Free-flowing, attacking football has returned to Leicester City after a brief hiatus at the end of last season, as the Foxes’ start the campaign with back-to-back wins for the first time in five years.
Following on from a comfortable 3-0 victory against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, Leicester City bypassed Sean Dyche’s rigid Burnley with an excellent attacking display. So, what three things have we learned from the fixture?
Leicester City’s explosive width is back and it’s devastating!
The Foxes have reinvigorated the performances from their wide players, after some dull displays in the latter stages of last season. New signing, Timothy Castagne, was superb for the second game running, building quite the relationship with Ayoze Perez on the right-hand side.
Brendan Rodgers said in his press conference after the game against West Bromwich Albion, that in attacking transition the Foxes have a lob-sided defensive unit. James Justin is playing as an out-and-out defensive full-back, whilst Castagne is being given similar freedoms to his tenure with Atalanta, advancing as a more attacking wing-back.
This tactical implementation has rewarded Rodgers, with the Belgian-international scoring a goal on the opening day and getting two assists versus Burnley at The King Power Stadium, last night. Whilst, the “defensive” full-back, Justin, also got in on the action, grabbing the third goal of the evening – not very defensive if you ask me, but a deserving goal for the 22-year-old.
The two inspired performances from the full-backs was also supplemented by decisive and penetrative attacking-play from the wingers, Ayoze Pérez and Harvey Barnes. Focusing on the latter, Barnes seems to have reignited his confidence with his blistering pace causing veteran defender, Phil Bardsley, issues all game. Leicester City fans should be really excited for Barnes’ performances this season, as I predict he’ll eclipse the heights he set last campaign.
It’s also worth noting, the Foxes have got Portuguese right-back, Ricardo Pereira, to come back, as well as new signing Cengiz Ünder to add to the right-hand side. If the wings looked strong already, Leicester City have got arguably better alternatives to integrate into the side. An exciting prospect.
A most balanced midfield composition?
This is an interesting one, but I also feel strongly about it. Leicester City look very comfortable with the balance in midfield, so far this season. Without disrespecting the opposition thus far, they’ve not been the most challenging and I also feel Wilfred Ndidi is a “better” alternative to Nampalys Mendy at central defensive-midfield, but the point still remains. I also think the Frenchman’s work in possession is far superior to that of the makeshift centre-back and is very underrated by the Foxes faithful.
A double pivot of Dennis Praet and Youri Tielemans is allowing both to flourish, the former with the goal of the game, whilst the latter played arguably the best pass of the weekend. Praet’s intelligence off-the-ball is unparalleled, he’s exceptional at creating angles for passing lanes and gives space to Tielemans when he advances through the lines with a run passed the oppositions centre-backs.
Personally, I think Praet is the best “facilitator” of attacking play for the Foxes. What I mean by this is, although he often doesn’t get involved with contributions (i.e goals and assists) he plays a similar role to that of Roberto Firmino at Liverpool. He allows those around him to thrive, with selfless and advantageous supporting runs.
The big question is how does James Maddison fit into this system, as his cameo from the bench yesterday resulted in an unbalanced midfield, once Praet was pushed to right-midfield. Currently, Praet deserves his place, but it’s undeniable that Maddison is the most technically gifted player at Leicester City, and finding a system that benefits him and the team is of upmost importance to Rodgers.
Foxes’ game management or lack of
An unfortunate re-occurrence was the lack of game management from the Foxes, against a very linear Burnley team. In both fixtures last season (averaging four corners against and seven fouls over the two fixtures) and in the game yesterday, Leicester City fell victim to allowing frequent set-pieces in their own half, which against a side with little-to-no attacking flair aside from physicality, isn’t desirable.
Obviously, The Clarets play to their strengths and look to win as many of the aforementioned set-pieces as possible, but the Foxes made their lives easier with mismanagement of possession in their own third, and needless fouls in areas of no concern.
Rodgers also turned to club captain, Wes Morgan, in the 89th minute to reassure the defensive-line – which, with a two-goal cushion is acceptable, but I’d refrain from doing so with slender leads. Leicester City need to understand the benefit of retaining possession in the closing stages, for one, you’re tiring out the opposition, but you’re also negating them from creating chances.
Overall, the Foxes weren’t excellent defensively, but they were by no means bad, however, they subsidised this with wonderful attacking-football. If you out score your opponent, you’ll win every game. This isn’t something I hope we live by, as emotionally it’s draining, but it’s good to see Leicester playing football to be proud of.