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5 Premier League managers under the microscope

By Shane McFarland

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 12: United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waves to the crowd after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford on May 12, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 12: United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waves to the crowd after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Cardiff City at Old Trafford on May 12, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Leicester City Manager Brendan Rodgers ahead of the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on April 28, 2019 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Leicester City Manager Brendan Rodgers ahead of the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on April 28, 2019 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images) /

Brendan Rodgers, Leicester City

Leaving Scottish giants Celtic at the end of February to replace Claude Puel, Brendan Rodgers inherited one of the more promising young rosters in the Premier League at Leicester City and had his side playing a much more open, free-flowing style of football that delighted the Foxes fan base. The potential for a big season could be on the horizon.

Following the appointment of Rodgers, veteran English striker Jamie Vardy looked revitalized,  finding the back of the net nine times in ten games, and with the addition of Ayoze Pérez from Newcastle during the summer transfer period, the Foxes have a two legitimate scoring threats up front. If Rodgers can work his magic with former Manchester City man Kelechi Iheanacho, this could be one of the most potent sides in all of the Premier League.

Couple Leicester’s forward threats with the depth in their midfield with the likes of James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi and Harvey Barnes, and one would be hard pressed to see very many teams outside of the top six that are able to compete with the Foxes in the middle of the park. This could be the key group that propels Rodgers’ side to the tops of the table.

With all of the quality all over the pitch, including a defense, which for now features first-choice English centre-back Harry Maguire, two quality full-backs in Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Pereira as well as Kasper Schmeichel in goal, the potential is there for Leicester to do big things, but the real test will always be how this team performs against the perennial giants of the league.

In only three matches against the top-six last year, Rodgers’ side faired rather well. They drummed Arsenal at home 3-0, drew with Chelsea in the final week of the season and took eventual Premier League champions Manchester City to the brink in a 1-0 loss, a game they could’ve easily got a point from save a late Vincent Kompany goal. Can he duplicate or better those results this season?

Why will Rodgers’ Leicester City team be under the microscope next year you say? Mostly because there’s so much burgeoning talent that if he plays his cards right and gets the most out of a young yet talented squad, they could be as good as anyone in the English top flight.

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