Leicester v Norwich Pre-Match

Picture the scene at a cold, windswept, King Power stadium in February 2016. A team that have never won the top division title are striving to stay ahead of the chasing pack after losing only their 3rd game of the season, to a 95th minute winner, in the last game. The pressure is on as the last time they were this close was in the 1920s. It might never happen again. That team is Leicester City and they’re playing at home to relegation threatened Norwich City.

Enter stage left a large, moderately talented, Argentinian footballer called Leonardo Ulloa. This wasn’t Vardy, Kante or Mahrez or one of the other players who had been making the headlines every week, but an £8m signing from Brighton. This was the last throw of the dice. This was do or die. If we couldn’t get the three points then surely the momentum would shift to North London with Spurs and Arsenal eagerly waiting the result.

Then with a minute to go Albrighton crosses the ball hopefully, its path is deflected past the Norwich City goalkeeper by Jamie Vardy. It’s missing the goal, but then like a knight in shining armour arrives Ulloa to smash the ball home. It’s the 89th minute of a game where both sides have created very little. There is little time to come back. The crowd roar with relief as another game is ticked off on the way to arguably one the greatest achievement in the history of sport.

Ok, now let’s role the clock forward. I’m not sure many would have expected to be in this situation again just under 4 years later. We’re not top and we’re eight points behind the runaway leaders, but we are on an 8 game winning run (that’s eight!!!) in the Premier League and Jamie Vardy has scored in eight consecutive matches. After the ridiculous form of Manchester City and Liverpool in 2018/19 this shouldn’t be happening. We shouldn’t be 2nd and currently the closest challengers to Liverpool for the Premier League title – but we are?

As I’ve said before I’m determined to just enjoy the ride this time. There is not as much pressure as 2016 because we have won the Premier League. I’m looking forward to seeing where this team can take us and I am enjoying the quality of the football. I can’t even speculate on the team selection this time around after the curve ball in the Aston Villa game. Do we play a diamond? Do we go back to 4-1-4-1? 3 at the back? No doubt on Saturday Brendan will have the answers. Could it be 9/9? I really don’t know as I still can’t forget the days when we couldn’t win 2 in a row in the Championship.

Bring on the next game.