kingfox

Would be gutted if BEK left, but looking around for a potential replacement, he could get better suitors, but Tobias Gulliksen at Djurgarden would be absolutely perfect. Has been playing as a CAM, but very much like BEK, he can drift into wide areas. He has a better burst of pace than BEK, that would also make him suitable to play as a winger if needs be. As this article states, he likes to drop into half-spaces, contributes to third-man patterns and is a tenacious presser. Everything we’ve seen under Marti ball, making Gulliksen the ideal fit if BEK does go. https://the-footballanalyst.com/tobias-gulliksen-player-analysis/#:~:text=On the ball%2C Gulliksen plays,a creator and a finisher.

Mentioned Zeneli the other day, very intrigued by his form and the type of player he is, his defensive numbers have been excellent this season. Of midfielders in the Allsvenskan… 2nd - Defensive Duels per90 2nd - Defensive Duels won per90 10th - Possessions won per90 Otto Rosengren at Malmo intrigues me too, but not quite sure he’s there yet from a physical standpoint.

I look forward to the club spending some of that transfer fee on our new striker, Patrick Bamford.

Bournemouth will probably just snap him up, but if not, another shout for the box-to-box role

I genuinely thought he pressed like a madman on Sunday, and that was very evident in the first few minutes of the match, pressing high as a team and Skipp was an important cog to how intense our press was on Sunday. I thought he was lively, put in the yards all over the pitch and his overall performance was a pleasant surprise. You say he was beaten to 50/50 balls, but there was also numerous times in the game where he tracked back and made successful tackles and interceptions. In terms of Winks, we all know he is probably our best midfielder with the ball, it’s no surprise he used the ball better than others. Of course he had that big moment where he managed to break and setup Daka. But I genuinely feel the criticism for Skipp after Sunday is baffling, yes he’s been shit and I’ve happily criticised him in the past, but the way he pressed on Sunday was the best I’ve seen from him.

Isn’t he more of a midfield orchestrater with excellent passing range?

Along with a striker, that’s the only other hole missing in our starting 11 imo. I don’t think we need an enforcer as such, but I think a box-to-box midfielder who has similar attributes to Wilf in terms of defensive nous, physicality and height is what’s needed, you get to cover both basis then in terms of what’s missing in midfield. Two names stand out for me that cover those aspects… Tochi Chukwuani - Sturm Graz Caleb Yirenkyi - Nordsjaelland I’d really be trying to nab one of those two, before their stock potentially grows higher and someone else takes them.

Wow, I’m quite surprised that some fans think he had an average game on Sunday. Also quite surprised that you think he lacks energy @funkyrobot Skipp’s pressing on Sunday was outstanding, and even though I was surprised, I can see why Marti tried him in a box-to-box role purely on the basis for Skipp to be an important pressing trigger. His performance on Sunday was energetic, and I thought it’s the most lively he has looked in a Leicester shirt. The question of “What does he actually do” gets mentioned a lot, he doesn’t offer enough G/A for example to potentially be a box-to-box midfielder. The way I saw it on Sunday, our pressing was such an important part of our game, and Skipp was pivotal to that. He produced the kind of work that can go unnoticed, his off the ball work on Sunday was like watching a different version of Oliver Skipp. Now it all depends how Marti wants to play him. Skipp has been more associated with the deep-lying 6 role, but I can see why Marti played him as a box-to-box midfielder on Sunday. Ideally I don’t think it should be a long term solution, along with a striker, that midfield role is the only other hole that needs filling in our starting 11. But for Skipp himself, his performance on Sunday was encouraging imo. We’ve got so accustomed to him being shit, but I’m willing to be a bit more patient with him, history suggests there’s clearly a player in there, especially at Championship level, hopefully Marti can help bring the best out of him.

Would be a shame to see him go to a Premier League team, but that’s what you get for getting relegated I’m afraid. If he ends up leaving this week, it’s the perfect time imo. Perfect window to assess Stolarczyk, see how he goes in the first few games of the season, then make a decision towards the end of the window on whether he is viable to be number 1. I wouldn’t be surprised if another goalkeeper comes in who is better with his feet, but like Hermansen, numerous potential bargains to be had across Europe. Therefore #WelcomeMeslier

I found the midfield to be an interesting dynamic on Sunday. I thoroughly expected Skipp and Soumare to play opposite roles, Skipp has been more associated in the 6 role, especially in his loan spell with Norwich. It was evident early on why Cifuentes went that way, Skipp was pressing like a madman, trying to win the ball high up the pitch, while Soumare sat for his in possession ability. If we get Brownhill, he can be used in a number of ways, but I would thoroughly expect him to be in a box-to-box role. As for Soumare replacing Wilf’s role, he just doesn’t have the attributes imo, during his time at Lille, Benjamin Andre was the one who did the defensive work, Soumare is just far too casual and lazy, our midfield needs an injection of energy. Wilf’s stats on the defensive end still racked up quite well last season, but he was playing a bit differently to what we saw under Maresca. But I very much agree and stand along the same lines. We are missing that box-to box element in midfield along with some defensive nous, as I said earlier, Wilf’s replacement ideally needs to be capable of doing both. You have to replace what he gave to us, but just with a player who is actually more adequate at being box-to-box.

Personally I think it’d be stupid if we don’t replace him, our midfield just loses too much with him gone. Ideally we need someone who can play box-to-box, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Brownhill, but imo we need someone box-to-box who also has similar attributes to Wilf.

Will be interesting to see who we replace him with. Even though I think his Leicester City career has run it’s course, he’ll leave a big hole in terms of attributes that our other CM’s don’t really possess. We lose defensive nous, physicality and aerial ability in midfield. Marti had all those attributes covered at QPR with Jonathan Varane and Sam Field. Ideally someone with those skill sets is needed, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if we go for someone like Brownhill instead.

If we can ship Faes out and with Souttar supposedly injured for a while, I’ve said it numerous times in recent months, getting in a loan from the Premier League would be smart. A few young prospects have already gone elsewhere, but if those reports are true and Vuskovic is available, he’d definitely be in my top three choices for a potential loan. Gerrimin!

Ooh, yes please!

I was keen on him to be a potential signing in January, but of course with lack of funds, there was zero chance of it happening. He’d be an intriguing gamble, he has certain attributes that could make him a real handful at this level. But whether it ends up being Kone or not, finding a striker in that £5-7 million price bracket is probably the way to go. Norwich picked up Kvistgaarden for £6.9 million this summer. While in recent season’s, Boro signed Latte Lath and Sunderland signed Isidor in that price range.

Magnificent player when at his best, but his Leicester career has ran it’s course and it’s the right time to move on. Will be interesting to see if we replace him with a like for like(With hopefully better passing ability) or someone like Brownhill who can play box-to-box.

I got round to watching Marti’s coaching voice video the other night, pretty much all the principles he mentioned, we are seeing them come to fruition already. Building with 2 or 3 from the back, inverting the full-backs and pushing them high, using wide triangle rotations, using the “third man”, all those principles have been on show in pre season. What has impressed me the most though, especially today is our pressing. That aggressive counter-pressing style is my favourite style of football to watch, if we press that aggressively moving forwards, then Marti could make us a seriously fun team to watch.

Even though I think Ayew has done well in pre season, we are a striker and an energetic midfielder away from making Marti ball fully work.

That was so enjoyable to watch. Clear identity, clear patterns of play, energetic pressing, wingers using their 1 vs 1 ability and players like Skipp and Ayew looked transformed.

Excellent performances from Skipp and Ayew, didn’t think I’d be saying that a few months ago

Who knew Oliver Skipp was actually N’golo Kante in disguise.

Fatawu and Skipp excellent. And even though we like to slag off Ayew, his link up play helps make us tick.

OH MY ABDUL FATAWU

Along with Fatawu, he has been the best player on the pitch.

Put respect on Ayew’s name, a goalscoring and link up play machine.