god love him, but please Brendan don't fuck him up for the sake of one game against a whole panoply of fixtures to come.

Where does that leave us? Well, we know (thankfully) Barnes is a shoo-in, so two more.

We have two scenarios:

1. The natural/regular replacement for Vardy would be Iheanacho, who would be complemeted/guarded by Barnes and perhaps Perez in wide roles, each narrowing down to strike areas to provide a partner when the attack is on the other side. An option to this play would be Under wide right, on-and-off exchanging flanks with Barnes.

2. Leftfield thinking may result in Slimani taking responsibility as line leader (not a bad idea against Villa - Konsa & Mings can get rattled) which scenario would demand perhaps Albrighton and Barnes as providers with intent to strike when patrolling the narrow side. If BR believes that Under could be more devastating than Sharkey, then fine - select the young Turk.

So my team for tomorrow would be:

Scenario 1

Schmeicel
Justin; Fofana; Morgan; Castagne
Choudhury, Mendy, Tielemans
Perez/Under, Iheanacho, Barnes

Scenario 2

Schmeicel
Justin; Fofana; Morgan; Castagne
Choudhury, Mendy, Tielemans
Albrighton/Under, Slimani, Barnes

I commend this to you gentlemen, and await your total destruction of my footballing wherewithal.

BLUE ARMY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Much as a Mendy/Choudhury pairing would normally please me as much as a white hot needle up the jap's eye, needs must. Hopefully they might allow Tim to get forward and cause the damage we know he can. Without Vardy though... Anyway, decent shouts. I'd go with Sc. 1 and Perez to start with. Slimani in reserve to change things around if that doesn't work (who'dathoughit?). They say hope isn't a strategy but we ain't got much else (maybe Luke Thomas might be woth a punt at some stage if fit and we need a spark).
 
If he goes for Choudhury and Mendy Rodgers will be slated for it but I think he’ll do so. He has favoured two DM’s many times before often in games where I don’t feel it was warranted. Today I agree it’s warranted to try to protect our defence.

As for up front I’d like to see him play Perez in the middle with Slimane off the bench, or vice versa, so option 2 for me with Under as the wide man.
 
He could still play Fuchs centrally. It would mean Choudhry wouldn't need to start. This is Villa - not LCFC in 2015-16 pomp :p;)

If he does play 4-4-2 then Albrighton should start ahead of Under.

Not having Vardy for this sort of game isn't a huge concern for me. Villa would've sat back anyway and he would have had his usual game whereby he wouldn't be able to bring players into the game and would have maximum 5 touches in a first half.

Unless Nacho is playing without limbs then Slims name as a starter or even as more than 15 minutes shouldn't be given airtime.
 
Bruin said:
With Riccardo, Evans, Soyuncu, and Armartey all crocked, we have no choice but to play:
Justin; Fofana; Morgan; Castagne

In addition, Ndidi, Praet & Maddison are out of contention (or at least in Maddison's case semi-ambulant therefore presumably will not play more than 45mins at the most) it is not likely therefore that LCFC have the resources to completely nullify the counter-attacking threat of Grealish, Watkins & Barkley (which looms large, whether you care to admit it or not) so the target must be to mitigate it. So how to do?

Mendy has to play, but with the 3 Villa players mentioned above he's not noted for his strength, so isn't going to stop them on a charge. Him being alone they will run him ragged, piss through him, and when they do they will be a set of dangerous fuckers with 3 on 2 and the keeper. We cannot afford to allow that. No-one can offer aid. Tielemans will be the only help available in that m/f area and they will glide past him like there's no-one there (McGinn may even falsely engage Youri to permit smoother passage, that would be my tactic). We will find it difficult to operate with tight defensive lines - we haven't the personnel to set up that way. Unless we shore up the holes, the only answer is ostensibly a negative one - Choudhury, but needs must. Thus we have a m/f three of Choudhury, Mendy & Tielemans.

The final selection is Brendan's most telling. This will determine whether he is man or mouse. Vardy should not start according to injury reports and knowing Vardy as we do. If he can manage a 20 mins cameo at the back end, god love him, but please Brendan don't fuck him up for the sake of one game against a whole panoply of fixtures to come.

Where does that leave us? Well, we know (thankfully) Barnes is a shoo-in, so two more.

We have two scenarios:

1. The natural/regular replacement for Vardy would be Iheanacho, who would be complemeted/guarded by Barnes and perhaps Perez in wide roles, each narrowing down to strike areas to provide a partner when the attack is on the other side. An option to this play would be Under wide right, on-and-off exchanging flanks with Barnes.

2. Leftfield thinking may result in Slimani taking responsibility as line leader (not a bad idea against Villa - Konsa & Mings can get rattled) which scenario would demand perhaps Albrighton and Barnes as providers with intent to strike when patrolling the narrow side. If BR believes that Under could be more devastating than Sharkey, then fine - select the young Turk.

So my team for tomorrow would be:

Scenario 1

Schmeicel
Justin; Fofana; Morgan; Castagne
Choudhury, Mendy, Tielemans
Perez/Under, Iheanacho, Barnes

Scenario 2

Schmeicel
Justin; Fofana; Morgan; Castagne
Choudhury, Mendy, Tielemans
Albrighton/Under, Slimani, Barnes

I commend this to you gentlemen, and await your total destruction of my footballing wherewithal.

BLUE ARMY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
Good post Bruin
 
Nagerz said:
Defo start with Albrighton if Slimani starting.
Click to expand...
If slimani was on, luke Thomas is your man for crosses. Showed enough in the few games back end of the season that he was very competent at crossing.
Not that our coaching/ management team would know a decent deliverer of a cross If it smacked them in the face.
Just look at chilwells dead ball delivery at chelsea while we’ve had to put up with Maddison’s shit the last couple of years.
 
The teamsheet Tanner just posted has Evans in with Fofana, Slimani on the bench, Ihaenacho and Perez up front.
 
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