3 Rodgers decisions already proven wrong at Leicester

There is no time to save legs for Leicester City as Dean Smith and the company tries to salvage the maximum from what remains of this season.

The interim boss, accompanied by John Terry and Craig Shakespeare, tackled the grim task at hand and yielded the first positive result for the coaches against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The squad’s morale was down, and their confidence took a hit. Lifting the collective spirits around the camp was Smith’s first assignment. Even if it’s early, a rare win does indicate a step in the right direction.

Brendan Rodgers had fallen out with this side, with players losing confidence in his leadership. Some players had one foot out the door, while others got shunned and marginalized. The sacking came too late, making the challenge of saving the club’s Premier League status dangle in limbo.

With a welcoming change, Leicester City can now marginally manage a better chance of surviving.
So, what are some of the early signs from the change in management that usher in a new sense of belief into the dressing room?

Picking Craig Shakespeare’s brains

Little experience and residue remain from the side that pulled off the Great Escape. It became critical for Smith to bring a familiar face with him who played an integral part in that, knowing the club better than most.

Shakespeare served as the assistant to Nigel Pearson during the 2014-15 season. He knows what traits are vital to surviving a relegation of this magnitude. This squad has quality but remained disoriented in its tactical organization. Too much burden was unnecessarily stowed on James Maddison, affecting the side collectively as they suffered to win.

Leicester City winning without the best partakers

Smith spoke with senior players to understand their complaints and suggestions before beginning to chalk out his plans. The loss of camaraderie was already prevalent.

Some players stagnated in their potential, as Rodgers failed poorly in nurturing and developing youngsters. To shake things up, Smith focused on the priorities, making training sessions intense and shorter.

It showed instant improvement as the side was previously heavily dependent on individual brilliance. At Smith’s first home game at the King Power Stadium, he missed the services from two of the Foxes’ most prized assets. Harvey Barnes (10) and James Maddison (9) have scored 19 goals this season out of Leicester’s tally of 43.

Still, without them trailing in behind, the Foxes showed guts. The side never gave up and took the fight to the Wolves, who faltered in theirs.

Being resourceful with assets

A thing that landed Rodgers into scrutiny was his poor man management. He remained hesitant to make substitutes or use what he had. Using the same personnel with similar tactics and philosophy gave the side underwhelming results. The idea of building from the back made Leicester‘s monotonous approach outgrow the stay of its manager.

Concerning that, Smith said every player gets a clean slate with him. The Englishman has been quick-witted enough to quip himself with whatever help he can get from the assets he inherited. Even players with diminished roles got integrated into paramount rejuvenation. Both Çağlar Söyüncü and Boubakary Soumaré, who had fallen in favors with Rodgers, had their best performances in a Leicester City shirt last weekend.

Extracting the most from individuals who have a point to prove could become a benefit if utilized carefully. Smith has showcased that he is brave and humble enough to tweak experimentations for survival.