3 Ways Leicester can sort out their shambolic defence
By Will Kennedy
1: A change of formations
This is perhaps the most obvious fix, but that’s exactly why it needs looking at. So far this season, Leicester have opted for a back four and have played a variation of the 4-2-3-1. This formation keeps the balance of the Ndidi-Tielemans partnership and allows the wingers to push up. It is the formation we expect most for Leicester.
Right now though, something within that is not clicking. In total this season, City have played eleven games – seven in the Premier League – and have conceded fifteen goals. Currently, as per data on TransferMarkt, Leicester only have four clean sheets in all competitions. In all but two of those games, Leicester started with a back four. In the other two, a back three was used.
LCFC’s two uses of starting with a back three came in their 2:0 win at Millwall, and the 1:0 loss to Legia Warsaw. It’s not a perfect success rate. But it is something.
In a back four, Leicester have conceded fourteen goals in nine games, in a back three Leicester have conceded just the once. Of course though, stats don’t tell the full story here. In reality, Leicester should have been punished more in their visit to the Polish capital.
A change in system often does wonders for a team’s style of play and confidence. In the last few seasons, it hasn’t been rare for Leicester to opt for a back three. But that was when Leicester had the ability to start both Evans and Fofana in the centre, this season that isn’t the case.
Why a back three though? The simple answer is that it offers more cover and support to the struggling defence. Just having another body in front of your goal can be a huge plus, and we’ve seen that a back-three doesn’t limit your attacking options whatsoever. With the way that both Castagne and Ricardo play, a back three may actually suit them more – Castagne especially as he played this role throughout his time at Atalanta.
The question is who the third defender will be. Big Daniel Amartey is the immediate candidate, though we have seen Castagne slot into a back three before. If Ndidi wasn’t injured, then he would be another choice.
Possibly the biggest issue with a back three though, aside from it not being the formation that Rodgers tactically prefers overall, is that it puts a further strain upon a position that Leicester are already struggling with. Filip Benkovic fills up a number on the bench – more on him later – but Leicester are really stretched right now.
Changing the formation is an immediate change that we could see come the tie against Manchester United, but anything that takes a bit off responsibility and pressure off of both Soyuncu and Vestergaard is only a good thing.