Claude Puel must have ignored the opposition in this game and not done his homework against a team that we all would believe would be staying low and just let Leicester have the ball. A team selection that worked brilliantly against attacking teams was chosen.
Of course this could be ok and could work, but as we have seen in the past games against weaker opposition has gone totally wrong and the nightmare continued against Southampton, seeing a goal being conceded after just 11 minutes.
A clear penalty after Papy Mendy took down Shane Long, who became a key player in this Southampton win. A bad goal kick from Kasper Schmeichel makes it difficult for the Leicester defense and a sloppy involvement from Mendy results in a penalty.
Leicester City dominated the game and with 70% possession this is a game that should have been won, and again after Southampton are down to 10 men, with Valery getting a 2nd yellow in the 44th minute, surely you should be able to defend.
A very bad involvement from Pereira makes Mendy again exposed and why is the little midfielder suddenly the last man, past by Shane Long who scores with a good shot, his first for 9 months.
Leicester goes in to the 2nd half with one player more, but they are 2-0 down, and Puel makes his harsh and maybe a bit hasty decision to bring on Gray and a newly returned Barnes, of with Albrighton and Mendy, who both had a difficult first half.
But to make two substitutions at half time is not really the best idea, surely Mendy and Albrighton could have been valuable, especially Albrighton who can find players up front with clinical passes, but again to see action is ok, so not the worsed decision made.
Leicester manages to get one back and as early as in the 58th minute Ndidi scores with a “happy” touch and the ball bounce into the net behind Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
Choudhury and Ndidi together with Maddison and Vardy and with Barnes and Gray companied by Pereira and Chilwell, you should have enough attacking power to get back in, but all attempts failed and again Puel was the one being blamed.
As a manager in a game at home against a team in the relegation zone you are supposed to win and to see players lack concentration surely must be addressed and not really acceptable, but what do you do, sack the manager, no that is surely not the answer.
Leicester City are as Puel says not able to play at their best with possession and with key players such as Kasper Schmeichel not having his best day, then you are lost. Harvey Barnes was given 45 minutes, but his contribution at a level above was not really there to see. A perfect venue this one to really make a difference at once, but it never happened.
- Positives:
- Harvey Barnes getting 45 minutes
- Not getting any injuries
- Negatives:
- Puel getting his tactics wrong at home, playing too defensively
- Not having a good plan B, when plan A is surely not working
- Key players without real concentration in vital areas of the field
- Maddison again making too many sloppy and wrong passes
- Mendy and other players rested, looked rusty, strange
- Negative fans, surely not helping the team to improve
- Player Ratings: Schmeichel 5. Pereira 6, Chilwell 6, Maguire 6, Morgan 6, Choudhury 7, Mendy 4, Albrighton 5, Vardy 5, Maddison 5 Subs: Gray 5, Barnes 6, Ghezzal
Match Stats: H/A
- Possession: 70 / 30
- Corners: 0 / 5
- Shots on target: 6 / 2
- Shots wide: 7 / 2
- Fouls: 6 / 10
- Offsides: 4 / 3
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