The captain of Leicester City has already played 90 minutes in six games this season, which is the same number of minutes he played during the whole relegation campaign two years prior.
Jamie Vardy doesn’t make sense. The Leicester City captain cannot be evaluated using the same criteria as the typical Premier League player because that is already so entrenched.
Vardy is expected to surprise this season even if one looks at his career from a different perspective, one in which the customary norms and expectations don’t apply. Being the third oldest outfield player in the division at 37 (he will shortly turn 38), it would be incredible if he continued to play.
With 20 goals in all competitions last season, he demonstrated that he still possesses the finishing touch. He has already scored four goals in ten games this season, more than his three goals in 37 appearances during the relegation campaign.
The quantity of minutes he is playing, however, may be even more striking. He completed 90 minutes for the sixth time this term at Ipswich. That is equal to the total number of games he played throughout the whole relegation season two years prior. He only had one 90-minute appearance in the Championship.
Vardy has actually played 94% of City’s league minutes so far this year. That truly defies a trend. He hasn’t played more than 55% of the minutes in any of the past three seasons due to selection and occasional injuries. He was 30/31 in 2017–18, the last time he averaged more minutes.
Is he going to be able to maintain that without getting hurt? Although everyone will wish so, it is yet unknown. When City plays midweek Premier League games next month, some questions will be addressed. In order to save himself for league games, Vardy hasn’t even been benched for any of the cup matches thus far.
It’s not that he’s performing any less well on the pitch either. Averaging 18 touches per 90 minutes is his lowest in the Premier League, but it’s only by a small margin. In all previous seasons, the number nine has averaged between 20 and 24 touches per 90 minutes. Running data isn’t easily accessible, and he’s definitely not tearing around like he was in his 20s.
He hasn’t been any less productive as the games have progressed, either. That was demonstrated by his brilliant assist on Jordan Ayew’s equaliser in the 94th minute over the weekend.
How does he continue to create an impression and appear so frequently? “It’s on him more than anybody else,” stated Steve Cooper. He never loses his incredible ability to score goals, and he prepares for games incredibly well.
He has the ability to take risks. He has already scored goals of several kinds, including a penalty, a run-in goal against Crystal Palace, and being in the right spot at the right time. That’s simply demonstrating that it’s still there because it’s pretty indicative of what Jamie has done throughout his career.
He knows more about himself than anyone else, therefore it all comes down to his motivation, hunger, and preparation. We’re behind him, and it would be very beneficial to us if he could maintain and even increase his goal total. Let’s hope that keeps up.
It all comes down to cooperating with him and the staff responsible for physical performance. It involves sitting together, making plans, and having faith in his needs. He must be included in the process.
He still finds enjoyment in his training, as you can see. He still aspires to win in training, just like the boys do, and to be the player with the most goals. However, he has a great deal of experience understanding what it takes to be prepared on a matchday. He and I are always working on it. Although he is clearly one of the few players his age playing at the highest level, he is not alone. It is demonstrating that it is now real.
However, there is more to this. Perhaps City simply no longer has the same alternatives. Kelechi Iheanacho was Vardy’s deputy and a someone who could be called upon for a long period. The Nigerian and Vardy shared the striker spot during the first half of the previous season.
For a few seasons, Patson Daka has also been there, playing intermittently. However, Cooper has had no one to turn to because Daka has been sidelined all season and Iheanacho left on a free transfer.
Odsonne Edouard, who was brought in on loan on the day of the deadline, hasn’t impressed thus far; at Ipswich, he didn’t even make the bench. As a result, Ayew is currently the backup, but he can also play as an attacking midfielder or winger and has frequently been called upon to fill Vardy’s position.
Vardy was always at the head of the queue while Iheanacho was in it at City. That queue is no longer there.
There won’t have been the same consideration to bench Vardy, even for a midfielder, because City is also aiming for a result in many of their games. When the team needs a goal, that never seems like a smart move.
However, Daka has resumed his training, and once he is fully recovered, things could be different for City, Cooper, and Vardy. The manager will have the opportunity to keep his best striker and make sure he can continue to contribute throughout the season.
Or perhaps he won’t feel compelled to. Vardy might be able to continue playing as much as he is and making contributions in the process. Keep in mind that the standard reasoning is not applicable.
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