The LCFC transfer department has finally creaked into action this summer with a list of departures and arrivals rivalling the word count of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Okay, perhaps a little bit of an exaggeration but we have been very busy.
Perhaps one day someone will write an epic literary masterpiece chronicling the King Power years through the eyes of 5 Foxes families.
There certainly wouldn’t be a need for any fiction as the historical highs and terrible lows would form their own story of an era that completely upended everything we thought we knew about our great club.
Until then, I’m writing a handy guide for the here and now, breaking down a squad that has seen several historical figures exit, new personnel arrive seeking glory on the battlefield… and a few characters we’d forgotten about still turning up at court, unwanted.
goalkeepers
Stolarczyk, McCarthy, Ravizzoli
This is the area I now have the most concerns about. Following a poor challenge in the first few seconds against Plymouth, Jakub Stolarczyk appears to have received a serious knee injury. Fingers crossed it’s not as bad as it looks and that he recovers well.
There were question marks over this department even before the injury, and there are even more now.
Alex McCarthy started the first two games and looked very suspect, both with the ball at his feet and his ability to make saves. The former was very poor again in the first half against Plymouth, the ghost of Danny Ward haunting the stadium and the new keeper receiving numerous howls of frustration at his distribution from the Kop end.
He recovered his composure well to make some great saves in the second half to protect the three points. But I think it’s fair to say there’s a way to go before he convinces people he’s the number one for the season. At the very least Russell Martin needs to help him by asking the defenders to pass to him on fewer occasions, as he alluded to on Radio Leicester post-game on Tuesday.
Franco Ravizzoli, who arrived earlier in the summer from Blackpool, must now be fancying his chances of getting in the team. However, if Stolarczyk is out for the season, this could be the first position we need to target in January, if of course there are any funds left.
right backs
Joseph, Aluko, Coulibaly
At right-back, we already look to be in a good place. Jayden Joseph has built on his solid year on loan at Tranmere with a pretty spectacular start to the season, scoring the first goal away at Notts County to boot.
With Bade Aluko as deputy (for the time being) and able to slot into centre back, we look to be well stocked.
Woyo Coulibaly (signed in the Premier League and probably on wages too high for a 3rd choice right-back in League One) not finding an exit is an issue and almost certainly someone keeping his kit bag packed ahead of January.
left backs
Thomas and McFarlane
Luke Thomas’s performances against Notts County and Burton Albion looked more like the 47th and 48th of last season, rather than 1st and 2nd of this season. However, he has played exceptionally well in the left centre-back role in the last two games, helping us achieve very rare consecutive clean sheets.
Ultimately, I fear his lack of height and physicality will ultimately make this mini renaissance a short-term thing, with plenty of centre-back options now/still at the club.
At left-back, McFarlane looks every bit a Manchester City product and has already leap-frogged Thomas to become a vital cog in the Russell-ball machine, with his ability to drive forward and get back with real pace and athleticism essential to the balance of the team.
centre backs
Souttar, Kangasniemi, O’Hora, Okoli(?), Faes(?)
Harry Souttar staying is a real plus for the season. There’s a question mark as to whether he’s a promotion-level centre-back in the Championship and an even bigger question mark as to whether he’s a Premier League player. But for League One he should be an absolute beast. Russell Martin needs to leave him on the right hand side though.
If as expected, Luke Thomas is gradually replaced in the starting XI, there’s 27-year-old Warren O’Hora signed from Hibs and the ‘What we used to be great at signing’ in 19-year-old Finn Ilari Kangasniemi – a player with an enormous ceiling, which is just as well given he’s 6 foot 6. We actually look, on paper at least, well stocked at centre-back.
However, ’twas ever thus that things are never straightforward and 100% ok at LCFC. Caleb Okoli is surprisingly still here (bar a late move to Turkey, Belgium or Saudi Arabia). Although having signed in the Premier League, he’s not looked comfortable at League One level, so it’s a surprise we have allegedly rejected bids for him.
The even bigger surprise is that the comedy footballer, Wout Faes, hasn’t found a move elsewhere (that’s the problem with modern data-driven video analysis: other clubs have seen him play).
Those two remaining is a real drain on the finances and a huge test of Martin’s management. Very few fans want to see Okoli pull on a blue shirt again, let alone Faes.
Aside from that, we’ve replaced them in the squad. We must stay strong and keep them away from the ‘new squad’ to stop them undermining the work over the summer to finally break free from the past few years.
In addition to the above centre-backs, there’s also Ben Nelson, who has a serious injury and only months left on his contract. It’d be a real shame if we don’t see him play for us again.
central midfielders
Page, Braybrooke, Doyle, Lundstram
Keeping Louis Page in the squad is the best bit of business this summer. He’s a player with enormous potential and I’m delighted to be able to watch him develop this season.
Page and Sammy Braybrooke have already struck up a great partnership and give us the energy and quality we’ve been starved of over recent years.
Adding the experienced FPL legend John Lundstram feels like a good balance alongside the young players mentioned above and late-loanee Kamari Doyle. Lundstram was part of Hull’s promotion team last season (rather than being successful a long time ago as is often the case with our ‘experienced’ signings) which means he should be able to hit the ground running and provide some proper leadership to the squad.
With other players who can fill in, plus a few of the academy lads, this area of the pitch looks very exciting.
wingers
Alves, Watson, Howell, Burns
We’ve got good options on the wings. Will Alves, Tommy Watson and Harry Howell are early in their careers and inevitably will need to learn, make mistakes and grow as the season progresses. However, they really do add an air of excitement to the squad and all three have given us some much-needed effervescence and determination.
The smiles on their faces are as important as their football at times. As a note of caution, all three appear very one-footed, which gives the coaches at Seagrave something to work on to add some variety to their play.
Wes Burns brings experience to the department, although he has looked a touch slow and a little untidy in possession. Hopefully just a little rustiness as he gets up to speed.
Number 10
Chaplin, Cullen, De Cordova-Reid
This is an area where we look less strong, or indeed less exciting. Conor Chaplin was well thought of at Ipswich and offers ‘experience’, but it comes alongside a recent record of injuries, including two since he’s been here. If/when fit, he does look like he’ll add quality though.
It’s very hard to give an assessment of Liam Cullen because, aside from the missed chance at MK Dons, I genuinely can’t recall anything else he’s done in his appearances this season. He seems like a favourite of the manager, but so far, he’s been very unremarkable, which obviously needs to change.
As for Bobby De Cordova-Reid, he enters the third year of his contract, playing in his third different division, and still doesn’t appear able to influence games as much we need him to. The sooner he slips down the pecking order, the better.
There are others in the squad who could play in this role, such Page and Doyle, so there are options in the youth if the experienced players can’t deliver.
Strikers
Bristric and Riis
TWO, TWO ACTUAL STRIKERS!! Belatedly, we’ve arrived a good combination up front.
New signing Emil Riis is one of those players who has been solid if unspectacular at Championship level (hence why Bristol City have replaced him) but it should mean as close a guarantee as we can get that he’s able to score a significant number of goals at League One level. At 28, our new Great Dane is still young enough to have the hunger and ‘point to prove’ if we did manage to go up too.
Alongside him in the squad is Admir Bristric, a 23-year-old with raw potential and a very high ceiling, making him an exciting addition to the squad. His performances so far show he has things to work on, but it’s clear there are the right ingredients there.
With Riis coming in, there’s an opportunity for him to settle in this season, contribute where he can, before hopefully becoming first choice next season.
academy
There are of course several Academy players on the fringes of the squad, such as Riley Carr, Lorenz Hutchinson and Kevon Gray, who we’ll hopefully see in the EFL Trophy games and maybe the first team as the season progresses.
Conclusion
An incredible 20 first team players have left over the course of the summer:
- The loans for James, Ramsey, Aribo, Mukasa ended.
- Kristensen, Mavididi and Skipp have all been loaned out.
- Ayew, Begovic, Daka, Lascelles, Ricardo, Silko Thomas and Vestergaard released and/or paid off.
- El Khannouss, Monga, Winks, Fatawu and Choudhury sold.
Of that list, there’s only Jordan James, Abdul Fatawu and Jeremy Monga I’m sorry to see leave. Although we are just short of completely starting afresh, there are now very few players remaining carrying the stench of previous seasons, even if Okoli and Faes remain.
There are also several young players out on loan gaining experience in League Two, such as Jake Evans, Michael Golding, Logan Briggs and Kirsten Otchere.
In conclusion, the squad looks more balanced and leaner that it has for a long time.
The goalkeeper position is a worry and there is a lot of responsibility on Riis to score regularly. The manager’s style of play and its suitability for League One will need some close scrutiny too. In addition, there’s the issue detailed above of what to do with Coulibaly, Okoli and Faes.
All this sits alongside the obvious disruption incurred by a club that is still having financial worries and is officially (if not communicated to the fans) up for sale.
However, as demonstrated by the most positive atmosphere in a long time against Plymouth, the refreshed squad with the emphasis on youth may well give us some lads finally worth getting behind.
After the war(s), maybe we can have some peace?
