In the treacherous trenches of the EFL Championship, Gary Rowett has navigated his opening two fixtures with the pragmatism, dillingence and ferocity of a seasoned infantryman. Albeit without new manager buoyancy exactly. Nevertheless, while Rowett's predecessors, Marti Cifuentes and interim head coach Andy King, presided over a side that often appeared aesthetically pleasing yet defensively brittle, the latest gaffer has immediately tightened the rivets.
In stalemates against Stoke City and Middlesbrough, the 'basketball match' transitions that defined the Cifuentes era were replaced by a compact, more disciplined set-up. Statistically, the shift is stark: possession may have dipped to 40% at the Riverside, but the concession of high-quality chances has decreased. Trading a somewhat hollow control for a robust 'human shield' in midfield is preferable.
This is what Leicester City fans wanted to hear from new manager Gary Rowett
It is this visceral shift that has Rowett expressing to the fan base, and the squad, exactly what Leicester fans desired. The 51-year-old has arrived not as a tactical ideologue, but as a custodian demanding a return to the club's blue-collar roots.
"They've shown a really good mentality so far, but we've got to keep it like that. It's just the start, but it's quite a pleasing start."Rowett - BBC Sport
The plea of "show me your hunger" echoes through the King Power; a direct challenge to a pampered and overhyped squad that had grown accustomed to the soft comforts of underperformance. Rowett is not merely asking for skill: he is demanding a desperate, primal will to win.
"New Leicester City boss Gary Rowett urges his players to ‘fight for the shirt’ in relegation battle"The Football League Paper
Urging his charges to "fight for the shirt" as if their very professional lives depend on it is not hyperbolic. Given the looming spectre of back-to-back relegations, careers certainly are dependent on a seizemic shift. The sentiment is clear: polish is secondary to passion.
By prioritizing character over complexity, Rowett has galvanised a weary LCFC faithful. There is a burgeoning sense that after months of drift, the King Power hierarchy may have finally got one element right in hiring him.
"Gary Rowett felt Middlesbrough were there for the taking on the counter, if his Leicester City side had shown a little more quality on the ball."Gazette Live
In Rowett, City bosses arguably found the strength and knowledge required to bridge the gap between Premier League prestige and the grueling reality of a survival scrap. Just in time!