How will Leicester City line up next season?

The personnel chosen by Steve Cooper will be determined to some extent by the line-up employed. Evidence from his managerial career so far suggests the Welshman is prepared to be more pragmatic than his Italian predecessor at the King Power Stadium. In the Championship, Forest played a back three with flanks and a big press. As FoL previously pointed out, however, some heavy defeats in the Premier League have forced Cooper to change his formation, becoming much more defensive and relying on quick counter-attacks.

We’ll know more when the team line up in the first proper pre-season friendly against Shrewsbury on Tuesday night. Hints about Cooper’s intentions have come from centre-back Conor Coady, who told a reporter that the Leicester boss does not intend to change too much, and Jordan Blackwell of the Leicester Mercury, who pointed out that the Foxes have lined up with a back four during their training camp. in France.

On the other hand, what happens in a training exercise is not necessarily a good guide, not least because four key players on the pitch – Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, Victor Kristiansen and Bobby De Cordova-Reid – are still on vacation after competing in international tournaments. Furthermore, why bother signing Caleb Okoli if the intention is not to play a back five, given that the club already has a surplus of players in that position? In Saturday’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Villarreal, City, again according to Blackwell, played with full-backs when in possession and a 4-4-2 when they didn’t have the ball.

For what it’s worth, I suspect Leicester’s line-up next season, and therefore the starting eleven, will change accordingly. Against lesser opposition, a more adventurous 4-3-3 is likely, while against the Premier League’s elite, particularly away from home, a more solid 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 might be preferred.

Assuming a back five will be the manager’s preferred option, I predict the following starting eleven for the opener against Spurs on August 19. Between the sticks will be Mads Hermansen operating behind a back three of Wout Faes, Jannik Vestergaard and Caleb Okoli. It is more difficult to predict the back of the wings. Ricardo Pereira is likely to be on the right, although last season he was more effective in a reversed role. On the left, the most obvious choice would be natural left-hander Kristiansen if he chooses to stay with the club.

There is also Luke Thomas, who is back with the club after a loan spell. James Justin’s pace might be preferable, though. A more left-wing pick (excuse the pun) would be Abdul Fatawu who has shown his ability and willingness to defend when needed. I have a sneaking suspicion, at least initially, Cooper might try the Ghanian at fullback.

The two central midfielders are likely to be Harry Winks and Wilfred Ndidi, with the latter returning to his more familiar role as a number six after experimenting with playing him further back last campaign.

Two of the three forwards will be Jamie Vardy (or Patson Daka, depending on the fitness of Leicester’s number nine) and Stephy Mavididi. The third could be Bobby De Cordova-Reid, although the club appear to be in the market for another attacking midfielder. A move for Argentine Matias Soule appears to be dead in the water, with the Foxes gravitating towards alternatives such as Celtic’s Matt O’Riley and Colombia international Richard Rios.

So my squad for the opening day match against Tottenham is:

Hermansen

Pereira

Face

Vestergaard

Okoli

Girl

wink

Ndidi

De Cordova-Reid/new signing

Vardy

Mavididi

Do you agree Foxes fans?