This is the second in our series of articles from our 2015/6 match reporting team with their thoughts on our season to remember and starting to look at next season.
Today, Kate Thompson steps forwards with her views…
At the start of the season, what would you have regarded as a successful season ? To avoid relegation
How far had your expectations been raised by Christmas ? I thought we could finish in the top half, but never in a million years did I think we would be Champions
After which game did you start to think, we could win this ? Manchester City away, but even then I couldn’t believe that we wouldn’t fail before the end of the season – many decades of failed hopes and dreams don’t go away that easily!
It seems generally agreed across our fan base, that several factors contributed to our success, if you had to choose the most significant factor, what would it be? I think Claudio’s ‘one game at a time’ mantra, while a cliché, was absolutely correct. The players followed the same line and never appeared to get carried away. Also, we played as a team rather than a group of 11 over-paid, over-hyped individuals – this is written after England lost to Iceland!
Focusing on Claudio Ranieri, what do you think his main contribution was to turn us into title winners ? His calmness and ability to keep the players’ feet on the ground. And his handling of the media was a joy after Nigel’s prickly demeanour, so much so that he had them eating out of his hand long before the season finished. I think even if we had not won, his positive outlook and happy disposition would not have changed
What was your personal highlight of the season? The last home match – the performance by Bocelli, the way the match was played (as if there was a lot still riding on it) and above all the presentation of the trophy. Having said that, the last match away at Chelsea when City walked out through a guard of honour of Chelsea players was sweet, as was the sight of Abramovich forced to applaud
With our players winning so many national awards this season, who would you pick out as your player of the season? Kante, by a short head. He won balls he had no right to do, and without infringing the rules. I can’t remember him even being booked (in contrast to the two yellow cards he has received in the European Championships)
Who within the squad would you award the title “best unsung” hero ? Danny Drinkwater. I am so pleased he stepped up from a poor showing in the previous season and how Hodgson failed to include him in the final England squad beggars belief
A number of players made significant strides forwards with their career, which player do you think made the most progress last season and why? To my own surprise, Danny Simpson. I never rated him, partly I have to confess because of his off-field antics, but he was a rock – a good, old-fashioned right back who is happy to defend
The club’s success triggered unprecedented media and public interest in Leicester City. What was your most memorable ‘non-football ‘story about the club last season ? The link with Richard III’s reburial
For match reporters who attended away games, which ground gave you your best away experience and why ? The Emirates, which is the best ground I have ever visited – although the result was not what I had hoped for
Moving onto next season
What changes do you think are necessary to improve on this year’s squad? A few additions, to cope with the extra games we will be playing, but no big time Charlies please
While watching Premiership games during the 2015/6 season, which player from another club would you advise Claudio to sign? I really don’t know. There is much more at stake than their footballing ability and I wouldn’t want anyone who didn’t buy into the ethos of the club
Who would you like to face in the Champions League ? I really don’t care, but would prefer not to have to visit some of the remoter countries
Any other observation you would like to make: After six weeks I still find it hard to believe what the team achieved. I have lost count of the number of friends who have phoned, sent text messages or e-mails, or stopped me in the street to congratulate me.
I live in Hertfordshire and I didn’t realise how many people knew I liked football, let alone which team I support. It has been the best time ever to be a Leicester City supporter. Now, can we please try to win the FA Cup!
We have now heard that Vardy is staying but no news yet on Mahrez or Kante. What I find unbelievable is that their representatives have apparently approached other clubs asking if those clubs want to buy the players. This is at best immoral, if not illegal, and as someone said to me recently, what is the different between that and the outlawed system of ‘tapping up’ which some of us remember well.
I also get very irritated that clubs such as Arsenal think that players will fall over themselves backwards to join them. It isn’t so long ago that Chelsea and Manchester were second tier clubs so why can’t Leicester City become a power in the land. Rant over!
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation