Another Win in the FA Cup!

Labours & Signings? By Simon Mcilvenna

With the foxes form in the league stuttering to restart after the winter World Cup break Leicester City had a break from their descent toward the relegation zone making the short trip to visit Walsall for a FA Cup 4^th round encounter.

City manager Brendan Rodgers picked an almost full strength side for the tie only replacing keeper Ward with prospect Dane Daniel Iversen between the posts. Patson Daka got a start up top in place of Vardy and James Maddison’s inclusion was a heartwarming sight after a lengthy lay off that spanned the winter break and compounded the foxes recent woes.

New signing Victor Kristiansen was available from the bench and a confident and powerful Walsall (mid table in league 2) competed well with a Leicester eleven struggling for form and confidence. Youri Tielelemans hit the post from the spot after Patson Daka had been fouled and the foxes continued to fluff their lines in front of goal until the replacement of Daka with Kelechi Iheanacho midway through the second half lead to a wickedly deflected shot from the edge of the 18 yard box that looped over a helpless Owen Evans in the Saddlers goal. Evans had played admirably to keep the bouts of foxes pressure from registering a lead, but he was helpless this time and whilst the home side worked hard to bring the scores level late on the game resulted in a narrow and unconvincing victory for the visitors.

Positives in the game were to be found. Kristiansen came on with around half an hour left of the match and produced a cameo that was confident and included bursting runs forward that gave the foxes fans hope for improvement on the left. If the former Copenhagen full back can build an alliance with Harvey Barnes this could become a potent pairing, and Barnes may feel more free to roam forward with the insurance of Kristiansen behind him. Kiernan Dewsbury Hall’s performance also bare witness to what we had been missing with his injury in recent times and he was deservedly awarded the man of the match accolade.

Many fans have been feeling lately that the way we have been playing tactically just does not suit the likes of Vardy and Daka, and Iheanacho’s more physical presence when he came on for Daka gave tangible fact to that feeling. Without defence splitting through balls our pacey attack pair often paint battered and forlorn figures, and whilst the passion for the game in Jamie Vardy’s belly will never extinguish, most of the faithful see that we are just not playing that type of game. Nacho’s addition gave a different feel to our attack almost instantly, and from looking like we’d never find the net Kelechi found a way and looked more potent amongst the physical battle in a congested final third.

James Maddison’s return to the starting line up must have brought a collective sigh of relief for Leicester fans worldwide. And whilst his inclusion was undoubtedly another stepping stone on his road to recovery his performance seemed frustrated in its nature at times and left some city fans enquiring what was up with him on the day.

Whilst city were toiling to a narrow victory photos were emerging on social media of Brazilian wide man Tete heading in a private jet for the UK. Captions explained that he was now in the country having a medical at Leicester, and an apparent loan deal for the remainder of the season is reportedly done with an announcement imminent.

Further rumblings around social media suggest that Australian centre half Harry Souttar is foxes bound from Stoke too, and we are yet to hear if Ayonze Perez’s move to Real Betis in Spain is going ahead. Leicester City are almost certain to move on the likes of Perez, Tielemans, Soyunchu et al. in this window IF they can get a deal or fee that means their out of contract summer free move away from the King Power is avoided. There are a multitude of rumours of incoming players currently around the city set up, and you can’t help but wonder if the completion of at least some of these deals is dependent on others departing. The foxes squad is pretty full and FFP regulations aside a raft of new incomings would mean senior players excluded from the first team squad for the remainder of the season.

City are back in the West Midlands next weekend to visit Aston Villa. The Birmingham outfit have seemingly repaired results and performances of late under former Arsenal & PSG boss Unai Emery. For me personally it feels likes Brendan Rodgers needs to learn the lessons of both this weekends game and the recent past. Daka and Vardy just do not suit the way we are playing and get bogged down amongst congested play, and with Iheanacho fit, sharp, ready and much more capable of competing in that type of encounter I would hope his inclusion in the starting eleven would be in the gaffer’s mind. Amartey always gives his all for the foxes cause, however in recent games he has been singled out for attention and pressure as a potential crack in the Leicester City defence. For me it is time for a change (Soyunchu?), and given Kristiansen’s impressive display for the last 30 minutes against the Saddlers I’d opt for him and put an end to Luke Tomas’s tenure for now. The youthful left back has ability, but in a foxes side inviting on huge pressure of late the young defender has looked ragged in spells and some fresh more experienced blood would be welcomed.