Leicester City

[jimmy]

Just as Leicester City break the cartel of the supposed "big" clubs to win the premier league to universal cries of delight from people who are sick of seeing over inflated , preening giants monopolising the title with their egomaniacal billionaire owners and inscrutable managers who talk a simple game into a science with notebooks and laminated flip charts, so the ECB want to create the very scenario that every football supporter is sick to the back teeth of, namely the myth that champions come in the form of massive stadia, global superstars and big cities. This is the dream of the ECB with an "elite" top division becoming a virtual closed shop. Well if such a domestic format sees the same international results as we have seen from the England football team or indeed the lack of success of the likes of Man City/Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal in actually beating Spanish/German clubs to win the championship league then English cricket is in for some lean times.

[IlfordEagle]

Leicester's triumph is amazing & totally deserved & a triumph for teamwork,team spirit, players pulling for each other & lack of egos.
I hope that in cricket there is always room for an 'outsider' to win the County Championship & not just moneybags Counties - whoever you think these may be.
PS - The new World Snooker champion also comes from Leicester!!

[nat]

Just as Leicester City break the cartel of the supposed "big" clubs to win the premier league to universal cries of delight from people who are sick of seeing over inflated , preening giants monopolising the title with their egomaniacal billionaire owners and inscrutable managers who talk a simple game into a science with notebooks and laminated flip charts, so the ECB want to create the very scenario that every football supporter is sick to the back teeth of, namely the myth that champions come in the form of massive stadia, global superstars and big cities. This is the dream of the ECB with an "elite" top division becoming a virtual closed shop. Well if such a domestic format sees the same international results as we have seen from the England football team or indeed the lack of success of the likes of Man City/Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal in actually beating Spanish/German clubs to win the championship league then English cricket is in for some lean times.

Don't get too misty-eyed. Leicester have the backing of Far East billionaires and were recently fined for breaking Financial Fair Play rules. Not really a minnow.

[jimmy]

Just as Leicester City break the cartel of the supposed "big" clubs to win the premier league to universal cries of delight from people who are sick of seeing over inflated , preening giants monopolising the title with their egomaniacal billionaire owners and inscrutable managers who talk a simple game into a science with notebooks and laminated flip charts, so the ECB want to create the very scenario that every football supporter is sick to the back teeth of, namely the myth that champions come in the form of massive stadia, global superstars and big cities. This is the dream of the ECB with an "elite" top division becoming a virtual closed shop. Well if such a domestic format sees the same international results as we have seen from the England football team or indeed the lack of success of the likes of Man City/Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal in actually beating Spanish/German clubs to win the championship league then English cricket is in for some lean times.

Don't get too misty-eyed. Leicester have the backing of Far East billionaires and were recently fined for breaking Financial Fair Play rules. Not really a minnow.

well aware of all that, but all things are relative, the clubs expected to win would certainly regard themselves as in a different financial league.

[nat]

They got lucky. Got off to a good start and managed to keep their main players fit. Reminds me of WHUFC in 1985-6. IIRC we (they) only used 13 players in the whole season.

LCFC should enjoy it, they have been the best team. They won't do it again.

[Andy]

Don't get too misty-eyed. Leicester have the backing of Far East billionaires and were recently fined for breaking Financial Fair Play rules. Not really a minnow.

Well, most of the title winning team was there last season. Nat. We'll see if success goes to the heads of those also-rans. Hopefully not. Still, excellent points about the dangers of a clique running the game as a closed shop: Scottish football hasn't exactly dominated the Champions League recently...

[nat]

Don't get too misty-eyed. Leicester have the backing of Far East billionaires and were recently fined for breaking Financial Fair Play rules. Not really a minnow.

Well, most of the title winning team was there last season. Nat. We'll see if success goes to the heads of those also-rans. Hopefully not. Still, excellent points about the dangers of a clique running the game as a closed shop: Scottish football hasn't exactly dominated the Champions League recently...

"...Well, most of the title winning team was there last season. Nat". Kante? Mahrez? Ulloa? Okazaki?

I know I know ... I have too much time on my hands.

[Andy]

Well, most of the title winning team was there last season. Nat. We'll see if success goes to the heads of those also-rans. Hopefully not. Still, excellent points about the dangers of a clique running the game as a closed shop: Scottish football hasn't exactly dominated the Champions League recently...

"...Well, most of the title winning team was there last season. Nat". Kante? Mahrez? Ulloa? Okazaki?

I know I know ... I have too much time on my hands.

Ulloa and Mahrez came in 2014.  They weren't that expensive either (Ulloa's £8m fee was a record for LC but peanuts at EPL level), so the reactionary comments are a little disingenuous. They do have money now, but hardly another Chelski...

[stewyww]

Just as Leicester City break the cartel of the supposed "big" clubs to win the premier league to universal cries of delight from people who are sick of seeing over inflated , preening giants monopolising the title with their egomaniacal billionaire owners and inscrutable managers who talk a simple game into a science with notebooks and laminated flip charts, so the ECB want to create the very scenario that every football supporter is sick to the back teeth of, namely the myth that champions come in the form of massive stadia, global superstars and big cities. This is the dream of the ECB with an "elite" top division becoming a virtual closed shop. Well if such a domestic format sees the same international results as we have seen from the England football team or indeed the lack of success of the likes of Man City/Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal in actually beating Spanish/German clubs to win the championship league then English cricket is in for some lean times.

Don't get too misty-eyed. Leicester have the backing of Far East billionaires and were recently fined for breaking Financial Fair Play rules. Not really a minnow.

At least they paid for their own stadium.

[Valentines Park]

At least they paid for their own stadium.

Twice over wasn't it?

FFP was a stick Michel Platini used to beat the Premier League with. 

Essex could use some creative accounting.

The ground might even get redeveloped that way ...

[Mick]

They got lucky. Got off to a good start and managed to keep their main players fit. Reminds me of WHUFC in 1985-6. IIRC we (they) only used 13 players in the whole season.

 ..... but only finished third. Even Essex managed that last year !