Football Season Guide

After their storming spring under Craig Shakespeare Leicester expectedly offered him the managerial job permanently but many pundits think that his lack of experience means that he isn't the best possible candidate for the Foxes. Anyway, Shakespeare seems to have built a happy dressing room and so far no major names have left the club, leaving Leicester with many of their heroes from the historic title-winning 2015/16 campaign. However, the two big stars Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are targeted by top clubs and if they are to depart before the end of August it will be hard for Leicester to replace them. Shakespeare already made three new signings and at least two of the newcomers, Vicente Iborra and Harry Maguire, are expected to get lots of playing time. The latter is a versatile defender who fits easily in a back three, or can execute nicely the role of right-back. Iborra comes with vast international experience to his name and he will be supporting Wilfred Ndidi in the heart of the midfield. Shakespeare likes to use the wings a lot to create chances. This makes sense with the great aerial threat that Islam Slimani carries inside the box. A lot will depend on how influential the likes of DemaraiGray and Marc Albrighton will be from the wide positions. Leicester have a tough few opening months in terms of their schedule and a series of defeats will quickly build pressure on the inexperienced gaffer, which could easily unsettle the entire campaign for the Foxes. In order to prevent that, Leicester will try to be as effective as they can be on home turf. However, they'll need to improve their poor away form if they want to finish comfortably in the top half of the table. Experienced centre-back Robert Huth is sidelined for the first three to four months of the campaign and this will put extra pressure on the newcomer Maguire to fit into the line-up quickly.