Leicester (A): Pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line ups

After a dismal performance and big missed chance to take all three points last weekend, it’s time for us to pull our socks up ahead of what promises to be a tough game at Leicester.

The Foxes go into the weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures in 3rd – making them them to most in form side behind the ‘big two’ – so this one is going to be a real test.

The worry is it’s hard to know what you’re going to get with this side under Bruce – and the performance vs Brighton suggested some players weren’t really sure what the plan was.

Our 1-0 win at Spurs last month proved what we are capable of when we dig in, set up correctly and get the balance right between being solid at the back and opportunistic in attack, so let’s we can spring a surprise on the road once again.

Predicted XI

Steve Bruce has all but confirmed that he won’t be dropping Miguel Almiron this weekend – something I was happy to hear given it would do nothing to boost his already low confidence levels.

That said, he needs to step it up now, with Saint-Maximin passed fit and Atsu in decent form.

I’d be tempted to start Saint-Maximin in this one given the immediate lift he gave us last weekend, but Bruce did admit that he’s still not ‘100% happy mentally’ with his hamstring, so i’m not sure he’ll be risked from the off in a game that will require him to run a lot in both directions.

Sean Longstaff is fit again and will almost certainly replace Jonjo Shelvey – who is now set to miss a ‘couple of weeks’ with a hamstring injury.

At the back, I see no real reason why Manquillo shouldn’t continue at right wing-back given he helped us to a clean sheet (albeit a unconvincing one!) last time out.

I’d be very tempted to go for the below team in this one, playing Atsu and Saint-Maximin out wide, Almiron at no.10 and have two holding midfielders screening a solid flat back four to allow our front four to get at Leicester, however I can’t see Bruce going after this one based on his comments in midweek!

Preferred NUFC XI – (4-2-3-1) – Dubravka – Krafth, Schar, Lascelles, Dummett – Hayden, Longstaff – Atsu, Almiron, Saint-Maximin – Joelinton.

The Opposition

Here’s a few ‘ones to watch’ in Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester side:

Jamie Vardy – Blistering pace in behind and one of the most devastating finishers in the league for me. He’s not often involved in the build up play, but he can’t be given any space inside the box. Hopefully he’s starved of service if Maddison misses out.

Ayoze Perez – He’s yet to score a competitive goal for Leicester after he swapped Tyneside for the East Midlands a few months ago, so we all know what that means! In all seriousness, we know how he comes alive in the box and can be brilliant on his day, however a few Foxes fans I’ve spoken too haven’t been impressed by what they’ve seen so far. Let’s hope he has another off day and doesn’t come back to haunt us!

Caglar Söyüncü – Many were shocked when Leicester sold Maguire and didn’t ‘replace’ him over the summer, but the Turkish centre-back has been outstanding whenever I’ve watched him. He’s very aggressive – which can sometimes work against him – but he’s a tough competitor who’s also more than capable of stepping out of defence with the ball.

Youri Tielemans – With Maddison expected to miss out, Rodgers will be looking to the young Belgian midfielder to create. He bagged a goal and an assist in midweek and will be one of the key men we must stop if we’re to keep Vardy, Perez and their marauding full-backs quiet.

Predicted Leicester XI – (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel – Perreira, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell – Ndidi – Perez, Tielemans, Praet, Barnes – Vardy.

Team news

Jonjo Shelvey has been ruled out with a ‘grade 2 hamstring injury’, but Allan Saint-Maximin, Sean Longstaff and Andy Carroll have all been passed fit, while DeAndre Yedlin could also return to the squad.

The game comes too soon for Matt Ritchie – who could be back next weekend – while Florian Lejeune and Dwight Gayle are not yet ready to return despite stepping up their recovery from injury.

For Leicester, James Maddison is a doubt after picking up an injury in the Foxes 2-1 win over Spurs last weekend.

Prediction

It may take another Spurs-esque performance if we’re to come away from this one with all three points.

Leicester could struggle without Maddison, while Saint-Maximin’s potential return could give us a huge boost at the other end, however Bruce must get the balance right and set us up with a plan – something we totally lacked vs Brighton last weekend.

I’m hoping I’m proved wrong, but I’m struggling to see past a win for a high-flying Leicester side.

Prediction: Leicester 2-0 Newcastle

Howay the lads!

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

92 thoughts on “Leicester (A): Pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line ups

  1. I still think Atsu and Almiron will switch wings. If you are not going to change personnel, bar Shelvey, then at least have Almiron in a position where he has done well and Atsu looked OK on the right when St Max came on last week.

    Willems likes to get forward, the same as Ritchie, and Almiron looked good when they played on the same side of the pitch.

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  2. We have to do something after last week. IT WASN’T ALL SHELVEY’S FAULT.

    I would say Dubravka and the 3 centre backs played well. The rest were below average to ****. I might excuse Hayden as he was having to do Shelvey’s job as well as his own. He probably deserves a 6 (or in Ryder ratings an 11 🙂 ).

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  3. I actually agreed (partly) with what McDonald said in The Chronic today. Probably because he said the same thing as me about the only decent players last week being the centre backs and Dubravka.

    I usually find Super Mac too negative and another of the “back in my day” crowd – him and Mick Quinn can compare notes on hattricks on their debuts. They have mentioned it so many times that I should probably remember the exact dates by now. August 25, 1925 wasn’t it?

    Anyway, MacDonald said Carroll and Gayle are our best option when fit. Give me a break. Carroll is a bit part player and we all know it. And as much as I would like to see Gayle get playing time he is never going to displace a 40 million pound player. I would actually play him off Joelinton and rotate wingers who include Almiron. And no way is Gayle an every game player. I would start him every other game at most and have him on the bench. If he scores a couple, give him a run in the team as he scored in bunches in The Championship.

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  4. I see Roberts has had two hat tricks in a week for Blyth Spartans. Alright it’s only Blyth Spartans but I always thought the lad had potential and was surprised we let him go.

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  5. The fat arsed Mackem keeps making mistakes. More today. No way should he be the England goalie. Another Joe Hart and a mistake waiting to happen in a tournament.

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  6. OK. How the hell are West Ham 3rd? I have watched a few games and they looked mid-table. Even against Man U where they didn’t have to break a sweat. If Mark Noble is your best player then it says a lot about the rest of the team.

    Then there was the mistake by Henderson of Sheffield. I didn’t realise he was on loan from Man U. Now that must hurt, giving the red bindippers the 3 points. I don’t really think they mind Man City winning the title but the Scousers!

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  7. It sort of feels like a punishment that we are on TV again. And the only game at Sunday teatime with the world watching. The only saving grace is that it cannot possibly be as bad as last week. Can it? You might think I am mad but I am going for 2-2. Leicester are good but not THAT good. Almiron to break his duck and us to get a penalty. How’s that for positive thinking!!!!

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  8. And Oh Shyte. It is 3 of the current bottom 5 going down isn’t it. Maybe include Sheffield Utd but they have looked a lot better than us whilst not having a single player I had ever heard of until Henderson today.

    So who is it?

    NUFC
    Brighton
    Watford
    Norwich
    Villa

    With a Zaha injury Palace could be dragged into it. Without, they will get 10 pens.

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  9. Longstaff and Hayden are clearly our best midfield partnership but it doesn’t really matter if we can’t score goals. I still just don’t see where we score two goals from? We will need to create so many chances for us to score 2 goals most games it’s that that is causing me to think we will struggle.

    Still think Bruce will stick with 3 centre backs. I’d also predict we concede early and he then changes the formation a couple of times bodies the half is out.

    3-1

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  10. All of the pundits thought we would win last week and they all think we will lose this week. That’s why I am going for a draw.

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  11. 4-4-1-1

    Surprised by Krafth inclusion, but Mutu is the biggest surprise.

    Bruce said Willems picked up a knock making him go to a back 4.

    Still hope he switches wings with Almiron and Atsu.

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  12. I think we will look more of a 4-4-2 today with Atsu and Almiron playing wider. I hope to see Muto playing closer to Joelinton as a second striker.
    Atsu got his chance and has retained his place thanks to his contributions – I hope Muto can do the same. He’s getting his chance so it’s up to him now ??.

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  13. Not confident about today’s result. Leicester have been pretty good under Rogers… we do need a win though, so going with my heart, 2-1 to us today. ??

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  14. I think they are getting sick of NUFC as the main game over here as they just spent 20 minutes talking about Arsenal. We’re the main game next Sunday as well 🙂

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  15. HWTL, here goes nothing.
    Nevermind , if we lose we can distract ourselves talking about the new takeover rumour 🙄

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  16. We have done more attacking in the first 5 mins today than we did in the whole of last match. Glad we’re finally playing with two strikers.

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  17. We spent £60m in the summer and we’re worse. Only Charnley could do that and only Ashley could think he’s doing a good job.

    Quite incredible.

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  18. Anybody seen a pattern of play yet under Bruce? Apart from the technical ineptitude and counter attacking one at a time.

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  19. Every game I’ve seen so far this season we have looked like a lower division side playing against a PL side in the cup. How thoroughly depressing.

    If I was Jabba I’d be calling Kenyon immediately asking for a meeting.

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  20. What pisses me off is that we have seen tackles like that get a yellow. How is a player suppose to get the ball and then immediately stop mid air so he doesn’t follow through?

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  21. Well what a totally sh.it half… we are really a rubbish side. Only outfield players that can hold their head up at the. One thing are Atsu and Almiron… is Joelinton playing? Midfield are sh.it. I so want Longstaff to do well for us but not impressed today. This will only end one way now. 3-0 to Leicester if we are lucky.
    ???????

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  22. Joelinton looks a waste of money but to be fair he’s had zero support again, Sean looks a shadow of the player we saw before. Muto’s miss was horrendous, we were doing alright at that stage too.
    Don’t think we can argue about the red, just wish players who did it to us got the same treatment.

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  23. Kimtoon: a straight red is 3 games and there is no way they will appeal it.

    If that was Harry Kan… or Dele Alli….

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  24. We are incredibly and I mean incredibly slow on the ball! It’s ridiculous! It doesn’t matter who we play. We are ponderous and our opponents are always quicker. Why?

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  25. Stu, I think we have always looked less fit, slower than the opposition for many seasons now. We had less injuries under Rafa and more organisation but still slow.

    And there’s Vardy
    2.0

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  26. Ten men or not – that’s utter *****!

    Turgid, turgid stuff.

    Bruce must go. I’m calling it. This is horrendous.

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  27. Now Dubravka gets beat on the near post.

    I wouldn’t be risking anybody with nagging injuries until the last 15 minutes if at all.

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  28. Fucking *****!! How the hell is Dubravka getting beat at his near post like that?!?!?!!!
    I’ve turned it off – **** the lot of them – passed caring – hope we go down

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  29. DT: on another subject. I am going to Yellowstone to take some photos in a couple of weeks. Hope the weather holds as they shut the park 2 weeks after that.

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  30. **** off Steve, cannot believe you are putting Andy on when the game is lost you ****. Last thing we need is Andy injured for Manure 👿

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  31. Sharpy – I’ve been saying for about 12 years it doesn’t really matter what division we play in under Jabba. Performances like this and like last week will absolutely guarantee Jabba sub 38,000 and then he might start to wonder what the actual **** is he doing!

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  32. Stu, he’s already worried over the 43,000 low last week, why do you think the takeover talk has started up again.

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  33. The only question the owner should have is; when do I act to replace the manager. That has to be now. In no games so far have we seen any game plan, pattern or decent performance. It’s the same as McClaren. Almost identical so we really shouldn’t be waiting as long.

    Having said all that, the club will know that nobody wants the job.

    If I was Jabba I’d be in the phone the Kenyon and asking him to make an offer. This is a relegated team.

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