This forthcoming Premier League season will be the first time since 2002, when their six season stay in the top flight came to an end, that Leicester have retained their place in the EPL. However, things were a massive struggle for the Midlands side as they looked certain to be relegated in their first season back in the Premier League since the 03/04 season until they turned things around from the start of April. Following an end of season tour issue that saw three players fired a wedge was driven between the board and manager, Nigel Pearson, that resulted in the former defender fired. How will the club manage without him during the 2015/16 season?
Last Season:
Leicester did not have the worst start upon their return to the EPL last season as they won two and drew one of their opening five matches, including coming from 3-1 down at home to Manchester United to win 5-3, but following this massive success things did not go well for Pearson and his side as they lost 11 and drew two of the following 13 games before winning the final match of 2014. Four points in the first two games of 2015 gave hope to the club, but six losses and two draws from eight after these left things looking ominous. However, Nigel Pearson and his squad turned things around at the death as they won seven and drew one of their final nine EPL matches to finish 14th, six points clear of the drop zone. How will they manage without Pearson for this season?
2015/16 EPL Preview:
With Pearson now gone, the man in charge of managing the Leicester team for the new season is Claudio Ranieri who is best known in England for managing Chelsea between 2000 and 2004. He has also managed Atlético Madrid and Valencia in Spain as well as Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan in Italy and brings 30 years of experience in managing sides to the King Power Stadium.
If the Italian can get the team playing like they were in the final two months of last season then a return to the top half of the Premier League could be a possibility, just as Martin O’Neill managed for four seasons, reaching three League Cup Finals and winning two, between 1996 and 2000. To maintain a consistent charge like this over the season though will require a boost in numbers and quality, but can even a massive name like Ranieri attract the quality needed to the Midlands?
Ins and Outs:
Claudio Ranieri – The 63 year old Rome born manager arrives at the King Power Stadium following time in France and Greece after spending between 2007 and 2012 in Italy. He guided Monaco back to Ligue 1 during the 2012/13 season before taking them to second in the French top flight the following season. He has since been sacked from the principality side and the Greek national team though. Can he gel the team like the outgoing manager to see Leicester compete at the top level this season?
Christian Fuchs – The Austrian left back is a big signing for Leicester as the 29 year old is an established player having been capped 66 times for his country. He arrived in the Midlands having played more than 130 times for Schalke in the German Bundesliga since signing in 2011. The experience and ability of Fuchs will be a massive boost to the Foxes for the coming season.
Robert Huth – 30 year old Germany defender Robert Huth joins Leicester on a three year contract for the start of the 2015/16 season after having a successful loan spell at the King Power Stadium at the end of last season as he helped the team stay in the Premier League. He is a veteran of Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Stoke City with more than 325 club appearances to his name and he has bagged 23 goals in his career. He has been capped 19 times by Germany, scoring twice, and his towering presence will give Leicester something different at the back and up front from set-pieces.
Shinji Okazaki – After four years in Germany with Stuttgart and Mainz the 29 year old third highest goalscorer for Japan (43 goals in 93 games) moves to the Premier League to test himself at the highest level. He was especially impressive at his last club with 29 goals in 70 games and this earned him a £7m move to the EPL, but will continue his stunning form and light up the league?
As well as manager Nigel Pearson on his way out of the club have also seen veteran midfielder Paul Gallagher and 23 year old attacking midfielder Anthony Knockaert depart for Preston North End and Standard Liege in Belgium respectively. On top of this striker Chris Wood has been allowed to leave for £3m following a bid from Championship side Leeds United.
Leicester EPL Preview Bets:
Online sportsbook Bet365.com believes that the 2015/16 EPL season will be another difficult one for the Foxes despite the big named players they’ve bolstered the squad with so far and, perhaps even as a result of, the change of manager. They make Leicester 3.75 to be relegated back to the Championship this season, making them the fifth favourites, and a massive 2001.00 to win the league.
With four other teams available at a lower price to be relegated in the Bet365 Sportsbook the bookmaker believes that Leicester will stay in the Premier League but that they’ll be stuck in the bottom half of the league table next May. They are available at odds of 1.18 to finish 11th – 20th and 1.29 to remain in the Premier League with the sportsbook giant.
Unfortunately, these markets are the ones that offer the best value on The Foxes for the 2015/16 season and while there are no available at massive prices we’re happy to have a large bet on Leicester to stay in the Premier League this coming season at odds of 1.29 to make a moderate profit in time for next summer’s European Championships.