We couldn’t have asked for a better first game could we? When the fixtures came out for Leicester City’s return to the Championship, the first thing any Foxes fan saw was the opening game against Coventry (or are we calling it the Callum Doyle Derby now?)
What a great opening fixture to start life back in the Championship. Ok, pre-season really hasn’t been what any fan wanted, but the real work starts against Coventry. The players should be well up for it knowing what the fixture means to us and us fans will be right behind the lads.
This won’t be an easy game by all means. Coventry had a great season last year, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League (let’s not laugh too hard at that). Their main threat last season was Viktor Gyökeres, who scored 21 goals, but with him leaving to join Sporting CP, Cov may find it difficult to replace that sort of fire power.
This will be a good opening test to see how Enzo gets the players playing. Yes, the squad still needs a few more additions to make it good enough, not only to compete for 46 tough games in what I call the toughest league to get out of, but also to have a squad that can play some good football and be competitive throughout the season. You can’t expect to sell players like Maddison and not miss the quality or replace that creative role
The first 5 fixtures
Coventry City (H) Finished 5th and got beat in the Play Off Final. I think they will struggle to hit the heights of last season, especially with key players leaving the club.
Huddersfield Town (A) Finished 18th: I think this will be another tough season for them and it gives us a good opportunity to get our first 3 points on the road.
Cardiff City (H) Finished 21st and nearly got relegated. The return of Aaron Ramsey could spark some life into them, to ensure they don’t get dragged into another relegation scrape
Rotherham United (A) Finished 19th: Another team who flirted with relegation & could struggle.
Hull City (H) Finished 15th last season, in what would have been seen as a disappointing end result for the team. They’ll be looking to build on that this season.
All these opening fixtures “on paper” are good fixtures for Leicester to find their feet and hit the ground running. A few bad early results could see heads go down in the squad, so a good start to the season is a must. Winning breeds confidence and confidence is key this season. With this selection of fixtures to kick off with there is no reason why we can’t achieve this.
For a team aspiring to get promoted this season, we need to be getting a minimum of 3 wins from these 5 games. There are so many established teams in the Championship who know how to win. Last season we didn’t get to experience that winning feeling so much, so how we start is hugely important.
But this isn’t going to be as easy as some may think. Every club will raise their game and will want to claim the scalp of beating Leicester this season. We’re already early favourites to win the league. We’ve made a few good signings (but still need more), and we still have some “names” in the squad. We’ll be the team they want to beat.
Early Highlights
When you look at the Championship this season, what a league it is. There are going to some brilliant fixtures for us to look forward in what many would argue is the best (and toughest) Championship there’s been in years.
Bristol City at home in September will see the return of Big Nige. The man who some believe orchestrated our Premier League title squad. Big Nige will no doubt be given a well-deserved hero’s welcome, but let’s hope he doesn’t get a strangle hold on 3 points that day. Of course, the fixture will also see the return of Andy King, another Leicester City favourite and again, sure to receive a warm reception. But warm receptions and hero welcomes stop when the game begins.
Away Days
We’ve certainly got some class away days to look forward to during the 2023/24 season.
Huddersfield (A) 12 Aug
It’s the first away day of the season and lots of fans will be looking forward to the trip up north to the Johns Smith’s Stadium.
Huddersfield finished 18th last season and Michal Helick was the Player of the Season in a team that struggled for goals and clean sheets.
You can also try and squeeze in a trip to Magic Rock Brewery before or after the game as well!
Rotherham (A) 26 August
Another team up north that will make a good away day. Rotherham finished on -11 GD last season, so you can guess where their frailties were. The town itself might not offer too much for a weekend away, but it’s a nice stadium to visit and a new one for some to tick off (and near enough to Sheffield for pre-match drinking too).
Sheffield Wednesday (A) 29 November
We visit Sheffield Wednesday for the Jamie Vardy Derby in November. Sheffield Wednesday are back in the Championship having been promoted via the League 1 Play Off Final, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion. They will have the momentum of promotion behind them and a team like them would love to return to the big time after so many year in their neighbour’s shadow.
Liam Palmer was the driving force behind them getting promoted, winning their Player of the Season award having scored his fourth goal of the campaign and playing his part in helping break the clubs all time clean sheet record in a single campaign. Wednesday have the potential to be a surprise package next season.
West Brown (A) 2 December
For me personally the first that jumped off the page is West Brom away on 2 December. West Brom is a great away day (and they have the best burgers for all of your footy scranners). West Brom narrowly missed out on a Play Off spot and will always be a decent team in the Championship, tipped to be in contention for promotion.
Dara O’Shea (Def) was the player of the season scoring 2 goals & 1 assist in a team that kept 16 clean sheets. We can expect a tough game.
Coventry City (A) 13 January
It’s been a while since we got an away day at Coventry. If my memory serves me correctly the last one was in August 2011 and Lee Peltier scored from a Wellens assist and Darius Vassell got sent off. Those where the days, eh. The fans will be well up for this and at the mid-season point it’ll be a good indicator of where each team is.
Leeds United (A) 24 February
This one has the potential to be a massive fixture. Leeds, like us, had a shocking last season which saw them relegated alongside us. They will be aiming to bounce straight back up and come February this could be a key fixture in the battle for promotion.
The Last Five
If we dare to hope that we’ll be in the mix for promotion come the end of the season these last 5 fixtures will be where we make or break the chase. So what does the run in look like?
Millwall (A) Yikes. Never an easy place to visit (just ask Ben Chilwell). A tough team as always, who finished 8th last season.
Plymouth (A) Another team that will on a high after winning the League 1 title last season. They should adapt well to life in the Championship and it’s a long trip down south for the fans.
West Brom (H) This could be a blockbuster of a game if both teams’ promotion chasing hopes are being fulfilled. (Plus it’s a big game for me, as my Dad is a lifelong West Brom fan and I really need the bragging rights in my house).
Preston (A) Preston finished 12th last season and with this being our last away day of the season we’ll be hoping to tie up a last big away win.
Blackburn (H) If we’re being optimistic, I guess Leicester fans are all hoping that the title is wrapped up before this game, so we can enjoy a carnival atmosphere and lift the trophy. That would be nice, wouldn’t it. But this is Leicester City and we know better than to get carried away. However let’s hope we don’t go into the last game of the season needing a win, because evidence who show we’re not too good at final day pressure.
Blackburn will be another good footballing team in the Championship. They gave us a good schooling in the cup last season (didn’t most teams!) but they play good positive football. They will surely be looking at a promotion push this season.
PLAYER TO WATCH THIS SEASON
For me its Ricky P. A fully fit Pereira will smash the Championship up, if we can just hold onto him! With Enzo wanting to be playing different formations with and without the ball, Ricky will be vital to that.
Enzo wants to play quick possession football and get the ball forward as much as possible in a 3-2-4-1 formation, playing balls over the top and switches in play. If a forward pass is on, then Enzo will want the team to try to execute this.
Without the ball Ricky will be playing as a RB, but he’ll be asked to play the double pivot roll when we are in possession to pack the midfield out and allow us to play forward quicker. A nice change to the football we saw under Brendan!
So that’s how the season lies ahead. Safe to say it won’t be smooth sailing! After all, this is Leicester City, we never do things the easy way.
“Don’t worry about a thing, the Championship’s gonna be alright”
Let’s hope that’s only the case for 46 games, please.
Words by Gogs Gogna
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