“Yes!” was the cry from 30,000 fervent home supporters as Timothy Castagne slotted home the winner for Leicester City’s first win in two months to lift them out of the relegation zone. It was tough, it was tense and it was terrific! three points was exactly what the doctor had ordered – here are the key things we learned from this game.
Caglar Soyuncu is more than good enough at Leicester City
"“Any player if they’re performing to a level in training, they will always get the opportunity. If not, it’s very difficult. You can’t just click your fingers, not train well and not be at your best level and then be thrown into a Premier League game.” Brendan Rodgers talking about Caglar Soyuncu – March 2023"
How ridiculous that comment now seems from our ex-manager and confirms a lot of what we know to be wrong about Rodgers’ final months in charge at City. Against Wolves, Soyuncu was the only Fox who produced a top-quality display from start to finish. He towered to win headers and keep his head against the ever-present shenanigans of Diego Costa.
The Turk’s pace, judgment and positional sense were exemplary when WWFC were nearing the goal. He also had a decent close-range shot saved by Jose Sa. Add this man-of-the-match display to his decent performance at Manchester City last week and the plot thickens.
It is absurd that we have had to see Leicester’s defence be so abject and calamitous up to this point. Rodgers played players of far less ability, and more importantly devoid of form, ahead of the Turkish international. In the past, I have questioned his performances because he had a habit of making some crazy efforts. But that scenario is where a manager earns his money and brings a clearly talented player back on track. Dean Smith, Craig Shakespeare and John Terry seem to have identified Soyuncu’s ability immediately and have him playing well, so what on earth was Rodgers thinking?!
Boubakary Soumare has arrived – at last
Soumare was another athlete who seemed to disappear after a few months of his career in the east Midlands. He was seemingly disinterested in playing at the club. Incidentally, in the disgraceful Bournemouth defeat, he came out of the game with very little credit.
In the first half of the most recent game, ‘Bouba’ was playing no more than okay and not really massively involved when he needed to stand up in a fierce midfield battle. When he came out in the second half he seemed re-energised: blasting into tackles and turning on the afterburners to travel with the ball and close down spaces. He looked like he had been told in no uncertain terms what was expected of him and what was going to help us win the football match. A memorable moment saw him rush past a trio of opponents before setting up a one-on-one for Kelechi Iheanacho; an opening the Nigeria international strangely failed to get a shot away in.
Soumare’s moment of brilliance came in the 75th minute when a small one-two link-up with Patson Daka released Viktor Kristiansen to set up Timothy Castagne for the winner. It was an excellently devised piece of football that unlocked the opposition defence and was a key moment in victory.
If Soumare gives more of these types of performances in the coming weeks, Leicester’s chances of survival will be significantly boosted.
Youri Tielemans needs to show more quality
This was a bad day at the office for the Belgian. Given the captain’s armband, his job was to lead and show the team the way forward. It didn’t happen. His touch and strength failed him on 12 minutes when he was muscled off the ball for a key moment that lead to Wolverhampton’s opening goal by Matheus Cunha. This was a running theme of his afternoon as Tielemans seemed to often be caught in possession and give the ball away cheaply. Some misplaced passes continued into the second half of this below-par showing.
Tielemans lacked energy everywhere across the pitch; Leicester fans suspected he may have been rushed back too quickly. He was subbed on the 67th minute for Wilfred Ndidi with Dean Smith looking for more energy in midfield. The Belgium man’s commitment and attitude is probably not in question, but displays like this are inadequate and need to improve massively if he is to help the Foxes stay in the Premier League.