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Some call it the no 8, we prefer to use, the box to box midfielder. This position shall be filled with a type of player that has some very special skills. He should be able to run a lot, be able to tackle and break to set up forwards. Have a good vision and be good on transition. Ability to score goals and setting the pace. He must also have a good shot from distance. Be able to make a long and vital pass, showing all round midfield ability.
Leicester do not have such a player at the moment. When they sold Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall no one could replace him. Bouba Soumare do have some of the skills needed, but he seldom score or make assists. Not often seen inside the two boxes. His movement is limited. He operates as a defensive midfielder pushed into that no 8 role. This position does not really match his best qualities.
Oliver Skipp was signed in the summer. A strange and massive error transfer, as his attributes is very similar to Bouba Soumare. Not really scoring many goals or having assists. Why can’t Leicester managers given Premier League jobs understand that having a box to box midfielder is important? Such a player should set up assists and score goals. Hamza Choudhury and Wilfred Ndidi are two other players seen as defensive midfielders. Why does Leicester believe they can convert players to fill this box to box role? Why do they try to play players out of position for such a difficult job?
Looking back, Leicester had fantastic players filling this position. Youri Tielemans and Danny Drinkwater both had these qualities. Dennis Praet never really got enough games for Leicester to show his worth. During his early days at Anderlecht, he did that job.
🇦🇷⚽️ Marcelo Bielsa: "The most difficult player to find in football is the number 8… I call this position the 'Modrić', a player who defends as a 6 and attacks as a 10."
"He has the ability to defend, the ability to attack and understand the game in both directions." 🤝🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/zk4MFFwDkf
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 7, 2023
This is a very special job in the team. However, not having one to call will always make you struggle. We would have loved Leicester to have signed Jordan James, being linked, but moving to Rennes in France. The 20 year old midfielder has already 16 caps for Wales. Will be interesting to follow the progress of James, who left Birmingham last summer for a fee of £4million.
Bouba Soumare has been getting a lot of praise this season. However, he seldom scores a goal. He almost never sets up assists. So another player has to do that job. At the moment no one at Leicester can play that vital role.
Leicester should have opted for a box to box midfielder instead of having too many defensive midfielders. This player would have filled the shoes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. He is struggling to get any game time at Chelsea. Why not try to loan him back next season? The club still needs to understand the importance of that box to box alternative. If not, you are lost in Premier League action.
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