TOPIC: Can Leicester win the league?

'Leicester: You've made our teams look like a bunch of amateurs' - www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35497832

I like most have expected that bubble to burst,it hasn't they just keep smashing teams.
Big game against City this weekend.
Come on Leicester do it for the underdogs !

I think they can and I hope they do it will be great for the game not to have 1 of the usual win it.

If they keep their feet on the ground I think they can. Get the next 2 out of the way then the fixtures are kind to them.

As long as they don't do a Liverpool and think they have won it 5 games before the end. Then blow it.

Then Roy Hodgson will leave Vardy on the bench for the euros brining him on in the third game when we head home.

Hope Man City win it.

Mashie Niblick wrote:
Have you gor money on them like?

Mush wrote:
As much as I like the sound of City being labeled the usual lot, two titles in 45 years or so is hardly prolific.

Can they - yes
Will they - no (unfortunately)

Looks a realistic possibility now, except to say that Man City look the obvious favourites.
If you do a rough prediction of the results for the rest of the season, I think most people could see Man City dropping a number of points. They have some tricky games and you wouldn't be shocked to see anyone beat them away.
I reckon about 73 points will win the title.
Leicester have 50 with 14 games left.
Can they? Yes.
Will they? They might.

Hey 182Blue - that fence you just sat on....

I would love Leicester to win the league but if they lose tomorrow - and I think they will, then Man City won't let it slip. Either way Leicester in the champions league is just brilliant.

Leicester have lit up an otherwise tame Premier League season so far, they're about the only thing that's made me slightly interested in it. I wrote them off before Christmas and they proved me wrong, so yes they can. It'd be tragic if they fell away and finished outside the automatic Champions League places (1st and 2nd?) after such a good season though. Anything outside there wouldn't really do their performance justice. Otherwise I wouldn't mind Arsenal, more so Wenger, winning it.

bluealf wrote:
Strange argument you keep hearing that like:

1992-93- Man Utd
1993-94- Man Utd
1994-95- Blackburn Rovers
1995-96- Man Utd
1996-97- Man Utd
1997-98- Arsenal
1998-99- Man Utd
1999-00- Man Utd
2000-01- Man Utd
2001-02- Arsenal
2002-03- Man Utd
2003-04- Arsenal
2004-05- Chelsea
2005-06- Chelsea
2006-07- Man Utd
2007-08- Man Utd
2008-09- Man Utd
2009-10- Chelsea
2010-11- Man Utd
2011-12 Manchester City
2012-13 Man Utd
2013-14 Manchester City
2014-15 Chelsea

So five different winners since it started.

Winners from 1963 in old division 1:

1963 Everton
1964 Liverpool
1965 Manchester United
1966 Liverpool
1967 Manchester United
1968 Manchester City
1969 *Leeds United
1970 Everton
1971 Arsenal
1972 *Derby County
1973 Liverpool
1974 Leeds United
1975 -Derby County
1976 Liverpool
1977 Liverpool
1978 *-Nottingham Forest
1979 Liverpool
1980 Liverpool
1981 -Aston Villa
1982 Liverpool
1983 Liverpool
1984 Liverpool
1985 Everton
1986 Liverpool
1987 -Everton
1988 Liverpool
1989 Arsenal
1990 -Liverpool
1991 Arsenal
1992 -Leeds United

8 different winners.

Like I say funny argument. Sure Premier League has had more Clubs win it than most major European Leagues since it's invention as well.

I really hope they can! Citeh and United, Chelsea and to some degree Arsenal, all typify what I hate about the prem, Leicester winning it? I would love it! Absolutely love it!

0-2 up away at cited!!! Can they? Hope so! Doubt it.

0-3 oh my I think think they can

If they beat Arsenal next week they can but I think Arsenal could beat them and will win the league. Tottenham not out of it yet and are on form as well.

I actually said Spurs since before xmas and have them ahead of Arsenal and think they could very well win it they look a solid and consistant outfit but they should have bought Beharino I think

Really really hope Leicester keep this going though they will be 5 clear tonight at least

You can't not Include man city as the usual lot ...just coz they haven't got a history of doing it ...
They've bought into the ( usual lot club ) ...and I don't see that changing anytime soon ...
I despise the whole set up ..greed rules !!
Hopefully this will be a one off and Leicester win the league .
It won't set any presedent though ,coz I can only see the self elected getting bigger unless ( fingers crossed ) the Chinese tread on their toes ....
They've even started murmurings of only certain teams should qualify for the champions league ( that's the league where you don't need to be champions and your allowed to lose a few ) ( should be called the greedy sods money cup )

Hopefully with leicester not having the extra games from cups etc they'll have enough rest to take them ! .

Leicester can do it BUT they are very reliant on Mahrez and Vardy. If either get injured that's them struggling I think. The fact that they are up there this season shows how much the top level has gone back over the last few years. Our so called big five are considerably worse than they were a few years ago which has resulted in bunching of the league. The likes of Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea are now miles behind the best in Europe. Maybe the increase in tv money will reduce that gap in the next few years but whilst the PL is great to watch, it has gone down in standard.

Northumbrian wrote:
There have been certain changes in the Premier League which have made it more competitive. I think the quality of goalkeeping for example is the lowest in a generation - e.g. Simon Mignolet. I don't even rate Joe Hart. Also there has been the emergence of players like Vardy and Mahrez with superb pace and skill. Even Liverpool were transformed with Suarez in the team. Leicester have hit a sweet spot where they can counter-attack brilliantly yet still have a solid defence. Long may it continue!

Would agree that the standard has dropped, but that goes hand in hand with the TV money which has definitely bridged the gap. Stoke spending the money they have would have been unheard of a few years back. The difference is they can afford quality signings but not a squad of them. Leicester is just a fantastic story though and I hope they win comfortably.

Roy better start Vardy in the euros too!

Yes, Leicester City can win the Premiership.......providing they keep the Trojan horse out of their camp between now and May. Banish all agent-speak, mention of (not previously agreed) bonuses and any transfer interest (real or contrived). Not an easy task I know, but keep the media at arms length (but use them to your advantage); as a team stay disciplined and keep putting the ball in the net. Finally, best wishes m'ducks

Interesting little read...

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/artic...nteed-rest-days.html

An argument against the fall in standards of the top teams: The wealthiest teams in Europe used to be spread quite evenly across the top 3 or 4 leagues. The top 5-4 teams in England, Italy, Spain were close. Add to that the top 1-2 teams in Portugal, Holland, Ukraine and even Scotland and you have a top 20 teams that were the wealthiest clubs and competed for the best players. Now most Premier League teams fall into that group competing for the top players. Every Premier League game is the equivalent of what used to be a European Cup knock out game. If the richest clubs get anything slightly wrong injuries (Manchester United), poor recruitment (Liverpool) or players not sufficiently motivated (Chelsea) and they are made to look very average.

Consider this, Newcastle's revenue was greater than Inter's last year.

carwash wrote:
Suarez would transform pretty much any team. I don't really get your point here.

Leicester are excellent at keeping men behind the ball, and then hitting teams on the break. It worked fantastically well for them against Liverpool and Man City (and others). The games they have against inferior teams could be a different kind of battle, because weak teams aren't going to bomb players forward in the same way as the big guns. Some of the weaker teams will just be happy with a draw.

chesterviabothel wrote:
That really was my point. If any team is lucky enough to have 1, or in Leicester's case 2 players with superb skill and pace then they can go from being also-rans to title challengers. This probably explains some of the valuations for Lukaku who potentially can have the same effect.

I'd love it if they won the league.

It'll be the greatest achievement since Forest won the title and two European Cups.

It just shows that you don't always need the best players to make a decent team.

Does that result change anyone s mind?

TopDog74 wrote:
No, i stll dont think theyll win it.

Why can't they win it? They're still top

Coz i think Spurs or Arsenal will win it.

I don't think they can win it but the two big pluses they have is only being in the League and that they have nobody to play from the other contenders.

They have a nice five matches now though and I am sure this break is very welcomed by them:

Sat 27/02/16 PRL Leicester City Norwich City
Tue 01/03/16 PRL Leicester City West Bromwich
Sat 05/03/16 PRL Watford Leicester City
Mo 14/03/16 PRL Leicester City Newcastle United
Sat 19/03/16 PRL Crystal Palace Leicester City

I don't like their last three mind:

Sat 30/04/16 PRL Manchester United Leicester City
Sat 07/05/16 PRL Leicester City Everton
Sun 15/05/16 PRL Chelsea Leicester City

The way Leicester counter attack they may well find it easier to play those last 3 than a team like West Brom who will sit back and be hard to break down.

One game at a time really I suppose but that is a heavy run in - even though United are more than often woeful!

See if they can win the next two and Spurs can (home to Swansea and away to West Ham) then Man City will be 12 and 10 points behind them on the day they go Liverpool (next League match they have). I fancy Spurs to win their next two and Leicester to get at least four points. Fair gap that like for City to claw back and that is without Arsenal as well who have Swansea next. All looking primed for the North London Derby on Sat March 5th.

Wazza wrote:
Already this season they have drawn 1-1 with Manchester United, beaten Everton 3-2 and Chelsea 2-1. Seven points out of nine is not bad for those fixtures.

Flatcap wrote:
All about opinion, I would be very surprised if they got 5 or more points from those three fixtures personally.

How many from their next 5? i reckon theyll get no more than 10

Wazza wrote:

Norwich... win
west brom... win
Watford... draw
toon... win
palace... win
man u... defeat
everton ... win
Chelsea... draw

17 points.

Dancingbear wrote:
I've been thinking about that, they are about 11/8 while 6/4 to win the next two. From there you are looking at 6/1 win the next three, then probably talking 1/2 v Newcastle so 9/1 win the next four then you end up with Palace away - probably about 6to4 win there so to get 15 points from the next five you are around 25/1.

I reckon eleven is possible, probably have the marker at 9.5 over/under.

Stinkyturner wrote:
You got these four in between Palace and Man u:

Leicester City Southampton
Sunderland Leicester City
Leicester City West Ham United
Leicester City Swansea City

There aren't many you would fancy them to lose like.

Prob is i bet Man Utd didnt expect to lose at Sunderland. Teams fighting relegation could be more dificult than midtable teams.

Aye it's never that easy. I backed City before the Leicester match - unless they can win at Liverpool they are out of it for me.

Wazza wrote:
I was impressed the way they played yesterday with 11 men, have not seen much of them TBH but was impressed with their work rate, pressing, tackling etc.
I don't think they would of lost the game 11v11. Injuries might play a key part here, don't think they have had many, yet.
saints ... draw
beat the mackems
beat west ham
beat Swansea! 10 points, 27 points, gives them 80 points, could be in with a shout this season.

80 points would piss this, they reckon 75 will win it at the minute.

I haven't won a bet all year so take what I think with a rather large dose of salts!!

Simeone apparently said he is off, Chelsea the fav.

Simeone to Chelsea,Mourinho to Man U ,Pep going city and Klopp at Liverpool.
Pochetinno(spelling) ,Ranieri,Bilic all going to make for interesting premier league next season.

Great night for Leicester!

An Arsenal win in the North London Derby on Saturday dinner time would suit them perfectly?

Yes. Man City look to have too much to do now.
Spurs had won 6 league games in a row before tonight, so they can be forgiven a narrow loss in a tricky game.
If Spurs win v Arsenal I think they'd be warm favourites for the title on the basis of the hunch that Leicester will drop a few points here and there.
72 points is highly likely to be enough to win, but could be even less.
Come on Leicester!

I'm in two minds re this, it's not that long since Leicester were in administration with £30m debts...