Chapter 14: Old Ray's Strategy

Queens Park Rangers have shown amazing strength at the start of the season while retaining many players from the previous Premier League season, and have remained in second place in the table.

But as the game progressed, the problem of the team's shallow bench depth was exposed.

In the case of injuries and suspensions of many main players, the team only won 5 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses in 14 games at the halfway point of the schedule, and was overtaken by the Burnley team behind it and ranked third in the standings.

Then in the four games in February this year, the team drew 1 and lost 3, not only trailing Burnley by a large score, but also being chased by Derby County behind only 1 point.

The situation in the Championship is now very clear, the top two have basically confirmed two Premier League places, and the competition between the three and eight places is fierce, and there is a possibility of falling out of the top at any time.

In front of the old coach Redknapp is a heavy task.

However, the return of main striker Austin makes the lineup very complete.

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy was injured.

The so-called taking advantage of your illness will kill you.

The Queens Park Rangers players are very confident in this game.

Not to be outdone in the face of a menacing opponent, Leicester City lined up front with a trident of Conokette, Nugent and Mahrez.

The home fans also made a lot of noise, and with half an hour before the start of the game, the sky above the King Power Stadium was already echoing with bursts of singing.

Rossi was at home for the first time, and during the warm-up, he faintly heard fans chanting his name.

The feeling at home is just different.

It was a crucial moment to win the title, and in order to make the game more fair and intense, the FA played Burnley at the same time at the other venue.

Queens Park Rangers, who play away from home, play more steadily, and the back five system is to limit the attack on both wings of the Leicester City team.

The defensive chain of the three midfielders can also block the pass in the middle of the Leicester City team very well, and after breaking the ball, they can seize the gap in time and play a quick counterattack.

Leicester City, playing at home, with the help of Nugent in the middle, decisively broke through to the flanks.

At the same time, the midfielder also boldly pressed forward and counter-attacked, continuing to put pressure on the Queens Park Rangers.

In the face of the Premier League's respected coach, Pearson took a decisive attack, and while the wings flew together, Drinkwater and Schlupp boldly inserted into the opponent's ribs to form a threat.

At the start of the game, Leicester City launched three dangerous attacks in just ten minutes, leaving the opposition goalkeeper to be the busiest man.

The wind was surging on the field, but Lao Lei off the field was extremely calm.

Since he took charge, he has injected tenacity and calmness into the team, the temperament of Taishan who has collapsed in front and has not changed, and the coordinated operation of the team's three defensive lines in the midfield and backfield to ensure the stability of the rear.

Lao Lei also calmly observed the situation on the field.

In the last game, Pearson used Jamie Vardy to confuse the Reading team, so that they did not dare to press too hard.

Now this trick is useless, and you can only use offense instead of defense.

As he has previously analyzed, although Leicester City is missing Vardy, the team's forward line is not completely weakened, and there is still enough attacking power.

And the two midfielders who are inserted in front of them have speed and long-range shots, which must not be underestimated.

Lao Lei believes that in the first half, the defensive position consumes the opponent's physical strength and fighting spirit, and the real key to victory lies in the last 15 minutes.

A draw is acceptable for them, but there is a lot of pressure on Leicester City.

Because on the other side of the pitch, Burnley scored in just five minutes.

If this score is followed, then the gap between the two sides in the table will be reduced to three points, and the situation will be quite difficult for Leicester City.

Redknapp seized on Pearson's mentality and made slight changes to the line-up, leaving only Benayoun and Austin in the front line to lure Leicester City to attack boldly.

In the 30th minute, after Nugent's header was confiscated by goalkeeper Green, Queens Park Rangers immediately launched a quick counter-attack.

Unlike Leicester City's simple one-kick pass, the players under Lao Ray use passing to improve the overall counter-attack speed.

The high-speed insertion of the two wingbacks makes it easy to form a situation of more and less when counterattacking.

Not only that, but Queens Park Rangers' two midfielders, Kranica and Gary O'Neal, are both offensive and defensive players, with a decent long-range shot from outside the box.

Once a counterattack is formed, a breakthrough on the wing and a long-range shot from the middle can become a weapon for scoring.

Pearson, realizing that he had fallen into the trap, bounced off the bench and shouted instructions for the players to return to the defense.

The large gap behind Drinkwater and Schlupp was instantly stabbed by the opponent.

For Kranica's ball-handling advance, Leicester City midfielder Andy King had to step forward to block and slow down the attack.

But the opponent took a step quicker and passed the ball to the rib space of the Leicester City team, forming a 5-on-4 situation in an instant.

It was Benayoun who retreated to catch the ball.

The star, who has played for three of the biggest clubs in Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal, has no speed advantage, but he has delicate skills at his feet, good passing ability and a wide range of movement.

With him swaying behind center Austin, he can give more support.

Leicester City's other midfielder, Hammond, hurriedly stepped forward to block and slow down the attack and allow his teammates to return in time.

The backline is also slowly retreating to prevent the two wings from getting into the gap behind them.

Captain Morgan directs his teammates to create offsides to limit Austin's catch-and-shoot shots.

While dribbling the ball, Benayoun observed the position of his teammates and opponents, and faced Hammond who came forward, suddenly accelerated and broke to the left.

Hammond, who defended sideways, followed up in time, he knew in his heart that he had to stop his opponent from breaking through, and he was very confident that he would not lose to his opponent in terms of speed.

After Benayoun took three steps, there was a sudden change in rhythm, and his body paused and he dunked the ball to the left.

And Hammond, who followed closely, did not lose his position, and immediately turned his hip and turned back to block.

But just as he blocked the angle, Benayoun flicked the ball to the left with the outside of his right foot, and Hammond had no time to change his direction and could only sweep the ball with his right foot.

But Benayoun flicked the ball up, just out of Hammond's legs, rolled to the left, and then dodged past Hammond.

Ooh!

This breakthrough, the hearts of the home fans, instantly raised their throats, Austin was already observing the defensive position, preparing to counter offside, and the only one who could stop Benayoun was captain Morgan.

Fortunately, when Benayoun got the ball, Morgan commanded the defense to create an offside position, so that he did not dare to pass the ball easily, and he lifted up, allowing his teammates to adduct and help defend Austin behind him.

And it was this small step that allowed Morgan to get up in time and destroy the ball with a big foot after his teammates were broken through the defense.

The home fans, who had a false alarm, breathed a sigh of relief and gave applause to their captain.

With this counterattack, Pearson no longer dared to rush up the press, he knew that he had already lost in the layout before the start of the game.

Lao Lei is not a team in charge of the Premier League, and his tactics are very targeted.

Now we can only count on the three substitutions in hand.