It can’t go on like this
As usual, this was an important game for the Foxes as they try to erode the gap between mid-table and the top six in the Championship. There were two specific reasons why this game was of particular interest.
One was the issue of whether Leicester could redeem themselves following their diabolical defeat against the same opponents at the King Power Stadium in November when they conceded three times in the opening half hour. Second, there was the manager dimension. Marti Cifuentes has been under pressure for a while now. Standing next to him on the Bramall Lane touchline would be Chris Wilder who has admitted that he quite fancied the City job when it became available during the summer.
After a difficult start – no wins in their opening seven matches – the Blades have recovered impressively – nine wins in 18 matches – and, on home turf, would present a difficult challenge for the Foxes.
And so it proved. There’s no sugar-coating this performance. The Foxes were flat and passive. They failed to keep the ball well enough, gave it away too easily and invited pressure. There was only one City attempt on target in the entire game and that was their goal. They meekly allowed centre half Japhet Tanganga to head in from a corner from the first. A second from former Leicester striker Tom Cannon, after poor defending from Luke Thomas, settled the game. There was a third before the end with Jordan James scoring a consolation goal.
It can’t go on like this. There have to be changes. It could be the last game Cifuentes is in charge.
A mentality problem?
Once again, Leicester folded after conceding the first goal. I have written before about Leicester’s mentality problem which Cifuentes claims to have pre-dated his arrival at the King Power Stadium. In short, the claim is that City players – after their torrid experience in the Premier League last season – are used to losing so that when they go behind they expect not to be able to get back into the game.
There is some evidence for this claim. In the 12 games – including the heavy defeats to Southampton and QPR – where Leicester conceded first this season, they have lost eight of them. In only two of these 12 games – against Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich – have the Foxes recovered from conceding the first goal to win and in only two others – against Oxford United and West Brom – have they come away with a point.
By contrast, in the 12 games where Leicester scored first, they have gone on to win seven of them and drawn four. In only one game – the 2-1 defeat to Watford - where they scored first have the Foxes gone on to lose the game.
Having said all this, Leicester were abysmal before they conceded the first goal at Bramall Lane and there was an improvement after going two down. By his time, though, Sheffield United had taken their foot off the gas and the Foxes never looked like getting back into the game. It has to be said, the main reason why City are struggling this season is that they are simply not good enough.
Sell to buy
It is clear that Leicester are desperate for new faces to bolster a struggling squad. Various names, including goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, have been mooted. The club’s financial issues - caused largely not so much by shortage of money but their inability, because of profit and sustainability rules, to spend the money they have – means that it is likely they will have to sell first. Wout Faes and Harry Winks are the obvious candidates to depart from the King Power Stadium but the acceptance of bids for star players cannot be ruled out. It is being reported, for instance, that after selling Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City, Bournemouth may target Abdul Fatawu as his replacement. If the Foxes are offered £30 million for him, there is a case for taking it provided the money is reinvested.