The 2nd half against Liverpool gave hope of a great day down at the south coast, but as we could see, things never really became what we all had hoped for. Despite a good start and a double chance for Jamie Vardy, the first half became a nightmare.
Eddie Howe knows how to surprise an opponent, and their players up front King and Fraser has the pace to really put most defenders under pressure. Morgan and Maguire looked totally lost when the “little” Fraser and “large” King started their runs.
Fraser scored the first after 19 minutes, a great shot all on the floor, but could Schmeichel have done better, world class goalkeepers would have had a touch, but again no goalkeeper error.
Puel had given starts to Ghezzal and Gray, not really players who knows how to defend in Premier League and to see both Fuchs and Albrighton on the bench, Puel not really having any eye for defensive tactical moves in this element.
Without especially Albrighton, as the one we would have liked to see from start and not juggling with him, since he is one of Leicester City’s best players. Again after 37 minutes both Maguire and Morgan are exposed again. A great assist from Wilson to Fraser makes him again in the spot to score and he does, Bournemouth is 2-0 up.
Just before the half time break the nightmare continues. A penalty is given to Bournemouth and Joshua King scores from the spot, 3-0, game finished before the 2nd half starts. A totally south coust nightmare and another difficult day.
Puel makes a total tactical error, not doing any changes at half time, should at least given Albrighton a chance to shine getting 45 minutes. This is a shame that Puel waits until the 61st minute to make a change when you are 3-0 down. Strange.
Albrighton and Iheanacho both comes on after 61 minutes, but those changes are overshadowed by the fact that Wes Morgan gets a 2nd yellow and City are reduced to 10 men with 21 minutes left of the game.
Adam Smith makes this Saturday nightmare complete with a fourth goal after 81 minutes, before two late goals for Leicester, one penalty converted by Maddison and a late header from Albrighton makes the score more flattering, as the game ends 4-2.
- Positvies:
- Coming back at 4-0 and scoring two late goals
- Mark Albrighton a great professional, shows how to work with a challenge
- Maddison making another good performance, scoring from the penalty spot
- Not at all played out, but possession is not enough
- Creating more than Bournemouth, but not as clinical
- Negatives:
- Puel missing the point in his midfield selection
- Gray and Ghezzal both lacking defensive fibers
- Defensively exposed not able to stop Bournemouth’s counter attacks
- Morgan and Maguire not performing to their best levels
- Reduced to 10 men, and not able to win crucial one to one battles
- Vardy not taking his chances and scoring the goals needed
Player Ratings: Schmeichel 5. Pereira 4, Chilwell 5, Morgan 3, Maguire 4, Mendy 5, Ndidi 6, Vardy 6, Gray 4, Maddison 7, Ghezzal 5, Subs: Iheanacho, Albrighton, Evans
Match Stats: H/A
- Possession: 44 / 56
- Corners: 4 / 6
- Shots on target: 7 / 2
- Shots wide: 2 / 5
- Fouls: 12 / 15
- Offsides: 1 / 3
Leave a Reply