What would constitute success for Jamie Vardy this season?

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has not made the best of starts to the campaign

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has experienced an incredible 18 months, which has just been topped-off by being included in the 30 nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The 29-year-old is on the list alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

The story of Vardy’s incredible meteoric rise is in the process being of being made into a Hollywood film.

His story may seem far-fetched, but sometimes real life is stranger than fiction. Could Vardy’s season in the sun be a one-off?

Not been in great form

The former Halifax star scored 24 times last season and also produced eight assists for the Foxes. This season Vardy has scored twice and produced one assist in his nine Premier League appearances. The stats are not great for the striker who made such an impression on the English top-flight.

Vardy is still working hard, but it seems that just like his team he may have been found out this season. The Foxes are currently 12^th in the English top-flight, nine points off the top of the table. Vardy was a big part of Leicester’s success last season, so it seems when he has been stopped the Foxes have failed to thrive.

The Foxes recorded a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last time out, but Vardy only made a substitute appearance against the Eagles. Some are starting to suggest the champions may be a stronger team without the striker, which is a major knee-jerk reaction.

One-season wonder

In the Premier League and in football in general there are numerous examples of one-season wonders. These are players that hit the form of their lives and then just disappear into obscurity.

It is difficult to remember a one-season wonder that has enjoyed as much success and fanfare as Vardy has done, if indeed he does turn out to be a one-season wonder.

In many ways he could be a victim of his own success. He was always going to find it difficult to reach the heights of last season. The striker shone so bright that may be his light has now burnt out.

It takes a very good striker to score 20-plus goals a season in the Premier League. Only the best strikers tend to score 20-plus in consecutive campaigns in the English top-flight. The likes of Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane have achieved the feat in recent years.

I doubt even the England striker himself would claim to be in the same class as Aguero. However, he is now considered by many as a very good Premier League striker. This is based on just last season’s outstanding campaign.

I have to say I am not a Jamie Vardy hater. However, one extraordinary season does not make an extraordinary player. Just like one poor season does not make a player poor, just ask Chelsea’s Eden Hazard.

Will still have a decent campaign

It will be hard to determine what a successful campaign would be for Jamie Vardy, simply because of his success last season. The 29-year-old is odds of 50/1 to win the golden boot this season. Those odds suggest the bookmakers do not believe that the striker will repeat last season’s goalscoring feat.

Jamie Vardy is still an integral part of the Foxes squad, even if he was dropped from the starting line-up last time out. I have no doubts that the striker will return to form at some point this season and score goals again.

However, it is difficult to see the striker hitting 20-plus goals again this season. The fact that his team have not been in great form in the top-flight has not helped Vardy.

Even if Vardy is not as prolific as last season his one glorious campaign will be remembered for a long time to come.

Vardy has made it and I doubt that the striker will care much if people dub him a one-season wonder or not. He has reached the pinnacle of football and nobody can ever take that away from the 29-year-old.

What would constitute success for Jamie Vardy this season?