Old habits die hard: Five things learned as Leicester lose to Watford in Rodgers’s debut

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All eyes were on Brendan Rodgers when he took charge of his first game as Leicester City manager where it all began at former club Watford.

However, it didn’t turn out to be the dream start he envisaged, as The Hornets inflicted a fifth Premier League defeat in five games on the 2015/16 champions. Goals from Troy Deeney and Andre Gray, either side of a Jamie Vardy strike, was enough to settle the contest 2-1 in Watford’s favour.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Rodgers is unlikely to panic and would no doubt have learnt more about his players. As for Javi Gracia it’s another win that keeps them in contention to be named best of the rest.

After this weekend there will be nine matches remaining this season Watford, who currently occupy eighth spot, are level on points (43) with Wolves whom they are battling against for seventh place. Rodgers down, Watford buzzing. Here are five things we learned from this encounter.

1. One streak ends

Rodgers’ appointment, shrouded in controversy, saw him become the fifth permanent Leicester manager under their current ownership. It’s been a mixed bag with the previous four. Nigel Pearson, who kept them up in their first season back (2014/15) in the Premier League since 2003/04, and Claudio Ranieri – leading them to an unbelievable championship the following year – were the real standouts.

It also illustrated their hot and cold nature. Not quite a yo-yo club expectations at Leicester should be tempered but that doesn’t mean they can’t dream. Rodgers would have been dreaming of laying down a marker. It comes with comes with the territory. His three immediate predecessors (Ranieri, Craig Shakespeare and Claude Puel) had won their first Premier League match in charge. That streak ended at Vicarage Road.

2. But another continues

It’s not outlandish to suggest Jamie Vardy is Leicester’s most important player. Others around him enjoy key roles but the former England international is the heartbeat of this current Foxes team. He, more than anyone, sets the tempo. Constantly on the move, with his tireless running, Vardy harasses the opposition backline whilst offering a credible outlet.

His goals helped keep them up as well as spearheading them to an incredible championship triumph. If anyone was going to find the net in a blue jersey this afternoon it was going to be him.

He’s served all of his previous Leicester managers with great distinction and before today’s meeting Rodgers made it known he’ll be shaping his team around the Sheffield-born striker.

Rodgers’ faith was repaid when Vardy, fifteen minutes from time pulled Leicester level, subsequently bagging his 99th for the club. It also meant he continued a neat run under whomever sat in the Foxes dugout. He’s now scored the first Premier League goal under Leicester’s last four permanent managers

3. Old habits die hard

A key reason behind Brendan Rodgers’ decision to move south and take charge of Leicester City, with 10 matches remaining this season, was to familiarise himself with the club before undertaking pre-season ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

The Foxes have been in a slump of late, but it’s hard to see them getting sucked into a relegation battle. Currently sitting in mid-table there are a few areas the ex-Celtic boss can work on before getting a clean slate.

Renowned for his pragmatism, sorting out their defensive frailties would have been top of his list, no Premier League team has conceded more goals in the opening quarter hour and that statistic grew when Troy Deeney put the hosts in front after five minutes.

It means the east Midland club has now shipped in 12 goals, three more than Burnley and Fulham, whilst having only managed two goals themselves in that period – a record low alongside Crystal Palace.

4. Home sweet home

No one can doubt how much Watford’s cause means to Troy Deeney, their captain and top goalscorer this season. His no-nonsense style is refreshing in a league where flair oft grabs the majority of headlines. He not everyone’s cup of tea, but the 30-year-old Brummie doesn’t care. Unashamedly (if not refreshingly) outspoken, saying what’s on his mind, Deeney also does his talking on the pitch.

He is Watford’s leading goalscorer this season, having bagged seven goals heading into this weekend’s fixture, but just one of those – against Tottenham Hotspur in September – came at Vicarage Road, that soon changed when his eighth strike of 2018/19 opened the scoring at Leicester’s expense. It ended a run of nine consecutive blanks at home and you can see how much it meant to him.

5. Three points away

Watford don’t exactly boast one of the league’s best defences. No fewer than 11 teams are better in this regard. However they’ve started to turn it around, in front of their home support that is. Their recent 5-0 loss at Anfield, a humbling occasion, could have easily demoralised this group of players but Javi Gracia’s men are made of stronger stuff.

Ben Foster, their experienced goalkeeper has been key and he would have been disappointed not to keep three consecutive shutouts at home, nevertheless there’s a fighting spirit right across this squad. Andre Gray, off the bench, to register the winner typifies what I am talking about.

It earned them a 12th victory of this campaign, already four more than last season, and moved them to 43 points eclipsing last season’s tally (41) with nine matches to spare. In fact it moves Watford to within three points of breaking their Premier League best points total (45) which they achieved in 2015/16. Next up, though, is a trip to champions Manchester City.

The post Old habits die hard: Five things learned as Leicester lose to Watford in Rodgers’s debut appeared first on Squawka News.



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