Blues v Leicester City - Match Thread & Early Chat -

[bluenosekev]

First topic message reminder :

No games for any club in the Championship this weekend due to Internationals so we stay fourth from bottom until next Saturday at least.

Leicester are second in the table and this will be our toughest home game so far this season.

Tickets in the Tilton are now just £24.00 I wont be going.

Can Lee Clark turn it round with us gaining the three points ?

Anyhow my prediction is a 0.3. home defeat.

What is your prediction ?

Who would you start ?


kro.

[bluenosekev]

Match Stats.

Possession

Blues 45% - Leicester 55%

Shots on/off target.

Blues 3/2 - Leicester 6/3

Corners

Blues 3 Leicester 10.

Second best all over the park at home as usual.

kro.

[Raters]

Match Stats.

Possession

Blues 45% - Leicester 55%

Shots on/off target.

Blues 3/2 - Leicester 6/3

Corners

Blues 3 Leicester 10.

Second best all over the park at home as usual.

kro.

true, but they don't paint a full picture.

Almost all their shots were speculative long range shots, although they did score from one tbf.

Remember, we were always going to second best, they're a good side. And, based on numbers of fans in the ground, they were closer to being the home side.

Seriously tho, thought the Possession would be much less for us.

[Raters]

A fair analysis of the game i think.

The sweet sound of clapping was music to Lee Clark's ears.

And although his post-match pint didn't taste quite as nice as it would have with three points in the bag, he could finally enjoy it on the back of a positive result.

Boos and jeers were left ringing in his head after the previous two St Andrew's encounters.

So the standing ovation and warm round of applause which greeted the final whistle was a welcomed sight for the Blues boss.

It could be argued that Clark deserved a refreshing beer more than his battling side after the 1-1 draw with Leicester.

He must have covered every blade of grass in his technical area a million times over as he enthusiastically encouraged his side over the line.

At times he clearly misses the blood and thunder that comes with 90 minutes of football.

But he doesn't half do his best to make up for it on the sides.

Every kick he kicks, every tackle he shudders, and every positive bit of play he applauds.

That energy will never fade, but if Blues can regulaly produce displays like they did on Saturday, it will certainly help him sit tight as the season progresses.

A quick glance down the starting line-up sent shivers down some supporters' spines.

At best you could say it looked lightweight, with Jonathan Spector the only combative force amongst three creative midfielders, two of whom were teenagers.

When the American got the first of two bookings in the sixth minute, (he now misses tomorrow's game at Millwall through suspension) even more fears began to creep in.

Yet Clark had a different outlook on the situation.

He was fed up of seeing fans leave St Andrew's unhappy and unsatisfied with their side's performance, and instead wanted happy faces departing the Tilton Road End gates.

He therefore decided to take action and opted for a line-up that would excite those on the terraces.

At times it shone through yet there was no doubting that Leicester were the better side.

A moment of magic from Blues on the stroke of half-time set up Peter Lovenkrands' opener against the run of play.

Those beaming smiles that Clark so desperately craved were there for all to see.

Leicester were knocked out of their stride and had to wait until the 86th minute before levelling the scores through Ben Marshall.

It was no more than they deserved and without Jack Butland in the Blues goal the scores could have been very different.
But unlike previous weeks that hostile feeling at the end of the match was not evident.

The royal blue faithful left with a feeling of satisfaction - a feeling that their side gave it a real good go.

Heading into the game a run of five consecutive wins filled the Foxes with confidence.

They could have had a penalty when Lloyd Dyer tumbled under James Hurst's challenge early in the first half but referee Tony Bates waved play on.

Bates also denied Chris Burke a penalty at the other end soon after, before Leicester started to find their flow.
Animated as always Clark urged his side to get stuck in.

But the visiting full-backs, Paul Konchesky and Ritchie De Laet, were dangerous and Blues struggled to cope with wave after wave of pressure.

By contrast their opposite numbers, David Murphy and James Hurst, could hardly get out of their own half.
Anthony Knockaert was the Leicester livewire wreaking havoc on the hosts.

The young Frenchman was at the heart of everything and bypassed the Blues midfield time after time.

Ravel Morrison looked great on the ball and his instinctive array of passes were delighful on the eye.

The defensive side of his game was missing in the opening period though.

Martyn Waghorn's glaring first-half miss came as Blues were exposed down their left.

Clark breathed a sigh of relief.

An ear-bashing from captain Steven Caldwell followed, as well as a quick word with Morrison reminding him of his defensive duties.

From there on in, the teenager didn't look back and he will have been pleased with his first ever full 90 minutes of first-team football.

A lot of pressure was applied on the home backline but they stood strong.

Caldwell and Curtis Davies were solid in the middle, and although Murphy lacked attacking intent he battled away on to keep Leicester out.

Young Hurst was given a torrid time by Dyer and Marshall but he stuck in there.

By 76 minutes he looked done in, after a busy afternoon, but in first-half stoppage time he still found energy to start off Blues best move of the game.

After a long period with their backs to the wall, the on-loan Albion defender intercepted play and set Marlon King free down the right.

The forward saw Lovenkrands free in the middle and picked out a perfect pass to find his strike partner who coolly finished past Kasper Schmeichel.

In truth, the Dane did very little else in the game, and departed with a groin injury after the break.

It looked like a home win was on the cards until substitute Marshall equalised late on.

Butland had been fantastic in between the sticks and deserved a clean sheet for his troubles although the quality of the strike from his England Under-21's team-mate was something else.

The stopper had the last say with a save to deny Marshall at the death, after Spector picked up a second yellow, but it was Clark with the last laugh as he put an end to his St Andrew's woes.

Read More [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[bluenosebryan]

The differance on saturday was = = = = = = = = = = = = = == = = = = == = = == = Ravel Morrison

His passing at times were awesome,anyone remember one pass in particular in the 1st half,was about a 50 yarder from inside his own half that had lots of pace and found its way inch perfect to burke i think it was,just short of the corner flag near the tilton/kop corner,why hasnt clark played him sooner i dont know but still he is a muppet CLARK OUT!

[Raters]

The differance on saturday was = = = = = = = = = = = = = == = = = = == = = == = Ravel Morrison

His passing at times were awesome,anyone remember one pass in particular in the 1st half,was about a 50 yarder from inside his own half that had lots of pace and found its way inch perfect to burke i think it was,just short of the corner flag near the tilton/kop corner,why hasnt clark played him sooner i dont know but still he is a muppet CLARK OUT!

Seems Ravel was having a strop and not making an effort on training ground.

[hootie63]

The differance on saturday was = = = = = = = = = = = = = == = = = = == = = == = Ravel Morrison

His passing at times were awesome,anyone remember one pass in particular in the 1st half,was about a 50 yarder from inside his own half that had lots of pace and found its way inch perfect to burke i think it was,just short of the corner flag near the tilton/kop corner,why hasnt clark played him sooner i dont know but still he is a muppet CLARK OUT!

Seems Ravel was having a strop and not making an effort on training ground.

yes but you get players like that but if they it have you still play them. I hated training rarely turned up but the manager said as long as you are doing it on Saturday and keeping myself fit then you can miss training all you like unless was important things to discuss. I was my own man who found it easy to understand how another player plays and seems like Morrison is the same

[Raters]

The differance on saturday was = = = = = = = = = = = = = == = = = = == = = == = Ravel Morrison

His passing at times were awesome,anyone remember one pass in particular in the 1st half,was about a 50 yarder from inside his own half that had lots of pace and found its way inch perfect to burke i think it was,just short of the corner flag near the tilton/kop corner,why hasnt clark played him sooner i dont know but still he is a muppet CLARK OUT!

Seems Ravel was having a strop and not making an effort on training ground.

yes but you get players like that but if they it have you still play them. I hated training rarely turned up but the manager said as long as you are doing it on Saturday and keeping myself fit then you can miss training all you like unless was important things to discuss. I was my own man who found it easy to understand how another player plays and seems like Morrison is the same

You said it, fitness!

Don't take this the wrong way, but your football fitness and a professional player will be worlds apart. If a professional player isn't doing it on the training ground how can he suddenly do it on match day?

How can a manager pick a lazy player that doesn't make the effort on the training ground over another who does? It's not just about fitness, its about whats going on in the mind. A player HAS to show he wants it.

[hootie63]

I was playing for Telford and Yeovil at the time Granted a few years back and went for trials at Man City and turned them down when they asked me back because i hated training so much. Ok the only difference was all this player fitness science was just being talked about so players were not as fit in them days but you still had to be fit enough to play 90 mins at semi pro standard.
Like i say if the kid has got that little bit extra about him then you have to work round him to keep him happy not him work round you and I'm not sure Clark is prepared to do that

IE: Gascoigne had his flaws but would any of the managers he played under left him out of the team similar to what Ravel Could be

[Raters]

I was playing for Telford and Yeovil at the time Granted a few years back and went for trials at Man City and turned them down when they asked me back because i hated training so much. Ok the only difference was all this player fitness science was just being talked about so players were not as fit in them days but you still had to be fit enough to play 90 mins at semi pro standard.
Like i say if the kid has got that little bit extra about him then you have to work round him to keep him happy not him work round you and I'm not sure Clark is prepared to do that

IE: Gascoigne had his flaws but would any of the managers he played under left him out of the team similar to what Ravel Could be

I agree you have to work around him to an extent, but he's an adult not 8, he should know how to behave and understand what is required of him. NO player shoud be treated above the others in the team, it will cause all sorts of problems.

[hootie63]

I was playing for Telford and Yeovil at the time Granted a few years back and went for trials at Man City and turned them down when they asked me back because i hated training so much. Ok the only difference was all this player fitness science was just being talked about so players were not as fit in them days but you still had to be fit enough to play 90 mins at semi pro standard.
Like i say if the kid has got that little bit extra about him then you have to work round him to keep him happy not him work round you and I'm not sure Clark is prepared to do that

IE: Gascoigne had his flaws but would any of the managers he played under left him out of the team similar to what Ravel Could be

I agree you have to work around him to an extent, but he's an adult not 8, he should know how to behave and understand what is required of him. NO player shoud be treated above the others in the team, it will cause all sorts of problems.

But maybe that is the problem he might be a type of person who resents being ordered or told what he can or cannot do and that might be why he as had fall outs, so try a slightly different approach give him a bit more freedom than others and maybe he will turn out to be the player everybody expected him to be. Man Management

[Raters]

I was playing for Telford and Yeovil at the time Granted a few years back and went for trials at Man City and turned them down when they asked me back because i hated training so much. Ok the only difference was all this player fitness science was just being talked about so players were not as fit in them days but you still had to be fit enough to play 90 mins at semi pro standard.
Like i say if the kid has got that little bit extra about him then you have to work round him to keep him happy not him work round you and I'm not sure Clark is prepared to do that

IE: Gascoigne had his flaws but would any of the managers he played under left him out of the team similar to what Ravel Could be

I agree you have to work around him to an extent, but he's an adult not 8, he should know how to behave and understand what is required of him. NO player shoud be treated above the others in the team, it will cause all sorts of problems.

But maybe that is the problem he might be a type of person who resents being ordered or told what he can or cannot do and that might be why he as had fall outs, so try a slightly different approach give him a bit more freedom than others and maybe he will turn out to be the player everybody expected him to be. Man Management

Correct mate, but not at the expense of upsetting the rest of the players. No one player is more important than the team.

[Sponsored content]