Charlton 2 Leicester 0
Foxes’ managers are the focus topic currently. Leicester City’s performance at Charlton on Saturday brought some recent Valley memories back for this reporter: Peter Taylor’s last game and Junior Lewis (remember him?) being sent off – we lost 2 – 1; a late Les Ferdinand Premiership thunderbolt in a 2 – 2 draw for Micky Adams, and Dion Dublin’s FA Cup giant killing winner for Craig Levein when the Foxes sprang a 4-5-1 formation surprise two years ago. Since then, three City managers and now, with Gary Megson, in South London by The Thames Barrier.
A poor Leicester performance is quickly summed up from a City perspective: Charlton did not have to work too hard to win comfortably 2 – 0. Goals from the million pound pair Chris Iwelumo and Luke Varney inside the first quarter of the match finished the contest. Both scores were gifted by a hesitant visitor’s central defence who allowed right wing crosses to bounce around the six yard box unchallenged.
In the first half the youthful left side of City’s team was consistently out numbered and for Charlton’s ex England full backs Mills and Powell this game proved a perfect advert for their extra quality, both on the ball and in space.
City missed the injured Wesolowski badly and only when former ‘Robin’ Anton Kishishev came on in the second half did they start to compete in midfield – Clemence being subdued in the first 45 minutes. City know Iwelumo, at Colchester last year he was dominant. In the second half a muscular N’Gotty, on as substitute in a rearranged 3 – 5 – 2 formation, neutralised his aggression but the damage was already done. There was poor forward penetration and a lack of City width to offer the ‘get out’ ball…..
For the home side Powell and McLeod (another million pound plus forward) were booked.
So back to managers. Can this lifelong fan and long time season ticket holder ask some questions?
1. This team was unbalanced, poorly selected and ill equipped for an experienced Charlton team – why?
2. Eg why did we need to use our three substitutions to put right a patently wrong selection at kick off by early into the second half? What has the new manager done in the last week?
3. If he doesn’t know the squad yet do we blame the chairman for the managerial change so soon into the season? It looks like we are starting again in a very competitive league having given all other teams a six game start.
4. Why 3 – 5 – 2 in the second half? As it happens many supporters saw this early season as the only way to accommodate Kisnorbo, McAuley and N’Gotty (who is not a right back, no overlap and slow turn). However, back to managers, O’Neill taught us that in a 3 – 5 – 2 formation a tight midfield three needs attacking wing backs (eg Guppy, Impey). Who in the current set up? Not Stearman in the second half today although Mattock could do the left side role.
5. 3 – 5 – 2 seems to spell the end for Hume who cannot play up front with DJ Campbell (one or the other if it is to be 3 – 5 – 2) or in a right wing back position where his defensive skills are deficient
6. Who said Cort was a good purchase? No sustained evidence at all so far.
7. Who picked Fryatt ahead of the movement of DJ Campbell – this is even more important alongside a one dimensional Cort, or de Vries and, furthermore, what’s the point of having the latter as substitute as he can only effectively replace Cort which ties City to a pre programmed attacking game plan?
8. What is Gerry Taggert’s role? What are his coaching credentials? City fans are more sophisticated than needing a rallying figurehead who plays personal keepy-up in the pre game preparation. He started the game yelling from the manager’s box but sat down when Mr Megson appeared c 15 mins into the game.
Am I alone in finding this all too familiar and dispiriting?
Megson – Needing to Find the Answers – Fast – ‘Picture courtesy of Raymonds/lcfc.com’
Leicester: Fulop, Stearman, McAuley, Kisnorbo, Mattock, Hume (Kishishev 46), Clemence, Chambers, Sheehan (N'Gotty 46), Cort, Fryatt (Campbell 62). Subs Not Used: Henderson, De Vries.
Charlton: Weaver, Mills, Bougherra, Fortune, Powell, Sam (Ambrose 88), Zheng, Semedo, Reid (Sodje 84), Varney (McLeod 76), Iwelumo. Subs Not Used: Randolph, Todorov.
Booked: Powell, McLeod. Goals: Iwelumo 18, Varney 23.
Att: 21,918 Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation