The key for Brendan Rodgers is to keep his best players and not sell, if that is possible in the next two transfer windows then a Premier League title chase can be possible. We all know the start to last season with the two teams finishing first and second Man City and Man Utd both struggling and found their momentum later on.
Back six years ago Leicester had finished 14th after a firing end to the season later said to be “the great escape”. From that form and with the majority of the players and a new manager they just continued to play with the aggression and confidence build on those previous months and players such as Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Jamie Vardy, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton and Riyad Mahrez had cemented their place in the team and started a run few would believe or even dream about should end as it did the season after.
A number of good summer signings were done and also the massive departure of Esteban Cambiasso had appeared. This opened a gap to fill with Gokhan Inler signed, but another new recruit N’Golo Kantè never looked back after his move to Leicester and formed a fantastic partnership with Danny Drinkwater in that engine room, leaving Inler in the suburbs and not seen in any type of contention, just appearing in a few games to cover up.
Embed from Getty ImagesWe all know the story and how everything just klicked and to see Leicester last season lift a major trophy winning the FA Cup v. Chelsea, and taking on Man City in the FA Community Shield winning that trophy as well, can see that this can move fast forward and see Leicester challenging for the PL title this season.
Bouba Soumare, Patson Daka and Ryan Bertrand have been fresh and lively during pre-season and they look fantastic and to fit the pattern just perfect. If Jannik Vestergaard do sign, you have added quality in all areas.
We do wait for a flank man to sign as well, but in all with Ayoze Perez still at the club, Barnes and Albrighton both solid ,such a player is not really needed and with Thai international Suengchitthawon and Zimbabwian Maswanhise bot showing their skills in pre-season, Brendan Rodgers might be satisfied with the situation.
The key question for Brendan Rodgers and his challenge for a Premier League title might be his will to stick with a masterplan and as Claudio Ranieri did, go with it, and not start juggling too much with players and systems in the Premier League games.
We would hope James Maddison can stay and if that is settled then the message is clear, Leicester owners and management are ready to fight those who would like to sign LCFC’s best players, and with the two last seasons finishing 5th and in close range of the positions above, why shouldn’t it be possible to yet again say those words.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe squad today is much stronger than last season and if lucky in getting Jannik Vestergaard in, they have signed an experienced player with the correct age to be that pivotal signing to replace Wes Morgan as Ryan Bertrand has taken over from Christian Fuchs, and will be a first team alternative during the season.
Those two pre-season games v. Villareal and Man City has also proved to be some of the strongest we have seen by far and it looks rock solid, and hopefully this will continue.
Patson Daka could be what Shinji Okazaki was in his first season at the club, Bouba Soumare could see his PL breakthrough and with the quality you have in there from before, a title push will be possible.
Signals of a fantastic season seeing a manager full of confidence and hopefully he will be able to bring the team forward in a settled system and line-up. With a sale of James Maddison the dept in the squad could be hurt, but of course if a new signing of Jesse Lingard or Marcelo Brozovic will take place then the gap will be covered.
But would love to see James Maddison staying and just let the ball roll week in and week out, and play the best team possible in those PL games, hopefully making changes for EFL Cup and Europa League fixtures, and later on the FA Cup to be able to cope with a title challenge.
Embed from Getty ImagesWe have seen during pre-season seen a system of 4-2-3-1 which is to our liking, but it would not be preferable to use Daka and Iheanacho in wider areas as they are both players doing that job up front as we all know is perfect for Jamie Vardy, to play with two forwards, as was done last season might not be the correct solution, but hopefully it will be sorted out, without having to change the whole team and change to a back three.
There are so many exciting happenings to look forward to and if everything comes into place perfectly why not say it out loud or at least inside the group, we are going for the PL title, to win the Europa League would also be a step up and of course yet again to bring home either the EFL Cup or the FA Cup would surely be popular.
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