Join FoL for this last part of the blame game of Leicester City’s relegation, it’s been emotional. Thanks for sticking with it, you’ve been more committed than the players this season.
Jamie Vardy – Games (42) – Goals (6)
Unless he finds someone to pay his astronomical wages Jamie Vardy leaves the Premier League as a number-one striker, number-one at being caught offside this season. Not sure if he’ll get a trophy or at least a framed photo collection of all his greatest offside strays, but without pulling any punches, the Leicester legend has had a stinker this season. Naturally, his age will be brought into play as his steady decline is expected.
As recently as the 25th of April, Vardy had scored only one Premier League goal tap-in that most of our grandparents would score. From that date, he did then show the Foxes fans glimpses of quality with back-to-back goals against Leeds and Everton. Incidentally, when a penalty was given not long after Vardy’s first goal against the Toffees, everyone looked puzzled as to why he let James Maddison take and subsequently miss it.
Then the following week we were all proven wrong when Vardy missed a penalty at Fulham. Only to be then proven wrong again when Maddison scored a penalty in the same game. Seriously it seems like the players are deliberately playing the most expensive joke on us sometimes. That little penalty chaos kind of summed up Vardy’s confidence this season, a bullish Vardy would have had no trouble taking the spot-kick and blasting it into the net. But this season has not been the best for judgment calls.
Even though we can accept Vardy’s goalscoring abilities reducing, his lack of aggression has been most noticeable. When opponents build from the back he tends to just occupy space up top to close off a pass to a deep-lying midfielder. He can’t or won’t get in defender’s faces anymore, he rarely times his runs off the shoulder and his hold-up play lacks finesse. He has barely any effect on games anymore and even the opposing fan’s disparaging chants are rarely shoved back down their throats.
We still love him but even he will acknowledge that it just hasn’t happened for him this season and the road to retirement may be closing in. Finishing it off by firing Leicester back into the Premier League would help round the story off neatly at least.
Patson Daka – Games (36) – Goals (4)
The problem for Vardy is he doesn’t appear to have a ready-made replacement waiting to take the number nine shirt off him. In Daka’s first season, he achieved the famous feat of scoring four goals in one crazy European game. That was the sum total of his contribution this season. A sporadic three goals in four games across September and October raised hopes but they were quickly quashed as the understudy to the legend flattered to deceive.
His aggression and pressure are enthusiastic but they lack serious quality, intelligence and most tellingly balance. I can’t remember a player I see so consistently slip over when running across the King Power pitch. If he could change his suede loafers for something with some studs in, that might help.
Glimpses of quality have been sparse this season but a sensational goal against Chelsea showed a glimmer of what Daka could be like with chances and confidence. Maybe the Championship will be ideal to help bed in his confidence. He’s only 24, time is on his side and he has three years left on his contract – unless anyone is offering good money of course.
Kelechi Iheanacho – Games (35) – Goals (8)
The lack of despair and tears at the final whistle against West Ham United disappointed many Leicester City fans. Something some of the players have failed to grasp this season is that apathy bleeds from the pitch into the stands. The final interview of the season for the Nigerian international striker gave Leicester fans hope that someone might still care about our club. Iheanacho has been one of the few consistent sparks at the club and his all-round game is showing real signs of potential. Excellent first touches, strong hold-up play, and quality finishing were seen more often.
Curiously Brendan Rodgers felt that only one start for Iheanacho was suitable in the run-up to the World Cup. Obviously, he scored in that game. The next time he started a Premier League match he scored once and assisted twice at Villa Park, a place he loves playing. The following game heralded a goal and an assist against Spurs. He’s not a perfect player by any means but he is a dangerman and makes things happen.
But then the bad form settled in and he pulled in some poor displays, particularly Southampton away where he fluffed a hat trick of easy chances. A few goals followed but injury ruled him out of much of the run-in. With his eyes welling up in his final interview, it does seem like Iheanacho cares about City, where he’s been for six years. The new manager needs to find a way of convincing Iheanacho he is integral to the starting 11, otherwise he’ll be another out of the door with a contract expiring next season.
Who should Leicester City supporters blame?
We’ve all got our own version of events and who should shoulder the most blame, whoever you blame make sure you move on from it quickly and pray that the club finds the answers. If I’m writing a similar series of articles next season, something has gone drastically wrong – or more so!