Leicester City were thrashed by Championship side Nottingham Forest in an abysmal 4-1 defeat. Here are the terrible player ratings from Foxes of Leicester.
Well, I cannot think of how that could have possibly got much worse without injuries being included. From poor officiating to a performance more akin to a League One side cost the Foxes greatly.
Brendan Rodgers laid the King Power side out in an initially impressively strong XI including most of the senior first team. The side started as a 4-2-3-1 before being altered into a 3-4-1-2 after half time. Though the tactical change clearly did not matter much.
Danny Ward of Leicester City – 5
The Welsh goalkeeper was left to dry in an arid desert multiple times and crumbled under the pressure. ‘Nutmegged’, rounded, and caught off guard, this is not a performance the ‘keeper will want to remember anytime soon.
I cannot give a four only because of the utter defensive shambles which led to him constantly being given three different opposition players to worry about potentially taking a shot. That being said, Ward did still choose the wrong place to go.
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Luke Thomas – 5
This one feels harsh. Starting as the left man in a back four, Thomas was regularly left to fend for himself against the stellar displays of Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson. Harvey Barnes is perhaps more to blame for the lack of defensive involvement in that first half.
Things improved for the left-back when he moved into a left centre-back role, with James Justin moving into that left wing-back role ahead of him. Nevertheless, our young defender looked incoherent and not in-sync with anyone but James Maddison.
Caglar Soyuncu – 4
Need I say much about his performance? Apart from an improvement while playing in the centre of a back three, the Turkish international reminded us of why Jonny Evans is so important to the Foxes and why Rodgers could have easily chosen Hamza Choudhury instead.
Two issues were prevalent in his game. Firstly, the defender suffered from ‘taking responsibility’. The most senior of our centre-backs on that pitch, Cags should have been the composing leader and core of the team. However, this pressure clearly makes the CB a little poor in decision-making. For multiple Forest chances, Soyuncu was caught either going too far out or not far enough.
Daniel Amartey – 5
The Ghanaian defender actually tried. He had a great shot on target. Yet, as a product of how the defender was also left to shoulder most defensive responsibilities as Youri Tielemans failed to assist in shielding and pressuring attackers in the first half means Amartey was being entrusted to do Wesley Fofana’s job.
Amartey is no Fofana. The danger sense is not there. The constant drives forward is not there. In short, the defender could be higher up the rankings were it not for poor performances elsewhere. It would also have helped if someone was capable of heading a ball from a corner.
James Justin – 6
Starting as the right-back, Justin was hardly involved in the game. All the action was down Leicester’s left. The English fullback was unable to truly impact the game, but looked decent enough when defending, though not at his peak.
When shifted to the left, the defender was more involved with Thomas, Maddison, and others. He looked the part of someone who will be starting for the Foxes again soon enough. Not a stellar performance, but nothing terrible for him.
Wilfred Ndidi – 5
I feel once more too harsh on the defensive midfielder. Despite the yellow card, the anchorman was his usual self. Constantly chasing the ball and putting in challenges, interceptions, and pressures. Still, during that fateful minute of play which saw the King Power team concede twice, Ndidi could have moved more and provided more passing lanes.
That is one of his only weak points. A lack of creative movement can be detrimental to a team with an immense level of possession as the Foxes had. The gaffer should have had Kiernan dewsbury-Hall on with Tielemans from the get go.
Youri Tielemans – 5
The Belgian starman remained the focal point for progression through midfield. Intricate passing, impressive movement, and his usual elegance. Wait, why have I given him a five? Well, let us not beat around the bush: hardly involved defensively and not creative enough on the attack.
James Maddison – 6
The English attacking-midfielder was heavily involved today, and anything which made Leicester City look dangerous involved himself. despite his creative passing and obtaining of fouls, not all his deliveries were good enough and it was only in the second half we saw an improvement in the pressure he was applying from midfield.
Harvey Barnes – 4
Not good enough today from ‘Barnsey’. Normally those standards he sets are so high, yet today the player lacked that creativity to do something different and the decision-making to make the right pass at the right time.
There are moments with himself, Maddison, and Thomas which could have changed the game on its heels, and yet they failed to create anything more than an half chance.
Ademola Lookman – 5
Bullied on the right wing. The player is more suited to the left where his defensive acumen could have come in much more handy against Spence. When the winger could get involved and broke free from his man, Lookman looked much more promising and linked up well with Kelechi Iheanacho and Tielemans. Still not good enough for anything but less than average.
Kelechi Iheanacho – 7
Maybe this is too generous. Seven for the goal-scoring Nigerian forward. He scored our only goal, created by applying pressure from the front and forcing a silly error from the goalkeeper. Rodgers should not have started him as a lone centre-forward.
When paired with a forward running Patson Daka, the Nigerian striker would come deeper to get involved and support build up play. Unsurprisingly he looked better in the second half.
Substitutes
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 7
Though he had little time on the pitch, the passion, energy, progressivity, and creativity of the English midfielder is plain for all to see. Cross field passes and great link up play were the hallmarks of his time on the pitch.
This player cannot be dropped for our next match. He must start. That work rate is something needed when a side is not performing as expected, and that creativity is needed when a side is failing to progress as needed.
Patson Daka – 6
Missed two chances but much better than having a lone striker. The Zambian forward was not terrible, but should have done better with the chances he had. The involvement of Daka allowed the Foxes to stretch the Forest back line and create space inside and ahead of the defenders. Should have started.
Ricardo Pereira – 6
For being rushed back so quickly the Portuguese defender performed pretty well. Normally creative, progressive, and with the usually sound defensive judgement. There were a couple of poor decisions, but broadly speaking the defender did fairly well.
Brendan Rodgers – 3/4
This one is actually harder to call than expected. Let us ask, what changes would we have made without the benefit of hindsight? Possibly KDH for Ndidi, Daka for Nacho, and maybe Choudhury for Amartey or Soyuncu. The team he put out was good. The formation should have been good.
What the Northern Irishman lacked was reactions. When going 2-0 down, one does not simply keep the same team, you make immediate tactical and player changes to regain control of the match. Rodgers did not help Leicester regain control of threat, though we did regain control of possession.
What do you think each player should have scored, and do you feel you would have made any changes to that starting XI without hindsight? Let Foxes of Leicester know on our social media channels.