leffe186

Aren't you the only one out of the bottom four who get to play Villa again? That's a big advantage.

He never had one outstanding feature though, like pace (Owen) or strength (Carroll). I think that as a young striker, that sometimes means you get underrated. Even the fans of the teams he was on loan at...and tbh, some Spurs fans...didn't really fancy him. He's just good at everything, which coupled with hard work and a clever footballing mind has meant he has got better and better. It also makes it a bit harder for managers to game plan against him - you can't just stick a big guy on him, or a quick, nippy defender.

Worst thing about West Ham getting in is that they have a nice (essentially) free stadium to allow them to fully exploit the situation.

I think most of the bitterness comes from the recognition that with a bit of luck and good management your club (whoever you are) could be in their place. Nowt to do with whether they deserve it or not.

I still want him to win today...sorry lads.

Of course Mr Genius here buried Bellerin on the bench.

Suits me. I'd take Poch over Rafa tbh.

Really wish there wasn't an international coming up.

Well, no, we're desperately trying to move out of the bigger brother's shadow by recognizing our relative financial limitations and trying to find ways around them in the short term (investing in youth) and the long term (investing in a new stadium). Milnertastic answer.

Speaking as an outsider, I'm really looking forward to this.

*sour grapes alert* Kinda. There were definitely some parallels with their game at our place - they won 1-0, with a goal from a set-piece, and only managed two shots on target. Our game was a bit different though. We should have at least had a couple of goals in the first 20 mins but Schmeichel had a blinder. They came back into it for a bit, then we really should have had the game won before the goal. It was a more stark version of their play this year - we had 62% possession, 21 shots, 16 corners. They got everyone back and looked to hit us on the counter with long balls. And yes, the ref was very generous to them, honestly. They are definitely able to switch their game up when required, but it's still the same basic template. Tight at the back, force the oppo into crosses from out wide which the big guys or Schmeichel can deal with. Kante is everywhere. Look to break at speed either with the wingers or with long balls into the channels for Vardy. Everybody working hard and pressing when they don't have the ball, happy to dole out little niggly fouls, happy to play for free-kicks around the box. They are very well-drilled, both at the back and up front, which is greatly helped by the fact that they have been playing almost exactly the same team all year. Eleven players have started more than 20 league games, and seven of those have played at least 28 of the 30. Compare that to your team (five started more than 20, two started at least 28 (Gini and Janmaat).

Do all the basics right. Everything's simple. Like some Liverpool fan said, they're like the best pub team you've ever seen.

Finally.

Fuck me, everybody should have done better there.

Colback should have got the FK on the edge of the area even before the break - Kante just jumped at him.

It's genuinely bizarre looking on from the outside. I mean, I get that Mitro should be good at holding the ball up, and Perez is clever and tricky, but surely you could use a guy who's just quick and direct. Even if only occasionally off the bench.

Come on lads, spawny equalizer please.

Yellow for that, surely?

Missed five mins there. Is Mitro still on? He'll be crawling on his hands and knees soon.

They all are, it's a conscious ploy.

Albrighton still a whiny little shit, I see. You just feel like Benitez needs a couple of weeks with the forwards to work on some moves. They don't really know what to do with the ball. It's all individual movement and having to think about decisions.

Oh FFS.

That's partly due to how Leicester play though. The test is what happens when they counter - for example, when Albrighton gets the free run at Taylor. I've only watched you a couple of times properly - recently - but thoughts are: Mitro has some conditioning issues . Perez has been decent, but lightweight. Defence has been OK considering who's missing. You really see the difference when contrasting Anita with Kante - like boy v man. You've done the basics fine, but there doesn't seem to be a defined plan going forward - which is not really a surprise. I'd like to see Sissoko used a bit like Alli, given more free reign to cause havoc behind Mitro. I think he's limited by a role out wide. He'd be a more physical presence than Perez, and maybe Townsend can get some joy out wide. The problem is that if you have Sissoko, Gini/Perez and Townsend switching round behind Mitro then there's a danger the full-backs will get really exposed. It's up to Anita to cover that.

"Vardy's there looking for the penalty, which he should". Fuck off.

Elliott has some arse on him, like.