A year ago, after Leicester relegation from the PL, we wrote an article about the next season and how to prepare for it. This was based on a proven formula for success and the need to acquire the right qualities for a quick return.
The team’s play would follow a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on building the squad around it. Instead, Leicester made unusual decisions, leading to too many players and creating a disorganized team rather than a well-balanced one. capable of winning in this competitive environment.
What we described in this article a year ago, was a clear ambition to build a squad of quality. Not interupting the basics of a group that can be performing to their best ability. You can’t have too many faces around in conflict with their own ambition and belief. If that happens you will be in massive trouble.
Marti Cifuentes faced clear difficulties in balancing his squad. Our initial analysis indicated the need of a fire sale of players. A large clear out, as players were made available on either sales or loans. Mads Hermansen, Victor Kristiansen, Bouba Soumare, Harry Souttar, Woyo Coulibaly, Patson Daka, Jordan Ayew, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Harry Winks, Hamza Choudhury, Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes were all suggested as departures, either loan out’s or sales.
We had the following suggestion to how we would build a fluid squad of players. We also pinpointed certain individuals for the vacant roles and positions.
Goalkeepers: Stolarczyk, Vacant, Defenders: Pereira, Justin, Thomas, Aluko, Nelson, Coady, Okoli, Vacant, Midfield: Braybrooke, Ndidi, Skipp, Bilal, Golding, Vacant, Forwards: McAteer, Fatawu, Monga, Mavididi, Vacant, Vacant
The club is pleased to confirm the permanent signing of Chuba Akpom from @AFCAjax for an undisclosed fee. 🤝
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) May 5, 2026
Two players over the age of 30 (Coady and Pereira). A core group of players between 29 and 24 years of age (Justin, Ndidi, McAteer, Okoli, Mavididi, Stolarczyk, Skipp), Players between 21 and 23 (Nelson, Braybrooke, Bilal, Fatawu), Players under the age of 20 (Monga, Golding, Aluko). New signings would be between 29 and 19 years of age. Calling on youth for covering, later seen Louis Page and Kevon Gray coming into that picture. Perhaps keeping Jayden Joseph around. He can cover a number of different positions.
Pinpointing the priority of getting a natural box to box midfielder was of course part of this. Would have seen the loan move for Jordan James (21), as ideal. The recruitment of a goalkeeper to cover for Jacub Stolarczyk could have been Fran Vieites (27). We identified Jack Kingdon as a defender to get in on loan, as a cover in the backline. Kingdon (20) was linked with Leicester, but instead joined Brian Barry-Murphy at Cardiff, on a season long loan, as part of their U21 set up.
There were two places vacant in that forward line. We suggested a move for Joel Piroe at Leeds, in on a loan deal or a full transfer, but as we did see, Leicester had no plan of using any money in the transfer market last season. We suggested Chuba Akpom as another alternaitve, and a cover could have been Louie Barry from Aston Villa. Two other names mentioned were Adam Armstrong and Jack Rudoni. Had a dream about getting Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall back on loan, but described it all as excactly that, a dream.
Joel Piroe (26) could have been approachable. He has been overlooked at Elland Road this season, on the field for 14 league games, no goals. He was replaced up front at Leeds with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Piroe recently made his international debut for Suriname. We also mentioned Chuba Akpom, previously a top goalscorer in this division with Middlesbrough. He was picked up by Ipswich, joining them on loan, playing a part in the Ipswich promotion push, playing 29 league games, scoring 2 goals. Louie Barry another name, played on loan at Sheffield United and Stockport County this season, scoring 3 goals in 6 league appearances for The Hatters.
Mistakes done by Marti Cifuentes and his recruitment team is easily seen. Bilal El Khannouss was never convinced by this settlement that he would be a player at the club. To send him out on loan was the worst decision of them all. To also allow Wilfried Ndidi to leave, was another major mistake, as no player had more presence than him in the squad, being captain material and the one to call on with Jamie Vardy leaving.
The reason for sending Sammy Braybrooke out on loan, looks strange, he could have influenced this season outcome with positives. Not understanding his quality level and potential contribution to the team, makes another fatal error.
The former QPR manager looked far from having the best view, coming into this situation, potentially blaming Jon Rudkin and Khun Top for the decisions to sell Ndidi and loan out Bilal, not having replacements ready. Both would have been vital players in this set up. To sell James Justin and Kasey McAteer also looks to have had a major negative impact. Conor Coady we believe, could have done a good in the heart of defence, being a man to call on with Okoli and Nelson out injured. The inclusion of a new defender in January, Lascelles perhaps, could have happened.
Looking in the back mirror, we would possibly not have been able to use any money, but having the option of loaning in five players and adding a couple of new faces on free transfer. We would have landed on this set up,
Goalkeepers: Stolarczyk, Veites, Defenders: James, Pereira, Thomas, Aluko, Nelson (Gray), Coady, Kingdon (L), Okoli, Midfield: Ndidi, Braybrooke, James (L), El Khannouss, Skipp, Golding (Page), Forwards: Fatawu, Mavididi, Monga, Piroe (L), Akpom (L), McAteer
Golding and Nelson both picked up long term injuries during the season, so on their behalf, Page and Gray, would have been players to call on.
Believe this set up would have given Leicester the depth for a completely different campaign.
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