In light of the important, albeit somewhat unconvincing, 1-0 Leicester City victory over Huddersfield, it is worthwhile examining what Enzo Maresca got right and what he got wrong.
Team Selection
The decision to play Kelechi Iheanacho, instead of Vardy, and Dennis Praet, instead of Wilfred Ndidi, seemed like a good one. Iheanacho, with his ability to come short for the ball, holding it up before playing in runners, is much more suited to Maresca’s style than Vardy. Likewise, Praet, at least potentially, offers more going forward, particularly from wide areas, than Ndidi.
As the game progressed, however, I became less sure about these selections. Iheanacho, for the most part, played well and was the Foxes most potent threat. However, he didn’t link with the wide men particularly well, too often choosing to selfishly keep the ball when a pass was on. Praet was largely anonymous before tamely shooting straight at the keeper after being put through by a superb pass from Ricardo Pereira.
What is more, the Leicester attack looked more fluent when Vardy and Ndidi were brought on later in the game. There was a much great willingness to play the ball forward looking for Vardy’s trademark runs and the Huddersfield defenders looked terrified whenever the ball was threaded through to him. Ndidi’s greater presence, too, seemed to offer another dimension for the visitors.
Now, it could be that Maresca got this spot on, bringing on Vardy and Ndidi as Huddersfield began to tire. I would give him the benefit of the doubt here. What it does reveal is the strength of the squad the Leicester boss has inherited. The question remains, of course, how many of those players will still be at the club by the time the transfer window closes at the end of August.
I feel the same ambiguity when it comes to what remains a controversial decision to prefer Vestergaard to Souttar at the heart of the defence. His languid style, and tendency to make mistakes, certainly does not enamour him to the Foxes’ faithful. On the other hand, he was immense in the last twenty minutes as Neil Warnock’s team battered Leicester with a series of dangerous crosses into the box.
Enzoball at Leicester City
On the basis of what was being said by some Leicester fans around me at the John Smith’s stadium on Saturday there is a general misunderstanding about Maresca’s approach. There were regular complaints that Foxes players were not quick enough to move the ball forward and when they did more often than not it was played into dangerous areas where Huddersfield players were pressing.
What doesn’t seem to be appreciated by some Foxes fans is that this tactic is designed to draw in the opposition before beating the press and finding players further forward in space. It doesn’t work unless the opposition feel that there is at least some possibility that they might have a chance of winning the ball.
A bigger question is whether the Foxes have the players who can effectively utilise this tactic. One fan on Saturday who did, apparently, understand what the team was trying to do expressed the opinion that it was ‘like watching Manchester City on a budget’. It is certainly the case that, on a number of occasions, passes were misplaced or Leicester players were tackled and lost possession thereby inviting unnecessary pressure.
Maresca, of course, isn’t going to change his approach. It remains to be seen whether it will be enough to keep the Foxes at the top end of the Championship table.
Reasons to remain positive about Enzo Maresca
It was a scrappy, and somewhat fortuitous, victory against Huddersfield. However, the King Power outfit were the better side, dominating possession and creating more chances. The performance was full of grit and determination too.
It would be churlish therefore to criticise Maresca too much. He has only been at Leicester a short time – joining a club getting used to defeat and disappointment – and has a clear vision of how he wants his team to play. It is also not easy having to deal with constant transfer speculation involving his players – four players were left out of the squad because of this on Saturday – and not knowing exactly who he will have at his disposal by September 1st.
Three wins in a week at the start of the season – the first time, apparently, that has been achieved by the Foxes in 100 years – is a very good start. Bring on Cardiff.