Is Leicester the biggest success story ever? (With Poll)

[Beefymcfc]

It will be this year but if the Rags were involved?

[Dunnylad]

Was it Forest where Cloughie gave them a little nip beforehand to calm the nerves? Presumably not on the WADA list so that's fine

[phips]

Leicester's march to a remarkable Premier League title win goes on - but have Claudio Ranieri's side been fortunate in recent weeks with refereeing decisions?

Wes Morgan, Danny Simpson and Robert Huth (twice) have had the ball strike their arm in the Leicester penalty box in the past two months, without a spot-kick being awarded against them.

At the other end, the Foxes have been awarded 10 penalties - the most in the Premier League and four more than any other side.

In fact, Jamie Vardy alone (six) has been awarded more penalties than 18 Premier League teams.

Former top-flight referee Dermot Gallagher analyses the weekend's key decisions on Sky Sports News HQ every Monday morning.

Here, he takes a closer look at some recent big calls in Leicester's Premier League fixtures and delivers his verdict on whether they've had the rub of the green…

MATCH: Sunderland 0-2 Leicester, April 10

INCIDENT 1: Marc Albrighton plays a diagonal ball over the Sunderland defence which Shinji Okazaki races on to. As the ball sails over the defence, DeAndre Yedlin attempts to clear but misses the ball and catches Okazaki in the chest. Referee Anthony Taylor decides not to award Leicester a penalty.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Incorrect decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "I think it's a foul and a penalty. I don't think the referee realises what has happened. Yedlin had caught Okazaki in the chest and he is not near the ball. Anthony doesn't see it like that, but the penalty should have been given."


INCIDENT 2: Sunderland's Patrick van Aanholt fires in a low cross which strikes Leicester defender Robert Huth on the arm as he slides in to make a challenge. The referee decides not to point to the spot.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "The cross strikes Huth's hand not the other way around, so it's definitely not a penalty. Huth can't cut his arm off, it's there and he was just going to ground. His arms have to go somewhere and that is what you would call a natural position."

MATCH: Leicester 1-0 Southampton, April 3

INCIDENT 1: Southampton's Sadio Mane is clean through on goal, rounds goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, but has a goal-bound shot blocked by Leicester's Danny Simpson. Handball was not given.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "It has to be intentional, and not be committed. It would've hit his chest. But I think the rule has got to be more prescriptive, it has got to be, 'This is handball' or 'This isn't handball'."


INCIDENT 2: Southampton's Charlie Austin plays a low cross in the area which strikes Huth on the arm, but the referee gives Southampton a corner rather than a spot-kick.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "The ball has come from a short distance and it has come at speed, there's no doubt about that. Can he get his hand out the way? I'm not convinced he can."


INCIDENT 3: Wes Morgan rises above Jordy Clasie to head in Christian Fuchs' cross to score, but the Leicester captain appeared to put his arm across the Dutchman while contending for the ball.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "Michael Oliver has a great view of it. He can see what force he puts into it. I don't think it's a foul."


INCIDENT 4: Very early on in the second half, Victor Wanyama miscontrols the ball, Jamie Vardy pounces on it and is dragged back with what appeared to be an arm across the face. A yellow card is given, but should it have been a red?

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "He's on his shoulder to start with. It's a pull-back and Michael has got that right. He's very clever to realise the first touch is to take the ball away and not panicking and giving a red card."

MATCH: Crystal Palace 0-1 Leicester, March 19

INCIDENT: A Leicester corner is taken and Scott Dann pulls Robert Huth's shirt off in the penalty box. The referee gives nothing.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "The referee is too distant from the incident. He has so much to watch, he's looking through so many players he can't see that."

MATCH: Leicester 2-2 West Brom, March 1

INCIDENT: With Leicester 1-0 down, Danny Drinkwater scores an equaliser but West Brom's Stephane Sessegnon is booked after the goal for his reaction to a challenge by Foxes full-back Christian Fuchs in the build-up.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Foul: Incorrect decision. Reaction: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "My first reaction when I saw it was no foul [by Fuchs]. When you see it again from a different angle, it's definitely a foul. It's a yellow card at least, bordering on a red card. He's [Sessegnon] berated the official too much. Mark Clattenburg has backed the assistant, and the assistant thinks it wasn't a foul."

MATCH: Leicester 1-0 Norwich, February 27

INCIDENT: With this Premier League encounter finely poised, Cameron Jerome curls an effort at goal. The ball appears to hit Wes Morgan on the arm in the penalty area. Nothing is given.

GALLAGHER'S VERDICT: Correct decision.

GALLAGHER SAYS: "It can't be given. It is not deliberate, he's turned away and it has hit him."

[Nigels Tackle]

i still think this could happen.....

Watch on youtube.com

sadly, that's spuds coming up behind to take the league

[dave watson's perm]

To be honest I hope Spurs do it. I am sick to fcking death of the Leicester fairytale

[DoomMerchant]

To be honest I hope Spurs do it. I am sick to fcking death of the Leicester fairytale

i agree. as much as i hate spurs they play the fucking football with some goddamm fucking talent.

This Leicester team makes me want to cry with their pens and bollox and crap. Sure sure sure...they've earned it, etc....but fuck off Leicester. The fairytale is over and i personally can't wait until they get relegated in the next 2-3 seasons. Mind you if i was a Foxes fan i wouldn't give two fucks after winning the league. Fuck the world....lick my balls, etc...

anyway, cheers

[london blue 2]

Spuds will quickly become unbearable if they do it. Leicester all day. At least smaller clubs can dream

[DoomMerchant]

Spuds will quickly become unbearable if they do it. Leicester all day. At least smaller clubs can dream

I sort of agree with that. But i really hate watching this Leicester side. Hate it. The fact that we weren't better than *that* is unconscionable.

Khaldoon should be beheading cunts at HT from the back of a Toyota pickup if you ask me.

Cheers

[Wonderwall]

I want Leicester all day long. I want spurs to win nothing EVER. They will be twats next season and unbearable if they win it. I will applaud Leicester singing champions of England at the etihad. I will feel sick if it's spurs.

[JamieMCFC]

To be honest I hope Spurs do it. I am sick to fcking death of the Leicester fairytale

i agree. as much as i hate spurs they play the fucking football with some goddamm fucking talent.

This Leicester team makes me want to cry with their pens and bollox and crap. Sure sure sure...they've earned it, etc....but fuck off Leicester. The fairytale is over and i personally can't wait until they get relegated in the next 2-3 seasons. Mind you if i was a Foxes fan i wouldn't give two fucks after winning the league. Fuck the world....lick my balls, etc...

anyway, cheers

I want Leicester to win it. The Spuds have the largest supporters group here in Minneapolis. Those fuckers will be unbearable if they win it.

[Hazy2]

1981 Hated Spurs, Still do. Manager of the year,plus the two best players in the league this season. AMAZING.

[Cocacolajojo]

Want Leicester to win it if we can't. I've always like underdogs and it's part of the reason why I started supporting City. Tottenham are not underdogs.

[nottsblue]

In a choice between Leicester and spuds, then Leicester smash it. Hate spuds, always have done always will. The wanking over them would be unbearable. As Doom says, they will be relegated within a few years. Let them have their day

[sheblue]

Fucking hoof ball team who will be relegated in a season or two.

[Cocacolajojo]

In a choice between Leicester and spuds, then Leicester smash it. Hate spuds, always have done always will. The wanking over them would be unbearable. As Doom says, they will be relegated within a few years. Let them have their day

I find this opinion weird. They can win it because they don't belong in the top anyway? Isn't that a bit condescending and the type of treatment we would have hated to get if say, Hughes would've won it in his first season with us? I'm asking because you seem like a level headed blue NB and perhaps I'm missing something?

[sidSmith]

Poll needs changing. Biggest success story ever? Dippers winning Europa League 2016.

[Mike J]

Them getting in to the semi finals appears to be the biggest achievement in football history

[MUS]

I don't buy into the Leicester fairytale.

I've noticed that teams haven't really been testing Leicester especially over the past couple of months.

I've watched a few of their games and have never been impressed.

The most annoying thing about it is as soon as they score a goal it's like the other team accept their fate and stop playing altogether.
This for me calls into question the credibility of their results as I genuinely believe the majority of the other teams in the league want them to win it and only put in 90%.

I'd much prefer Tottenham to win it. They play wonderful football and are a far better representation of English football.

[nottsblue]

In a choice between Leicester and spuds, then Leicester smash it. Hate spuds, always have done always will. The wanking over them would be unbearable. As Doom says, they will be relegated within a few years. Let them have their day

I find this opinion weird. They can win it because they don't belong in the top anyway? Isn't that a bit condescending and the type of treatment we would have hated to get if say, Hughes would've won it in his first season with us? I'm asking because you seem like a level headed blue NB and perhaps I'm missing something?

I want Leicester to win it primarily because I hate spuds. They then get my vote my default. I happen to think they will struggle in a couple of years once their best players are either, that bit older(Vardy is 29 now) or are sold ( think Vardy, Mahrez Kante or either of the centre backs Drinkwater)or maybe this season has been a perfect storm of form and they struggle to replicate it. Last season until ten games to go they were woeful. I doubt they will be lower than 7/8th next season but the season or two after that is when I think they will falter.

Of course, as PL champions and the TV deal they will have plenty of money to buy replacements or indeed reinforcements. That is not easy as plenty of clubs, ourselves included, will testify. Blackburn in 1995 had more money than most under Walker, yet were relegated within four or five years. Leeds, though they didn't win the title in the O'Leary era, were up there for a few years and reached a CL semi, yet were relegated a few years later. Going back in history, both the rags and Villa were relegated within six years of winning the league, then the European cup. Newcastle under Bobby Robson were top four for a few years and got to a couple of cup finals yet were relegated not long after. If you had said City would be relegated in 1983 at the turn of the year in 1982 when we were top of the league you would've been certified insane.

There are plenty of teams I would sooner see relegated than Leicester, but I just happen to think their bubble will burst relatively soon and in hugely spectacular style. Thanks for the compliment about being level headed though!

[Sister of fu]

In a choice between Leicester and spuds, then Leicester smash it. Hate spuds, always have done always will. The wanking over them would be unbearable. As Doom says, they will be relegated within a few years. Let them have their day

I find this opinion weird. They can win it because they don't belong in the top anyway? Isn't that a bit condescending and the type of treatment we would have hated to get if say, Hughes would've won it in his first season with us? I'm asking because you seem like a level headed blue NB and perhaps I'm missing something?

I want Leicester to win it primarily because I hate spuds. They then get my vote my default. I happen to think they will struggle in a couple of years once their best players are either, that bit older(Vardy is 29 now) or are sold ( think Vardy, Mahrez Kante or either of the centre backs Drinkwater)or maybe this season has been a perfect storm of form and they struggle to replicate it. Last season until ten games to go they were woeful. I doubt they will be lower than 7/8th next season but the season or two after that is when I think they will falter.

Of course, as PL champions and the TV deal they will have plenty of money to buy replacements or indeed reinforcements. That is not easy as plenty of clubs, ourselves included, will testify. Blackburn in 1995 had more money than most under Walker, yet were relegated within four or five years. Leeds, though they didn't win the title in the O'Leary era, were up there for a few years and reached a CL semi, yet were relegated a few years later. Going back in history, both the rags and Villa were relegated within six years of winning the league, then the European cup. Newcastle under Bobby Robson were top four for a few years and got to a couple of cup finals yet were relegated not long after. If you had said City would be relegated in 1983 at the turn of the year in 1982 when we were top of the league you would've been certified insane.

There are plenty of teams I would sooner see relegated than Leicester, but I just happen to think their bubble will burst relatively soon and in hugely spectacular style. Thanks for the compliment about being level headed though!

I'm sticking £10 on them getting relegated next season. They will have the pressure of being champions and everyone wanting to beat them. I think the big boys including ourselves will have also been burnt and probably feel slight embarrassed by little Leicester and will want revenge. I think next season will be very very hard for them.