After a goalless first pre-season outing versus Burton Albion, Leicester City travelled to Wycombe Wanderers to play their second fixture ahead of the 2021/22 Premier League season, with the Foxes losing 1-0.
Despite failing to score over the two matches, there’s plenty of positives to analyse, including that of the additional game time for the entire squad. I will dissect a couple of interesting points from last night’s game against Wycombe throughout this article.
Firstly, there’s no need to panic surrounding the embedding of new signings. In the second game in a row, Patson Daka — Leicester’s marquee summer transfer — was quiet on-the-ball and with his actions. However, this time, instead of being the lone striker, Daka was accompanied by Foxes talisman, Jamie Vardy. It’s clear to see the similarities in play styles for the two forwards, both hugging the shoulders of the defensive line — with brief glimpses of dropping between the lines to connect play (often with those around them and not each other).
When you have two players — especially as forwards — that occupy similar areas, make almost identical runs/movements and often aim to utilise the advancing wingers and full-backs in connecting play, instead of the central areas, then it becomes difficult for them to create a connection themselves. It’s of course early days, and throughout their careers, they’ve both shown an aptitude for developing their games — and adapting to systems, so there’s every chance they’ll understand when to make complimentary movements/actions to facilitate each other.
For what it’s worth, I think Daka has been signed as a replacement for Vardy — long-term, instead of an accompanying forward. If Brendan Rodgers insists on playing a two striker set-up (such as the 4-4-2) then I’d assume it would be Kelechi Iheanacho alongside the veteran, as they offer completely different attributes as forwards — and that is beneficial inside of a two forward system, as well as an established connection already.
Despite having drastically different roles, Boubakary Soumaré and Wilfred Ndidi suffered from a similar positional problem. In the current Leicester City structure, Ndidi is the “deepest” midfielder, thus forcing the centre-backs to play through the Nigerian to progress the ball. Whereas, Soumaré is a deep-midfielder constantly offering to receive possession from the defence, focused on playing vertically due to his exceptional on-the-ball quality.
However, the two midfielders often dropped into similar areas and thus removed any “proper” presence in central areas for the Foxes. This perhaps highlights compositional issues when fielding these two midfielders in a pivot — hence why a midfield three is the most likely structure to facilitate both (and Youri Tielemans). Again, just like with the forwards, this isn’t a complaint nor an issue. It’s merely highlighting the teething process that’s unfolding before our eyes — and we’d much rather these understandings establish during the pre-season fixtures, than inside the Premier League campaign.
A lot of talk has surrounded the excitement of Tawanda Maswanhise, Kamal Sowah, and Thanawat Suengchittawon — as all of the youngsters have impressed during their outings thus far. It’s always refreshing having hungry, youthful individuals prepared to beat an opponent one-vs-one and make things happen for their side. I’m doubtful any of them puncture the first-team this season, but it does highlight just how proficient the youth setup is for the Foxes.
However, a “youngster” that will play first-team football this season is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. The conundrum for midfield composition gets just that little bit harder with the 22-year-old making an excellent case for himself. There’s an elegance to his possession, the way he carries, creates space for himself and his composure/confidence on-the-ball is that of a Premier League player.
Throughout pre-season, Dewsbury-Hall has looked a level above the quality on display and being left-footed does mean he offers differences for passing lanes in the centre. I’m unsure as to which spot he’d take, or even how they’d find space for another central-midfielder, but he’s definitely going to be involved in some capacity this season.
Outside of these, there’s a couple of talking points; Wesley Fofana and Çağlar Söyüncü being the “starting” centre-backs — but without Jonny Evans’ availability that isn’t groundbreaking. Rachid Ghezzal continuing his Besiktas form, potentially solving the left-footed right-winger problem — although I think most would anticipate a signing in this position. Lastly, the future of Marc Albrighton, who was given the captains armband for his second-half stint. Hopefully, he remains with the Foxes as his profile is unparalleled by any other player in the squad, as well as always offering a solid 7/8 out of 10 every week. He’s not the most glamorous, but he’s effective at what he does.
Next time out it’s Queen’s Park Rangers for Leicester. It’s another chance for sharpness and fitness. So far, Brendan Rodgers’ XI’s (for the two halves in both games) haven’t made a great deal of sense compositionally — if that is sorted, perhaps the Foxes will create with more conviction and score their first of the season. Again, goals and results don’t matter, hence why Rodgers has chosen the XI’s he has, but if he wanted too, he could pick one “strong” XI and a weaker one — which would ultimately provide goals.