Tag: Brendan Rodgers

Youri Tielemans’ return from injury a timely boost for Leicester City

Youri Tielemans’ return from injury a timely boost for Leicester City

To say Leicester City have endured an inconsistent season so far is very much an understatement. After finishing the 2020/21 campaign with a fifth placed finish in the Premier League, and securing their first FA Cup triumph – marking it a very successful season for the Foxes – many fans had hoped the club would build from that with a fast start in the Premier League, but things haven’t quite gone to plan.

At the time of writing, Brendan Rodgers’ men sit eighth accumulating 22 points from a possible 48 before Christmas with six wins, four draws and 6 defeats. Leicester have conceded the most goals out in current the top 10 and the fourth most goals in the Premier League (27).

Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia heads towards goal before team-mate Ezri Konsa (centre) scores their side’s first goal during the Premier League match at Villa Park

Injuries and absentees have played a huge part, key individuals like Wesley Fofana and James Justin are yet to feature this season after long-term injuries, and injuries to other key stars such as Wilfred Ndidi, Jonny Evans, Jannik Vestergaard, Ryan Bertrand and Youri Tielemans have certainly unsettled Rodgers’ side and as a result, their form has suffered including getting knocked out of the UEFA Europa League in a 3-2 defeat against Napoli.

Though, their matchday 16 triumph over Newcastle provided fans with a taste of what they have been crying out for especially in the form of their midfield maestro Youri Tielemans who put in a show-stopping performance alongside in-form James Maddison and Patson Daka.

A lot has been made in recent weeks about how much Leicester City have missed Tielemans. In truth, the results and performances have been poor with and without the Belgian. But, the win over Newcastle capped a perfect display, their first clean sheet since the opening day and a partnership that could really be used as a stepping stone to improve on their fortunes heading into the busy festive period.

What Leicester have been plainly missing in recent weeks – that emerged for the first time this season on Sunday – was the combination of their two most creative players. The James Maddison-Youri Tielemans axis which could destroy just about club in the English top-flight.

Newcastle were of course the latest in a long line of potential victims.

The pair had started eight games together before they took Newcastle apart at the King Power, but they were inconspicuous displays in which one or both of them fell short of the mark during Leicester’s struggles.

Maddison, by his own admission, was way off it at the end of last season and the start of the current campaign. However, fast forward a few weeks and the 25-year-old now has four goals and four assists in his last six games and is again showing the sort of form that had him in the mix with Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish for a coveted England place.

James Maddison was truly outstanding and left the field to a rapturous ovation with a few minutes remaining having had a hand in all four goals against a ragged struggling Newcastle United side, he provided everything Rodgers needed, carrying on his stunning form. Though, it was the little Belgian magician alongside him who grabbed control of proceedings demonstrating why he is one of the most coveted midfielders in the Premier League, and the heartbeat of Leicester City.

Making his first Premier League appearance since early November, after being sidelined with a calf injury, Tielemans delivered a stellar performance. “He really is a complete player”, Brendan Rodgers said post-match.

Indeed he is. It’s remarkable to note that the Belgian now has five goals and two assists so far in the Premier League this season. Combined with James Maddison, they’ve contributed to 14 of Leicester City’s 27 goals, that’s just under half which is quite telling.

Against Newcastle, Tielemans was the orchestrator providing Leicester City with the tempo, incisive passing, defensive assurance and the control in possession that much of their play has missed in recent weeks. He was everywhere: heading balls clear in his own penalty box, shielding the make-shift back four with timely tackles, knitting play together with his sumptuous and clever passing and more importantly scoring twice on his 100th Premier League appearance.

The first was expertly dispatched from the penalty spot after James Maddison was adjudged to have been fouled by Newcastle Jamal Lascelles, and the second swept high into the roof of the net after a neat lay-off from James Maddison.

But Tielemans’ ability to take the ball on his back foot and play passes through the lines that makes him so dangerous, and Leicester such an attractive team to watch, particularly when Maddison is the recipient. The way they both bounce ideas off each other in the final third with such flowing, intricate and measured passing which dissected Newcastle’s defence with consummate ease.

Not only is Tielemans Leicester’s standout performer, but he has also been arguably the finest midfielder in England in 2021-22. Signed initially on loan from AS Monaco in January 2019, Tielemans has come to define the Rodgers era at Leicester City as much as the manager himself. After all, he’s only missed twelve out of 136 matches since the former Liverpool and Celtic boss took charge, shortly after Tielemans had made the move from Monte Carlo.

Aged just 24, it says everything about Tielemans’ character, abilities and understanding of the game that staff and teammates at the club already see him as a future coach when he hangs up his boots. Technically superb, the Belgian possesses the game intelligence, positional awareness, vision and range of passing to become one of the most coveted players in Europe let alone the Premier League.

Against Newcastle, it was the complete showing, making challenges and interceptions, box-to-box runs, telling distribution with the ball, making late runs into the box, along with an eye for goal and the ability to finish off moves that so few midfielders in Europe can boast to possess.

Both Tielemans and Maddison both possess the abilities and nous to become so effective when creating chances and scoring goals.

Both of them hold such wonderful vision and time on the ball due to their often immaculate first touches. They combine the ability to see passes many players don’t and the ability to pull them off in a variety of ways: outside flicks like one particularly outstanding Maddison through ball for the Daka goal; driven balls with the laces to slice through opposition midfields, as Tielemans performs with stunning accuracy and regularity.

Amongst midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues, Tielemans ranks in above the 90th-percentile for shot-creating actions (3.33), progressive passes (6.27) and expected assists (x.16) highlighting how crucial he is to Leicester City’s build-up play. They are much more efficient, effective and potent with both Tielemans and Maddison in the team as Newcastle found out. Also, the Belgian maestro has averaged 1.86 key passes, 5.76 final third passes and 1.19 passes into the penalty area despite performing much of his game from deep.

However, for Leicester City to become as potent as they have been for the past two years, Rodgers acknowledges the fact that he’ll need both Maddison and Tielemans operating closer to Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka/Jamie Vardy. 14 goal contributions between the two proves just why.

Out of contract in 18 months, it will certainly be intriguing to see what happens with Tielemans’ future at the King Power hanging in the balance. Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with his signature in the past, and there’s no reason why they won’t return with fresh approaches. For now though, Rodgers will be very glad to have him back fit and firing.

As the game against Newcastle proved, Tielemans is incredibly vital to Leicester City’s ambitions this season.

Tielemans has come to represent the best things about Rodgers’ Leicester: talent, tenacity, and tactical acumen. He’s a player who has won admiring glances from across the continent and one who faces a big decision in the months to come over his future.

For now, Leicester fans, soak in his incredible gifts while you can.

James Maddison has rediscovered his mojo – can he finally maintain it?

James Maddison has rediscovered his mojo – can he finally maintain it?

There’s simply no doubt about it, on James Maddison’s day he is arguably one of the most gifted attacking midfielders on the continent let alone England.

Seasoned creators like Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Hakan Çalhanoğlu to name a few of Europe’s most prestigious final third magicians; these players’ lofty elite levels aren’t too high for Maddison to reach when is on song.

In fact, there are periods in each passing season where Maddison is actually on-par with those names, grabbing the iniative in matches, and becoming Leicester City’s main creative hub when they are in desperate need of goals.

But that’s just it, they are only ‘periods’. There’s too many instances where we don’t see the real James Maddison at all. When Leicester have their backs against the wall at crucial points in the season, the midfielder is nowhere to be found, clutching at straws, and that’s what separates him from Europe’s elite creators.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

These are players who don’t only perform in spells or periods during a season, but who provide the missing ingredients and much needed inspiration on a consistent basis when their clubs need it most.

It’s no wonder why Gareth Southgate is justified in out-casting Maddison from his England setup – due his worrying consistency levels.

James Maddison is capable of reaching those incredible levels, and that’s where he must take his game to next if he is to be considered amongst those elite creators in Europe.

Last season has got to be considered his most productive yet, recording 11 goals and 9 assists in all competitions – 8 goals and 5 assists in the Premier League – but the challenge was to build on that. As successful as Leicester’s campaign was last year, it was a challenge for not only Maddison to build on those performances, but for the whole team too.

So far this season, it just hasn’t clicked for Brendan Rodgers and his men. Many expected them to be where West Ham currently are in fourth or fifth spot, a few points off the so-called ‘title challengers’, instead 13 games, in and the club currently sit in 10th place, fortunately just five points off the Champions League spots.

It was supposed to be the year Leicester took that one step further after their tremendous FA Cup success in May, the year they banked on actually breaking into the top four and finally achieving a Champions League spot after just missing out the previous two campaigns, but so far they’ve given themselves a mountain to climb.

After three league games without a win, a win over former boss Claudio Ranieri and his Watford side was paramount, and there are no prizes for guessing who stepped up when the club needed him most. Nope, it wasn’t Jamie Vardy who returned to goalscoring form, but another one of Brendan Rodgers’ go-to men; James Maddison.

A goal and two assists Maddison recorded as Leicester City triumphed 4-2 at the King Power. Just a few days earlier, the former Norwich City man hit the same goal involvements in the Europa League as the Foxes eased to a 3-1 win over Legia Warsaw.

Maddison’s return to form has been welcome and timely for the club, Brendan Rodgers and Jamie Vardy even – but most of all, for Maddison on a personal level. The 25-year-old has found his swagger and spark at just the right time for Leicester as Youri Tielemans’ absence with injury has left Rodgers without a reliable ball-player and creative outlet in the middle of the park.

Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumaré are solid enforcers in front of the back four, but you could argue neither of them possess the ability to dissect stout defences with that telling pass. James Maddison is of course Leicester’s most decisive outlet when performing those cutting edge final third passes.

It’s been a frustrating start to the campaign for Maddison, especially when his England counterparts Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount were firing on all cylinders for club and country. A campaign that has almost mirrored Leicester City’s own inconsistent displays, becoming symbiotic. It’s clear that when Maddison is a his masterful best, the whole team follows suit.

The thing is, Maddison hasn’t been at his best often enough.

The key for Maddison is to be a workhorse and a show pony. When he has been below his best, as shown in a couple instances so far this season, games have passed him by. He has been the passenger instead of the driving force Rodgers knows that he can be.

Life has dramatically changed off the field following the birth of his first child and he’s also had to contend with the unsettling nature of the speculation linking him to Arsenal. It’s understandable, but those are the kind of off-field situations that footballers have to navigate their way through, especially the elite level performers, and Maddison is no different.

After his performance against Legia Warsaw, the midfielder was asked if he had a point to prove. Maddison had started only five of the previous 13 games in which he had been included in the squad, suggesting Rodgers felt Maddison did need to prove that he had what it takes — to show that he wasn’t above being left out of the side, that his talent needed to be backed up with consistent displays. It has been a gentle kick up the backside.

However, during an important week in Leicester’s season, it finally looks as if Maddison taken heed of Rodgers’ demands and is back to his mercurial best.

“I think we always have a point to prove every single day,” Rodgers says. “For him, it was about looking at his game. He knows this is a level where you are always looking to prove yourself, always. He can never be calm with that. You always have to be intense. You have to work and when you are not working so well you have to keep focused and working hard.

“I think you can see, and not just in James, the confidence is returning. The level of the game, the movement is back and we look a real threat. But also working hard.”

What has been evidently clear of James Maddison under Brendan Rodgers, is his influence and decisiveness in much of Leicester’s attacking play. A conductor and an orchestrator in such a well-rounded unit. Whether playing in the most advanced position of a midfield three, or as a more deep-lying playmaker, or tucked in off the left-wing or in his more natural role directly behind Jamie Vardy, he is the man to set and maintain the tempo of their attacking moves.

When Maddison is in the mood, he is indeed unstoppable and that was perfectly proved against Watford. The 25-year-old provided his team with the ingredients to overcome a difficult task. Firstly, taking his goal expertly, but it wasn’t just down to him putting the ball in the back of the net, it was the unique nous and anticipation to run beyond Jamie Vardy and capitalize on any potential mistakes and that’s exactly what he did.

It’s the role of an attacking midfielder to roam beyond the striker and score goals as well as create them, and Maddison has excelled at that trait over the past year, something Rodgers instructed him to do more to get goals and assists, but unfortunately not doing it consistently enough.

The assist for Jamie Vardy’s first goal was absolutely delicious, a delicately weighted chip into the Vardy’s path on the angle, and the veteran striker put the gloss over a superb pass that only few players in the Premier League could replicate.

James Maddison’s heat-map against Watford

His heatmap above above may not seem the most productive, however, it shows the areas on the pitch in which he proved very decisive in Leicester’s attacking play, within that left half-space, an area where he can effectively roam inside and produce his dazzling creative abilities. Maddison is evidently on the ball less – only recording 53 touches against Watford – but when he is in possession of it, he is devastatingly effective, completing 100% of his dribbles, performing 3 accurate crosses – including another assist for Jamie Vardy’s second from a corner – seven chances created and 5 key passes.

If Leicester are to improve on their inconsistencies so far this season, James Maddison will once again prove central to their hopes. Getting Youri Tielemans back fit and firing can only aid their cause too.

Nevertheless, James Maddison is capable of the extraordinary, whether its the eye of the needle pass, the sumptuous first touch and the ability to locate areas in the final third in order to hurt the opposition, that’s what his game is built on.

It is now 7 goals + assists now in his last five starts in all competitions for Leicester City. The swagger and spark in his game has certainly returned, but in order for Maddison to reach those lofty heights, it needs to be combined with tenacity, a ruthless edge and a consistency that is so far unreachable in his game.

The 25-year-old is an elusive creative weapon for Brendan Rodgers, but maybe the reason Leicester haven’t taken that next level is because Maddison hasn’t yet expressed his extraordinary abilities over a prolonged period of time throughout a campaign. At such a crucial stage in Leicester City’s season, it certainly isn’t too late for him to start performing consistently right now.

The ball is in his court.

Michael Olise makes Premier League mark with brilliant cameo against Leicester City

Michael Olise makes Premier League mark with brilliant cameo against Leicester City

It was inside 50 minutes, Crystal Palace were 2-0 down against Leicester City – down but probably not out – Patrick Vieira’s men pressing and harrying their opponents but without any real incision or cutting edge in the final third. It had been the story of their season so far, conjuring up fine openings but lacking the ruthlessness when it mattered most.

Vieira knew that, and felt it was the perfect time for a change, for a fresh new impetus, and a significant one it turned out to be.

On came new summer signing and exciting young midfielder Michael Olise in place of the misfiring Jordan Ayew.

As soon as the 19-year-old wonderkid took his position on the pitch, Palace instantly stepped it up a notch and the former Reading man was at the centre of it alongside fellow substitute and goalscorer Jeffrey Schlupp, Odsonne Edouard and Wilfried Zaha.

Every time Olise took possession, he attempted to make things happen, expressing his bravery and courage on the ball, taking on Premier League experienced full-back Ryan Bertrand at every opportunity.

There was a moment soon after Olise came on, picking up the ball with his back to goal, swiveling on the half-turn past his marker before slotting a finely threaded through ball for full-back Joel Ward to rush onto.

It was only a small exhibition, but a true sign of what Michael Olise brings to Palace’s midfield. Not many players in Vieira’s weaponry possess the ability to unlock defences at such an alarming rate as Olise.

This is a uniquely and technically gifted midfielder, a delight to watch with the ball at his feet.

If you saw Olise during his Championship days, you’d know he holds a wand of a left-foot possessing the abilities not just to thread deft incisive through balls, but to cross effectively, make the most of set-piece opportunities and also the unique ability to get by a defender with the swiftness of feet and the most deceptive of movements on the ball.

The midfielder recorded an impressive 7 goals and 12 assists in the Sky Bet Championship last season making him one of the division’s most consummate, effective and influential attacking midfielders.

Under Paunovic at the Madejski stadium, Olise fulfilled a variety of roles in attack; on the left-wing, right-wing, centre-midfield and at no.10 highlighting his incredible versatility, tremendous tactical knowledge and awareness but also the superb knack of becoming an influential cog no matter where he is on the field.

Olise was used in Jordan Ayew’s position when he came on, and immediately changed the whole trajectory for Crystal Palace,. The midfielder got his just rewards scoring a scorching effort inside the box past Kasper Schmeichel just eight minutes after stepping on to the pitch.

It’s fair to say Olise has taken in his new surroundings like a duck to water, and his 30-odd minute cameo against Leicester City will have surely captured the imagination of the Palace faithful. They now know they’ve got a real talent on their hands, and that was made perfectly clear when they jeering on his name soon after scoring.

Within those 30-odd minutes, Olise recorded 28 touches of the ball, 2 key passes, 2 long balls, 2 crosses and won 2 of his aerial duels as well as three shots according to WhoScored.com. His pass percentage read at 82.4% meaning he is not afraid to create something out of nothing. If cameos are anything to go by, Michael Olise’s was very impressive.

As much as its easy to get carried away by Olise’s short stint against Leicester City, Patrick Vieira has correctly warned that Olise is not at his best form yet, and that patience must indeed be handed to the youngster as he acclimatises himself to the Premier League, he said:

“We are all really excited by his talent, but at the same time we have to understand it will take time to be a Premier League player. He is working well and hard at a good club to support him to develop himself. It’s about him keeping working, he’s doing well in training, he can score goals, but we have to support him to develop himself.

“It is a long season, so he will definitely play some games. He’s had a long injury and is not at his best yet, but he is improving and will be a really important player for us.”

Michael Olise of course must be given much time to get used to the rigours of the Premier League, though all of his impressive cameos have come against the league’s big boys in Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Leicester City. Yet another stark reminder that 19-year-old doesn’t under the weight of expectation, pressure or lofty responsibilities.

Olise’s future in a Crystal Palace looks very promising, and his performance against Leicester will have surely given Patrick Vieira something to think about heading into the international break; that he isn’t here to sit on the bench, he’s here to make his mark on the biggest stage in the country and boy, does he possess all the tools necessary to become one of the brightest young players this nation has seen.

Crystal Palace vs Leicester City: Match Preview

Crystal Palace vs Leicester City: Match Preview

KICK OFF: Sunday 3rd October 2021, 14:00PM

MATCH PREVIEW:

Two sides who have struggled for some consistency so far this season as Crystal Palace host Leicester City at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles have taken six points from their opening six games, while Leicester City have accumulated a point more from the same amount of fixtures.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have won just two of their six league games this term, most recently losing to Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion prior to drawing 2-2 with Burnley last time out.

The Foxes have also been out of character in Europe, picking up on a point from their opening two UEFA Europa League group games against Napoli and Legia Warsaw, they fell 1-0 away to the latter in midweek.

A win on Sunday will be crucial and much needed for Leicester City in order to boost morale heading into the upcoming international break.

However, Leicester City have won just one of their last five away league games against Crystal Palace and Sunday afternoon’s fixture will certainly prove a difficult test for Brendan Rodgers and his floundering team.

The Eagles are are also unbeaten in their last four games under Patrick Vieira, beating Tottenham Hotpsur either side of draws to Brentford and Brighton.

Palace were made to rue their missed chances at Selhurst against neighbours Brighton, that draw with will very much feel like two points dropped, as they conceded to a brilliant 95th-minute strike from Neal Maupay.

It had indeed been a mixed start for Patrick Vieira at his new club, but he can certainly take much more positives than negatives in his opening six Premier League games as Palace boss.

A win over Leicester City could well give Vieira and his men the impetus and confidence they need to progress even further in their development.

The good news for Palace is that Leicester have lost each of their last three away games against London clubs, most recently going down 4-1 to West Ham United last month.

PREMIER LEAGUE FORM (last six games):

Crystal Palace: LDDWLD

Leicester City: DLDWLD

MATCH FACTS:

  • Leicester City are unbeaten in all four Premier League matches against Crystal Palace under Brendan Rodgers (W3, D1). The Foxes had lost the four previous league meetings under Claude Puel.
  • However, the Foxes have won just one of their past five away matches at Selhurst Park.
  • Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their three home league games this season, conceding just one goal at Selhurst Park.
  • They could avoid defeat in their opening four home fixtures for just the second time in 25 seasons.
  • Leicester City have won only five of their past 15 league fixtures, including two of six this season.
  • The Foxes can equal their longest Premier League winless run of four matches under manager Brendan Rodgers, set in February 2020.
  • They have kept one clean sheet in 12 league games.

TEAM NEWS:

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira will select from an unchanged squad.

Former Leicester player Jeffrey Schlupp returned from a hamstring injury as a substitute against Brighton on Monday night.

Odsonne Edouard and Luka Milivojevic were brought into the side as the Eagles’ only two changes for the Brighton match, but Vieira has still yet to find his preferred XI.

Leicester City

Leicester City pair Jonny Evans and Wilfred Ndidi are both unavailable to face the Eagles.

Evans has been struggling with illness and a foot problem, while Ndidi is set to be missing for several weeks because of a hamstring injury.

Leicester can at least call upon striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who was unable to enter Poland for Thursday’s Europa League game due to a problem with his travel documents.

LIKELY LINE-UPS

Crystal Palace:

Leicester City:

SCORE PREDICTION: Crystal Palace 1-2 Leicester City

What Odsonne Edouard will bring to Crystal Palace

What Odsonne Edouard will bring to Crystal Palace

Out with the old, and in with the new.

There is a new era dawning in South London.

Crystal Palace have enjoyed a productive, efficient and tremendous summer transfer window transforming what was an ageing, rigid and in-balanced squad into arguably one of the most exciting outside the Premier League’s so called ‘top-six’ clubs.

New coach Patrick Vieira has been significantly backed in this window, and now possesses a thrilling group of players at his disposal, filled with youthful exuberance, quality, precision, industry and dynamism, a far cry from the depleted squad Roy Hodgson possessed in the latter years of his reign.

The squad desperately needed a revamp, a refreshed outlook and Vieira has now got what he needs to take the club into the next level.

Roy Hogdson could only take the club as far as he could, year-after-year consummately steering them away from the dreaded state of relegation, and therefore solidifying their positioning as a stable Premier League outfit.

Vieira will now be tasked in leading this new-look Palace side into much more loftier waters, and the players he now holds at his disposal means the expectations to deliver are now higher than ever.

Marc Guehi, Joachim Andersen, Michael Olise, Will Hughes, and Connor Gallagher have all been recruited to provide the club with a much more attractive and pleasing-on-the-eye outfit, one that will certainly excite the Selhurst Park faithful.

Though, arguably the most exciting capture of the lot could certainly be the dramatic transfer deadline day capture of Celtic’s French goal-machine Odsonne Edouard, bought for a fee of around £14.67m.

The 23-year-old became Palace’s seventh signing of the summer in a deal that could potentially rise as high as £18 million via add-ons, depending upon the level of success Edouard enjoys at Selhurst Park.

The whole deal in all fairness plainly reads ‘bargain’.

There is much for Palace fans to be excited about in Crystal Palace’s acquisition of Edouard. The club have for a long while needed a consistent goalscorer, or even a player who exudes goals not just in scoring them but creating them also.

The Paris Saint-Germain academy product’s ability is far from limited to just his goalscoring, but it is his record in finding the back of the net that firstly stands out above all else.

Since his move to Celtic Park from Paris Saint-Germain, his goalscoring record reads at 77 goals in 150 games for the Scottish giants, an astonishing rate.

Every single season, Edouard is guaranteed over 20 goals. 23 during the 2018/19 first domestic treble winning campaign under Brendan Rodgers, 29 in another treble triumph during the 2019/20 season and 22 goals last season while Celtic unfortunately finished trophyless.

Despite a healthy goal-return last season, Edouard did have his difficulties largely as a result of him wanting a move away from Scotland to a much bigger outfit. There is now an opportunity for the striker to kick on in a career where his impressive rise has somewhat faltered.

The promise of a move away from Celtic before the 2020/21 campaign failed to materialise, leaving him unsettled, but he still recorded such impressive numbers scoring 22 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions. He averaged a goal every 99 minutes in the Scottish Premiership last season, a superb return by anyone’s standards.

His underlying stats were excellent, with an average expected goals (xG) of 0.74 per 90 minutes, and 0.21 expected assists (xA) per 90 meaning the Frenchman is an incredibly efficient goalscorer as well as a flamboyant creator. Crystal Palace hugely require both, as evidenced by their only two goals in the opening 3 Premier League games so far.

At times so far this season, Vieira’s attacks have often looked disjointed, or lacking in any real precision and fluidity until Connor Gallagher stepped up to the plate in Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke’s influential absence against West Ham. In Edouard, Palace can potentially kill two birds with one stone solving both their goalscoring deficiencies and their imbalance when creating chances.

Edouard is a tremendously elegant and multi-functional player. The Frenchman oozes confidence and quality when he steps on the pitch. Up-front maybe his natural position, but his contributions and influence in attack run deeper. This is a footballer who is very technically gifted, with a deceptively good first touch, terrific close control and a vast range of finishing.

As well as being a ruthless goalscorer, Edouard recorded impressive assist numbers in the SPFL, 21 in his five years at Celtic Park, showcasing his creative spark and abilities in the final third.

Edouard regularly acts as the team’s main creative hub from the front in order to create space and opportunities for his teammates. He loves to drop into the half-space to exchange passes before moving into spaces vacated by the defence. While its so effective and complimentary of Celtic’s attacking play, it is also bamboozling for opposing defenders, they are often left confused as to who to mark.

We all know Crystal Palace need such a player, for too long during Roy Hodgson’s tenure, they’ve heavily relied on the spark and creativity of Wilfried Zaha, often looking lost and hopeless without him. Now under Vieira, Palace possess players who can unlock defences in abundance. Odsonne Edouard is the common denominator, potentially along with Ebere Eze when he returns from injury and Michael Olise too – a trio of creative enforcers who will tantalize the taste buds of Crystal Palace fans.

Edouard’s dribbling abilities emerge from his South American roots. He is rarely exuberant or the showboating type with the ball, but he exhibits an effective use of his control in tight spaces and a technique which few players in the Scottish division can match. It’s abilities such as this, his fantastic movement, and effective link-up play making him such a dangerous outlet within the final third.

Averaging both 0.70 goals per 90 minutes, and 0.15 assists per 90, it’s no wonder why he was the Scottish Premiership’s most deadliest forward.

His goals and assist ratio per 90 last year, read at 0.85. The forward is a creative phenom, performing as Celtic’s driving force spearheading almost every attacking scenario.

Palace have acquired a striker who is more than just a goalscorer. There’s not many strikers in the Premier League currently who can boast at such a wealth of versatile qualities.

It is his movement and positioning which stands out in particular, while the 23-year-old has also demonstrated many of the features required for the role he will likely play under Vieira; excellent at dropping deep, linking up with his fellow forwards, drifting wide and spearheading Vieira’s knack for playing a possession-based game.

That constant movement and mobility will aid Palace’s game considerably, with Edouard just as good in the air as he is with his feet. He is considerably more agile, more flexible and more intelligent than Christian Benteke, whilst also capable of creating openings on his own rather than relying on others to provide for him – as Benteke’s game is based.

Edouard is also highly adaptable too. He has performed admirably and consistently despite the changes in philosophy Celtic underwent in the past few years, from the patient possession-based system under Brendan Rodgers, to the risk-taking approach under former manager Neil Lennon. It is a sign of his suitability to different systems and his versatility also.

He possesses the pass and move intelligence to perform well in a possession-based system and the speed of thought, movement and clinical edge to also thrive in a pressing, and counter-attacking system.

Edouard fits perfectly into the Palace’s refreshing model of recruitment this summer. The risky decision to prioritise youth to reach a degree of sustainability will have been factored heavily in this move. The silky forward will provide plenty of competition for Benteke, but it also means Palace will possess two very different forwards: one who fits Vieira’s mode of playing and the other who will strongly disrupt and dispel opposition forwards to aid his teammates, an effective plan B.

It provides an alternative style of forward player who can be utilised effectively when switching between game-plans during matches. More importantly though, Palace will now no longer just be the defensively resolute and counter-attacking side they were under Roy Hodgson, they will hopefully be more fluid, more expansive and certainly more clinical with the addition of the brilliant Odsonne Edouard.

Lining up alongside Ebere Eze, Michael Olise, Conor Gallagher and Wilfried Zaha will certainly be an absolutey thrilling prospect for Patrick Vieira to unleash, possessing arguably the most exciting of forward lines in the Premier League.

How Crystal Palace could line-up with a fully fit squad to choose from:

If the giant strides Odsonne Edouard enjoyed at Celtic is replicated at Premier League level then the fee, reduced anyway as a result of only having a year left on his contract in Glasgow, then the 23-year-old will prove a yet another superb bargain as Palace continue their impressive transition this summer.

Building such an alternate side takes time, but the capture of a player possessing the abilities of Odsonne Edouard can only compliment Palace’s rebuild even further. What a magnificent summer Crystal Palace have had.

Leicester City have secured their future in attack with the signing of Patson Daka

Leicester City have secured their future in attack with the signing of Patson Daka

Leicester City have confirmed the signing of striker Patson Daka from Red Bull Salzburg, with the fee thought to be around £23m.

The Zambian forward, who scored 34 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions last season, signed a five-year contract at the King Power Stadium.

A striker had been high on Brendan Rodgers’ priority list this summer, and 22-year-old Daka emerged as Leicester’s number one target despite Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard also being linked to the club.

“I’m so, so excited to join this great, historic club. It has been my dream and I’m so happy and looking forward to what’s coming next,” Daka told LCFC TV.

“I have followed Leicester from the time they won the league. I feel it is the perfect place for me, because it’s a team that fights for titles. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I feel ready to face this new challenge.

“I will give my best for the club each and every day, and I look forward to seeing the Leicester City fans inside the stadium soon.”

Leicester City have yet again undergone another astute piece of business, more importantly the club have also secured their future post-Jamie Vardy with Patson Daka’s capture.

The club had been monitoring Daka for a significant period of time and feel this is the perfect period for them to sign the striker, after his tremendous goalscoring feats last season in Austria, scoring 34 goals in 42 games (27 goals in 28 games in the Austrian Bundesliga).

The Zambian joined Salzburg as a teenager in 2017 and signed a five-year contract. He broke into the first team in 2019 and has been an absolute revelation since then, becoming one of Europe’s most devastating strikers. Daka was named Austrian Bundesliga player of the season this year after his extraordinary scoring record as well as providing seven assists for his teammates, finishing the season with 34 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.

Brendan Rodgers have been searching for an eventual successor to Jamie Vardy for a long while, searching for players with the potential to be honed and developed and one they can ease into a first-team role gradually, Daka represented the perfect addition.

Rodgers had always stated he wanted a striker who is incredibly mobile, pacey, energetic, can stretch defences by running in-behind at speed and fits the profile of his emerging side. All of those characteristics are all similarities to Jamie Vardy’s game, and Daka is built in the same mould, but a more fresh, young and vibrant alternative.

Standing at 6ft 1in, Daka also offers a physicality that is rarely seen in Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho, and a focal point that will allow Leicester City to become more flexible and devastating in the attacking third.

Patson Daka was seen as the replacement for Erling Haaland when the Norwegian left Salzburg for Dortmund in January 2020, and the Zambian has repaid that faith to such incredible effect, bagging 61 goals in 87 appearances in the last two seasons alone.

Daka is of course in a similar mould to Jamie Vardy, and that will have been plainly in the thoughts of Leicester’s recruitment team. Of course, expectations of him will be managed carefully, given that he is arriving from a league that is not as robust and competitive as the Premier League.

Once Daka is in full flow, eventually, he’d be almost unstoppable. His profile is of a player who has fantastic raw pace and great movement, one who is also of a ‘fox in the box’ ilk. He comes alive in the penalty area and like Vardy, enjoys playing on the shoulder of the last defender.

Unlike Iheanacho, Daka rarely gets involved in the build-up – again, similar to Vardy – but once the ball comes to him, he’s either finishing moves or assisting someone else. Players like James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Harvey Barnes would absolutely thrive playing off Patson Daka because of his energy, constant movement and ability to find the perfect pockets of space in order to get an effort on goal.

There are several key components to Daka’s style. His speed and agility over short distances stand out.

His acceleration can be devastating, tearing past seemingly flat-footed defenders with an aura of grace in his long strides. He is a tremendous athlete, incredibly energetic and a non-stop runner which is a nightmare for even the most elite of defenders.

The Zambian is so smart in how he uses his athleticism to his advantage. It makes him a very adept poacher, pouncing on loose balls in the box, reacting quicker than anyone in congested areas. In that act, he is very well capable of creating something for himself out of nothing. It’s clear, Jamie Vardy isn’t getting any quicker, so Daka represents the perfect and swift solution to fill that void.

When Daka has time on his hands – particularly when through on goal – he is at his most clinical. He possesses such a unique knowledge of when to time his runs across defenders and latch onto through balls. Once Daka takes a pass in his stride, it is simply game over for his opponent; he is simply no slouch when the opportunity arises to go in one-on-one with a goalkeeper.

Once he picks his spot, there’s no stopping him. Daka holds an assured aura about him when finishing chances, like a throwback to the great Samuel Eto’o. His finishes itself are a foregone conclusion; he is a good striker of the ball, crucially with both feet which makes him so dangerous when an opportunity arises.

Last season, he contributed 1.4 non penalty goals or assists per90 mins, the best of any player in the Austrian top-flight. Daka can also be described by casual observers as a player who relies on scoring tap-ins, but that isn’t to say most of his goals comes as a tremendous amount of luck for him. In fact, it all owes to his predatory movement and instincts in the penalty box. He knows where to be in order to score goals and that’ll be a valuable trait at Leicester City.

At times last season, Brendan Rodgers lacked the potency to finish off chances, ultimately sacrificing a priceless Champions League spot for next season. Once Patson Daka beds himself in, he could provide that missing ingredient in front of goal, that incredible potency when needed.

In Salzburg’s customary 4-2-2-2 system, Daka usually lined up with a strike partner in Mergim Berisha or Karim Adeyemi offering such exhilarating pace, movement and the ability to stretch opposition defences. Rodgers usually favours a lone-frontman, but showed his superb flexibility tactically when proposing a twin attack of Vardy and Iheanacho towards the end of last season. Daka isn’t foreign to that, and will certainly fit in perfectly whatever formation Rodgers utilises.

Patson Daka is set to be Brendan Rodgers’ long-awaited man. While Jamie Vardy is unfortunately on the wane, Leicester City and their fans can move forward knowing that their future in attack is in safe hands.