12 games played, 10 points gained, and only one point clear of the relegation zone. The King Power side have clearly not performed to standards expected of them in the aftermath of Enzo Maresca’s leadership. Despite leaving, the Italian had a massive impact on the club by getting us promoted, and then being the final nail in the coffin for our now former head coach Steve Cooper.
Cooper is to be replaced because of a few factors: results, supporter anger, and losing the dressing room. In terms of results, if you compare against where the Foxes were during Brendan Rodgers final season after 12 games played, Leicester are one point behind. It is also impossible to see where the results will come from if the form remains as it is.
Supporters believe the East Midlands club was following the right direction under the Italian towards a more progressive style of football backed by a patient possession-based approach to creativity. The focus was always on winning the ball back and recirculating it. Under Cooper, it seems this adapted to having too many players in inflexible positions, and being fearful of breaking a press: the exception seemed to have been Abdul Fatawu and Boubakary Soumare.
Leicester City players went partying after loss
Finally, the loss of the dressing room led Leicester into a precarious position. With no motivation, no respect for the coach, and no understanding of the tactics, the Welshman had a squad which did not want to play either for him, or in his style. This is no more evident than in recent news.
After the three uninsipiring performances against relegation rivals Ipswich Town, struggling giants Manchester United, and barely a challenge against Maresca’s Chelsea, the Foxes are clearly in a fantastic mood with several being caught partying in Copenhagen. They are lucky that came out after Cooper was sacked and not before.
Otherwise, this is what it looks like: high-ranking players such as Jannik Vestergaard, Harry Winks, Hamza Choudhury, and Conor Coady in a club partying instead of training. These players should be working together to improve, not flying around Europe drinking and dancing while Leicester City teeter on the edge of the abyss. As under Rodgers, this reeks of downing tools; they care more about who is managing them than the badge they represent.
The players involved were even recorded with a sign saying ‘Enzo I miss you’. What a crass and unprofessional thing to allow yourself to be recorded around. Supporters genuinely support that sentiment, of course we miss a better head coach, but to party around while the club you represent struggles, just wishing you still had your previous manager is useless. The players should be focusing, not crying about who is managing them.
However, thanks to some discontent in the dressing room, the decision has had to be made to relinquish Cooper of his Leicester duties. The King Power side now need a new manager, with a big name to keep those unruly players in check, bring them back on side, motivate them, and then carry the weight of respect to discipline them should it be necessary.
Leicester City have performed subpar with a relatively good squad. They have used subpar tactics, showed subpar determination and will, and therefore have failed to capture supporter’s imaginations. Instead, players have partied after losses, and partied at the sacking of a head coach.
The King Power club now need to ditch the subpar in favour of something fresh. Those players who decided it better to party than to help their teammates need disciplining. The Foxes need a head coach to deliver that change. For me, that is Ruud van Nistelrooy.