Leicester 1-2 Aston Villa post match passport check

[RichardBatchelor]

Dramatic finish...free kick to start with was farcical, Martinez moment of madness, credit Watkins he kept his head as did the VAR. To be fair Tony Gale even called it a free out straight away

At times we played lovely stuff. Leicester helped us by playing Vardy who made Danny Ings look like the roadrunner...We played nice stuff 11 v 11 but thought we need a lot earlier subs. Has that feel of the end of DOLs first season where no matter the performance we are winning or getting results. If I'm honest I thought Emery had a nightmare today, crap team selection, Bailey, timing of subs...then Bert crops with the winner out of nowhere....We go again

Martinez 6 - very good until that moment of madness on last play
Young 5 - Barnes was far too sharp for him but kept going, bit of a Kane/Grealish for the red I thought...
Konsa 6 - annoyed me with his passes at snail pace when we needed to lift tempo
Mings 7 - solid again, easy night
Moreno 7 - looks a really good signing, wrong option shooting when through second half though
Ramsey 5 - poor but horribly out of position on right
McGinn 7 - very good first half but tired second
Luiz 8.5 - few mistakes second half but best player on pitch for me
Buendia 7 - quality assist, not suited to his position tonight but nice touches
Watkins 8 - brilliant goal, top defending at end
Bailey 2 - Vichy like conviction, sad seeing a pro like that tonight

Duran...very (very) raw, Bert brilliant goal.

He's been a regular member of a team averaging two points a game.

[SamTheMouse]

One thing I've noticed is the team spirit.  I feel this is the best we've had since 1980/82.  We've had some good sides between now and then but the togetherness of this bunch is outstanding.  Ref: Bertrand Traore last night.

See Konza giving it the full 'David Platt fingers' whilst chasing after Bert

I strongly advise against googling this.

[LeeB]

One thing I've noticed is the team spirit.  I feel this is the best we've had since 1980/82.  We've had some good sides between now and then but the togetherness of this bunch is outstanding.  Ref: Bertrand Traore last night.

See Konza giving it the full 'David Platt fingers' whilst chasing after Bert

I strongly advise against googling this.

[olaftab]

Sign Harvey Barnes! Such great pace.

No. Despite his cameo tonight against an old man he is not consistent enough, he’s is good but not great, he’s not quite top international player so not better than likes of Bert and on his day Bailey.
And don’t forget his lack of contribution is part of the reason why Leicester are in serious trouble.

Harvey Barnes is MILES better than Bailey, it's not even close.

Hang on, let me assess this. Bailey plays regularly for a team heading up the table. Barnes plays for a team that's heading for the second division and he has played his part in that. I think answer is clear.

Yes, because that’s how football works. Bloody hell.

I have another argument to get involved in today so I am not defending Bailey anymore.
However we need to get off his back and not get totally over impressed by a bloke who managed to run past a 37 years old and for once shoot straight. 

[Risso]

I have another argument to get involved in today so I am not defending Bailey anymore.
However we need to get off his back and not get totally over impressed by a bloke who managed to run past a 37 years old and for once shoot straight. 

He's scored ten goals for a really shit side. Imagine where we'd be if you could add ten goals to either Buendia or Bailey.

[LeeB]

It's not just this season either, I've wanted us to sign Barnes since I first clapped eyes on him, and it actually feels now like it's feasable.

[Ger Regan]

I was at it again, decrying the Manager at the start of the second half for not doing something about Barnes threat and how Young was struggling, but he made me look a plum again.

What I have noticed over the last few games is that we seem to take the sting out of teams. They have a good go at it in the first half but then seem to run out of ideas and inspiration, it was happening last night even before the red card.

We always give teams opportunities, but throw everything at defending, make our own luck and come out on top. What a marvelous habit to have.

Towards the end last night I felt a genuine excitement that I haven't experienced since the days of MON. We will still lose games, we will go on bad runs, it happens but what we must do when this happens is show patience and we will get the rewards.

Finally, it's clear that Tony Gale shouldn't do West Ham games, he displayed proper balance in his observations and that clapper going all through the game sounded like a chippie at work in the stand.

I was looking at Chris Suttons predictions on the beeb, he yet again predicted us not to win. The other predictor was a young actor and West Ham fan. He predicted us to win and that Villa sucked the life out of West Ham and would do the same to Leicester, with our passing. He said he meant is a compliment and i know exactly what we did, we totally dominate that second half, without creating loads, but largely just nullified Leicester.

Completely agree about Gale, he was good last night, where he was so one eyed a few weeks back.

I am so excited about whats happening.

I thought Gale was pretty poor, he criticised Bailey (i think) for trying a cross into Buendia, as Buendia isn't good in the air, apparently.

[tomd2103]

It's not just this season either, I've wanted us to sign Barnes since I first clapped eyes on him, and it actually feels now like it's feasable.

Based on nothing more than a hunch, I can see both him and Maddison ending up at Newcastle this summer.

[LeeB]

I thought Gale was shite to, as ever. He grudgingly had to concede we're a decent side as it's obvious the West Ham game was the only time he's watched us until last night and the evidence was mounting as the game wore on.

My mate also reminded us of an amusing story about him that I'd completely forgotten about. Years ago the old Wolves, Walsall and West Ham (all the w's) striker David Kelly ended up playing a bit in the Sutton Sunday league, and we overheard him talking about Gale in the bar at Holly Lane. If you replaced the 'o' in his first name with an 'i' you'd be able to guess the subject.

[VILLA MOLE]

yep I heard Gale about Buendia, do your homework Tony

[Risso]

It's not just this season either, I've wanted us to sign Barnes since I first clapped eyes on him, and it actually feels now like it's feasable.

I guess the main thing is I'm not really sure what we're going to see from Emery in terms of fromation and personnel once he can start bringing his own players in. Is 4-4-2 his usual preferred formation? At the moment he's getting every last ounce from a small squad, but last night he had Ramsey on one side, Buendia on the other and a shit winger up front with Watkins. If he could have all his preferred players, would it still be 4-4-2, and if so would it be two proper centre forwards up front and two wingers, or one winger and a number ten up front playing off the striker?

Pretty much the default formation in the Premier League is 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1) with a number 9 and two wider forwards up front, a number 8 and 6 in midfield, etc. Emery has confused me with his new fangled ways. It shouldn't work, but it does!

[LeeB]

It's not just this season either, I've wanted us to sign Barnes since I first clapped eyes on him, and it actually feels now like it's feasable.

I guess the main thing is I'm not really sure what we're going to see from Emery in terms of fromation and personnel once he can start bringing his own players in. Is 4-4-2 his usual preferred formation? At the moment he's getting every last ounce from a small squad, but last night he had Ramsey on one side, Buendia on the other and a shit winger up front with Watkins. If he could have all his preferred players, would it still be 4-4-2, and if so would it be two proper centre forwards up front and two wingers, or one winger and a number ten up front playing off the striker?

Pretty much the default formation in the Premier League is 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1) with a number 9 and two wider forwards up front, a number 8 and 6 in midfield, etc. Emery has confused me with his new fangled ways. It shouldn't work, but it does!

I think he's just capable of adapting the system to work to the strengths of his resources, but draws the line at people that can't run, hence Ings being cleared off and Dendonker struggling to get a look in.

[Hookeysmith]

It's not just this season either, I've wanted us to sign Barnes since I first clapped eyes on him, and it actually feels now like it's feasable.

I agree he looked a tremendous talent when on loan at the bitters.

Even though we looked a bit leggy, not surprising after a lot of chasing against Chelsea, i though we dominated the game. Games like this hinge on key moments such as their CH missing a free header and Emi M making a great save off the Mings deflection but overall it would of been a travesty if we had not gained 3 pts

Martinez - great stop from Mings and good off his line a few times - bit of a head rush at the end but he would of saved the pen anyway

Young - skinned for the goal but much better 2nd half - very worldly wise to draw the 2nd yellow.

Konsa - thought he read the game well but still looks like he is shitting himself when he has the ball

Mings - Imperious

Moreno - has slipped effortlessly into the team - combined really well down the line

Luis - assured and looks like he glides over the pitch

McGinn - much prefer him in the more forward roles but was adequate in temp position again

Bailey - Hugged the line well and draws at least 2 players towards him. Needs to release a little bit quicker and have a "give and go" down the line

Ramsey - thought it was not a great effort from him - no picking up and driving with the ball which is really his thing

Buendia - Has started to cut out the screaming for a foul histrionics and now popping up all over - superb vision and incredible first time pass for Watkins goal

Watkins - tireless workrate as usual. I actually thought he had over cooked it when through but drew the keeper and slotted brilliantly. Superb defensive work at the end won us the game as much as the Traore thunderbolt.

Subs

Chambers - adequate as usual
Duran - love his enthusiasm and he will score before the end of the season
Digne - smooth change over with Moreno
Traore - We always knew there was magic in them feet - love him - the epitome of cool dude

Playing out from the back - i have gone from clenching my arsehole each time we pass it to actually relaxing and enjoying the dominance. The back and forth then the quick ball into Buendia  / Luiz is a joy to see how we carve teams open.

[LeeB]

I would only counter that Ramsey, who didn't have his best game, worked like a bastard off the ball.

[usav]

Mings - Imperious

Apart from the part where he fucked around with the ball too long thinking he was Maldini which very nearly lead to a good chance for them