HankMarvin Posted 5 February 2016 Posted 5 February 2016 Howard Wilkinson - Leeds manager (1992) - YES “Yes they can win it. The big plus factors are their tremendous work ethic, they’re well organised and the team means everything to them. I don’t see anybody with an attitude problem. “Like our lot back in ‘92 they’ll roll up their sleeves and work for each other. We always used to say we might get played off the park but we won’t get outworked or outfought. With those principles in place we’d take our chances. “I see the same qualities in Leicester now. It’s not a bad thing in a football team if you’re seen as working class. They’re a team of working class heroes. “History shows us that in nine of the last ten seasons the team top at this point of the season went on to win the title. And mentally it’s great for Leicester that I don’t think anybody will criticise them if they miss the title by one point. “Nobody will say they’ve let it slip. They’re not under the same pressure to deliver as Manchester City, Arsenal or even Tottenham. “I think Manchester City’s announcement that Manuel Pellegrini is leaving actually boosts Leicester’s chances of success. “I’ve heard City players saying ‘we’re pros and we’ll get on with it’. But I think that scenario can be a distraction for them. We’ll see over the next few weeks but I don’t think it’s a positive factor. In the long run I don’t think it will help them.” John Lukic - Arsenal (1989) and Leeds (1992) - YES “Yes. They need to keep Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez fit and hope the likes of Wes Morgan keep producing the best football of his life. “Like Leeds in ‘92 the sum total of the team is much bigger than the individual parts and everyone keeps saying they won’t win the title because they’re Leicester. “Back in ‘92 it was supposed to be Manchester United’s title. Leeds were making up the numbers and even going into the last fortnight of the season people wrote about United’s 25 year wait for the title being abut to end. “We just kept plugging away and left the pressure on United until suddenly, out of the blue, we were champs. “If Leicester keep getting great results against their top team rivals - like Manchester City on Saturday - they can win it. “There’s no pressure on Leicester to win anything. All the pressure is on their rivals including Tottenham now.” George Graham – Arsenal player (1971) and manager (1989, 1991) - YES “Of course they can win the title. What they have to do is keep their key players fit. That will be vital. But what will help them is that they have no distractions in cup competitions. And this is one very unpredictable season. “The other teams at the top all have commitments in European and domestic competitions. Tottenham, especially, are in the Europa League and teams in that cup seem to suffer in the league games that follow. “Leicester do not have that problem. Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham all have more quality in their squads to handle their commitments. “Personally, I take Arsenal to win the league. They always seem to come good in the last three months of the season and I believe they have a great chance to become champions because they have important players to come back.” Tony Gale - Blackburn Rovers (1995) - NO “Yes they can - but no they won’t! “I don’t think they’re as good as Blackburn, and we went close the season before we won it. Blackburn finished second and that was great experience. “Leicester haven’t had any experience of a vital run-in. It’s a good thing in that they may show no fear. But believe me, the nerves will grip you. “It took Manchester United a few times before they did it. In fact, all of the clubs that have had a go beforehand.” Jason Wilcox - Blackburn Rovers (1995) - NO “As the Manchester City Under 18 coach I’m biased. I think City will win the title because of the squad and manager we have. “But I have to say Leicester have been a revelation this season. They’ve shown what can be achieved through hard work and spirit. And manager Claudio Ranieri has been really dignified in the way he’s handled the team. “The Leicester players have a real hunger. They play for each other. And the way they’ve performed this season should be an inspiration to clubs who are usually written off.” Tim Sherwood - Blackburn Rovers (1995) - YES “There’s an uncanny similarity to the way Leicester play and the way we played. We had wide men in Stuart Ripley and Jason Wilcox - they have Marc Albrighton and Riyad Mahrez. We had Alan Shearer scoring for fun, they have Jamie Vardy. " They have an excellent goalkeeper in Kasper Schmeichel and we had one in Tim Flowers. “A major difference is that in the previous two seasons we were edging near winning it while this time last year, Leicester were bottom. But they have an experienced manager and they will never - and I mean NEVER - have a better chance of winning the title. What they need is belief they can do it. “And unlike in our time, they don’t have to put up with Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games! “When we won it was the greatest feeling because we felt Manchester United were looking down their noses at us. We were the underdogs - and so are Leicester.” John Aldridge - Liverpool (1988) - NO “I’d love them to do it. I think every neutral in the land would love them to, but I doubt it. I just think everything will catch up with them and they’ve been very fortunate with injuries and suspensions. “They’ve never been in this position before and if you look at their main rivals, Man City and Arsenal, they have. “They know what it takes and they have won titles before, even if Arsenal’s last was over 10 years ago. “It would be a fantastic story if Leicester could do it and I definitely think they can make the top four.” Kevin Ratcliffe - Everton (1985, 1987) - NO “They’ve got a great chance. “They’re playing with great enjoyment and you can see they are loving it. They have some players many people didn’t know that much about before this season and they are relishing being underdogs. “There’s a great freedom about the way they are playing and Jamie Vardy and Mahrez are on fire. “The key for them is to continue like that and the problems will come if they start believing all the hype and stop working as hard.” Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988) - NO “No, they won’t win it. The reason being is that at the moment they are playing with great freedom. “They’ve only lost two games all season, which is fantastic, but that can’t continue. “The greatest problem I always felt is when you’re in front, it’s a completely different feeling. You’re being chased rather than chasing. "You only need one or two players to look over their shoulders and you just start to lose focus. “Teams near the bottom coming to Leicester will chuck everyone behind the ball and then it becomes difficult for them because Vardy has no space to run into and Mahrez has men around him.” Getty Sol Campbell - Arsenal (2002, 2004) - YES “Leicester’s momentum shows no sign of slowing and everybody now has to consider them genuine title contenders. It’s a beautiful thing that hungry players, working hard together can achieve such a success. They deserve to be where they are, it’s great to see and I think they can maintain it. “If Leicester come away from the Etihad tomorrow with all three points then I’d go as far as saying it’s Leicester’s title to lose,” he told Sportlobster. Ray Parlour - Arsenal (1998, 2002, 2004) - NO “With Jamie Vardy and the way Leicester are playing, they can make a real statement in the next two games at Manchester City and Arsenal. “There’s a long way to go, Arsenal have got some really tough games but they can turn it on and City’s Sergio Aguero is top class. “You can’t call who will win the title yet and it could go to the wire. Leicester can definitely do it, but I still think Arsenal can do it. But Arsenal definitely need to win this weekend.”
RobHawk Posted 5 February 2016 Posted 5 February 2016 Very fortunate with injuries and suspensions, never been in this position before, it's all going to catch up with them - it's the same old lines for those that don't believe. I can appreciate its still seems unlikely but to flat out say no they won't do it and give one of the reasons is above is both lazy and misguided. Realistically though, the more they say it the better as it keeps the pressure off. Surely the fact that Lawro thinks we won't win the title means it's signed sealed and delivered!
HankMarvin Posted 5 February 2016 Author Posted 5 February 2016 People seem to forget about the 10 last games of the last season
RobHawk Posted 5 February 2016 Posted 5 February 2016 People seem to forget about the 10 last games of the last seasonAnd the fact that most our squad won the championship 2 years ago, so have experience of the pressure during a run in.And the fact there's a good reason why we have had so few injuries and suspensions, we aren't a dirty team and we clearly have the best sports science team and facilities in the league. Couple that with good scouting so we don't buy sick notes in the first place and we are onto a winner!
Kitchandro Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 “No, they won’t win it. The reason being is that at the moment they are playing with great freedom. “They’ve only lost two games all season, which is fantastic, but that can’t continue." This is vintage Lawro. Almost a parody of himself!
Freesolo Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 This is vintage Lawro. Almost a parody of himself! no logical reason why we cant carry on just a feeling
J.Lisemore Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 Mark Lawrenson - Liverpool (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988) - NO “No, they won’t win it. The reason being is that at the moment they are playing with great freedom. “They’ve only lost two games all season, which is fantastic, but that can’t continue. “The greatest problem I always felt is when you’re in front, it’s a completely different feeling. You’re being chased rather than chasing. "You only need one or two players to look over their shoulders and you just start to lose focus. “Teams near the bottom coming to Leicester will chuck everyone behind the ball and then it becomes difficult for them because Vardy has no space to run into and Mahrez has men around him.” What an absolute fvcking plank this man is.
Raw Dykes Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 “Leicester haven’t had any experience of a vital run-in. It’s a good thing in that they may show no fear. But believe me, the nerves will grip you." - Tony Gale Yeah, I'm sure the Leicester players will be very nervous about being involved in a title race that no-one on Earth expected them to be anywhere near. After all, last year, they had a very boring, easy stroll-in-the-park end to the season with no pressure, and the season before also had a very dull snore-fest run-in with nothing at stake. Jog on, dickhead. I can't picture us winning the league, but if we don't, the reason won't be nerves.
Will1981 Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 we have won it if Lawrenson says we cant win it.
Dan Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 I can't even be arsed with Lawrenson. The bloke's an absolute fraud.
FireFox Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 George Graham – Arsenal player (1971) and manager (1989, 1991) - YES “Of course they can win the title. What they have to do is keep their key players fit. That will be vital. But what will help them is that they have no distractions in cup competitions. And this is one very unpredictable season.... “Personally, I take Arsenal to win the league. They always seem to come good in the last three months of the season and I believe they have a great chance to become champions because they have important players to come back.” Tony Gale - Blackburn Rovers (1995) - NO “Yes they can - but no they won’t! George Graham should be down as a NO. He says we can but Arsenal will because "they always seem to come good in the last 3 months"
Freesolo Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 I remember Lawro and Hansen were the best of the best on BBC and MOTD in the 90s they are totally clueless when it comes to the modern game
Freesolo Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 Tony Gale - Blackburn Rovers (1995) - NO “Yes they can - but no they won’t! What does that even mean?
Raw Dykes Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 What does that even mean? Can and can't are different from will and won't. I can watch Loose Women. I won't watch Loose Women.
Freesolo Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 Can and can't are different from will and won't. Im confused mate we can win it but we won't, to me that is almost like he is taking the piss
FireFox Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 And the fact that most our squad won the championship 2 years ago, so have experience of the pressure during a run in. And the fact there's a good reason why we have had so few injuries and suspensions, we aren't a dirty team and we clearly have the best sports science team and facilities in the league. Couple that with good scouting so we don't buy sick notes in the first place and we are onto a winner! Our sports science staff, medical staff, and facilities are the true unsung heroes of the season. What does that even mean? Aston Villa (pretty sure this is true for them still) technically can win the league, but they won't.
Freesolo Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 Our sports science staff, medical staff, and facilities are the true unsung heroes of the season. Aston Villa (pretty sure this is true for them still) technically can win the league, but they won't. Gotcha we are in the position but we won't
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 "Arsenal know what it takes to win league titles, even if their's was ten years ago" ffs kill yersen la
smudger63 Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 What makes me smile, is how they put it all down to a great team spirit and hard work. Both of which we certainly do have in abundance, but they can`t actually bring themselves to say that actually, we are a quality team, with alot of quality players. Some of them mention Vardy and Mahrez, but name me a better midfield pair in the league at the moment than Drinkwater and Kante. Indeed there can`t be too many better centre back pairings than Huth and Morgan at the moment. Is there a better left back in the league than Fuchs? I`ve not seen him if there is. Danny Simpson is a revelation this season for me, and very much going under the radar, and Okasaki recently is really starting to come good, and pose more of a threat in the opponents penalty area, to go with all the hard work he does dropping back into the midfield to help out.. Kasper in goal, in fact you can go throughout our team and say it`s loaded with quality. Whether we have the strength in depth is debatable, i will give them that one, an injury or suspension in particular to Vardy or Kante, and i don`t think we have a replacement that is of their level, but we would have to cross that bridge if we had too. For the moment, the players we have consistently put out there, have proved themselves worthy of where we are in the league, not only through sheer hard work and team spirit, but also with a great deal of quality too.
sylofox Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 Our sports science staff, medical staff, and facilities are the true unsung heroes of the season. Aston Villa (pretty sure this is true for them still) technically can win the league, but they won't. Not possible at all for villa to win it they could only get 55pts if they won every game. And every team can't lose every game. They don't even stand a chance of staying up the way they are playing.
Gerard Posted 6 February 2016 Posted 6 February 2016 Anybody who says we can't win it is an utter moron. Of course we can win it, we probably won't but completely dismissing a team that's won 21 games, drew 9 and lost 2 from their last 32 league games is the actions of a fool.
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