Rating every Leicester City summer signing - #5: Stephy Mavididi
Given our collective lack of experience of watching mid-table Ligue 1 football, we waited until after we’d seen Stephy Mavididi in action to rate his signing. So we’re basically judging him on one game instead…
David Bevan: 7.5
After an hour or so of Sunday’s opening game, I wouldn’t exactly say I was ready to write Mavididi off but I was close. That was more due to being in the middle of a full-on internal meltdown at the prospect of losing games in the Championship against teams like Coventry but, as the Foxes Trust rightly say, we are where we are.
Except we’re not where we will be in a few weeks and months, when Enzo Maresca’s big idea will be planted a lot more firmly in our players’ minds - and we’ll actually know who those players will be. The whole point of Enzo’s Idea is that you need hours and hours on the training pitch to get used to it, which Mavididi clearly hasn’t had yet.
Against Coventry, he was largely left to his own devices and repeatedly asked to beat a full-back who kept nullifying him - then Coventry made a substitution and Mavididi came to life. So I saw enough in that last period of the game to think he can fit into the system.
My big takeaway is that I thought he looked good defensively, at which point I’m going to hit you with some more Stephy stats to go with the recent Stephy graph:
Mavididi was one of only two Leicester players to register more than one tackle against Coventry - 2, to Doyle’s 3 (FotMob)
He was also ranked in the 70s and above as a percentile when judged against other attacking midfielders and wingers in the top 5 leagues last season for tackles, blocks and clearances (FBref)
Without a recognised left-back behind him when we’re in possession, he’s going to have to be good defensively as well as showing he can beat a man. I’m cautiously optimistic.
Jordan Halford: 8
I didn't know anything about Stephy Mavididi before he signed but considering he had only had two or three days training with the squad and hasn't played a game in pre-season with us, I don't think you could have asked much more from his debut.
He looks confident on the ball, has plenty of tricks up his sleeve and likes to be direct and run at his man. If we can get Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on the right and Cesare Casadei in the 10 alongside him, I think we will be a real handful for teams going forward this season.
It's still a work in progress and like Harry Winks, I think there's plenty more to come from him.
Jamie Thorpe: 8
As debuts go, it was very encouraging indeed. A bit shaky to start with, and obviously on completely different wavelengths to Callum Doyle and his team-mates at times (understandable, the guy has barely unpacked his suitcase yet), but things improved as the game went on.
Full of tricks, and more than happy to use them, he demonstrated everything Harvey Barnes’s detractors moaned about during his time at Leicester – he runs directly at his man, going outside as well as inside and is always looking to get on the ball. One particular turn had the entire stadium on their feet, and he directly contributed to both goals.
He loses his man defensively far too easily, despite showing willingness to work back, but this can be forgiven as long as his attacking output continues. If he continues in this vein, hard to give the signing below an 8.
Helen Thompson: 7
I was happy we signed a winger but Mavididi’s numbers hadn't exactly set the world on fire lately.
He really came into the Coventry game in the second half though and looks like he's got a few different ways to beat his man up his sleeve.
There are early signs of promising partnerships with our other players and you can't fault his passion and excitement levels!
James Knight: 6
After half an hour or so against Coventry he was in danger of a L'Equipe-esque zero. But the second half showed he has a bit about him, and just by virtue of being a winger with some previous experience of professional football he deserves a few marks.
It's a wait and see for now. He needs help on the other side to give him the best chance of success, while it looks like he's going to have to do his work without an overlapping full back outside him to create space. I'm not convinced he's got a particularly high ceiling, given he's already in his mid-20s and his goal record isn't anything amazing to write home about, and I have strong misgivings about handing a winger the hallowed number ten shirt.
Ultimately though, this is a relatively low-risk signing. He clearly has a bit of pace and showed flashes of genuine skill against Coventry. He's not the most exciting signing in the world, but (hopefully) the worst that can happen is he ends up a decent squad option.
Becky Taylor: 8
I'm conscious that we've had a winger recently who had a good debut then disappeared into thin Brazilian air, but I saw enough to be confident Mavididi will live up to and maybe surpass the rating.
I'd have given him a score of 7/10 for the Coventry game - big part in both goals but plenty of room for improvement. Early on he looked like the out-ball, but in the mid-section of the game him and Doyle seemed on completely different wavelengths.
He frustrated me at times, mainly for not making that run into the space between the full back and centre back. I can deal with him getting tackled trying to take someone on, but that run would have avoided the need to take them on every time.
The decision making was bang on for both goals which showed he'd grown into the game and found his feet. Almost as pleasing was his own little celebration after the second goal and the prolonged post-match applause to the fans which was a simple delight to see.
I fear he'll be given a hard time by our fans as he will have spells of being frustrating - that's the nature of many wingers - but I'm really happy with his signing.
Oh and someone get me a video of that bit of skill from the first half please?
Iain Wright: 8.5
Football is amazing isn't it! I came away from the game feeling Mavididi looked good. He showed plenty of promise and got better as the game went on. If KDH had spotted him in the second minute, he may well have had a goal too.
However, I've seen a fair amount post match basically lamenting the fact he's not Harvey Barnes and/or didn't do enough!
I feel he adds some excitement, gives us pace and looks like he's got a trick or two to get past players (which Barnes never had). He'll be a vital cog in this system and can only improve with more time with his teammates.
Even Mahrez didn't set the world alight on his debut. As with everything, let's be patient, accept that we can no longer buy 'ready made talents' and give him time to settle and improve.
Adam Hodges: 8.5
A winger who can take others on and provide link-up play with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Stephy more than filled Harvey Barnes's shoes.
He looks quicker with the ball at his feet compared to Barnes.
An impressive debut and I’m excited to see his potential.
Andrew Smith: 6
After the Tete experience, I’m a bit wary of judging a new winger on one performance. But here goes. In the first half he barely got going, routinely being blocked or tackled. So unerringly did he find the blind alleys I couldn’t help wondering if he’d end up being substituted.
But then. The left-side passing lanes seemed suddenly unblocked. Doyle and KDH were playing inviting passes to his feet, and beyond the Coventry back line, and just as suddenly Mavididi was up and running – beating his opponents, holding up the ball well and generally showing a sharp game intelligence.
If the first half was the real Stephy he’s a demoralisingly familiar 4/10 winger. If the second half is more of an accurate reflection, he’s an 8/10. For now I’ll say a halfway house 6/10 with a fairly confident hope that, in the fullness of time, he’ll prove to be better than that.
