For clubs like Leicester City, expectations and conclusions are often defined by individual matches, and the term ‘a game of two halves’ is often bandied about to highlight the contrast within an individual fixture. This concept can be applied to City’s pre-world Cup exploits in the club’s first 15 matches of the 2022/23 campaign.
The contrast between the first seven of Brendan Rodgers‘ side’s matches this year, and the eight that followed, could not be more striking. After September’s back-to-back humbling defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur, 5-2 and 6-2 respectively, the Foxes had shipped a staggering 22 goals, a feat not managed by any top flight club in that time frame since the 1960s.
Now fifteen games in, and the team is transformed, helped in no doubt due to the rapid improvement in defence, with just three goals conceded since, only two of which were from open play. Yesterday’s controlled performance against West Ham United reinforced the club’s position as comfortably the top away scorers in the Premier League, and meant Danny Ward kept his sixth clean sheet in eight games.
City have now pulled four clear of the relegation zone heading into the World Cup hiatus, with yesterday’s result plunging their opponents deeper into trouble. Here at Foxes of Leicester we decided to outline three standout City stars.
Luke Thomas of Leicester City
There were mixed emotions within the Seagrave training centre as Brendan Rodgers delivered his pre-match press conference on Thursday, with the elation of James Maddison’s England call-up being overshadowed by the news that James Justin had suffered a ruptured achilles. With that, there was only one obvious solution, being Luke Thomas coming back into the first team fold having featured irregularly this campaign.
With the side around him somewhat settled, it’s easy for opposition managers to pinpoint the full-back as a potential weak link, but the Syston-born man dealt with the threat of the hosts admirably, making some important interceptions. Having had extended runs in the City side for the last two seasons due to injuries in the full-back department, Thomas could be forgiven for taking time to come back to the required level, but his role was undertaken with minimal fuss and delivered with ultimate professionalism.
West Ham’s attacking trio of Jarrod Bowen, Gianluca Scamacca and Said Benrahma weren’t exactly pulling up trees, but the latter was the most dangerous on the day. City’s number 33 was up to the task and restricted the Algeria to limited access to dangerous positions. Find out which other Foxes FoL chose by clicking on the ‘next page’ option below.
Wout Faes
It’s clear to most now that Wout Faes’ arrival has been paramount to the newfound success that the Foxes are achieving, with his warrior-like performances setting the standard for others to follow. The jury was out on the Belgian in his early appearances given his culpability for both goals in defeat to Bournemouth, but it appears that day on the south coast was more of an anomaly than his defensive merits.
The sample size is large enough to accept his place in the side is crucial, and with a solid relationship with his central-defensive partner Daniel Amartey truly established, it’s no wonder captain Jonny Evans is still sitting on the bench. Faes is more than just a warrior who is there to bail out his teammates with last ditch tackles, he’s also a very pragmatic and astute defender.
Last week, he dealt with Dominic Calvert-Lewin with consummate ease, nipping in front as the forward tried to hold up the ball, and dominating in the air using clever manipulations of his body to get there first. Yesterday, the Belgian was solid as a rock one more with his defensive positioning almost faultless and his leadership qualities on display in abundance.
Ayoze Perez
While it’s not very common for a player to receive a man of the match award when only entering the field with 21 minutes remaining, Ayoze Perez could stake a claim to do so after his fantastic cameo at the London Stadium. The Spaniard, whose minutes on the pitch have been limited this campaign, did brilliantly pick out Harvey Barnes with a perfectly angled and weighted ball for the goal that put the game to bed.
Perez is a player who is often unfairly derided by those who watch Leicester most often, although the argument that he is too predictable is difficult to dispute. However there’s never been a doubt that he is technically proficient and capable of producing moments where the seemed to be very little promise.
Whether the No.17 moves on in January, the summer transfer window or even extends beyond this year, £30million will always feel like something of an overspend, given his productivity has failed to live up to the price tag. However yesterday showed what he was capable of, even if it might be too late for his City career to be resurrected.