Foxes with stabilisers on.

As one of the 4, Premier League teams already this season to dispense with their Manager, our next opponents, Leicester City, could already say in some ways that their season has been one of ‘two halves’…in the league at least.

 

As they continue to march on the League Cup, they did most of their league-losing in the first 5 games or so, although it has to be noted that most of those were by narrow margins scoreline-wise at least.

 

Therefore, the decision was to ‘change the boss’, despite the fact that The Foxes appeared to have stabilised with a couple of draws and a win in the league, followed by another win in the same cup.

 

So, in comes Claude Puel regardless and he has continued that reasonable form with a 2-0 win at home over Everton and by coming away from Stoke City with a 2-2 draw. 

 

A team who have dropped like a rock and ‘faded to grey’ since their 2015/16 championship winning season, yes…but they still have quality in their side and are certainly no pushovers.

v Leicester City.

King Power Stadium

Predicted line-up, subs and outcome:

(Number correct from starting line-up in the last game which, for me Blog-wise, was the away game at WBA: 9/11).

Fluid 4-5-1 / 4-3-3:

___________________Aguero____________________

 

____Sane___________________________B. Silva____

___________D. Silva_________De Bruyne__________

_________________Fernandinho__________________

Danilo___________________________________Walker

_____________Stones______Otamendi_____________

____________Mangala_______Stones______________

___________________Ederson____________________

UPDATE (18.07.2017): Thanks to a keen-eyed reader, there's an amendment to my predicted line-up, with Eliaquim Mangala coming in for the suspended Nicholas Otamendi and Tosin Adarabioyo stepping onto the bench. Just goes to show you where my head is at the moment...

Subs: Bravo, Delph, Adarabioyo, Toure, Gundogan, Sterling, Jesus.

Braveheart Ederson has the gloves.

Nicholas & John in the middle of defence, Kyle on the right of that and with Fabian having a niggle but ‘not too bad’, I think Danilo will be asked to start on the left tomorrow.

Fernandinho sitting ahead of that pack; David, Kevin, & Leroy provide the more attacking midfield with, I think, Bernardo on the right of that with Raheem also recovering from a slight medical issue (but available from the bench).

Sergio the lone striker with the support of so much creativity.

Claudio as back-up to Ederson; Fabian likely to make the bench and Tosin as defensive cover also. Ilkay, Raheem & Gabriel the creative / attacking / goal-treat from the side.

Notable absences: Vincent Kompany (injured) & Benjamin Mendy (injured), Nicholas Otamendi (suspended for one game).

Do I agree with Pep’s (predicted) line-up?

Yep.

Result?

I don’t like the first game after an ‘international break’ and although it’s similar for our opponents (did they have as many players away as us?), I often think we look slightly ‘off pace’ and a little ‘out of sorts’.

However, Leicester’s bike might have stabilisers on but ours is rocket fuelled at the moment. I think our hosts will score and it will be ‘a toughie’…but I think we’ll overcome this next challenge and come away with all-3 points. I WAS a little concerned about the defensive left-flank…now, following the update above, I'm even more so!

In fact, with Nicholas out, Pep might decide to sacrifice a midfielder and go 5-3-2/3-5-2 and play Mangala, Adarabioyo (or Fernandinho) and Stones in a 'central-defensive 3'. Either way, I'll stick with my prediced away win but I think this will be a high-scoring game - possibly a 2-3 or 3-4!

Last season’s, corresponding pre-match prediction and result…

Prediction: Draw

Result: Lost

Expected weather conditions during the game: Nothing much doing at all really but it’s definitely a slightly chilly ‘coat day’ for fans. Dull, chance of some drizzle I suppose with a slight Westerly breeze. 8C (46F) is your rather cool max temp.