The Leicester Miracle -- What Does It Mean To You?

[Forever Fulham]

Just curious what you lot think about the significance of what Leicester has done so far, what the take-away should be for fans of the game everywhere.  Is it simply that you don't have to pay out a fortune in team payroll to have a winning team in a top league?  That you can find diamonds; they are out there still; that you can mold them into a great unit, inspire them to greatness.  It's such a fairy tale story, the Little Train That Thought It Could.  Or is the Leicester Miracle a fluke, highly unlikely to be repeated elsewhere?  I think most people are captivated by the payroll disparity and in it claim evidence that you don't need to pay a king's ransom for a winning team.  All you need are good scouts, a fine manager, and you can topple giants.  Is the promise of Leicester to fans of other teams that Leicester's success can be duplicated if only?  If only what, though?  If only our club had the vision to spot great passed-over talent?  If only our club could find the right manager? 

[Blanco]

Takeaways for me, in descending order of significance
- Chelsea have had a terrible season
- Man City have had a poor season
- Man Utd have had a poor season
- With the new TV money even small clubs like Leicester can spend over £30m (which they have done)
- With a good manager and team ethic clubs can overachieve, as we did in the Europa

Just because the big clubs haven't played as well doesn't take away the fact that Leicester have still only lost 3 games and are very hard to beat. They deserve it massively and the excuse that the big clubs have been poor is belittling all the work they've put in.

[ToodlesMcToot]

It is a miracle in my mind. The big clubs and the FA have done all they can to ensure that clubs like ManU, Arsenal, Chelsea et al all remain at the top and that the riff raff continue to fight for the crumbs.

The influx of money is somewhat of a leveler but, the smaller clubs still cannot afford or, often, attract the best of the best like the chosen clubs can.

[bobby01]

I think the main thing with Leicester is teamwork, no glory hunting, primadonnas. Very much like Roy's team all good grafters no superstars. Problem will come this close season when the cheque books come out.

[Tonywa]

With none of the usual suspects hitting the heights this year, it's provided a perfect opportunity for one of the lesser-lights to climb to the top.  Good luck to them.  They got a very good manager with a point to prove, they're very well-organised and extremely strong going forward with one of the best strike forces in the division. 

[ron]

The achievement of Leicester this season reminds me of Ipswich's title in the early 60's. Amazing what can be achieved when a capable and visionary manager teams up with players who are focused and who gain strength from each other to become greater than the sum of the parts. Ray Crawford and Ted Phillips were the standout players then for the Tractorboys, and, oh yes, and they had Alf Ramsey for a manager.......

Well played Leicester, we envy the esprit de corps of the squad, and the positive management they have.

[bog]

I think their season to be absolutely magnificent. They used to keep on banging on about what a wonderful league the Prem was, not it wasn't it was boring and predictable. Leicester have made 15/16 and absolute joy!!!!! COME ON YOU FOXES!!!!!!  065.gif 082.gif :yay: :clap_hands: LOVE IT!!

Did I get my point across?

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[bog]

Just read Ron's offering, me likewise on all points Ron. I can still recite their line up, Bailey; Carberry, Compton; Baxter, Nelson, Elsworthy; Stephenson, Moran, Crawford, Phillips,  Leadbetter.  What partnership Crawford and Phillips were.  :Haynes The Maestro:

As you can see I don't get out much....

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[J.Perkins]

Happy for them and football. But tbh, I really don't give a poo.

[cmg]

I well remember the last time we played a league match against Leicester.
I admired their comfortable but bland new stadium and felt a bit sorry for their team of nobodies (apologies to Muzzy Izzet, Marcus Bent. Well, perhaps not.). They were on their way out of the PL, we were a top 10 outfit with one of the world's great goalkeepers and had just unearthed a new goalscoring sensation who would make us forget the recently departed Saha, or so we thought. We all now know how that one worked out!

I don't get angry. I just say to myself, 'This is the business we have chosen.'*

The first Fulham promotion side I remember left behind in the old Second Division (Championship) the likes of Liverpool, Stoke, Swansea, Brighton and Sunderland. Mind you, we also left behind Orient, Scunthorpe and Lincoln City. You might say, if you were in to cliches -what goes around , comes around.

Good luck to Leicester. A new face at the top will be more than welcomed. A few right moves and it might be our turn next.

*or perhaps that was Hyman Roth who said that

[General]

Takeaways for me, in descending order of significance
- Chelsea have had a terrible season
- Man City have had a poor season
- Man Utd have had a poor season
- With the new TV money even small clubs like Leicester can spend over £30m (which they have done)
- With a good manager and team ethic clubs can overachieve, as we did in the Europa

This.. But also I compare it to Hodgson. Psychology in sport is key and we had to put up with journalists and the like saying for Fulham that's the best he could do... That just wasn't the case... I like to think hodgson could've grown the club significantly in a way similar to what ranieri is doing. The title may have been hard as I think Chelsea, Utd, etc have all lost their way now which they hadn't when hodgson was with us but...

I also think it speaks wonders for rainieri and taking a step away to asses and then reengaging with the league after how he was let go.

[Forever Fulham]

"We've got to stay humble."
Shinji Okazaki

What a story...

[nose]

wonderful story everyone 100% behind leicester, it shows the art of the possible
it shows with ambition and imagination what can be done
next season may be harder but so what
they are sitting at the top table and made the usual suspects look ordinary
they are there on merit

and what it means to me is misery because of what has happened to us.
the complete lack of comprehension as to how to run a football team by our owner is ridiculous
he employs overpaid second/third rate hacks who take enormous salaries and foul up at every conceivable opportunity... and when there aren't opportunities to foul up, they event some
i hate the way our club is being run, it is pathetic (using the word correctly). the owner just has to wake up and smell the coffee and replace the awful board we have and get in some proper people that know how to run a football team, liks maf did when he got keegan!

good luck leicester but we are in terminal decline unless the owner acts soon.

[The Enclosurite]

What I take from it is the fact that it could so easily have been us.  Fair play and well done to them but I think normal service will be resumed at the top next season... Unfortunately.

[BigbadBillyMcKinley]

They are there on merit - this season. Like someone else said, the big guns aren't playing well. But that's the sign of a good manager, using the others weakness against them. Ranieri is no mug. He's been there, done that. He knows that he'll take all the plaudits if or when they win the league. I hope they do.
I also think they'll keep the majority of the team together. I mean, in all honesty, who'd leave the league champions for someone else? Especially Chelsea who might not even get Europe at all. Yes the other clubs will pay huge money, but I'd stay another season and play with them in the champions league.
But also, being in the champions league could be a negative because they could spend vast amounts of money trying to get there again, which they probably won't be able to afford, along with the Chelsea's, city's and uniteds who can. The potential of another Leeds is very high.

[RaySmith]

Shows the power of organisation, and defensive solidity, with an experienced manager, but it's obviously very refreshing to have a club such as Leicester  break the monopoly, though they do have some decent players.

[Forever Fulham]

I'm past thinking that most of Leicester's starters are just over-achievers.  No, I think there is real top class talent on that team.  And that makes me wonder how many quality players are out there, just languishing on a bench or in lower leagues somewhere, for no good reason.

[Jack Fulham]

I think the days of the 'big four' are over. Leicester have smashed the front door in and West Ham right behind them.

[Jack Fulham]

I think the days of the 'big four' are over. Leicester have smashed the front door in and West Ham right behind them.

Think Man City already did that about 5 yrs ago

I'd say City took Liverpool's place bar that 2nd place finish. What is happening now is different.

[ron]

Certainly regarding West Ham, the country has bought them a stadium so that most of their cash income can go into players, as well as can a lump sum for flogging the Boleyn....