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Leicester were grand favourites for a win at home to Hull, but The Tigers surprisingly took home all three points after a goal from former Maresca pupil at Man City, Rory Delap. The goal of Delap really pin points the problem, too little agression, as control, calmness and possession looks the priority.
Enzo Maresca and his Italian approach makes it easy to see his idea, being patient and tire out the opposition with constant pressure, but this time it was not working the way it is supposed to. Players are not coped as individuals to deal with this type of football over a full game.
Looking at the individual player, Kasey McAteer is a revelation so far, one to watch as he is growing in confidence he will continue to perform week in and week out, hopefully he will not be seen as a fringe man with the new recruits coming in. Wout Faes is also showing grand quality, being the best player on the field yesterday, with good passing, going forward and clever tackling.
Conor Coady will probably be a good addition to the team when he comes in, but surely Jannik Vestergaard has really shone in his absent. The big Dane is on the brink of getting back in contention for a place in the national team. Vestergaard is a player that in some situations can look exposed, but still his passing ability and height makes him one to count. Enzo Maresca is a clever reader of the game and he will see what is needed to take his project forward.
Yesterday and what we have seen so far is a midfield area that too often miss those penetration passes and also play the ball too much out wide, instead of going straight forward. If you look at Man City and how their players move, and how they find the pockets going forward, you will see a different pattern. Ndidi, Winks and Dewsbury-Hall looks to have less ability to do the same, and often both Vardy and Iheanacho are not involved in the game, strangely as that must have been a priority at the training ground, to get the movement in place between the players to penetrate and get more shots on goal.
Cesare Casadei is a player very different from James Maddison, brilliant at Spurs at the moment, but still the young player on loan from Chelsea, should soon become a starter, and would have given Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall a rest, as his contribution and match form confuses. He often fall out of games and his momentum is far from what is needed to hold this midfield in balance for 90 minutes.
Wilfred Ndidi is the one that has been rested when Casadei has been brought on, but at this time Ndidi should be trusted as his experience and running looks to be a key for Maresca. The fact that Dennis Praet is out, gives Maresca little flexibility with just Hamza Choudhury left as an alternative, besides Casadei.
Yunus is a new and interesting addition, but with Mavididi, Marcal, McAteer, Albrighton and Fatawu also available in those wide attacking positions, you will be in limbo keeping everyone happy.
The goalkeeper situation is a also a bit of a farse and yesterday Mads Hermansen shows his lack of range as opponents soon will figure out how to get the ball in behind him. The use of James Justin is also strange, and of course something to address with him able to play in several positions in the back line. James Justin is an England international and one Maresca needs to activate at a certain point.
Leicester have a good amount of points on board allready, but it has in real been a struggle, not really surfing in any league games so far, and we could see the midfield and attackers taking more risk one against one, to get goals earlier on board.
The situation regarding Harry Souttar and Patson Daka must also be solved with both players of quality that should see them as contenders of places it they are to stay.
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