Leicester City continued their run of form last night as they took down Swansea City 3-0 at Liberty Stadium in Wales.
The win is just one in a list of many this season, but it was another three points for the Foxes and in the end that’s all that will count.
Their man-of-the-moment, striker Jamie Vardy, once again spearheaded the line-up though his record-breaking streak of goals came to a close. While everyone would have loved it to continue, its conclusion will likely be a good thing for Leicester as a team.
For all of Vardy’s accomplishments during his prodigious rise from obscurity, he has managed to maintain a real sense of humility and an acute awareness that team achievements come before his own.
It is ironic when you consider that after scoring against Manchester United last weekend and claiming the Premier League goalscoring streak record, Vardy ran to the sidelines of King Power Stadium and professed to Leicester fans that he was the man.
“I am the man,” he screamed, while passionately pointing to his own chest.
A week later, with the knowledge of having the opportunity to equal an English League all-time record that was set in the 1930s, Vardy played the team part. He wasn’t ‘The Man’ as he was a week earlier; he was simply one man in a side of 11 who were at Swansea to continue their hot run of form.
This could be no more evidenced than through Vardy’s pass to teammate Riyad Mahrez in the 67th minute, the same player who had blown a clear opportunity to set Vardy up for a goal in the first half.
Despite receiving the ball inside the box and within striking range, Vardy didn’t hesitate, passing straight to Mahrez without a second thought. A team pass, an unselfish play. It gave Leicester a 3-0 lead and a guaranteed victory.
Leicester now sit in first spot on the Premier League ladder, a position no one in their right mind thought this side could achieve.
At the start of the season they had come off a tumultuous summer of hirings and firings, made a managerial appointment that many groaned at, and were predicted to occupy the depths of the Premiership ladder. But somehow they have become momentous, clearing anything in their path.
Their presence in the top spots was thought of as a fluke weeks ago, written off as the result of an easy opening draw. It was a position they were not worthy of and would eventually lose.
But the Foxes now lead the competition. To put that in perspective, they are now six points clear of fifth-place Tottenham. Furthermore, they are just six points shy of their season goal of 38 points with 23 games left to play. Incredible.
With Chelsea’s early season fall from grace, there was always going to be a spot for someone to fill at the top end of the table. There were some upsets in the early rounds that gave you the impression a team from left-field might occupy a higher than usual spot, but who would have thought it would be Leicester City?
With four rounds left to play in 2015, Leicester have the opportunity to head into the New Year having reached their season goal and with the world at their feet. Keep kicking goals and who knows how far they could go.
The next four games coming up see them facing heavyweights in Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester City. If Claudio Ranieri can push the side to take six points from those four matches, then Leicester can be seriously considered as a genuine chance of upsetting the status quo at season’s end.
Pleeeeeeeeease, I hear you say. But why can’t they? Manchester City can’t string a line of form together, Arsenal are recording stalemates with teams they should demolish, Manchester United can’t score a goal, and Chelsea are, well, Chelsea.
Barring injuries or self-destruction, there is no reason why the Foxes can’t keep progressing. Keeping a lid on it all will be a challenge for Ranieri, but so far the side seems to not be getting ahead of themselves.
Last night against Swansea they should have been up by five midway through the match, and although leading it would have been easy for them to get frustrated at themselves and each other for the missed chances. However, they were able to stay calm and keep sight of their team priorities.
Clean, quick, and sharp passes are how Leicester cut the opposition up. They put sides to bed with speed, counter-attacks and a little bit of risk. They are a ruthless, determined and hungry bunch of men who aren’t scared of anybody.
They’ll need all that fearlessness during the next month of football. But what a truly inspiring story they have become, invigorating a league that has been historically dominated by rich clubs and setting alight the competition with something completely unexpected and out of the ordinary.
Go the Foxes.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Goalkeeper Jamie Young: 2-1 win for Melbourne City against Western Sydney Wanderers. Full game played, seven saves, 29/47 passing. Young had a very strong…
Central Coast Mariners' star striker Angel Torres has been stood down from playing in the A-League Men after he was charged with sexual assault. …
There are few more positive, hopeful and less cynical of the game of football in Australia than me. At times, it can be a…
The FA Cup. Football’s oldest competition. Once viewed as the pinnacle of football in England. The magic of the cup. Where did it all…
When you think of German football, what comes to your mind? To some it might simply be Bayern Munich, but to many others including…
Coventry fought back from 3-nil down and looked to have stolen a stunning win in extra time, only for the goal to be ruled…
