I think it's fair to say that Leicester will be Premier League champions this season. In fact, the bookies have Chelsea odds on to get the job done tonight, meaning you could be champions a matter of hours from now.
Make no mistake, you have had a hell of a lot of luck this season, ranging from refereeing decisions, a small fixture list and a fortunate lack of injuries. However, you have shown something my own club Arsenal have not managed in over a decade and that is bottle and the ability to produce under pressure, even if it hasn't been pretty at times. You have ground out results over the last couple of weeks when many expected you to crack and even right now, when you could be crowned champions tonight with a bit to spare, people around the world are still expecting Leicester to slip up and gift the title to Spurs (god forbid).
However I doubt that to be the case and reckon you will be deserved title winners sooner rather than later.
But where does that leave you next season? Kante for me will certainly be off, if the €20M release clause I hear of is legit. Mahrez is good enough to play for any team in Europe apart from Barcelona. Would be surprised if one of Bayern/Real/PSG didn't come in for him, but hopefully he gives you lot another year. Vardy I can definitely see going nowhere.
But just to say, if Mahrez and Kante did go, how badly would you struggle? Despite being champions and having CL football, I can't see you attracting any top quality players. The likes of Huth, Schmeichel, Simpson, Drinkwater, Albrighton - basically rejects who nobody else wanted, surely can't repeat the form they have shown this season. And having to compete among Europe's elite is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Leicester fans and players alike, that will probably take focus off a league campaign.
Is it unrealistic to say that Leicester could be the first ever PL winners to get relegated the following season? We've seen some recent shoddy title defences from City, United and Chelsea, where the winner seems to finish lower and lower in the table each season. Could this be the worst title defence of the lot?
Not saying this as a wind up, because I genuinely like Leicester and before this season started, I was one of the few who tipped you for a top 8 finish - but, strangely as it sounds, despite the incredible story and memories that will be spoken of for decades, could a PL victory, long term, be the worst thing that could happen to Leicester as a football club?
What are Leicester's hopes for next season?
posted on 2/5/16
Just enjoying this season thanks. Will worry about the summer transfers and next season later (it'd be nice to do OK in the Champions League and not get relegated is as far as I want to think at the moment). Strangely enough I'm concentrating fully on a game in west London tonight!
I think you'll find most Foxes fans not thinking the world has ended if we don't win anything next year.
posted on 2/5/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 2/5/16
Kante is irreplaceable.
Your squad is a year older (Morgan&Huth especially)
Mahrez will leave for Barca no doubt
Your squad is not strong enough to play on al fronts effectively
Elite players won't come
The team spirit will be diluted now they have achieved the dream.
posted on 2/5/16
Lucky that we've had a small fixture list
Fortunate lack of injuries
Didn't read past this for obvious reasons
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Yep, read the fixture excuse before, even though Liverpool didn't win the league with the same amount.
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I'm delighted Leicester are winning the title but are you guys honestly suggesting that playing less games than everyone around you (closest would be West Ham who also didn't have Europe) didn't help you at all?
Not suggesting you don't deserve the title or someone else deserves it because of their bigger fixture list but the idea that playing more fixtures wouldn't harm you is ludacris.
posted on 2/5/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 2/5/16
comment by Mike drop. (U15513)
posted 47 minutes ago
Kante is irreplaceable.
Your squad is a year older (Morgan&Huth especially)
Mahrez will leave for Barca no doubt
Your squad is not strong enough to play on al fronts effectively
Elite players won't come
The team spirit will be diluted now they have achieved the dream.
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Thanks for your supportive words mike. Should we just kill ourselves now to avoid the misery?
posted on 2/5/16
comment by SAF_The_Legend-FreePalestine(7) (U5768)
posted 26 minutes ago
Lucky that we've had a small fixture list
Fortunate lack of injuries
Didn't read past this for obvious reasons
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Yep, read the fixture excuse before, even though Liverpool didn't win the league with the same amount.
............................................
I'm delighted Leicester are winning the title but are you guys honestly suggesting that playing less games than everyone around you (closest would be West Ham who also didn't have Europe) didn't help you at all?
Not suggesting you don't deserve the title or someone else deserves it because of their bigger fixture list but the idea that playing more fixtures wouldn't harm you is ludacris.
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Teams in Europe have squads to cover that so while we haven't played in Europe we've got a much smaller squad of Superstars to call upon costing £00's millions than anyone else.
Can't you remember a few months ago, we were going to fail for exactly this reason!
posted on 2/5/16
Mersey forgive my sobering approach as I'm a Leeds fan and have had lubeless times of late. I'm happy u have won the league mind
posted on 2/5/16
Teams in Europe have squads to cover that so while we haven't played in Europe we've got a much smaller squad of Superstars to call upon costing £00's millions than anyone else.
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Being in Europe next year doesn't magically remedy any problems you might have from being in Europe next year.
TBH I'm struggling to figure out exactly what you are saying there but it sounds like you are saying you have a small squad which doesn't make sense because it isn't a plus with a bigger fixture list.
Congrats on the title
posted on 24/9/16