Chelsea is set to perform a `guard of honour` for Liverpool ahead of their Premier League fixture tomorrow at Stamford Bridge.
It is anticipated that Arsenal will follow suit next weekend.
However, like many aspects of contemporary football, this practice remains puzzling to me. Frankly, I find it utterly ridiculous.
Rather than a sign of respect, it feels more like a humiliating ritual for the team standing to applaud the champions.
It conveys the impression that teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, and any others facing the champions later in the season are essentially conceding, “Congratulations, we are completely fine with being defeated by you.”
When my Watford side was defeated by Manchester City in an FA Cup final, we were required to stand and applaud as they received their medals.
However, that occurred after the match concluded, which is understandable.
I never encountered a situation where I was expected to participate in a `guard of honour`. During my time in the top division, Watford never played a team that had already secured the championship title.
Yet, had I been in such a position, I would have outright refused.
This is precisely what Arsenal, Liverpool`s closest competitors this season, ought to do next Sunday.
Such an action would clearly establish their intentions for the following season, signifying a departure from politeness.
I share several similarities with Jamie Vardy.
Both of us progressed from non-league football, through the Football League system, to reach the top division.
We both played football while wearing electronic tags following youthful criminal convictions.
We both became loyal, long-serving figures at our respective clubs, he at Leicester and I at Watford.
While I am quite proud of my footballing accomplishments, Vardy… he is truly exceptional.
This man embodies the spirit of a football hero. He represents perhaps the greatest underdog narrative in football.
He secured the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Golden Boot, represented England, and – unlike my own experience – departed his club on his terms after 13 years of outstanding dedication.
Vardy, aged 38, is 18 months my senior and considerably lighter! However, even after announcing his departure from Leicester, he remains fully capable of making a significant contribution to a Premier League team next season.
Wolves have expressed interest, and I can envision that move occurring. Personally though, I believe Everton would be an excellent match.
David Moyes is expected to recruit numerous players this summer as the Merseyside club begins its new chapter at the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium. I`m confident he would welcome the possibility of signing Vardy.
Given his speed, he will consistently pose a threat as a substitute against fatigued defences and could even start certain games.
Vardy is an unconventional character, a true maverick. This extends to his fitness regimen and diet, known to include vodka, Skittles, and the tobacco product, snus.
What I admire most about Vardy is his unwavering authenticity, both as a player and a person.
Some players, after winning the Premier League, might attempt to redefine themselves, perhaps seeing themselves as versatile all-round footballers. Yet, Vardy consistently focuses on his core strengths.
He doesn`t drop deep to influence play; instead, he remains focused on making runs in behind defenders and finding the net. Remarkably, even this season, he has scored eight goals for a Leicester side that struggled significantly to create attacking opportunities.
Finding the back of the net for a struggling team that generates minimal chances is an extremely challenging task, yet Vardy has succeeded.
I understand the connection with Wrexham – the `Hollywood club` potentially meeting the `Hollywood footballer`.
Ryan Reynolds and his partners have signed numerous experienced players during their ascent from the National League to the Championship, making Vardy a logical fit.
Nevertheless, he would be a valuable asset for numerous Premier League clubs and could potentially surpass Teddy Sheringham`s record as the oldest outfield player in the league.
Teddy was still playing in the top flight for West Ham shortly before turning 41.
Today`s match features Leicester against Southampton, two teams considered among the weakest ever seen in the English top flight.
It is unfortunate what has transpired for Leicester in recent years, particularly given that their 2016 title victory is arguably the most incredible narrative in English football history.
That season marked our first in the top division after achieving promotion with Watford, and at the campaign`s outset, we viewed them as potential relegation rivals.
However, like everyone else, we were completely mistaken.
They were a remarkable team. The attacking prowess of Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, combined with the central midfield partnership of N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater, formed one of the most formidable midfield pairings I ever faced.
During that unforgettable season, Vardy surpassed Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Premier League record by scoring in 11 successive matches.
Truly, when one grasps the difficulty of scoring in consecutive Premier League games, the notion of achieving this in 11 straight matches is astonishing.
Furthermore, Shinji Okazaki, Vardy’s striking partner, is often overlooked. His work rate was phenomenal. He would leave the field resembling a racehorse, practically steaming with exertion!
Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester employed a 4-4-2 formation with a defence comprised of traditional, no-nonsense defenders – players who prioritized heading, kicking, and blocking everything. I say this with the highest regard.
I knew one of their players, captain Wes Morgan, quite well. After Leicester defeated us that season, he remarked to me, “Mate, we are genuinely excellent, a truly unique group of players.”
He shared that they all genuinely got along superbly and frequently chose to spend time together socially. Believe me, this is exceptionally rare, especially within a Premier League squad – or, indeed, in most professional environments.
And when Leicester`s championship was confirmed, after a hard-fought Monday night draw between Spurs and Chelsea, who hosted the players` celebration party? Vardy, naturally.
The final two home fixtures of this challenging season for Leicester will now serve as tributes to Vardy`s career as the club bids farewell to a legend.
This is entirely fitting, as he is a player who should serve as an inspiration to EVERYONE involved in non-league and lower division football.
Jamie Vardy is the embodiment of a miracle.
