Why Steve Cooper avoided a clear answer in Patson Daka and Tom Cannon debate as suggestions dropped

Midway through the first half, there was a flash of deja vu for the Leicester City faithful among the 3,000 spectators at Chesterfield.

Abdul Fatawu picked up the ball on the right wing, Wilfred Ndidi made an underground run and the former played a ball towards the byline for the latter resulting in a angled cross. It was a move straight from the Enzo Maresca playbook and was a common sight at the King Power Stadium last season.

While Maresca’s influences could be felt in City’s first public pre-season friendly at Shrewsbury against Palermo on Friday night, the set-up and style was even more similar to last term. There just wasn’t the win that usually followed last season.

READ MORE: Steve Cooper tackles striker question as he sets recruiting priority

READ MORE: Player ratings against Palermo as Mavididi and Ndidi impress

Fatawu, after an outing on the left in midweek, was back on the right flank. Stephy Mavididi’s starting position was on the left wing rather than in the middle. Ndidi, once again at holding midfielder in Shropshire, was once again thrust into an advanced role.

And once they found their feet after the monotonous first 30 minutes, the show was familiar too. City were much more in control than against Shrewsbury and once they established their dominance of possession they pushed high, with the back three positioning themselves halfway into Palermo’s half.

The difficulties they had in fashioning clear-cut chances against Palermo’s deep defense was not uncommon last season either. When they maneuvered themselves into the box to get a shot off, a Palermo defender was usually in the way.

There were still differences from last season. James Justin was the hybrid full-back this time, pushing from defense on the wing, while Ricardo Pereira played in the first half for Shrewsbury. The full-back who crosses into central midfield, a staple of Maresca’s plan, has yet to be used.

City didn’t use Mads Hermansen as much as last season either. But that might just be because they were so far up the field that they didn’t need to call him.

The performance and comparison with Shrewsbury gave the impression that Cooper is still experimenting, still figuring out and still deciding how much his game plan will be influenced by what has come before. He seemed much happier with the overall build-up game, suggesting he wants his side to dominate possession. But he also admitted to placing players in positions he couldn’t see playing once competitive games begin, simply to get them minutes.

As such, the time for final judgments has not yet arrived. Friendlies with Augsburg and Lens, when Tottenham open, should reveal more about the set-up, game plan and formation Cooper sees as City’s best bet for the Premier League.

Why Cooper avoided the direct answer to the striker’s question

How is the city improving? Transfers. That’s Cooper’s response, with the manager making it very clear that he feels the squad needs new recruits to compete in the Premier League.

When asked if a new striker was on City’s to-do list, Cooper gave a politician’s answer, neither yes nor no. But by answering this way, it feels like it’s leaning towards yes.

His reluctance felt like an attempt not to upset the strikers currently at the club who may still need him. If Cooper says City need a new striker, he suggests Patson Daka and Tom Cannon don’t think they are good enough and may have to leave.

Upsetting the current players is fine if Cooper can guarantee that City will sign a striker and can guarantee that those he doesn’t feel are up to snuff will leave. But those guarantees don’t exist in the transfer window, especially not at City. Daka and Cannon could still be on the team, maybe even from the start, come the Spurs.

Cooper is free to say and reiterate the club’s need for an attacking midfielder, because that won’t turn anyone’s nose out. City don’t have any players in the squad who feel they deserve to start in that role. There’s Michael Golding and Will Alves to choose from, but both know they won’t be in the 11 just yet. They won’t be surprised if a new first-choice attacking midfielder comes in.

It feels like City need a new striker. Even without considering the quality of the three currently available for Cooper, they are all very similar in their styles. Equally, neither is ideal for the role they have to play, a continuation of Maresca’s plan.

Daka, Cannon and Jamie Vardy are all at their best on the shoulder of the last defender, looking for space inside the box without dropping deep to connect the game. On Friday, Daka carried out his connection duties to a decent standard but, perhaps as a result, was not much of an attacking threat. Cannon didn’t get enough time on the field anyway.

The problem City have is that bringing in a striker who can do what he needs to do and be an improvement over the current players will cost them a lot of money. There’s no guarantee the money will be there with other positions needing fresh faces as well.

Confident Ndidi is an option but not a starter

When Cooper said some players were operating out of position simply so they could be on the court to get minutes, it felt like Ndidi was one of those he was referring to. But that doesn’t mean he had a bad game in midfield or that he looked unorthodox.

For the most part, he looked good as a pass-receiving option and had a bit of a command of his game, holding or jumping around defenders and trying bold first-time balls to try and break the line. background of Palermo. A few came off.

But maybe that’s a step too far. Maybe in the Premier League, players have to fit naturally. Despite Maresca’s attempt to make Ndidi a more rounded player, he is still a square.

Still, it’s good to see him playing with confidence. He might not be Cooper’s starter there, but in a pinch, he could still be an option.

Cooper streamlines the team as players cut back

Cooper took a large group to Evian and had a full bench at Shrewsbury. Now, the process of cutting the team has begun.

On Friday, young players such as Wanya Marcal, Brandon Cover, Sammy Braybrooke and Logan Briggs were left out of the first-team squad and instead played a friendly against non-league Leamington. It’s an indication that they may not be in the conversation for first-team involvement in the competitive season.

Besides, there was no Harry Souttar. To face Palermo, Cooper selected two 11 plus an extra goalkeeper. With Conor Coady, Caleb Okoli, Jannik Vestergaard and Ben Nelson picked, there was no room for a fifth centre-back, suggesting Souttar remains down under the new manager as he was under Maresca. A loan move is on the cards.

But for Alves and Golding, the signs are good. There are still a few weeks where selection or new signings could take them out of contention, but for now they appear to be in Cooper’s first-team plans.

Coady tips in the most competitive city battle

So three games in City’s pre-season mark the halfway point, with Augsburg, Lens and a behind-closed-doors game in Germany to follow. Who has stood out so far?

Mavididi was perhaps the most brilliant player. He looks fit, he looks sharp, he’s been an attacking threat and he seems keen to take the Premier League chance he was never given when he came through the ranks at Arsenal.

Coady was also very good. Defensively he was very solid, his passing, especially against Shrewsbury, was strong. The fact that he started both public games as skipper, even with last season’s vice-captain Ricardo on the field, points to a more prominent role for the England international.

A broken foot curtailed his preseason last summer, placing him behind Vestergaard in the pecking order. It was a position he never recovered from and made just eight starts in the Championship.

Spending most weeks on the bench would have been unusual for Coady, a present man at Wolves. Perhaps, under a new manager and with a full pre-season, he will now get the game time he hoped for when he first signed up for City. But with Vestergaard, Okoli and Wout Faes competing, there is a tough battle for playing time in the center of defence.

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