As we head closer towards the end of the season, Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers will have an awkwardly long to-do list during the interim. Here it is.
As things stand, the King Power club are to fight for a place in next year’s Europa League through the Conference League, and will struggle to finish the Premier League season in a satisfactory position. The Foxes‘ destiny is yet to be finalised. However, it is time to start preparing for next season – one where supporters will undoubtedly expect better. Additionally, the Northern Irish gaffer will not have much leeway in support.
As such, I have put together a list of everything Leicester must do should they hope to improve significantly for the upcoming 22/23 campaign. This list is not exhaustive, and there will always be contention. Nevertheless, I feel this list is a good start.
Leicester City’s ‘Starman’
We know that Youri Tielemans is leaving the East Midlands. An unavoidable reality of Leicester’s tomorrow. Nevertheless, during this interim period, Rodgers will need to set about replacing such an important talent. This could be through purchasing another ‘Starman’ for the exact same role, or it could be by moulding an existing player into that character.
There are two realistic options: firstly, the outbreak star Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has illustrated all the progression, responsibility, creativity, and passion required to take up the Belgian’s role in the squad. Otherwise, Boubakary Soumare could be morphed from his currently more possession-based role into a more progressive role in the side. However, this does not sound quite as appetising as our ‘KDH’.
In terms of purchasing a player, we know there are plenty of targets being linked with a move to Leicester. So, Ibrahim Sangare, Jesse Lingard, Christian Eriksen, Seko Fofana, or a more attack minded player like Charles de Ketelaere could be acquired. This is a massive ask for Rodgers, but he will have to deal with the abyssal rift in the squad created by the outgoing Belgian ‘Starman’.
Finally sign a…
Fill in the blank Foxes supporters. We need a prolific, goalscoring right winger. After loaning in Cengiz Under (who I felt was good, though was not defensively impressive) and Ademola Lookman (should be permanent), it is clear we are still yet to replace Riyad Mahrez.
As such, with a greater budget to play with, the Northern Irishman should look to fix past mistakes and bring in a player who can take up the mantle of the Algerian. There is no player ready to take this role at the club already.
There are myriad options available. From Noni Madueke of PSV Eindhoven to fan-favoured Domenico Berardi, there no longer persists an excuse for not signing a right-sided winger for the team. We need one desperately.
With Marc Albrighton getting older and not becoming a frequent goalscorer or assist-maker, it might actually be beneficial to buy one and loan to buy another talent for the team. Hopefully this to-do is actioned on soon.
A tactical shift
Let us be clear, Leicester has been tactically weak for a whole season. This has not been helped by incessant injuries forcing mild or wild changes to the line-up and style on an almost match by match basis.
From a back four to a back three, a front two to a midfield diamond, the Foxes have changed their formation and tactics more times than in any other season. Luckily for us, we already have an idea of what has erred and what has been successful for Rodgers.
Tactically, our weakest elements are deconstructed into just two. The defensive setup and midfield setup are the undeniably fragile parts of the team. This is not just due to the players or formation, but down to the coaching of those players and their understanding of the role.
Looking at the backline, my only bit of analysis comes down to an inability to sense danger on our right and a lack of pace in negative transition. It is bewildering how our defensive woes could not be solved this season. Looking at our goals conceded per game (currently 1.64) we can see
Both are mostly rectified with the appearance of Wesley Fofana and Ricardo Pereira. Nevertheless, any defender in those positions should have the same role and understanding as those players.
In midfield, there are four archetypical roles: ball-winning, possessive, progressive, and creative. The King Power club does not need ball-winning roles in our primary tactic. Our midfield currently consists of two possessive players, despite both of those players being better suited to a progressive role.
Tielemans and Dewsbury-Hall are being tasked with holding onto the ball and retaining possession as we build out from the back. Additionally, they will work together – one further forward, the other staying back – to transition the ball negatively when our attacks lead to nothing.
Instead, a flexible midfield with a possessive, progressive, and creative talent should be preferred. surprise, we had this previously with a combination of Wilfred Ndidi taking on both possessive and ball-winning roles, the Belgian being progressive, and James Maddison.
The to-do for Rodgers will be to set up a balanced midfield once more. One that provides the flexibility mid match to be more positive or more negative when required.
Formational Flexibility
After resolving a primary formation, team, and tactic, the boss has to decide on what to form from the remainder of Leicester City’s talent pool. This means making a setup which does not include the traditional first team.
By having this flexibility of choice between at least two ‘first teams’ it will allow a weakened team to be better switched when required. Also, such a policy would not necessitate playing this other team often, it just means preparing them to understand their role and what they would need to do.
As such, I would propose two formations: a 4-3-3 focusing on the balanced midfield, and a 3-4-1-2 based around counterattacking and a more compact defence. In the first, we already have most of what we need to make a functioning and high-quality line-up. Jonny Evans and the French wonderkid would form the backline, and our existing midfield could be used.
Rodgers must be flexible in his use of the squad, and he must be prepared to utilise completely different setups and teams dependent upon the opponents rather than just stitching together our best players. In one to-do he lessens our reliance on individuals and improves our ability against different teams.
Loans galore
As a much briefer point, U23 stars like Tawanda Masanhise, Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, etc. need to get senior football soon. Their quality is undeniable, but technical prowess is nothing without experience. I would prefer getting these impressive players developed quicker rather than later.
It would also be time to decide whether Jakub Stolarczyk and Callum Wright will get a chance with the senior team or if another season on loan could to better. In My Opinion, the gaffer should bring Wright in for his debut season.
It would be equally beneficial to loan in two players: a centre-back and a winger to provide a little extra quality for cheaper than a whole transfer. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germaine could be the best places to start a search.