Mind the gap - Hazzetta dello Sport 2024 - Issue 16: Wolves (H)
An unfortunate late edition of the Hazzetta this week caused by two Christmas lunches which have resembled a stag do away. The first of which would be the perfect scene if, in an alternative universe on Italian Channel 4, there was a Giacomo Richardisono.
A pint of London Pride outside one of the pubs within Leadenhall Market while reviewing the Sun, the Times and the Telegraph would be the perfect English mirror to the Italian gelato in a piazza. Historically, the location was a market as far back as the 14th century and it is said to have been the centre of Roman Britain, known as Londinium.
It's a consistent filming location for TV and film when depicting London, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It was also part of the 2012 London Olympics marathon course. You may be thinking why are we waffling about all this? Well, to avoid mentioning the performance, the result and all of the limitations exposed by Leicester City’s defeat at St James Park last weekend.
Equally, to dodge recounting the quiet, assured tone last week when previewing the game in Newcastle. We thought maybe that our lack of drama and confidence might foresee a new Leicester City under Ruud Van Nistelrooy where we just tick over calmly towards safety.
That dream blew up within fifteen minutes of the half time break. The first half wasn’t pretty watching. The Magpies overwhelmed City with repeated attacks and shots towards the goal. They managed to get to one in before half time where a corner routine wasn’t well defended but it was a film we had seen before. One goal behind, and then the comeback is on its way.
Alas that film became a horror at the sight of Danny Ward warming up to replace Mads Hermansen. Within ten minutes of him being on the pitch, it was 4-0 and the poor squad depth fully exposed. Even in the Championship with its higher number of games, the squad never felt as stretched as this.
Jon Rudkin’s handiwork as a director of football was showcased here. Those deputies were a combination of players given contract extensions with little justification, players signed for far too much money and others just without the proper quality control you’d expect from someone who is tasked with shaping how your football club operates.
Hence even my own belief has altered across the week from thinking we had a chance of staying up to utterly no chance. It has felt as though the season hinged upon news of how bad the injury to Mads Hermansen was. Thus it was a relief to hear that there’s a chance of him being available for Sunday.
Part of me feels as though I’d be happy for him to play against Wolves and then give him the night off v Liverpool. Alongside this it looks Harry Winks should be back fit too with Wilf Ndidi not too far behind as well.
However, Wolves look just as much as depleted and crackpot as the Foxes. While we are unaware of Matheus Cunha’s availability (a bizarre event where there’s been a charge, no confirmed appeal, no confirmed suspension but clear evidence of him being idiotic).
Their defence is depleted substantially; against Ipswich, they had to field right-back Nelson Semedo at centre-back. They finally gave Gary O’Neil the sack when his problems didn’t just seem to stem beyond the players playing football but also their inability to keep discipline.
His replacement, Vitor Pereira, is a real leftfield choice. Not liked by more than one fanbase where he managed, he’s a fiery character but has managed to collect championships in China, Portugal and Greece.
Wolves were not the only club in the relegation scrap to decide for a change. Brussell Martin wouldn’t compromise his footballing style and Southampton wanted to avoid the same season Burnley had last time out. That two records were spoken about during his last game managing the Saints speak volumes; Spurs looked ready to threaten the 9-0 record at 5-0 lead over half time and many are wondering if Southampton could test Derby’s lowest ever Premier League total of 11.
The Saints supposed choice of Ivan Juric is most likely down to their Serbian owner but based on his time at Genoa, Verona and Torino where he matured clubs away from the relegation zone there’s some sound thinking. However, he’s only just been sacked by Roma where he found it incredibly tough to take someone else’s constructed squad and turn their fortunes around.
All of this makes the match on Sunday difficult to predict; Leicester are short of options in personnel while Wolves have a new manager who’s immediately got to work just three days before his first game.
There’s no confirmation that either team will have their most important players playing. However, the game is hugely pivotal in the context of maintaining a gap above the relegation zone before we hit a run of three games against top five opposition. There are so many ingredients which make you think City will fall on their face against Wolves; it’s never easy.
