Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy deserves more praise than he’s currently getting
We hear plenty about the so-called “early bloomers” of the footballing world. The Wayne Rooney’s and the Michael Owen’s of this world have the pleasure of being well-known due to their stellar play early in their careers. Footballers that don’t quite get that same longevity in the spotlight may well be known as “late bloomers”.
Leicester City’s marauding frontman Jamie Vardy fits seamlessly into this narrative. His career only took off during his late 20’s, when he led Leicester City to an improbable Premier League title.
Being called a “one-season wonder” is a thing of the past, as Vardy has continued to play well after his breakout season 2 years ago.
It was during that breakout season when Jamie Vardy was subject to negative impressions. Yes, everyone was dazzled by his 2015-16 season, but many spoke about the possibility of Vardy being a one-season wonder. Majority of fans expected him to sink back into mediocrity the following year. This resembles Michu for Swansea a few years ago. Perhaps the assumption was due to 2 reasons.
Vardy came through the ranks from the lower English leagues, not a high-profile club academy like most top-flight players. This likely threw some people off about his true quality. “If he was any good, how come he wasn’t with a top club?”. Many good players slip through the cracks, and it’s a tribute to Vardy’s mentality, the way he got himself to where he is now. His age is also a likely reason for the doubts over his longevity. His effectiveness relies on his speed, which tends to dwindle down as you age.
Despite these claims, Jamie Vardy continues to torment Premier League defenses. Although his numbers aren’t as high as they were in his 2015-16 season, Vardy has not declined as much as many expected him to.
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The truth is, he is starting to become underrated by viewers of the game. This is perhaps due to Leicester’s struggle to replicate their former glories. Vardy is still highly rated by scouts and coaches within the game, and he possesses qualities that are difficult to find.
The speed and movement Vardy possesses allows him to thrive in the Premier League.
Vardy is fast. More than that actually, he is blazing fast, one of the fastest in the world. The big and burly defenders in the Premier League struggle to deal with this often. Speed is never enough though, you have to be able to time your runs properly to pair with your pace, and finish the chances once you get them.
This is exactly where Vardy absolutely kills his opposition. Not only is his movement unbearable for defenders, but once he is through, he genuinely never misses. In fact, out of all the players that have hit 10 goals in the Premier League this season (14 of them in total), Vardy has missed the least amount of “big chances”, according to the Premier League’s official stat files.
Vardy has also become renowned in recent seasons for being a big-game player. He is the only player in Premier League history to score against each “top 6” side in a single season, and 4 of his England goals have come against Italy, Germany, Holland, and Spain.
The late-blooming Jamie Vardy is an exceptional Premier League frontman. He is often overlooked due to big-money strikers often hogging the spotlight. His game is based mostly off of effective movement off the ball and ruthless finishing. His ability to impact big games is perhaps his most impressive quality, as he continues to be one of the Premier League’s most exciting players.