The Enzo Thread

[Beachyboy]

4 hours ago, brookfox said:

Think like the majority of people I was a tiny bit sceptical when we appointed him. Was he just a Pep wannabe, his time at Parma, lack of managerial experience and of the championship. But he’s turned into the perfect appointment! Not only the league table but all these little details you hear about how he’s breathing new life into the whole club. Got the look of a top, top manager about him.

I trusted the owners, other than keeping Rogers 6-12 months too long, most of their managerial appointments have been successful. I had more faith in Enzo than I did initially with Ranieri. Top gets stick and unfairly compared to Vichai, but he did appoint Rogers 4 months after the death of his father, which transpired into the most consistent 3 seasons (back to back) we have had other than the MON seasons in the PL era.

[Tuna]

I must admit I was dubious about the Maresca appointment when he came in, but I can't believe how wrong I was.

 

We should do whatever it takes to keep him at the football club for as long as possible.

 

Most managers seem like they are passing through, I never got the feeling from Rodgers that this was only ever a stepping stone for him, despite his success here in the first few seasons before it went pear shaped.

 

I'd love it if he was here for 5-10 years.

[Bilo]

 

Look at this, though.

 

Utter filth.

[StriderHiryu]

6 minutes ago, Bilo said:

 

Look at this, though.

 

Utter filth.

Elite coaching. Doesn’t matter who the opposition is, that’s as good as it gets! 

[st albans fox]

1 hour ago, StriderHiryu said:

Elite coaching. Doesn’t matter who the opposition is, that’s as good as it gets! 

Must be so good to play in our side doing that and so tough for the opposition 

[sdb]

8 hours ago, Lionator said:

Enzo Maresca explains how he is rebuilding Leicester City - The Athletic

 

The bit at the end of this makes me hate Rodgers and his ego even more, but anyway.

 

A real interesting read. Enzo is clearly a massive nerd but he also gets the part of making sure the players heads are in the right places, which has been the big key for me.  

Can anyone post the full thing please? Athletic have had enough of my money for a bit x

[KingsX]

2 hours ago, Bilo said:

6 hours ago, Chelmofox said:

I was hearing 'this type of football will always get you into trouble' and in the first half yesterday the 'get it forward' brigade turned into the 'just shoot ffs' brigade.

 

[Chelmofox]

2 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

Elite coaching. Doesn’t matter who the opposition is, that’s as good as it gets! 

See how much distance their Number 9 covers during the whole move, just running around chasing the ball! Its a joy to see how some of the movement pulls opposition players out of position.  Mavadidi makes a run a few times and each time the 2 marking him end up making space which Faes arguably goes on to exploit, and Winks does it on pass 18 when he drags players in with him which creates space for when we recycle the play.

[gurru991]

The team are obviously improving at possession / passing game & you can watch how it pulls opposition players out of position. My question is how well will it work against a higher level of opposition. Burnley have really struggled trying to play out from the back this season as opposition teams are targeting them & forcing errors.

[LVFox]

8 minutes ago, gurru991 said:

The team are obviously improving at possession / passing game & you can watch how it pulls opposition players out of position. My question is how well will it work against a higher level of opposition. Burnley have really struggled trying to play out from the back this season as opposition teams are targeting them & forcing errors.

This is where Hermansen is key.

Burnley have continued with their methods and that identity probably still gives them the best chance of the promoted sides to stay up. However, they've changed players without making improvements on their ability to play through a high press. James Trafford and Dara O'Shea are decent signings but neither look comfortable when pressed well.

 

Hermansen is premier league ready, a worry from set pieces maybe but on the ball, not an issue what so ever.

 

A big key to how successful we would be in the Premier league is the replacement we bring in for Vestegaard. We will need a centre back really composed when pressed well.

[gurru991]

11 minutes ago, LVFox said:

This is where Hermansen is key.

Burnley have continued with their methods and that identity probably still gives them the best chance of the promoted sides to stay up. However, they've changed players without making improvements on their ability to play through a high press. James Trafford and Dara O'Shea are decent signings but neither look comfortable when pressed well.

 

Hermansen is premier league ready, a worry from set pieces maybe but on the ball, not an issue what so ever.

 

A big key to how successful we would be in the Premier league is the replacement we bring in for Vestegaard. We will need a centre back really composed when pressed well.

Yes .. A CB who is comfortable with the ball is critical to Enzo's plan .. Vesty has shown how critical the position is but I don't feel he is mobile enough for the Premier & I expect him to leave for free this Summer. 

Hermansen has been an absolute revelation this season & kudos to who ever spotted him & pushed the deal through. We need to sign him to a long term deal ASAP.

[cityfanlee23]

18 hours ago, Bilo said:

 

Look at this, though.

 

Utter filth.

The off the ball movement is fantastic, This is exactly what I’ve been calling for all season with regards to upping the tempo, Rotherham were sat back but were never able to really solidify that deep deep block that they wanted because we constantly moved the ball and dragged them around with players making runs off the ball. 
Great stuff.

[cityfanlee23]

15 hours ago, gurru991 said:

The team are obviously improving at possession / passing game & you can watch how it pulls opposition players out of position. My question is how well will it work against a higher level of opposition. Burnley have really struggled trying to play out from the back this season as opposition teams are targeting them & forcing errors.

It’s a difficult one to analyse really as most of the problems we consistently face this season won’t exist next season, we will have much less of the ball and teams won’t sit back as much, but even with teams not sitting back as much and being more open, they will be much harder to break down since prem teams are far more defensively solid in general. 
 

It will almost feel like starting again next season id imagine rather than being a continuation of this seasons progress. Most of the blueprint should remain, but the style will be forced to change quite dramatically id assume, hopefully if we build a solid foundation we will be able to tweak it to work in the top flight, something Burnley have struggled with.

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ive-watched-enzo-maresca-make-8996957

 

I've watched Enzo Maresca make five huge changes to bring joy back Leicester City
How Enzo Maresca has turned a relegated club into a team on course to set records in what is just his second spell as the head coach of a senior outfit

ByJordan Blackwell
11:00, 25 DEC 2023

This year could have been a rotten one for Leicester City. For the 13th time in their history, they were relegated. Given how far they had to fall below expectations to drop down a division, it may have been the worst one yet. But, 2023 is actually ending on a high. And it’s mostly due to one man.

Enzo Maresca has completely turned the club around. After so many poor decisions leading to City’s relegation, the hierarchy’s call to look past the names that are usually in the frame for a Championship and show faith in a man who’d had just one previous spell as a first-team head coach has proven to be an excellent one.

But while City were the favourites to lead the division, and while they do have the biggest budget to work with, the job Maresca has done so far should not be underestimated. Now, City are heading into 2024 with the possibility of finishing a season with more points than any English club has ever earned in a single campaign. Here’s how Maresca has done it.

A year working alongside Pep Guardiola’s treble-winners provides a blueprint but putting it into practice with a group of players who are not on the same level technically is not easy. And Maresca has managed it. Within seconds of the first behind-closed-doors pre-season game, it was clear what he was trying to do.

There’s Ricardo Pereira stepping into midfield, the defence spreading to a back three, the advanced midfielders pushing beyond the striker who drops deep to connect play. There is a desire to control possession, tempo, and territory. And it’s the same every game. You know what you’re going to get.

Having a clear gameplan gives supporters something to believe in and to get behind. Admittedly, not everybody has bought into the patient football, but Maresca has won over some of the traditionalists in the stands at the King Power Stadium.

The identity of a club goes beyond the style of play, but it’s a big factor. Knowing what City represent on the pitch helps build a good feeling among supporters and Maresca has quickly established that.

 

Improve individuals

Wilfred Ndidi as an attacking force? It’s the sort of suggestion that would have got a fan laughed out of the pub six months ago but Maresca has managed it.

It’s probably the most eye-catching of the individual improvements under the Italian, but there have been plenty more. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has taken his game in the final third to a new level. Hamza Choudhury can play wherever he’s needed. Kasey McAteer has stepped up from League Two to the Championship with ease.

It’s so pleasing to have a manager who can recognise players’ strengths and harness them in new ways. And he’s really willing to push himself to find little areas of players’ game that can be improved, like when he spent an international break working with his wingers on the foot they should control with to give them half a second more time to try to beat their full-backs.

Maresca doesn’t give up on anybody. He’s doing what a good coach should and trying to improve his players.

 

Build a squad to believe in

City’s relegation ended with a huge disconnect between the squad and the supporters. Many fans simply didn’t believe the players’ performances proved they cared about the club’s plight.

A good handful of those players are still at the club now. But Maresca has re-energised them, given them a new motivation, and pushed them to perform at a level where their commitment to the cause is clear, dropping them if they are not up to his standards. Supporters will always appreciate that.

 

Prioritise fan feeling

From day one, Maresca has tried to get fans onside. He knew at the start that he would need them to be patient as his players learned a new way.

But he’s tried to reward them by creating more moments to savour. He wants fans to enjoy themselves. So when they beat QPR at Loftus Road, rather than politely applaud those who had travelled from 30 yards back, Maresca encouraged his players to get as close as they could to the away end. It led to a joyous scene that many will rank among their highlights of the season so far.

Football should be an experience beyond the 90 minutes the ball is in play. Maresca is making it such.

 

Win football matches

Of course, Maresca wouldn’t be around to make any of the above happen if he wasn’t winning football matches. But 19 victories from 23 league games is astonishingly good at any level in any country.

There is a team here that keeps pushing to find a way to win. They’ve scored 16 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches, three more than any other Championship side, and plenty of those have come in injury time. City supporters had become so used to seeing their side concede the late goals, but now they only get stronger as the final whistle approaches.

They’re becoming unstoppable and charging head-first into 2024. And it’s Maresca leading the way.

[Kierzz]

15 hours ago, gurru991 said:

Yes .. A CB who is comfortable with the ball is critical to Enzo's plan .. Vesty has shown how critical the position is but I don't feel he is mobile enough for the Premier & I expect him to leave for free this Summer. 

Hermansen has been an absolute revelation this season & kudos to who ever spotted him & pushed the deal through. We need to sign him to a long term deal ASAP.

Vestergaard has probably been one of Enzo's first or second picks on the team sheet every week this season. Will be absolutely shocked if he doesn't offer him a deal.

 

Coady is known as a good passing CB and he's not in the league of Vesty on the ball so can't see how we can really replace him with our budget.

 

I used to hate the guy and thought he was useless. However, fair play to him and I now think he can do a job in the premier league if the defensive is built around him.

[Lionator]

 

[jayfox26]

2 minutes ago, Lionator said:

 

That's amazing. Feels like we are finally getting our club back after the shit show we had under Rodgers. The connection is back between the club, staff, players and the fans. Enzo seems really genuine which is great to see. I love that he's such a professional and clearly demands the very best out of his players but yet is also really nice with both his players and the fans. Top guy and we are lucky to have him. 

[Nolucklcfc]

We will have bumps in the road but I hope when we do we stick with this guy because he really gets it. 

[Trev3939]

Love how the bloke felt the need to apologise to the fans for taking so long to give us a wave. Top top man 

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

I like to think that Enzo sees an opportunity here for a project rebuild over 5 years or more, the sort that could land him a very top job. 

[kyleolly]

On 24/12/2023 at 16:20, Bilo said:

 

Look at this, though.

 

Utter filth.

There’s no need for about 50 of those passes 😂😂

[Bourbon Fox]

On 24/12/2023 at 18:05, sdb said:

Can anyone post the full thing please? Athletic have had enough of my money for a bit x

https://12ft.io/ will help you out

[JimmyC74]

No doubt it won’t be long before some club (Newcastle?) tries to take Enzo from us. Hopefully the club continues to back him and he sees the ambition and potential to improve the club and achieve things here.

 

He will leave at some point but hopefully not for a number of years yet.

 

Hail Enzo 🙌🙌

[Beachyboy]

36 minutes ago, Trev3939 said:

Love how the bloke felt the need to apologise to the fans for taking so long to give us a wave. Top top man 

I liked the fact it took him so long, we have conceded late goals recently so he didn't want it to happen again. As soon as any danger was gone and Mads was about to kick it, he waved straight away.

[whoareyaaa]

One supporter I know said Enzo will go down as the worst appointment we have ever made  hilarious