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To see Danny Ward being the chosen goalkeeper for this game, was a massive blow. This shows lack of understanding and something we believed Ruud van Nistelrooy would have known after being on the training field watching what he has to his disposal.
To also see Jordan Ayew being chosen in front of Facundo Bounanotte is a riddle of dimentions. McAteer missed the game, not on the bench, so it was obviously a difficult day in every sense.
Wolves opened their goalscoring after 19 minutes, as Conor Coady and Jannik Vestergaard made a total mess out of an easy ball, and it was easy to score for Guedes, not really convincing from Danny Ward either as the ball slided into the net.
Leicester had just a few minutes earlier a chance to score but Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa managed to stop the ball with his chest just outside the penalty area, blocking the attempt from Jamie Vardy.
Gomes with an attempt from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal, being assisted by Matt Doherty, makes it 2-0 to Wolves in the 36th minute, this looks as grim as it can get. James Justin not blocking as he should and just leaving the ball to pass.
Defeat on Filbert Way.#LEIWOL pic.twitter.com/PlWANYi1Lv
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 22, 2024
Being 2-0 down after 36 minutes, is no disaster, but everything looked so slow and sleepy, that you had a bit of trouble to understand how this could be turned. Then just before the end of the 1st half we do get the answer as Wolves goes into a 3-0 lead. Cunha’s right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right to the bottom left corner.
Changes were made at half time, taking off Jannik Vestrgaard and Oliver Skipp for Wout Faes and Harry Winks. We had hoped to see Facundo Bounanotte in the side, but for some reason Ruud van Nistelrooy had other ideas. We also would have thought Danny Ward would been given a rest after letting in 6 goals in 2 games, surely not in the correct frame to be a goalkeeper at this level at this time.
The game in real had no more value, and just 8 minutes into the second half two more changes were done, James Justin and Bilal El Khannouss taken off, replaced with Hamza Choudhury and Bobby De Cordova-Reid coming on.
Wolves controlled everything more or less and towards the end they should have scored their 4th but in some way the missed header went wide. Facundo Bounanotte was strangely put on the field for Jordan Ayew in the 84th minute.
This was the perfect start for new Wolves manager Vitor Pereira as especially Leicester defenders and goalkeeper handed their gifts a bit early this Christmas, all three goals were part of naiv and disturbing defensive display.
Leicester will face Liverpool, Man City and Aston Villa in their next three fixtures, and hope for points looks far from happening. Ruud van Nistelrooy could be history by the time Leicester play QPR in the FA Cup. To get a game plan so wrong and full of errors and also having little or no tools to use, making changes that never really made any change.
PositivesNo injuries
NegativesDanny Ward, was the ugly alternative, but still RvN closed his eyes and selected the man that has warning signs all written over him, he makes the whole team unsecure, and it reflects decision making
Leaving out Facundo Bounanotte, and later just giving the Argentinian the latter minutes of the game
Jordan Ayew on the field for 84 minutes, should have left the field after first half, a total miss, and so far his role is very much in doubt as he cannot be used on the wide areas, having little or no pace
This was a grim affair, far from expectation against a team lower in the table, a real horror show
Home fans deserves so much more, at least hunger and fighting spirit
James Justin totally out of control on the 2nd Wolves goal
The best and most trusted players do fatal errors, as the line-up becomes a rotation alternative, with no game plan and style to see at all, it looks very difficult
Player Ratings: Ward 3, Justin 3, Kristiansen 5, Vestergaard 4, Coady 4, Skipp 3, El Khannouss 3, Vardy 4, Soumare 5, Mavididi 4, Ayew 3 Subs: Winks 5, Faes 5, De Cordova-Reid, Bounanotte, Choudhury
Leicester City, Man of the MatchHarry Winks
Match Stats (H/A)
Possession: 54 / 46
Shots on Target: 5 / 4
Corners: 6 / 1
Fouls: 15 / 16
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