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All 26 Leicester City players and two managers rated after wretched relegation season
Coming into the season, many Leicester City had hoped the club could push for Europe. But for those who remain at the club, they will be heading to Plymouth and Rotherham, not Prague or Rome next season.
No matter who sticks around for the Championship, each of the squad members from the past season will have a relegation on their CV forever. But which of them don’t deserve to?
Here, we run the rule of each of the 26 members of the City squad who played at least five matches this season and rate their performances in a campaign they will all want to quickly forget.
Entrusted with the gloves, the pressure of the number one on his back appeared to get to Ward, with the shot-stopping qualities he had shown in cup matches during his time as Kasper Schmeichel’s deputy deserting him. There were a couple of more confident showings just before the World Cup, but otherwise, his inability to keep the ball out of the net was one of the reasons for City’s downfall. 3
(Image: Getty Images)Drafted in for the final 12 games, he produced some outstanding stops and showed off lightning-quick reflexes, particularly to earn a point against Everton. But against Fulham, Liverpool and Newcastle, he showed he’s not yet a world-beater and that he still has mistakes in him. His kicking, which was a concern before he came into the side, needs improvement too. 6
(Image: Ian Walton/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Nobody played more minutes for City this season than Castagne, and while poorer than in his previous campaigns, he was still one of the club’s more consistent performers. There were a few too many occasions that he got beaten in behind on his flank, and he did not seem to offer as much going forward, but he was reasonably solid defensively otherwise. 5
(Image: Javier Garcia)He only lasted a few months before injury hit again, and it was clear from his performances in those early games that he was still striving to reach the levels he achieved before his ACL tear. There was a lack of dynamism and athleticism that made him so good a couple of years ago. 4
(Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images)There were glimpses of prime Ricardo, such as the silky back-heel against Chelsea and an excellent strike against Crystal Palace, but once again, that’s all there was. It was another campaign in which injury stopped him from featuring with any prominence. 5
(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)He was part of a defence that conceded a hatful in the opening few weeks without being especially terrible, before injury consigned him to the sidelines for six months. He returned for the final three matches and showed the defensive nous that City had desperately missed. 5
(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)You can split Faes’ campaign into three parts. In the first, from his arrival up to the World Cup, he was terrific, showing great confidence, controlled aggression and fine positioning, acting as the catalyst for the turnaround in form in the autumn. However, after the World Cup and up to the March international break, he was reckless and calamitous. Then, after starting for Belgium, he returned and was solid once again. 6
(Image: Michael Steele)A cult hero last season for the way he stepped up to the plate when team-mates were injured, it all went wrong for Amartey this term. There were too many mistakes and strikers simply found it too easy to play against him. 3
(Image: PA)In moments when City were trying to defend counter-attacks, he was vulnerable. But as for the defensive basics, he did a good job. He put his giant frame to good use to dominate in the air, which helped City at set-pieces, while he held the line well to close out attackers. One disappointment was that he didn’t get on the scoresheet, despite a few huge chances. 6
(Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)He looked like he might be City’s saviour when Dean Smith brought him in from the cold, the Turk showing off all of his best qualities, many of which were missing last season: a determination in the tackle, composure with the ball at his feet and a real desire in the physical battles. His performance in the home win over Wolves was one of the best individual displays of the season. And so, it makes it all the more disappointing he is leaving for nothing. 7
There was a clear hunger in his performances and that made for a strong start for the young Dane as he got up and down the left flank. But as weeks went by, he was exposed by wingers more and more often, and ended up losing his spot. But, he’s only young and will get better. 4
(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)As has been the case before, he often came into the team when they were short on players or in a rut, and it usually didn’t work out well for the homegrown left-back. His reading of the game and his use of the ball was good at times, but there were too many errors, and too many times he was bypassed by his man. 3
(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty)No other player seemed to have as dramatic a fall in their form as Ndidi did. He went from dominating midfields and being a reliable presence in front of the back four, to providing no protection. If he can’t regularly win tackles and interceptions, or pick up the loose balls, City are going to suffer. 3
(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)He may be unadventurous in his style but with City games often chaotic, there was a craving to see more of Mendy at the base of the midfield. He had perhaps his best-ever City game in the win over Spurs in which he scored a cracker, but could not get himself a regular spot in the 11. 6
(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)There were games in the autumn when he had a long run in the side. Briefly under Smith too, he looked like he’d finally arrived. He was driving up the pitch, serving good ball and chasing back hard too. But then there were other times where he looked completely lost and neglected his duties. 4
(Image: Clive Mason)He was not one of City’s worst performers, but based on expectations and on how important he has been to the club’s recent success, he was underwhelming. He still provided plenty of forward passes and a couple of spectacular goals, but his influence on matches compared to previous seasons was limited. His contract situation meant he was judged by harsher standards among fans, and he failed to reach the level expected, particularly when he was unfit after his ankle injury. 4
(Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)His breakthrough last season was integral to improving the team’s performances, but his all-action showings didn’t quite have the same impact this term. And with more scrutiny of his technical ability, he was often found wanting. However, his commitment could never be questioned and it still felt like City were better when he was in the team. 5
(Image: Paul Harding)In his early-season stand-in displays, such as at home against Leeds, he was excellent, slotting into any position he was asked and providing energy and good link-up play. But he never built up enough momentum to make himself an influential part of the team. 5
(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)It would be unfair for the missed penalty against Everton to overshadow what was another very good season from Maddison. His goals dried up at the wrong time and he tried too hard to do it alone towards the end of the campaign, but he was mostly excellent, showing off dazzling footwork, an eye for a pass and fine finishing. His performances at home to Forest and away at Everton were genuinely world-class. 7
(Image: Will Palmer/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)He barely featured in the first part of the season and then when he was getting game-time, he left on loan. His style of play didn’t appear to fit with what City wanted. 4
(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty)His time at City felt like it was up at the end of last season, and his performances in his few outings this term proved it was, albeit there were a couple of games where he showed his qualities and teamwork in attack. 4
(Image: Getty)It was an odd campaign for Barnes. He finishes as top scorer for the club with a creditable 13 goals, with many of those finishes expertly taken. But, it felt like his overall threat dwindled, and that he did not trouble defences as much as he has in the past. Still, those goals cannot be taken for granted. 6
(Image: PA)He gave City fans perhaps the thrill of the season with his mesmerising debut at Aston Villa, but then it all went downhill quite swiftly. There is talent in those feet, and you can see him tormenting defences with his dribbling in the future, but this proved not to be the right time nor the right club for Tete to thrive. 4
(Image: Clive Mason)Being on the fringes of the game is not unusual for Vardy, as he has always had the ability to spark into life and make the most of his few opportunities. Even when he wasn’t touching the ball, he was still a threat. At least he was until this season. His brief upturn in form under Smith showed there is still life in him yet, but this did feel like the season that Vardy’s downturn started. 4
City were a much more fluid attack with Iheanacho as the striker and he still provided goals and assists at a rate none of his team-mates could match. His link-up play and vision was superb at times, while he gave fans one of the moments of the season with his groin-tearing pass at Leeds. But those misses at Southampton proved costly. 6
(Image: Getty)It looks unorthodox at times, but Daka does seem to have a knack of making things happen. However, a lack of faith in him doing so meant he wasn’t able to improve on last season. Hopes of him being Vardy’s successor have gone unfulfilled. 4
(Image: Paul Harding)A complete inability to set up the team in a way that restricted opponents was his most costly failure on the pitch, but his ability off it seemed to wane too. The player didn’t give up on him, but it felt like he was no longer improving them through his coaching. 3
(Image: Andrew Kearns – CameraSport)He improved Vardy’s influence and at least made significant attempts to solidify the defence. But ultimately, the improvements were not big enough to lift City away from the sorry situation they were in when he arrived. 4
(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
