Five big decisions that Maresca must get right to save promotion bid
OUR WRITERS’ THOUGHTS ON THE TEAM POSITIONS UP FOR DEBATE
THREE wins from four and Leicester City will be promoted. At the start of the season, that would not have sounded too difficult, but having won just three of their last 10, confidence is hardly sky high.
For the three games City played in seven days last week, there were eight players who started every time, with Enzo Maresca making minimal changes.
But after those losses to Millwall and Plymouth, does the team need tinkering?
Here, City writers Amie Wilson and Jordan Blackwell give their opinions on five of the most debatable positions and name who they would start against West Brom and beyond.
Faes v Coady v Nelson
AW: I’ve seen a lot of calls for Conor Coady to be brought into the team, and I’ve been among those wanting him selected.
His experience and know-how could be vital during the end-of-season run-in, but one thing that bothers me is the lack of pace that would then be in the back-line.
Teams have already set up to counter attack City – as shown by Millwall and Plymouth – and that may become even more prominent if they are struggling for pace at the back.
Maresca has to contemplate if the benefits that Coady brings in terms of leadership outweigh that risk.
For me, at this point in the season, I think they probably do.
It’s time for leaders to step up in the final four games of the season, and Coady is definitely one of those. The attack should also have enough quality to counteract the risks.
JB: I think Wout Faes has been really good for a lot of the season, but his performance on Friday night reminded me of something Maresca said back in October. It was quite a cutting statement.
Maresca said: “For me he (Faes) has the potential to be a big-team central defender.
“But at the same time he needs to understand that the only way is to always be on the game, to be focused, and every time to give 100 per cent.
“Because you can see there are some moments during the games where he looks a little bit like he’s not present in the game.”
You do not want that attitude at the business end of a season.
Because of the way City play, with the right-back moving into midfield, there are going to be times where Faes is exposed through no fault of his own.
But I felt he didn’t defend the Plymouth goal at all well, and then after that, I thought his passing into midfield was a little half-hearted.
I don’t think Ben Nelson is really an option at such a crunch time of the season so it has to be either Faes or Coady but, like Amie, I’m wary of the lack of pace if the latter comes into the team.
I’d be tempted to stick with Faes against West Brom and hope he bucks up his ideas, but then bring in Coady for Southampton, when City will be forced back and won’t have to defend so many counterattacks.
Justin v Doyle
AW: In this position, I would go for Callum Doyle, right, most times.
On his return to the team against Norwich, you could see the difference his passing ability makes.
James Justin has been a more than capable stand-in during Doyle’s injury, but especially with the team struggling to score goals, I think Doyle has more of an impact higher up the pitch and can provide a bit more creativity from the back-line than Justin.
JB: I would play Doyle against West Brom, and probably against Preston and Blackburn too.
Those are all matches where it’s likely City will have to penetrate a deeper defence, and Doyle’s passing ability makes a difference. But against any team that’s going to be a greater threat in attack, I would pick Justin.
It looks like David Brooks will be playing on the right when Southampton come to town, and against such a dangerous attacker, I would want Justin to be in City’s back-line.
Ndidi v Praet
AW: This is a difficult one, given Wilfred Ndidi’s performances in the last two games. But I would stick with him, given what he provides off the ball.
While he has been changed into a mor e attacking midfielder b y Maresca this season, he still has the qualities to win the ball back in the central area.
That is invaluable if City are playing with a high press as they have done for most of the season.
Dennis Praet is a good option to bring off the bench if City are searching for a goal. He has more natural attacking instincts than Ndidi, but probably doesn’t bring as much off the ball.
JB: I would play Praet now. Ndidi is the more dynamic player, but Praet has done more in his two substitute appearances this week, playing a role in four good chances created at the end of the Millwall and Plymouth games.
Whatever happens, Praet is likely to be off this summer. But that’s not to say he won’t have the motivation.
There’s a Euros coming up and he knows Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco watches City matches as Faes is a regular in the squad.
That should give him focus to pull out the stops to help City’s cause, even if he knows he won’t be at the club next season.
Fatawu v Yunus v McAteer
AW: Yunus Akgun’s assist against Birmingham led to calls for him to be given more game time, and I agree, but I don’t think he can replace Abdul Fatawu in the starting line-up given the threat that the winger poses with his speed and directness.
Yunus’s energy off the ball could come in handy in the closing stages of a game if City are chasing a goal or defending a lead.
Kasey McAteer may also have to settle for cameo appearances after his return from injury.
JB: As tidy as Yunus looked in possession at Millwall, he just doesn’t have the pace to really torment fullbacks. So it’s got to be Fatawu. His speed and dribbling ability disrupts defences and gets City into dangerous positions. He has to play.
But if City are trailing, I wouldn’t be against McAteer being used as a substitute.
I felt there were a few times against Plymouth where Stephy Mavididi delivered good crosses to the back post and McAteer does seem to have a knack of being in those areas to attack the ball.
Daka v Vardy v Iheanacho v Cannon
AW: The big debate! As much as I’ve defended Daka over the last few weeks, it is now time to take him out of the firing line.
But who replaces him? Vardy is probably the obvious choice, and the one I think I’d go with.
He’s been there and done it before in earning promotion and the value of that know-how could be crucial.
There’s probably nobody else in the squad who will want promotion more than Vardy too, given his history with the club and the possibility that it could be his final season.
Both Iheanacho and Cannon will be good options from the bench when Vardy has run himself into the ground (and hopefully got on the scoresheet).
JB: Maresca’s approach to Daka’s goal drought is understandable – that giving him minutes shows faith in him and that should raise his confidence – but I think a new approach is needed.
Vardy should start against West Brom as he’s still the most reliable when it comes to putting the ball in the net. But I’d like to see Iheanacho or Cannon come into the game when there is the need to freshen things up with 20 minutes to go.
If City are trailing, I’d like both to come on. Playing two strikers definitely helped for the short time we saw it against Millwall.
And then against Southampton, when Vardy is likely to be rested because of the quick turnaround, I would pick Cannon.
The game at St Mary’s showed there will be chances for City to counter, and I think Cannon’s speed and hustle could be an asset against the Saints.