Get Carter’s Leicester player reviews 2021/22: Fringe centre backs
By Damon Carter
After giving Leicester City pair Wesley Fofana and Jonny Evans glowing appraisals, Damon Carter’s brow starts to furrow as he looks towards the players who deputized whilst they were both injured – please look away now!
Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester City
Appearances 40 / Premier League – 28 / FA Cup – 1 / League Cup – 3 / Europe – 8
Goals – 1 – Premier League
Moment to savour – A purple patch of form in March that saw him show his best form
Moment to forget – A horror show of a performance at West Ham United setting the tone for the season.
With the dust settling on a disappointing season in 2020/2021, Caglar Soyuncu joined the Turkish squad for what turned out to be a disastrous Euro 2020 campaign. With an early exit you would hope that Soyuncu would return with a desire to get back to form. But any desire he may have had has not manifested itself.
After he got away with a clean sheet against a dominant Wolverhampton Wanderers, he was subsequently embarrassed at the London Stadium by a resurgent West Ham and Michail Antonio. He wasn’t touch tight when he needed to be and when he was he was easily rolled for a goal. Add this to a disastrous pass back that led to an easy West Ham goal.
Without wanting to labour the point, City’s defending on set pieces in 21/22 has been an absolute embarrassment. Soyuncu has more than contributed to a complete lack of focus and intelligence when doing the basics of defending. He’s also been one of the main offenders for playing safe passes and not moving the ball quick enough.
But are there any positives to be had from this season for ‘Cags’? Surprisingly yes, he was the East Midlanders’s highest performing Premier League blocker (27) the best at last man tackles (2) as well as managing the most headed clearances (61) and winning the most aerial battles (92). But these stats do little to help Soyuncu not be seen as a potential liability at the back. Despite his dwindling reputation these numbers could explain why he continues to be linked with some of Europe’s elite. A fresh start may suit all parties.
Rating 5/10 – chances of leaving 90%