Claudio Ranieri has a bit of task. Teams, this season, have repeatedly outfoxed Leicester and shot their tactics down. The wizened Italian has two options, one, is to persist, despite the glaring shortcomings, or go for a tactical upheaval. T4O believes the latter is coming. Manchester United was embarrassed by Walter Mazzarri’s Watford’s typically Italian 3-5-2, and it could be a real possibility that Ranieri goes back to his Italian roots to get one over Jose Mourinho.
Goal-keeper
Ron-Robert Zieler
The once Manchester United academy product will be out to prove a point against his former employers. Having firmly placed himself as one of the best keepers in the Bundesliga with Hannover 96, he’s getting an extending spell between the sticks to slowly but surely bed in.
Central Defenders
Luis Hernandez
The versatile ex-Sporting Gijon player made a name for himself in Spain down to his versatility across the back. His work would be cut out for him, though. The 27-year-old is going to come up against the newest sensation in the United ranks, Marcus Rashford.
Wes Morgan
He’d be the central stopper in Leicester’s three-man defence, and quite fittingly. His attributes as a back-to-the-walls defender will come to the fore in this formation, and could isolate Zlatan with his bag of bricks physical presence.
Robert Huth
The German was given the run about by Liverpool, and then Chelsea, stationed on the left side of defence, he’d have to come up against Juan Manuel Mata, and with adequate support from Christian Fuchs, and he’d find it easier to cope.
Central Defensive Midfielder
Daniel Amartey
The 21-year-old Ghanaian has been thrown at the deep end with the injury to Mendy, and has barely managed to keep afloat, under the barrage by Liverpool at Anfield. A visiting Chelsea side didn’t make his toils any easier, as Cesc Fabregas ran rings around him. In this formation, he’d find friendly faces around him, with Fuchs and Simpson on either side, providing avenues for the pass and the press.
Right Wing-back
Danny Simpson
The former Manchester United player enjoyed his gallivanting runs down the flanks last season, and the 3-1-4-2 would give him enough leash to attack and defend in equal measure.
Left Wing-back
Christian Fuchs
The powerful, agile, full-back would be pivotal for this formation to work. He’d have to double up for Huth and Amartey, and be an option for adding numbers up front, when Leicester pile forward.
Midfielders
Riyad Mahrez and Danny Drinkwater
Riyad Mahrez playing centrally allows him to get closer to the goal, and having Daniel Amartey and Drinkwater playing alongside him will allow him the necessary license to bomb forward.
Drinkwater has been painfully outnumbered in the last few matches – a three man midfield should give him enough wiggle room to finally start dictating play.
Forwards
Jamie Vardy and Islam Slimani
The big man / little man combination has worked throughout immemorial, and Ranieri would be counting on his record signing to strike up an understanding with misfiring Jamie Vardy. The former Sporting Lisbon man has all the attributes to lead the line or play the focal point in attack with his back to goal.
