Leicester City Fan View: Numbers don't equate to squad depth

Injuries and a busy schedule have seen Claude Puel rotate his Leicester City squad. With eight changes for the FA Cup game, we showed that we have the numbers to do so. Unfortunately in one of the most boring goalless draws of the weekend, it also demonstrated a more worrying problem. That having the numbers doesn’t necessarily equate to strength in depth.

Wasted opportunities throughout the team

We don’t have many positions within the squad that lack cover. Whether all of our cover means a quality replacement is a little more debatable. The side Puel selected for our FA Cup game, on paper, should have been able to perform to a much higher standard. For various reasons, it was underwhelming and inexcusably poor. While Puel will receive some of the blame for his selection, those he did throw a lifeline to did little to pay him back for it. Our manager may have a few more on the ‘out’ list than we first thought.

Players who need playing time, and would argue a chance, failed to capitalise in general. There were a few debuts, but none particularly delivered. Eldin Jakupovic got a start, six months after joining us and although he made a couple of good saves, won’t be threatening Kasper Schmeichel’s spot. It’s the same problem in several areas. Puel may have the numbers, but he’ll be less sure they provide us strength in their depth after this display.

Defensively, we’re most weak. Wes Morgan and Danny Simpson’s injuries leave us threadbare at the back. Yohan Benalouane has been desperate for a new start but won’t have convinced Puel with his display. While Daniel Amartey’s had a mixed outcome at right-back, this was a shaky match and it’s clear that he is not a long-term replacement.

Aleksandar Dragovic may be one of a few who you could say something positive about. He wasn’t perfect though and there was a howler of a back-pass early on that showed he’s not the finished article yet. He’s so far looked better alongside Harry Maguire and could be useful during the coming weeks with Robert Huth still on the mend.

The Vardy derby missed its key man

The key man, Jamie Vardy, was missed. For neutrals it deprived them of a rounded ending to a much publicised rise for the striker. Foxes fans understand there’s no sense in playing an injured player, but I can rarely recall a game where we’ve missed the likes of Vardy so much. Frustrated, he’ll be relieved that we somehow stole a replay. His odds of making it back for that are much higher and it’s needed.

While Islam Slimani did a brilliant job against Huddersfield, he had a very frustrating afternoon. It’s the lack of consistency that divides Leicester fans where the striker is concerned. Playing as the lone striker, it should have been another chance for him to either get a move away or cement himself into Puel’s plans. Instead, there was barely any impact from the Algerian. It didn’t help that our midfield had an incredibly anonymous afternoon and our main assists man, Marc Albrighton, started on the bench.

With no option to ignite our side with Vardy, we had to settle for Shinji Okazaki and Kelechi Iheanacho. One struggled to get going, despite his usual graft, and one struggled to do anything. The latter, Iheanacho, couldn’t have looked less interested either.

There isn’t much to be happy with, but our midfield take the most blame. While it was crucial for Adrien Silva to get more minutes under his belt, it wasn’t an ideal game. Silva is too small for a game so aerially dominated. He spent much of his time watching the ball ping over him. It’s better to judge him from his six minute cameo than this weekend given that’s the way we should be playing.

Foxes still in the draw and a home replay is a good position to be in

We may deserve the replay, but that’s football. The odds of us playing quite so poorly again are very unlikely too. With the replay taking place at home, fans should be more confident. We aren’t the only Premier League team to have struggled though in this FA Cup third round. Whatever your opinion, a lack of respect or the need to rest players, we’re still very much involved. With some of the teams that have gone out, or also have replays to play, Puel should be focused on progression.

Our current league position is quite stable. We’re not likely to be pulled into the relegation drama but our sluggish start means we’d need an incredible run to challenge for a European place. Puel’s tasted English cup finals before and if we do apply ourselves, there’s no reason we can’t progress. Foxes fans haven’t tasted FA Cup success and it would certainly be appreciated if we play the next one with a stronger squad and a more determined approach to win.