On Saturday, Aston Villa travel to the King Power Stadium after falling to fifteenth in the table following four consecutive defeats.
The Foxes will become Villa’s latest obstacle in the mission to end to a poor run of form and rescue some pride in the final chunk of the season.
Ahead of the game, we spoke to Leicester Fan George to gather their thoughts on Leicester’s season so far, the importance of James Maddison and their questionable defensive record.
UTV PODCAST X LCFCGEORGEE
Leicester currently sit ninth in the table, which may seem quite underwhelming considering their fifth place finish last season. However, there has still been positives in Leicester’s season in terms of European progression – what do you make of Leicesters season so far?
It’s been a very hit and miss season definitely, in terms of whether it’s been a good one depends on who you ask. With injuries taken into account etc, a top table finish and European semi final (at the very least) isn’t a bad thing, it’s just slightly disappointing that after the last few seasons it’s only the conference league that’s keeping our season alive.
lcfcgeorgee
Leicester have comfortably the worst defensive record in the top ten of the Premier League, is that something you are worried about? Can you see Rodgers fixing this with some newcomers in the summer?
Defence has been a massive issue this season, especially set pieces. It’s been a problem for a long time but has never been properly addressed. I’m sure it’s something we can sort out, they have to, and the return of Fofana and Evans will only help us even more.
lcfcgeorgee
James Maddison has been very impressive this season, bagging fourteen goals and nine assists in all competitions. How important is it that he stays at the King Power next season?
Anyone who’s watched Maddison this season can see how important he is to us. Anything can happen in football but I can only see him getting better. When he plays well, the whole team does too. Both footed, can score, can create, any team would miss that if he was to go.
lcfcgeorgee
Finally what’s your score prediction?
I’m going to go with a 2-1 Leicester win. It’ll be close, there will be players rested on our end with the Roma game coming up on Thursday, so although we won’t be full strength I still think we’ll just have enough. Maddison to score too!
lcfcgeorgee
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FORM GUIDE
PLAYER STATS
GOALS
- 10 Goals – Jamie Vardy (LEI)
- 8 Goals – James Maddison (LEI) & Ollie Watkins (AVL)
- 6 Goals – Ademola Lookman (LEI) & Jacob Ramsey (AVL)
OPPOSITION FOCUS | THE ULTIMATE RAGS TO RICHES STORY
When you think of career trajectory, it is hard to argue that anyone’s comes close to that of Jamie Vardy. The clinical finisher has broke records by utilising his pace and playing on the shoulder of defenders. Vardy is no stranger to Villa either, as he’s scored five times against them.
Vardy grew up in the Hillsborough area of Sheffield and spent some time in Sheffield Wednesday’s academy. He faced his first disappointment when he was released by the Owls aged sixteen. Refusing to let the setback to keep him down, Vardy joined Stocksbridge Park Steels, where he spent four years working his way through the reserve team before making his first team debut in 2007.
Whilst at Stocksbridge, the forward earned £30 a week – just a little bit less than the £140,000 he reportedly earning now. His performances at Stocksbridge were quickly creating noise and gathering attention from clubs in the EFL, with moves to Crewe Alexandra and Rotherham United falling through.
In the June of 2010 Vardy finally made his move to non-league Halifax Town for £15,000. During his first season he was Halifax’s top scorer, having scored 25 goals from 37 appearances, subsequently winning Players Player Of The Season in their title winning campaign. Vardy started the next season at Halifax before moving to Fleetwood Town, where he would remain for a year – scoring 31 times in 36 games. He secured Fleetwood the league and gained the Golden Boot while doing so.
On the 17th of May 2012, Jamie Vardy signed for then Championship side Leicester City. The transfer fee made headlines as Leicester paid Fleetwood one million pounds, which made him the most expensive non-league player. The strikers first season was lacklustre, and he faced criticisms for his poor run of form.
Yet he persevered, and the next season Vardy secured promotion to the Premier League as Champions of the Championship. Vardy’s 16 goals and overall contribution to the side made him the Players Player of The Season for the second time in his career.
Jamie Vardy’s first Premier League season almost ended in disaster as Leicester struggled to stay in the league. However, the next season would shock the whole footballing world. By the end of September 2014, Vardy had matched his goal tally for the previous season, having scored seven. Vardy was named the October Player of The month following his rich run of goal scoring form.
On the 21st of November, Vardy scored in his eleventh consecutive match, which broke a Premier League record. Surprisingly, this wasn’t the most impressive achievement of Vardy’s season. Leicester would go on to win the league, with Vardy finishing just one goal off the Golden Boot and being named the Barclays Premier League Player of the Season.
Since then, Vardy has gone on to captain Leicester and maintain consistent goal-scoring seasons, guiding his team into Europe on numerous occasions. Love him or hate him as an opposition fan, it is undeniable that Jamie Vardy’s story is an incredible one.
THE LAST FIVE
PLAYER STATS
ASSISTS
- 6 Assists – Harvey Barnes (LEI)
- 5 Assists – Kelechi Iheanacho (LEI)
- 5 Assists – Danny Ings (AVL)
PREMIER LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD
FAN PREDICTION
I see this as a must-win game. Villa need to start winning games and climbing up the table if they are to attract exciting talent in the summer. I’m going to go for a slightly optimistic prediction in the hope that Villa will play the way they did in the first half against Tottenham, and that our strikers have had some shooting practice. If that does happen, I’m going for a 3-1 win for Villa. If not, it could be a pretty hideous watch for Villa fans.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Andy Madley Assistants: Richard West, Mark Scholes Fourth Official: Martin Atkinson VAR: Peter Bankes Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis
LAST TIME AT THE KING POWER
The last time Villa travelled to the King Power, they were still reeling from their 7-2 hammering of Liverpool at Villa Park. It was Leicester who started the game the brighter of the two teams as Iheanacho fed a wide-open Castagne, whose shot from close distance was hit straight at Emi Martinez. Iheanacho continued to cause Villa problems as his long-distance shot forced a save out of Martinez.
Villa finally grew into the game as Grealish received the ball in the box and played it back for Trezeguet, who couldn’t quite force his shot on target. Grealish forced an opportunity from a corner as his cross landed on the head of Konsa, who couldn’t find the net. Youri Tielemans was the next to test Martinez as his long-range shot bobbled awkwardly in front of the keeper, who was quick to react.
Deep in the dying minutes of the game, McGinn showed a surge of energy as he ran with the ball at the Leicester defence before laying the ball off to loanee Ross Barkley. The Leicester defenders failed to press Barkley, leaving him with plenty of time to pick out the bottom corner with his long-range effort. Villa left the East Midland with all three points, making it four wins out of four to start the season.
ELLIS BURNETT | UTV PODCAST
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive ellisburnett – UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
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