A great chance to out-Fox City
LEICESTER LOOKING VULNERABLE - AND TOON MUST CASH IN
NEWCASTLE will never have a better opportunity to beat Leicester City - even at their place.
Everything has gone United’s way in the last week and gone against the Foxes.
First and foremost the Black and Whites ought to be buzzing after securing their first win of the season and their first clean sheet against Burnley.
Whereas Leicester were tucked up 2-1 by Aston Villa and then went out to Italy and lost 3-2 to Napoli which dumped them out of the Europa League.
It must have been an exhausting trip while United were resting up - and a demoralising one too.
A lot of players and a few staff missed the midweeker for various reasons but while it hit their bench Leicester were still able to put out a strong starting eleven.
The Foxes are unrecognisable from the side they used to be.
They have leaked a colossal 27 Premier League goals – two or more in nine of their last 11 matches - and topped that up with another three in Europe.
City are vulnerable, especially on set pieces, and United must cash in.
Confidence will be rock bottom while ours will have risen.
A short while ago this looked a daunting fixture but not any more.
Full advantage must be taken because of what is to come – Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United. This is where a win is on offer.
History is also on the side of the visitors.
Newcastle have won at the
King Power on three of their last four Premier League visits - including 4-2 there last season.
It will of course be a game of Newcastle’s attackers against Leicester’s dodgy defence and their good attackers against our dodgy defence. Who gets the better of who?
I want to see two things in particular - the Magpies be clever in containing Jamie Vardy and their front players shoot on sight. At Arsenal our coach Don Howe had the back four well marshalled. The golden rule was they pushed up as a unit and only dropped off when the foot of the player on the ball went back for him to strike it.
That way Vardy will not be able to easily get behind the central defenders and it will nullify his pace.
Of course it is up to Jamaal Lascelles to organise things and it has to happen in unison.
As for United’s front players, they must shoot more often.
Callum Wilson apart, they are reluctant to take on a shot - preferring to pass square.
Allan Saint-Maximin, as talented as he is, has flattered to deceive of late.
He has run across the pitch from left wing to right when he ought to be penetrating into the penalty box. He is making life easy for defenders and confusing team-mates.
My motto as a striker was never to be afraid to miss. A lot of players are terrified in case it leaves them open to ridicule.
If I missed I knew I was one shot closer to scoring. SaintMaxim in, Miggy Almiron, Joelinton and, this season, Joe Willock are not scoring enough in support of Wilson. Here they have a chance and must take it. Let United be positive, confident and fired up because Leicester will be concerned and twitchy. This is an opportunity to really banish the blues.
I want to see two things in particular: the Magpies be clever in containing Jamie Vardy and their front players shoot on sight