Community Shield Pre-Match Saturday 7th August 5.15pm Live on ITV

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/leicester-city-press-conference-live-5747041

 

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is expected to provide more details on the injury to Wesley Fofana when he speaks to the media on Thursday afternoon.

Rodgers is sitting down to preview the Community Shield at Wembley, but the condition of his centre-back is likely to be the main talking point. Fofana has already announced he has suffered a fractured fibula, and Rodgers will give details on what that means for his time on the sidelines, and what it means for the club's transfer plans.

The City boss may also discuss his options to replace Fofana in the short term, while there may be an update on Jonny Evans' fitness.

James Maddison, amid interest from Arsenal, is also set to be a hot topic on Thursday afternoon, with the Gunners pressing to sign the attacking midfielder.

Rodgers will also give his thoughts on the 3-2 win over Villarreal and who he thought performed well.

Follow below for updates.

 

15:30JORDAN BLACKWELL
Tielemans contract?
“I know the club have spoken to his representatives and he’s very happy here, but there’s no update.”

 

15:29JORDAN BLACKWELL
Sit right that clubs are spending £100m?
“Football’s a business and if clubs have the money, they will do that. We are not in that position, but it doesn’t mean other teams can’t be. Hopefully we’re coming out of it. If teams can do that and run their business accordingly, then they will do that.”

 

15:29JORDAN BLACKWELL
New signings?
“For any player coming into the Premier League, it’s always a challenge. The three players we have brought in have a winning mentality. Bertrand is an experienced operator. Bouba and Patson have just won titles and have scope to develop. They will fit in well and will make a contribution.”

 

15:29JORDAN BLACKWELL
Champions League near miss?
“You can only look forward. There is a disappointment for 48 hours, if you’d seen me walk around the pitch, it was that numb feeling. But then you recognise what a great job the team has done. The players that were available fought to the very end. We’ll fight again this season, and the challenge may be tougher.”

 

15:29JORDAN BLACKWELL
Fofana mentality?
“Where he is fortunate, is that if it does come at any time, he’s at the start of his career. I got a video from his last night and he was smiling and happy. He’s ready to come back stronger. He’s a very tough boy, you see that on the field. I’ve no doubt he will be stronger for it. It was a horrible evening for us all.”

 

15:28JORDAN BLACKWELL
Maddison staying?
“I believe so. I haven’t been told anything. He’s just become a father so has a responsibility off the pitch.There is gossip that goes around. James is a very important member of our squad. He was disrupted last season with injury so hopefully he can show the top player he is.”

 

15:28JORDAN BLACKWELL
Champions League?
“My players have emphatically over-achieved in terms of where we are in terms of budget. Then to create history in the FA Cup, it was fantastic. There was a numb feeling around the last game. It just hasn’t allowed us to get over the line with missing key players. Like all clubs chasing the top teams, we have to continue to climb the mountain. Can we arrive in a European position and challenge for trophies? We need to keep developing and progressing."

 

15:28JORDAN BLACKWELL
Man City spending big money?
“You can look at it and think you can never compete, or you can try to create a culture where you are competitive. It doesn’t stop us being competitive. They’ve got a great group and an outstanding coach. We’re fighting to keep proving the point. We want to be competitive in big games. I certainly don’t envy it. They’ve been built to win things. Ourselves, with lesser resources, are trying to challenge that.”

 

15:28JORDAN BLACKWELL
Is Community Shield competitive?
“I’ve always tried to create the mindset that whether it’s a friendly or a competitive match, we want to win. It has to mean something. Physically is the main aim but we want to go there and play well.”

 

15:27JORDAN BLACKWELL
Other injuries?
“Just the guys who haven’t been involved, the likes of Papy, Jonny, James Justin. He’s come along well but is still a few months away. Timothy Castagne trained today. He was in his mask. He won’t be available but he shouldn’t be too far away.”

 

15:27JORDAN BLACKWELL
Community Shield?
“It’s a fantastic game for us. It means we won the FA Cup. When you’re in pre-season, you’re aiming to be as close to fitness for the first game of the season and that doesn’t change. It’s a wonderful occasion and there’s something there at the end of it.”

 

15:27JORDAN BLACKWELL
Centre-back transfer?
“We’re definitely light in the area. Filip Benkovic has done really well over the course of pre-season. Daniel Amartey has also done well. It’s certainly something we’ll look at. There will be a small group of players identified. We’ll see what happens.”

 

15:27JORDAN BLACKWELL
Referee?
“It’s such a difficult job. In pre-season, it’s a time for young referees to get experience in the game. This was always going to be a good game, and had 17,000 fans in. It was a fast game, an intense game, and I wasn’t overly happy with how it was officiated. It’s happened now, we can’t change it, and we just need to hope Wesley gets back as soon as he can.”

 

15:27JORDAN BLACKWELL
Apologies?
“It was a horrendous challenge. Wesley was really dominant in the game. He apologised straight away and then afterwards there was an apology. It’s disappointing for that to happen in a pre-season friendly. It was a really good game, but that took the shine off it.”

 

15:26JORDAN BLACKWELL
Fofana?
“He fractured his fibula. So it’s a horrendous injury for us and we are devastated for him. He’s a top class player so he’s going to be a huge loss for us. Our medical team were fantastic. They looked after him. Our trauma doctor was able to put his ankle back in place. Then he went to the hospital. He has another scan today, which he couldn’t have last night because the ankle was so swollen .That will give us a clearer indication of how long he will be out for.”

 

15:01JORDAN BLACKWELL
Rodgers has arrived
Updates will follow shortly.

 

14:44JORDAN BLACKWELL
Good afternoon
Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of Brendan Rodgers' press conference this afternoon.

He's due to arrive at 3pm.

[Spudulike]

So no update on when we expect Evans to return 

[Koke]

If we win, we count it as a trophy. 

 

If we lose, it was a glorified friendly anyway. 

[StanSP]

Schmeichel

 

Pereira - Amartey - Soyuncu - Bertrand

 

Ndidi - Tielemans

 

Perez - Maddison - Barnes

 

Vardy

 

Can't see him going with anything else. Hoping Ndidi doesn't go CB even if Soumare would be capable of playing DM. 

 

I'm hoping the players' have forgotten about last night and minds are afresh ready for Saturday. Should do it for Fofana and not potentially lose because of lack of focus (not saying they will or are).

 

Really intrigued as to how Man City will line up. Pep did say they will 'use' their U23 squad but wondering how many will play/start or just be included in the squad and not actually play.

[adejo92]

As much a legend as Vardy is, i would swap him out for Daka who looked everything that Vardy did 2 years ago.

 

Looks hungry, fast and dangerous and would be much more likely to bag a goal than Vardy. Surely you have to go with current form / ability over sentiment.

[Fox92]

12 minutes ago, adejo92 said:

As much a legend as Vardy is, i would swap him out for Daka who looked everything that Vardy did 2 years ago.

 

Looks hungry, fast and dangerous and would be much more likely to bag a goal than Vardy. Surely you have to go with current form / ability over sentiment.

Shame that we don't go with 2 up front. Vardy and Kelechi formed a good partnership together.

[adejo92]

1 minute ago, Fox92 said:

Shame that we don't go with 2 up front. Vardy and Kelechi formed a good partnership together.

I just think Vardy is way past the lone striker role now. His runs are great when opening up space for the second striker etc, and he seems to have become better at helping others stick it in the net than himself. Vardy has his qualities, don't get me wrong, but i feel Daka has looked more threatening thus far this season.

[Guest]

21 minutes ago, Koke said:

If we win, we count it as a trophy. 

 

If we lose, it was a glorified friendly anyway. 

This is my attitude to every competition we're in. The Europa League is basically the Champions League but for proper clubs until we get knocked out at which point it's 100% poverty and I never wanted us to be in it in the first place.

[jeffschlupp]

47 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

So no update on when we expect Evans to return 

I expect they've asked him specifically that question, amazed if no journo did. It is most likely embargoed probably until 10:30pm tonight or tomorrow night for the newspapers.

[winteriscoming]

Can see Rodgers going with 

 

                   Kasper 

       Soyuncu Ndidi Bertrand 

Ricardo                                Thomas  

          Tielmans   Soumare 

                 Maddison 

          Vardy          Barnes 

 

He might go with Amartey in a back 3 and then have Bertrand as left wing back. Obviously Barnes will be in his preferred position off the left wing. Does give us flexibility to go with a back 5 when defending and back 4 when attacking. 

[Duquesne Whistle]

Daka looks such an exciting prospect and, on (admittedly limited) evidence so far, he may well turn out to be a fantastic acquisition for us. That said, I think Vardy has earned the right to start in the Charity Shield. He wasn't at his best last season, particularly after he was out injured, but this is a new season, he looks fit and I think he should start. I'm not going to be too quick in writing him off as ageing and therefore can't be the player he was 2 seasons ago. A proper preseason and a fully fit Vardy should get that opportunity for me. Daka will be an absolute nuisance as a 2nd half sub, should he be used that way for this match.

Maybe I'm just being sentimental, but I've a feeling the purchase of a highly regarded forward may just get Vardy going again and push him to a season many don't think possible anymore. I hope so anyway.

[knitro]

I feel like Amartey is a gamer who will step up if he's called upon. Limited skill set, sure, but a ton of heart. He'll either put out a 9/10 defensive job or concede two penalties. 

[lgfualol]

Reckon we'll start with something like:

 

Schmeichel

Amartey Soy Bertrand

Ricardo Tielemans Ndidi Thomas

Maddison

Vardy Nacho

 

Not an ideal defence but we're a bit thin at the back. Dont think Benko will be trusted.

Edited 5 August 2021 by lgfualol

[sdb]

29 minutes ago, knitro said:

I feel like Amartey is a gamer who will step up if he's called upon. Limited skill set, sure, but a ton of heart. He'll either put out a 9/10 defensive job or concede two penalties. 

He's literally never played a 9/10 game for us!! 

[knitro]

9 minutes ago, sdb said:

He's literally never played a 9/10 game for us!! 

No time like the present then

[Vacamion]

 

We've finally won the FA Cup.  After all these years.  Sheer joy, and as a result, we'll play in the Community Shield.

 

 

Oh yeah, it's on ITV.

 

 

 

[Foxes96]

Time for Benkovic to step up. Has had his injury troubles but has looked decent in pre season. Time to show why we paid £13mill for him and Celtic fans raved about him. Preferable to dropping Ndidi back or going 3 atb for me.                  
 

                    Schmeichel 

Ricardo - Benkovic - Söyüncü - Bertrand

                Tielemans - Ndidi

        Perez  -  Maddison  -  Barnes 

                          Vardy 

[Lcfc-1992]

Do you get the covid pass from the travel section on the NHS app?
 

Seems to make more sense to be the domestic one but that just tells me how to get a pass, the travel one gives me a QR code. 

[NAKC20]

20 minutes ago, Lcfc-1992 said:

Do you get the covid pass from the travel section on the NHS app?
 

Seems to make more sense to be the domestic one but that just tells me how to get a pass, the travel one gives me a QR code. 

No, its through the domestic section. I cant remember exactly how its done but 3 out of 4 of us that done it, it didn't recognise our details. We ended up having to take a photo of our driving licence and sending that, we then had a number sent (all this is through the App so not as bad as it sounds) we then had to hold the number in front of you, makes you feel like a convict, and then send that photo back for it to be confirmed. it was a faff but it came back within about 10 minutes so we are now all sorted.

[Vlad the Fox]

I’ve got the domestic pass with a qr code, didn’t need a passport or driving licences as I think that’s for international travel. 

[LVFox]

11 hours ago, Foxes96 said:

Time for Benkovic to step up. Has had his injury troubles but has looked decent in pre season. Time to show why we paid £13mill for him and Celtic fans raved about him. Preferable to dropping Ndidi back or going 3 atb for me.                  
 

                    Schmeichel 

Ricardo - Benkovic - Söyüncü - Bertrand

                Tielemans - Ndidi

        Perez  -  Maddison  -  Barnes 

                          Vardy 

Would like to see this, think it's the perfect test for Benkovic.

 

However, Rodgers does seem to favour 5 at the back when we face centre back injuries. I think he will go:

 

                   Schmeichel

      Amartey Benkovic Soyuncu

Ricardo Tielemans Ndidi Bertrand

                  Maddison

             Iheanacho Vardy

 

I still think it's early days in Barnes' recovery, so we will only see him for half an hour or so.

[TrentFox]

There is a logic in picking Benko, even though in doubt we will. We know what Big Dan can do, if needed. But why not see if Benko can rise up to the challenge whilst he seems to be fit? Depending on Evans’ return date/health, it might save us a shed load of cash. 

[HeskeyForever]

13 hours ago, adejo92 said:

I just think Vardy is way past the lone striker role now. His runs are great when opening up space for the second striker etc, and he seems to have become better at helping others stick it in the net than himself. Vardy has his qualities, don't get me wrong, but i feel Daka has looked more threatening thus far this season.

 

And still, the most Jamie Vardy thing that Jamie Vardy would do is bag 20+ goals in the season we finally invest in his replacement... 

[Pliskin]

I mean, is a Fofana on one leg better then Amartey and Benkovic? If so GERRRIIIMONNNNNN.

[FoxesWalk]

 

Bib theory suggests Amartey probably won’t start. Will be Ndidi or Benkovic I reckon. 
 

Edit: also just noticed Castagne in pink there with a face mask  

Edited 6 August 2021 by FoxesWalk