Exciting to see that Brendan Rodgers made a number of changes. Kept his system almost as it was in the previous games. Daka and Soumare made their long waiting starts. Both players can be proud of their performance.
A new set up in central defense as well with Jonny Evans and Jannik Vestergaard in the starting line. Kelechi Iheanacho was also in there and he will grow as the season continues.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeicester came out of the starting blocks the best way possible, it took 9 minutes to find the net for Leicester. A great ball from Harvey Barnes finding Ayoze Perez pushing it into the net with a quality controlled volley.
Napoli was always in the game, but not too much danger from start. Boubakary Soumare was controlled and balanced alongside Wilfred Ndidi, with Ayoze Perez working good in front of them. This shows that you can shuffle things a bit around and still get your game plan correct.
Leicester started second half as they did the first. We all thought we were 2-0 up after that great finish from Patson Daka, but VAR showed clearly that other players were offside and this beautiful goal never stood. But the pressure continued and a few minutes later Harvey Barnes scored his first for the season with a direct placed shot, nicely played through by Kelechi Iheanacho.
We had seen earlier in the game that Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, a previous team mate of Boubakary Soumare at Lille, and in the Nigerian set up together with Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, should be followed closely. Just five minutes after Harvey Barnes goal Osimhen’s flick over the head of Kasper Schmeichel found the net, 2-1.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrendan Rodgers made a number of changes during the second half and did two at the break. Some he got correctly other looked very odd. His game plan and tactical moves sometimes looks strange. To put on Soyuncu for Evans was to understand, but why he replaced Ayoze Perez after first half with Youri Tielemans was a bit strange, as Perez had been doing well and didn’t look injured.
Boubakary Soumare had a brilliant starting debut for Leicester and to see him subbed with a certain James Maddison, not a tackler and totally out of form, was a blunder of dimentions from Brendan Rodgers. As we clearly could see the team just cracked with Napoli making a great and strong finish and their manager probably more satisfied with the moves he did, seeing his subs being vital in the end.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith Maddison on the field, Leicester did try to keep the ball up, but defending is surely not his best quality. In the 87th minute, Osimhen outjumped Soyuncu, showed his strength again, scoring a grand 2-2 equalizer with a fantastic header. Classy from the best player on the field.
Then in stoppage time, trying to defend a draw, Wilfred Ndidi was booked for the second time and his two yellows ended in a red. At last a 2-2 draw, but again Brendan Rodgers coaching must be addressed as his changes clearly are strange and full of questionmarks.
If someone had said before the game that Leicester and Napoli would be a 2-2 draw, clearly you would have taken it, but losing two points this way is really down to bad management, nothing else.
Leicester are up against Brighton next and we just have to hope that Brendan Rodgers will get things right and hopefully not use Maddison as a blocker and tackler and a defensive alternative, really ridiculous.
- Positives
- Changing the starting line-up, fresh energy put into the team
- Harvey Barnes with a goal and assist, just brilliant
- Daka and Soumare shows their quality, why was they taken off
- Perez scoring, he has struggled for a long time
- Negatives:
- Brendan Rodgers taking off Boubakary Soumare and Patson Daka
- James Maddison, should never have played, what was the purpose of that change
- Not really looking controlled defensively
- Why take Perez off so early, was he injured?
- Evans not fit for action, why play him?
- Caglar Soyuncu is not really himself at the moment, looks clumsy at times
- Ndidi getting a red card, not good for the future games coming up
Player Ratings: Schmeichel 6, Castagne 6, Vestergaard 6, Evans 6, Bertrand 6, Soumare 7, Nididi 6, Perez 6, Barnes 8, Iheanacho 7, Daka 7, Subs: Tielemans 5, Souyuncu 5, Lookman, Vardy, Maddison
Embed from Getty Images- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Harvey Barnes
Match Stats (H/A):
- Possession: 46 / 54
- Corners: 2 / 8
- Shots on target: 5 / 7
- Fouls: 14 / 7
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