Two victories in a week, albeit against League Two opposition, is not a bad start for the new Foxes boss. What have we learnt?
Style of play
It won’t be a surprise to hear that Leicester have quickly adopted Martin’s distinctive possession-based game. Given that it failed abysmally after Southampton reached the top-flight and again when he took over at Rangers, this news will not be welcome to sections of the Leicester fan base, many of whom cautioned against the appointment.
Yes, Martin’s game plan does involve playing from the back where the centre backs are encouraged, after receiving the ball from the goalkeeper, to bring the ball forward, and yes, this sometimes resulted in losing possession in dangerous areas. On the other hand, Leicester players fought furiously to win the ball back when out of possession and, with the ball, the momentum was usually forward with some intricate passing to feet and clever one-twos. The advantage of playing forward as a team is that there was never a shortage of Foxes players in and around the box.
It should be an interesting season.
Who stood out?
With so many experienced players either sold, released or participating in the World Cup, there was a very distinct youthful flavour to the Leicester sides that have taken to the field at Seagrave and the Memorial Ground in Bristol. Some of the friendly squad (22 played at least an hour of the four 30-minute sessions in the latter encounter) – such as Will Alves, Louis Page, Sammy Braybrooke and Olibade Aluko – will be familiar to most Foxes fans. Less well known are academy products such as Riley Carr, Kirsten Otchere, Tommy Neale and Nathan Opoku.
The fact that there is such a wealth of talent coming through the ranks is a sign that the money spent on building and maintaining the Seagrave training ground is beginning to bear fruit. The club have already made significant profit on the sale of Jeremy Monga to Manchester City.
In terms of the more experienced players, Ben Nelson was a class apart and we can only hope that he doesn’t leave. Oliver Skipp and Hamza Choudhury were quietly effective without really catching the eye. Wout Faes, surprisingly back at the King Power after Monaco did not take up the option of a deal, was his usual frustrating self, looking cultured and assured one minute and making an elementary error almost resulting in a goal the next.
Of the young players, Alves stood out against Northampton netting a brace and was effective against Bristol too. Louis Page and Sammy Braybrooke impressed in the latter game too, the former occupying the holding midfield position. Perhaps the most surprising performance, because I haven’t seen him before, was the wing play of Riley Carr. He joined the club from Hertford Town last year and featured for the under-21 and under-18 sides. Quick and direct, Carr looked like a player who could break into the first team, particularly given that Abdul Fatawu is likely to be sold.
Who will start?
In light of the fact that there will be significant ins and outs before the start of the season, it is a mug’s game to predict what Leicester’s starting eleven will be for the season-opener at Meadow Lane. I’m going to try anyway!
Martin will probably be looking at a mixture of youth and experience. If they are still at Leicester next month, the obvious centre back pairing would be Nelson and Harry Souttar. If not, Wout Faes and Caleb Okoli would be my choice. Aluko has impressed in pre-season and, with the departure of Ricardo Piereria, looks likely to occupy the right-back berth, with Luke Thomas on the left.
The midfield three would probably contain Oliver Skipp, if he stays - Middlesborough, it is claimed, still hold an interest. The other two would be drawn from Alves, Braybrooke and Page. The front three is even more uncertain. Stephy Mavididi would start, one would expect, but he has been linked with a move to Glasgow Rangers. As far as the other two forwards are concerned it is anyone’s guess. Youngsters Otchere and Opoku, despite scoring against Bristol Rovers, don’t look ready for a starting place. Danny Ings, if he does eventually sign, would come straight into the team. Riley Carr is perhaps worth a gamble if Fatawu, as expected, leaves and no replacement is signed. At the very least, he could provide a back-up for Bobby Cordova-Reid on the right.
There is much to ponder for Russell Martin. FoL will be reporting any new developments as they happen.
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