A Thousand To One Shot

1000/1.

Those were the odds at the start of the season that Leicester City would be top of the table come Christmas.

Understandably so, having been rock bottom of the Premier League in 2014. It does not take a Jedi master to work out the chances of this unlikely turn of events coming to fruition were verging on the ridiculously optimistic for even the most inebriated of Foxes supporters.

The efforts put in by Leicester City’s former manager Nigel Pearson in saving the club from what looked like an almost certain relegation in 2014/15 cannot be underestimated. The final ten matches of last season ended with seven wins, one draw and just two defeats. This from a team that had gone on a thirteen game win-less run between October and December.

Realistically, before we start praising Leicester City for their efforts so far this term, we have to recognise the job Pearson did ensuring they were able to even compete at the top level this time around.

Appointing Claudio Ranieri, a completely different kind of manager to Pearson following the dismissal of the latter in the summer, was seen as a big risk. The former Chelsea coach though has not only proved the doubters wrong, but he has gone some way to being given the freedom of Leicester, whatever happens between now and May. Foxes fans have truly been given ‘A New Hope‘ for how their club can progress, especially given the amount of money their Thailand based owners have said they will plough into the Midlands based club.

It has been interesting to say the least watching on as a football fan at the progress they have been making. At first, their in-roads towards the top four were described by many as a bit of good fortune, a good run. Then people started to stand up and take notice. An Obi-one nil victory over Crystal Palace in October was followed up by a 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion, those results took them up to third in the table and since then they have gone on to hit top spot, and stay there. The force is strong right now for Leicester City but the question on everyone’s lips is ‘Can they keep it up?’.

I am under no illusions how strong their now Champions League rivals can be. Arsene’s Empire will no doubt wish to strike back and reclaim that top spot but even if they do, you have to realise that City are already nine points clear of Manchester United in fifth place. The title may well be their dream, but if their Death Star Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez can keep scoring then the Champions League is now very much more than a realistic ambition for them.

The Foxes will no doubt have to fight off the on-looking so called big clubs when it comes to their prize assets in the January window, but the issue with that for me is not whether these players leave, because they almost certainly will not, it is whether clubs can have an unsettling influence in terms of Leicester’s season thus far.

The Force is strong at the King Power Stadium and I for one would love for them to upset the status quo and be in one of those top four positions come May. Leicester have given us all a bit of hope that with the ever changing picture in the top flight in regards to money, that a positive to come from it is that we can all forge a squad competitive enough to cause more than just one or two shock results.

Here is, as always, a look at the statistics from these weekend’s fixtures:

Chelsea 3 Sunderland 1 – The Black Cats have conceded more goals this season than any other top flight team on thirty-three. Sam Allardyce is up against it should he wish to keep this struggling side in the Premier League.

Everton 2 Leicester City 3 – The Foxes won two penalties in this game and both were dispatched by Riyad Mahrez. Fellow hit-man Vardy has won six penalties alone for his club since the start of last season.

Manchester United 1 Norwich City 2 – The pressure is mounting on Van Gaal. It appears to be a case of when rather than if the current Red Devils boss loses his job. Striker Wayne Rooney made his 500th United appearance in this game and in doing so became just the tenth player to do so for the Manchester based club.

Southampton 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 – Spurs have surprisingly lost just two games so far this season, which shows should they have managed to turn some of their draws in to wins they could well be pushing the likes of Arsenal and Leicester.

Stoke City 1 Crystal Palace 2 – Palace hero was South Korean Lee Chung-yong who scored his first in the top flight goal since way back in 2011 (for Bolton against West Ham United).

West Bromwich Albion 1 Bournemouth 2 – Albion managed to get two players sent off in this one (McClean and Rondon). It was the first time the West Midlands club have seen this happen since back in 2010 when they lost by the same score line to Blackpool away from home.

Newcastle 1 Aston Villa 1 – Villa bagged their seventh point of the season but saw the gap to get out of the relegation zone stretched to ten points thanks to Norwich and Bournemouth both managing wins. Never mind.

Watford 3 Liverpool 0 – Now in seventh place, Watford have lost every game they have played against teams currently above them in the league, however they are unbeaten against all of the teams they have played sitting below them.

Swansea City 0 West Ham United 0 – This week’s boring 0-0 draw came in South Wales. Swansea are without a win in seven home games. Next up they face West Brom on Boxing Day.

Arsenal 2 Manchester City 1 – City are without a win in any of their last five away games. Arsenal sit in second heading in to Christmas.

Thanks for reading, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Premier League Table