This was a new manager bounce in the truest sense. The unquantifiable qualities, like commitment, determination, togetherness, were all ramped up a few notches. But so was Leicester City’s good fortune. They got the new manager bounce of the ball too.
It would not be fair to say that desire and resilience weren’t present under Steve Cooper, even if they were lacking in the final few weeks of his tenure. On his watch, City often improved in the second half and there were four matches where they came from behind to claim a result.
But those characteristics, the spirit and application that every fan wants to see, were there in abundance for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s debut, perhaps to a greater extent than in any game this season. It is hard to prove that exactly, but there is evidence that makes a strong case. City’s tally of 35 tackles represents the most they’ve made in a game this term, which was also true for their 13 blocked shots.
As van Nistelrooy pointed out, winning in the Premier League is impossible without those qualities. But equally, they’re not enough to survive on.
Defensive organisation, composure in possession, pressing triggers, everything that contributes to a good tactical plan, that’s needed as well. And there’s where work is needed.
Conceding 31 shots every week will not see City’s defensive record improve, even if it took a 93rd-minute corner for West Ham to find the net on Tuesday night. In terms of the combined quality of chances City gave up, there’s only Arsenal that produced a better attacking performance against them this season, and they’re a far superior outfit to West Ham.
Perhaps City made so many tackles and blocked so many shots because West Ham forced them too. Ideally, going forward, they won’t make themselves quite so busy.
This is not the time to be too critical though. It’s not as if van Nistelrooy is unaware of the issue. His post-match joy was tempered by West Ham’s glut of chances. He discussed the importance of defensive structure prior to the game. The selection of Conor Coady and Jannik Vestergaard at centre-back – with Wout Faes dropped for the first time in 13 months – suggested clearly it was on his mind.
But he’s had barely any time on the training ground. This was never going to be a quick fix and they will be working out the kinks in competitive matches, rather than summer friendlies, which is not ideal. But if City have to get worse before they get better, then at least they have those unquantifiables that give them a chance of getting lucky.
Half-time McAteer tweak proves van Nistelrooy nous
One aspect that eases the transition between managers is that van Nistelrooy’s system is extremely similar to what has come before. The 4-4-2 shape out of possession was the preference under Enzo Maresca, while the high full-back and midfield box seen on Tuesday night was how Cooper had the team set up.
But immediately van Nistelrooy has made the system more effective. Bar the two games where City were chasing a result against 10 men at Southampton and Ipswich, this was their best attacking performance of the season.
They were much more effective on the counter-attack than they have been previously. They may have only had eight shots, but seven of them were defined as big chances by stats group Opta. They made themselves a threat even with less than 40 per cent of the ball.
Kasey McAteer’s inclusion was perhaps the biggest surprise of van Nistelrooy’s first City 11, the homegrown winger having only previously started one Premier League match, but, despite a few wasted moments, he was key to making the counter-attack work. While Facundo Buonanotte and Bilal El Khannouss were there to play the incisive passes, McAteer was constantly making penetrative runs off the ball, joining Jamie Vardy in stretching the West Ham defence.
Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates scoring
Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates scoring
There was a half-time tweak too, a piece of proactive management from van Nistelrooy that paid off hugely. With McAteer darting in behind but struggling to get free of the speedy Aaron Wan-Bissaka on City’s right, the new manager shuffled his attacking line for the second period, placing the winger against Vladimir Coufal on the left instead.
For the second goal, McAteer ran clear down the flank, finding acres of space with the Czech defender unable to get back. From there, it was a simple pass across the box to tee up El Khannouss.
City were ahead at half-time and, even if they had conceded a number of chances to West Ham, other managers would have been satisfied with the scoreline and not made changes. Not van Nistelrooy. The decision to make the tweak, and the success of it, were perhaps the most satisfying aspects of the new boss’s management.
Duo have 'hell of a game' in repeat of Manchester United tactic
The major change van Nistelrooy made at Manchester United was to field two defensive midfielders. Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte had started just one game together under Erik ten Hag – a 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup – but they were paired up for all four of van Nistelrooy’s interim matches.
Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare had started together at Brentford and so van Nistelrooy didn’t make changes to his City midfield, but their selection felt like the Dutchman was following the same plan. He wants physical protection for the back four.
It worked to a degree. Both players recorded season’s bests for tackles and interceptions. It felt like they were where they needed to be more often than at Brentford, when at least one of them was out of position at any given moment.
Van Nistelrooy was certainly impressed. In his post-match interview, he said they had “one hell of a game”. He liked what he saw and that suggests they may be the pairing going forward, even when Harry Winks returns from injury.
But if they are, they need to do more to receive the ball. Too often, City’s defenders looked for the attackers, bypassing the midfield, and those riskier passes did not come off, gifting possession back to West Ham and setting up another attack of them.
Winks is excellent at showing for the ball and controlling the game, slowing it down if needs be. Soumare did a decent job of that. His belief in his strength means he’s willing to let himself be pressed if it means allowing the team to get back into shape and calm themselves.
But both still need to do more on the ball if they are to remain van Nistelrooy’s preference. Otherwise, he will turn to one of Winks or Oliver Skipp.
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Premier League
Vardy's magic socks inspire El Khannouss
It was clear from his performance against Chelsea 10 days ago that El Khannouss needed to start consistently. He has shown he is a skilful dribbler and has an eye for a pass. What he was lacking was the connection with his team-mates to allow those qualities to blossom. The only way to get around that is to put him on the pitch. Van Nistelrooy did so and it worked out handsomely.
Those slide-rule passes are exactly what Vardy is desperate for and the captain will only be more of a threat when he has both El Khannouss and Buonanotte providing them. The Moroccan’s vision and weight of pass may even trump that of the on-loan Argentinian.
Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester City celebrates with a fan after scoring
Bilal El Khannouss of Leicester City celebrates with a fan after scoring
El Khannouss played the match in a pair of Vardy’s socks, branded with ‘JV’ and the number 9, and he perhaps absorbed some of the captain’s finishing ability, the 20-year-old nestling his shot in the bottom corner for his first Premier League goal. It might be worth Vardy buying a bulk load and gifting his socks to the rest of the squad this Christmas.
Especially with Abdul Fatawu injured, there is no reason not to play El Khannouss most weeks. He’s only going to get better as he develops a greater understanding of the Premier League and his team-mates. Because the quality is definitely there.
Daka delivers on van Nistelrooy faith after early Vardy sub
It had been 10 months since Patson Daka’s last City goal. In that time, he had failed to score in 13 appearances for the club, with high-profile misses contributing to a plummeting confidence, the Zambian then suffering an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for three months.
In his substitute outings against Chelsea and Brentford, he ran well, both in pressing and in trying to get behind the defensive lines, but he lacked that willingness to go for goal. There was a nervousness when presented with potential shooting opportunities.
On Tuesday, his brilliant touch around Max Kilman set him free and with his speed, no City players were catching up. He looked for the pass but saw there was no support. It forced him to go for goal.
The next two moments were as superb as the touch. The feint inside put Kilman on the back foot, giving Daka the time to lash high into the net with a terrific strike.
For a player who was booed by his own supporters not too long ago, this would have been a welcome relief. His celebration perhaps hinted at that. His usual front flip was replaced by what looked like one finger in his ear.
Having a former striker as manager, and an exceptional one at that, will surely be a boost to Daka. It seems there is already faith in him from the new boss, who substituted Vardy off earlier than he has been at any point this season. Spreading the minutes between them should help both strikers stay at their best. It was yet another positive on a night of a fair few.
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