When Leicester legend Jamie Vardy left for Italy, it was felt by many the end of an era, one where the Foxes were heavily reliant on their talismanic striker to put in a shift and rally the team to win games. Yet, in his exit, I do not think anyone could have expected the utter collapse of the team, the mentality being in the bin, and regardless of who is put in charge, a team that cannot deliver consistently.
That was what the No.9 brought to the East Midlands: tenacity, confidence, and unbridled passion to perform. That mentality was infectious, and crucially, it helped the Foxes push forward when last in the EFL Championship to a stomping crowning and promotion campaign. Without that, a crushing fragility and lethargy has entered the aura of Leicester City. Gary Rowett will struggle now to overcome this.
Why Jamie Vardy could return to Leicester City
Despite the Englishman departing the King Power Club, the legend continues to watch and remain engaged in the airwaves, while not directly commenting on the state of the club, we know the player must have considerations on what is happening at Leicester. At the bare minimum, we know Vardy would never 'abandon' the Foxes after 13 rollercoaster years with the side.
"Leicester will always have a massive place in my heart and I'll make sure that I'll be following for years to come in what I hope will be even more success for the club. But as for now, this is my goodbye but you will see me again, I promise"Jamie Vardy
After exiting the side, Jamie Vardy specifically said we would see him again. Now, this is highly unlikely to be in a managerial capacity at the team, although perhaps as some ambassador or coach, we could see that. Rebekah Vardy ostensibly joked that the talisman would never consider joining Leicester City again while Jon Rudkin was at the club.
The 'leadership' of 'Rudkin et al' set a dangerous precedent in recent years, hurtling towards decline, points deductions, and nascent transfer windows. The King Power side had the potential of signing Ademola Lookman on the permanent, we not saved from PSR breaches when selling Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, gave eye-watering contracts to experienced but ineffecitve and unimpressive signings, and lost the trust of supporters with flipflopping between managers and failing to instill an identity back into the side.
"There’s just no clear direction as to where Leicester are going at the minute"Marc Albrighton
The question is where Rudkin and his new team are steering Leicester. As Marc Albrighton rightly comments, who really knows? It seems they are trying to steer a steamboat with wooden oars, while the deck is on fire and the crew are performing a mutiny. We are truly directionless and lack any semblance of recovery.
The East Midlands outfit either need a new boat (King Power sell LCFC), new captain and helmsman (Rudkin and the whole upper management), or a miracle to save them from this fate. For me, although Khun Top continues to resist, Jon Rudkin has to go at the end of this campaign, whether we are relegated or not. In the event of relegation, King Power has to sell up as well.
These changes could lead the door wide open for Jamie Vardy to make a startling short-term return to LE2, where the talisman could reignite the mentality we were meant to have, help reforge a new team built on the blossoming academy graduates, and perhaps save us. If in League One, I cannot help but wonder if Vardy could sit there and watch us in such dire straits; I fathom that the legend might consider a return with Rudkin fired for general and long-term incompetence, and the Foxes in a position which would massively benefit from both a feel-good story and a hero.
It remains near-impossible to envisage a return with the current chairman and upper management leading the team heavily astray, but a lot can change in relegation, a lot would have to change. The painful situation is not over, and possibly not finished punishing supporters, one day though, we will see Jamie Vardy again.