A youthful squad sometimes needs experienced heads to do the simple and most obvious things that sometimes get lost with youthful exuberance. Jonny Evans, now Leicester City’s most experienced and steady centre back, enjoyed another eventful season, but how costly was his absence as the season closed out? Damon Carter delves into Evans season with another player review for 2020/2021.
Jonny Evans of Leicester City
Stats:
Appearances total – 37 – Premier League – 28 / FA Cup – 4 / Europa League – 5 / EFL Cup – 0
Goals total – 2
Moment to savour – The amazing goal-saving tackle to deny a Crystal Palace goal
Moment to forget – Watching his teammates capitulate with Champions League qualification within touching distance
Jonny Evans worth to the Leicester City backline cannot be underestimated. He is the one player to which the rest of the defence look for reassurance as he organizes the players into position. That could have been sorely needed in his end of season absence as Leicester struggled to get the five points that were needed to get them Champions League qualification.
Please click below to view the next page of Evans analysis from the season. This includes a review of the FA CUp final triumph and a high overall season rating.
It could have been far worse though as Evans limped off early in the FA Cup Final leaving the erratic quality of Wesley Fofana and Caglar Soyuncu to marshal the backline. Fortunately, both players performed admirably to lift the trophy that eluded Evans even at his time at Old Trafford.
Evans sharpness in tackles hasn’t gone at the tender age of 33 nor has his ability to win aerial battles (The top player at Leicester City for that premier league stat). His determination was instrumental in getting a strong header against old flame West Bromwich Albion and then two weeks later a headed equaliser gave the foxes a hard-earned point at St Mary’s.
The Northern Irishman’s love for the darker arts was also represented in another impressive haul of bookings (nine in all competitions), which although seems crass is an example of how tight and close Evans gets to his opponents. His aggressive style is sorely lacking in many of the other Leicester players, whose silky passing football can sometimes crumble when dealing with an aggressive uncompromising opponent.
Too often it seemed he was playing with injuries and with centre backs in such short supply at the club, he was afforded little rest as Leicester competed across four competitions.
It could well be more to do with the fact the Brendan Rodgers knows how important he is to his inexperienced squad. Leaving out Evans does seem to give the defence a look of confusion and lacking leadership. Of the ten Premier League games Evans was absent only one of them gave Leicester City a clean sheet.
LCFC also managed to concede four goals for the first time in two of their last four games that he was unavailable. Not once before then had they conceded so many in a game that season. To do it twice speaks volumes of how important the Northern Irish defender is. With only three recognised centre backs at the club, Leicester will have to strengthen this summer to protect an asset that they need for the right times. I doubt they’ll pick up a former Premier League winner for just £3.5 million though; which is arguably one of the best bits of business Leicester have ever done.
Rating for the season: 8/10
The future – With the departure of Wes Morgan, the 33-year-old will have an even more important role to play in the dressing room as the most senior and arguably best centre back at the club. Keep him fit and rest him where necessary and Leicester might reach their next target.