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In a newly established tradition, Leicester City lost by three goals away from home to warm up for a Champions League encounter, this time going down 3-0 to Chelsea.
We asked for rotation and Ranieri duly delivered, resting player of the year Riyad Mahrez and impact signing Islam Sliming, which still doesn’t seem quite right.
Other players, like Ghana’s Daniel Amartey, travelled further and played more games over the international break after all, so this seems like another sign that the manager is favouring Champions League competition.
The game itself bears little remembering. Chelsea were allowed to do as they pleased in the first half as the current 4-4-2 system once again didn’t seem to work away from the KP.
Kasper Schmeichel - 7
This must be getting very frustrating for the Dane. He’s now conceded 13 goals in four away games, and done very little wrong to deserve it.
Luis Hernandez - 4
I was surprised to see Hernandez play over Simpson. His style seems to suit the European game much better, and his long throws have looked almost undependable to unprepared defences. He doesn’t seem to have the defending side down yet, often chases the ball out of position and has miscommunications with other defenders that lead to mistakes and goals.
Wes Morgan - 5
5 - Leicester City have conceded more goals from corners than any other Premier League team this season (5). Rooted.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 15, 2016
Wes is in charge of marshalling the defence at set pieces. Also he was supposed to mark Diego Costa, not watch him.
Robert Huth - 5
Not bad for most of the game, but was caught up in some of the worst defending I’ve seen from this group of players for the second goal.
Christian Fuchs - 6
The least bad of the bunch at the back, as none of the goals were down to a terrible mistake on his part.
Marc Albrighton - 7
If Leicester were going to score, it would’ve been created by the industrious winger. He was in no way imposing himself on the game, or terrorising defenders, but his delivery was still up to scratch and created something, which is more than anyone else can say.
It’s not good enough. We as players need to stand up and be counted: we’re too easy too score against, too easy to beat and it’s not good enough - Albrighton was giving no excuses post match
Danny Drinkwater - 6
We know what a player he is and what he can do, but right now the system is letting that happen. The centre of the park was a no man’s land for Leicester in the first half as they barely touched the ball.
Daniel Amartey - 5
I have high hopes Amartey, I do. He’s just 21 and he joined us less than a year ago, as a defender who could play in midfield if needed. This was too big an ask. We need Mendy back and we need to consider a change in formation.
Jeff Schlupp - 5
Was it just me, or did Schlupp start on the right with Albrighton on the left? He certainly seemed to find himself on that side often, and offered nothing at all in attack. Rotation gave him a chance and he didn’t take it.
The Champions League is two months, in and out. The Premier League is all year - the boss explains why he’s saving big names for midweek
Ahmed Musa - 5
I don’t really like to blame him, because he got no service at all. What can he do if no one gets him the ball? That said, he’s still getting used to English football and to playing in a front two, which he’s not done before, and it really shows.
Jamie Vardy - 6
Was as starved for chances as Musa, but at least looked a little more likely to create something for himself. How he musters the energy to keep chasing when the team never looks like winning I’ll never know.
Riyad Mahrez/Islam Slimani - 6
Can I be honest? I remember them being subbed on. That’s about it. The game was done, Leicester had had their spell of improved play and failed to make anything of it.
Andy King - 5
He was decent enough in changing the team’s shape and giving more of a chance, but then he just stood and watched as Moses made his run for the third goal.
In summary, we conceded three but for me Man of the Match was Kasper Schmeichel, the goalkeeper. Never a great sign. Hey at least we’ve got a UCL match next. We’re pretty good at them.