Waited 24hrs to post a few thoughts from the Leicester game. Less emotion, more reflection!

Clearly good to come away with a point & the intensity in the 2nd half gives us something to build on.

My big thought though isn’t a new one.......

The most sobering thought from Boxing Day, we got away with a 3-0 defeat against 10 man Aston Villa. Despite our numerical advantage, we did not have an answer for the movement, passing & press from the Villains midfield. Against Leicester, again our midfield was overrun.

This was against a second string LCFC midfield. The pivotal question for me is this, can we play progressive football, with our current midfielders in a 442?

Yesterday, the creativity from Eze was sacrificed for Townsend. Along with Schlupp, both played narrow to protect.

Both Villa & Leicester played with 2 midfielders sitting in front of a back 4 with 3 ahead of them. The 2 ‘holding’ had the legs to get around the pitch & the passing to dictate play. The full backs were offered protection, the 3 in front supported on attacks.

Those who know me, know I’m a big Jairo fan, in Jimmy Mac we have a player with the heart of a lion, but he’s 33, Luka is.....Luka & McCarthy adds significant bite when he plays. Are any of them truly able to play in a 442 week in, week out especially when playing against 4231?

If the answer is yes, can they do it with the creativity of Eze in the team? Is this why the manager was reticent to also bring Benrahma in? Our shape & the limitations of our midfield 2 means we have to compromise to protect them.

The frustration, on paper it looks like we have the players to both be more defensively solid when out of possession & more creative when on the ball. By matching the shape of Villa & Leicester we could have Eze in front of Jairo & Luka, Schlupp to the left, Townsend on the right

Up front, the 1 would surely be Wilf but the 3 behind him would be able to ensure passes to feet or in the channels & all have the pace to get to support him. We’d lose the out ball of launching it to Benteke but if that is needed he plays & Wilf goes wide in the 3.

When we played West Brom, it was clear to see why we were so attracted to Gallagher in the summer. A young energetic box to box midfielder with an eye for a pass & a goal. In my mind, there’s no doubt he’s better equipped to play 442 but even then you lose the benefit of Eze.

My ‘reflection’ has gone on longer than I thought! Somebody far more articulate than me could have summarised it in 1 tweet.

I fear, unless the manager can adapt our shape we will continue to get overrun in midfield & Eze is going to find himself with splinters.