(Not hypothetical anymore) Leicester win the league!

vetinari

Leicester are in full grinding mode at the moment.
The one worry for them is that there's not a lot between grinding and choking.

They've won 5 of the last 6 games 1 nil. There's not much room for error there.
The players definitely look like they're feeling the pressure.

Obviously if they keep winning, it won't matter.
Be interesting though if say they draw or lose next week against Sunderland.

raze_them_all_

vetinari wrote: »

Leicester are in full grinding mode at the moment.
The one worry for them is that there's not a lot between grinding and choking.

They've won 5 of the last 6 games 1 nil. There's not much room for error there.
The players definitely look like they're feeling the pressure.

Obviously if they keep winning, it won't matter.
Be interesting though if say they draw or lose next week against Sunderland.

They are winning though. The difference is they ground out a 1-0 while spurs could only manage 1-1

~Rebel~

vetinari wrote: »

Leicester are in full grinding mode at the moment.
The one worry for them is that there's not a lot between grinding and choking.

They've won 5 of the last 6 games 1 nil. There's not much room for error there.
The players definitely look like they're feeling the pressure.

Obviously if they keep winning, it won't matter.
Be interesting though if say they draw or lose next week against Sunderland.

They're feeling the pressure I'm sure, but they've also been playing teams who have been shutting up shop for the most part. This is what people expected to be their tough run because they were playing teams who wouldn't come at them, but they've still done what most of the other 'top teams' failed to do, and have broken down the defences they've faced, while keeping it tight at the back themselves.

Over this run, they've not really been bursting forward looking for a late goal - on the contrary they've tended to score in the first half, and then just soak up the pressure for the rest of the game. Pretty clinical, professional, Mourinhoesque stuff really.

vetinari

True, it's been crucial that they've got the first goal in a game.
It's still a fine line though between holding out for 60 minutes after scoring a goal and conceding an equaliser.
Crystal Palace hit the bar late against Leicester and Southampton should have got a penalty in the second half.
Their strategy has been based on fine margins.

K-9

Only thing is they showed pre Xmas that they can come from a goal down as well.

Damien360

vetinari wrote: »

Leicester are in full grinding mode at the moment.
The one worry for them is that there's not a lot between grinding and choking.

They've won 5 of the last 6 games 1 nil. There's not much room for error there.
.

Which is exactly how to do it. They are in the driving seat, they are not chasing anyone at the top. 6 utterly brilliant players in Huth, Morgan, Kante, Mahrez, Vardy and Schmicheal. The rest are decent but nothing special. Delighted for them and hopefully they can keep those core players and build.

~Rebel~

Damien360 wrote: »

Which is exactly how to do it. They are in the driving seat, they are not chasing anyone at the top. 6 utterly brilliant players in Huth, Morgan, Kante, Mahrez, Vardy and Schmicheal. The rest are decent but nothing special. Delighted for them and hopefully they can keep those core players and build.

Indeed, and crucially, all the support players work their balls off for the cause. Okazaki, Fuchs, Drinkwater, Albrighton etc are always conscious of whats going on all over the field, dropping and filling gaps wherever necessary so there's always cover in areas in case a mistake is made.

Their mentality as a team this season has been unreal.

Rayne Wooney

If they score first there is no need to push on for more, it's smart and it conserves energy for such a small squad

Paully D

elefant wrote: »

It's unbelievable watching him.
Chasing down every ball at full pelt in injury time while everyone around him looks totally knackered.
Any chance of him winning player of the year I wonder?

Mahrez is odds-on with Vardy next in line according to the bookies.

Kante has been the best player in the league this season for sure IMO. Definitely my Player of the Year anyway, which I'm sure will be of great comfort to him. :pac:

~Rebel~

Paully D wrote: »

Mahrez is odds-on with Vardy next in line according to the bookies.

Kante has been the best player in the league this season for sure IMO. Definitely my Player of the Year anyway, which I'm sure will be of great comfort to him. :pac:

Indeed, and I think if every club could steal one Leicester player, it'd be Kante. Mahrez has ben phenomenal as well of course, but that base Kante gives is huge.

He's like a throwback to the 90's and 00's when the premiership (and indeed world football) was full of terrific centre midfielders that could do a bit of everything. There's a serious scarcity of that type of player now, I suspect due to players getting overspecialized very young.

gosplan

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Indeed, and I think if every club could steal one Leicester player, it'd be Kante. Mahrez has ben phenomenal as well of course, but that base Kante gives is huge.

He's like a throwback to the 90's and 00's when the premiership (and indeed world football) was full of terrific centre midfielders that could do a bit of everything. There's a serious scarcity of that type of player now, I suspect due to players getting overspecialized very young.

Remember when Chelsea could play Makelele, Lampard, Ballack, Essien.

How nuts was that? There isn't 4 midfielders that good in the entire league right now. Jesus, is there even 1?

K-9

gosplan wrote: »

Remember when Chelsea could play Makelele, Lampard, Ballack, Essien.

How nuts was that? There isn't 4 midfielders that good in the entire league right now. Jesus, is there even 1?

Doubtful there is, Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard wasn't too shabby either!

garra

keeponhurling wrote: »

By the way, Porto in 2004 shouldn't even be in the discussion.
Portuguese teams regularly enough go far, and it was well known that this Porto team was much much better than what had gone before.
Think they went the whole previous season unbeaten , including UEFA cup.

I'd be very surprised if you could have gotten more than maybe 20/1 at the start of that season, probably shorter.

Leicester were 5000/1 for feck sake

They were still at 50/1 in early December (when I backed them). I thought they were generous odds after watching them. Recently they have been muck yet they still create bunches of chances through pressing and grind out opponents to the point of boredom if necessary. They have been lucky, they have been brave too.

Billy86

To be fair, Mascherano and especially Makelele were extremely specialised midfielders that allowed the other guys to go about doing what they did without having to worry too much about other aspects of their play. Gerrard with Masch/Alonso was as close to a SS as he was an AM at times (and 'Pewl fans must be sick Houllier didn't notice this way back when to play him off Owen, rather than Emile 'big man' Heskey).

upandcumming

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/claudio-ranieri-leicester-city-premier-league/

Very enjoyable read!

GLaDOS

Jamie Vardy, for example. This is not a footballer. This is a fantastic horse.

Jayop

Ranieri is just infectiously likable.

whiskeyman

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Paddy Power conducted an analysis on it across a large sample of data.....

This sort of stuff bugs me.

If anyone conducted analysis on data, you'd NEVER have predicted Leicester would be where they are now.
Data analysis of teams means sweet FA in my opinion. This season has proved it more than ever.
So much just comes down to form, injuries and ultimately mentality and desire to win.

We all hope (well most of us) that the Foxes have to grit and mindset to keep playing the way they are.

Is anyone else thinking, the incredible turn around, with players showing incredible form, covering incredible ground and so on...that drugs story...

I mean, no one wants it to be true...but what if...

I guess much will depend on whether more comes out this weekend and whether any suspicion can be put to bed or whether the story will grow legs...

inforfun

No doubt that there is doping in football but you ll not be able to "dope" 91 points in 12 months.

A football player relies on way too many different things in orde to use doping that effective.

Mushy

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Is anyone else thinking, the incredible turn around, with players showing incredible form, covering incredible ground and so on...that drugs story...

I mean, no one wants it to be true...but what if...

I guess much will depend on whether more comes out this weekend and whether any suspicion can be put to bed or whether the story will grow legs...

Looked up the average distance ran per game (from February), not one Leicester player mentioned whereas three Spurs players were. I know it's not exactly definitive, but shows they aren't top of that so something else comes into play as to why they're top.

Even at that, if it were true, I doubt they'd be first team to do so.

LuckyLloyd

whiskeyman wrote: »

This sort of stuff bugs me.

If anyone conducted analysis on data, you'd NEVER have predicted Leicester would be where they are now.
Data analysis of teams means sweet FA in my opinion. This season has proved it more than ever.
So much just comes down to form, injuries and ultimately mentality and desire to win.

We all hope (well most of us) that the Foxes have to grit and mindset to keep playing the way they are.

The effort to better understand whether football 'myths' hold water bugs you? Wha?

To be honest, looking back now Leicester rounded out the last quarter of the previous season with title winning form. The idea that they'd regress back to relegation strugglers was a mistake. But ultimately their individual story is a tiny part of a much broader question of how relegation threatened teams generally do under pressure down the stretch of their season. The assertion that relegation strugglers are tough games is incorrect. That's the only point I was making.

Dirty Dingus McGee

inforfun wrote: »

No doubt that there is doping in football but you ll not be able to "dope" 91 points in 12 months.

A football player relies on way too many different things in orde to use doping that effective.

The massive improvment in Leicester is unusual in fairness and the energy they play with plays a big part in their success.

Any other sport and there would be alarms bells ringing everywhere.

Player who have been distinctly mediocre their whole careers don't tend to turn in to world beaters overnight, but thats sort of what's happened here.

mickmackey1

A season or two ago Sunderland finished with a brilliant run to escape relegation. Didn't make them title winners the next season.

CSF

mickmackey1 wrote: »

A season or two ago Sunderland finished with a brilliant run to escape relegation. Didn't make them title winners the next season.

Kante was a huge addition in the meantime. Fuchs and Okazaki have certainly contributed when needed too. Sunderland however have always been one big clusterfuc*. I mean you won't find many teams repeat the Leicester feat but that makes it all the more amazing.

inforfun

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

The massive improvment in Leicester is unusual in fairness and the energy they play with plays a big part in their success.

Any other sport and there would be alarms bells ringing everywhere.

Player who have been distinctly mediocre their whole careers don't tend to turn in to world beaters overnight, but thats sort of what's happened here.

One manager or the other can make a big difference in fitness.

Big example, you probably dont know, is Fred Rutten. Was at twente, Schalke PSV for a few years, then Vitesse and last year Feyenoord.

All Dutch teams (not sure about Schalke but would surprise me if it was different) played very high energy, high pressure football. Great to watch.
All 4 completely collapsed after march in all seasons he managed them.
Burned them to the ground in 8 months while a season lasts 10.

As for Leicester, being on top of the league and seeing competitors one by one screw up several times, must be doping on its own.

As said, I dont think it is to rule 100% out they use something but improving this much, cant be done by taking some iv's or pills.

SantryRed

Also, if Leicester City are doping their players, there is absolutely no way that they'd be the only team at it. I've read of people discrediting them in some quarters due to this scandal, which is ridiculous to do.

inforfun

inforfun wrote: »

As for Leicester, being on top of the league and seeing competitors one by one screw up several times, must be doping on its own.

Wouldn't say it was either doping on its own or that they are the only players accused...and all that exists so far are accusations... But it's from newspaper that led the revelations of Russian athletics doping and doping in cycling, and the allegations are serious. The ST don't leave go of stories so will be interesting to see if they bring more to bear on the matter in the weeks and months ahead.

inforfun

Some Swedish doctor now saying Ibrahimovic used doping in his Juve time. Added 10kg of muscle in 6 months and that wasnt possible without doping acc to the Swedish doc.
Remember the change Bale accomplished in the summer after his first season at Real?
If Ibra used doping for his muscle growth, Bale used implantation....

Jayop

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Wouldn't say it was either doping on its own or that they are the only players accused...and all that exists so far are accusations... But it's from newspaper that led the revelations of Russian athletics doping and doping in cycling, and the allegations are serious. The ST don't leave go of stories so will be interesting to see if they bring more to bear on the matter in the weeks and months ahead.

Whoosh

Jayop

Jayop wrote: »

Whoosh

Sorry?

What's the whoosh bit? The ST has made a pretty damning accusation. They carried it as front page news. In the past, when they have examined "fairy tale success" type stories in other sports and raised issues with doping, they have had a good track record. None of which makes this one true...but...

Jayop

Deleted User wrote: »

Sorry?

What's the whoosh bit? The ST has made a pretty damning accusation. They carried it as front page news. In the past, when they have examined "fairy tale success" type stories in other sports and raised issues with doping, they have had a good track record. None of which makes this one true...but...

The whoosh was because the poster you quoted was insinuating that other teams around them dropping points would be like a form of virtual doping for Leicester such would be the encouragement they'd get from it. You took it as him meaning that Leicester were the only team doping.

Hence whoosh. :pac:

Ya get me?

Jayop

Jayop wrote: »

The whoosh was because the poster you quoted was insinuating that other teams around them dropping points would be like a form of virtual doping for Leicester such would be the encouragement they'd get from it. You took it as him meaning that Leicester were the only team doping.

Hence whoosh. :pac:

Ya get me?

He had initially said something to the effect of "Leicester on top of the league, it must be doping".

Jayop

I was joking with you. I'll not bother the next time.

Jayop

Jayop wrote: »

I was joking with you. I'll not bother the next time.

Actually, now I see what you mean!

Was wondering had I gone mad...

highgiant1985

Current Table
# Team GP GD Points
1 Leicester 32 24 69
2 Tottenham 32 32 62
3 Arsenal 32 22 59
4 Man City 31 24 54

Remaining Fixtures: Max Points available to each team.

Leicester Max Points 87
Sunderland (a)
West Ham (h)
Swansea (h)
Man Utd (a)
Everton (h)
Chelsea (a)

Tottenham Max Points 80
Man Utd (H)
Stoke City (A)
WBA (H)
Chelsea (A)
Southampton (H)
Newcastle Utd (A)

Arsenal Max Points 77
Crystal Palace (H)
West Brom (H)
Sunderland (A)
Norwich (H)
Man City (A)
Aston Villa (H)

Man City: Max Points 75
West Brom (H) -- currently 1-1!
Chelsea (A)
Newcastle (A)
Stoke (H)
Southampton (A)
Arsenal (H)
Swansea (A)



It was a bad result for Arsenal today, esp when you consider they were 2 up at one point! They're too far back in the title race now you'd think. Roll on tomorrow and hopefully a Man Utd and Leicester win!

Hank Scorpio

All very predictable for Arsenal, got bullied by Caroll today. Every season seems to be the same thing, in with a good chance of winning the league but come March they get knocked out of the CL and their season falls apart. Surely Wengers last hurrah?

Huge games for difference reasons tomorrow. If United can sneak a win the pressure on Arsenal will be huge, and obviously great for Leicester.

Paully D

Another win. Unbelievable!

That has to be that.

Fr Tod Umptious

Paully D wrote: »

Another win. Unbelievable!

That has to be that.

Ah no, I still think when the pressure is on they will wobble

niallo27

Was hoping they would win it but was hoping for a bit of excitement along the way.

mickmackey1

Arise Sir Claudio

Johner

Kante really should be getting player of the year. Absolute monster of a player.

tastyt

I agree kante has been unbelievable but it has to be mahrez or vardy player of the year for me. The hardest thing in football is to create and score goals and those two have drove Leicester to the title all season long

LuckyLloyd

tastyt wrote: »

I agree kante has been unbelievable but it has to be mahrez or vardy player of the year for me. The hardest thing in football is to create and score goals and those two have drove Leicester to the title all season long

Meh - wouldn't be mad on that analysis. They've conceded 6 goals in their last 14 games. Their ability to be solid and prevent the opposition from scoring has sustained them during dips in form for Mahrez and Vardy. Kante was a worthy winner of MotM today in a game where Vardy scored two.

highgiant1985

Current Table:

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
Leicester 33 21 9 3 57 31 26 72
Tottenham 33 18 11 4 60 25 35 65
Arsenal 32 17 8 7 55 33 22 59
Man City 32 17 6 9 58 33 25 57

Remaining Fixtures:

Leicester v West Ham Sunday 17th April 2016
Stoke v Tottenham Monday 18th April 2016

Leicester v Swansea Sunday 24th April 2016
Tottenham v West Brom Monday 25th April 2016

Man Utd v Leicester Sunday 1st May 2016
Chelsea v Tottenham Monday 2nd May 2016

Leicester v Everton Saturday 7th May 2016
Tottenham v Southampton Sunday 8th May 2016

Chelsea v Leicester Sunday 15th May 2016
Newcastle v Tottenham Sunday 15th May 2016

Magico Gonzalez

highgiant1985 wrote: »

Current Table:

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
Leicester 33 21 9 3 57 31 26 72
Tottenham 33 18 11 4 60 25 35 65
Arsenal 32 17 8 7 55 33 22 59
Man City 32 17 6 9 58 33 25 57

Remaining Fixtures:

Leicester v West Ham Sunday 17th April 2016
Stoke v Tottenham Monday 18th April 2016

Leicester v Swansea Sunday 24th April 2016
Tottenham v West Brom Monday 25th April 2016

Man Utd v Leicester Sunday 1st May 2016
Chelsea v Tottenham Monday 2nd May 2016

Leicester v Everton Saturday 7th May 2016
Tottenham v Southampton Sunday 8th May 2016

Chelsea v Leicester Sunday 15th May 2016
Newcastle v Tottenham Sunday 15th May 2016

Tottenham have an easier run in after today. Massive in terms of momentum. I think it's going to come down to the last day. Chelsea will fck everyone over by beating Leicester and Spurs will win the league at St James' Park.

highgiant1985

highgiant1985 wrote: »

Current Table:

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
Leicester 33 21 9 3 57 31 26 72
Tottenham 33 18 11 4 60 25 35 65
Arsenal 32 17 8 7 55 33 22 59
Man City 32 17 6 9 58 33 25 57

Remaining Fixtures:

Leicester v West Ham Sunday 17th April 2016
Stoke v Tottenham Monday 18th April 2016

Leicester v Swansea Sunday 24th April 2016
Tottenham v West Brom Monday 25th April 2016

Man Utd v Leicester Sunday 1st May 2016
Chelsea v Tottenham Monday 2nd May 2016

Leicester v Everton Saturday 7th May 2016
Tottenham v Southampton Sunday 8th May 2016

Chelsea v Leicester Sunday 15th May 2016
Newcastle v Tottenham Sunday 15th May 2016

Tottenham have a woeful record at Stamford Bridge although up to today they also had a woeful record in general v Man United. They have the easiest run in out of the 2. i think they should win 4/5 (with perhaps a 50% chance v Chelsea as this is a more resilient Tottenham team)

Id fancy Leicester to beat Swansea and Everton at least. West Ham will be tough but at home in front of a packed celebratory house, you would have to imagine that this will carry them over the line. Thats 3/5 which will do it.

Im a gutted Arsenal fan but i do hope that Leicester see this out now. Very very few would begrudge them and very very many Arsenal fans would gladly begrudge our dear neighbours up the seven sisters road. :pac:

Mr.Nice Guy

Magico Gonzalez wrote:

Tottenham have an easier run in after today. Massive in terms of momentum. I think it's going to come down to the last day. Chelsea will fck everyone over by beating Leicester and Spurs will win the league at St James' Park.

I've a horrible feeling this will happen too.

I believe Leicester will lose at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge meaning they will need to find 3 wins from the other games should Spurs finish the season with a 100 per cent record.

I reckon Leicester will beat Swansea at home but I fear the other games against West Ham and Everton could trip them up. I would have felt a lot better about things had United managed to get something against Spurs.

Mr.Nice Guy

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I've a horrible feeling this will happen too.

I believe Leicester will lose at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge meaning they will need to find 3 wins from the other games should Spurs finish the season with a 100 per cent record.

I reckon Leicester will beat Swansea at home but I fear the other games against West Ham and Everton could trip them up. I would have felt a lot better about things had United managed to get something against Spurs.

The thoughts of Tottenham winning the title ....shudders violently, assumes foetal position and proceeds to rock back and forth

Magico Gonzalez

I was hopeful Spurs would draw against United and go into the Stoke game needing a win and under pressure, but no. United couldnt do the world that one favour. Now Spurs really are on the crest of a wave.

Vardy scoring again is a nice boost for Leicester.