Leicester City FanZoner Nikin Tailor is hopeful Chris Wood can help fire the Foxes towards promotion.
New striker should boost the Foxes' promotion charge
Strength, speed and an eye for goal to boot - it was no surprise that Chris Wood's attacking prowess would yield goals for City. However, not even the most ardent of City fan would have imagined the abundance of riches the man displayed so far for the Foxes.
Granted, Wood's three performances have not been against (with all due respect to them) the most powerful teams within the league and cup. Nevertheless, 6 goals in three performances has kick started the New Zealand international's career at the King Power in emphatic style.
Wood is the pinnacle of a collection of young, hard working and hungry set of players assembled by Nigel Pearson over the past nine to twelve months. The current pack had been ticking over nicely whilst maintaining a play off position place throughout the season - however, the addition of Wood has acted as an instant catalyst to what will be an interesting push for an automatic promotion place.
I think I speak for all Foxes when I say the first team is finely poised with a mix of grit and flair and the usual suspects such as Knockaert and Nugent will naturally receive the plaudits they deserve. For me though, the two stand out stars this season have been the crucial signings Mr Pearson made last January in the form of Danny Drinkwater and the ever reliable Wes Morgan.
In fact, it is almost a year to the date where a certain Mr Drinkwater on loan at Barnsley came to the King Power with Yorkshire club and single handedly dismantled the off form Leicester side at the time. Whilst Knockaert and Nugent have offered the style and panache of audacious strikes against Huddersfield and Forest alike - Morgan and Drinkwater have been the mercenaries in the defence and midfield that have led to the meanest defensive record so far this season. Morgan's consistency, coupled with Drinkwater's creative awareness offer the ideal blend for our attackers - even more so now with the addition of Wood.
Elsewhere on the field, I feel Pearson has the age old "nice" problem of choosing who to start between Dyer and Marshall. Whilst Dyer has shown signs of excellence (such as his performance against Ipswich), Marshall has the raw talent and technical ability to deliver crosses into the box which may best suit the Wood/Nugent combination.
momentum
Four wins with a collection of thirteen goals is the ideal way to see out 2012 and to bring in the New Year. The key to a strong push for an automatic promotion place finish is now in the hands of momentum and consistency. My concerns are the tactics employed once we gain a lead within games. We have been too quick to slow down games once a lead is drawn and it can and has hurt us.
The Barnsley game this season is a perfect example of this, also, the tie against Derby could have gone down a similar path were it not for a goal against the run of play from a semi-fit David Nugent. My thoughts are that the team should finish off a team when they are against the ropes and, to their credit, they have carried this out in the last two league games.
Alternatively, I am interested in the use of players as and when the opposition team gains a lead. Credit to Nigel Pearson, this City side has not been thrashed this season (not to tempt fate). However, as soon as this side concedes a deficit, the reaction is somewhat sluggish and uninspiring.
The long balls hurled into the likes of Waghorn and Vardy in times of desperation are somewhat futile. I'm faithful the additional dimension offered by Wood in the air or on the ground will be a welcomed variability of our current options in times of need of a "Plan B".
I'm confident the next five months will be an emotional rollercoaster for us Foxes which is not out of place for a regular Championship campaign. It would come as no surprise if Pearson was to add to the current crop with the prospect of a potential centre half or central defensive midfielder on the horizon for January to blend into this fine set of players and to provide more steel.
Onwards and upwards!
