Hazzetta dello Sport 2024/25 - Issue 1: Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur
There is no other club like Leicester City. We are marvellous. We are mad. We have been promoted but we are dreading the new season. The Hazzetta is back to dissect the malaise while you nurse your badly needed caffeine hit.
It is very tempting to list the errors of judgement Leicester City have made in the last eight months and then scream Parklife. Or alternatively, use Renton’s ‘Choose’ monologue from Trainspotting.
We have taken the view to avoid going over the same ground despite how particularly difficult that is. This week has highlighted the inability to secure signings; which has left everyone making various conclusions.
Is it a question that the existing hierarchy are unable to get a signing over the line? Is it that the club is such an unattractive proposition that very few players want to join? Is it a case that we are targeting the wrong profile of player?
We believe that the latter is the important part. The financial reset of the club should have led to a realignment of the transfer policy; three signings of last summer in Mads Hermansen, Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu gave the answers and the profile of player to target this forthcoming season.
We’ve seemingly ignored this to chase after that ‘Premier League experience’ or a player with a background of playing at European competition level. The issue with that is if I search through the last few signings which fit those criteria; it’s not pretty reading and illustrates several players who become burdens financially. The positivity of seeing players looking up towards us rather than down and from lesser viewed leagues is that they are low wages, non-risky value and would be an asset in the Championship.
A week is a long time in LCFC world. Any poor soul who spent their time to travel and visit Lens or risk internet viruses and spyware to source a stream of the game was questioning their choice.
It is pre-season after all though, right? Nothing is won now.
This is true. However, across the pre-season fixtures, there has been little cohesion, tactically it looked a mess, and we’ve reached the eve of the season with five injuries.
Losing is fine if there is an idea. There doesn’t appear to be any. A club with conviction would preach ‘keep calm and carry on’. Now though, there’s a sudden urgency to sign players. The panic button hasn’t just been just pressed - rather, they’re hitting their head against it hoping it might finally work.
It’s sad and almost chilling to think the last time I personally saw Leicester City fans leaving a ground with immense, child-like excitement at Deepdale. That’s evaporated into something approaching comfort because at 8pm Monday night, I can ignore everything around the sport and just watch a game.
Tottenham spent their pre-season mostly in Asia. After wins over Hearts and Queens Park Rangers, they played out high-scoring games with Vissel Kobe (3-2 win) and K-League All Stars (4-3 win). That vibe continued in a double header with Bayern Munich; a 2-1 loss in Seoul and a 3-2 loss at home last weekend. There are some main takes which should help the Foxes in this fixture.
The high-scoring nature of the games come from Ange Postecoglou’s preference to play a high line; this has been a defence lacking the pace of Micky Van De Ven most of the summer and he should be back for the opener. Spurs will always leave an opening on the counter-attack and if used right, Leicester do have the tools to take advantage of this.
A weakness Leicester are less likely to take advantage of is Spurs’ poor defence at set-pieces. This is an issue which stretches back to last season and Postecoglou has publicly stated that they did not need a set-pieces coach.
Despite this, Spurs look well set in their selection.
Yves Bissouma’s decision to intake laughing gas (now illegal) and show himself doing it on social media has meant a imposed ban for our fixture.
The defence will see Cristian Romero and Van De Ven likely to return. Left-back remains a poser; Djed Spence has spent a lot of pre-season playing there. A debate in the midfield exists - if James Maddison should be dropped for new signing Lucas Bergvall. The front three with a newly-signed Dominic Solanke looks impressive with Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski.
In contrast, City’s starting eleven is unknown. There has been no constantly selected defensive line during the friendlies; Ricardo has been sidelined and Conor Coady is injured. It is unknown if Steve Cooper fancies James Justin over Victor Kristiansen at left-back. The introduction of Facundo Buonanotte in midfield is another poser; Harry Winks is a certain starter and most likely Wilfred Ndidi alongside him. While finally we have a single fit striker, Tom Cannon, but Cooper has shown no indication that he will select him.
Our scheduling this weekend acts as the perfect final dampener to everything else we’ve discussed. Being positioned on Monday night feels like that point of Christmas Day evening where you’ve eaten three courses, the chocolate has been out, and now Mum has brought some sandwiches. You don’t need it, but you have it anyway.
Anyway, welcome back. This has been written while listening to the Guardian’s season preview predict 20th, 20th, 20th and 17th. Enjoy.
