Leicester City’s frustrating season continued on Saturday with a 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace. The tie gave the Foxes a chance to make up for the 2-1 loss to Bournemouth a week before, instead the points were shared in the lacklustre stalemate.
In a game that failed to come to life, one man did make headlines – as he is used to doing at Leicester – but not in the way he’d have wanted. James Maddison has enjoyed a fantastic start to the campaign amid the chaos around him but was found guilty of trying to deceive the referee in the final moments of the game, a costly action that sees him suspended for the crucial fixture against Leeds on Thursday.
Already on four yellow cards this season, Maddison cynically went to ground in the Palace penalty box in the 94th minute of the game as he attempted to buy his team a winning penalty. The referee, Andy Madley, saw right through the midfielder’s antics and swiftly gave Maddison his fifth yellow in only nine Premier League games, thus suspending him for Thursday.
It was a moment of desperation and madness, though not surprising given the frustration of the afternoon. Twice in the second half Maddison missed clear chances as he tried to impress the onlooking Gareth Southgate.
A failed audition for Leicester City man
The 25-year-old’s recent performances have re-lit the debate over his England place ahead of the World Cup in November; Southgate was there to have one last look at him before finalising his squad for the tournament. With the dive, it is fair to assume that the playmaker won’t have forced his way into Southgate’s plans.
Maddison’s selection – or lack thereof – has been an ongoing debate amongst Leicester and England fans. In 2019 he received a well-deserved call up to the National squad, making his senior debut against Montenegro in that November. The game remains his one and only appearance for England and he has failed to be called up since. Instead the likes of Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, and Phil Foden have firmly established themselves ahead of the Foxes No.10.
Brendan Rodgers’ feelings
Speaking to the media after the Palace game, Brendan Rodgers was asked about Maddison’s performance and if he failed to impress the Three Lions manager:
"You can’t judge him on this game. I thought he had a good game, I thought he was really creative for us. He’s a guy who is playing out of position for the team because we don’t have a winger on that side, so we’re having to balance the team on that side of the pitch and his cleverness and brightness is still allowing us to be creative and score goals. He’s a top player at this level. I thought he had a good game today. He was unfortunate at the end, he’s obviously looking for the penalty, but it wasn’t to be.”"
Asked then in detail about the dive and Maddison’s suspension, Rodgers had this to say:
"For him, more than anyone. He wants to help the team and support the team. I haven’t seen it back but I’m assuming he thinks there’s going to be contact there and it didn’t quite come for him. When you miss a player of that level, in the position we’re in, we could do without it, but there will be someone else to come in and take his place. Quotes provided by LeicestershireLive"
Who replaces Maddison is another question. Based on Rodgers’ comments, it’s unlikely he’s going to change the system, instead he’ll squeeze another player into that right winger spot. The obvious two are Dennis Praet or Ayoze Perez, though we could see Kelechi Iheanacho deployed on the right.
Whoever is selected, the Foxes will desperately miss Maddison’s creativity on the ball and around the pitch. So far, he’s Leicester’s top goalscorer this season with five goals in ten games, as well as adding two assists.
His scintillating display against Nottingham Forest saw him net his 49th and 50th goals for the club since signing for £22m in 2018. Funnily enough, the game against Forest saw Maddison play his 179th Leicester City game for, the same number as Riyad Mahrez played for the Foxes, though Maddison’s 50 goals is two higher than Mahrez’s 48 for the club.
It’s not only Rodgers and Southgate that have been annoyed by the CAM’s suspension, but thousands of Fantasy Premier League managers have also been given a headache from his theatrics. A must-have for any FPL squad, players have desperately searched for a cost-effective replacement ahead of the mid-week fixtures.
After the Leeds game, Leicester will make the trip to fellow-strugglers Wolves on Sunday. Maddison is a guaranteed starter for the trip, but his World Cup hopes may have just slipped away from him. Either way, he’ll have a point to prove when he gets back. How theFoxes can cope without him remains to be seen.