Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers has got a lot right tactically. Nevertheless, here are the changes needed to improve our performances.
Leicester have been involved in three Premier League games and the Community Shield up until now. With three wins – two in the league – and one loss.
Here is what you need to know from those matches and what needs to be done to get this team back to a proper potent bunch.
Leicester City’s stats
For those keeping track, Brendan Rodgers’ men have scored four goals in the league and conceded five.
This has come from an expected goals total of 2.57 and xG Against of 5.06. So, you could argue we were lucky to score four but conceded exactly the number we should have been expected to.
This does make us third worst in the league judged solely on xG, and fifth worst on xG minus xGA. These are mere reflections of our performances. Let’s dig even deeper into the stats.
Clearances per game indicates how much work defenders are having to do in order to prevent devastating opposition attacks. Those quick hits at the ball to knock them away from your half.
Well, we’ve got 19 per game. By comparison, West Ham only have 13.7 and that is with less average possession than the King Power side.
Possession does not mean much if it is not progressive or significantly potent enough to break down opposition blocks. This is something we have struggled to do. The main reason being the involvement – or lack thereof – of particular players.
Statistically speaking, it is Caglar Soyuncu, Wilfred Ndidi, Luke Thomas, and Youri Tielemans that are most involved in matches. They get the ball regularly or are constantly undertaking defensive actions.
In fact, the disparity between attack and defence is so stark despite our apparent dominance in matches, that the least involved out of our most played players have been Harvey Barnes, Ayoze Perez, and James Maddison. There are reasons for this, though.
The Foxes injury crisis
It should be no surprise that this is the first element I have chosen to highlight.
The defensive injury crisis is preventing Rodgers from selecting a full-strength side and from creating a solid partnership at the heart of defence.
Thus far we have seen injuries to Timothy Castagne, Wesley Fofana, Jannik Vestergaard, Jonny Evans, Ryan Bertrand (COVID-19), and so literally three out of five centre-backs at the club are out injured.
Luckily the club does still have Daniel Amartey (right-back/DM) to cover, along with Filip Benkovic and Benjamin Nelson registered should they be necessary to use.
However, without a solid defence, Rodgers has had to lay most of the responsibility on Soyuncu, something he is not good at doing. He cannot lead a back line and needs that composure next to him.
He has struggled to progress the ball, partly due to tactics and due to the lack of confidence he will have in his partner.
Instead of making his characteristic runs into midfield to pass and then retreat, he stays back, slowing our progression and upsetting the rhythm expected of the team from previous performances.
However, instead of just keeping the personnel and the tactics the same, Rodgers should make changes to set up partnerships and actually give the East Midlands outfit a creative core.
A tactical change
With only 2.57 in xG over three league matches, we need to rethink how we are trying to create opportunities and break teams down.
The obvious change is formational. We have been using the 4-2-3-1 standard formation, shifting into a 3-2-4-1 with Ricardo Pereira pushing alongside Ayo and a 4-4-2 high press in defence.
To change our fortunes, Leicester City should play Kelechi Iheanacho alongside either Patson Daka or Jamie Vardy.
This offers a tactical versatility in how we can progress the ball. Either through the midfield and direct to ‘Nacho’ for a quick turn towards goal, or a long ball for Vards to run on to.
Despite having played very little, Seniorman Kels has collected 0.55 in xG per 90 on his own. He is deadly when paired upfront with someone to distract the defence.
It is also worth noting that Barnes has been unimpressive. He should be dropped while Ayo is unavailable, and a narrow 4-4-2 composed of a midfield diamond, should be employed to involve more of our midfield talent.
Ndidi, Tielemans, Boubakary Soumare, and James Maddison should be used to bring a balance of defensive solidity, ball retention, and creative intent.
The only requirement on the back four is to never pair Cags and Amartey together again. If no other defenders are back, then play Soyuncu with ‘Benko‘. Just trying something different could be beneficial.
These changes will lead to Leicester creating more chances and hopefully conceding less. For versatility, Ademola Lookman and Marc Albrighton could be brought on later in a match to provide more width.