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Why Leicester City Are Genuine Title Contenders
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Leicester City ARE title contenders. There, I said it. It wasn’t so hard, was it? All this talk that “it’s too soon to talk about a title challenge” and “It’s only been 13 games” is fair enough. But how long do you wait before you admit you are in the race? The same was said back in 2015/16 and a title challenge seemed even more unlikely then. But looking back, it was clear after 12 games that the Foxes deserved to be taken seriously. Anything can happenBrendan Rodgers will naturally play down the team’s chances. He has to focus on one game at a time and develop the team’s potential. He has gone as far as talking about European football but that is it. However, football fans have a right to dream and after what happened in 2016, Leicester City fans have a right to believe that anything is possible. Yes, Liverpool have a healthy lead and Manchester City have so much class in their ranks it is frightening. And then there is Chelsea, rejuvenated under Frank Lampard and brimming with youthful talent - few teams look to be having as much fun as the Blues. Of course, they have been and are likely to remain the favourites for a top three spot with the football betting tips websites. But when there is just one team above you in the league with a third of the season gone, you have to give yourself credit and admit you are in the mix. There is no harm in acknowledging the results of your own hard work. Defying expectationsLet’s be honest, no one expected Leicester to compete again so soon. The title win was incredible but it felt like an anomaly. A year later, normal service had resumed. Chelsea won the league and the Foxes were back in their "rightful" place, languishing in the bottom half of the table having briefly flirted with relegation. |
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"Brendan Rodgers" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by runtodaylight
But Brendan Rodgers recognised that there was still a strong core in the team and a club structure conducive to success. It just needed the right manager to tap into those resources and give them a tweak.
As well as bringing in talents such as Ayoze Perez, Dennis Praet and Youri Tielemans on a permanent deal, Rodgers has drawn the best out of the players who were already at the club.
Wilfred Ndidi has been a revelation under Rodgers. Still only 22 years of age, the Nigerian has turned into the league’s most effective destroyer, breaking up play for fun and enabling the other midfielders to be more adventurous going forward, safe in the knowledge they have a safety net.
Meanwhile, Caglar Soyuncu has ensured that Harry Maguire has barely been missed in the backline. The 23-year-old has flourished under Rodgers, who let’s face it, was not a coach previously renowned for his ability to install a rock-solid defence.
Lessons learned
But that seems to be the key here: Rodgers himself has evolved. In 2014, he nearly won the title with Liverpool with a team that paid little regard to how many goals they conceded. And that cost them the following season when their forward line was no longer as potent.
But he learned from that and at Celtic was able to combine fast attacking football with a mean defence. Now, he has transferred that model to a team blessed with experience and exciting young talent and turned them into genuine title contenders. And Leicester City fans shouldn’t be afraid to shout it from the rooftops.
03.12.19 24 mths
As well as bringing in talents such as Ayoze Perez, Dennis Praet and Youri Tielemans on a permanent deal, Rodgers has drawn the best out of the players who were already at the club.
Wilfred Ndidi has been a revelation under Rodgers. Still only 22 years of age, the Nigerian has turned into the league’s most effective destroyer, breaking up play for fun and enabling the other midfielders to be more adventurous going forward, safe in the knowledge they have a safety net.
Meanwhile, Caglar Soyuncu has ensured that Harry Maguire has barely been missed in the backline. The 23-year-old has flourished under Rodgers, who let’s face it, was not a coach previously renowned for his ability to install a rock-solid defence.
Lessons learned
But that seems to be the key here: Rodgers himself has evolved. In 2014, he nearly won the title with Liverpool with a team that paid little regard to how many goals they conceded. And that cost them the following season when their forward line was no longer as potent.
But he learned from that and at Celtic was able to combine fast attacking football with a mean defence. Now, he has transferred that model to a team blessed with experience and exciting young talent and turned them into genuine title contenders. And Leicester City fans shouldn’t be afraid to shout it from the rooftops.
03.12.19 24 mths
