Tuesday 31 August 2010

Leicester City F.C. - New Signings

Well, I was actually expecting a little more transfer activity today from Leicester City before the window closed at 6pm. However, the only two confirmed signings so far are Yuki Abe and fan favourite Martyn Waghorn.

Here's a little bit about the two, and what fans can expect to see.

I hope to add either to this blog, or to create others in relation to it, when more signings are unveiled.

Name: Yuki Abe
Age: 28
Position: Defensive midfielder
Transfer fee: Undisclosed (although rumours suggest the fee to be around £2 million).

Last season:
Abe spent the last of his three seasons playing for Urawa Red Dragons in Japan, scoring twice in 38 appearances. He also played in one match at the 2010 World Cup

First thoughts:

A fairly unknown quantity really, but still quite an interesting prospect. Most Leicester fans will not have heard of him before as this will be the first English side Abe has played for.

Who does he replace?

No-one, although it does add fuel to the fire that certain Leicester City players might be looking to leave the club.

What can he bring to Leicester City?

Abe adds an extra dimension to the starting XI with his preferred role being that of a defensive midfielder. Whilst Paulo Sousa’s new attacking style of play looks promising at times, it does leave the defence exposed at the back when the opposition counter attacks. This signing might give Andy King more freedom to push forward in midfield and support his strikers if a 4-4-2 formation is adopted.

Transfer rating:
7/10

Name: Martyn Waghorn
Age: 20
Position: Striker
Transfer fee: Undisclosed (although thought to be a fee rising to ₤3 million).

Last season:

Waghorn spent last year at Leicester City on a season long loan from Sunderland F.C. He scored twelve goals in 28 starts for the Foxes and established himself as a fan favourite. Was voted as Leicester City Young Player of the Season for 2009-2010.

First thoughts:

Almost too good to be true. The majority of Leicester fans wanted Waghorn to move on a permanent deal at the end of last season but Sunderland manager Steve Bruce made it clear that he was not for sale. However, with the Black Cats signing Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan for a club record fee, Waghorn made the switch back to the Walkers Stadium on a permanent deal this time.

Who does he replace?

DJ Campbell, who finally made a permanent move to Blackpool after a number of spells on loan for the Seasiders.

What can he bring to Leicester City?

Waghorn has good pace, as well as exceptional strength for someone of his size. He offers a much needed goal scoring threat – an area where Leicester have struggled in so far this season. Fans will love his desire and commitment, and will be confident that the 20 year old will be able to do for Leicester what DJ Campbell never could. However, fans and players alike must be wary of putting too much pressure on young shoulders to turn Leicester’s season around in an instant. Still, Waghorn is a great player with bags of potential.

Transfer rating: 9/10

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Like I say, I'll be adding to this over the next few days.

Saturday 28 August 2010

Leicester City 1 - 2 Reading - 28th August 2010

A late header from defender Matt Mills was enough to give Reading their first league win of the season as they saw off hosts Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium.

Gylfi Sigurdsson struck first for the visitors before Lloyd Dyer’s fine strike put Leicester level in the second half.

But with four minutes remaining, Mills leapt above the Leicester defence to head home Brian Howard’s corner kick.

The result condemned the Foxes to their third loss in four games, leaving them with just one point – their worst start to a season in sixteen years.

Leicester started brightly with Lloyd Dyer forcing Royals’ goalkeeper Adam Federici into action early on with a mazy run and shot on target.

But the hosts seemed to fade early in the first half, allowing Reading to stamp their authority on the game, and came close with Matt Mills heading just wide for the visitors.

But Brian McDermott’s men were ahead soon after when Foxes’ defender Moreno gave away possession on the edge of the penalty area, where Gylfi Sigurdsson was on hand to chip the ball past over Leicester goalkeeper Conrad Logan.

Leicester were denied a penalty after 33 minutes when Lloyd Dyer appeared to be pulled to the ground by Reading defender Shane Cummings, after latching onto Paul Gallagher's through ball.

Shane Long should have put his side 2-0 ahead before half time when he found himself unmarked and on the end of a good ball into the penalty area, but his tame header on goal failed to really trouble the goalkeeper.

Leicester were a different side in the second half and were soon level through Lloyd Dyer’s excellent long range strike into the bottom corner.

It was no more than Dyer deserved after an excellent performance on the left wing, causing the Reading defence no end of trouble all afternoon.

At the other end, Jimmy Kebe came close for Reading shortly afterwards when the Malian international forced goalkeeper Conrad Logan into making a fantastic save after a good shot on target.

Steve Howard fired over for the Foxes with ten minutes to go, and Adam Federici was forced into action again, making a stunning save to deny Lloyd Dyer his second goal of the game after his shot was tipped around the post after a good cross from Franck Moussa.

However, the visitors eventually regained the lead against the run of play with just four minutes remaining when Matt Mills headed past Logan from a pinpoint corner kick from Brian Howard.

Leicester rallied for an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game, and came closest when Steve Howard’s effort was cleared off the line by Mills.

Andy King eventually found the back of the net for the Foxes moments later, but his strike was disallowed after substitute Matty Fryatt was adjudged to have fouled Matt Mills in the build up.

It was another day of frustration for Paulo Sousa and Leicester City, who played well for long periods and arguably deserved at least a point from the game.

But Reading hung on for a much needed three points - a result which boosted them up to thirteenth in the Championship, while Paulo Sousa’s men remain in the bottom three at this early stage of the season.

Man of the Match – Matt Mills

Wednesday 18 August 2010

The Best Is Yet To Come For Leicester City This Season

Even the most optimistic fan would struggle to state that Leicester City have hit the ground running this season as they did under Nigel Pearson.

But there is reason to believe that it is just a matter of time before the results start going the right way for Paulo Sousa’s men.

One point from six is hardly a dream start for any club, regardless of their expectations at the beginning of the season. But it is important to remember that there are some huge differences this time around in the Championship for Leicester City.

First of all, nobody really expected the club to achieve what they did last season. A mid-table finish would have been acceptable, and other teams did take note of that. It allowed opposing sides to travel to Leicester looking to pick up points – unlike the club’s League One campaign when sides saw the Walkers Stadium as a fortress.

Finishing fifth last season means that teams have to respect Leicester City as a well-established Championship team. Fewer travelling sides will turn up believing that a win is a probability. It could mean that the Foxes will have a much tougher time breaking sides down and regularly picking up wins at home this year.

This is exactly why Paulo Sousa’s attacking and elegant style of football is the correct and necessary response to a potentially more conservative approach by visiting sides.

With Nigel Pearson at the helm, every player in the team had a position, and each player knew that position. But the new strategy adopted by the former Portuguese international seems to have the entire team in attack together, and all getting back to defend together.

And the players seem to love it.

It is without a doubt a livelier game plan. And after just one home game, it is clear to see that some players in particular are thriving under this new scheme. Andy King was in scintillating form against Middlesborough, playing much higher up the pitch in a notably attacking midfield role. The Welsh international was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed, as replays indicated him to be in an onside position when he picked up the through ball.

Robbie Neilson, whose Leicester career seemed all but over last season, seems to be somewhat of a revelation. Adopting the characteristics of a wing back, Neilson has already notched a goal this season (his first for Leicester and also his first in five years) as well as a fine assist against Crystal Palace on the opening day.

Steve Howard has proven he is more than just a target man. After a fantastic preseason, Howard has won the praise of his new manager - who has publicly stated he sees the veteran as his number one striker - and is as much a goal scoring threat as anyone in the side.

And last but not least, DJ Campbell. Like Neilson, Campbell’s time at Leicester seemed to be drawing to an end under Nigel Pearson, having spent two loan periods at play-off winners Blackpool. Now back at with the Foxes and in the starting eleven, Campbell seems like a man reborn. On Saturday he looked twice as fast as anyone on the pitch, and could have scored a hat-trick that afternoon.

There is an air of self-assurance throughout the entire side. The defence appears to be back to its old ways, keeping their first clean sheet of the season. The style of play is very easy on the eye. The hangover from last year’s play-off semi-final seems to have disappeared. And although the man who took Leicester there has moved on, Saturday’s match proved that the players have faith in Paulo Sousa, and the fans are genuinely excited about what they are seeing. The general impression is that when the players get it right on the pitch, they will be able to devastate other sides. And with the guarantee of further transfer funds being made available by new owner Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, leader of Thai consortium King Power, Sousa has the opportunity to bolster his already impressive squad.

Of course, there is a long way to go this season, and there are potential potholes that could still develop – and the same can be said for any side in this competitive and challenging division. But there is a belief in this side that they can achieve something great under Paulo Sousa.

Saturday 14 August 2010

Leicester 0 - 0 Middlesborough - 14th August 2010

Leicester and Middlesborough both picked up their first points of the season this afternoon in an entertaining goalless draw at the Walkers Stadium.

Both sides squandered decent opportunities to win their first league game of the new Championship campaign, with Leicester executing a fantastic attacking display under the guise of new manager Paulo Sousa.

But a fine string of saves from goalkeeper Jason Steele kept Middlesborough from going behind in the early stages.

Leicester were looking for their third consecutive victory against Gordon Strachan’s men, having beaten Middlesborough twice in the league last season.

DJ Campbell, who had spent two loan periods at Blackpool over the last two years after falling out of favour with former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson, came close for the Foxes early on when his strong shot on goal was deflected over the bar.

From the ensuring corner, Andy King rattled the crossbar with a powerful header as Leicester continued to push for an opening goal.

At the other end of the pitch, Kris Boyd – recently signed from Rangers – appeared to be through on goal, but was thwarted by an excellent sliding tackle from Jack Hobbs before he could force goalkeeper Chris Weale into making a save.

Leicester continued to look threatening from set pieces as DJ Campbell’s long range free kick was tipped over the bar by Jason Steele.

Campbell then became the provider, playing Andy King through on goal who appeared to have scored his third goal in the space of a week – only for the linesman to rule it offside.

In the second half, Middlesborough started strongly as Nicky Bailey’s free kick was well saved by Chris Weale, but it was the home side again creating clearer cut chances to score as DJ Campbell’s header from an excellent Lloyd Dyer cross failed to hit the target after some excellent build up play from Robbie Neilson.

Moments later, Steve Howard’s curling effort was tipped round the post by Jason Steele.

As the game drew to a close, Middlesborough were unfortunate not to sneak a winner when Scott McDonald’s low drive was excellently saved by Chris Weale.

Leicester will feel as if they did enough to win the match, but in the end, both sides had to settle for a point, leaving both Paulo Sousa and Gordon Strachan looking for their first league win of the season.

Man of the Match – Robbie Neilson