THIS is one of the most intriguing English Premier League title races in history and that’s largely due to three factors.
Two of them are the demise of Chelsea and, to a lesser extent Manchester United, which has allowed for a strange looking top four, and the third is the fairy tale that is Leicester City.
In a world of heavyweights always battling it out for the title, Leicester’s story has just been the most amazing and refreshing one. The Foxes have spoiled the party, and they’ve spoiled it in style.
When Claudio Ranieri took over from Nigel Pearson, who saved Leicester from relegation last season, there was some criticism, but he’s brought a successful counter-attacking style. Leicester let the opposition have possession, even when they play the big teams, and they counter-attack with amazing speed.
The spine of the team is very strong, with Kasper Schmeichel, the son of a legend, outstanding in goal. Then they’ve got experienced campaigners Robert Huth and Wes Morgan at the back and one of the best midfielders all season in Kante, complimented by Danny Drinkwater in the middle of the park. Not to mention the attack of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, which has just been scintillating.
They’re a team that Ranieri has got believing in themselves. But in the last four or five games it’s been their defence, not their attack, that has shone. Whereas a month ago it was all about Vardy and Mahrez, at the moment it’s all about Schmeichel, Morgan and Huth.
They’ve got a great culture and work ethic in that team, which has taken them to extraordinary heights - only second on goal difference to Arsenal at the top of the table.
Everyone is waiting for the Leicester bubble to burst, none more so than Arsenal and Manchester, the favourites to take out the title.
Arsenal just play amazing football - the Arsene Wenger philosophy and style has never been more evident than with this current team. The wait for the Premier League title has been excruciating for the fans, but this could be their time. They’ve got an amazing squad full of talent, finesse, movement and pace. Players like Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, now Joel Campbell, and to think Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla are still to return from injury.
The squad looks like it has the depth to deal with Champions League and FA Cup, but dare I say the Premier League will be Wenger’s prime target.
Then on the other side you’ve got City, who have a lot of flair themselves in players like David Silva and Sergio Aguero, but they have more power than Arsenal and that power comes principally through Yaya Toure. They’ve got a strong spine as well, but the problem for City is if they want to win the title, they need to keep Vincent Kompany fit. The stats of goals conceded are amazing when he plays and doesn’t play.
Then they’ve got fantastic supporting men in Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling so, like Arsenal, it’s a squad able to deal with all competitions.
The only other team I would suspect is capable of challenging for the title are Tottenham, but they are the dark horses. Mauricio Pochettino has got a very young team and there’s a revelation in there with Dele Alli.
I have to mention Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, the clubs who have surprised by their various failures this season.
Chelsea, unbeatable last year, are now in all sorts of turmoil. They’re not playing for each other and it looks like it’s going to take a massive transitional period at the end of the season to change it around.
For United, it’s just a lack of style. For the team that plays at the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, fans demand not only winning, but winning in style. That’s what United’s success under Ferguson was built on and what’s happening this season is just not good enough.
As for Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers should never have been given the cheque book a second time. They allowed it to happen and now you have the disaster of another season gone, at best Europa League spot, and another rebuilding for years ahead with Jurgen Klopp now in charge.
My top four prediction? Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Leicester.
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