The King Power side are at least not rock bottom. However, we are 19th with 17 points after 25 matches fought; this is in comparison to being 15th in the League with 24 points during our previous relegation campaign. We are in a worse position.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has to see there are major cracks in the team. There are players simply not performing to standards required to survive, and the team is defensively inept despite the apparent quality some of these players ought to have. Those cracks need to be plastered over swiftly.
What Leicester City must change
From a tactical perspective, the primary weakness I have noticed is when the Foxes are hit on the break: that is, when the opposition collect possession after a Leicester attack and quickly progress the ball to their forwards. The Dutchman has made the error of sending too many players forward, leaving us heavily exposed on the wings and placing our underwhelming central defence under pressure to make a decision.
That decision is whether to step up and press the opposition winger or striker, or to try and stay in a position blocking a straight run at our goal. The problem here is Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard will usually push forward, leaving acres of space for a rushing attacking midfielder to run into - with no defensive midfielder following behind to intercept or challenge - while Conor Coady almost always steps back. Caleb Okoli at least seems a little more balanced in which to choose.
Nistelrooy needs to keep one of his fullbacks back. For me, if the Dutchman insists on playing James Justin, then this has to be Justin on the right. This must form a back three shielded by a strong defensive midfielder - Wilfred Ndidi - and supported in getting the ball forward by a progressive midfielder such as Boubakary Soumare and Harry Winks.
In terms of team selection, the centurion front three is not working. Relying on a combined 103-years of age players to create and score most of your chances is not a particularly great strategy. Stephy Mavididi and Facundo Buonanotte rank 7th and 8th respectively in progressive passes made, as well as 5th and 2nd for non-penalty xG plus xA per 90. The Pride of the East Midlands have preferred lower ranked and significantly older players instead.
The experience has shown at some points. Bobby De-Cordova Reid and Jordan Ayew can come deep to help the team at times, but this does leave Jamie Vardy chasing shadows upfront. Further, although not terrible, they certainly are not the most creative talents. To be brutally honest, the Dutch head coach must try something completely different against Brentford.
Mavididi, Vardy, and Buonanotte should form the front three against Brentford, with Bilal el Khannouss in midfield supported by the progressive passing of Winks, and the box-to-box defensive prowess of Ndidi. What Leicester City must do against Brentford is to stick to the plan, be a little more clinical with passes, and keep a few more players back to help shield that weak central defence.