Can Anyone Stop Leicester City?

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Leicester City were in the Premier League less than ten years ago. Could a return be on the cards?

The Foxes sit 13th in the Championship after a dire start to the season, but have improved since Sven Goran Eriksson replaced Paulo Sousa as manager in October.

Since then, Sven's side have piscked up 20 points from a possible 33, despite losses away to Swansea, Bristol City and Watford.

This weekend has showed what they are capable of.

1-0 down to Doncaster going into first half injury time at the Walkers Stadium, Paul Gallagher scores a penalty, his 5th goal of the season, and the Midlanders go on to win emphatically 5-1.

Paul Gallagher has been inconsistent since his move from Blackburn Rovers, but seems to be finding his feet under Eriksson.





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Interestingly, all of Gallagher's goals this season have come since Sousa's departure and the team have begun to turn around a disastrous opening two months.

One thing is for sure, something has happened over the last 18 months at a club which proceeded Leeds in going from the top flight to League One.

Despite their play-off appearance last term, they weren't successful in their attempt to reach the Premier League, even though on both occasions they have been promoted, the Foxes come through the hit-and-miss scheme.

It's hard to believe that it is just over ten years since Leicester recorded four consecutive top ten finishes in England's top tier and won the League Cup in both 1997 and 2000 under Martin O'Neill.

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Since then, fans have seen their side fall apart but now, it seems, they are getting their act together.

And with the new owners, the King Power Group, a consortium led by Vichai Rasksriaksorn, the club seems to have found a fresh gasp of air after Milan Mandaric, who has just taken over Sheffield Wednesday, seemed to send the club into a downwards spiral.

Regardless, the chairman managed to persuade former England boss Eriksson to take over the side; some contrast to Notts County last season.

It would be a huge success if he could return to the top flight and test his managerial skills against Manchester City, who he managed in 2007/08 and led to 9th place, especially given Leicester were bottom of the league when the side announced that the Swedish influence would be taking the reigns.

The real question is, can Leicester do it?

At the moment, I see no reason why not.

They might be 13 points away from table toppers QPR, but the London side's form is stuttering and Neil Warnock is starting to feel aggrieved. That is never a good sign.

Neil Warnock has been left a frustrated man. QPR have drawn 6 of their last 10 games and lost their unbeaten record at home to Watford last night.

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Then you look at the rest of the Championship. Perhaps Cardiff have a better squad and that 9 points may be insurmountable come May , but I see no reason that The Foxes could not push for second, or at least another play off chance.

One man who's influence is more important than ever is Darius Vassell, who has been a transformed figure since being re-united with his old boss.

I remember singing before the 2006 World Cup, Sven should pick Darius (in the theme of the Kaiser Chiefs 'I predict a riot'.) Maybe his talent spotting was better than we give him credit for.

Aside from that, there are plenty of goals in a team that features Roman Bednar and Matty Fryatt was well as Martyn Waghorn.

Matty Fryatt scored 13 goals for Leicester last season.




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The defence seems to be relatively solid too, especially with the acquittance of loanee Kyle Naughton from Tottenham. Clean sheets in half of their last 8 games proves they are doing something right.

The obvious promotion challengers like Burnley will be rivals for the play-offs or higher this season, but I believe Leicester City might well be the outsiders and it will be interesting to see how the side perform heading into the vital Christmas period.