Leicester City Season Preview: confidence returning?

Without context, 12th in the top flight and a tight Champions League quarter-final exit would seem like a good year for Leicester City. Following the miracle the club pulled off the year before however, it is hard not to feel a little underwhelmed. How should last season be viewed? And has the improvement under Craig Shakespeare given fans more optimism? The Football Lab speaks to supporter Andreas Constantinou.

Overall last season feels like an opportunity missed, especially in terms of recruitment. We were in a very strong position last summer to attract top players but instead we opted for less experienced players from foreign leagues all of which disappointed (with the exception of Ndidi). The Champions League was fantastic and we certainly overachieved in that competition but we should have finished in at least 10th position in the league. The FA cup exit to Millwall was also extremely disappointing. We had an opportunity to progress to the quarter finals and I think Ranieri made a huge mistake when he selected an understrength team.

The viewpoint from many neutrals is that the title was down to Claudio Ranieri, but the struggles last year were down to the players. Surely in both cases, responsibility should be shared?

I think it is far too simplistic to say the downturn in form was all down to the players. There’s no question that all of the players, with the exception of Schmeichel, did not reach the same level of form in the first two thirds of the season as the previous season but Ranieri made some strange decisions. Tactics, formations and team selection changed on almost a weekly basis which was the polar opposite to the previous season. The contribution of Shakespeare and the rest of the backroom to the title win should also not be underestimated. I think praise for the title win and blame for the poor first two thirds of the season have to be shared equally amongst the management and the players.

You picked up 19 points from eight games against teams outside the top seven under Craig Shakespeare. Did the confidence return?

I think the key to the turnaround in form was Shakespeare returning to the tried and tested formation and starting 11 from the title winning season. From that point on confidence returned and we looked a good side again.

Jamie Vardy looked a reborn player under Shakespeare, but with Riyad Mahrez the difference was not quite as stark. Is the former more suited to his approach?

I think both Vardy and Mahrez are suited to our direct, counter attacking style. I think the issue is that Mahrez has had his head turned whereas Vardy has committed his last my term future to the club. I don’t really blame Mahrez, I think he is the best the player the club have had in my lifetime, and he could easily play for a regular champions league club. He’s always been quite mercurial and we only saw flashes of the real Mahrez last season.

Marc Albrighton is a player that divides opinion among fans. Do you prefer the balance he provides on the left or the more eye-catching pace of Demarai Gray?

I think Albrighton is actually very popular with the fans. I’ve always rated him quite highly and I thought overall he was our second best player last year after Schmeichel. But I would love to see more of Gray next season as he appears to have great potential. We were in a dogfight last season and we needed Albrighton’s reliability rather than the mercurial Gray. With Mahrez likely to leave this summer I would like to see Gray on the left with Albrighton on the right.

Wilfred Ndidi impressed after joining in January. With Vincent Iborra signing from Sevilla, could Danny Drinkwater miss out?

I would expect Drinkwater to start as first choice. I think Iborra is more of a midfield enforcer whereas Drinkwater has always been more of a creative player. I think Iborra has been brought in to give us another option if we want change to a midfield 3 or if we need a bit more steal in the middle of the park. Having said that Drinkwater was well below his best last season and played through injury for some time. He will need to find his best form again because Iborra won’t have left Sevilla to sit on the bench every week.

Kasper Schmeichel had an excellent season last year. There are rumours Eldin Jakupovic might sign, but are you hopeful of holding onto your number one?

Jakupovic is an excellent signing. A good keeper with premier league experience who will provide good quality back up to Schmeichel. Schmeichel has been an outstanding servant to the club. He really is the heartbeat of the side and I think he should be club captain. I’m quite confident he’ll stay but I’d be very worried if Manchester United came in for him. I think they are the one the club he’d be prepared to leave us for.

Centre-back was clearly an area that needed strengthening this summer. Are you happy with the signing of Harry Maguire?

I’m delighted with the Maguire signing. A young centre back who can really defend but can also play the ball out from the back. And he has premier league experience. It is exactly the kind of signing we needed. I’d be tempted to bring another centre back as I don’t think Bennaloune is good enough for the premier league and Morgan and Huth aren’t getting any younger. We’ve had bids rejected for Jonny Evans and we’ve been heavily linked with Ben Gibson. I’d welcome either of those signings.

You’ve not signed any new full-backs so far this summer. Will Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs keep their place?

Yes I think they will but it won’t be long until Ben Chilwell establishes her himself as first choice left-back. He’s not quite ready yet, his defensive game needs work, and Fuchs still has plenty to offer so it won’t happen immediately. But Chilwell has the potential to be a real star and he’ll play a more prominent role this season. There isn’t another recognised right back in the squad so we are  heavily reliant on Simpson. I think signing a right back should be a priority this summer even if it is only as an understudy to Simpson.

Leicester aside, what are your thoughts ahead of the Premier League season as a whole?

I think last seasons top 7 all look very strong again and the champions league spots will be hotly contested. It’ll be interesting to see how the Manchester clubs improve, if Chelsea can repeat the same kind of form and if Spurs can challenge again. Everton will be interesting to follow after all the big money signings this summer. I think the title will end up in Manchester.

Where will you finish?

I think we’ll finish in the top half and I hope we can finish as ‘the best of the rest’. That means finishing 7th and that’s what I’m going for! I also want a good cup run!

The Football Lab

Maguire adds composure at the back for Leicester, who have a tenacious midfield creating for a revitalized Vardy. Another title win looks unlikely, as does a top six berth, but the resurgent Foxes should be among the best of the rest. 9th

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