Are Leicester genuine title contenders?

[stealthpapes]

There must be a magic number here, my guess is 5 wins from the 7 games to be absolutely sure, and that's only going to go down.

[No Fixed Abode]

Amazing to think how far Leicester have come since that day Reading got promoted at the Walkers Stadium.

[Brosef Stalin]

Amazing to think how far Leicester have come since that day Reading got promoted at the Walkers Stadium.

rem which team won the prem that year?

[Greatwesternline]

Leicester have to play mid table teams whose players may be inclined to give Leicester an easy ride, out of some sort of let the underdog have their day kind of vibe.

Mid table team?

Southampton - Going for Europe
Sunderland - Tying to avoid relegation
West Ham - Going for Europe
Swansea - Tying to avoid relegation
Man Utd - Going for Europe
Everton - Give you that
Chelsea - By this stage they could well be going for Europe too

Everton and Chelsea will be mid table by the time they play them, they will not be in the running with 1-2 games to go.
Swansea are 10 points clear, with tow other teams between them, they are safe, and will be more so with only 4 games to go.

i'll give you MU, Saints Wham and Sunderland.

[TBM]

Leicester have to play mid table teams whose players may be inclined to give Leicester an easy ride, out of some sort of let the underdog have their day kind of vibe.

Mid table team?

Southampton - Going for Europe
Sunderland - Tying to avoid relegation
West Ham - Going for Europe
Swansea - Tying to avoid relegation
Man Utd - Going for Europe
Everton - Give you that
Chelsea - By this stage they could well be going for Europe too

Everton and Chelsea will be mid table by the time they play them, they will not be in the running with 1-2 games to go.
Swansea are 10 points clear, with tow other teams between them, they are safe, and will be more so with only 4 games to go.

i'll give you MU, Saints Wham and Sunderland.

Win their game in hand and Chelsea are only 6pts off Europe

[Greatwesternline]

Mid table team?

Southampton - Going for Europe
Sunderland - Tying to avoid relegation
West Ham - Going for Europe
Swansea - Tying to avoid relegation
Man Utd - Going for Europe
Everton - Give you that
Chelsea - By this stage they could well be going for Europe too

Everton and Chelsea will be mid table by the time they play them, they will not be in the running with 1-2 games to go.
Swansea are 10 points clear, with tow other teams between them, they are safe, and will be more so with only 4 games to go.

i'll give you MU, Saints Wham and Sunderland.

Win their game in hand and Chelsea are only 6pts off Europe

Same but even more so goes for Liverpool, the point is to get into Europe Chelsea have to perform very well, and be better than Liverpool, and Stoke, and Southampton. Its hard to catch 4 and pass 4 teams at the same time.

Its possible any of the FA cup winners may qualify outside of europe, which would mean only 2 league places in the UEFA as well.

[From Despair To Where?]

There must be a magic number here, my guess is 5 wins from the 7 games to be absolutely sure, and that's only going to go down.

17, I reckon. 21 to play for and 5 points ahead.

What I will say though is that for once, I'm actually taking an interest in the title race.

[Clyde1998]

There must be a magic number here, my guess is 5 wins from the 7 games to be absolutely sure, and that's only going to go down.

They need seventeen more points to guarantee the title (based on Tottenham winning every game) - although it will likely be less that they actually need.

Looking at the run-ins for both:

Leicester:
Southampton (H)
Sunderland (A)
West Ham (H)
Swansea (H)
Man Utd (A)
Everton (H)
Chelsea (A)

Tottenham:
Liverpool (A)
Man Utd (H)
Stoke (A)
West Brom (H)
Chelsea (A)
Southampton (H)
Newcastle (A)

I'd say that there's not too much difference in the difficulty of the run-ins. I'm predicting that Leicester will win the title with two or three games to go.

[Sanguine]

That game at Anfield is (obviously) key for Spurs - they have an awful record there, I think its one win in 30 years.

[LUX]

come on Liverpool.
Always loved them.

[John Smith]

Leicester have to play mid table teams whose players may be inclined to give Leicester an easy ride, out of some sort of let the underdog have their day kind of vibe.

I honestly don't think players/managers allow things like that to happen. Remember when Bolton needed a win to survive at Stamford Bridge (early 00s I think) and every Chelsea fan was booing when they secured the win withn a second goal! Every team will go into their game with Leicester with the very least of the incentive of having beaten the Champions-elect. I think that alone is enough for pro footballers.

I don't think Spurs will win this weekend, meaning I think 4 more wins for the Foxes will do it.

[stealthpapes]

The one I'm thinking of is 1994. Everton to stay up.

[Hoop Blah]

It's small margins that can make the difference at that kind of level. You only have to see the Fergie effect at United to see that and the number of times sides seem to be not quite up for it getting spanked as a result.

I don't think teams will go out and not want to beat Leicester, but if they've not a lot to play for they might only be at 95% and protecting themselves for their next contract or the Euro's in the summer which could make all the difference.

[Sanguine]

The Euros is a decent point. If Chelsea have nothing to play for at that point, will we see any 'blood and thunder' from the likes of Costa, Hazard, Fabregas, Cahill?

[Brosef Stalin]

That game at Anfield is (obviously) key for Spurs - they have an awful record there, I think its one win in 30 years.

I'm willing to bet Leicester have terrible away records at most of those clubs (in the last 30 years)

[John Madejski's Wallet]

What a truly miss from Simpson after a brilliant move by Vardy. It looked like he actually tried to hit the keeper

Leicester hanging in there nicely against Saints so far. They do seem to be able to dig in and alter formations when other teams are on top, just feels like they are really tapering off as the pressure builds. Hopefully they can hold on

No way was that a pen/red card that Saints were claiming in the first half. His arms were by his side and he was running side on

[Ian Royal]

I believe the magic number for Leicester is now 12?

Win 4 of the last 6 games and it doesn't matter what anyone else does. Not bad.

[Franchise FC]

Tottenham have still to go to Chelsea and Arsenal to Man City

9 is probably enough for Leicester and I think 7 will do it

I can't believe how much of a Leicester fan I've become - just would make the most fantastic story - bottom to champions in 18 months

[paultheroyal]

Simpson, never a penalty. Koemann making himself a right dick over that.

However pleased that schemichel agrees with me that ANY handball in the box should result in a penalty. Job done and take away the doubt.

As for Leicester. Amazing.

[Brosef Stalin]

Simpson, never a penalty. Koemann making himself a right dick over that.

However pleased that schemichel agrees with me that ANY handball in the box should result in a penalty. Job done and take away the doubt.

As for Leicester. Amazing.

Schmeichel is also a tw@t!

hth