EXPLAINED: Brendan Rodgers’ new experimental system at Leicester City

When joining Leicester City as the end of the 2018/19 season approached, Brendan Rodgers managed to implement or modify an existing system. Now the stratagem is refined or redesigned once again.

Some supporters don’t want to admit it and will deny the notion, but Claude Puel switched the style of Leicester City football club. His attempts were in vein, not to mention not being quite applicable or applied accurately. Yet the Frenchman rightly tried to improve the quality of play.

Rodgers entered with Puel’s theory at heart, along with a better strategy of implementation. Puel tried to alter the particularly outdated and simplistic ‘hoof it from defence’ tactics. Although the team didn’t take to his over-methodical, slow build-up play and consequently struggled to break teams down – especially lesser sides.

However, the Northern Irishman’s application of the ‘passing game’ is more dynamic. His leadership is far more man-management orientated too; therefore the players have warmed to method and manager. Now it seems Rodgers has tweaked or improved his stratagem once more.

Brendan the tinkerman

This is what the Foxes gaffer said after defeating Stoke City 2-1 in the weekend’s friendly at bet365 Stadium:

"“From a tactical perspective, we played a different system and I was so pleased with that element of the game, how the players adapted to that. I thought they were very, very good.“It’s a system where you can have no ego when you play it. You have to run, you have to work and you have to create space and have lots of movement and they did that.“They were cleaner with their passing [second half] and quicker with their passing and we created opportunities throughout the game, so it was a really good exercise against lots of players that are experienced in the Premier League. It was good all round.“It’s a system I’ve used a lot through my coaching career. When I first came in, we primarily played 4-3-3 through to the end of the season, but like my teams to play different systems.“The style will always remain the same, but the systems change. To play that well in that first game playing in that system, I was really pleased because Stoke are a team that play that and understand that system very well. It was a really good exercise for us.”– Brendan RodgersVia: lcfc.com"

So the style – a thorough but unlimited passing game with the ball – includes a defensive high-press, as well as a team press; with the formation morphing from a 4-3-3 to a compact 4-1-4-1 in defence. Which is now complimented by a constant unselfish off-the-ball running system. Leicester will be a force to be reckoned with this campaign! Having a “no ego” element will be really intriguing in 2019/20.

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One area that still needs work, or to be redefined, is on the wing: certain wingers need to raise their game. In addition they must cease playing high aerial, and often wasted, crosses to an isolated Jamie Vardy. Invention, effervescence and possibly investment is necessary out-wide, unfortunately. That is, if sixth place in the Premier League is realistic at all.

What the boss really wants to achieve is dominance on the ball and intimidation without. The new method is very interesting in its exhausting capacity to open up attacking space for ultra talented Foxes forwards. Are you pleased with and encouraged by Rodgers’ techniques since joining? Tell us in the comments section below.