After a disappointing season, last year can Brendan Rodgers get Leicester City to bounce back?
What happened last year?
It was a largely disappointing season for Brendan Rodgers outfit as they failed to qualify for any of the European competitions and nearly finished in the bottom half. It’s a farcry from what we’re used to seeing at the King Power and it begs the question, what went wrong?
Firstly, they were defensively woeful and they conceded more goals than any other side that finished in the top ten. A couple of season’s ago, Turkish centre back Çaglar Söyüncü was being linked to some of the top sides, but his performances have dipped. He’s still great in the air and passing but his positioning can often be perplexing. As well as that, star man Jamie Vardy was a huge loss as he was unavailable for 21 league matches through injury and they missed the goals that his presence inevitably brings.
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Key signings?
Alarmingly, at the time of writing, Leicester City are on of just two clubs across Europe’s top five leagues yet to make a signing so far this summer and this lack of strengthening could really hamper their chances of success next season.
They need to bolster their backline, could do with an improvement of quality to their midfield and realistically need to find a new striker that can take on the mantle of Jamie Vardy. With rumours of key midfielder Youri Tielemans being on the move, they need to replace that quality, or if he doesn’t leave, then add to it.
And who’s out?
Whilst the ‘Foxes’ have not unveiled a single new signing, they haven’t seen anyone leave the Kingpower Stadium either.
A host of players have been linked with moves away but at this stage, they’re merely just rumours. James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes have all been linked with moves to other Premier League outfits.
Most recently, Newcastle United have allegedly been in contact regarding the availability of Harvey Barnes as Toon boss Eddie Howe looks to add some quality wingers to his side. However, the apparent asking price is £50million so it remains to be seen if any negotiations begin.
If Leicester City lose any of the aforementioned Maddison, Tielemans or Barnes then they surely have no choice but to dip into the market. Otherwise, they risk a bigger struggle and slipping further down the table next season.
Who is their star man?
James Maddison
The England midfielder had a direct hand in 32% of Leicester City’s total goals last season as he scored 12 times and also registered eight assists. Maddison is somewhat of a catalyst and everything good that Leicester City do often goes through him. He’s a midfielder that can produce exceptional finishes from a distance, but his reading of the game is a sight to behold.
We often talk about the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and how nobody else could see some of the passes that he makes. But James Maddison is capable of producing similar moments on occasions and the key moments he creates are vital for ‘The Foxes’.
Keeping ahold of him this window will be integral if they’re to stand a chance of pushing for Europe next season.
What can we expect from them in 2022/23?
That all depends on how they do business between now and the end of the transfer window. The have well over a month left to bring players in and it’s essential that they do if they’re to push up the table.
The big concern is that sides around them have already made their moves and have drastically improved not just their starting eleven’s, but their entire squad as a whole. There’s a danger that this Leicester City side has gone a bit stale and fresh faces are required to fire some life back into the side.
However, they will hope they can start this season in good form just as they finished the last one. The last five matches of the 2021/22 season saw them emerge victorious in three of them, losing one and drawing the other. But it was their prowess in front of goal that will have delighted Brendan Rodgers as they scored 14 times across those last five fixtures and conceded on just five occasions.
Even if they are able to briefly carry on where they left off, if they enter the new season with exactly the same squad, then expect ‘The Foxes’ to finish in a midtable position, possibly in the bottom half of the table.
Where do the odds project them to finish?
Leicester City are odds on to finish in the top half of the table but are a huge 11/2 to finish in the top six. An eighth or ninth place finish seems to be where the odds would suggest that Brendan Rodgers men will finish come what May, however, for the reasons mentioned above, finishing in either of those positions would probably be seen as a huge achievement given the current squad.
Any recommended bets?
You can currently get 11/10 on Leicester City finishing in the bottom half. That’s almost tempting considering they play a rejuvenated Arsenal as well as Chelsea and Manchester United all within their first five matches. It’s likely that price will plummet should they pick up fewer than two wins in those first five games, which seems, likely.
I would like a bigger price, but given i think those odds will shorten relatively quickly, Leicester finishing in the bottom half at 11/10 makes appeal.
