Steve Cooper had to see the game from the stands today as assistant Alan Tate was in charge down at the touch line. From a bird perspective hopefully Cooper did see what is obvious. This team needs more fuel and in certain areas quality is far from what is needed to give this a push up into the mid table positions.
There are too many players that during this season does not perform to standard, but often drops below and today certain players needs to look themselves in the mirror, possibly not understanding their role as their importance is so vital.
Bouba Soumare made his mark today, but still his life at Leicester is far from perfect. He had a good season with Sevilla last season, but the team he played in struggled and it was one of the poorest in their recent history. He was always playing under Dean Smith, but has been limited by other managers, Brendan Rodgers and Steve Cooper. He is seen as a potential departure in January, with loan spells abroad most likely.
The team played today looks to be the best option, but patience is needed to let the players you are likely to play getting their chance, so far Steve Cooper has not decided to pick a settled team, but changed and chopped, something that never looks a good option for a team that need good patterns and structure to grab more points.
Ricardo Pereira possibly needs more minutes to get to the level we all know he can perform on, but being played as little as he has been so far this season, his contribution level will not be there all of the time. He is not a doll with a button on his back to push on.
Stephy Mavididi is one to doubt as he at this moment looks a flop at Premier League level and it might be a reason for him ending up in Montpellier after spells at Arsenal and Juventus. His level looks to be a bit far from what is needed in Premier League, his time is running out.
Abdul Fatawu was dropped from the line-up earlier in the season, as he looks to be one in the elevator. His performances goes from brilliant to flat in minutes and you never know what is coming, sometimes good, sometimes fantastic and sometimes very poor. He needs to convince people he is a regular contributer at this level in a run were Leicester win football games.
Victor Kristiansen has been given a lot of trust from Steve Cooper. So far he has not taken the carrot, not at all, his time is running out big time, if he is not improving defensively as well as distribution offensively. Sadly players like Caleb Okoli and James Justin looks randomly poor and cannot be trusted on a regular basis if a mid table position is the goal.
Jordan Ayew is in a bit of a limbo, not getting enough minutes week in and week out to be a player to trust, but with his routine showing he can cope with being dropped, understanding his role as a cover and player to use in different offensive positions. Bobby De Cordova-Reid is one that has been played less and less, and at this point looks one to call when injuries strikes or you are in a bit of trouble. Oliver Skipp and Bilal El Khannouss has so far not either shined, being the two major signings in the summer for inflated fees.
Ademola Lookman is valued to €60 million by his current club Atalanta. We all remember his time at Leicester, doing well, but not cementing a place in the team. He is currently seen as a potential PSG signing, also being chased by West Ham. Nice to see him doing well in other leagues, possibly a big gamble in Premier Leauge, but at Ligue 1 he is one that could be senstational.
Leicester needs to look for players we have seen performing fantasitcally in Premier League, but at the time not really having great days were they are. Villareal and Napoli are clubs showing their expertise in recruiting those types of players, with age and form being doubted from their previous clubs. Aston Villa has shown the same in England at the moment.
Steve Cooper cannot build a much larger squad, but needs to decide on selling certain players and giving space for more quality. Oliver Skipp and Bilal El Khannouss looks allready to be in a situation very similar to what we did see with Vicente Iborra, Cengiz Under, Adrien Silva, Ron-Robert Zieler, Dennis Praet, Rachid Ghezzal, Islam Slimani, Ahmed Musa and Bartosz Kapustka. Players signed for higher fees or loaned in, all of them being far from expectations.
Cooper has a dilemma, as he has a squad very much out of balance. You should have 9 to 10 players more than obvious startes. 1 to 4 players being in a fight to get into the first team, and behind them subs that are understanding their position, mostly being younger players that are up and coming and looking at every game they play as a bonus and highlight.
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