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Wolves 1, Leicester 3, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report

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We all knew that Claude Puel would do changes to the team that won at home in the Premier League v. Huddersfield and so he did. A difficult tie away to Wolves, and in the Carabao Cup you never really know what you are up against. Mercury duo Tanner and Sharpe both believed that Turkish defender and new signing Caglar Soyuncu would be starting, but instead Wes Morgan was back alongside Jonny Evans, giving a well deserved rest to Harry Maguire. Jamie Vardy started up front, would have thought Kelechi Iheanacho would have been given a new start, but no, Puel selected Shinji Okazaki.

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The first half was a bit dull, with few chances to both sides and not really setting Danny Ward in any difficulties, in front of his defense who were Pereira, Evans, Morgan and Fuchs, all proven professionals who would cope with this type of Wolverhampton side.

Marc Albrighton was also starting in a midfield who had Silva, Iborra and Ghezzal alos featuring. A solid midfield and as always you know what you get, good passes solid defensive work and probably not too much creativity without a resting Jamies Maddision in the site. Ndidi and Mendy were not either involved.

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City looked the stronger team through out the game, and both Albrighton and Evans came close, but couldn’t convert. A great save from Ruddy on the attempt from Albrighton and Evans header was just wide.

We all had to see the game ebbing out in a 0-0 draw. Surprisingly this time it was no extra time played and it all went straight to a penalty shoot out. Always a gamble and a riddle to find out how that can end.

Danny Ward became the Leicester hero as he started to save and he just continued, three saves from four penalties was fantastic, and he shows that he is a quality goalkeeper the Wales international. Leicester scored three times, Ghezzal, Iborra and finally Iheanacho netted, with Choudhury missing with an awful attempt, but again Leicester are through to the 4th round, which will be drawn tomorrow.

Leicester have a solid squad of players, probably too solid, and they can field a reserve team almost as strong as the first 11, so no need to worry, and of course exciting to see who Leicester will draw next.

For the first time Tcf has given a 10 in the player ratings, to save three penalties and keep a clean sheet, it must be a clear 10’r for Danny Ward.

  • Positives:
    • A well balanced team, players in their best positions
    • Resting Maguire, Morgan and Evans getting a chance to gell
    • Giving a number of not playing players game time
    • Ward saving three Wolves penalties, just great
    • Into the 4th round, always positive to win football games
    • Puel getting more confidence and hopefully will build on that special win
    • Mental strength for Iheanacho scoring a vital goal under pressure
    • Great to hear the Leicester fanbase in the stands, they made good noise
  • Negatives:
    • Not able to score from great chances
    • Caglar Soyuncu not getting his debut, sorry for him
    • Yellow cards to Evans and Morgan
    • Vardy not able to be the difference this time
    • Demarai Gray picks up what is believed to be a bad injury

Player Ratings: Ward 10. Pereira 6, Fuchs 6, Evans 6, Morgan 6, Silva 6, Iborra 6, Vardy 6, Okazaki 6, Albrighton 7, Ghezzal 6, Subs: Gray, Iheanacho, Choudhury

Match Stats: H/A

  • Possession: 48 / 52
  • Corners: 6 / 4
  • Shots on target: 2 / 5
  • Shots wide: 2 / 8
  • Fouls: 8 / 12
  • Offsides: 2 / 1

 

Leicester 3, Huddersfield 1, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report

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Few would have thought about the line-up being played against Huddersfield, and as always Claude Puel is in with a few surprises. We knew that Wes Morgan was out and to see Jonny Evans from start was clearly a right decission. Pereira never impressed against Bournemouth and again time for Daniel Amartey. Kelechi Iheanacho was given the chance on top and pushed Demarai Gray to the bench. Iheanacho deserved his chance, but the system played was a new one. Not really understanding it and after five minutes everything looked totally out of order, with a throw in finding Mathias Jorgensen who scored on his Danish countryman Kasper Schmeichel.

Again it started badly for Puel and his preferred team and system, like it was a new way of playing and that not all players were familier yet with this. But things started to click a bit better and after 19 minutes on a wonderful counterattack Vardy found Iheanacho who converted with a good strike on the floor. The pace became a key today and it all worked wonders in the end. A couple of more chances was there in the first half, but it all ended 1-1.

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Puel kept faith in Rachid Ghezzal but not more than one half as he struggled to find his place in this type of system. Demarai Gray came on and he again showed that he was hungry and eager to go.

Jamie Vardy could have scored from a James Maddison free kick, but missed the chance and his shot on volley went wide, not as the one last season against West Bromwich, who was a simular shot, but then he scored.

Leicester kept momentum and pushed Huddersfield to make several errors, one of them ended in a free kick to Leicester after 66 minutes. A fantastically well place hurdling shot above the Bournemouth wall and into the goal, 2-1.

Huddersfield, who has not yet won a game in the Premier League this season, had a number of great chances to come back, but when Vardy was well played forward by Kelechi Iheanacho and just lifted the ball above Lossl who had no chance.

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Claude Puel must be very satisfied with his group today and the work ethic was 100 %. The reaction from the squad after the changes made was also there to see, despite being behind at an early stage. Huddersfield were a treath but the quality in the Leicester City squad is at a higher level than The Terriers, so on 9 out of 10, City should be able to win.

Shinji Okazaki and Mark Albrighton both came on, and contributed and Okazaki came close to score a goal, and Albrighton is a better passer than most players and his calm is great to have in the late stages of the game.

The changes made worked, but still not convinced about the right back position, to play Maddison in a wide free role, and not really any big day for Rachid Ghezzal who had to leave the field after the first half.

  • Positives:
    • Coming back and winning the game convincingly
    • Iheanacho and Vardy playing a great game together
    • Vardy going deep and really working like a horse in all 90 minutes
    • Evans looks good alongside Maguire
    • 9 points from 6 games, 8th position, not bad
    • Puel getting it right with a huge gamble
  • Negatives:
    • Puel not really showing confidence in Pereira
    • Amartey needs to practice on throw in’s
    • Yellow cards on Ghezzal and Ndidi
    • Not really keeping momentum from start
    • Vardy could have scored more, need him even more clinical

Player Ratings: Schmeichel 7. Amartey 4, Chilwell 7, Evans 6, Maguire 6, Mendy 7, Ndidi 7, Vardy 8, Iheanacho 9, Maddison 8, Ghezzal 4, Subs: Gray 6, Albrighton, Okazaki

Match Stats: H/A

  • Possession: 54 / 46
  • Corners: 3 / 1
  • Shots on target: 5 / 1
  • Shots wide: 6 / 4
  • Fouls: 10 / 16
  • Offsides: 1 / 0

 

Bournemouth 4, Leicester 2, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report

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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.

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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.

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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

 

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