Leicester City returned to winning ways in the Premier League, with another solid away performance. Intriguingly, the fixture played out like the Foxes were at home, hence why a few reoccurring issues plagued Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Similarly to the game against SC Braga, the match definitely had a “match of two halves” feel to it – with Leicester City domineering the first-half, and rightfully took the lead, but when Oli McBurnie equalised from a corner – yeah, you guessed it (another corner), the momentum truly shifted.
The second-half continued with the Foxes in possession, but they were in never control of the game. Unsurprisingly, Leicester City ended the game with 70 per cent possession, and as is always the case when Brendan Rodgers’ side dictate the game, they created very little. It took some last minute heroics from forward, Jamie Vardy, to save Leicester’s worries and take all three points. But, there’s bigger issues for Rodgers to sort out.
At the forefront of the Northern Irishman’s problems to solve, should be defending – and equally, attacking, set-pieces. The Foxes have the worst record in the league, conceding seven already this season, and that’s only directly. In the Leeds United game, Stuart Dallas’ goal wouldn’t be added to the statistics but it was a result of a short corner routine. I’d estimate that around nine/ten of the goals conceded this season are directly, or indirectly, from dead-ball situations. Overall they’ve conceded fifteen goals this season – that’s around 60%-67% of all their conceded goals this season – a definite weak link.
Regardless, the “hybrid” system that Leicester are using isn’t being effective currently. I’ve defended the system, purely due to the fact that if you incorporate either of the other two – zonal and man-marking, without utilising the other it causes more problems than it solves.
Zonal’s shortcomings are that you’ll lose most aerial duals because the defender is initiating the dual from a standing start, versus the attacker who has momentum from their run. With a purely man-marking system, you give away a lot of additional corners because your retreating movement to track the attacker means your facing your own goal when making the clearance – resulting in heading out for another corner, rather than down the pitch.
That’s why adopting a “hybrid” system is the best for most teams, and that’s why I feel the system isn’t problematic. I think the decision-making inside the system is the biggest fault. Let’s use the game against Sheffield United to highlight an error, that’s isn’t an issue because of the system.
The corner that resulted in The Blades’ goal saw Youri Tielemans and James Justin marking Oli McBurnie – this is a good start, doubling up on the most dangerous option. However, I’d prefer Wesley Fofana or Jonny Evans to be man-marking their biggest threat and leaving one of the shorter defenders to operate in the “zonal” part of the system. In the given example, Evans (6ft2) was marking Kean Bryan (6ft1) but Fofana (6ft3) wasn’t marking anyone.
Instead, he was told to control an area in the six-yard box (around the front-post) – this could be done by any player and shouldn’t be the role of the most aerially dominant player in the team. In some games this season, Vardy has controlled the front-post, but without the option of Harvey Barnes to launch a counterattack, he was left around the halfway line.
In possession, I thought Leicester City were good. There was a good tempo to the play, particular in the first-half. Throughout the second-half, it was more reserved awaiting an opportunity to puncture Sheffield’s structured defence. The options between the lines were able to receive the ball, but actually turning that into a chance creation was difficult – although Perez was able to convert reception of the ball into chances.
In the majority, the ball would be recycled again through the midfield. That’s why, for me, the substitution of Kelechi Iheanacho didn’t make a lot of sense. Instead, I would’ve opted for Barnes or Cengiz Ünder (a runner) instead of bringing on another player that likes to play in between the lines. This would’ve stretched the defensive line, and also given more space to the players operating in the half-spaces. However, at the end of the day, Rodgers changes got the result required and that’s all you can ask of him mid-game.
It’s three great points for Leicester, and a performance to build from. Next up in the Premier League is Brighton & Hove Albion (H) who like to play expansive football, so the fixture should more suited to the Foxes. Graham Potter and the Seagulls have been an interesting watch this season, it will be a very difficult game, but hopefully an enjoyable one. There’s also the midweek fixture against AEK Athens (H) in the UEFA Europa League – where Rodgers has already stated getting top spot is of upmost priority. I anticipate an interesting starting XI will be chosen to balance topping the group and remaining fit for the weekend tie.