Leicester 2, Bournemouth 0, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report

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Again a team picked that was obvious, and when everything is obvious you just roll on as Brendan Rodgers did. With Harry Maguire out, Wes Morgan was slotted in and the team was as we have seen great balanced.

Wes Morgan made the most out of this performance as well, scoring his 2nd goal in as many games, with a slight deflection on Ben Chilwell’s shot that gave Leicester an early lead after only 11 minutes.

Bournemouth had a chance to equalize from a Callum Wilson attempt, but good goalkeeping from Kasper Schmeichel kept Leicester in the lead.

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2nd half was as much as 1st half a Leicester City team that really shows great character and Brendan Rodgers were pleased with his players who he describes and hungry and desirable and they all really belive in the project going forward.

After a bit of pressure over long periods of the 2nd half, Jamie Vardy came highest in a duel with Bournemouth goalkeeper Begovic and he scored with his head from a perfect placed curling ball from Youri Tielemans.

A great and new good result at home, and to see Wes Morgan doing so well is a bit of a surprise but of course fantastic to see. Morgan recently signed a new deal, a one year extension, and will be of great importance in a different capacity.

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Leicester are now currently 8th in the table, equal on points with Wolves, who lost, and as Watford also were defeated they are a point behind. This is really starting to look one of the brightest projects in English football, we will hope the good thinngs continue.

Leicester will play Huddersfield away next and then Newcastle will come on a visit and hopefully new points are picked up. The Terriers are down but a possible banana skin, hopefully Rodgers has his plan ready for those two very important games.

With Man City still in place to win all competitions, Arsenal and Chelsea both strong enough to win the Europa League, there are places up for grabs to reach Europe next season and 8th position could be a European spot.

Positives:
- Still basics, line up, players, system, love it
- Tielemans, a top performer
- Vardy and Morgan scoring, fantastic to see the old guard in form
- Schmeichel makes the saves needed
Negatives:
- Not much

Player Ratings: Schmeichel 7. Pereira 7, Chilwell 6, Morgan 7, Evans 6, Ndidi 9, Tielemans 8, Barnes 6, Vardy 7, Maddison 8, Gray 6, Subs: Mendy, Ghezzal, Iheanacho

Match Stats: H/A

Possession: 60 / 40
Corners: 6 / 1
Shots on target: 2 / 2
Shots wide: 6 / 4
Fouls: 6 / 11
Offsides: 3 / 1

March 31, 2019 0

Championship players that could be a perfect fit for Premier League and Leicester City

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Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers will not be sitting still during summer and just wait for players to arrive for pre-season training. A few will probably not come back after the end either.

So far we have seen a number of players linked, mostly from abroad or from Scottish football, but we feel that, as we have seen in the past, players can come from the league below and really become great players at Leicester City.

Harry Maguire had been relegated with Hull City when he arrived at Leicester City. James Maddison was a rookie at Norwich City, and you have other examples of players joining for the level below who also took the Premier League level with storm.

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The first to mention is Leeds wonder Kemar Roofe. He has been in great form for the Whites this season, but lately been out with injury. He is the perfect fit, able to fill the forward position as well as winger position. He’s the perfect age as well and one scoring goals from all angles and postions. His life as a footballer has been one very similar to other players who have come from a Premier League club, getting released, getting a chance at a lower level and stepped back up and could be a perfect signing for Leicester.

England U.20 international Ben Godfrey is one also to look out for. The 21 year old central defender has been in good form for Norwich City this season. A raw talent and a player with a great potential. Last season he played on loan at Shrewsbury Town. Started his senior career at York City after being released as a youngster at Middlesbrough. Godfrey is good on the ball and can also play in midfield.

Welsh international Harry Wilson is a player that has impressed this season on loan at Derby. Liverpool might have to off load the young talent who probably will be impatient and really be eager to get his Premier League breakthrough next season. He is a player who can operate wide and at the same time a good goalscorer, so hopefully one to have a look at.

Hull City captain and Norwegian international Markus Henriksen is another player that was linked with Leicester City in the January transfer window and will probably be back in the picture over the summer. The 26 year old former Rosenborg and AZ Alkmaar player has been in great form for both his club team and the Norwegian national team. A player that can operate well in the center and at the flank. He can even be used as a central defender on emergency.

A player that will be in demand this summer is Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish and he is one that can be a future England international. Grealish has earlier been linked with Leicester City and many believed that Craig Shakespeare would be lucky in his chase two summers ago, but instead he stayed and has hopefully matured and would probably look for a return to Premier League action next season.

Birmingham City is struggling and local lad Che Adams, born in Leicester, is one that has impressed for The Blues this season. The athletic build youngster is one that can take his next step in football by joining another Midlands club, with probably Wolves also following his steps for the rest of the season.

The last name we will be mentioning is a player that has been on a rise. George Baldock, signed by Sheffield United from MK Dons in 2017. 26 years of age and established as the right back alternative at promotion pushing Blades. Pacy and full of energy with a great passing foot, one really to have as a possible alternative to Pereira and him pushing forward.

March 28, 2019 0

Will Brendan Rodgers call Celtic and Real Madrid to bring in these two top stars of tomorrow

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Being a fellow Norwegian does not have anything to do with this, but as we are not just following Leicester City, Tcf has eyed these two young Norwegian prospects as ideal players for the club going forward.

One is Martin Odegaard the other one is Kristoffer Ajer. both 20 years of age and so mature in their playing with being first team players since the age of 15 and 16. They are far in front of other 20 year old players and also fully established as full internationals for Norway.

Odegaard became a sensation when he made his full debut for Norway at the age of 15, and most top clubs in Europe wanted him and as we all know his progression at Real Madrid stalled not being able to play in the first team and staggering his potential.

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But you cannot blame the young Norwegian for going after a big contract and really securing his life as a footballer by signing such a great deal. But with Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool in the chase together with the two German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund you would never know how established he would have been at this moment.

After a few years in the reserves at Real Madrid, Odegaard was loaned out to Heerenveen and this season to Vitesse Arnhem. He has done great in the Dutch league and rumours are that his next step now will be Ajax. He is scoring goals but his best asset is to make those great assists and set up other players with a fantastic passing foot.

Kristoffer Ajer has almost made the same route, and his contribution in the Norwegian national team has been phenomenal. He is a player with a great vision and turned into a great defender by Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers. He has established himself in the Celtic team gradually, and also been loaned out earlier to Kilmarnock, getting experience at SPL level.

Ajer is very adaptable, he is a tall guy with great technique and previously a central midfielder when playing in Norway. He is still as we speak only 20 years of age and now looking better than ever with Celtic in Scotland.

Would be two players that easily would adapt to Brendan Rodgers style of play and Ajer, a former pupil of the new Leicester City manager, is probably one the minds of many managers in European football. But it would not surprise me if Rodgers are ready to move in for the Norwegian international. A possible move for Martin Odegaard looks a bit more far away, but both players could fill positions and the gaps that has been questionable this season.

Norway are a country that can produce good players like we have seen with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Tore-Andre Flo, Rune Bratseth, John Arne-Riise and John Carew, and Ajer and Ødegaard are seen in this category, but sensationally at a much higher level than their countrymen at the same age.

Hopefully both will be playing a part when Norway takes on Spain at the Mestalla this Saturday. Ajer is, if fit, a certainty in the Norwegian defense, while Odegaard surprisingly has yet to figure from start under new manager Lars Lagerback.

March 23, 2019 0