Three wins from four and Leicester City will be promoted. At the start of the season, that would not have sounded too difficult, but having won just three of their last 10, confidence is not sky high.
For the three games City played in seven days last week, there were eight players who started every time, with Enzo Maresca making minimal changes. But after those losses to Millwall and Plymouth, does the team need tinkering?
Here, City writers Amie Wilson and Jordan Blackwell give their opinions on five of the most debatable positions and name who they would start against West Brom and beyond. You can tell us your thoughts on each in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
AW: I’ve seen a lot of calls for Conor Coady to be brought into the team, and I’ve been among them at times. His experience and know-how could be vital during the end-of-season run-in, but one thing that bothers me is the lack of pace that would then be in the back-line.
Teams have already set up to counter attack City – as shown by Millwall and Plymouth – and that may become even more prominent if they are struggling for pace at the back. Maresca has to contemplate if the benefits that Coady brings in terms of leadership outline that risk.
For me, at this point in the season, I think it probably does. It’s the time for leaders to step up in the final four games of the season, and Coady is definitely one of those. The attack should also have enough quality to counteract the risks.
JB: I think Wout Faes has been really good for a lot of the season, but his performance on Friday night reminded me of something Maresca said back in October. It was quite a cutting statement.
Maresca said: “For me he (Faes) has the potential to be a big-team central defender. But at the same time he needs to understand that the only way is to always be on the game, to be focused, and every time to give 100 per cent. Because you can see there are some moments during the games where he looks a little bit like he’s not present in the game.”
You do not want that attitude at the business end of a season. Because of the way City play, with the right-back moving into midfield, there are going to be times where Faes is exposed through no fault of his own. But I felt he didn’t defend the Plymouth goal at all well, and then after that, I thought his passing into midfield was a little half-hearted.
