Hello and welcome to our Leicester City web chat on Friday, August 23.
City are two games into the season and while they are yet to record a victory, they will be fairly satisfied to have emerged from two tough encounters unbeaten, having shown promise at the back against Wolves, and in attack against Chelsea.
They now head to newly-promoted Sheffield United, who have shown they are not content to simply make up the numbers, the Blades drawing with Bournemouth before beating Crystal Palace.
On today's Q&A, we discussed the trip to Bramall Lane as well as the latest in the transfer window with more City exits on the cards before the European windows close on September 2.
You can read our answers below and if you have a question, be sure to join us next Friday, August 30, from 1pm.
Thanks for reading
Thanks for joining us today. There were lots of good questions there.
If you’ve got a query that did not get answered, we’ll be back next Friday at 1pm.
For now, have a good Bank Holiday weekend and let’s hope it includes three points for City!
How fit is Benkovic?
And the final one from Richard M:
How far away is Benkovic from being match fit?
He’s getting closer.
He played 90 minutes for the Under-23s on Monday night and, if all goes to plan, he will play another full match tonight as the development squad host Brighton at the King Power Stadium.
Even when match fit, he’s still some way from overtaking Evans or Soyuncu in the first-team line-up, but Rodgers has said he hopes Benkovic gets to a point where he’s pushing the starting pair.
If he comes through tonight unscathed, I’d expect him to at least be on the bench for the Carabao Cup game against Newcastle next week.
Who's for the exit?
Steve wants to know:
How many more players will leave?
Definitely at least one. But maybe as many as five.
Silva’s Monaco switch is progressing and it would take something major to derail that now.
Ghezzal and Diabate are very likely to go, with the duo well behind in the winger pecking order. Diabate has recently been linked to Dijon in Ligue 1.
As already mentioned, Mendy could be sold too, but that is not a certainty, while Amartey could be loaned out in a bid to give him more game-time.
Should Mendy be sold?
Another one from Indianfox:
Papy Mendy’s contract will be over next summer. Isn’t it wise to cash in now rather than letting him go for free next summer?
From a business perspective, yes that probably is wise.
Mendy is clearly not a key player and Rodgers has been fairly dismissive when asked about him.
Personally, I think he has something to offer, particularly with the way he retains possession, but keeping him for another season means he either leaves on a free next summer, or he gets offered a new contract. I can’t see City wanting to do either.
He has suitors in France and a deal may be done before the window shuts.
Has Tielemans been figured out?
Here’s an interesting one from Mark:
Has the league figured out Youri Tielemans? He hasn’t looked great in the first 2 matches, and seemed to disappear toward the end of last season, especially against Newcastle and Chelsea.
First of all, I disagree that Tielemans disappeared at the end of last season.
City were poor against Newcastle but Tielemans did pretty well in the game and created Leicester’s only clear-cut chance.
Again, against Chelsea, everyone was pretty poor - it was just a typical end-of-season game.
I agree that he’s not been quite as good this campaign, but he did set very high standards for himself.
He does misplace passes, but only because he tries to be audacious - he is always thinking about how to get City forward. He’s still been at the heart of many of City’s good moves forward.
I think there will be a case of Tielemans being marked more tightly. Clubs aren’t stupid, they will do their homework and will see that he is one of City’s key men.
What might help Tielemans is if Maddison moves inside and a winger is brought in. With Choudhury not as much a threat going forward, the opposition’s defensive midfielders can apply their focus to Tielemans. If Maddison is in the middle too, that gives opponents something else to think about.
Thoughts on the team selection?
Graham asks:
What have you made of the team selection so far this season?
I think it’s been cautious.
That’s perhaps understandable given the threat Wolves and Chelsea pose, but I’d like to see City go for it.
Against Chelsea, with the possibility to counter, I’d prefer to have seen Maddison moved inside, alongside Tielemans, and Barnes on the wing. His pace and directness is a major asset that City haven’t really used this season.
Even when Perez was withdrawn, the safer bet in Albrighton came on, rather than Barnes.
Hopefully Barnes will at least come off the bench at Bramall Lane.
Does Iheanacho deserve game-time?
Dean asks:
Should Iheanacho get off the bench more?
He’s not played in either of the two games so far this season and I think it’s understandable.
City have been chasing a winner in each of their two games so far, so there’s no chance Vardy is making way.
If Iheanacho was to come on alongside Vardy, it would disrupt the shape of the team. City would be going to a 4-4-2, which they have not played under Rodgers.
Iheanacho’s time will come in the cups and when City are two goals up and they can afford to give Vardy a rest.
Gray to be loaned out?
Indianfox wants to know:
Is there any loan move in pipeline for Gray? Say to Germany?
In short, no.
Gray may not have been in the squad for the first two games of the season, but Rodgers has not lost faith in him. The manager has had conversations with the winger and told him where he needs to improve. I would suggest those conversations have related to his decision-making in attacking areas.
The battle between City’s wingers is very tight and there only needs to be an injury to Barnes, Albrighton or Perez and Gray will be back in the squad.
He should get a chance in the Carabao Cup game at Newcastle.
Is Soyuncu temporary?
On the man of the moment, Sam asks:
Do you think Soyuncu can keep his excellent form going, or is he a temporary replacement?
I don’t see any reason why he can’t keep up his form. Everything looks good for him.
He’s playing in a settled back-line alongside a very good leader and experienced defender in Evans. His English has improved too, so that will help.
At his age, you would think that he is only going to get better, and become more confident, by playing more games.
The only question is if he has truly cut out his occasional recklessness. He didn’t put a foot wrong against Wolves but he charged out a few times against Chelsea, leaving space for them to exploit.
If he does keep up his form, and can maybe start to show more of the excellent passing range he was renowned for in Germany, then I don’t think he will be a temporary replacement. City will still look to sign a centre-back next summer, but it may be that they target a youngster to provide competition alongside Soyuncu, Evans and Benkovic.
Do City still have an issue with slow starts?
It was an issue under Puel and Craig asks:
Do City have a problem with starting slowly?
I don’t think there’s enough evidence to suggest the problem has returned.
It was clearly an issue under Puel but it looked like he’d finally solved it just before he was sacked.
Generally, City started on the front foot during Rodgers’ games last season but this campaign they have been a little slow from the first whistle. I’m not sure it’s indicative of a problem.
They were a little lacklustre against Wolves but did not really concede any chances - it was just a slow game in general.
Against Chelsea, it was more that the hosts started incredibly quickly. While City did not cope well with it at all, Chelsea burned out in the second half and City took advantage.
I think there will have to be a few more games of slow starts before it can be diagnosed as a problem.
Praet to start?
The first question this week concerns team selection. Dan asks:
Will Dennis Praet start this week?
There’s a possibility of that, yes, particularly considering the impact he made at Chelsea. I thought Praet showed a willingness to get stuck in and the vision to play passes forward. Rodgers said he brought him on because of his technical ability and he showed it.
I don’t think City need both Ndidi and Choudhury against Sheffield United, so Praet might help City in attack without sacrificing too much in defence as he clearly knows how to make a tackle.
It’s a tricky one to call. With Chilwell still injured, 10 players will definitely remain from the draw at Chelsea, but Choudhury could be replaced by Praet, or a winger in Barnes or Albrighton, which would then see Maddison move inside.
Good afternoon!
Hello! Welcome to our live Q&A.
Outgoing transfers, the trip to Bramall Lane, team selection - there’s lots to talk about so let’s get to it.