... how do you think we will look this season ? Slimani, l assume, will be up top along side Vardy. Armatey is looking like he´s going to be cementing a place in the midfield. Schmeichel´s the No. 1 GK & our defence, l hope, will be left as it was last season, Hernandez is abit iffy. I really don´t know what our best midfeld is tbh. As l said Amatey looks good, Drinkwater & Mahrez (keep him away from the pen spot) we all know about, but who would you have in there aswell, Albrighton ? A few are saying he´ll be more or less a squad player so may be Musa ? Who would be your 11. The bench I think may look abit like this. (minus the missing midfielder) Zieler Hernandez King Gray Musa Albrighton Kapustka Okazaki Would you agree that would be our very best squad week in week out if all stayed fit ?
We have a lot of depth in attacking positions now. Vardy, Okazaki, Musa, Ulloa and Slimani competiting for the striker positions Mahrez, Albrighton, Gray, Schlupp and Kaputska competiting for the wide position Only positions that lack abit of depth is right back as Simpson is the only recognised right back in the squad and centre midfield with Inler and Kante going and only Mendy coming in leaving us with just Drinkwater, King, Amartey and Mendy plus Matty James if we can get him fit and he is still the same player he was before the injury
Schmeichel Simpson - Huth - Morgan - Fuchs Amartey Mahrez - Drinkwater - Albrighton Slimani Vardy This for me... if we are looking for a goal, i'd swap to this... Schmeichel Simpson - Huth - Morgan - Fuchs Drinkwater Gray - Mahrez - Musa Vardy - Slimani Certainly an exciting squad, bit short at CB, RB and CM, but can't get much better in regards to wingers and strikers.
I do like Okazaki, but one of his issues is that he can often play an hour at best. He might therefore be best utilised as an impact sub- I fully expect to see Slimani and Vardy playing together up top, and playing 3 up top to incorporate Vardy, Okazaki, and Slimani means two would be out wide. I expect Okazaki could attack to that but we know that Vardy is wasted out wide, and Slimani would be the obvious choice to play in the middle due to his height and strength. Haven't even begun to consider Musa, who would play well as a wide forward, but, like Okazaki, is useful as an impact sub right now. Ranieri is certainly going to have a headache in attacking positions.
But what a rather nice problem to have! I think I'd continue to start Okazaki at least for a few games as he really helps to knacker the opposition defence. At this stage we don't know how fit Slimani is so use him as the impact sub for now?
He is match fit but I'd still keep him as a sub and ease him into the team - all the paperwork and physical was done in Italy and I don't think he's ever even visited England before.
Loving the dilemma with all of our attacking options... Gone are the days of wondering how we would fit Matty Fryatt, Iain Hume and Barry Hayles in the same starting lineup
Cant leave out Steve Howard. We are a much better side with the big man in. Zsolt Laczko is 10 times the player Riyad Mahrez is
Yes, true! Admittedly the Howard/Fryatt combo served us well at one point in time... But, give me Slimani/Vardy any day!
Well that was an silly decision Neither, you need players who are guaranteed to play 90 minutes every week, and you can't say that about either of them at the moment.
Also think Okazaki will start the next few. Feel that Slimani will be in the Ulloa role until hes settled. Slimani will replace Okazaki and Musa will replace Albrighton, at least until they have proven that starting them is better for the team.
i will be shocked if Okazaki doesnt start against Liverpool after Ranieri said he had one of the best games of his career against Swansea Its Okazaki's shirt to lose and Musa/Slimani's to take