Evolution of Leicester

[Sly]

I know not everyone likes this style of football.
 

They would rather watch a basket ball game that is end to end. That’s great to watch, however it doesn’t give consistent results.  
 

As a system, how Enzo has sets us up, will lead to far more consistent results in the longer term, as we can dictate the play more with this style. 

 

To all the people stating “why don’t we smash it long”, typically speaking, if you do that, it’ll be coming straight back at us and we just conceded possession. Lose control of the ball, drop deeper as we are pressed  and lose games. 

 

The other team can’t score, if we have the ball. This style wears out teams, We are evolving to what ever Rodger’s was trying to do. 
 

Enzo has had less that 40 games with this team. Squads take time to develop and that will take several transfer windows to get the quality of players we’d ideally like. As the squad develops, we’ll get better squad players that are more comfortable and better with this style. 

 

The players are learning not just how to technically play this game but tactically as well. Some will be able to play this system, some won’t. The ones that won’t, will either be sold or allowed to leave. We will replace with people who can play this system.

Enzo is learning on the job as well. In game management, players he can trust, who he can’t etc

 

Trust the process and give Enzo time to develop this team. He’s special and Rome wasn’t built in a day. He’s learning, we’re learning and the players are as well. We’ve done a remarkable job picking up the pieces from the mess that Rodger’s left. 
 

We will be fine long term, we just need the rebuild in the summer with what hopefully helps us transition back into the Premier League. 

 

Let’s get behind Enzo.

 

Let’s get behind this team. 

Let’s be the 12th man at the King Power. 

 

Let’s give them the support they deserve and get us over the bloody line in the next 12 games. 
 

Enjoy the Enzo evolution!  

[davieG]

He's also improving so many players not just technically but their confidence. Hopefully this means those that are no longer 'good enough' for the next level, be it the Championship or PL and under contract will be attractive to other teams and more saleable. 

[Spudulike]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

He's also improving so many players not just technically but their confidence. Hopefully this means those that are no longer 'good enough' for the next level, be it the Championship or PL and under contract will be attractive to other teams and more saleable. 

I don't think they'll be many contracted players moving elsewhere (unless free's or loans) in the summer as clubs seem to be frit about getting docked points. The next transfer window is likely to be very quiet. 

[davieG]

44 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

I don't think they'll be many contracted players moving elsewhere (unless free's or loans) in the summer as clubs seem to be frit about getting docked points. The next transfer window is likely to be very quiet. 

I'd have thought there'd be quite a few changes, this team needs some improvement if we go up. Surely selling players under contract who are not in Enso's plans will only help with FFP.

[Nalis]

Looking at the bigger picture, we've been pretty spoilt since the Pearson days. Pearson, Ranieri's counter attack early Brendan in patches (yes I know that went to shit) and now Enzo.

 

Before then our style was horrible to watch. 90s Leicester was romantic to look back on but lets be honest the style of football was turgid.

[when_you're_smiling]

Maybe playing heart attack football at the back is a deliberate ploy to get the average age of our fan base down. 

[Spudulike]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

I'd have thought there'd be quite a few changes, this team needs some improvement if we go up. Surely selling players under contract who are not in Enso's plans will only help with FFP.

Selling to who though? Not many clubs will be in the market. 

[ourla]

I'm not sure we are doing this differently to a lot of the top teams and coaches.

 

Like anything you can overdo it. And also you need the personnel, for example a keeper comfortable with the ball at his feet.

[urban fox]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

I'd have thought there'd be quite a few changes, this team needs some improvement if we go up. Surely selling players under contract who are not in Enso's plans will only help with FFP.

Agreed with respect to needing some incomings but selling is going to be the problem, as apart from the self serving greedy bunch who have screwed the system for everyone else who will be buying?

With almost the majority of the clubs scared of breaching ffp, or simply skint i think the majority of moves this summer will be free agents. I can see this being the case for a couple of years whilst clubs balance the books and current player contracts start to run down to the point where transfer fees normalise to levels that are affordable and selling clubs will not be making a loss on amortised values.

Of course this will result in the usual suspects gaining even bigger advantages being able to mop up most of the talent while everyone else struggles

[EnglishOxide]

Most teams are playing this style now. There's nothing special about us trying to do it.

 

Having the most talented players we can get and the right characters in charge is what will make the difference over the next couple of years.

[ALC Fox]

Choudhury playing inverted RB or LB, the Winks role or as #8

 

Justin playing as LCB, RCB and even in a midfield position late on last night.

 

Nelson playing RCB or LCB.

 

Faes playing across the back line.

 

Ricardo as inverted RB or LB, or as #8.

 

Yunus wide right or #8.

 

Kasey on either wing or #8.

 

KDH and Ndidi swapping sides in midfield.

 

The way Enzo asks these players to play on different positions and often swapping within the same game. You can see the players improving as footballers all the time and becoming more aware and confident in areas of the pitch they wouldn't ordinarily have found themselves.

 

Enzo is a genius.

Edited 28 February 2024 by ALC Fox

[WigstonWanderer]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

I'd have thought there'd be quite a few changes, this team needs some improvement if we go up. Surely selling players under contract who are not in Enso's plans will only help with FFP.

I think we’d survive with the current squad in the PL, but who are we going to lose (on a free)?

[davieG]

5 hours ago, Spudulike said:

Selling to who though? Not many clubs will be in the market. 

 

4 hours ago, urban fox said:

Agreed with respect to needing some incomings but selling is going to be the problem, as apart from the self serving greedy bunch who have screwed the system for everyone else who will be buying?

With almost the majority of the clubs scared of breaching ffp, or simply skint i think the majority of moves this summer will be free agents. I can see this being the case for a couple of years whilst clubs balance the books and current player contracts start to run down to the point where transfer fees normalise to levels that are affordable and selling clubs will not be making a loss on amortised values.

Of course this will result in the usual suspects gaining even bigger advantages being able to mop up most of the talent while everyone else struggles

I didn't say it would be easy just easier if they can see we have players who can compete etc, surely better than if they haven't played at all like so many with Rodgers.

[davieG]

31 minutes ago, WigstonWanderer said:

I think we’d survive with the current squad in the PL, but who are we going to lose (on a free)?

Probably but I'm sure Enzo will want to improve the squad and lose a few of the contracted players who aren't getting much game time so likely to get less in the PL especially if he replaces some of the out  of contract players.

[worth_the_wait]

5 hours ago, Nalis said:

Looking at the bigger picture, we've been pretty spoilt since the Pearson days. Pearson, Ranieri's counter attack early Brendan in patches (yes I know that went to shit) and now Enzo.

 

Before then our style was horrible to watch. 90s Leicester was romantic to look back on but lets be honest the style of football was turgid.

Out of curiosity ...

 

Which of the 90's seasons did you think the style of football was turgid?

 

Most people seem to remember the 4 playoff finals, 2 promotions, 3 League Cup Finals and 2 League Cup wins ... along with a passion that we can only dream of now ... with great affection.   

 

Not quite sure the fans would've got so worked up, if the football was "turgid".

 

[Nalis]

2 hours ago, worth_the_wait said:

Out of curiosity ...

 

Which of the 90's seasons did you think the style of football was turgid?

 

Most people seem to remember the 4 playoff finals, 2 promotions, 3 League Cup Finals and 2 League Cup wins ... along with a passion that we can only dream of now ... with great affection.   

 

Not quite sure the fans would've got so worked up, if the football was "turgid".

 

I loved them because I supported Leicester and we had success. Passion was there no doubt. But the actual style was basically hoofball lets be honest.

[blockheadder]

6 hours ago, urban fox said:

Agreed with respect to needing some incomings but selling is going to be the problem, as apart from the self serving greedy bunch who have screwed the system for everyone else who will be buying?

With almost the majority of the clubs scared of breaching ffp, or simply skint i think the majority of moves this summer will be free agents. I can see this being the case for a couple of years whilst clubs balance the books and current player contracts start to run down to the point where transfer fees normalise to levels that are affordable and selling clubs will not be making a loss on amortised values.

Of course this will result in the usual suspects gaining even bigger advantages being able to mop up most of the talent while everyone else struggles

And coming up from the division below surely that gives us opportunities to increase the base level of the squad rather than something to be worried about.

 

[worth_the_wait]

12 minutes ago, Nalis said:

I loved them because I supported Leicester and we had success. Passion was there no doubt. But the actual style was basically hoofball lets be honest.

What?

 

Tommy Wright or Steve Guppy skinning defenders from the wing.   Cultured midfielders like Mark Draper or Muzzy Izzet.   Electrifying runs from Julian Joachim.   "hoofball?"

 

The only proper "hoofball" game all decade was the 1994 Playoff final v Derby, when we put 3 big men up front and bypassed midfield ... one match for a specific reason.   And it worked.

 

The rest of the decade was a mixture of wingers, counter attacks, passing moves, direct play, physicality and anything else you can think of.

 

[ARM1968]

Yup, definitely agree that our results will be consistent in the Premier League, should we get back there. 

[murphy]

On 28/02/2024 at 20:09, Nalis said:

I loved them because I supported Leicester and we had success. Passion was there no doubt. But the actual style was basically hoofball lets be honest.

I'm not sure how it can be considered long ball when we had one of the best midfields outside of the top six in Lennon and Izzet.

 

 

[Wolfox]

21 minutes ago, murphy said:

I'm not sure how it can be considered long ball when we had one of the best midfields outside of the top six in Lennon and Izzet.

 

 

That midfield duo were only consistently bettered by Keane and Scholes or Vierra and Petit in that era…. It was easily the strongest part of our team…

[Dr The Singh]

 too early to tell.  We have the most expensive team with highest ever salary in the championship.  I remember everyone going 'wax lyrical' with Company last season, this season its just stale wax.

[filbertway]

Just now, Dr The Singh said:

 too early to tell.  We have the most expensive team with highest ever salary in the championship.  I remember everyone going 'wax lyrical' with Company last season, this season its just stale wax.

This is something people need to keep reminding themselves. 

 

The way some people go on youd think that he had taken over a team of conference players and no budget.

 

Bearing in mind Dyche had a poor Burnley team around lower mid table consistently while playing industrial football

 

Gonna be a few with tails between their legs if were not pushing top 10 with the brand of football that barely any teams can compete with because they're "dinosaurs" 

 

Im cautiously optimistic about Enzo and so far hes been very impressive. Im also aware hes walked into a very favourable situation and we won't really be able to get a proper read on the man till next season.  

 

 

 

[HybridFox]

Evolution is a mystery, full of change that no one sees 🎵

[Scotch]

I've got no issues with the style. I see the benefits. I see the consistency of it and I think with an upgrade of players, it can be successful in the PL, particuarly the longer we play it. 

 

My main concern is the outright refusal to deter from it. Yes, we make small tweaks in games here and there but for the most part, the philosophy stays the same. Wether we are 2 goals up, 2 goals down, or 0-0, we keep going with what we are doing and that doesn't always work out and the step up to the PL will see it work less as there are better managers who will make changes to swing games even if we did get the tactics right to start with. 

 

A plan B that's drilled into the players as well as this system is would make me feel a whole lot more confident as games go on. 

 

I do see the hypocrisy in saying the more we play plan A the better we will get at it and then saying we need to abandon it sometimes but I think sometimes it doesn't matter how well executed a style is, there are systems that exploit it and we need to be ready for them because we will come up against them post promotion..