A winter of discontent for Leicester City

It’s been a very harsh winter for Leicester City and their faithful. When the cold season began the Foxes were unstoppable, now they’re truly faltering.

Before the draw with Norwich City on December 14, 2019, Leicester City had won nine successive msomees in all competitions – including the 9-0 triumph away at Southampton. It was a glorious time, the Foxes were everywhere, once again ubiquitous.

Everyone was talking about a second place finish; being the superior side over Manchester City at the time; as well as the chatter of finally winning a domestic cup once more. It doesn’t get much better than that to be honest.

Brendan Rodgers did an almost impeccable job of transforming the East Midlanders into an outfit to be reckoned with. Title challengers? Possibly never again, but you never know.

However, over the last three months, Rodgers’ side has capitulated somewhat in the Premier League, along with crashing out of the Carabao Cup to Midlands rivals Aston Villa. What’s gone wrong?

Leicester City’s winter of discontent

Winter is from December 22 to March 20 in the current calendar. Mostly this period has been a complete disaster for Leicester. The winter of discontent for the Blue Army had its beginnings with a home draw to rock bottom Norwich City in the premiership, before entering wintertime proper.

Thankfully the King Power club managed to just about see off Everton for a place in the League Cup, following that top-flight upset. Though even the consequences of that meant amplified agony for City fans.

Wilfred Ndidi’s surgery and subsequently Jamie Vardy’s lack of fitness from niggling injuries hampered the team immensely. The scenario can be pinpointed when loss after loss piled up through the ensuing cold season.

In fact, Leicester lost five out of six division clashes; the reserve Foxes line-up supplied respite through a miraculous victory at then struggling West Ham United. Encouragingly for the supporters FA Cup Last 16 progression was achieved, whilst form in the league was still detrimental to Champions League hopes.

Worse displays

A now misfiring, overplaying Leicester City then drew with European qualification competitors Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers in fairly dire stalemates. With Rodgers ever optimistic afterwards. The recent 1-0 loss to Man City was only disheartening because of inexplicably moronic video assistant refereeing – VAR – decisions. Occasionally the Foxes’ play and style showed glimpses of returning to its explosive and systematic efficiency.

Although obviously there is still almost three weeks to go in that duration with some favourable fixtures upcoming, a chance to turn contemporary fortunes around. After defeat to whipping boys Norwich, how can the campaign deteriorate further?

As previously stated, Vardy and Ndidi are imperative to the current method. They must not be rushed back though, that could cause more injury and will never see them reach 100 per cent fitness. Certain other players also give the impression they effectively needed kick starting during this spell: we are hoping for some personnel changes in the cup clash with Birmingham. Ben Chilwell is one of them.