West Ham 2, Leicester 0, positives and negatives, player ratings and match report, Premier League fixture

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Three changes made from the demiss vs. Brentford. Vestergaard, Justin and Bounanotte in for Coulibaly, Okoli and Ayew. Looking logicaly and a good move, but the juggling gave no positives.

Leicester looked composed and in good control early on. However, Facundo Bounanotte made a fatal clearance in the 21st minute. It made everything go wrong. The ball found Soucek in the end as it passed Hermansen at close range, West Ham were 1-0 up.

Earlier in the week we suggested a formation change. However, Ruud did not make any changes in that direction. This decision let West Ham have an advantage in midfield by playing a straight five. They also had two men up front, which locked down Leicester defenders who had no chance.

Again a fatal situation after 43 minutes, deciding more or less the outcome of this game. Jannik Vestergaard was the last man on the ball. This allowed Jarrod Bowen to get as close to the goal as no one should. Leicester were 2-0 down, again a bizarre horror situation.

A report from Leicester fans flying in from Norway told the story. They all left the stadium after first half. This shows how terrible this Leicester team perform. This first half was an act of Sunday League players and not something to do with professional football.

Full-time at London Stadium.#WHULEI pic.twitter.com/CWOje6CujX
— Leicester City (@LCFC) February 27, 2025

The second half started as the first half finished. Leicester were under pressure. They managed to keep the defence better together. However, they had no real penetration power up front. West Ham controlled the game in full.

Ruud decided to make his two first substitutions in the 61st minue, bringing on Harry Winks and Stephy Mavididi for Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Bouba Soumare. Mavididi made some attempts from the flank, Winks had no impact at all.

Patson Daka and Luke Thomas were later introduced. A very strange move so late in the game. This is one for a stand up show, as it makes little or no sense to make a formation change in the 87th minute, being 2-0 down. Would have understood this had it happened with 30 minutes left.

Leicester are still on 17 points, 5 behind Wolves and today we had no hope for points.

Positives
- Having some sort of momentum second half
Negatives
- The goals conceded are from an act in the muppet show, not something to do with professional football
- Ruud van Nistelrooy making formation and attacking changes all too late in the game
- Bobby De Cordova-Reid looks totally lost with no energy, this is a shame
- West Ham could have been taken down with a long ball strategy, but Leicester just keeps their rolling ball back line passing and push the ball up when it is too late
- When you play a team with a three man backline you must get the ball over the midfield area and push for a battle, but Leicester do not have a tall forward to call, just small players who are not able to win a battle in the air
- Not using the full group of subs in a game you have players out on the field that are far from standard

Player Ratings: Hermansen 4, Justin 4, Kristiansen 3, Faes 3, Vestergaard 3, Ndidi 3, El Khannouss 3, Vardy 2, Soumare 2, Bounanotte 3, De Cordova-Reid 1 Subs: Mavididi, Winks, Daka, Thomas