5 teams that could become the Leicester City of next season

At the beginning of the 2015/16 Premier League season unless you were Nostradamus himself, there is no way that anyone would’ve placed Leicester City as one of the form teams in the division, let alone thinking of them in terms of a maiden title win.But the fact is that Claudio Ranieri’s men have deserved all of the accolades that have come their way and that we are almost in January and the Foxes are in with a genuine shout still, should tell us much about just how well the Midlanders are still playing.It’s worth noting too that only one team prior to this season has failed to win the Premier League when having the same amount of points that Leicester did on Boxing Day – Newcastle United.Let’s take a look at five other teams that could “do a Leicester” next season...

#1 West Ham United

2015/16 will be West Ham’s last at Upton Park

Next season is going to be a pivotal one for West Ham.

The 2016/17 campaign represents the first season that the Hammers will play their home matches at the Olympic Stadium. Behind Wembley, the venue will surely quickly become one of the most iconic in the country.

With a vastly increased home support, potential European football if Slaven Bilic’s side can convert the many draws into the odd win here and there, and the continued financial backing of co-Chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan, there’s no reason why West Ham can’t build on some of the finest results in their recent history and take things up a notch.

The East Londoners are the perennial sleeping giant, always flattering to deceive. They beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool away, but lose at home to Bournemouth. In many respects, that’s how it’s always been. But the change starts now.

“West Ham - London” will adorn the club badge from next season, opening up all sorts of marketing possibilities, meaning more cash in the club coffers.

For a club that’s renowned for playing football the right way, and who’ve introduced a steely grit into the side this season, why can’t they go on and suprise everyone?

#2 Stoke City

A cold, wet and windy night at the Britannia is a formidable proposition, but for different reasons now

There was a time not so long ago when Mark Hughes’ side were criticised for an over use of the more physical elements of the game.

The Welshmen was merely making use of the talent pool available to him and though there were shortcomings in a football sense, the Britannia Stadium was one of the hardest places to visit and get a result. Just ask both Manchester clubs, Arsenal and others.

Now it would seem that the Potters are being singled out again, this time for a “Stoke-alona” style of playing.

Hughes has introduced a number of players with great technical ability and who have taken the club to the next level already. Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan Krkic and Ibrahim Afellay to name just three, have had the locals off of their seats in every game this season. Ditto the industrious old-school centre forward Marco Arnautovic.

Stoke are still hard to beat at home but now they’ll play you off of the park rather than steam-rollering through you.

A definite contender “to do a Leicester” if Hughes can add the right mix of players to the current blend.

#3 Newcastle United

Newcastle’s incredible support deserve a return to the successful days of yore

As a football fan, it’s sad to see the demise of the great club that is Newcastle United.

The halcyon days of Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan seem a lifetime ago, but there’s no real reason why they can’t be replicated again.

Although Steve McClaren is the latest to struggle to bring the Magpies up to anywhere near the level that they belong at, a decent injection of cash from Mike Ashley coupled with the right man at the helm could produce the magic ingredient that Newcastle have been seeking for an age.

The “Toon Army” ensure that Newcastle are one of the best supported sides in England. No matter where the team are playing, even if it’s at the opposite end of the country, the locals will be there in their thousands.

With the greatest of respect to the other clubs on this list, Newcastle are the biggest by a distance. Selling out a 55,000 capacity St. James’ Park when you’re third from bottom of the Premier League takes some doing.

About time to repay that loyalty Mr. Ashley.

#4 Everton

The Toffees are an attractive club for investors, as the basis of a mega-club is present at Goodison Park

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has steered the club to respectability over the last few years and remained fiercely loyal to his management and staff.

In an age of greed and immediate financial gratification, it would’ve been easy for the theatre impressario to have taken the money and run, but to his credit Kenwright proved he was in it for the right reasons.

It would now seem that the timing is right for him to exit stage left and allow someone else to take the reins at the club and push them forward into the upper echelons that they regularly inhabited during the 80’s.

Roberto Martinez has one of the best groups of players to emerge at Goodison Park in recent years. Deulofeu, Lukaku, Barkley, Stones et al. That’s the makings of a title-winning squad right there.

If there’s one criticism of the Toffees it’s that their expansive game leaves them too open at the back. 28 goals conceded so far is the worst out of the top 13 teams in the Premier League so if they are going to trouble to runners and riders at the top of the table, a sound defensive purchase or two is a must.

#5 Crystal Palace

The Eagles can soar into the top echelons of the Premier League if they make the right moves

Perhaps the outsider of the group, but another that is looking toward outside investment to take the Eagles forward.

In Alan Pardew, Crystal Palace have one of the brightest young managers in the game. His teams can be set up to play football or stand toe-to-toe with the more physical sides in the division and as Pardew has himself shown, his sides won’t shirk the challenge.

At home, Palace are a handful. One of the few remaining old grounds where the fans are right on top of the action, you’re guaranteed an intimidating atmosphere at Selhurst Park as an away team.

Even on the road, the south Londoners have enjoyed some stunning victories. It’s the consistency that the team need to work on. Five of their six Premier League losses have only been by the odd goal and often in games that Palace themselves have dominated.

Pardew has form too. Remember how well he had the West Ham vintage of 2006 playing. A team that took a Steven Gerard-inspired Liverpool all the way in the FA Cup Final.

No reason why he can’t get his players up for something similar on the tenth anniversary of one of his best seasons as a manager.