Ahead of tonight’s midweek clash with top of the table Leicester we had a chat with Leicester fan and freelance journalist Jamie Thorpe.
Leicester have had the best start to a Championship season in history, did you expect things to go so well?
Absolutely not. Last season an unmitigated disaster that sent genuine shockwaves through the club, 5th, 5th, 8th,18th is a shocking turn of events. Even though we were perceived to have over performed in the preceding seasons, we still fell short of pre-season expectations by about eight places.
Added to that, we lost almost all our “best” players. James Maddison was always going to leave but we are obviously a significantly weaker side without him. Harvey Barnes was our most potent goal threat, Youri Tielemans was our midfield creativity (even if this waned significantly in the last season) and Jonny Evans departed as Club Captain too.
So, with 25 players in and out, a new manager trying to impart a completely new style of football, and a club seemingly on the downward trend, it was quite conceivable that we might struggle in the early parts of this season. What we have seen however has been nothing short of remarkable. We are by no means the finished article, and there are weaknesses in our game still, but overall it has been a sensational start to the season.
How have your new signings been getting on?
I think it’s fair to say they have settled in very nicely indeed. Harry Winks is an incredible player at this level, and I do not think he would be out of place in the Premier League at all. Mads Hermansen is going to give someone a heart attack with how ridiculously calm he is on the ball but has won us games single handedly. Mavididi has impressed, although his decision making in the final third can be questionable at times and whilst we have yet to really see Conor Coady due to injury I am fairly certain his leadership qualities will be crucial as the season wears on. I am also a huge fan of Akgun, his role has mainly been off the bench so far but he has quality in spades.
Are you aiming to break Reading’s point record (108)?
I am a Leicester fan and as such, am absolutely unwilling to make such positive predictions as frankly, they rarely come true. I think that I speak for all Leicester fans when I say the only goal this season is promotion, and I will be over the moon to see this in whichever way it happens, if it happens.
Thoughts on Enzo Maresca?
The biggest compliment I can give Maresca is that after two seasons of meandering under Rodgers, he has managed to completely overhaul the feeling of malaise and imprint a radically new style on a potentially tricky group of players in a matter of weeks. They have clearly been won over by his methods, with many speaking highly of the manager in the press, but what is clear to see is that there is an identity in the club again. Something that had been sorely missed.
Which Sunderland player are you most looking forward to seeing in action tonight?
Probably boring and predictable but Jack Clarke. I am a huge fan of his, and I am sure he will give us more than a few problems. It will also be interesting to see the younger Bellingham in action.
Score prediction for today’s game?
3-2 to Leicester. Leicester have the best defence in the league, but potentially owe an element of this to other side’ profligacy in front of goal, I just have a feeling that if Sunderland are presented with chances, they will take them.
