Leicester City were dealt something of a reality check in midweek, following a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.
Leicester City remain at the top of the Championship pile, indeed where they’ve been for the vast majority of the season so far.
They’ve certainly been the standout side and remain the favourites for the title. But Enzo Maresca would’ve been alarmed by his side’s 1-1 draw and overall performance vs Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.
The Championship’s bottom club perhaps deserved more than the late point they snatched on Wednesday night.
The Foxes weren’t at it and the game highlighted a few persistent flaws in the side which could yet prove decisive in their quest for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Jordan Blackwell highlights a ‘bigger issue’ at Leicester City
Journalist Jordan Blackwell wrote in a recent Q&A for Leicestershire Live, with one topic of discussion being the club’s inability to start well in games.
Blackwell drew upon previous managers Brendan Rodgers and Claude Puel, under whom the Foxes often failed to start very brightly, which Blackwell suggested could be down to a lack of intensity in training.
But Blackwell then highlighted Leicester’s inability to start second halves well under Maresca this season.
He wrote:
“I don’t think they have been really slow starters under Maresca. There’s been a few games where they’ve conceded chances early but when it comes to goals, they’ve scored 4 and conceded 2 in the first 15 minutes. Only Cardiff, Swansea, and West Brom have a better goal difference in that period. For me, the bigger issue is how poorly they start second halves.
“Anyway, if I had to suggest why it’s been a trend, I’d say that under Maresca, Rodgers, and Puel, City have had a methodical approach to games, revolving around controlling possession. They’re not an up-and-at-them team like they were in 2015-16. I think it’s sides that play that way, really aggressively, that cause surprises and are more likely to start games better. If you’re an aggressive team, you’re going to be at your best when you have the most energy, which is at kick-off.
“For Maresca, Rodgers, and Puel, their game is not about starting quickly. They keep the same pace the whole way through, so when the opposition are at their quickest, they can sometimes look a little sluggish.”
How can Leicester combat this issue?
This is a very specific issue and one that might not have a specific fix, or a quick-fix for that matter.
It could be a psychological thing. Leicester City players may well have fallen into a mindset of starting slower in the second period than they do in the first, and performances like the one vs Sheffield Wednesday won’t do their confidence any favours.
Or it could be a fitness thing. Leicester City have good depth and play a style that allows them to conserve energy a lot of the time, but with the players perhaps playing at a lower intensity than they’re used to, that could cause them to seize up coming out after the break.
There’s a number of potential reasons for Leicester City’s inability to start second halves as fast, which Blackwell highlights, and there’s a few different issues arising during this slight dip in form for the Championship leaders.
Up next is a trip to an in form West Brom side this weekend.