Foxes of Leicester
Fansided

The main issues facing Claude Puel at Leicester City

By Thomas Bradley Alderman

CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 03: (EDITORS NOTE: THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO BLACK & WHITE) Leicester manager Claude Puel looks on during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Leicester City at Cardiff City Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 03: (EDITORS NOTE: THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO BLACK & WHITE) Leicester manager Claude Puel looks on during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Leicester City at Cardiff City Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal with Kyle Walker of Manchester City and Nicolas Otamendi of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Everton FC at Etihad Stadium on December 15, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal with Kyle Walker of Manchester City and Nicolas Otamendi of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Everton FC at Etihad Stadium on December 15, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

Fixture list

Ok fair enough, Puel is not at fault for the randomly generated Premier League scheduling – although, some crazies would probably even blame him for that – but what supporters and pundits can accuse him of, is not racking up enough points against beatable opposition this term.

There have been losses to Crystal Palace, Everton and Bournemouth this season. Other dropped points against beatable opponents occurred versus West Ham – who had 10-men for over 50 minutes – and Brighton, although Leicester City had 10-players for three-quarters of that match.

Burnley also muscled a 0-0 at the King Power. Before former Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri’s Fulham managed a draw against Puel’s side at Craven Cottage. These are distinctly poor results – not for a relegation avoiding team, but for a club aspiring to consistent European qualification.

Where these outcomes really hurt Leicester, are at times like the busy festive part of the term. Especially when part of the upcoming division forecast for the Foxes looks thusly: Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United.

That list can certainly ensure the Frenchman is relieved of duty by early new year. In fact, it is extremely likely Puel will be sacked in, or by January; Jose Mourinho has begun the trend. And the Leicester boss is favourite with some prominent bookies to be the next top-flight manager to get fired.

How many points can the Foxes expect in the next nine fixtures? Well, eight would be an impressive haul, considering the opposition teams. Those points would hypothetically, or speculatively, come from the matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers away, Southampton at home, Cardiff City at home and, at this point, an unlikely draw at Everton’s Goodison Park. Do not be surprised if Leicester get something from Manchester United either; and it certain is not impossible to get points from the other top-five

Click here to view the matches upcoming on premierleague.com.