JibrinFor Andy King’s first match as interim manager in late January, only four healthy midfielders were available to fill the three positions at Leicester City. Twenty-nine minutes in, Hamza Choudhury limped out.
But six weeks later, with Aaron Ramsey back in training and hoping to feature after the international break, City will soon have nine players competing for those three roles: Choudhury, Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp, Jordan James, Louis Page, Joe Aribo, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Divine Mukasa and Ramsey.
It presents a pleasant headache for Gary Rowett. Here, our City writers share their thoughts on the ideal trio to be selected.
Football writer and Foxes fan Amie Wilson writes: The midfield is a welcome dilemma heading into the final games of the season.
Before the victory over Bristol City, I was leaning toward a midfield of Harry Winks, Jordan James and Divine Mukasa, but Oliver Skipp’s display on Tuesday may have just altered that. He was crucial to the clean sheet, and his energy in covering the pitch is certain to influence other players.
James’ ability to score means I don’t believe he can be omitted very often now that he’s regained fitness, but then the decision between Winks or Skipp alongside him is an extremely tough one, and I believe it will come down to the opponent and the tactical approach.
If we want to dominate possession and dictate play, then Winks would be a solid pick, whereas Skipp probably offers greater defensive security.
Winks entering from the bench on Tuesday reclaimed control of the match and could prove to be quite valuable as the fixtures accumulate.
While Bobby De Cordova-Reid has begun the last few matches in the number 10 position, I feel Mukasa, regardless of his youth, brings a bit more inventiveness. Again, it may hinge on the game plan, but I would enjoy witnessing the connection between him and James on the field.
With three matches per week, it might be sensible for Rowett to rotate the midfield based on the opponent and style of play.
The resources at his disposal mean he can accomplish this without sacrificing much quality from game to game or during a match when introducing players to the pitch, which is a genuinely encouraging scenario to have.
City correspondent Jordan Blackwell writes: During this stretch of fixtures, versus mid-table teams in inconsistent form, I’d like to see Divine Mukasa and Jordan James paired together, at minimum to observe how they complement each other.
Mukasa’s vision and James’ late surges into the box could form an ideal partnership, one that poses a significant offensive danger and is hard for opposing defenders to contain.
Similar to Amie, I’d likely have earlier favored Harry Winks, but Tuesday evening served as a reminder that Oliver Skipp might be more effective when operating in the deeper position on his own.
I don’t consider him as strong as Winks with the ball, but I believe he demonstrates greater ability in possession when he features alone at the base of the midfield, simply because there’s no one else to handle those duties. If he’s not delivering the forward passes and linking play with the more advanced midfielders, no one is.
It functions similarly on the defensive side too. Skipp must track across and fill spaces, making tackles and interceptions to shield the back line, because he’s the sole player there to perform that role. It does provide Skipp with a defined purpose that I feel enhances his performance.
Perhaps when City face Swansea next month, a side in impressive form that prefers to control the ball, I’d opt for both Skipp and Winks together to attempt to neutralize that. But until then, I believe Skipp is adequate on his own.
One alternative that I wouldn’t object to seeing explored would be deploying James on the left wing, to offer City a different option from the flank.
Mukasa tends to move toward that area and has connected effectively with Stephy Mavididi in recent appearances, so hopefully that partnership would continue to function excellently if James was positioned there.
Then someone like Joe Aribo could occupy the central spot, someone with a bit more physicality yet still possessing plenty of energy.
Jibrin
