In games like that we struggle if we don’t score first.
Whilst discussing recent football clubs approach to equality and diversity programmes Terry Connor said that our next game will be a test.He mentioned that Leicester are now happy to concede possession and allow teams to have the ball for most of the time this season.
When they win the ball this season they try to find the marauding Barnes via the left side by the use of continual diagonal balls fired from midfielder Praet.Vardy this season is used differently during Leicester’s counter attacks and he now makes makes early runs into the wide right attacking side and thus takes with him the defending centre back.This gives Barnes more space to utilise moving in on goal and likewise Vardy who then drifts back into the box from out wide.This change has caught several teams out including Man City as prior Vardy played the high line and kept the opposition defence deep so as not to be caught out by his pace when the direct ball was played over the top - so obviously they're a handful and their creative midfield needs stopping over the 90 plus for sure by all account this season.
Problem is if Leeds midfielders push up to block Leicester middlemen getting the ball this only allows gaps in between those lines that Vardy & Barnes exploit out wide which are going to keep our full backs slightly deeper,alert and busy.Not sure what the defence combo will be on the night but the MB selection will be interesting.
That is how Leicester now play and get/poach their goals and that system is going to be a challenge for our cavalier pace style - but of course we have MB,Bamford & Rodrigo for them to worry about and they'll see the absurd amount of space Leicester give and hopefully with our ever alert vocal keeper Meslier keeping an eye on matters it'll be an interesting yet tense affair for us by all account I've been warned.
MOT
In games like that we struggle if we don’t score first.
They'll play just like Wolves, sit back and defend and rely on breaks to settle for a 1-0. We don't do well against teams like that.
We do seem to struggle a bit against this type of set up.
Bielsa will know this and I am certain he will have worked on our play to combat it better.
We can’t change our style but need to be smarter with better quality against game plans like Wolves and probably Leicester.
For 'any team' looking to build up play from the back against the Leicester tactics the obvious solution is to use three at the back (which we've applied in the Championship) to curb Barnes & Vardy and bought in two central defenders whom can play that role.Three at the back will then allow the rest of the team to play in the more advanced areas which the Bielsa way demands.Whether our recent defensive acquisition Lorente is now ready to step into such a role only the great one knows - but whichever defensive strategy we'll opt for we'll need defensive pace and no lunging tackles whether that'll be via a back three or back four in this game that'll be played on a 'zippy' pre-prepared Kiel Barrett Elland Road pitch watered to the exact Bielsa millimetre specification.
Think it'll be close but I hope we do Leicester & stop that smarmy smiling Brendan Rodgers flashing his TV gnashers.
MOT
agree with some of the other posters.
rather simple analysis on my part but if we don't score in the first half we'll lose.
Arsenal dominated the first half against them. Missed a lot of chances and didn't score. They lost on a second half counterattack. we would be vulnerable to a counterattack as the frustration sets in. Kind of a repeat of many of our championship games and those often ended with ugly results.
Find a way to win.
That is all.