Troubles at Leicester
Following 3-2 defeat to Liverpool there has been much soul searching at Leicester. On Monday, manager Craig Shakespeare was working with his assistants to discuss what went wrong in the match and how to put things right. Leicester are now firmly down with the strugglers at the foot of the Premier League. Not long ago Harry Maguire was the toast of Leicester with his decisive moves forward, cutting through the midfield to set up chances for strikers like Jamie Vardy. But against Liverpool it all went wrong and it was Maguire who lost the ball and the Reds broke away and scored. Maguire is Leicester’s best passer of the ball and when he goes forward Shakespeare has told his players to fill in the gaps left behind him in case of an opposition break. Since Danny Drinkwater moved to Chelsea Ndidi has been Leicester’s main man in midfield but he is still only 20 and needs help. Ndidi always makes the most tackles and interceptions of anyone in the game but he was exposed too many times during their last match. When Liverpool scored for the third time Maguire ran back 30 yards to his own half of the pitch and the referee was not far behind him. They both overtook Ndidi who looked tired. He is the only Leicester player who has started every game this season and he played 90 minutes in each of Nigeria’s two World Cup qualifiers earlier this month. He deserves a rest but the manager has few options with Matty James injured, Papy Mendy in France, Adrien Silva is watching from the stands at the moment and Danny Drinkwater is at Chelsea. That leaves Shakespeare choosing from Vincente Iborra, Andy King and Daniel Amartey but none are as good as Ndidi. The staff have discussed leaving the 4-4-2 system which won them the league with N’Golo Kante and Drinkwater. They still play that system and they get overrun. When Claudio Ranieri tried to change Leicester’s system the players did not like it and turned against him. Now Shakespeare is in the same position as he tries to kick start Leicester’s drive up the table.
The knives are out for Mersut Ozil at Arsenal. Many of the Gunners back room staff and supporters think the German star is not mentally fit to play to his true potential and he is nowhere near the threat he used to be with assists and goals. Ozil is still uncertain about his future and whether or not to Emirates when his contract expires next year. He came back to the club after the summer break on the first day of training having been left out of the Germany national squad. There is much discussion that his mind is not focused on working with the team since his return. Now it is clear that manager Arsene Wenger has lost some confidence in the man who previously linked up so well with Sanchez. He has been linked with a move for the last six months and wants around £250,000 to stay with the Gunners, all of which is distracting him. Wenger is known to be concerned…Alexis Sanchez, the other player linked with a move, lives to play football but Ozil is more complicated and he needs careful handling if Arsenal are going to get the best out of him.
Manchester United manager Jose Mouhino walked grumpily to his aeroplane en route to Russia after complaining about the “unfair” scheduling of Premier League matches following United’s appearances in the Champions League. Mourhino said that after playing CSKA Moscow in Russia on Wednesday they have less than 72 hours to prepare for a 3pm kick-off against Crystal Palace. Liverpool, on the other hand, did battle with Spartak Moscow on Tuesday which gives them an extra 48 hours to prepare for their match against Newcastle. Furthermore he is unhappy that the League have scheduled United to play 3pm Saturday matches after taking on Benfica and Basel and travelling away from home before taking on Brighton and Huddersfield. There is talk around both Manchester City and Arsenal that Sergio Aguero could join the Gunners in the New Year if things do not go well for him. He has responded to talk of being No2 to new signing Gabriel Jesus by getting on the scoresheet seven times already this season and has provided three assists for his team-mates. I am suspicious about such talk although it is known that Aguero working with manager Pep Guardiola is not a perfect marriage and the two have clashed when Aguero has been left on the bench. So the whispers are a possible swap - Aguero for Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez! Watch this space and I will let you know of developments on that one. Liverpool’s Anfield steps up On the wall of Liverpool’s Anfield stadium are the bold words “Where passion roars. Where pride swells. Anfield - Where greatness happens”. I went to have a look at the new improvements to this famous ground, home to some of football’s biggest ever matches. The pitch is brand new having been completely relaid. 100% natural grass reinforced by 20 million synthentic fibres. The crowd are warmer as builders have filled in one of the corners where an icy wind used to whip around the open ended main stand. The famous Kop stand is even bigger to strike fear into opposing teams. 470 extra seats have been added. There are also 250 wheelchair spaces and away fans now sit in front of their own travelling supporters. The new shop has a video wall and shirt printing area and the player’s changing rooms have been remodelled to make them more comfortable. There are better facilities for the 2,000 match day staff who make this one of the great memorable footballing days out. One humorous fan Twittered that the new stadium seating is great but when bitter derby rivals Everton come to play the seats should be adjustable so the can be turned around to face the River Mersey and not the pitch!