Loan signing on the deadline day Jamie Vardy is still Leicester City’s primary goal scorer while Odsonne Edouard awaits his first Premier League start.
If Leicester City has to boost their attack, Steve Cooper would not rule out playing Odsonne Edouard and Jamie Vardy as a strike combo.
In the closing seconds of City’s 4-2 loss to Arsenal on Saturday, Edouard shared a small amount of the pitch with Vardy but was not given enough time to have an effect. The Crystal Palace loanee replaced Vardy on his debut the previous weekend. He then started for the first time in last week’s Carabao Cup match against Walsall, but he was unable to establish himself as a threat.
The secret issue with City has been their offensive shortcomings. They have scored in each of their first six Premier League games, and only seven clubs have scored more frequently than them. But rather than being the result of their inventiveness, that’s because of how well they finished.
They don’t seem to be creating opportunities at a rate that will allow them to continue their winning run. Their shots have come in from the furthest average distance in the division, and they have made the fewest attempts on goal. They have also had trouble getting into the box.
All season long, Vardy has only had three shots, and since the opening weekend, he has only had one. With the exception of defenders James Justin and Wout Faes, it makes fewer than seven teammates.
Although Cooper did occasionally play with two up front during his tenure as Nottingham Forest’s manager, it appears that his style can only accommodate one striker at this moment. He might give that strategy another go, but he needs Edouard to get over his rustiness first.
Cooper stated, “I don’t think you should ever say no to anything if we feel a game needs that, or if we feel we need a change in a game. If we want to play with two strikers, that’s great. For this reason, having an excessive number of strikers or wingers is preferable to having an insufficient number. Not that I would rule anything out.
“We’ve been talking about the final third and service, and we’d like to have been sharper around him (Edouard) to give him more opportunity. However, there were a few strong moments and a few brief passages where it was evident he hadn’t performed in a while. We’re thrilled he arrived, that he participated in his first game, and that he will now be involved in the action.
The previous season, Edouard scored seven Premier League goals, which was his highest total since moving from Scotland. But the majority of those occurred during the previous season’s first half. He has only netted once in 22 competitive outings this calendar year.
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