- Apr 1, 2005
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I respect your position of wanting evidence, and I think that's always a smart starting point. As for Leicester being the fittest team, I've spent ages this season trying to find relevant stats to back up that claim, but I don't think there is any that is freely available. However I do also think that just as the maximum sprint speed stats are obscured by match events and tactics, stats for total distance run would be limited in the same way. For example, Leicester have less possession on average than almost everyone else in the league. That means more time staying in their defensive shape, and less time transitioning between attack and defense, which means running many meters less. You can also find that their build up play is the most direct in the league - again this means many meter less of running. Link http://www.skysports.com/football/n...s-speed-of-attack-is-a-premier-league-anomaly
So I would argue that total distance covered by each team really won't yield many clues, unless you take playing style into account. The reason Leicester are midtable in the distance covered statistics is because their playing style needs less distance run than other styles. Bournemouth are right up there with us terms of distance covered, and you can see in the above graph that they are right next to us in terms of build up play.
In terms of evidence overall, I'm not sure that when it comes to doping (or match fixing etc) there can really be any evidence clear enough for a skeptical albeit rational mind to accept. At the time, what evidence would you have had to back up claims that Armstrong was doping? In my opinion you would have had to have used your own eyes to come to the conclusion that it didn't feel right, for example believing that he wasn't trying to scale a particular climb at his full speed. In this situation of Leicester, what would constitute 'evidence' for you?
For me, the table now compared to a year ago is a hugely damning statistic. Is it evidence? Definitely not to a rational mind, especially if looked at in isolation. But there a whole host of other factors also, not least the claims in the ST article of a player being referred to Bonar for a testtorone treatment THIS SEASON. Again, this isn't evidence that implicates Leicester, but it should make you wonder.
Another factor is that in terms of statistics they are near the bottom of the rankings for every measure related to technical ability, specifically having some of the worst possession stats and passing accuracy across loads of the top leagues. Physically and mentally they do not have a problem, but technically they do. This isn't really evidence either, again especially not in isolation, but I feel the case is building.
Also, as I touched on above, you can see it when you watch them play. They have 'Reverse Lack of Match Fitness,' they are sharper than everyone else. You may not agree, but I think it's blatant. This isn't really evidence, but combined with their recovery from injuries, I think the case is stronger again. If they really do have 2 days more off per week than other teams, then things get more intriguing, especially in terms of rest days being essential to some illicit blood treatments.
This is without taking into account a whole host of other 'strange' factors, such as the presence of a clear incentive to cheat in the form of the investigation into their dodgy FFP deal last April, which happens to coincide with their unbelievable turnaround in form from about 3 weeks after this. Or how about that Brinded, of the ST expose, is in regular contact with Huth and clearly is his friend? Not to mention Leicester's affiliation with a certain Italian ex-cycling sports research centre, which just so happens to also be affiliated with other teams (Sassuolo, Monaco and Juventus) all of whom have had incredible recent achievements (Sassuolo non league to EL, Monaco promotion from Ligue 2 then runners up in Ligue 1, and Juventus 5 titles in a row.)
This is nothing to do with bitterness and everything to do with a web of clearly suspicious events. I will grant you that there is no 'evidence' so to speak, but there is an abundance of smoke.
Leicester being clean is the real 'conspiracy theory' here.
There is probably just as much smoke coming off us. What would you think if other fans started saying they thought we were on drugs? You would laugh at them and think they were wankers.