OPINION: Current Leicester City team superior to 2015/16 champions

In the 2015/16 Leicester City “Incredibles” unbelievably won the Premier League title. But that team, brilliant as it was, is possibly inferior to the current Foxes XI.

Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City of 2015/16 were a beautiful anomaly: a band of, politely, misfits from top-flight football; mixed with veterans in the twilight of their careers; along with cheap yet promising talent. Oh, and they managed to inexplicably finish first, lifting the Premier League trophy.

Having said that, this writer believes that the current side is better than the champions XI – slightly. In fact the overall roster now is much stronger with plenty of strength in depth. Although the former group may have gelled more; while the exemplary camaraderie carried over.

Remember, this is article is just for fun before anyone gets too invested and annoyed; you’re more than welcome to disagree, debate and join the discussion on FoL’s verified Twitter account.

Player-to-player comparisons

Here’s the eventual starting XI which Ranieri employed for the Foxes as the title-winning season developed: Kasper Schmeichel; Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan (c), Robert Huth, Christian Fuchs; Riyad Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater, N’golo Kante, Marc Albrighton; Shinji Okazaki; Jamie Vardy.

Now, the only players I see as superior from that bunch are, firstly, Mahrez: when you compare all wingers at the club at this time with the Manchester City forward. And, of course, Chelsea’s alien in the centre, Kante. In FoL’s opinion the world’s preeminent defensive-minded midfielder of all time. But Vardy and Schmeichel are still performing at a very high level with Leicester – see the current team members at lcfc.com.

To explain the point further, think James Maddison’s talents in a similar placed role, a No.10, against Okazaki: there is no resemblance in class or ability. That is absolutely not meant as a criticism to the Japanese striker; a beloved man for the City who played a role superbly for the side, it’s just realistic analysis. Or Youri Tielemans versus Drinkwater – come on, eh? Only one winner there!

Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans again are classier operators than Morgan and Huth. A legendary duo, yes – but a pair whom both hoofed when under pressure and the less said about Morgan actually on the ball the better. The game has refined and moved on, we’re afraid. Those players are, however, still immortalized.

Brutish bastions of football, or defenders, are now more cultured – advanced passing out and roaming whilst being very comfortable in possession. Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell make Danny Simpson and Ritchie De Laet look extinct! Sorry.

Overall Leicester City squad depth

At the moment the depth is certainly better: one can pinpoint peripheral players like Dennis Praet, James Justin, Kelechi Iheanacho and Demarai Gray as examples of the heightened proficiency. They, as well as £30m man Ayoze Perez, can’t even get in the starting line-up every match.

Neither can stalwarts, albeit ageing ones, such as: Albrighton himself, Fuchs and the captain, Morgan. Investment was an issue  as Leicester City wasted millions on mediocre players in recent transfer windows. When similarly skilled youngsters could have been developed in the academy.

However recruitment seems way more savvy now, bolstering what may have before seemed a speculative suggestion that the modern East Midland outfit surpass their predecessors as a collective.

A better manager?

While Ranieri had to just direct his side, not tinker too much and man manage deftly – easier said than done – Brendan Rodgers has an acutely difficult job during an evolutionary – not revolutionary – period. Furthermore the Italian appeared out of his depth in the difficult second season.

To be absolutely honest, it’s a very close call; not to mention comparing the two teams being purely academical. Though this assessment is subjective, Foxes of Leicester cannot be objective about an actual evaluation until the contemporary XI have a season under their belts together.

Additionally, it is very unlikely Rodgers’ outfit can win the division this campaign. Liverpool and Manchester City are heavily improved from three of four years ago. The competition in the English top-flight has increased with squads including a plethora of talented quality. European success and an FA Cup win for Leicester in the near future – why not?!