Week 13: Well I got the result and United’s formation wrong. But there is always room to learn.
Leicester City v Everton
I picked this game because my gut is telling me that Silva is heading for the chopping block and this game could be the the tipping point. Brendon Rodgers has come back to the EPL and brought Leicester back to glory. They are in their best form since their title winning season and playing some amazing football. Everton are three points above the drop, and with their form could be looking at a rough season if they can not turn things around in a hurry.
Leicester City
Form
Leicester City comes into this match on the back of six consecutive wins in all competitions. Last time out, they beat an in-form Brighton and Hove Albion side quite soundly. They continue to get contributions from their front 5, with goals from Vardy (leading goal scorer in the EPL) and Ayoze Perez (been reborn in a Leicester kit). They continue to impress in the back, coming on four consecutive clean sheets, and giving up 2+ goals only once this season, to Liverpool.
Tactics
Brandon Rodgers has brought a 4-1-4-1 formation to Leicester City. It has been highly effective in bringing out the best form from their attackers. Having the four attacking midfielders behind Vardy has allowed him to focus on running the channels, rather than hold up play. The midfield four has the freedom to be fluid and interchange positions. For the most part, James Maddison stays in one of the two central positions, allowing for his range of passing to be effective and enhance the offense. The vital cog to this entire formation is that one defensive midfielder. You need someone who can cover enough ground, and break up play efficiently, allowing the attacking midfielders to continue to push up. Finally, the backs provide extra width, overlapping the outside midfielders. The overlaps open up channels for Vardy to get into and create two on one situation for easier time crossing the ball.
Team News
The big news for Leicester City is that defender Johnny Evans is healthy are should be ready for the full 90 after being withdrawn early due to fatigue last week. This means Brandon Rodgers is going into the match with no injury concerns to his major stars.
Players to Watch
Might seem a bit lazy picking James Maddison, but with how Everton looked last week, I think he is due for a big game. His vision to thread passes into the channels for the wider midfielders, and Jamie Vardy should expose the flaws that Everton have had this season. After watching Norwich use those channels to get after Everton’s back four think Maddison is going to rip them open.
Everton
Form
Not much has gone right for Everton this season so far. Last week they lost to a struggling Norwich side, who has looked lost in the previous weeks. There are many questions to be answered this weekend. The biggest one to me is can Marco Silva get the players believing in what he is saying. If it seems he has loss the dressing room then he needs to be sacked. This is a good weekend to judge, since you should be able to motivate your side to go against the second place team in the league.
Tactics
They play a 4-2-3-1 but at times I don’d think the players want to do this so overall, who the hell knows whats going to happen.
Team News
Everton will be without Coleman, Schneiderlin, Walcott, and Delph for this coming weekend. And while Marco Silva keeps stating that injuries are not the reason for his sides poor form, they have started to mount. Missing this experienced group, will leave him with a younger side. Even one of their youngster Beni Baningime picked up a mid week knock in U-21 action, leaving them quite short in the midfield. Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes are still out with long term injuries, not helping to the situation either. Bernard has been back in training but is not match fit.
Player to Watch
This my feel like a cop out but the person to watch is Marco Silva. Can he get these players to finally respond for him. Can he get the tactics right. Can he get the team selection right. His job is on the line and he needs to perform
Didn’t get this up in time
If this had been posted in time I would have gone for a Leicester victory around 3-0. As it was, Everton put up a very good display, probably giving Silva another week. Let’s see if he survives the chop as the holiday fixture congestion begins.