So, Jamie Vardy …and then what?

 Wraggy
JOHN WRAGG has covered the Midlands football scene for over 40 years, working mainly for the Daily Express as their No 1 reporter.  Here he takes a look at Leicester City in general and their low profile boss Claude Puel in particular for ClaretandHugh  as the Foxes head for the London Stadium    
  
BY JOHN WRAGG
CLAUDE Puel is football’s version of radio’s Whispering Bob Harris.
Once, when he was taking a press conference at Southampton, journalists were asked to vacate the front row of seats so that Sky TV, who own the game of course, could get some clear shots.
The thing was though that from two rows back, journalists couldn’t hear Monsieur Puel.
Now he’s at Leicester, the TV people up the volume on their mics so that they can pick him up more clearly.
But Puel is going to have to shout loud  if he is to rescue Leicester City, champions of England and Champions League contenders 12 months ago, from Premier League mediocrity.
Owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha,a man with a name longer than Leicester’s honours list, doesn’t mess about.
Claudio Ranieri was sacked nine months after winning the league, his successor Craig Shakespeare went in October, four months into a three year contract and now it’s Frenchman Puel.
“They are fantastic people at Leicester,” says The Quiet Man. Hmm. No so fantastic if you are not winning regularly.
Puel has won one, drawn one and lost one so far. Too soon to judge. Not a lot to talk about.
He is warning his players to be careful against West Ham, a new manger on his home debut, struggles on the pitch, unhappy fans.
“It will be difficult. They have just changed their manager like Everton did when we played them.
“We have to concentrate on what we have to do, not what is happening around the other team,” said Puel, not quite giving it a Gallic shrug.
It’s a question as to how Leicester will play against the Hammers. One up front for sure, Jamie Vardy who has scored only once in nine games for club and country. But then what?
Puel has changed Leicester’s formation a couple of times already, including playing Riyad Mahrez in a central role in a 4-2-3-1 line up.
Mahrez is one of those who has responded to Puel, playing better now than he has all season, and Vardy says the new manager is slowly changing the way they play.
“It’s up to us to do what he wants,” says Vardy. “He is starting to change things to the way he wants them.”
At Southampton they found Puel’s football dull. He took them to the League Cup final and finished eighth in the Premier League
But an FA Cup final and as high in the league this season would keep Mr Srivaddwotsit happy enough.
Even something to shout about, Claude.
 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon