Why did Enzo Maresca make a sneaky nod to Leeds and Southampton as the Leicester City team differs from the manager’s?
Analysis of Leicester City’s 3-0 triumph over Preston, including a record-breaking start, another late performance, tactical changes, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall’s progress, and promotion.
Yes, Leicester City should be higher up the table. While it won’t be known definitively until the financial records for this season are disclosed in 18 months, City most likely has the largest wage budget in the Championship.
However, as Enzo Maresca has stated, their accomplishment should not be overlooked. It’s “not normal,” he says. On a statistical level, he is correct. Given City’s superior goal difference over Sheffield United’s 27 points from 10 games in 2005, this is the best start to a second-tier season since Fulham in 2000. Every year, teams do not win nine out of ten games.
That was Maresca’s post-game statement in the locker room. He warned his players not to allow anyone diminish their early success by suggesting that City’s success was unavoidable.
READ MORE: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was playing ‘the wrong way’ for Enzo Maresca, but he learned his lesson.
READ MORE: Enzo Maresca uses major club’struggles’ to demonstrate Leicester City’s form is ‘not normal’
That would overlook how large the player turnover was in the summer, how depressed the remaining team members were following relegation, and how successfully they have adapted to the new manager’s tactical strategy.
There was also a sneaky dig to Leeds and Southampton’s wobbles. Maresca stated that there were other “important” teams in the division with big-name players, such as City, and that they had “struggled.” It’s reasonable to believe he was referring to the two teams that came down with City, and while they haven’t exactly struggled – both are in the top half, with Leeds in the top six – they are 11 points below Maresca’s side. City would need to lose four games or draw six to catch up.
Maresca’s thesis was simple: ‘If it’s so easy to win nine games out of ten as a relegated team, why haven’t Leeds and Southampton done the same?’ That’s understandable.
Similarly, just because City are expected to contend for promotion does not mean that fans can’t enjoy how wonderful they are right now. When City is expected to win most weeks, triumphs may not be enjoyed as much as they should be.
But this team has been such a joy to watch, especially since the international break in September, that it would be irresponsible not to. As Maresca puts it, this is “not normal,” so enjoy it.
Another late show demonstrates the City’s patience.
That’s not to imply the games have been easy, or that City are faultless. They struggled for 60 minutes against Preston.
They enjoyed 75% possession in the first half but only three shots to show for it. Only Stephy Mavididi appeared to be trying to make something happen, and he only managed to produce one excellent opportunity, finding Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who had an effort stopped.
In reality, Preston had the better chance in the first half. City slept off, and Duane Holmes sped past Conor Coady before shooting wide.
However, City is so good in the final half-hour of games that it hardly matters how the opening 60 minutes go. City’s style simply wears teams down, and it was clear from the first couple of games that if they were patient, they would come on strong late in games.
Dewsbury-Hall scored shortly before the hour mark, and City never looked back. As Preston pushed for an equalizer, space opened up and City knocked it around them. The second and third goals were scored with spectacular moves.
Because Kelechi Iheanacho’s tap-in and Dewsbury-Hall’s second came after the 60-minute mark, City currently has a record of 12 goals scored and none conceded in the last half-hour of matches. Leeds are the division’s second best team, with an 8-2 record.
Except for the game against Hull, City has scored in the final half-hour of every game. Any team intending to defend at the King Power Stadium now knows they will be worn down to the point of weariness before City strike.
Maresca’s half-time tactical adjustment following the failure of a new approach
Maresca’s tactical change did not work, which contributed to City’s lack of success in the first half. They didn’t feel happy till they went back to their customary setup.
Ricardo Pereira, anticipating Preston’s use of a back five, played alongside Dewsbury-Hall and Wilfred Ndidi rather than next to Harry Winks, becoming City’s sixth man. However, because Preston only had a back four, Ricardo’s push forward drew another player into the middle areas surrounding the box, causing congestion.
Ndidi had shifted to the left as part of this change, and he worked well with Mavididi to generate issues on that side. But Dewsbury-Hall, who was playing nearly like a number 10, was entirely out of the game. His usual intensity was greatly diminished.
While he hasn’t had to do it all that frequently, Maresca recognized where things were going wrong and altered things up at the break. The city then found its feet.
“First half, because we expected a five-man line, we decided to attack with six, with the two wingers, the two pockets, Kiernan, and Jamie,” he explained. But they only had four people. So we brought in additional gamers, and all we did was cause traffic. We struggled to come up with solutions.
“We dropped Ricardo back in the second half, they tried to press Ricardo, and we created more space where Ricardo was in the first half.” So the first half of the plan was probably a good idea against a five-man line, but it didn’t work out. Then we switched.
“The essential point for me was to be patient. I understand how annoying it is to be on the opposing side and unable to shoot. Finding space is difficult with 11 players present. The second half was far better.”
Dewsbury-Hall is no longer attempting to be a hero in the aftermath of the Maresca response.
Dewsbury-Hall is now the Championship’s leading goal involvements player, along with Southampton’s Adam Armstrong and Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie, with five goals and three assists. It’s where he’d like to be. He deserves credit not only for those numbers, but also for responding to feedback so fast.
He stated his intention to be the division’s best player after his match-winning brace on the opening weekend. But he worked too hard to do that in the following games. He aspired to be a hero.
Maresca is said to have talked to him about it during the international break and told him to make easy selections. He didn’t have to shoot from 25 yards out to find the top corner. He picked it up immediately.
He made two brilliant assists at Southampton and Norwich by being aware of teammates in better situations, and he has stopped shooting from distance so frequently, instead demonstrating on Wednesday night a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Knowing where the ball will land and springing up in the area to finish will result in his scoring more goals than when he shoots from afar.
Dewsbury-Hall can be voted Championship player of the season if he continues to play like he has in recent weeks. He has the ability to achieve it, and if he follows Maresca’s directions, he will have a far greater chance.
Players and Maresca disagree over promotion.
City have a seven-point lead over third place. They are in a very excellent position in terms of promotion prospects. However, Maresca claims it is “nothing”. He is quite hesitant to discuss his promotion, title, and point totals.
The participants, on the other hand, are unique. Dewsbury-Hall later stated that he was glad to be able to provide some “daylight” to third place. Wout Faes mentioned creating “a bit of a gap” at the top of the show. They are clearly focused on advancement. They hope to be in the Premier League by this time next year.
Maresca will want to manage there as well, but he is hesitant to think about it right now. When it has been brought to his attention that other teams believe City will win the title, he has responded with an everyone’s-out-to-get-us mentality, claiming that their remarks are not meant legitimately but are intended to put pressure on his players.
That does not appear to be the case. At worst, opponent managers are merely claiming City is a Premier League team in order to deflect attention away from their own team. However, there appears to be praise in their comments for the manner City is playing.
But, for the time being, it does not appear that the ideas of rival managers or even the verdicts of City players will derail the club. They have a distinct personality and a strong will. It appears that City are on their way back up.
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