That was your cup final, just another game against a mid table nobody for us. But next year will be your year!!
Barcelona and PSG showed the clinical nature of the very best. Thankfully we don't find any side even close to them in our division. That second half was an absolute joy to watch. Had almost forgot how fun it is to watch us play that high pressing game.
Back in my hotel room. 1st half, we gave them too much respect. 2nd half was so much better. Lovely ground, but atmosphere was very poor. Musa took his goals very well. I am looking forward to when Claudio plays him alongside Vardy.
Kasper and Zieler both played one half against Oxford and Celtic but Kasper played the full 90 against PSG and Zieler played the full 90 against Barca.
With the keepers its about sharpness not fitness so playing time doesnt matter as much Very impressed with Hernandez's reading of the game but he has clearly shown in pre season he is a centre half not a right back Musa and Okazaki looked class yesterday
Okazaki was fookin' superb ...his skills suit the European game coz he gets far more protection from the officials than in the Prem ... Musa was a joy but Okazaki had Barca defence all over the place ... Questions about Simpson, Albrighton, King, Wasyl and even Huth at this level but Hernandez looks a real class signing and the other new boys all looked good ... little shout out for Jeff Schlupp ... again showed his value ...
I was glad to see that Okazaki has got rid of that ear infection that caused him to lose his balance and constantly fall over last season. He did look very impressive. The second half display was as good as I've seen. The movement from all players to get in the right position to receive a pass from a team mate under pressure was there in the second half but was lacking in the first, where we ended up giving the ball away. With some of the one touch passing we produced I had to look twice to see if we'd swapped shirts at half time. Hernandez does look very promising, as did Musa and Amartey. And Drinkwater just gets better and better. That's another game where he has played flat out for 90 minutes.....and what a range of passing and possession skills he has. Claudio has some difficult selection choices this season. Vardy and Mahrez might be okay in the Premier League but better get used to sitting on the bench in the Champions League. If that statement doesn't get a reaction I'll be most surprised!
Mahrez is just one of a handful of nailed-on starters right now, along with Morgan and Drinkwater. Even Vardy may well miss out for Musa.
Yes, he will more than likely start, but I am just saying he will be a lucky boy as I feel his performances in pre season have been quite poor. Just hope his head hasn't been turned by all the rumours
... he wasn't bad against Barca ... just about the only one of ours comfortable in possession in the first half ..