Can Steve Cooper keep his job at Leicester for long?

Steve Cooper is an enigmatic head coach. To have helped Nottingham Forest to promotion but almost get them relegated, to now coaching an exceptionally talented set of players and failing to get the most out of them consistently. This is where Leicester City need to look at: they have a good team, and yet, they can barely perform across one game let alone a set of games.

Leicester City’s prelude to a sacking

Abdul Fatawu, Oliver Skipp, Caleb Okoli, Jordan Ayew, Bobby De-Cordova Reid, Bilal El Khannouss, Odsonne Edouard, and Facundo Bounanotte. Eight players brought in. At least three or four with the quality to be in the starting XI and help the Foxes be more impactful in matches. After being forced to sell Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, this is what Steve Cooper was given: a good transfer window.

Fatawu seems to not be a starter, Edouard has barely featured, and the two attacking midfielders have been ignored in-favour of starting three defensive midfielders with one of them forced into that creative role. Let us not forget it is only in the last couple of matches Cooper has dropped ‘BDR’ for the infinitely better Stephy Mavididi.

In this prelude, Leicester have spent a lot of money for their coach, built a strong team, and given the Welshman the tools he needs. Let us not forget we still have Ricardo Pereira - our best fullback ever - our wonderkid from last season - Fatawu - and signings from previous seasons such as Boubakary Soumare and home grown talent like Kasey McAteer and Hamza Choudhury. Cooper has what he needs and a lot of money is being wasted on players not getting a look in.

It is clear to me that his team selection is poor. If we were actually winning a couple games, picking up some extra points, then I could see the logic in the selections and omissions, but how can you justify not using your new attacking signings when as the head coach you were banging on about how you desperately needed them? Even supporters at the matches have made their voices heard: Leicester City are embarrassing.

How long Cooper can last

A lot depends on the next four games. For me, the King Power side will obviously let Cooper fight against their closest relegation rivals before making any split-decision to sack the manager. Especially when immediately after those fixtures is Manchester United: not really the game you want to bring in a new head coach for.

So, if the Welshman fails to use the players that have been signed, fix his team selection, and instil the mentality required to consistently perform at this top level of football, then the Foxes will fail to get enough points over this next four games (Bournemouth, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, and Ipswich Town). At that point, we have a very tough run to December. Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 21/12/24 is probably the next time to switch a head coach.

However, if we lose to our relegation rivals, Leicester City might jump and take the hit against the much harder opposition we have to at least have some small chance to pick up more points. Cooper has time, but has to make changes to keep that time.