Malaga - 18:00 KO Saturday 25 July, 2026 - Banus Football Center

[indierich06]

Honestly I feel like if they go into the season bringing through all this academy talent, playing this kind of football... I feel like that's exactly the kind of thing they need to do to bring all the fans back on side after a couple of pretty rancid years. I really hope they don't go now and sign a load of washed-up former Premier League players, play Skipp/BDCR/Faes et al and ruin it. Fine to sprinkle in a little bit of experience in key positions throughout the side, like they have done with McCarthy and Chaplin. Maybe we should pick up a couple of defenders and a more experienced striker option (not Ings though). But a lot of these young kids should be given the chance to show what they can do this season - if they can do it against Malaga, who are a La Liga side, then they shouldn't have too many problems against a lot of the teams in this division - though I do think a lot of the players they're up against this season will be a lot more physical with them than these Spanish sides.  

[Fox 66]

Good test against good opposition. We will be playing against less open sides who won't let us play the way we have been doing. Let's see how we do breaking a low block. Genuinely feel we can go into season with Aluko, woyo/Joseph, bray Brooke, page, Alves, nelson, Carr/Hutchinson and 4 older heads.

[filbertway]

Coulibaly, finally finding his level. Looking alright in pre season for a league one team.

 

Fans delirious! Possibly mental. Wait till he spoons one to Michael cheek to bury

 

[trooky]

5 hours ago, indierich06 said:

Honestly I feel like if they go into the season bringing through all this academy talent, playing this kind of football... I feel like that's exactly the kind of thing they need to do to bring all the fans back on side after a couple of pretty rancid years. I really hope they don't go now and sign a load of washed-up former Premier League players, play Skipp/BDCR/Faes et al and ruin it. Fine to sprinkle in a little bit of experience in key positions throughout the side, like they have done with McCarthy and Chaplin. Maybe we should pick up a couple of defenders and a more experienced striker option (not Ings though). But a lot of these young kids should be given the chance to show what they can do this season - if they can do it against Malaga, who are a La Liga side, then they shouldn't have too many problems against a lot of the teams in this division - though I do think a lot of the players they're up against this season will be a lot more physical with them than these Spanish sides.  

Souttar, Faes, BDR and Skipp if they're still at the club will play because the squad isn't big enough for the 46 league game season and the Van Cup. 

 

Players get injured,  loose form etc, plus none of the new academy lads have playwd in front of 25000. 

 

We have to sign a striker, that's an absolute must IMO. 

[whoareyaaa]

Shame we had to sell Monga 

[Rubbersoul]

Just watched the highlights and praying Alves & Braybrooke both stay fit all season. They’ll be a joy to watch. 
 

[FoxesFan100]

11 hours ago, Foxes96 said:

Really like the midfield balance at the minute with: Braybrooke - Skipp - Page 

 

really hope we don’t revert to type and end up playing: BDCR - Hamza - Chaplin. Because of experience 🙄 

Don’t think we didn’t sign Chaplin to just sit around. I’m quite excited to see him once he’s up to speed, I can see him being our main ST with Alves or Braybrooke behind. 

[coolhandfox]

Surprise by how decent McCarthy look on the ball.

 

Look less nervous than Jakub.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Watched the highlights because there was no one in the starting XI that I actively despise. 

 

We look alright! No idea of the standard of the opposition (good luck to them when they go to Camp Nou this season as they'll need it), but a couple of decent goals and good to see the young lads still making a good chunk of what looks to be the starting XI forming.

[JimJams]

9 hours ago, filbertway said:

Coulibaly, finally finding his level. Looking alright in pre season for a league one team.

 

Fans delirious! Possibly mental. Wait till he spoons one to Michael cheek to bury

 

He was loaned to and playing at a higher level than us last season to be fair.

[Bluearmyfox28]

Very, very impressed with yesterday’s game and the pre-season as a whole. So far I think it’s clear to me RM has heard the critics regarding his centre backs keeping the ball for the sake of keep back (self admitted on BBC Leicester interview). The amount of combinations of play where the lads are playing a maximum of 1-2 touch football is unreal. If we can keep that going regardless of level you’ll fair well and it’s the biggest problem in English football with lads taking unnecessary touches in comparison to let’s say the Spanish. 
 

From an individual stand point:

 

McCarthy - I actually thought his ball playing ability and urgency to get moves started quickly were impressive last night.

 

Stolarczyk - I think at times he gets some stick for the sake of it. Made some great saves yesterday and looked comfortable on the ball.

 

JJ - Earnt his spot in the squad this season, growing in confidence and offers a different style to Aluko.

 

Coulibaly - Biggest compliment I can give him is the fact I felt a new left back was needed, now I think between him and Thomas you’ve got a nice blend of different options.

 

Braybrooke - Keeping Chaplin out of the team for me currently, his weight of pass, creativity and confidence ooze class. 
 

Page - Was disappointed at first in pre-season but his confidence is growing. Not as creative as Braybrooke but his ability to drive the ball up the pitch at his age is very impressive. 
 

Neale - Earlier in his development but very similar profile to Braybrooke. Very impressed.

 

Hamza - Again gets a lot of stick, but I personally felt he set the tempo of the press and aggressiveness that second half which was needed.

 

Mavididi - Appeared to be growing his desire to take his man on and be direct again, he isn’t passing back for the sake of passing back. I hope he’s buying in and not trying to put himself in the shop window.

 

Alves - Based of pre-season double digit goals are a realistic expectation from him. 
 

I’m personally starting to like RM, couldn’t stand him or the appointment but impressed with the performances and the way he’s handled himself so far. I will say based on the post match interview, I think it’s clicked to him how impressive this academy group is. He's somewhat downplaying how many of them will be involved this year I feel to keep them hungry and pushing for an opportunity. But the expression on his face tells you what you need to know. 

Edited 10 hours ago by Bluearmyfox28

[OntarioFox]

Genuinely had to look up who you all meant by JJ - it's Jayden Joseph, got it now. This is the third JJ we've had in three seasons after James Justin and Jordan James.
Still not as egregious as those of you who had the temerity to start abbreviating Jannik Vestergaard to JV after Vardy left. 

(I digress, it's lovely to see another youngster having a solid pre-season - so, so refreshing after the pain of the last half decade)

[adejo92]

Rudkin was there at the game, stood around scoffing pizza on his own after the game.

 

When Russel Martin came and spoke to us after the game, he asked if the move had caused issues and asked if we would get compensation because he remembered talking to us on Wednesday. When we said about €50 and it wouldn't cover it, he said "well theres the man you need to talk to" pointing at Rudkin in ear shot. Rudkin put his head down and walked off with his Pizza.

 

Martin did then say something jokingly like "good luck because im still waiting for my wages"..

 

Id usually laugh along, but the lack of laughter from him suggested it was a true word spoken in jest..

Edited 9 hours ago by adejo92

[Philkeavo]

Reflecting on the game yesterday. What I think went largely unnoticed, but was mentioned by OPA in the commentary, is the personnel and tactical changes Russell made in the last quarter. This swung the game back to Leicester after being totally dominated by Malaga in the second half. Again, I can’t think of many games friendly or competitive where the managers changes has altered the flow of the game in recent seasons. I am really encouraged by this. My optimism is however tempered by the lack of signings which we will absolutely need.

Edited 9 hours ago by Philkeavo

[Merchant_Banker]

18 minutes ago, Philkeavo said:

Reflecting on the game yesterday. What I think went largely unnoticed, but was mentioned by OPA in the commentary, is the personnel and tactical changes Russell made in the last quarter. This swung the game back to Leicester after being totally dominated by Malaga in the second half. Again, I can’t think of many games friendly or competitive where the managers changes has altered the flow of the game in recent seasons. I am really encouraged by this. My optimism is however tempered by the lack of signings which we will absolutely need.

I suspect the changes were planned rather than a reaction to the balance of the game.

[1972 Fox]

1 hour ago, OntarioFox said:

This is the third JJ we've had in three seasons after James Justin and Jordan James.

Fourth if you include Justin James who some used to refer to. I think he was James Justin's cousin.

[Clever Fox]

A decent performance alround. Some good 1 touch football and good movement to get through Malaga. The energy from the lads was excellent to watch given that the Temeratures was 43 degrees.

 

Some great Goals too especially the build up to the Neale goal. And the finish by Coulibaly.

 

We still need someone to lead the line. Preferably a Tall Physical type who can hold up the Ball and bring the others into play.