What was expected by many to be a walk in the park became a disaster. Under King Power’s stewardship and Marti Cifuentes’ leadership, the Foxes have found themselves in the relegation zone of the EFL Championship, only last season in the Premier League, and the season before being promoted as champions. The situation can still get bleaker.
But, enough misery. Rowett took the Leicester Cty job knowing that despite the Spaniards inability to get this team ticking, there is enough latent talent in the squad that it should be nowhere near relegation, and in fact should be much higher up the division. With that now impossible, the job becomes survival, a job made more difficult with the recent injuries to the side.
Leicester City’s key to survival
Our team has standout talents, and the East Midlands outfit has signed glistening loanees, so survival is not impossible, even if the current situation feels abyssal in nature, and destined due to years of upper mismanagement. From Abdul Fatawu to Divine Mukasa, all it takes is the right dynamo to set the tempo, to drive that hunger for success, and to actually follow through. There is only one person who deserves that right in this lineup.
Jordan James. Holding the second spot for goals plus assists while being 11th in minutes played, the Welshman is perhaps the greatest fit for a team like Leicester City: hungry, passionate, and an absolute workhorse. He cares, he tries, and he achieves.
To illustrate this, I decided to go through every fixture and total up the number of points gained versus lossed when Jordan James played in the match (for more than 20 minutes to avoid cameos being included, of which there was only one draw excluded). Despite the player being present in 24 (again, 25 including a draw he played less than 20 minutes in) games with a dreary side, we have a positive points total with him in the squad (+2) and a negative without (-10).
In many of our wins, and even in our losses and draws, James either scores or assists to help drive the team forward. His partnership with the forward line, and understanding with Abdul Fatawu, has been the only realistic chance of hope we have had of survival. Now, with Divine Mukasa performing extremely well - one I think we ought to try and keep if we do stay in the Championship alongside JJ - we might have the basis for a strong midfield going forward.
Returning again for the Foxes as a substitute in our draw to Ipswich Town, the dynamo in midfield is back, and ready to eject one of either Harry Winks or Oliver Skipp out of the team. To me, James brings balance, energy, and attacking intent in a box-to-box role to drive the ball forward. With him, we get more points than we lose. With him we score more. We need someone to set the pace, to act like clockwork upfront. With Jordan James finally fit again, we might just have some slim chance at survival.
Gary Rowett’s Leicester City confirmed the player was available for selection again, although questions over his fitness were raised. This is what has likely kept the joint top-goalscorer as a substitute since returning officially during the Norwich City fixture. I expect the next few games will see JJ starting, and hopefully Mukasa alongside him.