Rival Lines
Match Preview
This week Cherry Chimes talked with Chris Forryan who runs the Leicester Till I Die blog for the Foxes. They have had a pretty good season and are till involved in the FA Cup as well as hunting down a Europa League spot, but they have had their dramas too with the Mahrez story. Are things now calm at the Kong Power Stadium under Claude Puel or is there any mid-season complacency that the Cherries can take advantage of?
CC: Have your opinions on Claude Puel changed much since he became Leicester City's manager?
LTID: He started off well and got us out the relegation zone and mid-table security, so he’s done what he was brought into to do.
Some decisions baffle us but what team’s managers don’t. The problem is after what Ranieri did we expect every manager to perform miracles.
CC: Does the FA Cup take on any more importance now for Leicester City that Man City are out or is it all about trying to finish seventh on the league?
LTID: BOTH. We are the team that has been in the final the most times without winning it so after the PL success it would be nice to win it, but with four big teams still in it, it looks a hard task. The battle for seventh and a probable Europa League place seems to be a better route into Europe for next season. I would take losing at some stage in the FA Cup and finishing seventh in the league.
CC: Leicester had good home form in January so what has been the reason for the draws in February against Stoke City and Swansea City?
LTID: Swansea City had come off wins against Liverpool and Arsenal and were on a good run under
a new manager, so a draw against them was a good result.
Don’t mention the Stoke game, as the saying goes "We’re were you when we were sh_t?" I was watching us play Stoke last Saturday!
CC: Has Iheanacho been a disappointment or do you think now is his time having seen Ulloa and Slamni go out on loan in January?
LTID: Too early to say, not been with us a season yet and has only just started to play regularly due to the injury to Okazaki. Give him time he will come good and an excellent replacement for Vardy.
CC: Will you be pleased if Mahrez and Vardy finally leave this summer and the club can reinvest in more new players?
LTID: Yes to Mahrez just want him to go now. I don’t believe Vardy will, he's coming into the twilight of his career and will see his days out at Leicester as he has come to realise we suit his style of play.
CC: What might your season have been like had you not brought in Harry Maguire last summer?
LTID: We are short at the back with Huth being out all season. He and Morgan are getting past it and Maguire and Dragovic are solid at the back. To be honest, it doesn’t bare thinking about.
CC: Would you like to see Derby County get promoted just so that you had a gritty local derby match?
LTID: Nope. Don’t want any Midland club to get promoted would like to see them all in League 2
CC: What's the injury list looking like for Leicester City coming into this match?
LTID: Okazaki is the main injury worry, Morgan is back (unfortunately) no other major problems.
CC: If you could have your pick of strikers for Leicester from Defoe, Wilson or King which would you pick?
LTID: Defo Defo. As an impact sub late on when to need to pinch a goal he would be perfect.
CC: How do you expect Leicester to line up against Bournemouth?
LTID: Schmeichel – Fuchs, Maguire, Morgan, Simpson – Albrighton, Ndidi, James, Mahrez – Vardy, Inachio
CC: Thanks for those answers Chris. It is good to see Leicester City doing well and backing up their Premier League win of a couple of year's ago with a changing squad that has some new names that are staring to get known. Whether Leicester are a long way ahead of AFCB we will find out this weekend, but both teams have a shot at finishing well inside the top 10 and recent games between these teams have been draws so I don't see it easy to pick a winner this weekend.
Check out why Leicester City Till I Die was so displeased with the club's last home game by visiting the wesite.
T-Shirt Competition
Predict the correct score between Leicester City and AFCB this weekend to be in with a chance to win a Cherry Chimes T-Shirt. If we have more than one correct answer we will draw a winner out of the hat.
To enter Tweet your prediction to @CherryChimes
Leicester City v AFCB
CC: Have your opinions on Claude Puel changed much since he became Leicester City's manager?
LTID: He started off well and got us out the relegation zone and mid-table security, so he’s done what he was brought into to do.
Some decisions baffle us but what team’s managers don’t. The problem is after what Ranieri did we expect every manager to perform miracles.
CC: Does the FA Cup take on any more importance now for Leicester City that Man City are out or is it all about trying to finish seventh on the league?
LTID: BOTH. We are the team that has been in the final the most times without winning it so after the PL success it would be nice to win it, but with four big teams still in it, it looks a hard task. The battle for seventh and a probable Europa League place seems to be a better route into Europe for next season. I would take losing at some stage in the FA Cup and finishing seventh in the league.
CC: Leicester had good home form in January so what has been the reason for the draws in February against Stoke City and Swansea City?
LTID: Swansea City had come off wins against Liverpool and Arsenal and were on a good run under
a new manager, so a draw against them was a good result.
Don’t mention the Stoke game, as the saying goes "We’re were you when we were sh_t?" I was watching us play Stoke last Saturday!
CC: Has Iheanacho been a disappointment or do you think now is his time having seen Ulloa and Slamni go out on loan in January?
LTID: Too early to say, not been with us a season yet and has only just started to play regularly due to the injury to Okazaki. Give him time he will come good and an excellent replacement for Vardy.
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LTID: Yes to Mahrez just want him to go now. I don’t believe Vardy will, he's coming into the twilight of his career and will see his days out at Leicester as he has come to realise we suit his style of play.
CC: What might your season have been like had you not brought in Harry Maguire last summer?
LTID: We are short at the back with Huth being out all season. He and Morgan are getting past it and Maguire and Dragovic are solid at the back. To be honest, it doesn’t bare thinking about.
CC: Would you like to see Derby County get promoted just so that you had a gritty local derby match?
LTID: Nope. Don’t want any Midland club to get promoted would like to see them all in League 2
CC: What's the injury list looking like for Leicester City coming into this match?
LTID: Okazaki is the main injury worry, Morgan is back (unfortunately) no other major problems.
CC: If you could have your pick of strikers for Leicester from Defoe, Wilson or King which would you pick?
LTID: Defo Defo. As an impact sub late on when to need to pinch a goal he would be perfect.
CC: How do you expect Leicester to line up against Bournemouth?
LTID: Schmeichel – Fuchs, Maguire, Morgan, Simpson – Albrighton, Ndidi, James, Mahrez – Vardy, Inachio
CC: Thanks for those answers Chris. It is good to see Leicester City doing well and backing up their Premier League win of a couple of year's ago with a changing squad that has some new names that are staring to get known. Whether Leicester are a long way ahead of AFCB we will find out this weekend, but both teams have a shot at finishing well inside the top 10 and recent games between these teams have been draws so I don't see it easy to pick a winner this weekend.
Check out why Leicester City Till I Die was so displeased with the club's last home game by visiting the wesite.
T-Shirt Competition
Predict the correct score between Leicester City and AFCB this weekend to be in with a chance to win a Cherry Chimes T-Shirt. If we have more than one correct answer we will draw a winner out of the hat.
To enter Tweet your prediction to @CherryChimes
As a Leicester fan this is just sums up a lot of our whiny fan base. What an absolute tool!
ReplyDeleteI don't think the above view, that we just want Mahrez to go, reflects that of most Leicester City fans - although most of us accept he will leave in the summer.
ReplyDeleteAdding to the voices that share the opposite side of the views of Chris Forryan. Expectations at Leicester cover a wide spectrum but we must be level-headed. I believe Puel has done a fine job since coming in. Leicester need to start turning draws into wins and he knows that. Some fans favour our "sexy" players (Silva, Iborra), and don't appreciate others, even when they've done a solid job (Matty James). I firmly believe Puel is always trying to win games - sometimes risks don't always pay-off and I think he's still learning the strengths & weaknesses of the team and working to improve every player. Stick by him and I think he will come off good. We're keeping the ball and passing it better than we ever have done, and he's sorted out the defensive frailties we had earlier in the season.
ReplyDeleteI don't want Mahrez to leave; I don't think any club wants to lose their best players. If he goes, I hope it's for a fair price and a good move for Mahrez - not convinced he'll get much playing time at Man City. You have to credit Puel for handling Mahrez's behavior during the transfer window. Most seem too quick to criticize; not enough praise for all the good work Puel's done. If we finish in the top half, I think that's a good solid season to build on. Europe is a bonus but we shouldn't judge it as a bad season if we miss out.
Hope it's a good match on Saturday. Safe travels coming to Leicester; all the best to Bournmouth, I hope you remain in the BPL for years to come.
Mo.