Leicester City

[Ninja Elephant]

Alexis Bertin and Davide Martot were enough for us to largely bin off that relationship.

What's funny about Leicester is that before the start of last season, a friend of mine was raving about Riyad Mahrez and saying how good he was and what an impact he was going to make. How she knew about him, I don't know - but she was so adamant she started the season with him as her Fantay Football captain. Oh how we laughed.

And then this season happened...

 

[Triggaaar]

Arsenal are beating Bournemouth and about to go joint 2nd, 5 points behind Leicester, then next weekend it's Arsenal vs Leicester and Man City vs Spurs.

Leicester are favourites for the title, but I don't think they should be.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Gives us, and clubs like us, a bit more confidence for the future to take on the foreign billionaire oil money #bemoreleicester

 

[joeinbrighton]

Pleased for Ranieri, yes - but also feel sorry for Pearson. Their fantastic winning streak started under him at the end of last season and the Tinkerman has hardly done a lot of tinkering with Pearson's team.

What this season has shown is that Leicester massively underachieved under Pearson last season. A team that beat Manchester United 5-3 and then went 3 months before winning another league match. Given the way Leicester finished last season and how they have kicked on this season, you have to question how they ended up in deep trouble last season in the first place.

One thing fundamental difference is that Ranieri has played Jamie Vardy as a centre forward, whereas for much of last season, Pearson was deploying him out on the right, hence he has scored 19 goals this season where he only managed about 6 or 7 last season.

The signing of Robert Huth which Pearson made last January, however, shouldn't be understated. Leicester have become much more solid defensively since he's been in that team.

 

[joeinbrighton]

The last month of the season, Leicester have some quite tough matches with their last 2 away matches of the season being at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge. If the title is still up for grabs by that point, those will be big tests of their players' nerve. They also play Everton, West Ham, Sunderland and Southampton in April, none of whom will be easy.

But leading up to then, following their match against Arsenal next weekend, they have what appears to be a very favourable run of 6 matches where they should be capable of winning the majority of the matches. So by the time they get to April, there's a distinct possibility they could be further in front at the top than they are now, so that would mean if they did come unstuck in April, one of the chasing pack would need to put a consistent run together to overhaul them, which they haven't done up to now.

I still think Arsenal are dangerous though. They have faltered of late but recent seasons have seen them play their best football in the last 2 months of the season, often when the title is already lost. They won't have the distraction of the Champions League for much longer and they have Alexis Sanchez returning from injury at the right time, so if they remain within striking distance, they are a big threat. They are also the one team to have really given Leicester a going over this season when they scored 5 at the King Power Stadium.

 

[Murray 17]

Isn't that where we got Frutos and Carole from?

We got John Byrne from Le Harve.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

I would love it if they win, but have a feeling they might choke similar to Liverpool a few years ago. They can play down the pressure all they like, but after yesterday they might actually be beginning to believe. They are playing well but what would happen if the confidence goes.

They should make the most of it though, as expect Liverpool are licking their lips at the new Southampton and wondering how much Mahrez would sell for. Hopefully they've learnt their lesson and won't buy an aging but prolific striker and a solid defender too for the Lambert, Lovern and Lallana triple whammy.

Why would any of Leicesters players go to Liverpool?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I was just reading up about Riyad Mahrez and he played for Le Havre before Leicester. Didn't we have some kind of agreement with Le Havre . How did we let this one slip through the net

That arrangement with Le Havre was an EU (EUFA) initiative helping youth football, so we got some sort of a grant to help the youth team. It only lasted for two or three years.

 

[Triggaaar]

Lingard (not good enough for Brighton) has just scored for Man U, so they're title dreams aren't quite over yet.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Lingard (not good enough for Brighton) has just scored for Man U, so they're title dreams aren't quite over yet.

To be fair, he played for us two years ago and hardly set the world alight. I would rather have Solly March.

 

[Triggaaar]

To be fair, he played for us two years ago and hardly set the world alight.

I didn't say he did, but he was good enough for us.

Anyway, the important bit is, Chelsea equalised!

 

[mrfrisk1990]

Arsenal are beating Bournemouth and about to go joint 2nd, 5 points behind Leicester, then next weekend it's Arsenal vs Leicester and Man City vs Spurs.

Leicester are favourites for the title, but I don't think they should be.

Arsenal are favourites now on Betfair, 3.25 vs 3.45. Also odds-on to beat Leicester next weekend (as Man City were yesterday).

 

[Triggaaar]

Arsenal are favourites now on Betfair

Joint favourites now at 9/4 (oddschecker)

 

[Mtoto]

Joint favourites now at 9/4 (oddschecker)

Very close for sure, but assuming there is plenty of money in the market, personally think Betfair is always going to be a slightly more accurate guide. Wisdom of crowds, not to mention the Tony Blooms of this world.

 

[Mtoto]

Joint favourites now at 9/4 (oddschecker)

And to be fair, Leicester's average price on Oddschecker is a fraction shade shorter than Arsenal's.

Must be unprecedented that in early February, there are still four - and at a very big pinch, five - contenders still in the running, and at best prices, the book is barely 102pc (including the 2pc from Man United at 40-1, who should probably be 100-1.).

 

[Triggaaar]

90% of fans must be wanting Leicester to win, but it's such a big deal the pressure is bound to mount and I think they'll crumble. Spurs love to crumble too, I think Arsenal are most likely to win.

 

[redoubtable seagull]

90% of fans must be wanting Leicester to win, but it's such a big deal the pressure is bound to mount and I think they'll crumble. Spurs love to crumble too, I think Arsenal are most likely to win.

The thing with Leicester is they only have 13 games left in their season. They have no cup distractions to get in the way and so can focus on the league.

 

[8ace]

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[Triggaaar]

The thing with Leicester is they only have 13 games left in their season. They have no cup distractions to get in the way and so can focus on the league.

I know, but they don't have strength in depth, it's not an easy league, and the pressure will become huge the closer they get.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

The thing with Leicester is they only have 13 games left in their season. They have no cup distractions to get in the way and so can focus on the league.

That's why I think they can do it.

The other three are all still in Europe and the FA cup.

Leicester play with pace, and put everything into each game, they have plenty of time now to recover from each game.

If they can get a draw at arsenal next weekend, d make them favourites.