As ever, there were more than one or two mistakes in Leicester Mercury's latest analysis of Russell Martin's new Leicester City squad, and how he may deploy his men when the season starts. In addition to that, one or two tactical and personnel errors were made as well.
However (and also 'typically') there was some keen insight which helps bloggers like ourselves to decipher what Martin is thinking too. Whilst, potentially, correctly predicting how the LCFC XI could look once the season begins against Northampton Town in the League Cup on August 8.
The true state of play of Leicester City's likely XI
First of all, confirmation arrived for something this outlet has been insistent over a while: Martin is very likely to favour Alex McCarthy in goal over Jakub Stolarczyk. Essentially, Stolarczyk's star has fallen on Filbert Way due to a reluctance to come off his line and close strikers down, never catching or attempting to catch even the most delicate of floating balls, and even palming shots into attackers' paths.
If this writer had his say - Stolarczyk wouldn't start, even at this level unfortunately. Though McCarthy has played under Martin, knows the gaffer well, and can (albeit not perfectly) kick satisfactorily and pick a pass from the back.
The Mercury also correctly cited Bade Aluko's likely starting berth at right-back, not to mention that Luke Thomas now has serious competition from Christian McFarlane at left-back. The Manchester City loanee will probably take Thomas's place if he plays well against Genoa in the final friendly or against the Cobblers if fielded, especially if the latter has a typically inconsistent and uncompelling game.
While at centre back, their "strongest team" (or predicted side) contains Harry Souttar and Ben Nelson, yet they are the two centre-backs most strongly linked with exits; Souttar in particular is expected to move to Stoke City by this very weekend. Placing the Australian in the centre half pairing when Martin also seems to value Caleb Okoli and Nelson as a duo seems to be the illogical choice.
In midfield, Oliver Skipp, who has done okay in pre-season but not set the world alight has been questionably given the nod to start. Even Hamza Choudhury arguably won possession more times when fielded in his true position.
"The position in front of the back four is essential to Martin's game model at City and Oliver Skipp has made it his own this summer. There was confusion as to where he would fit in the new Leicester boss' system, but it's an obvious selection."LCFC Live
There was another contentious remark from the Mercury which stated that Skipp's position has been changed. Well that's definitely wrong: he was always an anchoring midfielder, and never performed well when rarely playing in the No.8 role; so the former Tottenham Hotspur man was never going to play more advanced, he will play as a No.6 (a traditional defensive midfielder).
Arguably the biggest problem in the local paper's strongest XI is to leave out the talented Louis Page. Now, Foxes of Leicester advocate for Sammy Braybrooke over almost anyone in the starting line-up; Connor Chaplin has to be fit in somewhere too, possibly on the wing to make room for Page and Braybrooke together.
Yet the local paper might have it right here just due to the preference of the boss possibly valuing Skipp's experience in the centre and not trusting Braybrooke in the holding role with Page and Chaplin ahead as dual 8s. But that is how yours truly would arrange the middle: leaving Skipp out while thinking about the long-term future.
At the time of writing, Tommy Watson has not joined; obviously he wasn't at LCFC when the article we are analysing was written either. Yet Watson is again fully expected to arrive at King Power Stadium and could take Stephy Mavididi's place; again Mavididi is a candidate to be sold and Watson can arguably better what his soon-to-be teammate produced last season.
"Strongest XI right now: McCarthy; Aluko, Souttar, Nelson, Thomas; Skipp, Chaplin, Braybrooke; Alves, Mavididi; Otchere"
Again Will Alves is positioned on the right hand side; whereas the player himself and Martin have both confirmed that his best position is centrally, along with analysts, therefore that element must be questioned as well. Not to mention that Liam Cullen has signed (when the article was written, he was expected to be announced any minute) and could well be the answer on the right hand side for now, as a left-footed attacker and an athlete who has played there previously even for Wales in internationals.
"Where exactly he [Alves] plays is still an open question. He was excellent against Northampton used as one of two 8s in central midfield. "Fosse Way
Lastly Kirsten Otchere is forecast to play as striker in the piece at hand; he has done superbly well over the off-season, yet at age 19 he's rather unlikely to lead the line. Ultimately, it may even be a false-9 (Chaplin, Mavididi or Cullen for example) - if LCFC's chairman lets the fans down and doesn't sign a true centre forward, so there are even question marks over that expectation.
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