As one Wes departs and another comes in, 2020/2021 will be seen very much as the season where one legendary centre back passed the baton to another. So let’s celebrate Messrs Morgan and Fofana as one champion leaves and another looks forward to a career that could herald very big things.
Wesley Fofana, Leicester City statistics
Appearances total: – 42 / Premier League – 28 / FA Cup – 4 / Europa League – 6 / EFL Cup – 0
Goals total: – 0
Moment to savour: – An excellent showcase of defending in the cup final
Moment to forget: – A bad miss against Fulham
As happens with many Leicester City targets, rumours of their arrival are present well before they actually sign on the dotted line. Wesley Fofana’s name was one being spoken about in connection with Leicester City for over 12 months. Such was their desperation for centre backs in light of Harry Maguire’s 2019 departure, Fofana was rumoured but with little experience under his belt, it was felt best to wait for his game to develop in France at Saint-Etienne.
What was more puzzling was when the summer of 2020 rolled around and Leicester waited till close to the transfer deadline day to complete the signing of the France under-21 international. Due to injury and suspension, they had experimented with Wilfred Ndidi at the back in Jonny Evans absence and drafted in Daniel Amartey in a back 3.
When Fofana finally arrived, the confirmation of what Leicester had been waiting for was confirmed. A towering 19-year old that seemed to read the game like a player 10 years his senior. He is a physical presence that wins aerial challenges and loves edging out attackers in fierce battles of pace and strength (he had the same amount of interceptions as Wilfred Ndidi last season with 61). As is common for millennial centre-backs, he also has a fantastic touch and quick feet meaning he is integral in keeping the play moving. He also has a penchant for an Eddie-Murphy-like moustache.
With youth on his side he was thrust into 90-minute matches immediately (more out of necessity due to the Leicester injury list). The immediate impression he made on the football world was impressive but it wasn’t too hard to see that he was far from the finished article. Away at Liverpool, his exuberance got the better of him as he wandered into positions he had no right to be in and left his side exposed on a number of occasions. He has been reigned in slightly and seems to be getting the message, but such is his confidence it would be a shame to keep him as a stay at the back defender when his strengths could push Leicester up the field.
With his aerial presence it’s odd that he hasn’t scored his first goal yet, considering he seems eager on crosses. Hitting the crossbar against Fulham and going close on a number of occasions it would be a surprise if he didn’t start becoming an addition to many fantasy football players teams in the new season. Whether Leicester start with 3 centre backs or 2, it seems most agree that he would be the preferred option to Soyuncu who has endured a difficult season. Most notably when Fofana left the pitch on the final game of the season due to injury, Leicester looked all over the place at the back.
What most impressed this season (and this memory isn’t going away any time soon) is how Fofana reacted when Jonny Evans left the field of play in the FA Cup final. Fofana puffed his chest out and took control of the backline with an air of arrogance and control that played a crucial part in keeping a clean sheet in a memorable win.
Fofana is already being linked with clubs who are kicking themselves for not spotting his talent sooner. It’s only a matter of time before he commits his international career to France (although Ivory Coast will keep trying – with Kolo Toure surely mentioning it occasionally in the training ground) and when he becomes thrust to the world’s attention it won’t be long before the Harry Maguire transfer record is broken again. Fofana is quite simply destined for the top of world football, how quickly he gets there is up to him.
Rating: 8.5/10
Chances of leaving: – 10%
The Future: Further development of his game, more clean sheets and more appearances on the scoresheet and plenty more transfer speculation
Wes Morgan’s stats
Appearances total: –10 / Premier League –3 / FA Cup – 1 / Europa League – 5 / EFL Cup – 1
Goals total: – 0
Moment to savour: – His final appearance in a Leicester shirt finishing with lifting the FA Cup
Moment to forget: – His final appearance in a Leicester shirt was one VAR call away from being an own goal
When Wes Morgan came on at the end of the FA Cup Final to shore up the defence, many neutrals around the country thought they’d gone crazy. Was he still playing for Leicester after all this time? That soon turned to disaster as Ben Chilwell’s bundled enthusiasm heralded a Wes Morgan own goal. Thankfully VAR was invented for moments such as these and he was given a reprieve when offside was spotted and the rest is history.
With only 15 minutes of Premier League football all season and a handful of appearances in other competitions, you could argue that Morgan’s days at Leicester have been numbered for a while. But Brendan Rodgers management of him in his 2 and a bit years has been wonderful and a real show of respect to his captaincy and worth behind the scenes.
It also shows he had belief in him right till the end as he brought him on for his only 8 minutes of FA cup football that season to get Leicester over the line. He won a couple of trademark headers and by and large organised the backline efficiently (Note that it was Soyuncu hanging on at the backline nearly playing Chilwell onside). Rodgers has also indicated there may well be a place for him at the club in some capacity.
Concluding a remarkable 9 years of service at the club that has brought Premier League winning legendary status and arguably the most successful Leicester City captain of all time. He will always be welcomed back at the club in whatever capacity. A true legend. Cheers Forest!