Lessons Learned From Leicester City Match

Shearer's Right Foot

The fact that Newcastle picked up no points against Leicester on Monday night was pretty much the only negative from what was an otherwise much improved United performance. That and Steven Taylor moonwalking back towards his own goal faster than a rabbit retreating into its hole when the Foxes came lurking.

Other than that though, there was none of the headless chicken impersonations that we have come so accustomed to seeing under McClaren’s reign of directionless dross.

Newcastle matched Leicester in almost every department and were unfortunate not to gain at least a valuable point.

The defence was much more narrow which reduced league leaders Leicester to just one shot on target all game.

It was a solid foundation laid by Benitez in just three days. He also decided to play Sissoko out on the left which gave Colback a bit of extra protection in his unfamiliar left back slot. Clever.

The one thing that really impressed me though was Benitez’s substitutions. He brought on Townsend for Anita after 56 minutes dropping Gini deeper alongside captain Shelvey.

It was a great tactical switch which showed attacking intent allowing Newcastle to cause Leicester some problems. And although it didn’t quite come off it certainly proved Benitez to be more astute than his predecessor when it comes to trying to affect the outcome of a match.

It was good to see De Jong back on the pitch as well. His appearance from the bench could provide confirmation that he is a Benitez type player and could indeed see plenty of pitch time between now and the end of the season.

We ended the game with plenty of attacking players on the field too as Rafa tried his best to coax an equalizer out of a team that still looks short of confidence. His post-match interview was also quite refreshing.

Benitez refused to blame bad luck or decisions going against him, which he could easily have done considering the offside and penalty calls. No, he focused on the positives and that is exactly the kind of mentality that will filter down to the players.

A huge weekend now and an email from the man himself (allegedly) called for a united Newcastle and emphasised the impact fans can have on Sunday. It simply is the biggest derby I can recall.

A small mention for Steve McClaren here; he has taken his family on a Caribbean holiday this week. Steve was photographed negotiating a jet ski somewhat more successfully than he guided Newcastle this season. Don’t choke on your **** chicken will you?

About Shearer's Right Foot

View all posts by Shearer's Right Foot →

You may like these posts

129 thoughts on “Lessons Learned From Leicester City Match”

  1. Thanks for the article SRF.

    I hope to see him drop Anita at home and opt for the attacking midfielder.
    Sissoko may have provided cover for Colback on the left, but he isn’t delivering crosses to Mitrovic from that position.
    I thought Gini looked just fine alongside Shelvey in the middle and I’d far sooner see Townsend & Sissoko take up those wider areas.

    I’d like to see Sissoko tuck in a bit and make the 3 man midfield with Gini & Shel and see Townsend be almost a 3rd forward with Mit & Perez.
    Sissoko dropping back could/should allow Janmaat to get forward as well – we need his outlet from the right as well I think.

      (Quote)

  2. At the moment I would rather Janmaat concentrated on defending, we have enough creative players who should be able to put the ball in the net.
    Thanks for the article SRF.

      (Quote)

  3. Kim – I thought the flat back 4 that Rafa set up against Leicester made us far more difficult to break down.
    But at home, and against lesser opponents, I think we should still be looking to use Janmaats offensive threat as a different dimension to our attack.
    IMO Sissoko doesn’t cross the ball as well as Janmaat, and we need goals to stay up. To restrict our best outlet on the right to defence might benefit our defence, but it could harm us offensively – unless Rafa does something with our attacking players to create those chances another way.

      (Quote)

  4. Sharpy, sorry I can’t agree mate, Defoe if he plays and Borini will take full advantage if Janmaat goes walk about. I would be doing the opposite of what we’re expected to do at home. Sit back, force them to come at us and try to hit them on the break.

      (Quote)

  6. Kim – the problem I have is that we are ***** defensively. I hate that idea of sitting back and hitting teams on the break. We have to create our own chances and take the game to our opponents – the best form of defence is offensive type of thing.
    I know what you are saying about Defoe & Borini & even N’Doye for that matter. But I would far sooner think of how to make Mitrovic, Perez, Gini, Townsend a threat than worry about their threat.

    One thing is certain, we WILL concede. So the thought should be on scoring more than we concede rather than minimising how many we concede for me.

      (Quote)

  7. Kim – if we do stick with a flat back 4 and stop (or restrict Janmaat going forward) then I think we need to make the changes ahead of defence. For me there would be 2 obvious option.

    Firstly – we switch to 4-3-3 which would give us a narrow midfield in Gini, Shelvey and Sissoko. But a bit of width with Perez & Townsend either side of Mitrovic.
    That way Mitrovic gets better support than he is just now & Townsend & Perez up there with him should give us more of an offensive threat.

    Secondly – we stick with 4-4-2. But if we do that then I think you have to drop Sissoko as he can not/does not cross the ball. If 4-4-2 then I’d have Townsend & Aarons as wingers and have them crossing balls in for Mitrovic & Perez and I’d be encouraging Gini to get forward into the box as he can head the ball too.

    Either of those should increase our offensive threat and would mean Janmaat can focus on just defending.

      (Quote)

  9. Elliot
    Jan-Mbemba-Lascelles-Colback
    Sissoko-Wijnaldum-Shelvey-Towns
    —————Ayoze———-
    ————-Mitrovic————
    Get back when losing the ball and Mitro left up as target. The strength in our side is the box-to-box midfielders and running with the ball. Sunderland will soak up long balls all day long, so play down the channels at their fullback, where they are weaker. Get Ayoze and Mitro in the box and deliver good quality balls in. Taylor has to be dropped if Mbemba fit, the defence is a worry but it’s all we’ve got. We need Lascelles to win headers and have another decent game.

      (Quote)

  10. I would let Janmaat get forward as crazy as it may seem. I think he is one if our best bets for delivering a valuable cross into the danger area. Like the Wijnaldum header at home to West Ham. I would leave Anita out, not because we don’t need that style of combative midfielder, but because I think he was poor at Leicester and would be too lightweight. Wijnaldum will need to cover in there and pick his runs carefully. We have to go for it in my opinion because I think they will score eventually if we don’t.

      (Quote)

  11. Why is no one talking down Norwich chances in the press? is it a foregone conclusion that they are down now then?

      (Quote)

  12. Would love to see Villa beat Swans, that would make things interesting, Palace getting beat would too.

      (Quote)

  13. I would agree that Janmaat is a better crosser of the ball than Sissoko. Having said that it is not saying a lot. IMO Janmaat is a Second Division crosser of the ball. He just lumps it into the middle with no direction or pace. Townsend and Arrons are much better crossers. As Janmaat is poor defensively and slow to get back I would prefer him to stay back. Did anyone get the impression against Leicester that Colback forgot he was playing fullback and kept playing as though he was in midfield? Got caught out upfield once or twice.

      (Quote)

  14. Groucho – I have no preferred option as such, i just think if Janmaat stays back and we go 4-4-2 then we need to play with natural wide men – and Townsend & Aarons are our best options at the mo IMO.

    But if he wants to stick with Sissoko then I think 4-3-3 would be the better formation to accommodate him and provide the greatest attacking threat with Sissoko in the side.

      (Quote)

  15. Let’s hope Rafa can work something out as scum do have goal scores compared to us we are very short of goal scorers

      (Quote)

  16. Ice – even Rafa is going to struggle if we continue with the same players in the same formation IMO.
    I could well be proven wrong, but as improved as we were against Leicester, we still looked toothless up front.

      (Quote)

  17. SHARPY Ime just hoping our strikers get a change of luck they are due a change as long as there is no sending off its always a worry in these games a sending off swings the game

      (Quote)

  19. That’s exactly what was concerning me. There has been no chatter about Norwich going down this week at all, freeing them to go into this game under practically zero pressure. Not one bit surprised they are 1.0 up and this just cranks up the pressure for tomorrows game.

      (Quote)

  21. Ice, they are totally slipping under the radar mate. They have a major psychological advantage over us and Scum now. Our lads are really gonna have to step up to the plate tomorrow now, it’s worse than ever. Fecking Pulis, gets on my tits.

    On a brighter note Bristol City flying today 4.0 up now

      (Quote)

  22. This is the soccer Saturday panels fault of course. All but matt le tiss backed the Baggies to win , le tiss said a draw. 🙄

      (Quote)

  26. Just means we need to win tomorrow. Loads of points to play for. Getting them is the problem

      (Quote)

  27. Well that wasn’t in the script was it…?

    Still got two games in hand and we play them.

      (Quote)

  31. Well it’s in our hands. Win the next two and I think we’ll stay up. Lose and we’re on the brink. Over to the players now.

      (Quote)

  32. It’s no good blaming WBA for being **** at home. They have won enough games over the course of the season under Pulis to be where they are. Including a win over us. Our players just haven’t been good enough, they can’t just blame Steve McLaren. Too many crappy results and not enough fight has got us in this position. Sunderland and Norwich are absolutely fighting for their lives. Our players need to match that now and hope there is enough quality to better them.

      (Quote)

  33. We need some crappy 1-0 wins like Leicester. What is so great about them? Nowt, just 5-6 players in the form of their lives and they are confident that they can win every game. Our players look nervous.

      (Quote)

  34. Just remember where Leicester were this time 13 months ago. Bottom of the league with no luck or confidence. They’ve got the same players they had then.

      (Quote)

  36. DJG:
    It’s no good blaming WBA for being **** at home. They have won enough games over the course of the season under Pulis to be where they are. Including a win over us. Our players just haven’t been good enough, they can’t just blame Steve McLaren. Too many crappy results and not enough fight has got us in this position. Sunderland and Norwich are absolutely fighting for their lives. Our players need to match that now and hope there is enough quality to better them.

    Agree, time and again we have seen fans saying with the money spent and a decent coach we’d be better. Well, we will soon see where the real fault lies. If they don’t realise that continued poor displays will mark them out as useless and that the blame lay with them more than Steve then they really are fools. Time to step up and do it for the fans and Rafa, because if they can’t respect him and produce better consistently then I truly despair .

      (Quote)

  37. We’ve got some players who will come through for us. Janmaat, Shelvey, Perez, Townsend, Colback, Elliot, Mbemba and Lascelles (if he plays). Not as sure about the rest.

      (Quote)

  38. DJG. I read an interesting article on Leicester’s players the other day. Apparently they are all really good friends off the pitch, who socialise with each other and each others families. There are no individuals, every one fights for each other on and off the pitch. If one player makes a mistake others come to his aid. When do we EVER see that with our lot? That’s Rafas biggest job, to foster a team of players from a group of individuals imo. We saw more team play on Monday night but it has to be consistent and more importantly it has to bring results.

      (Quote)

  40. These last 9 matches will be the last chance for some of the players to make an impact. If we stay up Rafa will make big changes. We can’t go on like this. First thing I would ask for would be a clearout of Carr and Charnley and bring some winners in. We’ve had enough of losing.

      (Quote)

  42. We can beat them Troy. I watched that match. They are very poor in attack and get shaky at the back as well. With the pace of Townsend and Perez we can beat them.

      (Quote)

  43. There are some games coming up that, if we don’t win them, we deserve to go down. Swansea at home, Palace at home. No excuses, the players need to step up. 😮

      (Quote)

  52. Palace have had 2points from their last 11 league games. They have 8 games left and 33 points. Surely they can’t get relegated? Can they? 😯

      (Quote)

  53. How gomis is making 20k+ a week or even playing in the prem has me baffled….

    Well it’s down to 2 out of 3 to go down unless Palace join the party.

    Time for the bullshit from the players to stop and show what they’re made of

      (Quote)

  54. I’m going to go hyperbolic and say these next 2 are 2 of the biggest games in the history of NUFC. Why?

    1. Because of the money in the PL, and what sacrificing that will mean.

    2. Without at least 4 points we will probably be relegated.

    3. Relegation means losing a world class manager with no Plan B.

      (Quote)

  55. Eric

    If we mess up and lose benitez I reckon a lot of fans will give up.

    We’ve waited yrs for someone like Rafa. To swap him for another McClaren in the Championship could convert me to taking wor lass shopping on match days ? pleeease no!

      (Quote)

  57. Gashley: going shopping would take your mind off it. You can finish at Tescos and get some cheap cans of Stella to console yourself after a goaless draw at home to Rotherham.

      (Quote)

  59. Well that’s Swansea safe then. crappy 1.0 wins for them and Norwich, oh how I would settle for a few results like that.

      (Quote)

  64. Lee Clark ?

    At least Charnley took my advice and only sacked him for better although I’m sure big Ron would have us tactically ready for tomorrow

      (Quote)

  65. For Troys’s benefit since his savior Lee Clark seems to be going on his own death spiral.

    Just looked at some damning stats for our Manager selections. Here are the last 12 games of the last 3:

    Pardew @ Palace: D L L L L L D L L D L L
    MCCLaren @ NUFC: D L L L D W L L W L L L
    Carver @NUFC: W L L L L L L L L D L W

    Carver went on the longest losing streak of any NUFC manager and Pardew is the only Manager to lose 5 on the trot for 3 separate PL teams.

      (Quote)

  68. The amazing thing is that Pardew’s latest 12 games are even worse than McClaren and Carver managed in their last 12 games in charge before they were sacked. I didn’t think that was possible.

      (Quote)

  69. Borini’s record for Sunderland:

    Played: 44
    Scored: 10

    He has scored 3 goals this season.

      (Quote)

  70. Pardew is championship fodder Eric.
    We gave him his big break and he’s proving hes not fit for purpose.

    Troy would still have him here as we can’t get anyone better??

      (Quote)

  71. Gash: I thought I would get this information out before tomorrow as I might not be in a good mood. I am very confident but I am also not expecting miracles after only 10 days in charge.

      (Quote)

  72. With Pardew’s record (the 13th game was a draw) any other Manager would have been sacked. However, he has some good will at Palace because of his record last year and they know he is a very streaky manager.

      (Quote)

  73. I know I might sound in 2 minds but that is because I have supported NUFC for so long where every silver lining seems to have a cloud.

      (Quote)

  75. He did well last season Eric. I said last year I didn’t want palace to be relegated as I wanted to see Alan have a full season in charge.

    While a few jumped around telling us he’s the real deal earlier in the season, Im glad I gave him a fair crack of the whip to prove to us he’s a one trick pony that won’t be getting an England call up anytime soon 😳

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *