Ahmed Musa needs to replicate Vardy at Leicester
“I joined because it’s one of the best clubs in the Premier League and they are like a family. That’s why I joined Leicester City and I’m very excited.
“I look forward to seeing the fans in the new season and I will do my best to make them happy.”
It was good news to hear that Leicester City have agreed to pay about £18 million for Nigerian speed star, Ahmed Musa after his stellar performances for CSKA Moscow, season in and season out for the last five years.
Musa has been one of the more consistent performers for CSKA, but whilst the Jos-born player can be absolutely sublime, he can also tend to the ridiculous, which is why it is pertinent to ask if he would thrive in England alongside England international, Jaime Vardy?
The 23-year-old winger-cum-striker turned centre forward scored 18 goals in 44 matches last season, and led his team to the league title.
“He’ll be leaving Tuesday,” Leonid Slutsky told Russian media on Sunday.
“And if you look at the way things are done over there you’ll see he is a player just made for English football,” Slutsky added, paying the Nigerian a high compliment.
Musa told ESPN in Nigeria in April that, “They have been talking since January, but it didn’t happen,” he said. “Now, I’m just waiting for them to finish.
“If they agree, why not? I’ll be happy to join,” he added.
But does he suit the game plan of Rainieri and the Foxes? Will he be a starter or just a squad player?
We will look at four distinct characteristics that typified Leicester City on their way to winning the Premiership title for the first time in their history last season and what Musa has to imbibe to become a success in England.
Fast counter
Jaime Vardy was the beneficiary of that quick transition from defence to attack and his goal-per-shot ration was greater than 50%. With 24 goals scored in the last campaign, Vardy ensured that he scored almost one out of two chances that were created for him and he got into the right positions to score on account of his speed over the first 10m. Musa is arguably faster than the 28-year-old but misses more than he scores – a stat that has to change quickly in the hustle and bustle environment of the EPL.
Very narrow formation
Leicester play with a simple philosophy – without the ball, they have every man behind the ball except Vardy, who hangs on the shoulder of the opponent’s last man waiting to hone in on goal if the ball is retrieved and passed on. Musa also likes to attack from the flanks – which means he will also want to play on the central defenders’ blind sides. Will Rainieri play two fast attackers upfront? Or will one sit down for the other?
Musa has been brought in to ameliorate the kind of blip suffered between 2015 Boxing Day and January 2, 2016, when they went three matches without a goal. They went the entire 38 matches of the season – failing to score in just four matches.
There were so many games that the Foxes won 1-0 – five times in their last 14 matches of last season. This was dependent on the fact that they never shirked chances when they were presented and were able to hold on. But whoscored.com said of Musa in January, “No player has missed more clear-cut chances [9] in the Russian Premier League this season than Musa.” A stat that he has to improve on as that wasted chance could be the only goal scoring opportunity for his team in a tight game.
Workmanlike attitude
One abiding image of the Leicester team that won the 2015/16 season was their team ethic. Every player chosen for every match gave 101% for the team – working their socks off in the process. Which is why they were able to hold on to slender leads. Musa already has that ethic in abundance and would always track back to help his team in midfield and defense but he must understand that he is not been brought into the team to defend but to give his team a positive outlet.
In his 5 seasons in Russia with CSKA, he scored 54 goals in 168 games. Musa, who was briefly the captain of the Super Eagles, has scored 11 goals in 58 matches for Nigeria.
Welcome to England Musa, but will he conquer? We hope he does!
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