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Football News: Leicester City Season Review

Leicester City Season Review
Image from: indianexpress.com

Premier League: Winners
FA Cup: Third round
League Cup: Fourth round
Europa League: Failed to qualify
Champions League: Failed to qualify

What is there left to say about the season the Foxes had? It seems all the superlatives and hype has exhausted every possible avenue. This is the season that to end all seasons for the Leicester City, the moment their fans never expected to actually happen. It is not just Leicester that has been caught up in the moment, it spread around the world and breathed new life into the whole league. It is not just that they fully deserved to win the league, and won it by a large margin, it is their humility they maintained throughout, most of which came from their manager, Claudio Ranieri. The cups were not good to Leicester, but the Premier League really made up for it and more. Leicester City are fully deserved champions, the biggest question is whether they can challenge again next season.

Claudio Ranieri - 10
Ranieri had to get a 10 for his work this season. A highly experienced coach, but always a runner up in the past, finally he has got the title his work has deserved in the past. This is the man who, after all, laid the foundation for Chelsea's success in recent years. The key thing is not just how he had the team playing, but how he dealt with everything that surrounded the club as it sat atop the table. With everyone expecting a fall to come, he worked wonders to create a real family feel to the team, bringing them together to make them fight for each other. As well as creating a real team, rather than a bunch of individuals, his personality was key in building a good feeling around the club. You cannot watch or meet Ranieri without liking him, he is genuinely likeable, there is no falseness about him. It was this quality that kept the media completely on side, made neutrals fall in love with the story and enabled the momentum to grow around the world. Now the really hard work begins, he has to build on something incredible, something almost beyond belief. Is it possible for this club to continue challenging for the long term?

 

Kasper Schmeichel - 8
To be fair to Schmeichel, 8 was about as good as it could get, as his team mates defended so well during the season that he was never really forced to perform at his best. When called upon, he was very good, but he did not have the hardest season he will ever have. His style is very similar to his father's but he does not yet have that sheer imposing presence. If he can develop that, plus learn to direct his punches better, he will be a truly top class keeper in his own right, and no longer will it be about him being Peter's son. This season he has come a long way along the road of creating his own history, next season is his chance to perform in the Champions League and stop the constant comparisons with his dad. Though I do think that the comparisons are a large part of what drives him to perform so well, to prove he is not just Peter Schmeichel's son and become known as Kasper.

Wes Morgan - 9.5
A true captain's performance, week in, week out, from Morgan, a player that seemed limited in capability in the Championship, yet stepped up to lead a team to the Premier League title. Morgan has never been a ball playing centre half, he is strong but lacks the pace to play as part of a high line at the back. What they have done is to allow Morgan to play to his strengths, to keep the back four mostly compact, so that he is not dragged out into the wide areas, where he can be beaten by pace or skill. Keep him central, where there is little space for the opponent, and allow him to use his power, that is the key to his success.

Robert Huth - 9
A very similar player to Morgan, but with experience of winning a title in the past, which I am sure helped a lot. Like Morgan, he is a big, strong, powerful centre half without much pace, which meant the system had to be built to suit the way they played. They kept things tight, defended deep and left no space for teams to get through the centre. Then they concentrated on what they were best at, defending balls played into the area. As such, he had an outstanding season and contributed a huge amount to the success.

 

Danny Simpson - 7.5
For me this is the weakest link of the first choice Leicester team, though he had a good season, he is still someone they need to look to improve upon for European football. He still has rash moments, but the system Leicester play did do a lot to reduce the impact his poor positional sense had. Still, he did do well, he fitted in as part of the team and supported the attacks well, while making sure to get back and defend when they lost the ball. It says a lot for how well they played as a team that a player getting 7.5 out of 10 is a weak link! Overall though, his work contributed positively towards the title, and Simpson can probably feel a little disappointed that he was not considered for the England squad for this summer's Euros in France.

Marcin Wasilewski - 7
While only cover for the first choice defenders, and did seem to get caught up in the emotion at times making rash challenges, overall he was decent cover for the first choice pair. A wholehearted defender who suited the way the Foxes played, he was able to slot in with little disruption to the way the team played. Not much more you can ask for from a back up player.

Christian Fuchs - 9.5
A revelation. He was well known as captain of his country, Austria, but it seemed his career as a professional footballer was over in Europe. In fact it has been very well documented that his family had moved over to the USA as he was to take a contract over there. Leicester stepped in and the rest is, as they say, history. Even so, no one could have forseen just how well he would play. If some of the others had not been so sensational all season, we would be raving about his performances. He was creative and played some stunning passes to create chances for the forwards, his deadball delivery was largely excellent and he was solid defensively. Without doubt the best left back in the Premier League of 2016/17.

 

Danny Drinkwater - 9.5
Drinkwater had the season of his life, the big question is whether he has improved to reach this level on a regular basis, or if it was just a flash in the pan? Only time will tell on that question, but he has shown consistent improvement over his career, which suggests he is at least better than he was rated by the media prior to this season. His passing to play in Vardy became a key feature of Leicester's attack and his runs to get into dangerous areas in support were top class. Always willing to work back and got himself into the right defensive areas to help protect the back four. If he could have contributed more goals, then he would have been a 10, as that was the only thing he lacked last season.

Andy King - 8
Like Wasilewski, King was a fringe player who was called upon at key times and did well to keep the winning momentum ticking over. Having worked his way up with the club from the lower leagues, it was great, on an emotional level, to see him being part of this title win. To avoid getting swept up by the emotion, especially as he received such a huge reaction from the crowd when he came on or started games, shows a fantastic attitude.

Mark Albrighton - 9.5
Another player who had the season of his life, after being thrown on the football trash heap by Aston Villa. He is a very limited player, no real skill to beat a player, lacks the lightning pace to just push it and run as well, but what he was done is work incredibly hard to make up for it. His movement has become top class, getting himself into good positions to receive the ball and play it in. His delivery has always been the strongest point of his game and it has improved. His tracking back is among the best I have ever seen from a wide man and it is amazing how much energy he showed week after week, chasing back to help break up an attack and then bursting forward on a counter. He has taken his limits and stopped them limiting him by improving the rest of his game to the point that his limits are no longer limits.

Daniel Amartey - 6
Only joined in January and had limited minutes as a substitute to help see out games. Next season will be when we really see what he can do in Leicester's colours.

Ngolo Kante - 10
Giving him ten out of ten actually feels stingy! This lad was insanely brilliant last season. A quote from one of the Leicester coaching staff best summed him up, when talking about formations he said they play Drinkwater in the middle and Kante either side of him. It did feel like there was more than one Kante in the side, he was everywhere and involved in everything they did. Both defensively and offensively he was there, chasing, harrying, winning the ball back, charging forward, everywhere. Without a doubt the outstanding player of the Premier League season, Kante was sensational, proving all the doubters wrong who had passed him over due to his lack of height. I am struggling to remember a single game that he did not stand out as top class in.

Jeff Schlupp - 7.5
He was in and out of the side, but never let anyone down when he played. His pace was extremely useful, especially during the periods Vardy was out for. Left back, left wing and in attack, Schlupp was an able deputy, though never did quite enough to hold down a place.

Demarai Gray - 7
Initially turned down a move to Leicester City in the summer of 2015, as he did not want to be involved in a relegation dogfight. When the club returned to sign him from Birmingham City in January, he was quick to take up their offer. He was mainly used as an impact substitute and helped to see the club over the line.

 

Nathan Dyer - 6
The winger joined on loan for the season from Swansea City and was a useful back up, but never really established himself in the first team. Never any more than a bit part player in the drama, but still he was there and can point to his winners' medal in the future.

Riyad Mahrez - 9.5
If Kante was the engine room, Mahrez was the flair that dazzled on the way to the title. Like so many, Mahrez came from lower league football to Premier League winner in a very short time. Passed over by so many, despite his silky skills, because he was considered to be too lightweight to cope with the physical requirements of top class football. Despite his slim frame, which was the main source of him being passed over by so many clubs, he is wiry and his control of the ball is excellent, keeping it glued to his foot even as full backs tried to bully him. Some sensational goals and passes came from him as he became very much a focal point of the attack for the Foxes. At times he could be completely unplayable, but Ranieri was not afraid to drop him when needed to give him a rest. A rest which he earnt, as he was not a luxury for them, he never shirked his defensive responsibilites and worked hard to protect Simpson behind him.

Gokhan Inler - 6
When Leicester signed the highly experienced Swiss midfielder, it was hailed by many as a masterstroke. Inler looked to be a certainty to fill the gap left by Esteban Cambiasso deciding to leave. Instead he found himself sidelined for most of the season, unable to break up the combination of Drinkwater and Kante. That just shows how phenomenal that combination was.

Jamie Vardy - 9
He really was having a party all season long, as the striker really found his feet in the Prem, scoring goals for fun as Hollywood salivated over the thought of a movie of his life story. His runs from deep to latch on to through balls became the source of goal after goal. His quick recovery from an injury that threatened to derail his season gave the club a boost. I did have to take half a point off for his senseless sending off towards the end of the season that could have cost the team badly. It did give the story that extra little twist for the film though, as the sight of him in the stands cheering on his team mates, as they continued to pick up the results needed to clinch the title, became a huge feature of the TV coverage. His enthusiasm as he chased around after lost causes was the foundation stone of the title win.

Shinji Okazaki - 9
While he did not get as many goals as Vardy, his enthusiasm and workrate was incredible and he was an able partner to the England forward. He worked so hard he was mostly taken off in the second half to save him from wearing himself out. At times Okazaki reminded me of an overenthusiastic puppy, chasing here, there and everywhere after the ball. He showed he was more than just enthusiasm and workrate with some great touches and at least one top class goal.

Leonardo Ulloa - 8.5
Clearly the third choice striker this season, but he got plenty of opportunities to cover for injuries, suspensions and just as a sub for Okazaki. Not once did he let Leicester down. Like Vardy and Okazaki, he never let opposing defenders and midfielders rest on the ball, constantly harrassing them.

Just have to give a very well deserved bit of appreciation for the recruitment team, led by Steve Walsh, that built the side that won the league. Walsh, in particular, can be very proud of the part that he played in this title win. It truly would not have been possible without him. He was the man who convinced the club to sign Kante, when everyone else was passing him over. Steve Walsh will go down in footballing folklore as a Leicester City legend. Not bad for a former PE teacher!

Written by Tris Burke June 01 2016 14:01:06