davieG Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 https://www.football365.com/news/leicester-finally-make-a-case-for-the-maguire-less-defence Date published: Wednesday 5th December 2018 8:25 “Everyone knows Harry’s qualities and his importance to the squad,” said Leicester manager Claude Puel on Tuesday. “But the most important thing for me is I want a squad with players close between themselves with quality.” It seems like a novel approach. Leicester signed three centre-halves this summer for £3.5m, £13m and £19m respectively, all while rejecting advances as high as £60m for Harry Maguire. Such disparate valuations inevitably establish something of a pecking order, yet Leicester are reluctant to let their children know which is their favourite. Their modern success has been built on continuity and stability. In four of the last five seasons, one centre-half has been almost, if not completely, ever-present. Harry Maguire played every minute last season, as did Wes Morgan in 2015/16. The Foxes’ indestructible captain started all but one of Leicester’s league games in 2014/15 and 2013/14 respectively. Central defensive familiarity has bred contentedness. But Puel has sought to move away from such potentially damaging over-reliance. In their Premier League title-winning campaign, Wes Morgan was partnered with Robert Huth for 35 games, with Marcin Wasilewski filling in for the German in the other three. The Foxes have already handed league starts to five different centre-halves this season – more than any other club. That is no mistake. Leicester spent the most money (£35.5m) of any Premier League side on centre-halves in the summer, with only Everton (£27.1m), West Ham (£26m) and Fulham (£20m) coming anywhere close. It was always a level of investment intended to increase competition in a previously non-competitive position. Maguire is the star, but he is no longer out of reach. Back in September, Puel feared that “all the criticism will follow” if he was to hand the 25-year-old a much-needed post-World Cup rest, but a timely injury has offered the manager the perfect excuse. Leicester have kept three clean sheets in four games without him, remaining unbeaten in the process and reaching the quarter-finals of a League Cup they fully intend to win. To thrive without their best centre-half was unthinkable before, but Puel’s central defensive equality control has paid dividends. Morgan has improved immeasurably after being asked to shoulder a bigger burden, while Jonny Evans has stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. The young and impressive Caglar Soyuncu is ensuring neither are resting on their laurels with impressive performances in the West Ham draw and the Southampton cup win. “It was a good opportunity for Wes, Jonny Evans and Soyuncu to show their quality,” Puel said on Tuesday, having turned the negative of Maguire’s injury into the biggest positive of Leicester’s season. “It is a good thing and I am happy with this.” The manager was not bluffing when he suggested Maguire should not expect to walk straight back into a team that has improved without him when he returns to full fitness. The manager finally has options and he intends to use them. Evans has started six league games, and played his part in three clean sheets – the same number Maguire has managed in 11 starts. Morgan has started ten league games and kept four clean sheets. Only a fool would suggest Leicester are better off without their best centre-half, but they are certainly less dependent on Maguire than before. The Foxes have quietly conceded fewer goals (17) this season than all but five sides, beating Arsenal (18) and trailing Everton and Tottenham by just one and three goals respectively. Over the last five Premier League games – the majority of which Maguire has been absent for – they have conceded fewer goals than Manchester City (4), with only a fantastic Liverpool side (2) able to match them. Kasper Schmeichel has kept more clean sheets than all but three goalkeepers in England’s top flight this campaign (5). Leicester have crept up into ninth as a result, closer in terms of points to sixth as they are 12th. Trips to Fulham and Crystal Palace in their next three games offer a chance to pull further clear of the bottom half, while Tottenham would be irresponsible to underestimate them. Puel stated on Tuesday that the “strength of the team” was “togetherness”, and his controversially sparing use of Jamie Vardy certainly shows he has no favourites. But it is further back where the manager has cultivated the greatest competition for places. Maguire has played just 117 minutes of a six-game unbeaten run; Leicester’s best defender is not part of their best defence. Matt Stead
Out Foxed Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 strange article - seems as though the writer has a theory and he is twisting everything to prove it. we have played cardiff, burnley, brighton southampton and watford. we should be getting clean sheets.
mancunianfox Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 Maguire offers us a lot that the others don't but I am unconvinced with the writers claim that he is our best defender if a defenders primary job is to defend.
urban.spaceman Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 1 hour ago, davieG said: The Foxes have quietly conceded fewer goals (17) this season than all but five sides, beating Arsenal (18) and trailing Everton and Tottenham by just one and three goals respectively. Over the last five Premier League games – the majority of which Maguire has been absent for – they have conceded fewer goals than Manchester City (4), with only a fantastic Liverpool side (2) able to match them. Kasper Schmeichel has kept more clean sheets than all but three goalkeepers in England’s top flight this campaign (5). These are some absurdly good stats that need wider appreciation.
st albans fox Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 Maguire makes us better going forward as he distributes more quickly to Chilwell which opens up spaces further up the pitch he also finds players in the area between the opposing midfield and defence with sharp passes along the ground - let’s leave him out until Cardiff and reassess the numbers ....... nah, don’t think so and neither will puel !
The whole world smiles Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 when's he back from injury have we heard anything?
Captain... Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 1 hour ago, Out Foxed said: strange article - seems as though the writer has a theory and he is twisting everything to prove it. What do you expect him to do have a theory then set about disproving it? It’s an opinion piece not a research paper. He raises valid points, Maguire is a fantastic player but picking the best players doesn’t necessarily make the best team. With Maguire marauding forwards and 2 attacking full backs it leaves the other centre back exposed. Now if only there was some way to fit 3 centre backs in to a team?
Countryfox Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 He’s coming at it from a different angle (as in who do you drop) but very apt as one day soon we may well be totally Maguire-less when he jumps ship. The lad up north is looking good too by all accounts ... nice position to be in ... well done Clod !
Stadt Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 We’ve improved defensively because our pressing has been more coordinated and we’re better at keeping the ball away from our half now. We’d have the same number of clean sheets if Maguire was playing in our recent fixtures because we’ve played the most anaemic teams in the league
Phube Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 I think Morgan need an Evans and Maguire needs a Soyuncú.
mancunianfox Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 3 minutes ago, Phube said: I think Morgan need an Evans and Maguire needs a Soyuncú. I think this sounds very romantic.
AyewJoking Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 Man utd and man city rubbing their hands.......why would we want more than 50M for a player we dont need?
KingsX Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 27 minutes ago, Phube said: I think Morgan need an Evans and Maguire needs a Soyuncú.
KingsX Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 17 minutes ago, Cujek said: who wrote this nonsense
FoxFossil Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 1 hour ago, Cujek said: who wrote this nonsense We all have to share the responsibility.
DANGEROUS TIGER Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 When Harry is fully fit he will leap into the team, maybe
dyanmark Posted 5 December 2018 Posted 5 December 2018 The numbers don't lie and I feel the wing/full backs are a lot safer pushing on with Evans in.He is a proper centre back albeit a bit safe and seems to have shaken off the rust..Maguire is easy on the eye running out of defence but a quick pass would do the job just as well. Don't overlook we pulled him from Hull who were well relegated that season.Its a difficult one as he has certain qualitiees.Cant help thinking the world cup hasn't helped him or Vardy injury wise.
foxes21 Posted 3 March 2019 Posted 3 March 2019 Unfortunately Harry has been at fault for another 2 goals today. Conceding the free kick for the first and not tracking Gray for the second. Yes Morgan was also at fault but we know he is past it. Whereas Harry is supposed to be our best defender. Both have cost us so many goals this year.
thegaffa Posted 3 March 2019 Posted 3 March 2019 Harry was very poor today both in and out of possession.
Sampson Posted 3 March 2019 Posted 3 March 2019 1 hour ago, thegaffa said: Harry was very poor today both in and out of possession. He's been poor all season. Much worse than the much-maligned Morgan this season. We looked far better defensively during that period he was out injured earlier in the season. Does anyone have out goals conceded stats in games which Maguire has played vs games which he hasn't? I can't imagine it's good reading for him. Not saying he's not a good player who's just having a poor season but many posters always criticise managers for placing Morgan straight back in the side after coming back, but seem to be not even mentioning it about Maguire, despite the fact we've looked much worse since he came back into the side.
TrentFox Posted 3 March 2019 Posted 3 March 2019 I would select both Watford CBs ahead of any of ours based on today and other recent showings. Morgan and Huth gave us granite. We currently seem to have plywood. Fear it’s going to be a challenging couple of months for us, as fans, whilst new manager tinkers and works out what we have and what we need. Expect more surprises and disappointments before he works it out. Confident he will, though.
thegaffa Posted 3 March 2019 Posted 3 March 2019 1 hour ago, Sampson said: He's been poor all season. Much worse than the much-maligned Morgan this season. We looked far better defensively during that period he was out injured earlier in the season. Does anyone have out goals conceded stats in games which Maguire has played vs games which he hasn't? I can't imagine it's good reading for him. Not saying he's not a good player who's just having a poor season but may posters always criticise managers for placing Morgab straight back in the side after coming back, but seem to be not even mentioning it about Maguire, despite the fact we've looked much worse since he came back into the side. Cant disagree with your post at all mate, ??.
rachhere Posted 3 March 2019 Posted 3 March 2019 1 hour ago, thegaffa said: Harry was very poor today both in and out of possession. He was, which is confusing. He’s one the main reasons I thought three at the back would be the way forward, but he looked like he had never played that system before.
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