An epic for Enzo: Leicester City fans on their first glimpse of Maresca’s big idea
We put the call out for thoughts from our writers on Enzo Maresca’s new style of play at Leicester City. Then the emails started flooding in…
More to come
Sunday's opener gave us a chance to see Enzo Maresca's tactics in action and first impressions are that this is a refreshing move forward for the club.
A back four which changes in possession to 3-2-4-1 as Ricardo moved into the centre and assisted Harry Winks in possession. The system's fulcrum is Winks, who picks up the ball from the back and recycles it forward.
Hamza Choudhury offers some of the same skills but we will be left vulnerable if Winks gets injured. This defensive midfield role used to be owned by Wilfred Ndidi but he has found himself thrust further up the pitch. His lack of attacking play was evident when he was replaced by Dennis Praet who I was pleased to see get the assist with a great cross for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's opener.
What was also pleasing to see was that Stephy Mavididi provided a great outlet when we spread the play and his moves caught the eye. On the other wing was Kasey McAteer who had a chance in the first half but should be an option from the bench instead of a starter.
Leading the line was Jamie Vardy and his strengths unfortunately don't suit this Enzo Era. It was no surprise that we looked more threatening when Kelechi Iheanacho dropped deeper and created space for others to run into.
For Maresca's Leicester to work there has to be more signings to come with a new striker, right winger and attacking midfielder high on the list.
A promising start with hopefully more to come.
Adam Hodges
Football has moved on
I left King Power feeling hopeful. A pleasantly novel experience.
Some of our build-up play was beautiful. Winks, Ricardo and KDH looked like they could dominate midfield in most Championship matches. The defence looked solid-ish. Playing out from the back didn’t seem to carry quite the high risk it did last season. Mads Hermansen played a full part in the build-up while saving our skin with a great save.
Mavididi looked good once he’d picked up the pace. McAteer had a tendency to head immediately for the relative safety of the pitch interior but will be a threat if he can find the confidence to take on his man on the outside. In the 99th minute we were still running. Not puffing, panting and praying for the end. All good.
The faults are widely accepted (by fans if not by the management team). Ndidi doesn’t fit. I fear we may invest a lot of time in trying to make him do so. We need an upgrade in the wide right area while McAteer develops. Vestergaard may not be the best option in the absence of Coady.
Less commonly commented on is Vardy’s contribution, Yet again, in a team playing possession football, our folk hero looked lost and ineffectual. It was the same under Ranieri (Season 2), under Puel and latterly under Brendan.
It’s heartbreaking to say it, but in this system, the best he seems to do is to pull away from his marker, accept the ball to feet, back to goal, and neatly return it to the midfield. He briefly threatened with one dribble in the first half but to my memory that was the sum total of the threat provided by the latest captain.
Some say he doesn’t get the service he thrives on. But that is the point. He’s not going to get the service he thrives on in a possession-based team. The ball arrives too late and in too tight a space to suit him.
Ihenacho is expert at playing on the half turn, at round the corner passes to players running beyond him, at scoring different kinds of goals from all kinds of ranges. We’ve spent too long already hoping Jamie Vardy circa 2016 can be resurrected. He’s got older. Football has moved on. Use him as an impact sub and prepare for his Big Goodbye. Now.
Andrew Smith
Alien and awkward
I thought the general style worked well considering it was the first competitive game in this system, and that some players (most obviously Ndidi) were playing out of position. We were fortunate to win, but there were brief spells when we were totally dominant, particularly the final 30 minutes once Praet and Iheanacho were introduced. The '3-2' build out from the back did seem a bit alien and awkward at times, but once we adapt and familiarise we will carve teams open.
The game was an important lesson for Maresca in learning which players will suit this system, particularly in the attacking positions, which looks like a front five in possession. It's clear that Ndidi isn't good enough technically to suit the advanced '8' role. On the right wing, McAteer grew into the game but again seemed lacking technically and did not have the directness or composure to make an impact.
It appears Maresca doesn't rate Harry Souttar which is difficult to comprehend, so we will need extra cover at centre back. I thought Jannik Vestergaard did okay, but he will continue getting caught out on counter attacks and direct passes in behind, and his one-on-one defending is frightening.
The latest transfer links (Casadei, Rak Sakyi, Yunus Akgun) prove that Maresca is aware of the weaknesses in the squad, so I'm very optimistic after a bit of a smash and grab three points.
Matt Jedruch
Work in progress
The style of play was positive overall, and very clever with the inverted full-back in Ricardo, while still acknowledging that it’s a work in progress at this stage. There’s enough to showcase that it can and will work at this level, and it suits the players we have at our disposal.
The system meant we were really good in creating triangles and passing angles to move up the field quickly and it allowed us to find players in space well. Dominating the possession also allowed us control and ensured we could look to play the game on our terms and utilise our greater quality to more effect.
A downside is that we did become very slow at times, and that needs to be addressed with new players and more work on the system. Teams are going to come to the King Power and defend with a block so we need to learn to unpick the defences with short, sharp and dynamic passing to create the space. It also does not suit Vardy as much with the team looking more fluent with Iheanacho leading the line.
Clearly, there are players that need to come in to improve us. Ndidi in a forward role does not suit his ability and many attacking moves broke down due to his limited passing range. McAteer out wide did admirably given that was his first league start for the club, however a more natural winger would be an improvement and allow the system to flourish better and still help McAteer’s development. Helpfully, the players we have been linked with in recent days fit those briefs.
Elliott Butlin
The route to promotion
The way I see it is that we moved towards a possession-based system under Claude Puel which was than refined to great success initially under Brendan Rodgers and now onto Enzo-ball. I'm trying to delete many of the Brendan-isms in my head, but one that remains is the quote about how if you want to be a big team, you need to play like a big team. I wholeheartedly agree with this and I'm therefore glad we've gone with someone like Enzo to try and replicate what's successful across the Premier League and beyond, rather than trying to grind our way through the Championship.
We were a big team for a while in the Premier League and we most certainly are a big fish in this league, but there is a significant portion of our fanbase (and this isn't a criticism by the way) that can only ever view Leicester as the underdog and therefore want an 'underdog' style of play.
It was no surprise to me that I heard the first "gerrit forad" of the season after about 35 minutes on Sunday. Nor was it a surprise to see a half time text from my dad saying "too much tippy tappy stuff".
It's my belief, and who knows how this will pan out, that we should aim to play a progressive possession-based system and we, as fans, need to give the team time to probe the opposition and find a way of being successful. Which, for the first time in a couple of years, we were successful in winning a league game we were losing in the second half!!
We all know Enzo's had hardly any time and some pretty difficult circumstances in his first couple of months so there were bound to be teething troubles, but with the help of some poor finishing at the other end, we scored two lovely goals by not 'gerrin' it forad' and beautifully tippy-tapping it into great positions.
There's no doubt we will concede a few goals down the line as stray passes get picked off and we certainly can't concede 20 shots a game, but over the course of the season, tightening up at the back and then playing good football is (in my view) the route to promotion, especially with the players we have.
Iain Wright
A prediction revision
Prior to the game, I had no idea what to expect from it or the season ahead, but coming away from the KP I was predominantly positive. I can see a clear identity Enzo is trying to build, even if at times it was far too slow for me, I'm comfortable that we have a philosophy and the players look to have bought into it.
Recruitment needs to be for someone other than Wilf to be playing that advanced role. Praet did a good job when he came on, but I'm unsure if he will still be here considering how much he's flirted with transfers for the past few years.
I could pretend to know about Casadei or Rak-Sakyi (outstanding name by the way) but I haven't got a clue. People seem excited by them so I'm onboard as we definitely need more creative players to the system to work. We can't rely on KDH to score two goals a game!
There was some flashback-inducing defending on show at times which was less positive. Hopefully though, Maresca is genuine about the time he says players will be out for and Coady shores that up pretty quickly if only out for another few weeks.
I'm already confident of a higher finish than my classically pessimistic 13th prediction.
Becky Taylor
Mads under the microscope
I'm fully in favour of Marescaball and I suspect others will cover the areas to strengthen it. So I think the most interesting part to it is still going to be our old friend, the set piece.
The attacking play showed a lot of promise, while the defending looked chaotic and panicked at times. Did we look dreadful defending corners because Coventry's delivery was so good, or are we still just dreadful at them full stop?
Hermansen did a lot of good stuff in terms of saves and distribution but there was more than a hint of vulnerability under the high ball. Maresca has nailed his colours to the mast as far as the keeper goes: Iversen and Ward are goners, so if Mads looks dodgy there's not really an obvious solution. Claudio Bravo is the prototypical cautionary tale of a goalkeeper with the sexy passing skills who gets totally exposed by the physicality of English football.
If I was Huddersfield or Rotherham I would be peppering the box with crosses at every opportunity to see what happens. We obviously aren't going to sign anyone to help in this respect - the defensive incomings look like they're done. So it's really a case of Hermansen proving that what looked like a weakness against Coventry was just a one-off and he can cope with an aerial assault when it comes.
James Knight
Teaser time
There was enough in there to tease us. It's becoming clearer what Enzo is looking for and while the squad isn't finished yet, it's clear that Enzoball could be a lot of fun if he can get the final pieces in place. Considering how few games the players have actually had together to implement the new style in a match environment, I thought there were glimpses to be excited by but it will take a little while to gel properly.
It may be an adjustment for the fans too, there's playing it out and then there's what we did at times. Hermansen has just enough of being Schmeichel-esque in some saves while being far more forward thinking and competent with the ball at his feet. The high line generally was risky at times but when it did gel, it was very exciting. The last twenty minutes or so of building pressure and the movement were an aperitif for what could come in the next 45 courses.
The gaps that you felt were obvious before the Coventry game haven't really changed after it. We still need a right winger or maybe two (McAteer gave a good go at it but it's hard to imagine he's the first choice for the full season) and if Patson Daka does move on then potentially a third striking option too. If Souttar can't change another manager's mind to get himself a start then another centre back wouldn't go amiss.
Helen Thompson
Not all fun and games
Let's be honest, we're still in the beta-testing phase of Enzoball. We'd probably be a lot further along if we hadn't wasted a couple of weeks sightseeing in the southeast-Asian rain. But despite that, there were plenty of encouraging signs on Sunday, against a Coventry team that - despite how much some of us in the bottom left corner of the county might not want to admit it - are a very good Championship outfit.
We looked comfortable in possession and confident going forward, while the players seem to have bought into both the new style and the coach's hands-on methods. There's a breath of confidence amongst the players, and no sign of immediate panic when falling behind. Subs were made when they were needed, and those players called upon were able to bring positive change. After the last 12 months, I'd never have thought any of that possible.
Enzoball isn't all fun and games, though. I can see us giving away goals by playing around at the back; which might not be a problem if you're 4 goals up at a bottom-three side, but very much will be in a tight game against a Stoke or Norwich. The hope is that it'll create many more chances than it gives fans in the East Stand heart attacks.
In regards to that transfer market, I think the biggest requirement is to get a few more players off the books. We've two keepers too many; so if Smithies, Iversen and Ward aren't in contention, let's get a couple off them off the wage bill. I also wouldn't be averse to seeing Castagne and Soumare moved on for similar reasons. Any income could then be invested on a real creator to help unlock the many stubborn defences we'll come across this season.
Ryan Hubbard
No more identity crisis
When it clicks, my god it was a thing of beauty. We cut through a resolute and well-organised Coventry defence like the proverbial hot knife through butter and had our decision making at the final hurdle been better, we would have headed into the break out of sight.
More than this though, was the clear and completely obvious identity Maresca has already managed to imprint on this team. Each of the signings has an obvious role within the set-up, a distinct reason for their signing. This is the crux of it, everything seems to be done with a purpose and a reason. No longer do we feel rudderless and adrift.
There are obvious shortcomings, though. Coventry were the best counter-attacking side in the league last season, and they showed it, exploiting the gaps we left in transition to target Jannick “towing a caravan” Vestergaard (who I thought, had a good first half all things considered). A wonderful performance by Hermansen was all that kept us in the game.
The Ndidi role is also key, and sadly, Wilf seems lost within it at times. His work rate and tenacity was evident once again, but the usual hesitance on the ball was clear to see as well. Praet was a game changer, the positive spin on this being that Maresca has identified this and is willing, and able, to take action to alter things.
The fans clearly need to demonstrate patience. There has to be an understanding that this team will play it out from the back, that on occasion we will have to probe and poke rather than go hell for leather in search of a goal.
We will dominate the ball under Maresca, and in Winks we have a player who will revel in it, but to do so effectively, we as a fanbase simply HAVE to give it time. This was the first game of an extremely long season, without sounding like a walking cliché, keep the faith, this was just the beginning.
Jamie Thorpe
Has that much changed?
A lot as has been made of the new style of play, but with it being heavily possession based I'm not too sure it's that dissimilar from the Brendan Rodgers philosophy and some of the football we played when he first arrived.
Obviously there are a few tweaks with Hermansen being a goalkeeper who likes to play out from the back and Ricardo was essentially playing central midfield rather than right-back with Ndidi pushed slightly further forward as a number eight.
It did seem as though we were happy to play the ball backwards much more to keep possession and I thought Winks was outstanding in midfield and if he can stay fit, he will only get better as the season goes on.
We still look short of pace at centre-half, so i'd like to see Callum Doyle move inside with either James Justin or Timothy Castagne at left-back if he stays. I think we are crying out for some creativity in midfield though, with a number 10 the priority as Ndidi is better at breaking up play.
We've needed a right-winger since Riyad Mahrez left, so that hasn't changed and I still think we're short of a striker, especially if one of them is likely to be moved on before the end of the window.
Jordan Halford
