The Fish

A deserved win if not through 100% deserved circumstances. Had Murphy or Atsu put their chances away from the 'keeper a 2-1 win would seem just. Win against Huddersfield and we go 11pts clear of 3rd and, if Brighton don't bounce back against Forest, 4-5pts clear of 2nd. Huddersfield will be a massive game, but they play Man city tonight and injuries to key players, a humiliating defeat, a gruelling battle into penalties, are all possibilities. Impossible to predict how they'd react to that as well. A humiliating 4-0 might give them a fire in their belly to bounce back, or it could crush their spirits. A win against Premier League opposition could fill them with confidence, or it could lead to complacency... Huddersfield are all about the hard-pressing style, so I don't think Gouffran's bang average movement would reap any rewards, but a 'Big Man' might. Each player is going to be under a lot of pressure, so we shouldn't play powder puff midfielders like Perez (despite his goal), or a liability like Colback. I'd prefer Diame and Hayden, but I'm not sure if the latter is fit?

Yup.

Oh aye, that Brighton crowd can be brutal. If you're not careful there'll be some very cutting asides about your fashion sense.

We're a good side playing without a lot of confidence and without key men; Gayle & Hayden. They're a good side playing with confidence and without the injury problems. We're making silly mistakes and not being efficient up front. We're beating/drawing with poorer sides, because we're much better than they are. Not the case with Brighton. Draw's not a great result for us and it'd be great for Huddersfield, but I'd take it if it was offered now.

You'd have thought, given how often he needs one, he'd have the hat and gown ready with interchangeable trims.

I don't disagree, I just found the whole post a bit melancholy.

To be fair, that's a low bar you've set.

Not sure he'd get the criticism he does if Man Utd had properly replaced Ronaldo.

If he does he won't break Shearer's record.

He's the first player I've seen that might come close. 1.62 Games per Goal, or c23 goals a season. He'd need another 8 and a bit seasons at that rate to get to 260. That said, a couple of 30 goal seasons (which isn't beyond him) and obviously that total doesn't seem so far away. Few caveats of course; He'll have to stay in the Premier League which is less likely now than it was in Shearer's day He'll need to stay relatively injury free Lukaku's only 23 goals off the 100 club and he's the same age as Kane. Think he'd have to leave Everton if he wanted to regularly post >20 goals a season.

Certainly means that every game is one where we need to grind out a result. Must be daunting pressure for the younger players like Hayden, Perez and Mitrovic?

Trouble is, they've more chance of nicking it. We look a bit wobbly at the back and our strike force isn't full of confidence either.

That's not how they play though. It's conservative, deliberate, counter attack and set pieces. Just like it was for us under Hughton.

So, rarely then.

I'll be delighted with a draw, and I reckon we'll lose it 2-1. They'll be confident, 60% of their points and 60% of their goals have come at home, they've only conceded 9 goals at home, losing only once (to Brentford). They've four players on double figures, we have one.

... have I been made redundant and not told?

ages ago I laughed off suggestions he might beat Shearer's Premier League record... not so confident now.

Really? That surprises me. Agree with you that this talk of abject failure is nonsense like. We're not Villa, we're not even Norwich. We're comfortably clear of 3rd, we're on course for over 97pts, by what measure is that failure? Because other teams are also​ doing well?

Aye, and 5pts and a vastly superior GD should mean we're canny anyway. As Howay says, their form is surely unsustainable and while we've not been brilliant, we've managed to turn our narrow frustrating losses, into narrow frustrating draws.

Wonder why we're not as confident at home as we are on the road. Someone on twitter was saying Lascelles was having to tell the crowd to calm down, it might be that the home fans are expecting to turn up and watch the title-toppers blow away all before them. Reminds me of my Dad and his mates; any dropped points and we're doomed, any win is bucking some made-up trend. People are genuinely talking about us not only dropping to the Play-offs, but once there they're confident we wouldn't get back into the Premier League via that route either...

To be fair, most times the fringe players have been brought in they've been brought in en masse. We've not really seen Lazaar at left back with the rest of our 1st team alongside him, or Gamez. Big few games for Mitrovic, but games I fancy him to enjoy.

Even if he "only" sits out 3 matches, that's good news.

Or what he said

Loads of reasons. Key players enjoyed a purple patch last season. that's over now. Vardy was hitting the back of the net with every swing of his boot, things aren't going his way this season (like Cisse's fall from grace). Mahrez wasn't recognised as a good player early doors, now he's marked out of games. Key players may have had their opinions of themselves fluffed by agents and now feel the graft that got them the title is beneath them. Maybe they wanted to leave Leicester in the summer and were denied that opportunity and subsequently aren't as motivated. The new players may have disrupted the core of the squad. The new players weren't improvements on last seasons squad. Ranieri could keep a winning team's morale and commitment high, but can't reinvigorate an ailing squad. Kante's departure depressed morale Other clubs know how to set up against Leicester Other teams are performing more in line with their norm (Chelsea, Liverpool, the Manchester clubs) and so on.