Not quite the game that I was expecting last night. I would have taken a draw before the game, but it felt like we could have got more, and yet also felt like we were fortunate to get a point.
Appreciate that you had your 'screen' missing in AD and Allan, but I still expected a little more from you in the offensive. Very much felt like you were happy to protect a 1-0 and then happy to see out a draw, with the chance of grabbing a goal on the counter. Is that usual for Ancelotti, or a case of make do with the players he had at his disposal?
I also expected more of a threat from DCL and Richarlison. In the past it's felt like Richarlison has scored against on virtually every occasion and DCL is exactly the sort of player that we struggle against, but it felt like they weren't in the game for prolonged periods. Still, both had very good chances I guess!
As for ourselves, I was impressed with how we dealt with Ndidi's injury. This time last year we really struggled without him, including losing to Norwich, but we seem far more adaptable to Mendy coming in now. Perez did exactly what I expected in working hard but simply not being the player that Vardy is (not many are). He stood little to no chance being marshalled by your three either. On a side note, really impressive with how Keane has come on. In the past Vardy has run rings around him, but the past 2/3 games against you he's been completely dominant.
Still expect that we'll be around a similar position come the end of the season, and hopefully that's around 4th and not 7/8th.
The game played out, in terms of patern how I thought it would mate. Leicester have the better players on the ball, and have had longer with Rodgers and a more integrating attacking system. Especially without Vardy I felt Leicester would play a lot of nice stuff, but probably not threaten the goal as much as they perhaps could do. On the flip side, I felt Everton would be a threatb from set peices and a potential moments magic from James, who is generally the most talented player on the pitch whoever we play and liable to make a goal/shot on goal out of nothing.
In terms of the game, that is exactly how Ancelotti has had us set up for the last couple of months, since we moved to 4 cb's across the back. With that back 4, we have conceded 3 goals in 6 games. We back ourselves to nick a goal on the break, or from set peices and try to keep the opponents to 0 or best case scenario 1. I'd say there is an understanding from Ancelotti, given where we are at, if we open up and try and attack it's much more likely we lose. We used the same tactic against Arsenal and Chelsea earlier this season.
Overall I think Leicester made it harder for us than the above 2. There was more sustained pressure after half time. I thought it was clever that Rodgers basically moved to short corners and we were slow to adapt. Arsenal and Chelsea kept slowing it down and lumping balls into the box to a team with 4 cbs- 2 of them Mina/Keane (who are huge) and (last night) DCL, Richarlinson & Gomes (on other days sometimes Doucoure too) and having the balls headed out. That was smart. It didnt allow us to get any break at all.
From a Leicester perspective, after the goal went in the pressure stopped. That was a similar to tne Arsenal/Chelsea game where fatigue seemed to kick in for them. It was similar for the last game we played as well, where you battered us after half time, but for the last 20 we saw it out quite easily. The obvious question might be, had we hung on 5 minutes longer had we weathered the Leicester storm? Or did Rodgers go a bit less gung ho at 1-1? Or Ancelotti influence it? If I was a Leicester fan though, while I'd be pleased we fought our way back for a draw (that Arsenal/Chelsea couldn't) I'd be wondering why we couldn't go on and win it. Thats probably the "next level" if you want to get back to winning the league again.
We missed the midfield shield as you say, but also our front 2 are not fully match fit yet. Both are just back off lay offs, and I think we arepatching them up and playing them. In fairness, DCL just didn't have the herculean type influence on the game he did on the other too. At his best he dominates Fofana and Evans, but they handled him well last night. It would have allowed us to get out better and break the game up. But he's coming back from injury so some quarter is given.
I think you will be right up there for the top 4, and on tht basis I suspect we will too. It's a good point for us. Within 6, with 2 games in hand, with Europe to come for you guys is a good spot for us. You have some big games coming up that need winning- against teams "in and arond you" but it's probably true for all of us. There are 9-10 teams really close to each other and you'd imagine in 10 games time it won't stay this close. You will start to see who is going for the league, for top 4, for Europa and for trying to be in the top half. At the moment they are all meshed in together.
Hopefully the Ndidi injury is not too serious and you get Vardy back soon!
