Michael Golding and Kaleb Okoli are the only two athletes to have joined the team so far, having paid their transfer fees. Additionally, Bobby De Cor
dova-Reid has been transferred to the team for free, in addition to the free transfer of Bobby De Cordova-Reid. It seems these transfers have occurred independently, without any specific planning from the new coach, Steve Cooper.
It’s possible that Golding was just there to secure the Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall move, and he wasn’t seen as a serious contender for a starting position this season, barely getting any playing time in the pre-season matches.Steve Cooper is considering placing four players on the bench, along with Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard, while retaining Conor Coady, Harry Souttar, and Ben Nelson as backup options. Additionally, in case of a crisis, it could be possible to bring in Wilfred Ndidi and Hamza Choudhury to fill in. The decision to move Kaleb Okoli seems illogical and hard to justify, especially when it’s unclear why he’s not being considered as a guaranteed starter and shouldn’t be placed before Coady, Vestergaard, or Faes, who are the latest internationals to join the team. The team has recently extended Jannik Vestergaard’s contract for another three years, suggesting there would be no justification for not having him playing consistently. Wout Faes has faced criticism from various fan groups, leaving a lack of consensus about his role in the team.
Regarding his attributes and defensive abilities, it’s virtually impossible for Leicester to overlook Wout Faes. Similarly, Vestergaard and Faes are also in the market, though hopefully not up for sale.
Spending £12 million on a player in a role where you have five full internationals from the past and one England U.20 player to rely on, it seems like a complete waste of money. We’ve witnessed countless instances where money has been squandered on players who never really got enough playing time, making this situation seem utterly futile.The role of a football team is to assemble a well-rounded team where the goals are achievable within the team, ensuring everyone is content. It’s important not to exceed a roster of 16 to 17 players who consider themselves first team starters. While it’s possible to manage one or two players who aren’t completely happy, as a coach aiming to satisfy the majority, if they no longer fit into the team’s vision, you’re in serious trouble.
You could certainly offset this by implementing a rotation strategy, but for a club with limited resources and quality players, initiating a complete rotation could ultimately weaken your team. We’ve observed in the past how Leicester has managed to hold their own against stronger opponents. A consistent lineup with minimal adjustments is the surest path to success.
At this juncture, Leicester is missing the creative spark in the midfield, and the abundance of players with similar roles in certain areas creates a sense of imbalance, though it’s worth noting that as demonstrated by Enzo Maresca last season, players are capable of adapting to different roles. However, this was during The Championship, a different level of competition that is on the horizon in August.
