As we predicted and loved the starting line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, documented and cemented by the official site, as we just believed this could be something that would work and as it worked from the very first minute.
Bilal El Khanouss has to be in this starting line-up every day of the week, and he showed today why he should be in there. No one in the World, no one, not one single ant should be doubting him, he is Leicester’s most valueable asset and he showed it from the start.
After just two minutes, the Morocco international found Jamie Vardy with a smart pass, and the captain just ran on towards the goal and his nice curved shot on the floor went behind Lukasz Fabianski in the West Ham goal, 1-0 to Leicester,
From that point on Leicester had difficulties to keep momentum, as West Ham pushed on a button, we do believe they didn’t have, but a certain Facundo Bounanotte in that pocket position between the top forward and the midfield, never really managed to balance it out and get a momentum, so today he looked far from the player Leicester can trust in that position as Bouba Soumare and Wilfred Ndidi ran between and became heavilly exposed not really being able to do anything else than defending.
First half became difficult and Mads Hermansen must be saluted for his goalkeeper job, keeping Leicester in the game with a number of brave and good saves from a very ineffective West Ham team that did everything else perfectly as Leicester looks a youth team at times.
First half ebbed out and luckily Leicester had the lead, with the break not coming soon enough.
Starting with a win! 🤩
Delivered by @bcgame #LEIWHU pic.twitter.com/X90nFSbMLm
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 3, 2024
Coming out second half there were as predicted no changes, with the picture a bit more balanced as Leicester had the ball a bit more and especially Kasey McAteer and Bilal El Khannouss being played up a bit better as chances were created.
We all know that games will come thick and fast in this period and to have Jannik Vestergaard and Jamie Vardy fit for the festive period is crucial, so full applause to Ruud Van Nistelrooy, when he in the 60th minute took them both off and brought on fresh legs in Wout Faes and Patson Daka. Just minutes before West Ham had a goal dissaloved, as Mads Hermansen was pushed, looked a very soft decision, lucky for Leicester.
As the new players came on it was two of the starting players, Kasey McAteer and Bilal El Khannouss that in real put the game to bed with a fantastic placed pass and great shot from the latter as Leicester had 2-0 in the 61st minute, fantastic to watch as all of the West Ham attempts had gone in to hands of Hermansen or out wide.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid had the ball in the net, but saw his effort disallowed. Leicester would just minutes after find their third through Patson Daka to round off an impressive first outing for Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Daka just hammered the ball into the upleft corner. Loved to see that ball go in, Daka deserved it so much, he is far better than we have seen him, loved it so much, great for him.
Niclas Fullkrug scored a concelation goal later on for West Ham, when the German international, got his close range header in to the net.
Leicester fought on into the 9 minutes of stoppage time, as they managed to bring three very important points on board, on a day that was far from perfect, but still all credit to the players for a fantastic job, well done.
- Positives
- Jamie Vardy scoring for his new boss in his first game, as he had no doubts
- Scoring three nice goals, El Khannouss and Daka also with fantastic goals
- Conor Coady in the middle of it, showing why he was actually picked for England
- The team and their ability to work hard, despite being pushed back a lot
- Wilfred Ndidi and Bouba Soumare showing everyone why they should be trusted going forward
- Bilal El Khannouss, what a player, please understand his importance, Ruud does, Cooper didn’t
- The structure of course, 4-2-3-1, kept Leicester flouting
- Great start for Ruud van Nistelrooy, he hopefully will be backed 100%
- Negatives
- Facundo Bounanotte today, should be the one running the show for Leicester, he didn’t manage
- West Ham having too much pressure, as Leicester lay possibly deeper than what was planned
- Victor Kristiansen again having struggle with West Ham wingers and their pace, he looked very tired
Player Ratings: Hermansen 8, Justin 6, Kristiansen 5, Vestergaard 6, Coady 8, Ndidi 7, Soumare 7, Bounanotte 6, El Khannouss 8, Vardy 6, McAteer 6, Subs: Mavididi, Daka, De Cordova-Reid, Faes, Ayew
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 39 / 61
- Shots on Target: 6 / 10
- Corners: 3 / 9
- Fouls: 9 / 7
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