Wout Faes presents quite the conundrum! Rarely am I at a loss for words when discussing Leicester City, yet the Belgian defender leaves me torn. In my frank assessment, Faes is a player who should be excelling for all the right reasons at the King Power.
At his best, he oozes composure – so much so that he almost appears indifferent. It’s this casual demeanor, coupled with what one might call (in the words of the great Robert De Niro) wasted talent, that frustrates the Foxes faithful most.
On paper, the Belgium international has everything required to thrive: strong tackling (when he chooses to apply it), progressive passing vision, and technical ability. Yet he consistently underutilizes or misapplies these gifts.
That trademark self-assurance can be double-edged. While it serves him well in buildup play, he struggles against physical forwards in aerial duels. Ultimately, Faes should have been another shrewd Leicester signing. Instead, he’s become emblematic of the club’s recent recruitment struggles.
Van Nistelrooy’s recent public criticism of Faes was entirely justified, despite some fans preferring such rebukes to stay behind closed doors.
After his clumsy concession against Manchester United, the manager’s blunt assessment felt necessary – sometimes overpaid underachievers need public accountability to spark improvement.
This approach could prove vital for revitalizing a stagnant squad. Dropping “established” players often serves as an effective wake-up call.
Judging by fan sentiment, most supporters would endorse Faes losing his starting spot as part of van Nistelrooy’s reshuffle.
“I think if Wout Faes can come across to block Hojlund going to the keeper it would have been better. The second one falls for Garnacho, falls in front of his feet and he doesn’t think twice.” – RvN
As noted, managers seldom single out individuals publicly. But given Leicester’s dismal campaign, perhaps such harsh truths are needed to shake their underperforming stars into action.