Leicester 2 v Wolves 0: The Verdict Thread

[SSB]

What a chant. Favourite part of the day.

We've got Jonny du du du du du, oh Willy Boly du du du du du, Rui Patricioooooo, Neves and Moutinhoooooo.

 

[jd1981]

I don't think you're going to win the league now. Europa League maybe? :icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

Auww goes to all the trouble to set up an account just for the purpose of winding people up, think someone needs to get a girlfriend.

 

[slink]

Well that was such a strange game. We came flying out of the blocks and could have been 3 up after 25 minutes but just 20 minutes later found ourselves 2 behind without looking like conceding. Not sure we'll concede another goal like those 2 all season. We were clearly on top but still we have several players playing below their best and if they can reach their true ability we will be more than fine. Players wise:-

Patricio - Nothing to do really. 1 save late on and one cross claimed but after from that all he did was pick the ball out the goal twice.

Bennett - The best of the back 3 again. Much better than the Bennett at Norwich and while he's not great on the ball he does defend well.

Coady - Doesn't look as comfortable in this role as he did last season but was better than last week. Should have closed Maddison down and not turned his back for the second goal.

Boly - Still nowhere near the Willy Boly of last year. Not as comfortable on the ball and looks uncomfortable in some defensive situations. 3 or 4 times he swung a leg at the ball and was beaten to it and he just disn't do that last year. Needs to settle down.

Doherty - Unlucky with the own goal in a way but his body shape was all over the place and that lead to him heading it where he did. Got forward well a few times early on, one lead to Moutinho's shot off the bar and the other lead to his own chance where he really should have scored. Wasn't great defensively early on against Gray and crossing wasn't the best either in the second half. As i said last week i would have no issue if he was replaced by Jonny with Vinagre coming in on the left.

Neves - Much better in his all round play than he was last week, had one half decent volley late on but nothing else really. Moved the ball well but needs more movement for him to pick teams apart.

Moutinho - Been the better of the 2 midfielders in both games imo. Run the game early on and you can just see how experienced he is. Really unlucky with his effort off the bar which everyone thought was in when he hit it.

Jonny - Probably should have got closer to his man for the first goal but overall he looks quality. Defends superbly and got forward well numerous times especially early on and also int he last 10 minutes where he hit the post. Probably would be better at right back but he's more than capable where he is playing.

Costa - Started well but drifted out of the game far too easily and we just can't have that. Every player is important but when we were on top like we were we need the inside forwards to be on their game and he along with Jota weren't.

Jota - Lost the ball for both of their goals when he really didn't need to be doing it. Has to realise when he can take players on and when he can't at this level. He's losing it far too many times at the minute as we are just about to go forward and it's putting us under a lot of pressure. No surprise he and Costa were hooked at half time.

Jimenez - Looks a very good player at this level. Gives is all and causes all sorts of problems and was unlucky not to have scored again today. His strike off the post was a fantastic effort and his best chance of the second half was a tough one that he couldn't get a good enough connection on. Had a half chance from a Traore cross too but tried to bring it down and was blocked off.

SUBS

Bonatini - Just isn't the player he was at the start of last season. His touch, movement and passing is well off based on today. Might be harsh but Ashley-Seal and Ennis might be better options. Had 2 great chances and fluffed both.

Traore - Started on the left and went past a few players very easily and put of fantastic cross in. Switched over to the right after the red card and every time he got it it looked like he was going to do something, he linked with Jimenez well a few times and against a side who aren't just completely sitting back he could be a real threat. Set Leo up twice but both chances were spurned and put in another couple of decent crosses. One heavy touch and a couple of sloppy passes were in there too but could be some player with his ability to go past players in our system when he's been here a while.

MGW - Didn't really have a position and struggled to influence the game. Not sure where his best position is right now, he's comfortable on the ball but not good enough for central midfield at this level but his touch lets him own in advanced areas far too often.


We have to take our chances but if we play like this most weeks we are going to win a fair amount of games. It's very early on and we are learning but our big players (Jota, Costa, Boly) have to improve and get to the level we know they are capable of. If they do then top half is definitely achievable.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

https://upload.streamja.com/mp4/v0/V0rZ.mp4

I don't think anyone can watch that and say "Doherty couldn't get out of the way". Look at the distance between him and Coady. It was just awful.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Only seeing it once being at the ground, I must say that clip is pretty damning... :/

 

[Boozad]

It’s fucking diabolical. There was no need even hear it, just let it wang out of play. He needs to be replaced permanently.

As for that Huddersfield prick, we’ve banned our own for wumming and that’s blatantly all he’s here to do, can we just fuck him off please?

 

[slink]

No way he gets out of the way once Coady gets a touch on it which he doesn’t expect. Body shape all over the place though which is why he heads it and I would criticise that rather than him not getting out of the way.

 

[SSB]

Doherty was interviewed by 5Live after the game and said “he was already committed to his defensive header” or something along those lines.

 

[Del Woppio]

He couldn't readjust after that deflection. It's really unlucky. Don't get me wrong, rwb was one of my biggest wants this summer, but he hasn't been as bad as is being made out. He's put some shit balls in, as has everybody. He's been in naive positions, as has everybody, he's also done some good on and off the ball, but that shits just invisible to some.

 

[Premier Quality]

Just seen the goals on sky’s extended highlights - Doherty definately didn’t have to head that in his own net, it’s come at him quick but it’s just a massive fuckup. The second is a decent sized deflection, Patrício had no chance.

 

[playtheace]

Well that was such a strange game. We came flying out of the blocks and could have been 3 up after 25 minutes but just 20 minutes later found ourselves 2 behind without looking like conceding. Not sure we'll concede another goal like those 2 all season. We were clearly on top but still we have several players playing below their best and if they can reach their true ability we will be more than fine. Players wise:-

Patricio - Nothing to do really. 1 save late on and one cross claimed but after from that all he did was pick the ball out the goal twice.

Bennett - The best of the back 3 again. Much better than the Bennett at Norwich and while he's not great on the ball he does defend well.

Coady - Doesn't look as comfortable in this role as he did last season but was better than last week. Should have closed Maddison down and not turned his back for the second goal.

Boly - Still nowhere near the Willy Boly of last year. Not as comfortable on the ball and looks uncomfortable in some defensive situations. 3 or 4 times he swung a leg at the ball and was beaten to it and he just disn't do that last year. Needs to settle down.

Doherty - Unlucky with the own goal in a way but his body shape was all over the place and that lead to him heading it where he did. Got forward well a few times early on, one lead to Moutinho's shot off the bar and the other lead to his own chance where he really should have scored. Wasn't great defensively early on against Gray and crossing wasn't the best either in the second half. As i said last week i would have no issue if he was replaced by Jonny with Vinagre coming in on the left.

Neves - Much better in his all round play than he was last week, had one half decent volley late on but nothing else really. Moved the ball well but needs more movement for him to pick teams apart.

Moutinho - Been the better of the 2 midfielders in both games imo. Run the game early on and you can just see how experienced he is. Really unlucky with his effort off the bar which everyone thought was in when he hit it.

Jonny - Probably should have got closer to his man for the first goal but overall he looks quality. Defends superbly and got forward well numerous times especially early on and also int he last 10 minutes where he hit the post. Probably would be better at right back but he's more than capable where he is playing.

Costa - Started well but drifted out of the game far too easily and we just can't have that. Every player is important but when we were on top like we were we need the inside forwards to be on their game and he along with Jota weren't.

Jota - Lost the ball for both of their goals when he really didn't need to be doing it. Has to realise when he can take players on and when he can't at this level. He's losing it far too many times at the minute as we are just about to go forward and it's putting us under a lot of pressure. No surprise he and Costa were hooked at half time.

Jimenez - Looks a very good player at this level. Gives is all and causes all sorts of problems and was unlucky not to have scored again today. His strike off the post was a fantastic effort and his best chance of the second half was a tough one that he couldn't get a good enough connection on. Had a half chance from a Traore cross too but tried to bring it down and was blocked off.

SUBS

Bonatini - Just isn't the player he was at the start of last season. His touch, movement and passing is well off based on today. Might be harsh but Ashley-Seal and Ennis might be better options. Had 2 great chances and fluffed both.

Traore - Started on the left and went past a few players very eaily and put of fantastic cross in. Switched over to the right after the red card and every time he got it it looked like he was going to do something, he linked with Jimenez well a few times and against a side who aren't just completely sitting back he could be a real threat. Set Leo up twice but both chances were spurned and put in another couple of decent crosses. One heavy touch and a couple of sloppy passes were in their too but could be some player with his ability to go past players in our system when he's been here a while.

MGW - Didn't really have a position and struggled to influence the game. Not sure where his best position is right now, he's comfortable on the ball but not good enough for central midfield at this level but his touch lets him own in advanced areas far too often.


We have to take our chances but if we play like this most weeks we are going to win a fair amount of games. It's very early on and we are learning but our big players (Jota, Costa, Boly) have to improve and get to the level we know they are capable of. If they do then top half is definitely achievable.

Best summary yet.

 

[playtheace]

Just an observation but .....had Neves not had the long treatment for the Maddison foul, then the Leicester manager doesn't get that time to talk to the players and change his tactics which started to press our midfield.

 

[VanWolfie]

https://upload.streamja.com/mp4/v0/V0rZ.mp4

I don't think anyone can watch that and say "Doherty couldn't get out of the way". Look at the distance between him and Coady. It was just awful.

I'm with you, Deutsch, on this one. I thought it was the Docherty comedy of errors show when I was watching it live on TV. First he misses an open goal when it was easier to score, then he heads a brilliant goal, hang on, wrong net, and in the second half when two Wolves players were wide open waiting for the cross on the break, he overcooks the cross and it flies over everyone's head. It was the most pathetic performance I have seen by any Wolves player since 1953. If you look closely at the clip, you will not only see the distance between him and Cody, giving him ample time to react, but you can also see how he flicks his head at the ball as if determined to head the ball front on with his forehead, which if he were attacking would be the correct thing to do. But he was the defender and, regrettably, was not even distraught after such a schoolboy error. Well, thanks to Vardy's red mist which gave Nuno a good reason to replace him, I think we will have seen the last of Docherty at this level. Absolutely atrocious and so comical that it makes a long term Wolves fan want to weep!

 

[Papper]

Players like Moutinho, Jiminez, Neves and to an extent Castro are ready and have hit the ground running but I feel for players like Jota and Costa who have a sharp upward learning curve and it will take them a bit of time to bed in (and I'm sure they will). Traore is going to benefit greatly linking with Moutinho and Neves - think he'll be in amongst the goals, he's such a presence in there (if a little naïve). Overall I am quite optimistic and while not expecting us to be anywhere near seventh I see a team that can put at least fifty-fifty five points on the board.

Teams like Everton and Leicester are PL savvy and will not take much notice of how another team may have more possession and it's certainly nothing to getting all excited over if the play is blunted, flowery and lacks incision. Stuff for the training ground I suppose, but this is a whole new ball game. End of last season I couldn't see Doherty holding a place and I still don't. Jury is still well and truly out on Coady - it's so hard to call at the moment but again he's got to learn and learn very quickly.

 

[White Wolf]

Just seen the highlights on MOTD. Jiminez looked very good, and seeing all those chances I think we were unlucky. OG is dumb as shit, Doherty should not be scoring an own-goal. He is absolutely at fault, watch how he directs it. Second goal Coady needs to close down quicker (which Bennett is aware of and tries to get in the way but has more distance to cover). Horror challenged by Vardy and deserved red.

 

[The Bear]

He couldn't readjust after that deflection. It's really unlucky. Don't get me wrong, rwb was one of my biggest wants this summer, but he hasn't been as bad as is being made out. He's put some shit balls in, as has everybody. He's been in naive positions, as has everybody, he's also done some good on and off the ball, but that shits just invisible to some.

Agreed. As per usual the criticism is over egged compared to others.

 

[Lupo]

Just watched the highlights on MOTD and despite losing, I was really impressed again. This feels different to previous Premier League campaigns, we really fit in this time and but for a ridiculous own goal and a great goal from Maddison, we could have got something.

Was not impressed with Doherty last week and favoured Jonny switching to the right and Vinaigre on the left and today only reinforced that view.

As others have said, until the Doherty og, we had chances to go in front.

Jimenez looked superb again. In particular in the first half when he somehow kept the ball in when it looked a certain goal kick and in the second, he scooped the ball over the Leicester defence.

Very optimistic despite having just watched a defeat, even Lineker admitted his Leicester had been lucky.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He couldn't readjust after that deflection. It's really unlucky. Don't get me wrong, rwb was one of my biggest wants this summer, but he hasn't been as bad as is being made out. He's put some shit balls in, as has everybody. He's been in naive positions, as has everybody, he's also done some good on and off the ball, but that shits just invisible to some.

Agreed. As per usual the criticism is over egged compared to others.

It's not unlucky.

As I said in my article, it isn't a witchhunt. So feel free to tell me what he's done well over the last two games. From where I'm sitting he hasn't defended well and he hasn't attacked well. He's covered quite a lot of ground and he's done his best which is nice and all that, but Dave Edwards could still do that now if we stuck him in our midfield and I wouldn't really want that to happen.

He is a severe weak link and he sticks out like a sore thumb at this level as technically (if we look at his defending and crossing) and mentally he simply isn't up to it. He isn't a good enough player to be playing Premier League football. Not even close. There's no inherent shame in that, there are hundreds of footballers down the years who've been in the same boat. If you want a comparator then I look at Southampton when they first came up and for the first few games stuck with Danny Fox at left back. They soon nipped that in the bud as he was clearly not good enough, nor was he ever going to be.

If you keep playing weak links and go "meh, some form of involvement in three out of the four goals we've conceded isn't that bad, and it isn't all his fault", then all that happens is the team suffers. He stands out even more so because most of the team is absolutely fine.

It's not as if everyone else has been immune from criticism in the verdicts on the two games either and we're just out to get poor old Doc because he was a fat bastard two years ago. Boly, Coady, Costa, Jota, they've all come in for widespread stick at points, warranted or not.

 

[Tony Towner]

Just seen 10 minutes of highlights online. Without the flick off Coady Doherty probably heads that over the bar, but at PL level you've got to react to those situations given the distance between him and Coady. 'I was already committed to the header' as per his comments to Tim don't wash.

Coady needs to close quicker for the second, 2 goals in 2 games conceded because he's stood off.

 

[Alan]

Just me that thinks Boly's effort to stop the pass in to Maddison left a little to be desired?