HankMarvin Posted 6 February 2016 Share Posted 6 February 2016 Claudio Ranieri's men are a breath of fresh air and it will now be a shock if they don't end up lifting the trophy come May, writes the Sunday Mirror's Andy Dunn When Robert Huth deftly headed humiliation Manchester City’s way, the visiting staff and substitutes rose as one. There were no high-fives, no air-punching. They just laughed. And laughed. Laughed that disbelieving laugh – the one with the eyes wide and jaw dropped. They just looked at each other and laughed. February in full swing and a comfort zone clear at the top of the Premier League table? We are having a laugh. In pictures - City 1-3 Leicester: An opposition dripping wealth and world-class talent destroyed, demoralised? We are having a laugh. More laughing later. Let’s get Manchester City out of the way. This is why Manuel Pellegrini, for all his old gentlemanly charm, will soon be the past. It was a startlingly poor performance from manager and players. It was as though the last time Pellegrini had seen Leicester was when they came here in March 2015, propping up 19 teams. With Yaya Toure meandering in a way only Yaya can, it was as though Pellegrini had not given a second thought to the possibility of Leicester counter-attacking. PAMan City V LeicesterPassenger: Yaya Toure disappointed for City against Leicester Mind you – for all Pellegrini’s protestations – being told you are toast, no matter what you might be toasting at the end of the season, cannot help. Pep Guardiola, though, must be thinking he has been sold the wrong City. The desperate, slapdash, Sunday League-sliding attempts to halt Riyad Mahrez before he rooted Joe Hart to the soaked turf were symptomatic of this embarrassing Manchester City effort. But their failings can wait. Because Leicester’s jolly romp is the feel-good story, grafting a grin on to the face of a competition that can take itself a little too seriously. It is hard not to wear Claudio Ranieri’s perma-smile. GettyMan City V LeicesterAll smiles: Ranieri has guided Leicester to the top of the table Hard not to smile at Huth and Wes Morgan somehow coping with Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and co when they look as though they should have nightclub doors to man later on. Hard not to smile at Kasper Schmeichel, loathing comparisons with his dad, but inviting them with each commanding job. Hard not to smile at the industry of Danny Drinkwater and Marc Albrighton, not so much unsung as unspoken, unwhispered. Hard not to smile at the pipe-cleaner frame of Mahrez, twisting opposition blood. Hard not to smile at Jamie Vardy annoying defences like a dart annoys a board. Relentless and sharp. Plumb ImagesTop scorer: Jamie Vardy has netted more top flight goals this season than anyone else Hard not to smile at the stats. After 25 games of last season, Leicester were five points adrift of 17th position. Today, they stand five points clear at the summit. They have lost just three times – to Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool – in their last 34 Premier League fixtures. Hard not to smile at the bookmakers, finally forced into putting Leicester’s name at the top of their boards. Maybe that is what will change. Pressure. They will still deflect, Claudio will still call it a dream, but a fact as plain and emphatic as a Huth finish or a Morgan tackle is that Leicester now SHOULD win this title. The workload is light – 13 matches in 14 weeks – and the squad is deeper than most believe. GettyMan City V LeicesterFavourites: Leicester should go on and win the title It should be a shock if they DON’T win it. From defying footballing logic, they are now the logical choice. Deep down, Ranieri must know it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ttfn Posted 6 February 2016 Share Posted 6 February 2016 "I told you so" if we win the league in May. "I told you so" if we don't. Easy being a journalist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScouseFox Posted 6 February 2016 Share Posted 6 February 2016 "I told you so" if we win the league in May. "I told you so" if we don't. Easy being a journalist. yeah some of us put our neck on the line and made this prediction like a year ago and still arent getting enough credit imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bss9401 Posted 6 February 2016 Share Posted 6 February 2016 So many presenters and so called journalists are practically spitting the well earned praise out for Leicester City because they called us at the beginning of the season and are having to admit that they are so, so wrong. Many have even left it this late, hiding behind patronising praise because they were so sure that we would fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFox Posted 6 February 2016 Share Posted 6 February 2016 yeah some of us put our neck on the line and made this prediction like a year ago and still arent getting enough credit imo I think Sean from Enderby is the only person who made this prediction a year ago, but yeah, he doesn't get enough credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ttfn Posted 6 February 2016 Share Posted 6 February 2016 I think Sean from Enderby is the only person who made this prediction a year ago, but yeah, he doesn't get enough credit. And @@ScouseFox. Wonder what @@Fox makes of all of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScouseFox Posted 6 February 2016 Share Posted 6 February 2016 i hope @@Fox has cheered up a bit since sept' 06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col city fan Posted 7 February 2016 Share Posted 7 February 2016 yeah some of us put our neck on the line and made this prediction like a year ago and still arent getting enough credit imo You love a flutter Scouser, did you bet on us to win the league? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Hankey Posted 7 February 2016 Share Posted 7 February 2016 It is becoming a one horse race. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScouseFox Posted 7 February 2016 Share Posted 7 February 2016 You love a flutter Scouser, did you bet on us to win the league? unfortunately not! i backed us in the handicap league @ 18/1 so that's already in unless we pick up literally no points for the rest of the season. i backed us to win in quite a few of our early games but now i've got the jitters and can't help but think the next time i go in on us is the "jinx" and ruins our whole season . i would be quite happy to make zero financial gain in return for us winning the league though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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