Taggart: Vardy’s A Catalyst, But Everyone Has A Responsibility

- Gerry Taggart analysed Jamie Vardy’s goalscoring success so far in 2019/20 on LCFC Radio’s Pre-Match Pint
- The Foxes No.9 has found the back of the net 11 times already this term
- He scored a hat-trick in City’s historic 9-0 win at Southampton in October

The Premier League’s top scorer has netted 11 goals in 12 outings this term, most recently bagging the opener against Arsenal on Saturday.

His goalscoring exploits in October, meanwhile, earned him the EA Sports Player Of The Month award following four goals in three outings.

Speaking ahead of the triumph against the Gunners on LCFC Radio’s Pre-Match Pint, Taggart emphasised the importance of managing the City No.9’s in-game work load.

“He wants to chase back fours and centre-halves down, but the other thing is that Brendan has a team structure, that everyone has to contribute to when they are pressing the ball,” explained Taggart.

“That then enables Jamie to not have to press as much as he probably used to have to do four or five years ago.

“Would that have changed if Jamie Vardy was 25? Probably slightly, but I think the structure that Brendan has brought in is the main reason why he’s not haring around like he used to.

“You don’t get to 32, scoring the amount of goals he’s scored, and still looking as fit as you do without being managed in between that.

“He’s been the catalyst, but everyone has a responsibility when it comes to closing the ball down, and Brendan Rodgers will be right on top of that. That helps Jamie Vardy, in turn, to manage himself.”

Taggart cited playing to Vardy’s strengths as one of the major factors in him taking his overall Premier League tally to 91 in 188 appearances with 26 games remaining in 2019/20.

“It’s all about knowing who you’re dealing with,” continued the former City defender. “It’s about realising that to win games of football, you have to score goals.

“To score goals, you have to make sure that your goalscorers in the team are getting shots on target on a regular basis. That’s what Brendan Rodgers has done. It sounds easy, but the basics are all there set out for Jamie Vardy.

“How do you get the best out of Jamie Vardy? By making sure that everybody behind him, or alongside him, is singing from the same hymn sheet and making sure that he gets the service that enables him to put the ball in the back of the net.”