Search

Foxes and Spurs lead the race for EPL title

A TITANIC finish looms in the English Premier League this season.

Will it be Jamie Vardy’s Leicester City or Harry Kane’s Tottenham Hotspur?

Manchester City and Arsenal have very slim chances, making it extremely difficult to look beyond the Foxes and the Spurs.

With four rounds to go (as of April 22) until the conclusion of the 2015/2016 season, Leicester City has 73 points and lead Spurs (68) by five.

Arsenal led by German ace Mesut Ozil is third with 63 points.

Sergio Aguero’s Manchester City has 61.

Leicester City needs a maximum of eight points from their remaining games to claim a historic maiden title. It will surely be a close finish. The winner may be decided on the final day (May 18) and on goal difference as well.

England strikers and prolific goal scorers Kane and Vardy hold the key for their respective clubs. With 24 goals, 22-year-old Kane is the leading goal scorer in the Barclays Premier League. At 6′ 2″ tall, he has the height and skills for a deadly finisher. To put it simply, Kane is the most intelligent striker around.

Vardy, 29, has scored 22 goals but he’s of a totally different make-up when compared with the cunning Kane. Pocket-rocket Vardy is 5’10”. A menace-type striker, who is always full of energy and in the face of defenders. Vardy never steps back and he is super fast. His high work-rate is really commendable and he does make it look all so easy.

Heading for the home run, Kane and Spurs have the edge with Vardy set to miss Leicester’s next game and possibly more due suspension following his dismissal in the 2-2 draw against West Ham. The momentum is clearly with Tottenham now.

The Foxes’ final four matches are against Swansea (home), Red Devils Manchester United (away), Everton (home) and defending champion Chelsea (away). Tottenham is up against West Brom (home), Chelsea (away), Southampton (home) and Newcastle (away).

On paper, the title is Leicester City’s to lose. Leicester City is also the inspirational feel good story of the season.

The Foxes are a team that is hard to beat and play an exciting brand of unstructured, attacking football.

Leicester has played very well all season. They recorded crucial away wins against Manchester City 3-1, Tottenham 1-0 and Everton 3-2.

Algerian wide midfield star Riyad Mahrez and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been outstanding as well. So many clean sheets kept by Schmeichel, speak for itself. The Danish international is the son of former Manchester United stopper Peter Schmeichel.

Veteran centre back Robert Huth is enjoying his best season ever.

Frenchman N’Golo Kanté fights his own battles in the middle and wins most of them. Then there are others like play-maker Danny Drinkwater and captain Wes Morgan, who is a Jamaican international.

Kanté, 25, has been immense. He is the new best box-to-box midfielder of English football and this guy has everything. He is in the same league as Yaya Toure, Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.

Tottenham Hotspur is a side made up of many quality players. Starting from goalkeeper and France captain Hugo Loris right up to Kane up front, there is class and depth in every position.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino is a great tactician. His match strategies are often excellent and his squad is dominated by England internationals.

Apart from Kane, they have attacking midfielder Delli Alli, utility Eric Dyer, right back Kyle Walker, left back Danny Rose and midfielder Ryan Mason.

Then there is the impressive Belgian contingent of Jan Vertonghen, Moussa Dembele, Toby Alderweireld and Nacer Chadli.

The Spurs also have Son Heung-min of South Korea, Danish maestro Christian Eriksen, Argentine winger Erik Lamela and Kevin Wimmer of Austria.

During early part of the season, Arsenal led the field for a good number of weeks.

The Gunners faded ahead of the final lap after recording draws against West Ham (3-3) and Crystal Palace (1-1) together with losses against Swansea (2-1) and Manchester United (3-2).

French manager Arsene Wenger has served the Gunners well over many seasons but all good things must come to an end. Wenger must make way because Arsenal has stopped winning. Athletico Madrid’s Argentine manager Diego Simione, I believe, will be an ideal replacement.

Manchester United should be able to put up a stronger title challenge next season.

The Red Devils were never close to being contenders this year. They were always on the fringe but inconsistency among other things like injuries to a lot of key players at various stages of the league, let them down. They simply could not take advantage of the situation.

Whether Dutch master Louis Van Gaal continues to be in-charge or ‘The Special One’ comes on board, United have quickly assembled a strong squad with some exciting new players. Striker Marcus Rashford, 18, 20-year-old Antony Martial of France, Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marcus Rojo, Phil Jones, Luke Shaw and Jesse Lindegard are all future champions.

To mix it around, the Red Devils also have distinguished experienced players such as Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and German great Bastian Schweinstiger.

Since last year, Fijians have really been spoilt for choice with the live EPL matches on television. Fiji One, FBC and Sky Pacific are doing their bit to help develop the sport in Fiji. It is commendable. Hopefully the three companies will not only show all games of the upcoming 2016 Euro Championship live but add the build-up shows to their coverage as well. Exciting times lie ahead for the sport of football in Fiji.

Manchester City’s season was derailed after the fall of its great Belgian wall, Vincent Kompany.

City and Belgium captain Kompany spent considerable time out injured and his unavailability together his replacement Martin Demichellis’ poor form proved costly for them.

With key players returning from injury, City is expected to finish strongly. Belgian ace Kevin DeBryne, Kompany and Sergio Aguero’s return has proved a big plus. City still has enough quality players to win the league.

Toure, Pablo Zabaleta and David Silva are back in solid form.

The Premier League in England has produced some dramatic final day epics with the most recent being in the 2011/ 2012 season when Argentine striker Aguero’s stoppage-time goal for ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City helped them beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 and snatch the title from Manchester United on goal difference.

Will Aguero and City do it again?

My money is on Harry-cane and the Spurs.