Realistically, the King Power side will be relegated in our next fixture or so at best. In that context, it will be critical for the club to either stick with Ruud van Nistelrooy and prepare for the next campaign, or usher in a third new manager in the span of a season. I would hope the club decide to prioritise what will be a upheaved team rather than focus on who manages them for now.
One such talent that is likely to be upheaved will undoubtedly by the Belgian centre-back Wout Faes. The defender has been with Leicester City for some time, performing sometimes excellently, and other times atrociously. It is that inconsistency that has led the talent to be probably the least liked of our genuinely talented players. As such, it could be welcome news.
Leicester City’s Belgian flop
Despite good performances for Belgium, Faes has not adhered himself to the fans. When compared to what we once had in those agonisingly consistent Brendan Rodgers’ seasons with Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu, to the moment in time of an uninjured Wesley Fofana, our current state of play at the back is atrocious.
Jannik Vestergaard is getting too slow to adequately react to defensive situations, Conor Coady has struggled to get into the starting XI, Caleb Okoli has not lit the world alight, and Faes has been both our best and worst defender depending on the match. In some cases - usually against big teams - the Belgian will turn up, rush beyond midfielders and support attacks, yet now lethargy and occasional narcolepsy plague his performances against smaller sides. He seems to just not react to defensive scenarios going against the club.
Okoli has converted more of his chances on goal, Vestergaard has passed significantly more both progressively, long-range, and sideways, and Coady is more accurate in his passing. Faes’ achievement does seem to be those seldom moments of quality. The others may lack that star quality, but at least they offer something to the side more often than not.
Nistelrooy’s team will likely be rid of both Coady and Faes to save wages and clear spots in the team for the currently injured Harry Souttar to possibly stay a season and a promotion or new signing. The Foxes have to realise that Faes is not going to cut it in the long term, and the long term is the only thing we ought to be planning for with how many talents ought to be leaving in the summer.