LEICESTER CITY NEWS AND TRANSFER TALK
Leicester and Cardiff are two clubs with a number of players being at both. Vontae Daley-Campbell recently joined as he becomes the new man on the list.
Peter Rodrigues is the first player to come to mind as he made a move from Cardiff to Leicester back in 1965. When joining for a fee of £42.500 he had made his full international debut for Wales and settled in for more games as he played on and reached 40 caps playing his last in 1973.
Continue reading “In Both Camps; Cardiff City”A difficult day for everyone, the first game after that terrible accident last week and a lot of emotions from all over, and of course great to see players, staff, owners and fans so together, that is surely touching for everyone.
The team selection was also one with an emotional touch, bringing Wes Morgan back in, and also naming Danny Simpson on the bench. Morgan replaced Soyuncu, who had to watch the game from the stands, not really knowing why, but probably the wisest decission to make as it would have been strange to see someone else walking the team out in this game.
Claude Puel did everything right this afternoon, even had to bring in a player for Harry Maguire so early in the game, routine was a key as Evans replaced the England international and played to his best alongside Wes Morgan. We are seeing a captain leading by example out there this evening.
Leicester had their chances early on and was the better team through out the game, and the big talk was of course the save of former Leicester City defender Sol Bamba, hitting the ball with his arm so the shot of Jamie Vardy hit the bar and flew up in the stands.
Lee Probert, the referee, was probably the only one who didn’t see the touch and a red card and a penalty would have been the right decision. Kasper also had to save a few attempts from the Cardiff players, but it was still 0-0 at half time.
A committed Leicester City team entered the field in the 2nd half and a number of great attempts finally made it possible to score. A good finish from Demarai Gray, assisted by Ben Chilwell after 55 minutes was what needed to bring home all three points.
Jamie Vardy had to leave the field again without a goal, but he was lively and had that one in the first half, and in the 2nd he was alone with Cardiff goalkeeper Etheridge, who saved heroically.
A well balanced Leicester City team had no problem in stoppage time to keep Cardiff City of distance, even when The Bluebirds decided to field Danny Ward after 79 minutes. How they managed to get him into a Cardiff City kit is a riddle, and of course strange to see Leicester City’s goalkeeper being able to both sit on the bench and play at the same time.
The joke aside, but again a funny story, as Leicester City’s goalkeeper is Welsh and the Danny Ward coming on for Cardiff is an Englishman. This was also the first time Leicester and Cardiff met in a Premier League game.
Claude Puel said he didn’t bother about the result, but as we all felt for him and the players, everyone supporting Leicester City, surely those three points will be vital for the rest of the season. This looks like a way forward Claude, keep it simple, be dull and just play the best team. Great to see Danny Simpson back in first team action as well, coming on for Gray in the last 20 minutes.
Match Stats: H/A
After a week like this, who are really bothering about football. The game away to Cardiff will be special for one reason only, but let’s hope that everyone has the energy to go out and perform the way Vichai would have liked.
Claude Puel can be a bit proud after the game v. West Ham, really putting pressure on The Hammers, but unfortunately not able to score the two goals needed to win this home game, but at least managing a point from that Ndidi goal. The home form has lately been poor, with two defeats and a draw in the last three.
Cardiff, newly promoted and with Neil Warnock in charge, an old and cunning fox, who can of course make it difficult for Leicester at home. Results have not been good, but their recent 4-2 home win v. Fulham, tells a story of a team that can be difficult to play.
Leicester will be able to field a strong side and believing that Jamie Vardy will be back in the first team, also thinking that Demarai Gray and Nampalys Mendy will get a chance to play. Ghezzal and Iheanacho will probably lose their place, so will Vicente Iborra.
But as we have seen in the past Claude Puel can surprise everyone when it comes to team selections but good to see that he gave Caglar Soyuncu his debut, a debut that shows enough to believe that Soyuncu will be a good player in Premier League.
A number of Cardiff players will miss the game, Arter, Peltier, Ralls and Meindez-Lang are all out. Leicester will of course be without Amartey, and long term injured Matty James. Wes Morgan is back in contention again, after serving his ban.
So who are Cardiff City and who should Leicester look out for. Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid are two players who are interesting, both new signings this season, coming in from Norwich and Bristol City. Callum Paterson, a Scottish defender is also one that would be interesting to watch.
There will be a number of foxes on the roads to Cardiff, drive carefully, take care, keep the spirit high and stand behind your men, always. This could be a way to really find a good path forward, give your support, do the owner proud.
Cardiff City is a team from Wales, but in their first team squad you will only find one from their own nation, defender Jazz Richards. The 27 year old former Swansea and Fulham player is a lonely “dragon” among a united nations of players.
Leicester are currently 12 in the table, Cardiff City just above the relegation positions at 17. A win for Leicester could close the gap a bit and also make a possible climb possible.
Referee,
Lee Probert, is the one with the whistle
Last Meeting, 11 v. 11
Home: 21.12.12, 0-1, Defeat, League Championship
Away: 12.03.13, 1-1, Draw, League Championship
Best Bet,
Our prediction is a 1-0 win to Leicester
Predicted Leicester City line-up,
System: 4-4-1-1, Schmeichel – Pereira, Maguire, Coyuncu, Chilwell – Ndidi, Mendy, Gray, Albrighton – Maddison – Vardy
Fun Fact,
Kasper Schmeichel played for Cardiff City against Leicester City at King Power Stadium, keeping a clean sheet, that was back in November 2007, in the Championship, the game ended 0-0.
In Both Camps,
Kasper is one player with games for both clubs, so are Danny Drinkwater, who also spent time on loan at Cardiff and later as we all know made the most out of his move to Leicester. There are players at Cardiff today also who have played for Leicester, Greg Cunningham, Sol Bamba and Lee Peltier are all previous foxes. Peter Rodrigues, Willie Carlin and John Farrington are others, so are Keith Robson, Paul Ramsey, Carl Muggleton and Mark Grew
The big duel,
Maddison v. Reid, the two creative midfielders will be key players for their teams and the one of them that gets the edge will be in the winning team
