LEICESTER have been regularly dismissed as title contenders this season despite their continually impressive form.
After beating Tottenham — another side currently flying high in the table — 1-0 at White Hart Lane last night, people might just start to take the Foxes’ title challenge seriously.
The unlikely overachievers are now joint top of the Premier League alongside Arsenal, with 17 matches left in the season.
However, manager Claudio Ranieri continues to play down expectations, last night telling reporters: “Unfortunately it’s January, not May. There’s so much work to do. We have to remain calm and believe in what we’re doing.”
However, both Roberto Martinez and Arsene Wenger have recently suggested Leicester are genuine title contenders, despite concerns that the club’s squad is not strong enough to challenge in the long term.
Nevertheless, the team, who some critics tipped for relegation at the beginning of the season and who were still in the Championship just two seasons ago, are still defying doubters, so it seems brave for critics to write them off at this stage.
With all that in mind, what do you think? Can Leicester actually win the Premier League?
Would seriously love to see them win it
Sure why not. Neither mahrez or Vardy scored and they still beat spurs. They are good entertainment for us neutrals at the very least.
If Fellaini can score a goal, then Leicester can win the league.
Villa led league until mid February and finished 8th under John Gregory; Top 4 would be serious achievement
Leicester could win it because they are the only team around the top who are performing above their level,all of the big boys are under performing by a long way
Yes but if either arsenal or city have a purple patch it should see them over the line.
Yes. Give me one reason why they can’t? They’ve played games without vardy and still won, same with mharez. The only thing that might stop them is the expectation to win coming into the last few games if they’re still around the same position. That’ll be a pressure none of them have ever felt before
There is a lot of football to be played, maybe with reinforcements this month that settle in immediately but I still think it’s between City and Arsenal. I hope they get CL football at least.
Top 4 will be the greatest managerial achievement of the last ten years. One other thing Leicester are the only team deserving of the title at the moment. They now have the biggest neutral support ever
would be unbelievable to see but realistically no, top 4 would be a great achievment!
You’d have to imagine either city or arsenal will hit on a bit of decent form soon and pull away.pressure will start to build on Leicester players from here on in.but it would be fairytale stuff if they manage to hang on in there.
Be great fun if they did but being a gooner I’d be well pissed off
People have short memories. Non champions of the past 25 years have been first or second in the league at this time of year before and didn’t win or fell off. Everton, Southampton, Newcastle, Norwich, Liverpool, Ipswich, Aston Villa, etc. The only exception you could throw in there is Rovers, but they were the City of the day, big revamping transfers via a rich owner in Walker.
Don’t understand all your red thumbs. You’re spot on
All that is only true until it isn’t.
Half the lies I tell aren’t true either
Well some other team other than the usual suspect are going to win it some time.
Things have changed a lot in the PL David over the past 10 years so, until this season, a so called less glamorous club hasn’t really still been a contender in mid January. OK I can remember Villa & Norwich being in contention for the first PL right to the end in 1993 and Newcastle in 1996 but that’s over 20 years ago now. Southampton were in the top 4 for a while last season but were never top or second place in mid January as they had faded by then, I wouldn’t include Liverpool on this list as they are a big club and would be expected to be in contention. Everton did make top 4 and CL spot just once but as far as I recall that was over 10 years ago. My point is that, over the past 10 seasons, only United, City & Chelsea have won the PL and only these 3 clubs plus Arsenal, Liverpool & Spurs (once) have been in top 4 during this time. That’s what makes it so refreshing to see Leicester there this season. Like others I can’t actually see them winning it but top 4 place is a very realistic target.
I agree Sloop, it would be great, and if this keeps up, deserved. My comment was more of a response to the OP who asked for one reason why it couldn’t happen. Anyway, you seem to have forgotten one or two runs towards the end of the nineties and early noughties (Ipswich anyone?). But you are dead right, it has been the guts of a decade since we’ve seen this. Hence my short memories comment. (That is unless you count Liverpool’s lack of titles and three runner up medals as either their norm, or a quarter century long blip).
What’s different now with mid table teams is the access the money, we have teams liked Bournemouth buying players for 15 million and Spurs have more money than Inter Milan . Also the use of stats means that scouting has improved meaning teams like Leicester can find hidden gems like Mahrez. Add that to the ridiculous levels of professionalism, even at clubs that have been a laughing stock for decades,like Leicester and Palace, In a way the top teams need to catch up a little with likes of Southampton especially
Too true Ron. When people say the PL is the best league people get confused and think people are saying the best teams. When people say it, they mean for competetiveness. Scalps that are seen weekly in the premiership are not seen in the other big leagues. Like La Liga is just 3 teams. Barcelona, Real, and interchangable 3rd team. It was Valencia at the turn of the century, then Deportivo for a bit, then Villareal, now it’s Atletico. Same with the French, Portugese, Dutch and especially the Bundesliga.
Very good points there David & Ron. You could also add Stoke to the list of of so called mid table clubs who are making big money signings. Even Bournemouth, first season in PL and with a small stadium, seem to have a lot of money behind them. it does make for a more evenly balanced league unlike the ones you mentioned. The other valid point you made is that, while the top tier clubs have slipped a lot at European level, the middle tier seem to have upped their game. All in all, it makes for a better and more competitive league.
It would be great to see them do it.. injuries will dictate how they finish
I’d love to see it happen but I don’t think it will. Possible inexperience in the final stages may cost them. But I wish them all the best
You cannot say there is pressure on Leicester, everything they do from here on is a bonus. They can enjoy there game and see where it takes them….. They have already exceeded everything….
All along it’s been said that injuries could derail Leicester but I think their squad is way stronger than people realise, have a look at the team they put out against Spurs in the FA Cup. While it might still be unlikely that they’ll win the whole thing theres no reason why they can’t make the top four.
The title is arsenals still up there even though there injury ravaged, alot has fallen onto ozil in the absence of sanchez, he has done a fine job. Sanchez, Carzola and cocquelin to come in there going to rip it up. Past seasons have been the complete opposite whereas second half of the season the injuries would come in and they would fall but not this year still up there with alot of injuries and big names to come back.
As much as I’d love to see them win it I can’t see them doing it the players will face burnout towards the end to win the league
Of course they could, city are up and down like you know what. Arsenal are due to implode any day now…. 4th is between spurs utd Liverpool will be there or thereabouts.
Too me there nailed on for top 4. League I think might be beyond them. Would love to see them buy a top player and really push on further
If they could sign Wes, then yes