Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => The Sporting Life => Topic started by: pcolbeck on 03 February, 2016, 08:41:23 am

Title: Leicester City
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 February, 2016, 08:41:23 am
Well everyone said they couldn't keep it up but here we are in February and they are still at the top of the Premiership.
Can they actually pull off the biggest upset in modern English football ? As a non biased observer (I support York City) I do hope so it would be fantastic.
Oh and Vardy's first goal last night was incredible.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: sg37409 on 03 February, 2016, 08:42:28 am
+1
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Lady Cavendish on 03 February, 2016, 08:48:08 am
It's good to see another team up there for sure, I don't really like Leicester but at least it makes a change, and I'd probably *just* rather they win the thing.

Jamie's goal last night was awesome. Shame he is such an unpleasant individual.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 February, 2016, 10:18:17 am
Such is the power of YACF that now you have started a thread, they will sink like a stone.

One piece of trivia which I retain from my time in quizzes is that Leicester City have lost more FA cup finals (5) than any other team that has never won one.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 February, 2016, 10:50:09 am
Time to invest in Walker's Crisps?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Tim Hall on 03 February, 2016, 11:00:35 am
Time to invest in Walker's Crisps?

It hasn't been Walker's for ages. The stadium is now the King Power stadium, so presumably that's their sponsor.  Or perhaps it's 'king power?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 February, 2016, 11:07:31 am
Well, I was going to suggest that Leicester's success was rigged by Gary Lineker using inside contacts from MotD...
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: spesh on 03 February, 2016, 02:34:15 pm
Well everyone said they couldn't keep it up but here we are in February and they are still at the top of the Premiership.
Can they actually pull off the biggest upset in modern English football ? As a non biased observer (I support York City) I do hope so it would be fantastic.
Oh and Vardy's first goal last night was incredible.


Ask again at the end of the month - here's the list of Leicester's matches for the rest of the season, with the current ranking for each of their opponents:

06/2 - Man City (2nd)
14/2 - Arsenal (4th)
27/2 - Norwich City (17th)
01/3 - West Bromwich Albion (13th)
05/3 - Watford (10th)
14/3 - Newcastle United (18th)
19/3 - Crystal Palace (11th)
02/4 - Southampton (7th)
09/4 - Sunderland (19th)
16/4 - West Ham United (6th)
23/4 - Swansea City (16th)
30/4 - Manchester United (5th)
07/5 - Everton (12th)
15/5 - Chelsea (14th)

If Leicester are still top when they play Norwich, I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 03 February, 2016, 02:48:01 pm
Hmmm, all those fixtures involve Leicester (1st), I think? And in order to get to (1st), they've already played them all once.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: hatler on 03 February, 2016, 02:55:03 pm
And the average position of all those teams is 11th, which is just below the mid-table line, so that looks like a fairly representative cross section of the division.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 03 February, 2016, 03:16:39 pm
I have supported Leicester since 1970ish and was a season ticket holder for several years in the 90s. I've been watching pretty much every game for the last 12 months too . So I'm just a tiny bit chuffed at the moment.  ;D I'm going to enjoy the lofty position for as long as it lasts. It's been one helluva ride (from bottom to top) wherever they finally finish.

I'd love to get to a game in the next few months just to experience the atmosphere of the KP Stadium. It looks and sounds incredible.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 February, 2016, 06:07:14 pm
To my mind, possibly even more amazing than Leicester top is West Ham briefly breaking into the top 4 and currently looking like they might get a Europa League place. How on earth did that happen? (Payet, I suppose, is the answer.) Anyway, back to the East Midlands...
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: red marley on 03 February, 2016, 06:43:01 pm
I became a bit of a Leicester fan since living there in the 1990s. Used to go to Filbert St every now and then but I left the city before the new stadium was built. Was pretty depressing supporting them as they slowly spiralled downwards after the Martin O'Neil days. Must be great to live in the city if you're a fan these days. Leicester is one of the few large cities only to have a single league team which probably helps.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: drossall on 03 February, 2016, 08:16:44 pm
We're Manchester City supporters for many of the same reasons. (Far from ardent, the go-to-a-match-once-in-blue-moon* type). Maine Road was our nearest ground, unless you count Stockport County. Provided many years of happily depressing entertainment, going down two leagues at one point. It's quite unsettling now they're normally near the top.

You have to respect clubs that have made it without the same massive amount of funding. I'd rather like Leicester to win (told you we weren't ardent!) And Vardy's goal was amazing - even better than Crouch's against us ;D

* Pun intended
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 February, 2016, 01:58:05 pm
Just seen the score from Maine Road whatever Man City's ground is called now.

 ;D ;D

Edit:

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Mr Larrington on 06 February, 2016, 02:40:22 pm
Shouldn't that be:

 :( - ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 06 February, 2016, 02:44:44 pm
Shouldn't that be:

 :( - ;D ;D ;D

Yes, it should be now. You beat me to it.

I am almost tempted to telephone my bro-in-law and/or nephew, both of whom are card-carrying members of the Manchester City Football Club Regular Attenders' Discount Scheme.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 06 February, 2016, 02:55:24 pm
I'm quite happy now.

6 points clear. I think we've avoided relegation.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: drossall on 06 February, 2016, 04:01:10 pm
No spoilers please for those of us who like to watch MoTD ;D

I'm not reading this thread till then.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 06 February, 2016, 09:13:42 pm
My favourite tweet (so far) points out that for the price of 1 Raheem Sterling you could get 122 Riyad Mahrezs.


Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 06 February, 2016, 09:34:06 pm
Though that might well no longer be the case in the next transfer window.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: ElyDave on 06 February, 2016, 10:30:19 pm
Spurs just gone second not been there since the 60's, way before I started supporting them
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 February, 2016, 05:15:32 pm
Tangentially relevant to this thread is the fact that Chelsea and Manchester Untied are currently battling it out.

Can we introduce a rule which makes it possible for both sides to lose the same match?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 07 February, 2016, 09:04:07 pm
Next weekend will be a big one for this year's title contenders. Arsenal host Leicester and Man City host Spurs. The right set of results there would see Leicester open up a very significant gap with 2/3 of the season gone.

Edit: Bugger! I'm interested in premiership football! Aaaargh!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: drossall on 07 February, 2016, 11:31:51 pm
The way some of them can sprint, any chance of hidden motors in their boots, do you think?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 08 February, 2016, 10:51:48 am
Just seen the score from Maine Road whatever Man City's ground is called now.

It's offical name is "The Theatre of a Bored Saudi Prince's Dreams and Temple to the Worship of an Oil Rich Quasi-Dictatorship
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 February, 2016, 10:55:12 am
Just seen the score from Maine Road whatever Man City's ground is called now.

It's offical name is "The Theatre of a Bored Saudi Prince's Dreams and Temple to the Worship of an Oil Rich Quasi-Dictatorship"

Thank you. That's an epithEt I hadn't thought of.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: madcow on 08 February, 2016, 11:24:12 am
Lee- you forgot the rather large sum of Chinese money in there. Saudis aren't as smug as they were when oil was $100 a barrel, so they had to ask some seriously rich Orientals to chip in .
They need a bit of help to run expensive things like Premiership clubs  y,know.
Football players cost way more than slow horses and fast women.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: trekker12 on 08 February, 2016, 03:07:21 pm
Not forgetting the low price of oil at the moment is largely affected by current Saudi production policy but that's a POBI topic!

Go Leicester!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: ElyDave on 09 February, 2016, 01:32:31 pm
Not forgetting the low price of oil at the moment is largely affected by current Saudi production policy but that's a POBI topic!

Go Leicester!

And not forgetting that the Saudis have very deep pockets and probably the lowest cost production out there
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: hatler on 09 February, 2016, 01:49:29 pm
I love that the widespread presumption is that Spurs will simply go AWOL at some point. Such behaviour would be entirely typical, but the absence of any attention being paid to them does mean there is no pressure on them.

I wonder if they can actually sneak under the wire this time.

If they don't, then GO LEICESTER !!!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 10 February, 2016, 11:33:33 pm
Whatever happens and however they play, Spurs have the coolest name in English football.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 February, 2016, 02:21:35 am
Whatever happens and however they play, Spurs have the coolest name in English football.

No they don't you silly billy. Even I know "Spurs" is an abbreviation of Tottenham Hotspur.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 February, 2016, 12:14:27 pm
C'mon 'Arry!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 11 February, 2016, 12:22:42 pm
I wish people/media would stop talking up Leicester's chances. Those very same people that had them nailed on for relegation at the start of the season have now got them as nailed on champions. I do hope Ranieri is keeping the team grounded and focused - I don't want them starting to believe their own press. Sunday is a big game, and then so are the ones after that!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: hatler on 11 February, 2016, 01:39:45 pm
Phil McNulty (BBC Footy correspondent) had this to say : -

Quote
These were some of my words that will be eaten: "Ranieri's appointment is, at best, left field and at worst uninspiring and unwise. A charming man but perhaps one out of time with the Premier League, having last worked there with Chelsea in 2004 and having had a chequered career since."

Nice to see that he has at least acknowledged that he was way off when he wrote that back in August.

It is always amusing/sad/illustrative watching the press corps make predictions (typically en masse) and label people/teams in a particular way which subsequently turns out to be wrong.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 February, 2016, 01:48:27 pm
I don't think that anything that is posted on YACF is likely to make any difference whatsoever to the eventual outcome of the Premiershit.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 11 February, 2016, 01:55:07 pm
I read press reports of matches and sometimes wonder if the journalist has been watching the same match as me. No great surprise really, as opinions do differ, but they can be factually wrong too. Then said same journalists offer their opinions on broader footballing subjects and I start to wonder who they are writing for.

Personal dislike - the sports news on R4's Today program. So superficial as to be meaningless.

There was a bloke I used to work with, a Fulham season ticket holder (fair dues to him in fairness) and he tried so hard to be a fan but it just didn't work. I've no idea why but he just came across as a phoney. Not just to me but to others. He became known as sham fan.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: spesh on 11 February, 2016, 01:57:40 pm
Such is the power of YACF that now you have started a thread, they will sink like a stone.

I don't think that anything that is posted on YACF is likely to make any difference whatsoever to the eventual outcome of the Premiershit.

Make your mind up...  ;D
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 11 February, 2016, 05:25:12 pm
Such is the power of YACF that now you have started a thread, they will sink like a stone.

I don't think that anything that is posted on YACF is likely to make any difference whatsoever to the eventual outcome of the Premiershit.

Make your mind up...  ;D

Which mind is that...?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 12 February, 2016, 09:18:13 pm
We've instituted a new custom of calling Vardy! Mahrez! Schmeichel! or even Ranieri! when we see a fox (which is pretty much every time we're out after dark).
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 13 February, 2016, 09:08:49 am
N'Golo Kanté is the fox supreme. He'll take your chickens from under your nose!

https://mobile.twitter.com/lcfc/status/676793026782625793

 ;D
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 February, 2016, 01:36:04 pm
Leicester have problems this afternoon...
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 February, 2016, 06:56:33 pm
Bit of a shame about the Arsenal-Leicester result, but not unhappy about City losing. Interesting comment in the Graun about that match:-

Quote
Both Tottenham goals, scorer swamped by celebrating team-mates. City goalscorer celebrates without a team-mate within 30 yards. City really are synthetic construct.

What would be rather nice now would be for Southampton & West Ham to get enough good results to push both Manchester teams out of the top 5.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 February, 2016, 07:30:01 pm
And it did take a 95th minute goal for the Arse to beat a Leicester side who'd been down to ten men for most of the second half.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Legs on 18 February, 2016, 01:59:27 pm
Methinks maybe they've been concentrating on the kickball to the exclusion of other quite important stuff...  :-\

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35605670 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35605670)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35589240 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35589240)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: spesh on 18 February, 2016, 03:37:09 pm
Methinks maybe they've been concentrating on the kickball to the exclusion of other quite important stuff...  :-\

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35605670 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35605670)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35589240 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-35589240)

AFAIK, Leicester City Football Club do not run the local health and prison services, nor do the local health and prison services run the football club.  ;)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Legs on 18 February, 2016, 04:27:59 pm
No, but the peeps who run the prison service and local healthcare facilities may be distracted by the Foxes' bid for the Premiershit, to the detriment of their other duties.  Or not.  Probably.  This is not my real opinion.  Obviously.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 18 February, 2016, 04:50:16 pm
I think Leicester would have won everything ever but they were merely jinxed by that dead bloke under a car park.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: spesh on 18 February, 2016, 05:06:56 pm
I think Leicester would have won everything ever but they were merely jinxed by that dead bloke under a car park.

Nah, he just put the kybosh on Millets shifting excess camping gear in the January sales.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 February, 2016, 07:36:42 pm
And announced the lucky ticket in their outdoor dancing lottery: Now is the winner of our disco tent.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Legs on 18 February, 2016, 08:15:18 pm
I think Leicester would have won everything ever but they were merely jinxed by that dead bloke under a car park.

Nah, he just put the kybosh on Millets shifting excess camping gear in the January sales.
Winter of discount tents?  ;D  The TTJ thread is that way ^^^
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: spesh on 18 February, 2016, 08:56:31 pm
Badoom! And indeed, tish!

Ayethangewe, and yes, that is my Berghaus GoreTex jacket...

<Exits stage left, hailing a taxi>
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 February, 2016, 02:56:30 pm
Well, the two key games this afternoon are currently in Leicester's favour. How interesting...

And yes, I have got better things to do.

Edit: Oh well, not a bad afternoon all told.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 March, 2016, 07:40:41 am
Blimey. Leictester draw to struggling Norwich and look like loosing the top spot then all the chasing teams loose. Who would have predicted that?
Ten games to go.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 03 March, 2016, 02:49:27 pm
When did Man City last lose three games on the trot? I durst not phone my bro-in-law.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: mcshroom on 03 March, 2016, 04:30:53 pm
They haven't. Man City won the league cup on Sunday
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: hatler on 03 March, 2016, 04:43:14 pm
Three league games.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: madcow on 04 March, 2016, 12:47:25 am
Blimey. Leictester draw to struggling Norwich  West Brom and look like loosing the top spot then all the chasing teams loose. Who would have predicted that?
Ten games to go.

FTFY .
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: De Sisti on 04 March, 2016, 02:57:41 am
I wonder how many teams have squandered the titlein the 1st div/Prem league over the past few years.
I remember City in about 1972 ish. Earlier in that season United were also top, but they fell apart.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 04 March, 2016, 10:09:14 am
Newcastle, believe it or not.  When King Kevin was manager he did an impassioned press conference in which he said he'd love it if they beat Manchester United (a fancied team at the time) at St James's Park.  They didn't and we ended up second.  Closest we've been for the hundred year period ending in about 2030.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 04 March, 2016, 11:28:34 am
In the 1960s it seemed to me that the dreadful Chelsea normally made the early season runnung only to falter at the end.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: De Sisti on 04 March, 2016, 07:46:59 pm
Newcastle, believe it or not.  When King Kevin was manager he did an impassioned press conference in which he said he'd love it if they beat Manchester United (a fancied team at the time) at St James's Park.  They didn't and we ended up second.  Closest we've been for the hundred year period ending in about 2030.
Well, at least you've got the Texaco Cup, and no one can take it from you.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 05 March, 2016, 12:06:44 am
I'd forgotten about about those, De Sisti!  (If I ever knew.)  Where they limited to clubs in the bottom half of the division?  I had to look it up on wiki - those English flags next to Newcastle's names look really quaint!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: pcolbeck on 05 March, 2016, 02:58:18 pm
And now Tottenham draw against a 10 man Arsenal !
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 05 March, 2016, 03:37:08 pm
Really not looking forward to tonight's match. I want both sides to win!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: De Sisti on 05 March, 2016, 07:50:27 pm
I'd forgotten about about those, De Sisti!  (If I ever knew.)  Where they limited to clubs in the bottom half of the division?  I had to look it up on wiki - those English flags next to Newcastle's names look really quaint!
From my distant memory I think it was English v Scottish teams, but not the top ones. Happy to be corrected.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 March, 2016, 07:52:34 pm
It has crossed my mind: does Leicester City have a nickname? The Pork pies? The Crisps?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: madcow on 05 March, 2016, 08:16:20 pm
The Foxes
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 05 March, 2016, 08:18:41 pm
Of course. I think I knew that.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 March, 2016, 01:17:19 pm
Leicester are really shaking the foundations of the Premier League.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/08/leicester-city-fans-earthquakes

Funnily enough, I was making a joke about something similar the other day, but in that case it was MU fans, I think.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: red marley on 14 March, 2016, 09:50:31 pm
Oh yes! (and phew!)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 15 March, 2016, 09:22:43 am
A nervy win against an improved Newcastle. Not at all a good watch for me.

Still, "the dream continues" (copyright, patent pending, etc) blah blah blah  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 15 March, 2016, 10:18:40 am
I'm not surprised you found it "not a good watch".  "Our" away kit is appalling.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 19 March, 2016, 05:27:50 pm
And again...
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 19 March, 2016, 08:34:39 pm
These  one goal wins are not good for the nerves.

7 games to go. Come on you cherries deckchair men!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 03 April, 2016, 03:47:24 pm
7 point lead, six matches to go.

I hope you all put £100 on them to win the premiership...
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 03 April, 2016, 04:16:11 pm
I think I may need a new heart fitted.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: drossall on 04 April, 2016, 12:04:23 am
Spoiler alert again. I was careful not to read this till after MoTD ;D
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Basil on 04 April, 2016, 12:15:32 am
Current bookies odds  4 to 11.
That's 4 to 11.  Not 11 to 4.

I still think that is a good bet.  I can't believe they won't do it now.  Bet £110.  Get £150 back.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: sg37409 on 11 April, 2016, 03:23:01 pm
Go Leicester !  3 out of 5 needed regardless of what spurs do.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 11 April, 2016, 03:29:28 pm
Go Leicester !  3 out of 5 needed regardless of what spurs do.

Spurs had a comfortable win yesterday. Though Man U lack the ability to score, it has to be said, and pretty much disintegrated.

Spurs do look good and fired up - I can see them remaining unbeaten. Leicester will drop points, they're hanging on rather than winning convincingly at the moment, so I see the gap closing. I think it'll be close.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: sg37409 on 11 April, 2016, 04:04:03 pm
Agree with all that, though I can see spurs dropping points at Chelsea. Who knows how the pressure will now affect both sides.


>> I think I may need a new heart fitted.

Quite exciting isn't it ?  ;D
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 13 April, 2016, 04:07:18 pm
Touching distance.

Logic* suggests that Leicester will falter and it will go to the wire.

*Leicester however have defied logic all season so they could tie it up in a couple of games.

Denmark winning Euro 1992 is the nearest equivalent I can think of but they didn't have to defy logic for 38 games.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: sg37409 on 24 April, 2016, 07:44:13 pm
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 25 April, 2016, 12:27:43 am
Vardy? Who?

Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 25 April, 2016, 08:38:28 am
"four nil to the one man team"  ;D

After the frustrations of last weekend, yesterday was a much needed reaffirmation.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: pcolbeck on 25 April, 2016, 09:57:38 am
Looks like the title might be Chelsea's to bestow. That could be interesting.
I hope it doesn't come down to that though.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 25 April, 2016, 11:18:42 am
I hope it doesn't come down to the final weekend, that's for sure, when Leicester are at Chelsea. I'd prefer it decided before then.

Chelsea could have a hand in it next weekend though when Spurs visit. That'll be a tough tough game for Spurs as Chelsea are looking to play their part in stopping Spurs taking the Prem. Leicester are at Man U and that result could depend on which Man U turns up. They rolled over at Spurs and never looked like scoring, but Martial and Rashford are a handful on their day.

Yep, next weekend is a big one but I don't see it being decisive. (I don't think Spurs will have any problems with WBA tonight).




Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: madcow on 25 April, 2016, 03:01:52 pm
I could have had tickets (company has a box behind the away supporters) for LC vs. the scumbags at Old Trafford, but as it's a Bank holiday , I couldn't be arsed to go all the way across the Pennines.
If all goes well , LC could be champions by the end of that match.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: sg37409 on 25 April, 2016, 09:54:00 pm
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 25 April, 2016, 09:54:32 pm
Yessss! Nice one Baggies.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 April, 2016, 12:08:38 am
It would somehow be rather fitting if Leicester were to win the title at Old Trafford.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 26 April, 2016, 12:35:24 am
Even better if Ferguson was still there and Leicester could win by a "controversial" penalty!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Basil on 26 April, 2016, 06:33:10 am
In the seventh minute of injury time.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 26 April, 2016, 08:50:38 am
Looks like the title might be Chelsea's to bestow.

You may well be right. I was not expecting last night's result... but I'm obviously chuffed to little mint balls over it  ;D

Chelsea beat Spurs next Monday (regardless of how Leicester do at Old Trafford) and that's it, game over. If Leicester get a point, Spurs need to win. Oh how the Chelsea fans will rejoice if they are the team to nail Spur's coffin! That is going to be heated match!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 April, 2016, 09:14:15 am
Fabregas and Hazard have, allegedly, said they'll as good as gift their final game to Leicester in order to stop Spurs being champions. Or so it is apparently reported...
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 26 April, 2016, 10:03:11 am
That sounds a bit like they expect to get beaten anyway.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 26 April, 2016, 10:11:22 am
Fabregas and Hazard have, allegedly, said they'll as good as gift their final game to Leicester in order to stop Spurs being champions.

Yep, they said something like - they don't want Spurs to win the Prem anyway. Whether than would translate into them gifting Leicester a win or not, well, kinda doubtful about that! Fortunately, it looks as though it won't come to that.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 26 April, 2016, 10:32:14 am
Fabregas and Hazard have, allegedly, said they'll as good as gift their final game to Leicester in order to stop Spurs being champions. Or so it is apparently reported...

Same sort of game they played against Mourinho then.  Except he was their manager.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 26 April, 2016, 10:55:56 am
Chelsea aren't good enough to "gift" anything.  even Newcastle only lost 5-1 to them.....
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 26 April, 2016, 04:55:58 pm
It does sound like Chelsea getting their excuses in early.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: rogerzilla on 27 April, 2016, 05:35:24 pm
Leicester have played boring football all season (with a fair few 1-0 wins).  So they'd be worthy successors to Chelsea.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 27 April, 2016, 05:47:01 pm
Who said romance is dead?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 28 April, 2016, 09:55:39 am
Leicester have played boring football all season (with a fair few 1-0 wins).  So they'd be worthy successors to Chelsea.

That's not what I've seen.  1-0 alone doesn't necessarily mean boring (See. Basketball).

Chelsea managed to play boring football with a team that was worth as much as some countries. 
What Leicester are on the brink of doing is difficult to find a comparison for.

The odds were 5000:1 at the start of the season.  Quite a few people took out a bet on that but, if you asked them, I reckon none of them expected to win anything.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 28 April, 2016, 10:21:34 am
Being boring was Chelsea's ethic under Mourinho!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 28 April, 2016, 12:33:46 pm
I find watching Leicester anything but boring. It's often nail biting, edge of the seat stuff... but then I'm a fan. Their defending a 1-0 lead is not good for the blood pressure! But they know what they're doing, it's the way they play.

And on that note, Leicester have challenged the accepted wisdom of what constitutes good football. You hear fans and pundits alike say other teams play better football, or more attractive football - and I know what they mean. It's about possession and territory, and the much loved stats seem to suggest that they higher percentage of both means a 'better' team.

Yet Leicester often win with sold all possession nor territorial advantage. They sit back, defend, disrupt, and attack on the break. It works. As opposition managers have said, they know what Leicester do but defending against is another matter.

So either we accept that 'better' does not necessarily equal 'winning' or we start having judges to award points for style.

Btw, Leicester can, and do, play the more accepted version of attractive football sometimes. I've seen them knock the ball around very quickly, one touch stuff,  tiki taka style....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Ppgm4nVUE
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: madcow on 29 April, 2016, 11:50:33 am
Leicester have played boring football all season (with a fair few 1-0 wins).  So they'd be worthy successors to Chelsea.

I thought that accolade belonged to the Gooners , where their own  fans sing   "1-0 to the Arsenal" .

It beggars belief that Leicester are still not getting all the plaudits that they deserve.
Chelsea , man ure  and  Arsenal  have all assembled the pick of the crop and still come up short. Spurs have got a few home grown players and have given a very good account of themselves.
It isn't all about how much you spend , it's about how the players all play as a team and how they are trained and managed.
 Leicester have not reached this point by a fluke .
Chelsea fans can moan that if they had played the first half of the season like they have in the second half then they would be somewhere near the top, but the fact is they didn't and they aren't.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 01 May, 2016, 08:53:14 pm
So near, but yet so far.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: De Sisti on 01 May, 2016, 09:10:14 pm
So near, but yet so far just a little longer of a wait now.
FTFY
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 02 May, 2016, 09:44:58 pm
It's quite a match.

It's a bit heated at the moment. But as it stands, Leicester are Champions.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: spesh on 02 May, 2016, 09:52:36 pm
Six minutes stoppage time!?  :o

There could be quite a spike in cardiac events tonight.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 02 May, 2016, 09:54:34 pm
Crikey. Cards galore.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 02 May, 2016, 09:55:42 pm
And Leicester win it!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 02 May, 2016, 10:42:10 pm
I think that that is the first time that I have ever wanted Chelsea to avoid defeat.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Veloman on 02 May, 2016, 11:26:37 pm
And the last match for Leicester, new Champions, will be at Chelsea, last season's Champions, who stopped the challenge from Spurs.

Walt Disney could not have written it better!

Except for Spurs folk, everyone wanting Leicester to win title and so glad it happened. What a match to watch! Just need to beat Everton and Chelsea!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 02 May, 2016, 11:55:15 pm
..............Just need to beat Everton and Chelsea!

Why?

Well done Leicester.  What you achieved is actually impossible.  I can't believe it happened but it did.

38 games and Leicester got the most points. 

38 games don't lie, luck doesn't last 38 games.  There have been some upsets in sport before but I can't think of an upset that carried on for 38 games.

In the Championship in 2013 and fighting relegation last year.

Apparently Manchester United spent more money on players in the last 2 years than Leicester in 132 years! (So include in that Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool..etc).

Note.  Leicester starting 11 = £22 million.  Man City Starting 11 = £281 million.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 03 May, 2016, 12:19:45 am
Walt Disney would have written a film about SoccerBall and have four quarters in the match, with 9 men on each side, two points for a goal, one for a corner, three technical time outs per side allowed, and the whole season decided in the last second of extra-ball-time-ness in the final match which would just happen to be between the first and second placed teams who were on equal points, with equal goals scored and goals against and the same number of yellow and red cards. Oh, and the managers would have fallen out in their last college foofball match and never have spoken since then, the final scene would be of the two managers hugging with an out  of focus background of the teams hugging and both sets of spectators cheering. And hugging.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Bledlow on 03 May, 2016, 12:47:51 am
Can you imagine Matt Elliott standing for that?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 May, 2016, 07:24:37 am
Just brilliant. I wonder if this means we will see 4 4 2 come back into fashion?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 03 May, 2016, 08:39:49 am
 ;D

Hay fever has started early this year; my eyes are watering.

Truly incredible stuff. 

Party time at the KP next weekend, how I wish I could be there.

Thank you Chelsea.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: bikenrrd on 03 May, 2016, 09:17:12 am
An excellent night for football.  Leicester winning the Premiership and Burnley guaranteeing promotion from the Championship after continuing their "unbeaten since Boxing Day" run.  22 games without a loss!  Just hope they can stay up next season.
I might just place a bet on Burnley winning the Premiership.  Stranger things have happened! :)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 03 May, 2016, 09:39:20 am
Is it OK to revert back to hating Chelsea now? 

I think supporting them for 96 minutes is enough for one lifetime.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: pcolbeck on 03 May, 2016, 09:42:28 am
I wonder if Tottenham will mange to hold on to second now or if Arsenal will take it from them ? Must be very deflating for them.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 03 May, 2016, 09:52:50 am
I wonder if Tottenham will mange to hold on to second now or if Arsenal will take it from them ? Must be very deflating for them.

Yes, they'd have bitten your hand off to get 2nd place at the start of the season and I bet they couldn't care less about 2nd place at this precise moment.
Spurs have only lost 4 games, they can be rightly miffed not to have won the title with that record.

Their season is full of, frankly, amazing statistics.  They've only lost 3 games so far this season and they've won as many as Chelsea and Everton combined !!!

Anyone placing a bet on the Champions League?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 May, 2016, 10:16:31 am
It's not Disney, but there is a film being made about Jamie Vardy.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: bobb on 03 May, 2016, 10:18:05 am
....I bet they couldn't care less about 2nd place at this precise moment.

Their fans certainly will! They absolutely have to finish above Arsenal now or they may as well top themselves!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Veloman on 03 May, 2016, 04:42:49 pm
..............Just need to beat Everton and Chelsea!
Why?

Because with 3 games to go it was theoretically possible for Spurs to win the title.  However, Spurs failed to win at Chelsea and Leicester became Champions.  If Leicester beat Everton, or Chelsea, or both, they will have won outright no matter what Spurs could have done.  That is why it is important for Leicester to win outright rather than have folk reflect in years to come that Spurs lost the Championship rather than Leicester winning it.  I'm sure this is not lost on either Ranieri or the players.  No decrying what Leicester have achieved and I'm extremely happy with the outcome, but up until the 83rd minute last night, Spurs were on course and that is why another win by Leicester will show they won by their own effort and not the efforts of Chelsea.  And I'm sure they will win!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: bobb on 03 May, 2016, 05:13:52 pm
.....but up until the 83rd minute last night, Spurs were on course and that is why another win by Leicester will show they won by their own effort and not the efforts of Chelsea.  And I'm sure they will win!

IMO that is irrelevant. Every team in the League was "On course" at some point in the season, it just so happens that Spurs were the last team who could possibly still be on course. Leicester have amassed more points than anyone else over the whole season and what any of the other teams have or haven't done makes no difference. Even if Leicester lose their remaining matches...
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Kim on 03 May, 2016, 05:58:23 pm
Okay, without having to read the whole thread can someone explain to me  a) why Leicester City winning at sportsball is front-page news?  and  b) what it's got to do with Lineker's pants?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: drossall on 03 May, 2016, 06:07:55 pm
a) Because they've done the soccer equivalent of a second-year pro domestique winning the Tour and (b) because even Gary, who is a known Leicester fan, thought it so impossible, when they did well early in the season, for them (or any such team) to keep it up, that he offered to appear on Match of the Day in his pants if they did.

It's hard to compare sports but, on straight bookmakers' odds, you could get 5000:1 against Leicester winning, at the start of the season. Such high odds are rare for any competitor/team in any competition to then go on and win against.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Kim on 03 May, 2016, 06:32:55 pm
Ah, well done them (apart from the pants thing).   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: red marley on 03 May, 2016, 06:35:05 pm
There's something else too (apart from a classic story arc of underdogs coming back from the brink of annihilation to become champions).

Since the inception of the Premier League, only 5 different teams had ever won the title. With big money being offered for TV rights, top-flight football had been transformed into something where the rich got richer and the poor, poorer. Clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City in particular, but several of the other winners were seen increasingly as buying their way to the top.

Leicester have overturned that orthodoxy in that a collection of players and managers previously perceived as (relatively) minor have pulled together and succeeded with hard work and team spirit where big money had failed other teams. This has resonance beyond the sport and justifiably deserves coverage outside of the sports pages.

Of course all of the above is relative. Leicester are still backed by a multi-billionaire and have players with multi-million pound salaries. But relative to others, an order of magnitude less than many of the teams they have out-performed.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 03 May, 2016, 06:41:34 pm
The odds offered at the start of the season are a little misleading. It's led to papers reporting that Leicester's odds of winning gthw Prem were the equivalent of finding Elvis on the moon (or whatever) Which is of course nonsense. We all know Elvis wasn't a Clanger.

That aside, though numerically equivalent to a lunar Elvis, the odds might more correctly be described as 'no f-ing chance'... but slightly more chance than discovering Lord Lucan in your attic.... if you get my drift.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 03 May, 2016, 06:42:17 pm
a) Because they've done the soccer equivalent of a second-year pro domestique winning the Tour and (b) because even Gary, who is a known Leicester fan, thought it so impossible, when they did well early in the season, for them (or any such team) to keep it up, that he offered to appear on Match of the Day in his pants if they did.
Actually, he said naked, but since it became a possibility, he's backtracked.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 03 May, 2016, 06:52:06 pm
a) Because they've done the soccer equivalent of a second-year pro domestique winning the Tour and (b) because even Gary, who is a known Leicester fan, thought it so impossible, when they did well early in the season, for them (or any such team) to keep it up, that he offered to appear on Match of the Day in his pants if they did.
Actually, he said naked, but since it became a possibility, he's backtracked.
I think he said he'd do it on the first day of next season, so he has about three months to grow a beard a la Wowbagger.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: bobb on 03 May, 2016, 07:00:11 pm
He just needs to dig out some shorts he wore in the 80s. They weren't much bigger than underpants!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Veloman on 03 May, 2016, 07:19:27 pm
Tweets shown here about what Lineker said he would do.  Never heard/saw the naked comment and he probably knew that would be out of bounds anyway.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36192189 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36192189)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 03 May, 2016, 07:33:52 pm
Never heard/saw the naked comment

No me neither. Perhaps wishful thinking on someone's part?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: rogerzilla on 03 May, 2016, 07:36:18 pm
Note.  Leicester starting 11 = £22 million.  Man City Starting 11 = £281 million.
When they heard that the Americans had offered £100m for Osama bin Laden, Man City immediately offered £110m.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: mattc on 03 May, 2016, 07:54:03 pm
.....but up until the 83rd minute last night, Spurs were on course and that is why another win by Leicester will show they won by their own effort and not the efforts of Chelsea.  And I'm sure they will win!

IMO that is irrelevant. Every team in the League was "On course" at some point in the season, it just so happens that Spurs were the last team who could possibly still be on course. Leicester have amassed more points than anyone else over the whole season and what any of the other teams have or haven't done makes no difference. Even if Leicester lose their remaining matches...
+1

they could field their reserve/youth team for the last games. Spurs have lost, fair and square.


Does anyone have a good link comparing squad salaries for all 20(??) Premier  teams? I know LCFC are well behind Chelchester, but not sure about compared to the true minnows.

Oddly, the BBC World Service news seems utterly obsessed with this story. They keep finding fans in obscure far-flung  lands!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Basil on 03 May, 2016, 08:48:47 pm
Okay, without having to read the whole thread can someone explain to me  a) why Leicester City winning at sportsball is front-page news?  and  b) what it's got to do with Lineker's pants?

Excellently explained by  everyone in general
and by
a) Because they've done the soccer equivalent of a second-year pro domestique winning the Tour

But also....
Because nothing much else was happening.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 03 May, 2016, 08:53:11 pm
Oddly, the BBC World Service news seems utterly obsessed with this story. They keep finding fans in obscure far-flung  lands!

Something tells me they will be easier to find this year than last.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Bluebottle on 03 May, 2016, 10:24:51 pm
He just needs to dig out some shorts he wore in the 80s. They weren't much bigger than underpants!

Hopefully he would have washed the shorts first, given his previous:

Lineker's Lemond moment (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t_8pfbCH-4)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 04 May, 2016, 07:57:42 am
..and before all this I was never quite sure exactly where Leicester was.  Other than coming before Lincoln and Loughborough (alphabetically) and being nowhere near Leeds (in football).
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: MikeFromLFE on 04 May, 2016, 08:04:49 am

..and before all this I was never quite sure exactly where Leicester was.  Other than coming before Lincoln and Loughborough (alphabetically) and being nowhere near Leeds (in football).
Come and have a look - we've got some great cycling in the county around the city.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 04 May, 2016, 08:09:55 am
Come and have a look - we've got some great cycling in the county around the city.

I've got to admit, it has made me feel just a little nostalgic/homesick.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 May, 2016, 10:28:47 am
[..and before all this I was never quite sure exactly where Leicester was.  Other than coming before Lincoln and Loughborough (alphabetically) and being nowhere near Leeds (in football).
[/quote]
Lincoln has the Roman Empire's most northerly vineyard, Leicester has crisps, sounds like a party!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: madcow on 04 May, 2016, 11:05:25 am
..and before all this I was never quite sure exactly where Leicester was.  Other than coming before Lincoln and Loughborough (alphabetically) and being nowhere near Leeds (in football).

Quite true-Leicester are nowhere near Leeds in football terms .
LUFC won the First Division 3 times and were runners up 5 times.
Also runners up in the European Cup and twice winners of the Inter cities cup which is probably  now the Europa league.
So Leicester have a bit of catching up to do  ;)  MOT.

Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 May, 2016, 11:40:21 am
Leicester now have to prove they are not Blackburn Rovers, never mind Leeds.  :-\
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Nuncio on 04 May, 2016, 01:43:43 pm
Leicester have overturned that orthodoxy in that a collection of players and mangers...

Poor, but with stable structures.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 04 May, 2016, 03:35:20 pm
Leicester now have to prove they are not Blackburn Rovers, never mind Leeds.  :-\

I don't think they have anything left to prove tbh. I think Jo summed it up very well.

Whatever might happen next season will take nothing away from the achievements of this.

Edit: for those who might not quite see why Leicester's is such an achievement, read the following...


http://twohundredpercent.net/obligatory-leicester-city-think-piece/ (http://twohundredpercent.net/obligatory-leicester-city-think-piece/)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 04 May, 2016, 03:42:31 pm
I didn't mean prove in that sense. I agree, for them they've done something amazing and that's not going to be affected by whatever happens in the future. But in the sense that people have been talking about this being the overturning of an established big-money order.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Veloman on 04 May, 2016, 06:31:32 pm
Leicester now have to prove they are not Blackburn Rovers, never mind Leeds.  :-\

Ranieri is a realist on such matters:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36199417 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36199417)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Veloman on 04 May, 2016, 06:37:52 pm
Meanwhile, even the Parliament and the PM is getting involved with Mr Lineker's underpants:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-36205082 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-36205082)

We await what John Wittingdale MP has to say on the matter as Mr Lineker appears to have a view on him:

https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/727881666174320640 (https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/727881666174320640)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: red marley on 04 May, 2016, 06:46:44 pm
I quite like Corbyn's PMQ today on that theme

Quote
I join the Prime Minister in congratulating Leicester City on their amazing achievement. I hope it's not an indication he's going to support another football team. Or is he going to stick with two he's got already?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 08 May, 2016, 05:21:57 pm
Tottenham's result today will give Leicester an even bigger margin of victory than seemed likely only a week ago.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 08 May, 2016, 05:46:27 pm
Tottenham imploded at Chelsea and are now seemingly sulking  ;)

I reckon Newcastle will beat them next week end and they'll end up finishing third. And I'm not saying that with any degree of gloat nor taunt - I actually think that's what will happen.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 08 May, 2016, 08:04:14 pm
so, do Leicester need to win all their matches now to be considered worthy of the title  ???
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 08 May, 2016, 09:04:52 pm
so, do Leicester need to win all their matches now to be considered worthy of the title  ???

No... but they seem to be doing it anyway. 

1 game left to play, 10 points above Spurs.  In the end it wasn't even close.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 08 May, 2016, 11:12:24 pm
And the last match for Leicester, new Champions, will be at Chelsea, last season's Champions, who stopped the challenge from Spurs.

Walt Disney could not have written it better!

Except for Spurs folk, everyone wanting Leicester to win title and so glad it happened. What a match to watch! Just need to beat Everton and Chelsea!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 09 May, 2016, 06:23:18 am
so, do Leicester need to win all their matches now to be considered worthy of the title  ???

There are some that will never consider Leicester "worthy" champions.

Not enough possession, nor pass completion. It's not 'beautiful' football. You have to be able to knock the ball endlessly around your own half; square passes, back passes, jeez ANY pass - so long as it keeps those important stats up. Sod trying to score.

Nah, Leicester are 'long ball merchants'; hoofing it up for Vardy to score. That's not attractive football. It's not even cricket.  And they're lucky; with injuries and suspensions and the referring and the weather. And they haven't had to play anyone yet.  Teams just rolled over and let Leicester beat them. 

It's been a glorious, glorious 12 months to be a Leicester fan. Not just for the results but also for the way it was achieved. I've no right to be proud... but I am, and have been tearful several times over the last week. It just wasn't 'supposed' to happen, Leicester are not worthy.

Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 09 May, 2016, 08:52:47 pm
They are a damned sight more worthy than pretty well everyone who has won the premiership hitherto. I reckon the last comparatively "worthy" champions of English football were Nottingham Forest.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 09 May, 2016, 10:10:53 pm
so, do Leicester need to win all their matches now to be considered worthy of the title  ???

There are some that will never consider Leicester "worthy" champions.

Not enough possession, nor pass completion. It's not 'beautiful' football. You have to be able to knock the ball endlessly around your own half; square passes, back passes, jeez ANY pass - so long as it keeps those important stats up. Sod trying to score.

Nah, Leicester are 'long ball merchants'; hoofing it up for Vardy to score. That's not attractive football. It's not even cricket.  And they're lucky; with injuries and suspensions and the referring and the weather. And they haven't had to play anyone yet.  Teams just rolled over and let Leicester beat them. 

It's been a glorious, glorious 12 months to be a Leicester fan. Not just for the results but also for the way it was achieved. I've no right to be proud... but I am, and have been tearful several times over the last week. It just wasn't 'supposed' to happen, Leicester are not worthy.

I honestly don't know any football fan that thinks they aren't worthy champions.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 10 May, 2016, 08:49:12 am
Bocelli singing at the reception for Leicester was rather good.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 10 May, 2016, 10:18:27 am
I honestly don't know any football fan that thinks they aren't worthy champions.

A circular definition perhaps  ;)

But indeed, yes, by far the majority of folk do recognise what's happened.

The funny thing is - and I'm as guilty as anyone for lapsing into it, as I did a little above - is that the entire nature of being a 'fan' is that you sometimes get a little one-eyed or parochial. I'm led to believe (oh, that reliable cop-out) from reading a Leicester fans forum that there are some comments on other fan forums that smack of bitterness. And that is to be expected, they are fans in the comfort of their own. With rational and reasoned heads on, in a more public environment, I suspect even they would acknowledge the achievement. Being a fan means not always being rational.  It's all a game  :)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 10 May, 2016, 10:31:12 am
Bocelli singing at the reception for Leicester was rather good.

I wanted to enjoy it but, tbh, I felt a tad uncomfortable. There were sections of the crowd that didn't show 'due reverence'. Either too pissed up and/or having a good time. Ranieri visibly tried to quieten those sections. Apparently, Bocelli couldn't be heard throughout the ground - that might explain it, might.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 10 May, 2016, 05:05:05 pm
I honestly don't know any football fan that thinks they aren't worthy champions.
........... that there are some comments on other fan forums that smack of bitterness.

I find that easy to believe.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 10 May, 2016, 05:32:09 pm
There's likely to be a lot of stuff about Ipswich having as much a claim on a fairytale as Leicester. That's going to be generated by renewed interest in Alf Ramsey, which will lead on to stuff about Bobby Robson, the Ipswich UEFA cup win, and a diversion to whether Brian Clough should have been the England manager. The press will be keeping that powder dry for the 50th anniversary.
http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/23-Season-in-brief/1939-division-one-1961-62
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Polar Bear on 10 May, 2016, 05:52:20 pm
They are a damned sight more worthy than pretty well everyone who has won the premiership hitherto. I reckon the last comparatively "worthy" champions of English football were Nottingham Forest.

What about Aston Villa in 1981 and Everton in 1985 and 1987?   After that the money certainly began to bite.

Leicester have done a great job and all credit to them but they also are not poor having billionaire owners, lots of television money and the financial muscle to pull a manager with the class and reputation of Ranieri.    They were simply the best 'team' rather than the most expensive gaggle of millionaires.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 May, 2016, 06:29:56 pm
They are a damned sight more worthy than pretty well everyone who has won the premiership hitherto. I reckon the last comparatively "worthy" champions of English football were Nottingham Forest.

What about Aston Villa in 1981 and Everton in 1985 and 1987?   After that the money certainly began to bite.

Or Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95?  Though a certain rather pricy Geordie striker had a lot to do with that one.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 11 May, 2016, 09:41:10 pm
They are a damned sight more worthy than pretty well everyone who has won the premiership hitherto. I reckon the last comparatively "worthy" champions of English football were Nottingham Forest.

What about Aston Villa in 1981 and Everton in 1985 and 1987?   After that the money certainly began to bite.

Or Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95?  Though a certain rather pricy Geordie striker had a lot to do with that one.

Blackburn in 1994/95 spent more on their side than Leicester in 2015/16 I'd wager.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 11 May, 2016, 09:55:31 pm
They are a damned sight more worthy than pretty well everyone who has won the premiership hitherto. I reckon the last comparatively "worthy" champions of English football were Nottingham Forest.

What about Aston Villa in 1981 and Everton in 1985 and 1987?   After that the money certainly began to bite.

Or Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95?  Though a certain rather pricy Geordie striker had a lot to do with that one.

Blackburn in 1994/95 spent more on their side than Leicester in 2015/16 I'd wager.
Yes, I'd doubt that Blackburn would spend any money on Leicester.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 15 May, 2016, 06:31:30 pm
JD, you are a very naughty boy.  Fingers crossed for the play-offs!

It's been a fascinating season: 10 man Newcastle ("my" team, along with Rochdale) humiliate Spurs in the final game, having already been relegated.  Sunderland deservedly stayed up and in the process have scored more goals than Manchester United, who finish 6th.  Leicester's story could only be improved by shirts of a slightly darker blue.  Arsenal finish second in spite of their manager being continually hounded by the most ungrateful set of fans in English League history: they've been in the top four, I think pretty well every season he's been there.  They don't deserve him.

Edit:  JD, I've just found out that Forest Green lost the play-off.  Really sorry about that.  No consolation that Grimsby play in humbug stripes, too.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Jaded on 15 May, 2016, 09:31:34 pm
We used to play in those colours until we went sustainable.

I watched  the match in a pub somewhere northwards, and was joined by some other footer fans who said "aah, proper football"

Losing two goals in a few minutes knocked the stuffing out of us, although our goal was a delight. <cries into beer>
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 May, 2016, 10:20:26 pm
I thought the BBC had doned a mispring with the league table but Stoke really did finish in the top half of the table with a goal difference of -14 :o
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 16 May, 2016, 01:11:32 am
Still, hang on to the fact that FG have NEVER been relegated.  We've managed it twice in seven years and it was very nearly twice in six!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: pcolbeck on 16 May, 2016, 08:14:57 am
Well the season is over and after all the predictions of a Leicester collapse it didn't happen but Spurs did collapse. 5-1 thrashing by a Newcastle team that couldn't win all season in the last match !
I hope next season is as exciting but I doubt it will be.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 16 May, 2016, 10:33:04 am
Spurs completely collapsed. It began against the Baggies and it was downhill thereafter.

Panchosanza (whatever) must ask himself what happened and was he responsible somehow because Spurs had been playing well up until then. To fall away quite so profoundly begs a question or two.

One thing that Leicester have done all season is come back when it wasn't going their way. In fact, it's been a hallmark of their season. They have never doubted themselves and Ranieri has always been able to maintain their self belief.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 18 May, 2016, 11:55:07 am
Not a dry eye in the house (well, there was only me watching) as I watched Lineker's BBC program (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07c6lwh/leicesters-impossible-dream-gary-linekers-story-of-the-201516-premier-league-season).

I hadn't realised just how emotional I can get. It's only sodding football but I was blubbing quite pathetically.  :-[

Seriously, it IS quite an incredible thing that Leicester City did (in a context a little broader than "only football" too)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Mr Larrington on 18 May, 2016, 12:25:54 pm
Can I at this point lambast square-headed jeans model and part-time cycling helmet apologist David Coulthard for saying Max Verstappen's win in the Spanish Grand Prix was even more of a fairy story than Leicester winning the Premiership?

No, DC, you great sillybollocks.  No, it wasn't.  Quality, albeit youthful, driver in better-than-average car wins race, on circuit where overtaking is difficult, after runaway favourites take each other out of contention.  It's not as if the Premier League's Usual Suspects all had their own equivalent of Munich '58 after two games, is it?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: pcolbeck on 18 May, 2016, 12:31:57 pm
The F1 equivalent would be if one of the F1 also ran driver like  Romain Grosjean won the drivers championship in a no hope car like a Manor.
No big money (relatively) and coming on top over a whole season was the magic of Leicester not a single win.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 18 May, 2016, 01:12:32 pm
Or James Hunt winning at Zandvoort in a Hesketh, before going on to win the championship in a McClaren.
https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/features/2015/6/when-the-playboys-beat-the-big-boys---remembering-heskeths-amazi.html
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 18 May, 2016, 02:43:43 pm
Can I at this point lambast square-headed jeans model and part-time cycling helmet apologist David Coulthard for saying Max Verstappen's win in the Spanish Grand Prix was even more of a fairy story than Leicester winning the Premiership?

No, DC, you great sillybollocks.  No, it wasn't.  Quality, albeit youthful, driver in better-than-average car wins race, on circuit where overtaking is difficult, after runaway favourites take each other out of contention.  It's not as if the Premier League's Usual Suspects all had their own equivalent of Munich '58 after two games, is it?

The equivalent is Leicester beating Manchester City... which they did of course.

The odds on Leicester City winning the Premiership are roughly the same as a Formula 1 driver admitting he fucked up and caused a crash.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: rogerzilla on 25 May, 2016, 08:10:21 am
Somehow, Oxford United have persuaded Leicester to send a full team to Oxford for a friendly on the 19th July.  You may remember that Oxford decisively beat Swansea in the FA Cup back in January...
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew on 25 May, 2016, 08:20:24 am
Leicester warming up for the 'International Make Money for Some American Businessman' Cup?

I'd prefer Nuneaton on a Tuesday evening. Well, maybe not but you get my drift.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 December, 2016, 05:02:56 pm
I really did not expect them to top their group in the Champo League UCL.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Wowbagger on 10 December, 2016, 07:36:10 pm
How very amusing! Leicester beat Man City 4 - 2 despite City having 77% of the possession!
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: madcow on 10 December, 2016, 10:09:28 pm
How very amusing! Leicester beat Man City 4 - 2 despite City having 77% of the possession!

Just goes to show that the only statistic that is worth anything is the final score.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: mattc on 11 December, 2016, 08:30:34 am
How very amusing! Leicester beat Man City 4 - 2 despite City having 77% of the possession!

Just goes to show that the only statistic that is worth anything is the final score.
In fact, I think that's the rules, innit? The team with the better final score wins?
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: sg37409 on 13 February, 2017, 12:01:23 pm
How do you find the stress levels this season Andrew ?

I am confident the team will galvanize and finish in safety, albeit in the bottom third.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Asterix, the former Gaul. on 22 February, 2017, 11:19:39 am
Well everyone said they couldn't keep it up but and sure enough, here we are in February and they are still atnear the top bottom of the Premiership.
..

Oh dear!

4 March, a double pointer..
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Andrew Br on 23 February, 2017, 08:34:34 pm
It's just been on the radio: they've sacked Ranieri.

Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: De Sisti on 23 February, 2017, 08:38:24 pm
So much for the the 'vote of confidence' from the board. ::-)
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: hatler on 23 February, 2017, 08:43:11 pm
Poor show.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Vince on 23 February, 2017, 09:06:26 pm
So much for the the 'vote of confidence' from the board. ::-)
The vote of confidence is just a euphemism for 'you'd better update your CV'.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Peter on 23 February, 2017, 10:03:29 pm
Yes, it's code VC is the reverse of CV.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 24 February, 2017, 04:40:21 pm
So much for the the 'vote of confidence' from the board. ::-)

What were they confident of?

Confident he'd be gone soon?

It's a strange one. I mean Leicester were fundamentally shit 2 years ago, precisely as shit as they are now in fact. 
Between two periods of being shit they somehow won the Premiership title. 

Ranieri CLEARLY made an error of judgement by staying.  The very best he could have hoped for was an average season.

If he'd retired last summer they would be installing a bronze statue of him now.

Arsene Wenger, are you watching?  Sometimes a good manager has the luxury to choose their moment, they can leave as a hero or a villain.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: Mr Larrington on 24 February, 2017, 07:29:32 pm
People have been writing off The Arse for years now but he still manages to stick around not seeing ze incident.
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: sg37409 on 16 March, 2017, 08:36:28 am
And now, the quarter finals of the CL, and the only british club left in the tournament.
Wow !
Title: Re: Leicester City
Post by: LEE on 16 March, 2017, 08:54:50 am
And now, the quarter finals of the CL, and the only british club left in the tournament.
Wow !

It doesn't sit right with me, that the players now seem motivated enough to play the "Ranieri way" once more.

Having said that, we should never feel sorry for Premier League managers. 
They tend to earn more from one contract than the rest of us earn in a lifetime, and abject failure in the contract doesn't seem to have any effect on their monetary reward, or their chances of future employment.