Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers lambasted a performance which saw the Foxes exit the cup to Nottingham Forest. He confirmed squad changes were coming.
A 4-1 defeat in the first derby game between the two East Midlands sides in a long time was embarrassing and utterly disappointing. Not least because Leicester put out what should have been a very strong team.
The gaffer got the tactics wrong, but the players did not perform anywhere near the standards expected of a Premier League side looking to win matches. Rodgers made this clear in his post-match comments.
So here is what the boss has said and what transfers could happen on the back of such a humiliating thrashing against Forest.
Leicester City’s Rodgers threatens players
In the harshest words of his tenure, the Northern Irishman has certainly hoped to scare players into performing better. Just have a read of these comments, as per the Guardian:
"“I said it before about having changes in the squad. It’s a lack of hunger. That’s why a lot of these players are not top players… I always judge it on the physicality of the team: the pressing, the aggression. When you stop getting it, you can’t quite get there, your time could be up.There are a lot of these players, between now and the end of the season, who need to prove that they are still worthy of being here.”"
That is a threat if I have ever read one. Lambasting players for a lack of hunger, aggression, pressing, and outright stating that there are a lot of players who’s time at the club could be over if they do not prove they are worthy of being at the side.
To be fair to the gaffer, those statements cannot be wrong. They are highly accurate. Too many players were simply going through the motions and playing a game of football yesterday; it was only really a few really pushing hard and being professional.
Was the complacency partly due to Rodgers? Of course he has to shoulder at least some of the responsibility for the team not taking that match seriously enough. However, if a player needs their coach to constantly tell them to try their hardest because a match matters, especially a derby game, then that player is not good enough.
What changes are needed?
Wholesale changes are on their way in the foreseeable future. This could include backroom staff, playing staff of all levels of experience, and if the situation continues to deteriorate, could lead to a change of head coach.
This is no time to joke about Leicester City being a club that bottle Champions League and individual matches, because we are past that, or should be. In the summer, a lot of players need to be asked a very simple question.
They need to be asked whether they actually want to play for Leicester in the Premier League and fight to challenge for every competition and every starting spot in the team. If they say no, if they want an easy life at a super club, or are not passionate about the King Power club, it is time to sell them.
It is clear that we must bring in many players. This is where our net spend must be higher than ever before, and our revenue from sales must be higher than ever before. Here are my top picks to be sold, and possible replacements for those players.
Goalkeepers
Kasper Schmeichel commented that he would like to play more UCL football before he retires, and since then has continued to put in the paces as our best ever goalkeeper. There are plenty of times he could have done better, but we will not get many better than him.
Instead, it is time for a medium term replacement. If Danny Ward is not considered good enough to challenge the Great Dane, sell Ward and get someone who can. Be that Nick Pope – experienced and strong willed for a good few years – or someone like Illan Meslier – less experienced but a long term option.
Defence
Caglar Soyuncu is rumoured to be interested in an exit. Let him leave if he wishes. This has to be coupled with the departure of Jannik Vestergaard and Ryan Bertrand at minimum. Beyond that, if Daniel Amartey cannot become technically good enough alongside his usual determination, he must move on as well.
A player of a similar profile to Wesley Fofana must be acquired. My recommendation for Leicester would be Maxence Lacroix or Marc Guehi. Alongside them, a long term replacement for Jonny Evans is required. I am uncertain on who would be best, but there are plenty of options.
For fullbacks, the options are less necessary. Luke Thomas and James Justin should remain our left-sided players, Timothy Castagne and Ricardo Pereira our right-sided players. However, Vontae Daley-Campbell should remain at the club and become a more permanent fixture. If they want to sign any fullback, go for Djed Spence from Nottingham Forest. He is strong willed and pacy, that is just what we need more of.
Midfield
Starman Youri Tielemans wants to go. It is time to go. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been more passionate and more creative, if less sound under pressure. Boubakary Soumare is better defensively as well.
Ayoze Perez and Papy Mendy are also simply not good enough to challenge for their positions regularly against Wilfred Ndidi and James Maddison. We need an attacking midfielder and possibly a DM, though Hamza Choudhury should remain at the club for his versatility.
I would go for Charles De Ketelaere or Christopher Nkunku, and maybe also Han-Noah Massengo from Bristol City. We need youthful energy and creativity, no more ‘should be good’ or ‘should be promising’ players.
Attack
If any winger wants to go, sell them. Well, except for Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman. Sign Lookman as soon as possible. Beyond that, bring up Tawanda Maswanhise from the youth side and finally sign an actual right-winger.
I would not sell any of our strikers. Kelechi Iheanacho is a very good striker when paired with an explosive player like Jamie Vardy or Patson Daka, but he is not a lone striker. The Foxes do not need to worry about their striker situation until the eventual retirement of Vardy. To be honest, Silas Katompa Mvumpa or Ridle Baku are my personal choices, but getting that Brennan Johnson could be a coup in the long term.