Assessing Leicester City’s start to the Premier League Season

A Solid Midfield

Wilfred Ndidi and Nampalys Mendy have formed a solid partnership this season, even if they are not the most creative pair of midfielders. They have been excellent in breaking up opposition’s attacks, but have struggled at times to add something going forward. Vicente Iborra has also started this season, coming in for Mendy in order to help provide some creativity in the midfield.

James Maddison has arguably been Leicester’s best player this season. The 21-year-old has been Leicester’s only creative outlet at times. Even with the burden of being the side’s main creative midfielder, he has been able to find the pockets of space to send his team forward. He even earned himself a call-up to the national team; however he didn’t make it off the bench for either game.

Leicester’s wing contributions have been far and few in between. Due to Puel’s insistence on playing with three attacking midfielders and one striker, Kelechi Iheanacho has been forced out on the wing for most of his starts, thus limiting his effectiveness. Demarai Gray had a solid start to the season before going down with a brutal ankle injury in the Carabao Cup.

Summer signing Richad Ghezzal has not made as much impact as the club would have hoped. To be fair to him, he hasn’t been given a ton of playing time, but when he has come in as a substitute, and when handed a start, he has not been effective.

He seems to try and take on entire defences at times, when there is an easier shorter pass he could play. Marc Albrighton has also seem sporadic time on the wing this season. The veteran winger’s playing style is not as effective as it used to be. Due to the formation Leicester use, he hardly has any options to pick out in the box when he does get a chance to whip in a cross.