Steve Cooper has utilised the fullback pairing of Victor Kristiansen and James Justin in each Premier League sport this season. With Kristiansen’s tendency to push ahead, Cooper initially used Justin as a defensive-minded fullback to stabilise the defence.
Tactically, their enjoying kinds mixed effectively. When Kristiansen pushed up, Justin inverted inside to change into a large centre-back successfully. His motion turned Leicester’s backline right into a three-at-the-back defence, guaranteeing that Leicester weren’t susceptible on the left flank in case of a turnover.
Steve Cooper has modified the roles of the fallbacks
Nonetheless, the roles of the fullbacks have been totally different previously two video games. Kristiansen has performed because the inverted fullback extra typically, with Justin pushing up. By doing so, Cooper retains Leicester tactically versatile, with no particular fullback designated for assault or defence. With Jordan Ayew’s tendency to chop inside from the suitable wing, Justin provides width to that flank by pushing up. Once more, on paper, this appears tactically sound. Nonetheless, the fact is that each Justin and Kristiansen have been poor in defence and offence.
Curiously, when Enzo Maresca got here to the membership final summer season, he wished Kristiansen to play because the defensive-minded fullback on the group, with Ricardo Pereira inverting into the midfield. Nonetheless, the Dane refused to play that function, preferring extra freedom on the left flank. Shortly afterwards, he was loaned out to Serie A aspect Bologna, the place he may play his most popular attacking fullback function.
Whereas Cooper has satisfied Kristiansen to be extra tactically versatile, he hasn’t been ok defensively or offensively. It’s an identical story for Justin, who has additionally been poor on each fronts.
Ricardo Pereira should begin
The requires Ricardo Pereira to start out are growing. Whereas the Portugal worldwide is extra offensive-minded, just like Kristiansen, he affords extra tactical flexibility in assault. Moreover, Pereira defends effectively and is able to enjoying as an inverted fullback if required.
Regardless of nonetheless showing to desire enjoying as an attacking fullback, Kristiansen has acknowledged that he’s joyful to play as an inverted fullback to offer Stephy Mavididi extra room on the left wing.
“It’s been good to play with Stephy,” Kristiansen mentioned. “It’s a special function for me within the final two video games.
“I feel I can come a bit extra with my power arriving within the second and third part of the sport, but it surely’s about giving Stephy the house he wants for his one-v-ones, and typically supporting him with overlaps. It’s been good.”
With the 2 fullbacks struggling, Cooper should make a change to freshen issues up for the Foxes
The publish Victor Kristiansen’s new function in not working effectively first appeared on Premier League Information Now.
