From struggling with relegation in the 2014/15 season to title contenders this term, the story of Leicester City Football Club is that of a mirage if you ask me. The fairy tale obviously started with Nigel Pearson whom was in charge during the relegation threatened campaign of 2014/15, I say this because if the team had been relegated I am sure current Manager Claudio Ranieri would not have been appointed or even if he was called to take the job he would have turned down a team that was already relegated. They avoided the drop and Ranieri was employed to at least stabilize the team and make them a regular premiership side (my thoughts though).
Leicester City is however not new to the English Premier League (EPL) as they gained promotion under the tutelage of Martin O’neill in 1996 from the old Division 1 (Now Championship). I remember a certain Emile Heskey burst into limelight with Leicester City, they had players like Frank Sinclair, Matt Elliot, Muzzy Izzet. They even played in the UEFA Cup a couple of times when they won the League Cup twice (97 and 2000 with a runners up medal in 1999) and were in the top 10 of the EPL for 4 consecutive seasons. They went down to lower tier of English football and not much was heard about them after they were relegated to the Championship in 2002. After a 12 year hiatus, they gained promotion back into the Premier League.
The Emergence
Leicester City has now become a force to reckon with (at least for now) sitting pretty atop the EPL with 5 points ahead of Tottenham Hotspurs in 2nd place, 11 points ahead of 3rd placed Arsenal and 15 points ahead of 4th placed Man City who are in the battle for the final Champions League spot with Manchester United and Westham United. Earlier part of the season had people saying Leicester cannot win the EPL and that they would drop down to their normal position amongst the other relegation battlers and I will not exonerate myself from this rant. I stopped saying Leicester will not win the League in February and this was because Man City were still inconsistent and Arsenal did not take advantage of the little blip Leicester faced.
I am not categorically saying Leicester has won the league but at least a Champions League slot is assured and with 8 games to go (7 for Leicester and Tottenham) you never can tell but I seriously tip them for the title or maybe Spurs so I can spite their North London rivals (Arsenal). This Leicester City side reminds me of Jose Mourinho’s side of 2006, grinding out 1-0 wins (12 already this season) and stats show that they have garnered more points against the remaining teams they have left to play in comparison to Tottenham’s side of the divide.
Key Players for Leicester
I would have loved to say Riyad Mahrez is the best Leicester City player because he has hit double figures in goals and assists but Jamie Vardy for me is Leicester’s main man this term and reason being he looks like he is playing strictly for the team as they inch close to the title and not the EPL’s top scorer crown (simply put, playing for the greater good). I will not list players because the whole team have given a good account of themselves.
My Prediction?
Like I stated above I seriously tip Leicester to be crowned EPL champions but would be glad if Spurs could also win the league and hopefully the management of my beloved Manchester United team can snatch Tottenham’s head coach Mauricio Pochettino. No disrespect to Jose Mourinho even though it is looking likely the Portuguese would sign for United come May/June.
Thanks for your time people and sorry I have been away for too long. Love you all.
