Steve Cooper Must Avoid Pre-Season Mistake in Leicester City Opener vs. Tottenham – Opinion
Steve Cooper Faces Crucial Decision Ahead of Premier League Opener Against Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City’s season isn’t over yet, but concerns about their attacking situation have left them as underdogs.
The Foxes pursued Wilfried Zaha, Reiss Nelson, and Adam Hlozek this summer, but none of the deals materialized.
Notably, Hoffenheim snatched Hlozek from Leicester City in the final stages of talks.
To complicate matters, Leicester City faces the opening game without key players Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy.
Daka is set to miss three months, adding to the scarcity of options for manager Steve Cooper.
Cooper must make a crucial decision on who will lead the line, avoiding past mistakes made in pre-season.
When Daka was injured in a pre-season match against RC Lens, Cooper opted to bring on Stephy Mavididi instead of Tom Cannon, a decision that puzzled many.
Cannon, the former Preston North End striker, eventually played, but it was clear Cooper preferred a winger in a makeshift number nine role over giving Cannon a chance.
While Mavididi has qualities on the wing, he would be wasted in the center-forward role, especially with Cannon sidelined.
Cooper must start Cannon for Leicester City against Tottenham Hotspur.
Cooper must not be stubborn in his approach given the current situation.
Despite Cannon being overlooked during pre-season, there’s no reason to exclude him now with the lack of striker options.
Doing so would worsen the situation for Leicester City.
There should be frank discussions with the attackers to clear any uncertainty about their future at the club, especially with Cannon attracting interest from Championship clubs.
However, with limited options, Cooper must fully utilize his available players and not opt for Mavididi at center-forward against Tottenham.
In summary, Leicester City’s attacking concerns and injury woes mean Cooper must make smart choices, specifically by giving Cannon a starting role and avoiding makeshift solutions.
This approach is crucial for navigating the challenging start to the season and making the best of a difficult situation.
