Continuing our series of articles where our team of website match reporters review last season and look ahead to next, is Chris Griffin
Before the season started what were your hopes on what we could achieve?
I was hoping the team would maintain the level that had seen it challenging for a Champions League place in the previous two seasons and also put up a spirited defence of their position as FA Cup holders. Seems rather naïve in retrospect.
As the season progressed was your personal priority progress in Europe or the Premier League?
Premier League especially given the inconsistency in our form which lasted right to the end of the season. Take the last nine matches: we took just two points from the first five – relegation form – then took ten points from the last four – Champions league place form.
Given how the season panned out, in terms of success how do you rate it out of 10 and why?
5/10 and then only just. A very mixed season with some real highlights such as beating Liverpool but some real lowlights too, best typified by the baffling surrender of points in the last seconds of games such as home to Tottenham and West ham and away to Newcastle
What was your personal highlight of the season?
As mentioned, the win over Liverpool. They only lost two Premier games all season so a” big hats” off to the team for that result. The players dug in; the play of Dewsbury-Hall and Thomas was at a real coming of age level; and Lookman’s goal was a peach.
James Maddison won the Player of the Year Award, would he have been your choice and who else do you think deserves praise for their performances?
Definitely Madders: 12 goals and eight assists in the Premier league make for a really good contribution to the team. Gareth Southgate seems less impressed but I suspect a number of City fans would prefer Maddison to have a break rather than play on till deep into June. The player himself would probably disagree however.
Dewsbury-Hall certainly merits acknowledgement. It is hard to think of the team without him.
When JV was fit he was always dangerous and his scoring record of 15 goals in 25 matches was very good.
As ever Kasper made some brilliant saves.
And a final word for Mendy, who when drafted in near the end of the season, fulfilled the sitting role in midfield very well by frequently breaking up opponents’ attacks and sending us forward.
What were your views on the signings made during last season?
Daka: a bit mixed. He has pace, can score with both feet and is not bad in the air. In some games he showed a good awareness of the game, dropping off his marker, cushioning the ball and bringing others into the game. These qualities were not consistent. This is a big season coming up for him which will show how well he can adapt to the speed of the game in the Premier league.
Soumare: seems to have found adapting to the Premier league play a challenge. Certainly not showing the box-to-box style of midfield play we need. Again, his second season may be the clincher as he shows if he can play with the speed of thought and foot required in the Premier league.
Lookman: sometimes thrilling and threatening; sometimes lacking impact. Typical winger you could say. When he gets it right he is a real asset.
Vestergaard: bought to help with injury crises but did not cement a place. Curiously his best game was probably at home to the challenging test of Manchester City but that performance not matched in other games.
Bertrand: hard to judge given time out due to injury.
Which player do you think made the most progress last season and why?
Dewsbury-Hall. Strength; pace; “a good engine”; likes a tackle (remember the one at Old Trafford that stopped a United break and led to Iheanacho’s goal); good passer; a genuine all over the pitch midfielder. Really good to have him. As has been suggested he needs to add more goals. Expect them to come.
Which player did you think underperformed the most last season and why?
Soyuncu: hard to say why but his confidence and certainty seemed to diminish as the season went on. Maybe he missed the partnership with Evans but it was a pity to see a player who has done so much for us be so below par.
In a season of many injuries, which players injury do you think had the most detrimental effect on our season?
It is hard to single out one. I would suggest a quartet whose absence took away the essential spine of the team: Evans; Fofana; Ndidi and Vardy. No fan likes to be seen as a whinger about injuries but most pundits universally recognised the detrimental impact of losing such top quality players at the same time.
What is your view on the club not wearing blue in some away fixtures last season when the kits clearly wouldn’t have clashed?
Do not get me started…. I’m very much old school on this one.
Moving onto next season
Ongoing media coverage indicates we are looking for a centre back, midfield player and right winger as the main priorities, if you had to choose one position as the most important as to where we needed to strengthen, what would it be and why?
Good question. If having to choose I would go for central midfield and at least two players since it looks like Tielemans will be on his way. By the end of the season Tielemans and Dewsbury-Hall had been played into the ground due to lack of cover, especially while Ndidi was out. So we need better cover for midfield in the squad.
It has also been made clear the club needs to move out a number of players, who do you feel time at the club should come to an end?
Perez, Choudhury, Vestergaard, Bertrand and Soyuncu. What might happen to Tielemans seems to change each day depending which pundit or web site you read. Best result would be YT signing an extension and staying one more year. An even better result would be his heroic performances getting us into the Champions league and he decides to stay. However, in the real world …
The sales suggested would bring some money in for purchases. If Brendan Rodgers’ reported desire to “freshen up” the squad is to be achieved then serious selling is a necessity. But again, it seems we are a bit slow out of the traps in comparison with other sides who already have a lot of purchases completed.
Would you be looking to add some experience to a fairly youthful squad or would you continue bringing in younger players and develop them?
I suspect Rodgers will buy for the future – either players who will give many years of service or who will increase their value so they can be sold on at a profit. That seems a sensible way forward.
If you had a chance for a word in the owner’s ears, which player(s) would you be advising to sign?
Ward-Prowse could be the sort of player we need. Maybe a young loan player like Gallagher from Chelsea would also fit the bill.
Although we tend not to buy those at the end of their careers, I’d happily see Bale and Ramsey on a season long contract, even if they only played half a game each week.
What are your expectations and fears for next season?
Hard to say as I write this on 20 June. Really does depend on who we bring in. As for fear it is simple. That we fail to sort out our lamentable defending of corners and set pieces.
Any other observation you would like to make
If we can acquire players with the energy, pace and fitness that Rodgers values – and who can also take on board his methods of playing – we could have a fun season. It is good to think so anyway.
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation